Alabama baseball stadium renovations approved at board of trustees meeting
AL.com – Nov. 8
The University of Alabama Board of Trustees revealed the first set of renderings depicting renovations of UA’s Sewell-Thomas Baseball Stadium Thursday, just two months after green lighting the $30 million project. While the project is being touted as a renovation, due to plans to retain the existing site and basic structures, the project is expected to give the complex an entire face-lift.
WVUA-TV (Tuscaloosa) – Nov. 8
Bonner presents ‘success agendas’
Crimson White – Nov. 11
University of Alabama President Judy Bonner presented the UA Institutional Presentation to the Board of Trustees on Friday, which outlined an overview of her first year in office and detailed ‘success agendas’ for students and faculty. Bonner recapped some of the year’s pivotal events including the Through the Doors celebration of 50 years of University integration, the death of former UA Athletics Director Mal Moore and the success following continuous open bidding for Panhellenic sororities. “We have one of the most beautiful campuses in America, but the asset we have that makes this university the capstone of higher education is our people,” Bonner said. “Going forward, we are going to focus more sharply on creating a culture of success for our students, for our faculty and staff and for our community and state.”
Veterans Day events: 11/10
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 10
Here’s a look at local events planned through Monday in observance of Veterans Day: -1:30 p.m. today: Military appreciation day at the University of Alabama women’s volleyball game against Missouri at Foster Auditorium. . . . 11 a.m. to noon Monday: on the Quad in front of the Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library. Rain location will be in 205 Gorgas Library. Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Duane Lamb, UA assistant vice president, facilities and grounds, will be the keynote speaker. A Walk of Champions featuring luminaries is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on the north side of Bryant-Denny Stadium.
‘Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson’ a bloody good time
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 8
“Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson” tells the story of the United States’ seventh president in an unconventional fashion, through satirical comedy and rock music, with the president redefined as an “emo” rock star. “Audiences should not come in expecting to see anything like a typical musical, typical bio-drama or even typical theatrical event,” said John Nara, UA graduate student and director of the production. “In many respects, it is like one long ‘Saturday Night Live’ sketch.” The musical was first staged in 2008 and has been nominated for two Tony Awards, an Outer Critics Circle Award and two Drama Desk Awards. The UA Department of Theatre and Dance began work on its version in September.
Crimson White – Nov. 11
8 ways science can improve your relationship
The Date Report – Oct. 30
Limit your sacrifices when you feel stressed: A study conducted at the University of Arizona by Dr. Casey Totenhagen, who is currently at the University of Alabama, says that while making sacrifices in a romantic relationship is usually a good thing, doing so when you are feeling extra stressed-out may not be. 164 couples, married and unmarried, filled out daily online surveys, over seven days as part of the study. They recorded the daily small sacrifices they made for their partner and were asked to report on their stressors that day. Scientists found that people who made sacrifices for their partners generally reported feeling more committed in the wake of their kind actions. But when they made sacrifices on days when they had experienced a lot of stress, they did not. “It may be a good idea for people to just take a few minutes out of their day to reflect not just on their own day, but also their partner’s day as well,” says Totenhagen in light of her findings. “Also—think about the nice things that your partner might have done for you today and take a moment to acknowledge him or her for them.”
‘Against the Tide’ tells of landmark moment
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 9
“Against the Tide” sounds deceptive for the Showtime documentary that premiered at the Cobb Hollywood 16 Friday night, to an invited audience. It’s anything but anti-Alabama, painting the program and legendary Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant in golden light. The title refers instead to those bucking the tide of history in the ’60s, fans, alumni and others who had to be sold on the idea of an integrated University of Alabama football team. Those recalcitrant types were won over by a loss, after the University of Southern California Trojans came to Birmingham’s Legion Field to open the 1970 season, trouncing the Tide 42-21.
