University of Alabama appoints Auburn administrator to vice president for research position
Al.com – July 8
Carl A. Pinkert, current associate vice president for research at Auburn University, has been named vice president for research at the University of Alabama. Pinkert will take over for Joe Benson, current vice president, on Nov. 1. Benson currently serves as interim provost and is stepping down from the research position. “Dr. Pinkert brings a wealth of experience to the position based on his personal research achievement and his record of leadership in academic research administration. He will help us achieve our goals in the area of funded research and technology transfer,” UA President Judy Bonner said in a press release. Pinkert has been at Auburn since 2006, when he was named an associate dean in the College of Veterinary Medicine and taught pathobiology.
Tuscaloosa News – July 8
Opelika-Auburn News – July 8
Three University of Alabama start-ups to compete for $100,000 prize
Al.com – July 8
Three University of Alabama start-up companies will pitch their products July 12 for the chance to win $100,000 in the 2013 Alabama Launchpad Start-Up Competition. The competition, organized by the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, offers fledgling entrepreneurs the chance to win cash prizes along with assistance from experts. More than 25 teams began the competition, and a five-judge panel selected 10, including the three UA teams, to continue on in June.
Severe-weather workshop set for UA
Tuscaloosa News – July 9
The Center for Advanced Public Safety at the University of Alabama’s College of Engineering will host a workshop Wednesday to evaluate research and applications aimed at enhancing the severe-weather warning process. The workshop will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Room 2036 of the South Engineering Research Center. CAPS is part of the computer science department in the College of Engineering. Topics include research concerning modifications to warning communication, hazard education language and public hazard education. Speakers include Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox; James Spann, chief meteorologist for ABC 33/40; Vankita Brown, social scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Beau Elliott, project area manager for CAPS; Laura Myers, senior research social scientist at CAPS; and Chris Sims, programmer and senior analyst for CAPSTUSCALOOSA.
Al.com – July 9
ALCESTIS ASCENDING Begins Off-Broadway at Theatre Row Tonight
Broadway World – July 9
Cuban National Office of Scenic Arts, The University of Alabama and Company HavanaBama invite you to the World Premiere of ALCESTIS ASCENDING, a new play with music based on Euripides’ classic drama. Written and directed by Seth Panitch, this groundbreaking collaboration combines actors and dancers from the Cuban National Office of Scenic Arts (several of whom are TV stars in Cuba) as well as actors from the University of Alabama. Performances of this Off-Broadway limited engagement run today, July 9 – 21 at the Harold Clurman Theatre at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd).
Help descendants revive cemetery
Natchez Democrat (Miss.) – July 9
A new name has been given to a long-neglected, century-old cemetery that had been called the colored cemetery, the shooting park cemetery and, later, Watkins Street Cemetery. Never officially named or allowed to be developed after being bought by 10 concerned newly freed black men led by G.W. Brumfield, it was the only answer to the law barring blacks from being buried in the city cemetery…Special help and recognition was given to Dr. Ian Brown of the University of Alabama’s Department of Archeology, who came down here twice the year, spent a week with his class mapping and recording information, later publishing the information in the national book “Gravestones.” He also included a request for donations.
What Have we Learned About Mass Shooters?
Foreign Policy – July 9
University of Alabama criminologist Adam Lankford has done a lot of interesting and provocative work on terrorists and mass killers — arguing for instance that suicide bombers should be viewed not as rational political actors but as disturbed suicidal individuals motivated by similar factors to school shooters like those and Columbine or Sandy Hook. A recent study by Lankford looks at data on mass shootings in the United States between 1966 and 2010 in order to look at the differences between shooters who survive their attacks and those that die with their victims. Using an NYPD database of “active shootings” — those engaged in killing people in a populated area, excluding gang shootings, domestic violence, robberies, drive-bys and other more conventional crimes — the study isolates a sample of 185 attacks, with the number of casualties ranging from two to the 32 killed by Seung Hui-cho at Virginia Tech in 2007. The shooters were 96 percent male with a mean age of 34.03. 38 percent of perpetrators of mass shootings commit suicide by their own hand and 48 percent die in the attacks. (Some of those extra 10 percent could probably also be categorized as “suicide by cop”.)
Genealogy lecture returns for ‘102’
Tuscaloosa News – July 9
Genealogist R.L. Guffin’s previous lecture on the secrets of uncovering family history was so popular that there is now a sequel. Guffin on Thursday will present “Genealogy 102,” a follow-up to his “Genealogy 101” lecture. “Last year, I talked about the basic resources for genealogists, so this time I’ll give more resources and also talk about some experiences I’ve had in my 51 years as a genealogist,” said Guffin. In those 51 years, the retired Stillman College professor has worked not only on his family history, but he has also helped many others discover their ancestry. Guffin has taught genealogy through the University of Alabama’s College of Continuing Studies for the past 40 years and has taught UA graduate students since 1980. He said that he’s helped an estimated 150 students put together books on his or her family history.
UA Alumni Association awards $42,000 in scholarships
Al.com – July 8
The Madison County chapter of The University of Alabama Alumni Association awarded 22 area students scholarships to attend the university on June 27at the Huntsville Museum of Art. The alumni association awarded more than $42,000, said Elizabeth Webb, board member with the Madison County chapter. The highest individual scholarship was $4,400, Webb said.
Arab UA student edits, co-authors textbook
Arab Tribune – July 8
Katlyn Stricklend, 21, of Arab will be a senior at The University of Alabama this fall. In addition to being a student, she works, is an ambassador for the school, is the at-risk chair for her sorority, is a member of multiple honors societies, is double majoring in political science and criminal justice with a minor in communications and is preparing to apply for law school. Oh, and she’s an author and editor. Katlyn, a 2010 graduate of Arab High School, co-authored a textbook that is now available for college classes. She, three other UA students and their professor, Dr. Mark M. Lanier, wrote and edited “Advanced Research Methods for the Social Sciences.” It is published by Cognell Academic Publishing in San Diego, Calif. Katlyn is the daughter of Bill and Kaye Stricklend of Arab. Bill is the District 1 commissioner for Marshall County. Katlyn eventually wants to be a prosecutor and, maybe, someday a judge.