UA student-volunteer creates degree in emergency management
Tuscaloosa News – July 6
Severe weather and emergency management have long fascinated University of Alabama student John Fleischauer. But the possibility his boyhood interest could be a career didn’t sink in until he began volunteering with the West Alabama Chapter of the American Red Cross. “I just got to the point I realized I enjoyed what I was doing,” Fleischauer said. “I realized emergency management was pretty clearly the direction I want to go career-wise.” Fleischauer said he is interested in the possibility of working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, another government agency or on the national or regional level with the Red Cross. Fleischauer can’t pinpoint when his interest in emergency management began, but he said his parents trace it to a sixth-grade project on weather. He said he began volunteering with the Red Cross after seeing a display table in the Ferguson Center on campus…After a delay caused by a deployment to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the 19-year-old began his emergency management degree this spring through UA’s New College, where students have an opportunity to build their own curriculum as part of an individualized and interdisciplinary education program.
A closer and detailed look at the land of extremes
Fairbanks News-Miner – July 6
One of the things I envy in other writers is their ability to nonchalantly identify flowers and plants in their writings, as easily as I identify characters and places…Luckily for me, and others like me, Alex Huryn and John Hobbie have taken matters into their own hands and produced “Land of Extremes: A Natural History of the Arctic North Slope of Alaska.” Taking information from detailed scientific papers and books, the two writers — Huryn is a professor of biological sciences at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, and Hobbie is the founding researcher of Toolik Field Station — have compiled a guide designed just for me (or so it seems) in simple language, gorgeous pictures, and all the detail a naturalist-wanna-be needs to identify the flora and fauna we contact in our ramblings. “In this book, we bring together the fascinating stories of how animals and plants interact and survive in the harsh arctic environment,” they begin. “We have written it for visitors to the Arctic and the North Slope — those who are interested in natural history in general, in a specific topic such as mammals or birds, in a specific region … or in finding out more about the last American wilderness.”
MOM STOP: Keep children thinking during summer months
Tuscaloosa News – July 7
Although school is out during the summer vacation, the summer months are vital when it comes to learning and making sure that children don’t fall behind…”The biggest loss is with practical thinking skills,” said Kevin Besnoy, an assistant professor in gifted and talented education at the University of Alabama. “That’s one reason it’s so important to engage students in critical thought and conversation.” One thing parents should do each day is engage their children and be sure to ask them questions that spur critical thought, Besnoy said. That could include asking kids what they’ve done that day, what they learned or who they talked to, what kind of conversations they had or what they enjoyed the most. It’s something that can be done at any age, Besnoy said. “Preschoolers have such vivid imaginations, that when you ask them a question, it’s important the you don’t accept a single-word answer,” Besnoy said “Require them to use complete sentences.”
Carrington responds to recent exit plan criticism
Birmingham Business Journal – July 3
Despite recent criticism of Jefferson County’s bankruptcy exit plan, Commissioner David Carrington maintains that the plan has the best interest of the citizens, county and creditors in mind. Earlier this week, Robert Brooks, a University of Alabama finance professor, told me the exit plan Jefferson County filed on June 30 relies on a debt-cutting stream that will place a tougher burden on low- to modest-income residents. Brooks, along with other elected officials, voiced a concern that the income of the county’s poorer families may be unable to sustain the sewer rate increases outlined in the exit plan. Brooks said those factors could lead to financial challenges down the road – even another bankruptcy filing.
Clock is running: Can surgeon general offer cure for candidate-less Alabama Democrats?
Al.com – July 6
Two veteran observers of Alabama politics say it’s not too late for Democrats to come up with a viable nominee for governor but say a fresh face is needed to pump life into a campaign in which chances of winning are slim. No Democrats have entered the race for the June 3, 2014 primaries. William Stewart, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Alabama, offered up a name: Surgeon General Regina Benjamin. Benjamin, a Mobile native, has announced she is stepping down from her position this month. She has also been mentioned as a potential candidate in Alabama’s 1st Congressional District race. She could not be reached for comment. The Democratic nominee for governor will likely face incumbent Gov. Robert Bentley. “Even if Bentley is rightly regarded as the overwhelming favorite, he needs to face a candidate whom Alabamians disagreeing with his policies can in all good conscience vote for even if they are almost certain to come out on the losing side,” Stewart said. Benjamin, he said, could fit that mold.