Governor Bentley will kick off Special Olympics Unified Flag Football game on Saturday in Tuscaloosa
WAAY-TV (Huntsville) – Nov. 8
Gov. Robert Bentley will kick off the Special Olympics unified flag football game in Tuscaloosa on Saturday. The University of Alabama’s University Recreation Department and students have joined with Special Olympics to host a flag football game between Special Olympics athletes and students from both the University of Alabama and Louisiana State University. The event will start at 9 a.m. at the University of Alabama Recreational Fields.
Tailgating is all about fun, tradition; the fans agree on the food
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 10
A few extra menu items were added to tailgates in Tuscaloosa on Saturday as some Louisiana favorites were served alongside traditional local favorites. “Today, we’re going to do your typical fare — hamburgers, hot dogs, bratwurst and jambalaya,” said Keith Owens, who comes from Helena to tailgate each week. “We do jambalaya and shrimp boil every year for LSU. Now it’s an eight-year tradition.”Owens’ tailgating traditions began when he and his friends started to bring the RV and tents to the game. The group came together as coworkers, and they now tailgate together every Alabama home game.
WSFA-TV (Montgomery) – Nov. 8
Alabama Fan Tailgate of the Week: Campus Veterans Association
AL.com – Nov. 11
Dozens of servicemen and veterans stopped by a tailgate held in their honor Saturday before the Alabama Crimson Tide made a statement in their 38-17 victory against the LSU Tigers in Bryant Denny Stadium. The University of Alabama Campus Veterans Association sets up a tailgate for the men and women who have or plan to serve their nation every week, but the group’s president Jesse Flagg said more people stopped in Saturday than usual. He credited both the camaraderie that Veterans Day brings and the huge number of people in Tuscaloosa this weekend for what was easily the biggest home game of the season. About four hours before kickoff, Flagg estimated that 80 people had visited the tailgate to have some food, play cornhole and watch other games before the Tide’s kickoff. About half of those people were veterans, Flagg said.
University prepares for big game against LSU
WCOV-Fox (Montgomery) – Nov. 8
It’s being called the game of year as LSU travels to play rival Alabama tomorrow at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Both university and city officials have been hard at work, preparing for an exciting, but safe event…Here at Alabama, parking and traffic on regular days can be difficult. And even more so on game days. That’s why school officials are working to make everything as smooth as possible. Gina Johnson with UA gameday operations says her team starts preparing for a game this big a year in advance. “This game is the biggest game of the season for us on campus, and we will have increased security.” Extra security will come from state troopers, the Tuscaloosa sheriff’s office and Tuscaloosa police.
WAKA-CBS (Montgomery) – Nov. 8
Melissa Joan Hart signs books at UA SupeStore
WVUA TV (Tuscaloosa) – Nov. 9
Television star Melissa Joan Hart was in Tuscaloosa today. You may know her from shows like Clarissa Explains It All and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. She signed copies of her new book, “Melissa Explains It All,” for fans at the University SupeStore today. Turns out The University of Alabama is very close to the celebrity s heart. Around 10 years ago, she became a Crimson Tide fan because of her husband, who is from the state. You can buy her book at the University of Alabama SupeStore.
Wacky signs, costumes, fans wake up for another memorable ESPN College GameDay in Tuscaloosa
AL.com – Nov. 9
As usual, college football fans from every direction turned out on a brisk and sunny morning for ESPN’s “College GameDay” broadcast prior to the Alabama-LSU showdown at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa on Saturday. People in banana suits, crimson sombreros, custom superhero garb and all sorts of wackiness populated the Walk of Champions as Chris Fowler and company doled out fresh content previewing tonight’s SEC West slugfest.
UA honors students mentor 280 children in world of chess
Crimson White – Nov. 11
The silence was deafening. Jenna Jackson and her fellow chess teammates had suddenly transformed from a bunch of kids milling around to serious players debating their every move. Jackson, a seventh grader at the Tuscaloosa Magnet School, is part of the Every Move Counts program. Designed to teach kids various skills through chess, the program is a University Honors seminar that meets twice a week to instruct mentors in the art of teaching chess and then requires two hours a week working with kids in a school. Every Move Counts started in spring of 2010 with just 12 sixth grade students being taught by three students from The University of Alabama. Now, this fall, 54 UA students help teach 280 kids ranging from second to 12th grade from seven different Tuscaloosa city schools. Courtney Stokes, a research project coordinator for the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility, primarily deals with this program and said that the hardest part is adapting to the increasing growth of interest in the program.
