University of Alabama tops Auburn in annual food drive
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 27
The University of Alabama beat Auburn University in the 20th annual food drive leading up to the Iron Bowl by collecting 299,398 pounds of food to Auburn’s 169,702 pounds. “I am extremely proud of all of the members of the Capstone community,” said Courtney Chapman Thomas, director of UA’s Community Service Center, in a statement released by the university. “Our students, faculty, staff, local community members and alumni have stepped up to fight food insecurity in Alabama. Their efforts truly make a difference to the lives of the individuals who use the services of the West Alabama Food Bank. They are all true and living examples of the university’s commitment to service.” The annual drive pits the instate rivals in a competition to collect the most food and donations for their regional food banks in the weeks leading up to the Iron Bowl. Over the years, the annual competition has collected more than 3 million pounds of nonperishable food, according to UA and the West Alabama Food Bank.
WRBL-CBS (Columbus, Ga.) – Nov. 29
NBC 13 (Birmingham) – Nov. 28
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Nov. 28
WTVM-ABC (Columbus, Ga.) – Nov. 27
College’s female president reflects on her first year
Post and Courier (Charleston, S.C.) – Nov. 29
A year after becoming president of the University of Alabama, Judy Bonner has guided the institution through record-breaking growth, the death of Athletics Director Mal Moore, and the integration of traditionally white sororities. Bonner, the university’s first female president, reflected on that year recently in a speech to the faculty and staff and outlined goals for the future. Faculty Senate President Steve Miller said it has been a challenging first year, but in her short time, Bonner, 66, has had as much impact on the university as football coach Nick Saban. “She is a great president,” Miller said. Alabama’s board of trustees quickly selected Bonner a year ago after the abrupt departure of President Guy Bailey. She had a long history at Alabama, earning two degrees and holding a variety of administrative posts, including provost and executive vice president.
Harsh Weather Conditions And Increase In Road Travel Can Be A Lethal Combination; Drive Carefully Over The Thanksgiving Break
NBC 38 (Columbus, Ga.) – Nov. 27
Thanksgiving is among the top ten holidays where increased travel leads to a spike in auto accidents…And more traffic on the road means greater probability of fatal crashes, according to a recent study of traffic data by The University of Alabama Center for Advanced Public Safety.
Insurance Journal – Nov. 27
Use Your Sales Force’s Competitive Intelligence Wisely
Harvard Business Review – Nov. 26
The vast majority of your marketing data, whether from purchases or surveys, tells you about your business customers’ past behaviors. But the past is over. Your job as a manager is to know what your customers will do next month or next year. Who has data about the future? Your salespeople, that’s who. The sales force has abundant information about the initiatives and products that your competitors are planning and, therefore, the kinds of choices that your customers will be facing in the near future. That competitive intelligence can not only help individual salespeople become more effective, it can also help your company make better strategic decisions. But research I conducted with Douglas E. Hughes of Michigan State University and Adam Rapp of the University of Alabama shows that in the wrong hands, competitive intelligence can have a negative impact on sales and market share. So if you acquire information from customers, you’d better use it well, or it may hinder, rather than help, your sales efforts.
Peanut Butter Is Saving Starving African Children
48 News (Huntsville) – Nov. 27
Americans consume on average over 1.5 billion pounds of peanut butter and peanut products annually, however for mal-nourished children in Africa, peanut butter is a ready-to-use therapeutic food that’s saving lives. Also in the December issue, results of a recent report from the University of Alabama and published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics that says whole fruit is the preferred way to consume antioxidants and fiber, compared to fruit juice.
2014 health-care extensions varying by company, state
Decatur Daily – Dec. 1
Starting a few days before Christmas, Debbie Riordan of Decatur will pay $453 a month for her 2014 individual health insurance policy. That’s about double what she had been paying. Riordan is one of about 4 million Americans who were told earlier this fall that their current policies weren’t compliant with the Affordable Care Act and would be discontinued…Bill Rabel, the Bickley Endowed Teaching Chair in Insurance and Financial Services at the University of Alabama, said some insurers can be more flexible than others and are in a better position to retrace their steps in order to keep the plans they thought they were nixing. “One of the problems is, of course, when you get all geared up to do one thing, then all of a sudden someone says, ‘No, do this,’ ” Rabel said. “The question is, can they still sever their policyholders and make a fair rate of return?”
Avoiding overspending
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Nov. 27
Some families make a holiday tradition out of taking advantage of Black Friday sales. But part of that tradition can turn into big bills at the first of the year. Tonight we have three tips you can use to avoid overspending. Fox 6 news reporter Erika Gonzalez is with us to share some expert, moneysaving advice. Steve and Beth, number one: set a budget and more importantly, stick to it. Consumer expert Jan Brakefield with the University of Alabama says there are several factors to consider when you are setting a budget. She says to take a careful look at your current debt level and your cash flow. Then find a number that makes sense for you and your family.
