Vanderbilt professor named dean of Alabama law school
The Tennessean – May 14
Mark Brandon, a constitutional law professor at Vanderbilt University for the past 13 years, has been hired as the new dean of the University of Alabama School of Law. Brandon, a Birmingham native and alumnus of the school he will now lead, is set to begin the new role on July 1. The school’s dean for the past two decades, Ken Randall, retired last year. Before arriving at Vanderbilt in 2001 as a visiting professor, Brandon taught at the University of Michigan and the University of Oklahoma. He’s also served in visiting academic positions at Princeton University and the University of Alabama, where he was the Frank B. Spain Chairholder of Law. Brandon, who has experience in private and public law in addition to academia, has written on secession, federalism, limits to the amending power and war in the American constitutional order. “I couldn’t be happier to be coming home to Alabama to serve as dean of the School of Law,” Brandon said.
Perfect: Senior taking ACT score, passion to University of Alabama
Marietta Daily Journal (Ga.) – May 15
Caroline Surratt could have majored in any subject she wanted after scoring a perfect 36 on the ACT. The Harrison High School senior is following her passion and choosing to go into special education. Surratt helps with a special education class at the school and said she is amazed at what the students are able to accomplish. The 18-year-old is attending the University of Alabama in the fall. She will receive a full-ride scholarship though the University Fellows experience. The program is for the top 30 students accepted into Alabama’s freshman class. According to the university’s website, the program “strives to prepare the most able and dedicated students at the University of Alabama for remarkable lives of leadership in and service to their community, state, nation and world.” She also received the National Merit Scholarship, which less than 1 percent of applicants receive. It awards $2,500, according to collegedata.com.
Alabama boasts high APR marks
Tuscaloosa News – May 14
The grades are in and once again the University of Alabama athletic department turned in above average marks. All varsity sports sponsored by UA, a total of 21 programs, finished in excellent standing in the latest Academic Progress Rate released by the NCAA on Wednesday. The scores, covering a four-year period from 2008-09 through 2012-13, measure the eligibility, retention and graduation of student-athletes competing on every Division I sports team while also serving as a predictor of graduation success. Seventeen programs scored above the national average, including three programs (men’s and women’s tennis and women’s tennis), which posted perfect scores of 1,000. Football scored a 975. The program posted a 978 in 2013 and a 970 in 2012. “Our continued success in terms of our APR scores, coupled with the tremendous success we’ve enjoyed athletically over the four years that this report encompasses, shows that we are excelling at the highest level in all areas of our mission,” Alabama director of athletics Bill Battle said.
20 high school seniors receive scholarships to UA
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – May 14
An important night for several students getting ready to attend the University of Alabama, 20 high school seniors in Tuscaloosa County received more than $80,000 from UA’s Tuscaloosa County Alumni Association chapter. The students and their proud parents gathered at the president’s mansion tonight to celebrate. “The things they are doing outside of the school that are just as important and they’re maintaining and even taking some college credit courses while they’re still in high school. This is a record amount of scholarship money for the alumni chapter.”
Where are the candidates? No contests in 20 of 35 Alabama Senate districts on June 3
Al.com – May 14
All 35 seats in the Alabama Senate are up for grabs this election year. But candidates are sparse. There are no contested races in 20 of the 35 districts in the June 3 primary, now less than three weeks away. In fact, 14 senators – eight Republicans and six Democrats – will coast to new four-year terms with no opposition in either party. William Stewart, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Alabama, said there are multiple reasons for the scarcity of candidates. “People are generally apathetic about government and politics today,” Stewart said. “They don’t expect much to be accomplished in a positive way. Running to win is pricey. I have often heard that the man or woman who really aspires to be successful will have to spend most of his or her time raising money–and lots of it.” Stewart said Alabama is traditionally dominated by interest groups and that potential candidates who can’t get support from powerful groups might be smart to opt out.
Tuscaloosa triathlete dedicates upcoming race to John Servati
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – May 14
A Tuscaloosa man is dedicating his participation in an upcoming triathlon to University of Alabama swimmer John Servati, who died three weeks ago. Sam Morgan motivates students in his fitness class at the Faucett Brothers Activity Center Wednesday. He’s the Tuscaloosa Parks and Recreation Authority’s fitness supervisor. Saturday, he hopes to find his own inspiration in someone he only met once. Morgan’s one and only meeting with John Servati at a swim meet years ago still sticks with him today. “That hit me, that’s a teammate. I met John one time. Anybody who swims at the University 30 years ago to now, we’re all teammates,” Morgan said. Morgan swam for the University of Alabama from 2006 to 2010, before Servati enrolled and joined the swim team. Now less than a month since Servati’s death during the April 28 storm that struck Tuscaloosa, he’s the main reason Morgan is training harder for the Xterra Southeast Championship, a triathlon Saturday in Pelham. Servati died holding a retaining wall in place so his girlfriend could escape when the basement they fled to for safety began crumbling. Morgan was touched by the emotion Servati’s current teammates showed during his memorial. Many who knew Servati believe he died a hero and Morgan wants others to know about Servati by competing in his honor.