‘Outstanding’ University of Alabama students recognized at annual Honors Day
Al.com – April 4
The University of Alabama recognized some of its top students and faculty on campus Friday at the annual UA Honors Day, with awards presented for academic and leadership achievements. Awards included Outstanding Graduate Students, presented to seven students in varying disciplines, in addition to induction into campus and national honoraries like Mortar Board and the Blue Key Honor Society. Other awards include UA’s Premier Awards, some of UA’s highest honors which emphasize character and service, and UA Black Scholar Awards honoring high academic achievement. Outstanding Student Awards for each class were presented to: Outstanding Freshmen – Erica Boden and Hunter Ross; Outstanding Sophomore – Megan Smith; Outstanding Junior – Patrick Joseph Crowley; Outstanding Senior – Margaret Johnson; Outstanding Transfer Students –Demi Eckhoff and Miranda Mackey; Outstanding Graduate Students – Aubrey Coleman II and Pratheeksha Premraj. For a complete list of UA Honors Day awards and their recipients, click here.
Crimson White – April 3
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – April 4
WVUA (Birmingham) – April 4
Tuscaloosa News — April 6
University of Alabama trustees approve major bond issue; money to used for capital projects, debt refinancing
Tuscaloosa News – April 4
The board of trustees for the University of Alabama on Friday approved issuing $236 million in bonds for debt refinancing and capital projects as well as resolutions to begin $80 million in new construction and renovations on the Bryce Hospital campus. The resolutions were approved during the board’s regular meeting at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. About $145 million of the revenue bonds would be for capital projects, including the renovation and expansion of Sewell-Thomas Baseball Stadium, the Houser Hall renovation, construction of a new classroom building on the Bryce Hospital grounds, and the modernization of the campus’ information technology infrastructure, according to the trustees’ meeting packet. About $88 million would be used to refinance existing bond debt to take advantage of interest rates. The university estimated the refinancing would save approximately $3.77 million … The board approved resolutions to set preliminary budgets and begin planning for a $60 million, 109,017-square-foot performing arts center on the Bryce Hospital grounds and a $20 million renovation of the hospital’s admissions building for use by the department of theater and dance … The board approved plans to establish the University of Alabama Cyber Institute, a research center that will focus on ongoing efforts at UA on cyber security-related issues and will serve as an umbrella organization for other efforts. The center will work with other institutions in the UA system and other academic, government and private institutions.
University of Alabama to build new state of the art performing arts center on Bryce Hospital grounds
Tuscaloosa News – April 5
The new $60 million performing arts center to be constructed by the University of Alabama on the Bryce Hospital grounds is planned as a state-of-the-art venue for the Department of Theatre and Dance. The UA board of trustees approved the scope and preliminary budget for the project on Friday. The 109,017-square-foot center will connect to the historic main Bryce Hospital building via a new lobby. The project will require the demolition of the north wing of the main hospital building. The center will feature a 350-seat drama theater, a 450-seat dance theater, a 250-seat studio theater and associated support spaces, such as a scenery shop and rehearsal hall, according to the preliminary plan. The center is part of the UA’s campus master plan for the historic hospital grounds, which includes new academic and residential buildings and recreational facilities.
Trustees Vote to Build East Campus Safe Shelter
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – April 4
Trustees are also moving forward on a storm shelter located on the east side of the University of Alabama campus. The east campus shelter project will be an above-ground facility that will accommodate up to 725 occupants. The building will feature backup generators, impact-resistant construction, and it will be designed to resist wind speeds up to 250 miles per hour. Approximately one million of the $1.6 million project cost will be funded through FEMA.
UA law school hosts symposium on Civil Rights Act of 1964
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – April 4
Students at the University of Alabama measured the impact of a major piece of legislation in a discussion that involved subjects from race and gender. Legal experts from across the country came to Tuscaloosa to look at race, gender and equality as it relates to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in an event hosted by the UA law school. DJ Harris, Editor-in-Chief of the University of Alabama Law Journal, listened closely while one speaker described the lack of diversity of one company’s board of directors. “The next board member he added was another white man,” Prof. Dorothy Brown or the Emory School of Law told the audience. She’s one of six legal experts who examined the impact of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on Friday. “We thought it would be a great idea to gather some scholars. Alabama is not unfamiliar with civil rights stories,” Harris said. Friday’s symposium at the University of Alabama School of Law marked the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. Law students weren’t the only people there. Representatives from non-profits and civil rights organizations also attended. … Together, the group spent the afternoon trying to answer of several questions according to Meredith Render, UA Associate Professor of Law.
