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MONDAY, APRIL 22 – SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2013

BEST BETS

SIMON TO GIVE “LAST LECTURE” – Dr. Cassandra Simon, associate professor in the UA School of Social Work, is the 2013 recipient of “The Last Lecture,” awarded by the Graduate School. At 6 p.m., April 22 in Room 159 at Russell Hall, Simon will present a lecture titled “Through the Doors: Lessons Learned from an Unexpected Life Journey.” Students, faculty, staff, and community members are invited to attend the lecture. The Last Lecture, presented by the Graduate School, features a University of Alabama faculty member nominated and selected by students to answer one question in the form of a highly engaging lecture: “If this were your last time to address a group of students, what would you say to them?” Contact: David Miller, UA media relations, 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu

HONOR ROLL FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE – UA has been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction for helping the community through service and service-learning partnerships. UA, named to the list for the fourth consecutive year by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the U.S. Department of Education, was one of 113 schools to receive the honor with distinction. “UA students, faculty, and staff have a longstanding tradition of working side by side with community partners to meet  local needs, and it’s exciting to see that commitment formally recognized,” said Stephen Black, director of the UA Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility. Contact: Richard LeComte, UA media relations, rllecomte@ur.ua.edu, 205/348-3782.

UA STUDENTS RECEIVE GOLDWATER SCHOLARSHIPS – Two University of Alabama students were awarded scholarships by the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, and two more students were recognized for an honorable mention. For more information visit http://uanews.ua.edu/2013/04/ua-students-receive-goldwater-scholarships/ or contact Adam Jones, UA media relations, 205/348-6444 or acjones12@eng.ua.edu.

CURRENT COMMENT

SPOTLIGHT ON THE MEDIA – With two major news events – the Boston Marathon bombing and a fertilizer plant explosion in Texas – in the past week, possibly the brightest spotlight yet is being shone on news media trying to be first while also being accurate. Particularly in the wake of the bombing, several news sources caught flak for jumping the gun with inaccurate information in their online reporting. “The pressure to report information instantly has led to far too many factual errors in recent high-profile breaking news events like the Newtown shootings and now the Boston Marathon bombing,” said Dr. Wilson Lowrey, journalism professor. “Reporters’ ‘pack’ mentality – journalists rushing to follow one another’s leads and to take the same story angles for fear they’ll be accused of missing the story – is not an Internet creation, but it’s becoming more evident. The 24/7 news cycle, the popularity of Twitter and reduced news staffs are part of the problem. But it’s also partly a matter of perception – in real-time, news production has always been a messy process, but for the first time it’s open to public viewing. Errors eventually get fixed, but in the meantime, credibility nosedives and false rumors are unleashed. Rumors aren’t always the journalists’ fault – officials also provide wrong information in the heat of the moment. But the journalists’ ambition to break news first is a driver, as is the news outlet’s need to grow online audiences and the ease with which such audiences can be tracked and counted.” Contact: Misty Mathews, UA media relations, 205/348-6416 or mmathews@ua.edu or Dr. Wilson Lowrey, 205/348-8608, wlowrey@ua.edu.

EVENTS

CUBAN POET VISITS UA CAMPUS – Cuban poet Reina María Rodríguez and her translator Kristin Dykstra will present a brief reading and conversation about Cuban literary culture from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, in Maxwell Hall. Rodríguez will present another poetry reading from 7:15 p.m. to 8:30 pm in 205 Smith Hall. Rodríguez lives in Havana. She has received a Julián del Casal prize, two international Casa de las Américas prizes and a National Critics Award. Her latest book of poems, “Catch and Release,” is being translated into English with support from the National Endowment for the Arts. The event is free and open to the public. Contact: Charlie Bice, 205/317-4625, cwbice@crimson.ua.edu

UA HOSTS STATEWIDE HIGH SCHOOL FINANCE COMPETITION — The University of Alabama College of Human Environmental Sciences department of consumer sciences will welcome 19 Alabama high schools Tuesday, April 23, as it hosts the third annual Alabama Personal Finance Challenge. Sponsored by the Alabama Council on Economic Education, the challenge tests high-school students on their knowledge of income and money management, spending and credit, and saving and investing. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu

UA STUDENTS TO SHARE FINANCE TIPS WITH BROOKWOOD HIGH-SCHOOLERS — Financial decisions made at a young age could have a significant impact on the future, said University of Alabama consumer sciences student Katie Logan. This is a message that Logan and other members of the UA student group Capstone Financial and Consumer Education Society hope to share with Brookwood High School students April 24 when they present financial literacy lessons to juniors and seniors enrolled in a personal finance course. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu

UA HOVERCRAFT TEAM READY TO RACE RIVAL, OTHERS– A team of University of Alabama engineering students are set to race in the University Hoverbowl Challenge Saturday, April 27 at Lake Lurleen State Park just outside Tuscaloosa. For more information visit http://uanews.ua.edu/2013/04/ua-hovercraft-team-ready-to-race-rival-others/ or contact: Adam Jones, UA media relations, 205/348-6444 or acjones12@eng.ua.edu.

MOUNDVILLE SATURDAY IN THE PARK FEATURES WIRE-WRAPPED JEWELRY –Artist and historian Catherine Sloan, of Warrior, discusses prehistoric textiles, as well as weaving methods that were introduced to the Southeastern Indian people during historic times. The park program runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at UA’s Moundville Archaeological Park. Park entrance fees will apply. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu