University of Alabama researchers seek clues about heavens using Antarctic ice
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 25
The work by a team of international scientists including researchers from the University of Alabama to observe signs of subatomic particles from the farthest reaches of the Milky Way and beyond could provide clues about black holes, supernovas and other phenomena. “It’s a very exciting thing for the field of neutrino astronomy,” said UA associate professor of physics Dawn Williams. Williams is among the co-authors of a paper in the Nov. 22 edition of the journal Science about the observation of 28 very high-energy particle events that researchers believe constitute the first evidence of high-energy neutrinos from beyond our solar system. The observations came from data collected between May 2010 and May 2012 from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, a sensor array of more than 5,000 digital optical modules suspended along 86 cables embedded in a cubic kilometer of ice beneath the South Pole.
Panhellenic sorority gets first black president
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 22
Roughly three weeks ago, Hannah Patterson was elected president of the University of Alabama’s Sigma Delta Tau sorority, making her the chapter’s first black president. The Nov. 6 election also made the senior majoring in chemical engineering the first black president of a Panhellenic Council sorority, the collection of historically white sororities on campus, according to UA’s Media Relations Director Cathy Andreen. In September, the sororities, which have added a handful of black members during the past decade, began a mandatory open bidding process to increase diversity following allegations that some black students who participated in the fall rush were denied bids because of their race.
Yuengling sisters pleased with brewery’s steady growth
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 22
Two members of the family that owns the oldest American brewery said the company plans to continue its path to steady growth. “We’re in 14 states right now and D.C.,” Jennifer Yuengling, plant coordinator for D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc., said in Tuscaloosa on Thursday during a lecture and beer-tasting event sponsored by the University of Alabama Human and Environmental Science department. “Probably the first quarter of 2014, we will be going into the state of Massachusetts and then, hopefully, by next year we will have the rest of New England covered with the potential of maybe some more southern states, Mississippi and Louisiana as well,” she said. Jennifer Yuengling and her sister, Sheryl Yuengling, a graduate of the University of Alabama in 2001 with a bachelor of science degree in human and environmental science, were inducted Thursday into the UA Hospitality Hall of Fame.
UA students work with Hope Clinic on funding, marketing strategies
Daily Mountain Eagle – Nov. 22
The Hope Clinic held a meeting Thursday with its board of directors, Paul Kennedy of the Walker Area Community Foundation and a professor and class from the University of Alabama. Kennedy presented a donation from the Foundation to Hope Clinic. Don Goetz said the Walker Area Community Foundation has been the largest single supporter since the clinic’s inception, providing much-needed assistance throughout the years. The board also heard from Chapman Greer, a professor of management at the Culverhouse College of Commerce at the University of Alabama, who is working with her class this semester to develop ideas to help the Hope Clinic become self-sustaining through finding marketing strategies that would generate regular donors and ongoing resources for the clinic.
Nick’s Kids, Habitat for Humanity dedicate 15th new home
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 22
Habitat for Humanity has completed 35 homes in Tuscaloosa since the devastation of the April 27, 2011, tornado. Fifteen of those Habitat homes were built with the help Nick’s Kids, the charity operated by University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban and his wife, Terry. On Friday, the keys to the 15th home built through the partnership were presented to Shalare Powell and Nicholas Giles at a dedication ceremony on Juanita Drive. “(We) certainly feel the most sort of gratitude or happiness for the family who is going to be able to enjoy this house and make it their home,” Nick Saban said at the dedication. The partnership began after the tornado as the “13 For 13 Home Building Project” and as the Crimson Tide won more national championships, two more houses were built.
Al.com – Nov. 22
University of Alabama study: Christmastime traffic worse than other holidays
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 23
A recent study of Alabama traffic data by the University of Alabama’s Center for Advanced Public Safety predicts the days near Christmas this year will likely be more dangerous on the roadways than similar periods around Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. A probable cause for the increase of accidents near Christmas is the heavy traffic associated with last-minute shopping during the days before and drivers traveling long distances to unfamiliar locations, said David Brown, a computer science professor at UA and a research associate with CAPS, in a statement released by the university. This year, Brown predicts Dec. 20 through Dec. 23 will be the worst days. The actual holidays are typically safer for travel since there is less traffic, according to the study.
Learning curve: grouping students by ability works in language classes
South China Morning Post – Nov. 22
A parent raised an interesting issue recently when she asked why students are grouped by ability in a language class – for example, in beginners, intermediate and advanced groups when studying French or Putonghua – but they are not grouped by ability in my biology class, when some students struggle more than others in understanding abstract concepts and biological jargon. She was referring to the practice of grouping students of similar ability for instructional purposes. Yes, one size does not fit all – so ability grouping can be used for any subject. But most schools have mixed-ability grouping for science subject …An observational study by Carol Tieso from the University of Alabama found significant differences in students’ maths scores after being placed in ability groups.