Former PHFC student 1 of 16 accepted into NYU-Tisch School of the Arts
Talladega Daily Home – April 5
A former resident of the Presbyterian Home for Children (PHFC) in Talladega recently received word he will be attending NYU-Tisch School of the Arts in August. Motell Foster, an aspiring actor and current student at the University of Alabama, will pursue a master’s degree through the school’s Graduate Acting Program. “Getting into NYU-Tisch was kind of like hitting the lottery — they only accept 16 students out of the thousands that audition each year from across the globe,” Foster said. “It really is a blessing that I’ll try my hardest to make the most out of. I can’t describe how excited I am to lock down for three years to concentrate only on my art. When I first moved to the home, I don’t think I would’ve thought of this as even a possibility.” His journey into acting unofficially began during his elementary school years. “I got to play a turkey in this very small play,” Foster said. “I was the only kid who decided to physically act like a turkey. I tried to do its noise and tried to do everything like the turkey. I just loved it. It was so much fun being something other than myself.”
Poll: Most Americans think pot will one day be legal in all 50 states
Anniston Star – April 4
A new study shows Americans more than ever think marijuana use should be decriminalized, but officials believe law changes in Alabama are unlikely anytime soon. Poll results released Wednesday from the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press show that 67 percent of Americans believe law enforcement should focus on providing treatment for drug users rather than prosecuting them … Even Alabama, typically seen as a conservative state, has made strides toward some form of legalization … Diana Dolliver, a criminal justice professor at the University of Alabama, said Amerson’s estimate seems a little high, but said there’s no doubt the majority of U.S. inmates are in prison because of drugs. She said decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana wouldn’t do much, at least short-term, to reduce prison populations, but Dolliver said she agrees with the majority of Americans in the Pew poll who said treating drug offenders rather than sending them to jail is a better long-term solution to prison overpopulation. “Most users are spending little time in jail and getting out and using again,” Dolliver said. “I think there’s been more national attention now to the idea that drug users and drug addicts need medical treatment, they shouldn’t be punished by the law.”
Students compete with robots
Crimson White – April 7
Students ranging from elementary to high school showed off their talents during the Alabama Robotics Competition on Saturday in one of the newest but fastest growing modern fields, computer science. The three-hour competition, which was held in the Bryant Conference Center for the fourth year running, followed a “Winter Olympics” theme, with obstacle courses using the ideas of events like figure skating and hockey. More than 300 students on 70 teams used pre-built vehicular robots with sensors responding to color, light and obstacles in their surrounding environment. After receiving instructions about the course and performing measurements and observations, the teams programmed the robots to run autonomously. The event, hosted by the University of Alabama department of computer science, differed from other robotics competitions in that it required robots to run based on the student-developed programs, rather than by remote control. “The focus of this contest is not so much on building or the hardware, but more so on programming the robot. This is more about the software side,” Jeff Gray, associate professor of computer science, said.
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – April 5
UA’s School of Music holds Arty Party
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – April 4
The 10th annual Arty Party is a fundraising event for the University of Alabama School of Music. Each individual ticket brought in $150 for the college. The silent auction included a guitar signed by the band Lynard Skynard, and a football signed by Alabama football coach Nick Saban, Michael Wilk, the keyboardist for Steppenwolf performed at the event. Director Dr. Skip Snead says this is one of the biggest sources of revenue for the School of Music. “Without donor support, outside support, people willing to support what we do, we don’t really survive. We are not able to do what we do on a daily basis, without this kind of fundraising support, so this evening is tremendous for us, and will allow us to support students, and support the mission of the school of music, and to move those things forward in the manner that we want to do.” Organizers estimate that around 160 people came out for the event.
DCAF brings local art to community
Crimson White – April 7
Tuscaloosa’s Government Plaza hosted more than 75 tents on Saturday featuring artists, jewelers and craftsmen. Children flooded the fountain area with chalk drawings, and the day was packed with music from local bands. Druid City Arts Festival, originally founded five years ago by The University of Alabama’s Creative Campus, was handed off to the Tuscaloosa Sports and Tourism Commission to sponsor the event on its own. Last year, more than 7,500 people attended the festival, and 60 vendors decorated the lawn. “Honestly, I was expecting a pretty big turnout. TTSC did a great job of promoting the event, and having the festival downtown helped increase its visibility more so than if the event were held on campus,” said Marissa Leshnov, a sophomore majoring in physics who works with Creative Campus. “It’s just reassuring to know that the Tuscaloosa community supports its local artists and musicians.” Madison Higgins, a sophomore majoring in fashion retail, said she found a plethora of items that suited her interests. “I really like this cool ring that I found that has jade and all this delicate wiring,” she said. “There are a lot more clothing vendors than I was expecting to see. It’s cool to be able to see the different ways people express their love for the arts. From the paintings and pottery to the clothes and jewelry, and also from the many different musical artists featured.”
