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MONDAY, AUGUST 5 – SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, 2013

BEST BETS

CAMP 1831 TO INTRODUCE NEW STUDENTS TO LEADERSHIP, HISTORY — Students new to UA will learn about the Capstone’s traditions, meet fellow freshmen and get a taste of adventure during the first session of Camp 1831, Aug. 6-8 at Camp McDowell in Nauvoo. Camp 1831, a program of UA’s Division of Student Affairs Office of First Year Experience, will focus on the themes of adventure, history and tradition, leadership and civic engagement. Participants in the three-day, two-night program will travel to the campsite where they will develop leadership skills, connect with other students and experience the pride that comes with being a UA student. There will be an additional session of Camp 1831 from Aug. 12-14. Watch for a news release or, for more information, contact  Sara A. Hartley, 205/348-4831, sahartley1@sa.ua.edu, Litsa Orban, 205/348-8404, leorban@sa.ua.edu or UA media relations, 205/348-5320.

COLLABORATIVE APPROACH DEVELOPED FOR THOSE WITH CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS – UA students are learning the value behind the “two heads are better than one” concept when addressing the health-care needs of rural communities. The Capstone College of Nursing received a $997,173 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to implement a collaborative, team-based approach to working with patients who have multiple chronic conditions. The primary component of the three-year grant is the development of interprofessional grand round teams. These teams will be comprised of graduate-level students from the various disciplines, with nurse practitioner students in the Capstone College of Nursing taking lead on this project. For more information, contact Kim Eaton, UA media relations, at 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.

UA OFFERING CONCENTRATION IN SOFTWARE ENGINEERING – To meet growing demand for skilled, creative technology workers, UA’s department of computer science will offer an option to concentrate in software engineering beginning this fall. For more information see this news release or contact Adam Jones, UA engineering relations, at 205/348-6444 or acjones12@eng.ua.edu.

UA ADAPTED ATHLETICS ADDS NATION’S FIRST COLLEGIATE GOLF PROGRAM – UA’s Adapted Athletics program, home to five national championships in women’s and men’s basketball, added its fifth sport this summer with the nation’s first collegiate golf program. The team, coached by former wheelchair basketball standout and current assistant coach Ford Burttram, will begin play during the fall 2013 semester. The team has three players – all of whom compete for the UA wheelchair basketball program – and will play in select Amputee Golf Association events. The genesis of the program will also bring firsts for the sport, as Burttram is working with a wheelchair manufacturer to design a chair that allows the range of movement to strike a golf ball effectively. Burttram is hopeful the sport will attract a diverse range of adapted athletes, from war veterans who are amputees to student-athletes who have paralysis. For more information, contact David Miller, UA media relations, at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.

SANDERSON SHARES LIFE STORY AT CONFERENCE IN VIRGIN ISLANDS – UA social work student Michaela Sanderson’s childhood experience reads like a movie script: her older sister died when she was young; her parents struggled with drug addiction; and her mother attempted suicide in front of her children. It’s enough to send a young girl into depression and off the road she envisioned traveling as an adult. As a foster child, Sanderson endured many hardships, but as a rising junior and community volunteer, she shares her story to inspire others. Recently, at the “Surviving and Thriving” retreat at Necker Island (Virgin Islands), Sanderson was one of six students who shared their stories with international industry and philanthropic leaders. Sanderson, a member of Alabama Reach – UA’s student support group for foster children – was selected after a round of three essays. For more information, contact David Miller, UA media relations, at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.

EVENTS

SATURDAY IN THE PARK CONTINUES AT MOUNDVILLE — Longtime park volunteer and ancient technology specialist Bill Skinner will demonstrate and explain the different tools and weapons used by Southeastern Indians and other tribal people around the world during this weekend’s Saturday in the Park program at UA’s Moundville Archaeological Park. Children will have an opportunity to use an atlatl, which is a spear-throwing device, and learn how to weave and try out a simple sling similar in design to what the Choctaws used. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.

CURRENT COMMENT

DOPING NOT JUST A PROBLEM IN BASEBALL – With a decision about New York Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez’s fate on the diamond pending from the Major League Baseball commissioner’s office, many eyes have turned to the problem of pro baseball players using performance-enhancing drugs. However, Dr. Andrew Billings, Ronald Reagan Endowed Chair for Broadcasting in UA’s department of telecommunication and film, said while much of the attention falls to baseball, it’s a problem in many other sports, too. Yet PEDs are often pegged as a baseball problem. “Biogenesis is currently unpacked as another baseball scandal related to performance-enhancing drugs,” Billings said. “However, Biogenesis is also linked to athletes in the NBA, professional tennis and Mixed-Martial Arts.  Why does baseball hold a unique position among all sports when it concerns PEDs?” Contact Dr. Billings, 205/348-8658, acbillings@ua.edu, or Misty Mathews, UA media relations, 205/348-6416, mmathews@ua.edu.

LOOKING AHEAD

FRESHMEN HONORS STUDENTS TO BEGIN COMMUNITY SERVICE – More than 250 UA Honors College freshmen and upper-class leaders will begin the fall semester with community service projects through Alabama Action and Outdoor Action. The programs will run from Sunday, Aug. 11, to Friday, Aug. 16, in the West Alabama community. Students in the Honors College’s Alabama Action will be working at local elementary schools, while the Honor College’s Outdoor Action students will be working on rivers and creeks. A media day for Alabama Action is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Brookwood Elementary School and, for Outdoor Action, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Hurricane Creek. For details, contact Susan Alley at 205/348-5500, susan.alley@ua.edu or Randy Mecredy at 205/348-2136 or rmecredy@bama.ua.edu. For assistance, contact UA media relations, 205/348-5320.