UA researchers suggest possible tornado watch scale
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – July 7
New research out of the University of Alabama could change the way you prepare for severe weather. That’s by adding a tornado “watch scale.” Researchers did surveys after the April 2011 storms that showed tornado survivors weren’t satisfied with their developed a level zero to five “tornado watch scale”. It comes with a shelter recommendation.
Montgomery leads state in residential home sales
WSFA-NBC (Montgomery) – July 6
Now to some encouraging news on the housing market…a new report shows Montgomery leads the state in residential sales…is this a comeback for the real estate market? It’s certainly a positive trend. The numbers come from the Alabama Center for Real Estate, comparing May of this year to May of last year home sales in Montgomery are up 21 percent, the biggest jump of any metro-area in the state. The president of the Montgomery Area Realtors Association, says a lot factors in to that increase. Montgomery also leads the state in housing affordability; that’s a number based on the median income in the area, the median home price and the income needed to finance that price. The Alabama Center for Real Estate, group that released those numbers, is based at the University of Alabama.
Saban piece to appear on ’60 Minutes’ in the fall
Tuscaloosa News – July 6
The CBS Network’s primetime television news program, “60 Mintues,” plans to air a feature on University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban in the fall, according to a producer for the program. Responding to a question about Saban on Twitter that asked if “60 Minutes” ever profiled Saban, Pete Radovich wrote, “It’s been in the works for a while. Will air in the fall.” It won’t be the first time the four-time national championship winning coach has been on the show. He was interviewed by “60 Minutes” reporter Armen Keteyian in November 2012 in a piece entitled “Bringing Mental Focus to the Game,” which highlighted Saban’s philosophy of not letting external factors control how his players play. Saban, who has also been featured on the cover of Forbes magazine in September 2008, is the first coach in the Bowl Championship Series era to win back-to-back national championships.
Gadsden Times – July 7
ACRE Executive Exchange set for August 23rd; David Bronner to provide keynote address
Al.com – July 5
Dr. David Bronner, CEO of the Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA), will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural ACRE Executive Exchange presented by the Alabama Center for Real Estate at The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce on Friday, August 23rd, at the historic and recently renovated Montgomery City Auditorium. The focus of this year’s Exchange is on Opportunity…Insight…Leadership Leadership. RSA Real Estate is the real estate investment arm of the Retirement Systems of Alabama. As of September 30, 2012, approximately ten percent of the two primary pension funds (TRS & ERS) were allocated to real estate related investments. Dr. Bronner will share his thoughts on a wide array of real estate and economic related topics during his address.
ACRE announces Tuscaloosa real estate education & outreach event to be held at North River Yacht Club
Al.com – July 5
Juanita McDowell, President & CEO of InMotion Real Estate Institute, will deliver “Gadgets & Gizmos for Real Estate” at the fourth annual Tuscaloosa ACRE Education & Outreach (E&O) event presented by the Alabama Center for Real Estate at The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce. The best-in-class education & outreach event is scheduled for Thursday, August 29th, at the NorthRiver Yacht Club. The marketing course is from 1:30-4:30pm followed by a business development & networking reception from 5pm to 7pm. The reception is complimentary and hosted for the entire Tuscaloosa real estate community – whether or not you attended the afternoon education course.
Alabama’s first black federal judge, U.W. Clemon, being honored by group that had opposed his nomination
Al.com – July 5
U.W. Clemon, retired chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, next month will be honored by the American Bar Association with its 2013 John H. Pickering Award. Clemon said he was honored to be receiving the award from the ABA – the same group that 33 years ago had opposed his nomination to the federal bench. Despite the group’s opposition he was appointed to the bench, becoming Alabama’s first black federal judge…After retiring in 2009, Clemon joined the Birmingham firm of White Arnold & Dowd P.C. and has served as a distinguished visiting professor at the University of Alabama Law School.
College News: 7/7
Tuscaloosa News – July 7
The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations at the University of Alabama has named six honorees for the 2013 Milestones in Mentoring Awards. The honorees will be recognized during the Honoring Milestones in Mentoring Awards Gala at the Union League Club of Chicago Nov. 14.