Al.com — April 5
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – April 4
Town Hall to discuss extremism
Crimson White – April 7
With approval ratings in Washington, D.C., reaching all-time lows in the last few years, many Americans seem fed up with the lack of cooperation coming out of the nation’s capital. As part of the Honors College Town Hall series, a former U.S. Congressman and two professors will speak Monday night about the lack of agreement and progress in government. “Polarized Politics: How to Restore Trust in Government” is the topic for the the fourth Town Hall Meeting of the year. The most recent event discussed the Affordable Care Act and its effect on students. “We kind of thought of the idea because this generation is more moderate than it has been in years, and we felt like in the most recent presidential election it was really very polarized,” Claire Armstrong, an Honors College student and organizer of the event, said. “People on the Alabama campus were having trouble identifying with being 100 percent Republican or 100 percent Democrat. So we started talking about why had politics become so polarized and how do we fit here?”
Students to sleep on Quad for homelessness awareness
Crimson White – April 7
Students at The University of Alabama will briefly experience homelessness during Sleep Out on the Quad on Wednesday night from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Camille Driver, a student coordinator for the event and director of the Hunger and Homelessness focus area at the University’s Community Service Center, said Sleep Out on the Quad’s goal is to get the student body involved and encourage students to help volunteer in the community. Furthermore, she said the event is intended to empower students to question their own prejudices about homelessness … Students should expect to spend the night on the ground, much like a homeless person would. According to the Community Service Center website, there were more than 400 participants during the 2012 event. Driver also said the event will have speakers, a movie, games and more.
Groups to address human trafficking
Crimson White – April 7
Human trafficking and sexual slavery have long been pressing issues in the international community, and a Birmingham shelter ministry will be joining with campus groups Monday to raise student awareness. “Filling the Well: Addressing Sexual Slavery in Alabama” will address a topic that may be familiar to many students – human trafficking. However, students may be surprised to hear that this issue hits closer to home than they may have realized. “I-20 is the super highway for trafficking as it connects some of the largest cities in America on the same roadway. I-20 passes right through Tuscaloosa,” said Kaitlyn Patrick, case manager for The WellHouse, a faith-based Birmingham nonprofit that rescues and shelters victims of trafficking. “This means trafficking is happening right here, in your own backyard.” The WellHouse will be joining with the Women’s Resource Center and the Campus Ministry Association in two events Monday. At 3:30 p.m. Monday in Alston Hall’s fourth floor parlor, Patrick will be showing a video, speaking about the issue and discussing her work at The WellHouse. … At 6 p.m. Monday night, the three organizations will also be joining to present “What’s Faith Got to Do With It?: Addressing Sexual Slavery in Alabama.”
University of Florida wins SEC business competition at the University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa News – April 5
A team of four MBA students from the University of Florida won the second Southeastern Conference MBA Case Competition held Friday and Saturday at the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce. The winning team members will split the $10,000 first- place prize. Each of the 14 SEC universities sent a four-member team of its best MBA students to the competition. The teams arrived Thursday, and on Friday morning they were given a case of an actual problem facing a company. The team had less than 24 hours to analyze the information and develop a strategy for addressing the problem. They then had to prepare to present their strategy before a panel of judges Saturday. All the teams were given the same case.
New show about Sylacauga marble industry debuting
Sacramento Bee – April 4
Area residents have known about it for decades, but people across the state will soon have a chance to discover the magic of Sylacauga marble. “Discovering Alabama,” an Emmy-awarded television series about the state’s natural history and heritage, debuted an episode titled “Marble City” at B.B. Comer Memorial Library on Wednesday. The show explores the history and varied uses of Sylacauga’s pure, white marble. “The story of the Marble City is going to be seen, embraced and appreciated,” Doug Phillips, host and executive producer of the show, told a crowd at the library. “Folks are going to find out about Sylacauga. I hope some already know.” … The series is a production of the Alabama Museum of Natural History, The University of Alabama in cooperation with the Alabama Center for Public Television and Radio, and Alabama Public Television. It received two Emmy awards for its coverage of the Gulf Coast oil spill and one Emmy for a show about Alabama’s role in space exploration.
UA eventing team provides home for equestrian sports
Crimson White – April 7
The University of Alabama’s newly established eventing team is providing horse-loving students a community to call their own. Eventing, a form of equestrianism, involves a single rider on horseback performing in areas of dressage, stadium jumping and cross-country racing and is commonly held over a three-day period. Before the UA equestrian team was founded in 2010, the University did not have any programs available for those who were passionate about equine activities. Recently, one student decided she wanted to add eventing to the growing list of equestrian opportunities on campus. “I got the idea after the University of Georgia got a lot of publicity on starting [an eventing team] that became so successful just a year ago,” Lizzie Walters, president of UA Eventing, said. “I decided to start the process in September of 2013, and we were approved by November.”
UA’s National Wild Turkey Federation to Hold Pig Pull Banquet
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – April 4
The University of Alabama National Wild Turkey Federation is hosting their second annual pig pull banquet at the Bryant Conference on April 8. The banquet is being held to raise money for wild turkey conservation across the county. Tickets are $30 for college students and $50 for adults.