David Beito and Linda Royster Beito: Unsung Howard inspired legends
Montgomery Advertiser – Nov. 27
As we approach the anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, it is time to not only acknowledge Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. but also the unsung contributions of earlier activists. Few deserve recognition more than Dr. T.R.M. Howard. Only four days before Parks refused to give up her seat, she had attended Howard’s fiery speech before an overflow crowd at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery. The speech dealt with the recent murder of Emmett Till. The official host for the event was a largely unknown 26-year-old pastor named Martin Luther King Jr. When Parks was arrested on Dec. 1, Howard’s speech was still headline news in the local black press. By that time, Howard had long been a civil rights legend for blacks in Montgomery and elsewhere. (David T. Beito, a history professor at the University of Alabama, and Linda Royster Beito, chair of social sciences at Stillman College, wrote “Black Maverick: T.R.M. Howard’s Fight for Civil Rights and Economic Power.”)
On Bailey Thomson: Reflection of a leader from classmate
Anniston Star – Dec. 1
In the 10 years since the death of my friend Bailey Thomson, I have thought often of him and the high standards for which he lived. Being the youngest of eight children and losing his father at the age of 14, Bailey was more mature than the rest of us. He took his studies seriously and physically carried himself with a confidence and sophistication unknown to his classmates. By our senior year, he was writing for the local weekly newspaper. As editor of our high school newspaper in Aliceville, he changed the mimeographed gossip sheet into a printed tabloid with worthy news. He cajoled us into writing assignments and selling ads to finance his first newspaper, The Stinger. Our paths crossed infrequently at the University of Alabama. He was always friendly but busily committed to the Crimson White, for which he served as editor, and seriously committed to his studies of Spanish and Southern history. By graduation, he wisely followed his heart and dedicated himself to a search for truth through journalism…He was dedicated to his students but his real passion, after his love of family and journalism, was his steadfast commitment to the reform of Alabama’s 1901 Constitution…His wife Kristi and I laughed and cried recently when we moved his manuscripts to the University of Alabama Libraries. Kristi was honoring Bailey’s intentions and I was pleased to be receiving his manuscripts for the university he loved.
(Mary Bess Paluzzi is associate dean for Special Collections for the University of Alabama Libraries.)
Imported organic impostors (Your view)
Al.com – Nov. 28
As consumer worries mount over the quality of food production, there is a thriving demand for organic produce. Consumer concerns stem from the exposure of alarming practices in industrial agriculture by organic enthusiasts such as the Cornucopia Institute, as well as ethical and safety hazards resulting from misdirected incentives to cut costs and boost profit margins. Unfortunately, as more Americans invest in “organic” products, they may be in for a disheartening reality. The U.S. organic market is saturated with imported produce from an array of countries, each with varying standards for certification. Of particular concern are the many accusations in recent years about fraudulent and poor quality organic imports from China. (Misha Mitchell, Tuscaloosa, student at the University of Alabama School of Law)
The doors of Foster Auditorium
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Nov. 27
It’s been fifty years since Governor George Wallace’s infamous stand in the schoolhouse doors here at The Capstone. And all during this year we’ve heard a lot about the major figures from that historic day: Governor Wallace, Vivian Malone, James Hood, and others. But, what about the doors themselves? You might be surprised to find out what happened to them, and where they are now.
College of Engineering sees growth
Crimson White – Dec. 2
Ten years, four buildings and $270,222,013 later, the Science and Engineering Quad on the northeast side of campus is home to new laboratories and state-of-the-art technology. Shelby Hall, named for U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby and completed in 2004, has 70 research labs, five teaching labs, and a number of offices and classrooms. It cost $59,729,584 to complete and also has a glass-blowing facility, which makes some of the equipment used in research projects. The Science and Engineering Complex was completed in summer 2009 for $70,595,277. The South Engineering Research Center, which opened in January 2012, is home to research in structures, dynamics, automotive combustion, electromechanical systems and embedded systems. It cost $69,897,152.
Alabama committed to reducing annual energy use
Crimson White – Dec. 2
The University of Alabama is set to meet its goal of annually reducing energy usage by two percent per gross square footage of building space, despite pressure from facility and population growth. Greg McKelvey, director and UA energy manager, said the University has historically rated No. 1 in its peer group, as determined by Sightlines, LLC, an independent organization that compiles universities into groups of similar type and benchmarks their energy performance. The two percent reduction goal has been met every year since it was set. McKelvey said it was not meant to be an easy goal, and the department believes it can continue to meet it. “We wanted to establish a goal that was a reach – that resulted in us pushing ourselves [but was also] obtainable,” he said. According to a report provided by Facilities Operations, the University used 36 percent less energy than peer universities during the 2012 fiscal year.
LOCAL Q&A 11/29: Meredith Cummings
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 29
Meredith Cummings teaches journalism, leads a nonprofit and freelances. She talked with Tusk this week about how the University of Alabama’s wellspring is one of her favorite aspects of the area, and urging her students to find a cause to support …
Nutrition directors a secret weapon for SEC football programs
Athens Herald-Banner – Nov. 27
Team dietitians emphasize “great fuel choices, timing and consistency” when they advise athletes about eating, said Amy Bragg, chief nutritionist for the University of Alabama. “All athletes need regular protein-centered meals and recovery foods post-practice and post-conditioning.”
