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MONDAY, FEB. 10 – SUNDAY, FEB. 16, 2014

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WINTER STORM INCREASED CHANCE FOR DEADLY CRASHES IN RURAL AREAS – Not surprisingly, vehicle crashes increased during the winter storm the last week of January in Alabama, but the iced roads shifted the risk of fatal crashes to rural roads away from the clogged roadways in the state’s urban metro areas, according to an analysis of crash data by researchers at The University of Alabama. Watch UA News for more details, or contact Adam Jones in media relations, acjones12@eng.ua.edu or 205/348-6444 or Rhonda Stricklin at the Center for Advanced Public Safety at rstricklin@cs.ua.edu or 205/348-0991.

UA ADDS ARCHITECTURAL, ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING DEGREES – The University of Alabama College of Engineering will offer new degrees in architectural engineering and environmental engineering, beginning this fall, to meet the growing opportunities for engineers with those specialties. See this news release for more details, or contact Adam Jones in media relations, acjones12@eng.ua.edu or 205/348-6444.

UA PROFESSOR STUDIES EFFECTS OF ALCOHOLIC “CUES” – Feeling the effects of drinking alcohol without drinking? One may not notice it, but the brain and body can experience the same myopic effect – narrowing of attention – of alcohol consumption by simply seeing a photograph of an alcoholic beverage. Dr. Phillip Gable, social psychologist at The University of Alabama, recently completed a study in which electroencephalography (EEG), a recording of the brain’s [spontaneous] electrical activity over a short period of time, was used to measure the processes in the urges to drink in 42 students. Gable said the study is built on other works showing that alcohol cues change the way we think about ourselves, like feeling more attractive or dominant. But Gable’s recent findings illustrate that even the idea of alcohol may change the way we see the world around us. “When people have a strong desire to drink, they tend to focus on the goal to drink (alcohol cues), possibly to the detriment of negative consequences associated with drinking … Over time, the cue itself may change our perception of the world around us,” Gable said. For more information, contact David Miller, media relations, at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.

CURRENT COMMENT

WILL INCREASED OLYMPIC COVERAGE BRING INCREASED VIEWERS? – Dr. Andrew Billings, an internationally known scholar on communication and sports, weighs in on NBC’s planned coverage of the 2014 Winter Games: “NBC’s coverage of the Sochi Games will be the most comprehensive for any Winter Olympics by a long shot,” Billings said. “It will be airing more hours than the previous two Olympics (Torino and Vancouver) combined. Moreover, it’ll be the biggest test yet of traditional vs. new media as well as live vs. tape. For non-sports programming, people generally are willing to sacrifice watching something when it airs for watching it when it is convenient.  With sports—and especially the Olympics—people have vocally claimed they desire the opposite, opting for live programming over when it is convenient. Given that NBC will stream everything but the Opening and Closing Ceremonies live via various Internet platforms, such a postulate is really put to the test. Will people seek out live coverage of alpine skiing at 6 a.m. or prefer to wait for the taped coverage in prime-time that evening? London seemingly proved that people would tune in even if they already heard the results on social and mobile media, but will that hold true for the Winter Games with an even larger time zone difference?” Contact: Dr. Andrew Billings, Ronald Reagan Endowed Chair in Broadcasting, department of telecommunication and film, 205/348-8658, acbillings@ua.edu.

UA EXPERT COMMENTS ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH – Dr. Utz McKnight, chair of UA’s gender and race studies department, says, “African-American History Month is an important time to reflect on the role African-Americans have had in the society throughout the history of the United States. As explorers, settlers, slaves, laborers, businessmen, church members, doctors, and lawyers, African Americans have been a part of the building of this democracy, an important element in the fabric of the nation. By celebrating the contributions of this group of Americans for the month of February each year, as a society we recognize the importance of the civil rights movement and the social progress it ushered in for all Americans.” Contact Dr. Utz McKnight, umcknight@as.ua.edu

UA EXPERT TIPS

UA MATTERS: ENERGY SAVINGS IN THE KITCHEN – Because the kitchen contains many large and small appliances that are used daily, the kitchen is a good area to reduce energy. The University of Alabama’s Greg McKelvey, director of HVAC and energy management, shares some simple ways to help cut costs of energy and water, http://uanews.ua.edu/2014/02/energy-savings-in-the-kitchen/. Contact: UA Media Relations, 204/348-5320

UA’S HEALTH CORNER PROVIDES PRACTICAL HEALTH TIPS – Dr. Scott Arnold discusses whether men should be screened for prostate cancer using a PSA screening in the latest video in UA’s Health Corner, https://vimeo.com/85771569. 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.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH EVENTS

AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH EVENTS – UA’s Crossroads Community Center invites the UA campus and community to participate in African-American History Month events throughout February. This year’s campus celebration promotes recognition of the contributions of African-American culture to area communities and the nation. It will highlight moments in African-American history and the ongoing impact of the African-American experience. Events include tours celebrating the civil rights history of UA as well as lectures, exhibits and events. Go to http://uanews.ua.edu/2014/02/ua-celebrates-2014-african-american-history-month-with-tours-events/ for a list of upcoming events. Contact: Richard LeComte, 205/348-3782, rllecomte@ur.ua.edu.