Visiting professor presents species problem to WSU students
Weber State (Utah) University Signpost – Nov. 9
When a question is posed in science, a hypothesis is made and tested repeatedly. There isn’t much room for philosophical debate. However, a philosophy professor from the University of Alabama, Richard A. Richards, has found such a debate in just one word: species. Richards posed the question of whether species are real to a large group of Weber State University students and professors on Friday evening…Richards is the author of “The Species Problem: A Philosophical Analysis,” which asks whether the term “species” is an adequate term to encompass the scope of exactly what a species is.
Counseling Center offers personal, group sessions
Crimson White – Nov. 11
Last year alone, The University of Alabama Counseling Center saw 24,000 students through 7,000 student sessions. Though October is the busiest season of the year for the therapists and psychiatrists of the UA Counseling Center, the end of the year still sees high numbers of students coming to work through problematic situations and seek advice on everything from school to personal life, all in strict confidence. Ian Sherwood, a psychology trainee who has been with the center since late August, is pursuing a Ph.D. in his field. Like the rest of the Counseling Center’s staff, he enjoys seeing his patients succeed and finding out what they want from their university experience.
UA student elected to National FFA Officer Team
Crimson White – Nov. 11
Going into the ninth grade at Eufala High School, Jackson Harris joined a team of other high school students for a tractor repair competition. It was one of his first experiences with the Future Farmers of America, and five years later Harris still considers it one of his favorite memories of his time in the organization. Harris, currently a sophomore majoring in community development through New College, was one of six students elected to the 2013-14 National FFA Officer Team on Saturday, Nov. 2 at the 86th National FFA Convention and Expo. As the Southern Region Vice President, Harris will spend the next year traveling across the country and internationally as a representative of the National FFA Organization.
HCA brings Bollywood movie night to campus
Crimson White – Nov. 11
In celebration of International Education Week, Honors College Assembly will be hosting a Bollywood movie night on Monday, Nov. 11, where students can see “Three Idiots,” the highest grossing Bollywood movie of all time. The film follows the story of three engingeering students and their takes on education. Chloe Smith, a senior and director of cultural experiences in HCA, said her main motivation for picking an Indian movie night was to help facilitate what students wanted and what she felt the Capstone needed for International Education Week. “The goal of our branch in the Honors College is to bring the world to UA,” Smith said. “So one of the ways we do that is by asking international students to show their own culture, and if they’re not there, it’s like our job to do what we can do. None of us are experts on Indian culture, but we’re doing what we can.”
Football stadiums tackle sustainability
SF Gate (PR Wire) – Nov. 10
Football is a multi-billion dollar business driving trends across multiple markets with its massive influence. Environmental Stewardship is one cause that both collegiate and professional football have continued to move the ball forward on. The company well-known for environmental commercial kitchen solutions, Filta celebrates the NCAAF’s and the NFL’s commitment to Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability by increasing landfill diversion rates through recycling, reduction, and reuse efforts. On Saturdays, The National Champion Alabama Crimson Tide from the University of Alabama had a near perfect record at their home field Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2012. Centerplate who manages the majority of food service for Bryant Denny, turned to local Filta Franchisee JJ Paul to manage the cooking oil and deep fryers. It is his responsibility to ensure the stadium’s cooking oil and fryers are in top shape from event to event. The services provided to the University have generated some impressive results. The Stadium now uses 4,200 fewer pounds of oil than it previously did. The reduction in oil consumption saves money, but it also creates a measurable reduction in environmental impact. To give you some perspective – that saves 8.6 acres of land, 6.1 million gallons of water and reduces carbon emissions by a whopping 3,287 pounds – that is the equivalent of planting 470 trees. The Green advantage clearly goes to the home team.