Local groups plan Thanksgiving meals
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 27
The East Tuscaloosa Community Soup Bowl will serve a Thanksgiving meal this week, but it will be offered Wednesday instead of Thursday. The meal, which is being served between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at Hargrove United Methodist Church, is a joint project with the University of Alabama program “Swipe Away Hunger.” “Through … Swipe Away Hunger, a lot of university students have donated their unused meals from dining dollars, which is being converted to food for us to serve,” said Charlie Simmons, community soup bowl director.
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – Nov. 27
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Nov. 27
Locals to observe World AIDS Day on Sunday
Montgomery Advertiser – Nov. 27
World AIDS Day events are held each year in communities across the country and in countries across the sea… Prattville became one of those communities a couple of years ago, and the local program has apparently been well received by local residents who either suffer from or know of someone, including family members, who suffers from one or both of the as-yet-incurable medical conditions…The local awareness day also carries the co-sponsorship of Prattville’s Bethlehem Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. The local church’s pastor recently attended a national HIV-AIDS conference in Boston, where he presented a report that was part of a study on the stigma that is generally attached by rural churches to the conditions. “Dr. Pamela Foster of the University of Alabama’s Rural Health Unit invited me to come up and give a report,” said Pastor Samuel H. Gordon III, who said some of the statistics revealed in Boston were eye-opening to a minister whose congregation includes one of the key components of HIV-AIDS demographics.
Arc program matches jobs to workers with disabilities
Tuscaloosa News – Dec. 1
Three years ago, the house manager at Delta Chi fraternity was having trouble finding employees willing to do the jobs for which they were hired. She had to fire one after only three days and another quit after just a week, but The Arc of Tuscaloosa County’s Palk Enterprises supported-employment program solved her problems. “If I had 10 jobs, I would hire 10 people (from the program),” said Vivian Anderson, the house manager for Delta Chi and another University of Alabama fraternity. “They are happy to have a job. They work very, very hard. They’re glad to do whatever you ask them to do.” PESE began in 1985 as a fee-for-service program offering individuals with intellectual disabilities employment. In nearly 30 years, the program has grown to offer customers with both intellectual and physical disabilities supported employment.
UA community honors African heritage through Kwanzaa holiday
Crimson White – Dec. 2
As Christmas trees are decorated and Menorahs are lit, another celebration brings a different flavor to the holiday season. Kwanzaa was born in the midst of the civil rights era in 1966. After Martin Luther King Jr. died, Maulana Karenga, professor and chair of African Studies at California State University, wanted to reverse negative perceptions after all the riots and bring the African-American community together. This holiday is not religious, but instead unites all African-Americans through their common heritage and culture…Bill Foster, an adjunct instructor for the department of gender and race studies at The University of Alabama, is in charge of organizing the Kwanzaa festivities at the Christian Community Church. The celebration includes singing, speakers and various activities. Foster said the common misconception that Kwanzaa is religious takes away the true spirit of the holiday: unity of all African-Americans. This year, Kwanzaa will last from Dec. 26-Jan. 1.
Turning Point benefit to feature ornament signed by Nick Saban
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 29
A local Christmas tree will be decorated with a Nick Saban-autographed ornament this year, thanks to the local charity Turning Point. Turning Point’s first “It’s Ornamental” Christmas party and silent auction will be held Dec. 10 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion at 1305 Greensboro Ave. “Turning Point works year-round with the victims of domestic abuse in the nine-county West Alabama area. We assist victims as well as provide education programs, counseling and advocacy to those who need our services,” Catherine Bridgers, executive director of Turning Point, said in a news release. “We also present programs on violence prevention for children and young people. “Our hope is that awareness of violence and violent behavior will help potential victims to recognize its signs. Our shelter alone has served 75 victims and their children this year.”
ETBU choir returns from Carnegie Hall performance
Marshall News Messenger (Texas) – Nov. 27
In a “once-in-a-lifetime” performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City on Nov. 17, the Concert Choir of East Texas Baptist University performed the beautiful and melodious Lux Aeterna, garnering a standing ovation as the group concluded the performance. The ETBU singers were part of a 150-member ensemble of singers and players from the University of Alabama, three high school choirs, selected church choirs, and the New England Symphonic Ensemble.
The Gulf Coast Debutante Society presents the 2013 Coterie
Biloxi Sun Herald (Miss.) – Nov. 30
Gulf Coast Debutante Society board recently announced 30 debutantes for the 2013 Coterie. Since 1966, young ladies from the cities along the Coast have been presented to society at this social gathering. This year’s coterie will make their debut on Dec. 16 in the Cypress Cove Ballroom at the Hollywood Casino Hotel in Bay St. Louis. The debutantes: Margaret Elizabeth Artigues of Bay St. Louis attends the University of Alabama. She is majoring in psychology and pre-occupational therapy, and is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, the University of Alabama Occupational Therapy Society and the Dean’s List. Meg is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Joseph Artigues Jr. Her grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Joseph Artigues of Bay St. Louis and Mrs. Lucien Marion Gex Jr. and the late Mr. Gex of Bay St. Louis …
Hattiesburg American (Miss.) – Nov. 30