Tuscaloosa County’s jobless rate holds steady at 5.5%
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 23
Tuscaloosa County’s unemployment rate was unchanged from September to October, staying at 5.5 percent, according to the employment report released Friday. Alabama’s unemployment rate was 6.5 percent, up from 6.4 percent in September. State Labor Commissioner Tom Surtees said the federal government shutdown at the start of October affected the latest numbers…University of Alabama economist Ahmad Ijaz said the unemployment numbers for Tuscaloosa look good. He noted that the September figures reflect teachers and school support staff returning to work. Alabama’s unemployment numbers “went up a little even though there has been a sizable decline in the (state’s) civilian workforce,” he said.
University of Alabama centralizes oversight in the student receivables office
University Business – Nov. 25
Upon deciding that a more uniform approach was required when it came to the nontuition revenue being generated by departments across campus, The University of Alabama officials established policies designed to regain control of what had been, up to that point, highly decentralized. Segmented into three areas—revenue-generating operations, credit card operations, and eCommerce ventures—the policies centralized the oversight and handling of funds within the student receivables office. For example, funds derived from revenue-generating operations must be deposited and recorded by student receivables. “This allows for one central system to be the cash receipts recording mechanism, and provides a means for SR to verify funds, oversee timeliness of depositing, identify problem areas and so on,” says Carlene Jones, director of receivables and collections.
How campuses are streamlining payment planning
University Business – Nov. 25
From the sale of tickets to athletic or performing arts events, to housing and parking fees and fines, as well as merchandise sales and event sponsorships, there are myriad alternative sources of revenue coming in to various departments on a given campus throughout the year…All required charges, and additional student charges incurred during the term, go through the University of Alabama’s Office of Student Receivables. This wasn’t always the case; UA was once much more decentralized, says Carlene Jones, director, receivables and collection. “As a result, the revenue-generating that occurred in various departments was handled however the untrained personnel managed it.” Instructors or departments collected funds from students to cover costs outside normal student billing. Departments established “businesses” selling items without approval, creating the potential for numerous violations and liabilities, as well as entering into ventures not in UA’s best interest overall, says Jones. UA has close to 300 revenue-generating operations—some very large like athletics; some small, like geology map sales. There are also numerous other revenue sources, such as concerts, theater productions, museum admissions. “We realized that while nonfinancial departments were usually very good at accomplishing their primary mission, they needed financial expertise help since their actions related to the collection of funds could inadvertently damage UA’s name or create a liability,” Jones says.
Program studies evolution, its importance to K-12 education
Crimson White – Nov. 25
Taylor Burbach, a junior majoring in anthropology, said she was not taught anything about evolution while in high school. It was in her textbook, but when it came time to cover that section, her teacher told her it would not be a part of the class. Burbach, a Birmingham native, is not alone. Christopher Lynn is a University of Alabama professor in the anthropology department and co-director of the evolutionary studies program, which is a minor and club that studies evolution across multiple disciplines. He said many students across the state are left at a disadvantage when teachers and schools choose to exclude evolution from the curriculum. “Alabama doesn’t do so well at teaching evolutionary principles at the K-12 level for a variety of reasons – the big one is cultural. Another one is simply a lack of science standards at the state level for it,” Lynn said. According to a 2009 survey, Alabama ranked last in evolution education practices. “It behooves us to give [the students] a better, more well-rounded education,” Lynn said.
Absence of 3D Printing in Schools Already Considered a Disadvantage
Softpedia – Nov. 22
Even though it’s still an emerging technology, 3D printing has begun to truly excite everyone when present, and discourage them when absent. Some are heeding the call, preparing 3D printing spaces. Examples are University of New Hampshire, University of Alabama and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign…53 students from the University of Alabama have been trained in the use of 3D printers…
Memorial held at UA to remember JFK
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Nov. 22
People across the nation paused today to remember president John F. Kennedy. He was assassinated 50 years ago today in Dallas. In Tuscaloosa, more than a dozen people gathered at Denny Chimes on the University of Alabama campus, they paused for a two minute moment of silence followed by the chimes playing God Bless America.
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Nov. 22
SHECO to expand local operation
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 22
Southern Heat Exchanger Corp. (SHECO) plans to expand its plant in the Fosters Ferry Industrial Park and increase its workforce to meet increasing customer demand, the company announced Thursday. SHECO was started in Tuscaloosa in 1961 and makes customized industrial heat exchangers. It has three plants in the Tuscaloosa area and another plant in Houston…Allison Arendale will be the first woman to chair the board since its creation in 1975. She is director of financial affairs at the University of Alabama’s College of Community Health Sciences.