EXHIBIT EXPLORES SLAVERY’S PAST AT UA – An exhibit of materials related to The University of Alabama’s history with slavery is on display in UA’s Gorgas Library. The display, which opens Feb. 3 and closes in early March, is based on work by UA senior Benjamin Flax, who is researching UA’s ties to slavery as part of an independent research project supervised by history professor Dr. Josh Rothman, director of UA’s Summersell Center for the Study of the South. Flax and Rothman will speak about the exhibit at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 13 in the Williams Americana Collection, where the materials are on display. Contact: Bobby Mathews, media relations, 205/348-4956.

UA SPEAKER TO ADDRESS OVERLOOKED ASPECT OF SCOTTSBORO BOYS TRIAL – Linguist, poet, literary critic, and composition and rhetoric scholar Keith Gilyard is scheduled to visit UA Feb. 10-11 as this year’s Bynum spring speaker. Gilyard received his MFA from Columbia and his doctorate from NYU, and his research interests include linguistic diversity, cultural identity, critical literacy, writing instruction, literary texts, and popular culture. Gilyard will give a talk titled “A Life of Struggle: The Case of Louise Thompson Patterson” on Monday, Feb. 10, at 5 p.m. in ten Hoor 125. His talk will focus on activist Louise Thompson Patterson, a figure who has often been overlooked despite her work on the Scottsboro Case and with Sojourners for Truth and Justice. Contact: Bobby Mathews, media relations, 205/348-4956.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH FAMILY NIGHT CELEBRATION SET AT UNIVERSITY PLACE – More than 50 students from The University of Alabama’s College of Education will present interactive learning centers about black history and music for University Place Elementary School students and their family members at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the University Place campus. Pre-service teachers, mostly seniors at UA, will create age-specific, interactive lessons for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. UA graduate student Brian Coates and Alysia Nailor, vocal music education major at UA, will perform Negro Spirituals and African-American gospel songs. Ahmad Ward of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is the featured speaker. For more information, contact David Miller, media relations, at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.

EVENTS

NIGHT OF THE VIOLA – UA’s Sonic Frontiers Series presents violists LaDonna Smith, Jessica Pavone and Wendy Richman in a concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10, in the Bama Theatre’s Greensboro Room, 600 Greensboro Ave. This free concert features three world-class performers of the viola, an often misunderstood “workhorse” instrument of the orchestra. The program is titled “Three Views of Viola.” Contact: Dr. Andrew Raffo Dewar, assistant professor of New College and music, adewar@ua.edu, 205/348-9928

UA MUSEUM CELEBRATES DARWIN DAY — The community is invited to Darwin Day from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, at the Alabama Museum of Natural History in Smith Hall on the UA campus. The free event celebrating Charles Darwin’s 205th birthday will include evolution lectures, interactive exhibits, evolution trivia, photos with Darwin, K-12 poster exhibit, movie night and a cake competition. Contact: Kim Eaton, media relations, 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu or Dr. Dana Ehret, 205/348-7425 or djehret@ua.edu.

UA PRESENTS SPORT MANAGEMENT LECTURE SERIES — The University of Alabama’s Dr. Andrew Billings will present “The Olympic Games” as part of the College of Human Environmental Sciences 2014 Distinguished Lectures in Sport Management on Wednesday, Feb. 12. The hour-long, free lecture will take place at 1 p.m. in 247 Bryant Hall; the public is invited to attend. Contact: Kim Eaton, 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu; Dr. Ken Wright, 205/348-4705 or kwright@bama.ua.edu.

LOOKING AHEAD

NOTED FEMALE CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS TO SPEAK AT UA — The first black woman to earn a law degree at The University of Mississippi will be one of two guest speakers at the UA School of Social Work’s Dr. Ethel H. Hall African-American Heritage Month Colloquium at noon, Feb. 17. The event will feature Constance Slaughter-Harvey, attorney, and founder and president of the Legacy Foundation and Community Empowerment Foundation, Inc. in Forest, Miss., and Theresa Burroughs, founder of the Safe House Black History Museum in Greensboro. The event will be held in Room 223 in Little Hall and is free and open to the public. Audience members are invited to join in informal dialogue and discussion with the speakers at 1:30 p.m. For more information, contact David Miller, media relations, at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.

EDWARD K. ALDAG JR. BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION FINAL SET FOR FEB. 27 – UA students seeking to start their own businesses now have an opportunity to turn their ideas into reality and receive startup funding. The Edward K. Aldag Jr. $50,000 Business Plan Competition hosted by the Culverhouse College of Commerce will award three students with the winning business plans with startup funding and in–kind services. The competition includes a preliminary round, mentoring session and live finale Thursday, Feb. 27 at The Edge. Judges will select from the initial pool of applicants to move on to a preliminary round that includes a live pitch. Those proceeding to the final round are required to participate in a 10-minute mentoring session and a 15-minute pitch prior to the live finale. The competition is made possible by Culverhouse alumnus Edward K. Aldag Jr., founder and CEO of Medical Properties Trust, Birmingham, and the Culverhouse College of Commerce. For more information visit  http://mycba.ua.edu/businessplan. Contact: Edith Parten, UA media relations, 205/348-8318, eparten@culverhouse.ua.edu