MONDAY, DEC. 9 – SUNDAY, DEC. 15, 2013
BEST BETS
UA TO HOLD WINTER COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES DEC. 14 AT COLEMAN COLISEUM – Commencement exercises on Saturday, Dec. 14 will be split into two ceremonies at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Graduates from the College of Commerce & Business Administration, College of Communication & Information Sciences, College of Engineering, School of Social Work and Law School will participate in the 9 a.m. ceremony. Graduates from the College of Arts & Sciences, College of Education, College of Human Environmental Sciences and Capstone College of Nursing will participate at 1:30 p.m. More than 2,150 undergraduates and graduate students are degree candidates. Dr. Yasmin Neggers, professor of human nutrition at UA, will serve as commencement marshal. Saturday’s ceremony will be broadcast live over the Internet. The webcast will be archived on this UA website, ua.edu/commencement/, and it will be available for viewing through Dec. 31. More information can be found at registrar.ua.edu/degrees/commencement or contact David Miller, UA media relations, at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.
UA STUDY: HOLIDAY DRIVING DANGEROUS, MORE SO JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS – Analyzing Alabama auto crash data during six-day periods surrounding Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s, UA researchers found the days just before Christmas, as people rush to buy presents and travel to holiday destinations, can be more dangerous on roadways than the days surrounding the other two major holidays. For more information, visit http://uanews.ua.edu/2013/11/ua-study-holiday-driving-dangerous-more-so-just-before-christmas or contact Adam Jones at 205/348-6444 or acjones12@eng.ua.edu.
UA ENGINEERING RESEARCH ON RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS LEADS TO PATENT – Renewable energy sources such as wind-powered generators can be more reliable and efficient by better controlling the process of getting electricity onto the power grid, according to a United States patent based on research by Dr. Shuhui Li, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at The University of Alabama. For more information, watch UA News or contact Adam Jones at 205/348-6444 or acjones12@eng.ua.edu.
CURRENT COMMENT
SHORTER HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON LEADS TO DEALS FOR CONSUMERS ─ A shorter holiday shopping season for 2013 has brought out intense competition among retailers and that means discounts for consumers according to a University of Alabama professor. Marketing professor Kristy Reynolds with the Culverhouse College of Commerce said retail sales have been up since stores opened their doors on Thanksgiving Day. Stores are offering huge discounts and promotions because of the intense competition. The number of deals has increased significantly and the average discount has increased. Contact: Edith Parten, UA media relations, 205/348-8318 or eparten@Culverhouse.ua.edu
UA EXPERT TIPS
UA MATTERS: EASY HOLIDAY TRADITIONS TO START WITH THE FAMILY – Along with giving children a sense of togetherness with family, holiday traditions can be passed down for generations to come. The University of Alabama’s Kelly Avery, a curriculum specialist in the College of Human Environmental Sciences’ Child Development Research Center, shares a few simple traditions families can start this holiday season, http://uanews.ua.edu/2013/12/ua-matters-easy-holiday-traditions-to-start-with-the-family/. Contact: UA media relations, 205/348-5320.
UA’S HEALTH CORNER PROVIDES PRACTICAL HEALTH TIPS – Dr. Nancy Rubin focuses on signs of holiday depression and where people should go for help in the latest video in UA’s Health Corner, http://vimeo.com/album/2551337/video/75789364. The video series addresses health topics and provides practical advice and guidance from UA’s expert sources and physicians in the College of Community Health Sciences. A new video topic posts every Wednesday morning. Contact: UA media relations, 205/348-5320.