MONDAY, JULY 7 – SUNDAY, JULY 13, 2014
BEST BETS
UA, MUSCOGEE (CREEK) NATION PARTNERSHIP HOPES TO SHED LIGHT ON PAST – The University of Alabama and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Cultural Preservation Office are teaming up in an effort to find evidence that links prehistoric Muscogee people within different geographic regions. The Office of Archaeological Research contracted a partnership with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in Oklahoma to provide a graduate research assistantship in UA’s department of anthropology to look at Creek homeland sites. Ted Clay Nelson, the award recipient, will be doing research in the Southeastern U.S., examining artifact collections from various archaeological sites. Nelson will be guided by Dr. Ian Brown, chair of the anthropology department, and Eugene Futato, deputy director of the Office of Archaeological Research and a 45-year veteran of archaeological research at UA. The artifact collections Nelson will be looking at are mainly housed in archival facilities, but he hopes to also examine private collections and include oral histories. Contacts: Ted Clay Nelson, tcnelson@crimson.ua.edu; Dr. Ian Brown, 205/348-9758, ibrown@ua.edu; or Johnnie Jacobs, manager of the Muscogee (Creek) National Cultural Preservation Office, jjacobs@mcn-nsn.gov; or Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu
UA EXPERT TIPS
UA MATTERS: COLLEGE PREP TIPS FOR HIGH-SCHOOL JUNIORS — Whether you’re an incoming high-school freshman or senior, there are a multitude of things you can do to prepare for college. The University of Alabama’s admissions office offers a few suggestions on how students can better plan for their college futures. This is the third of four posts that provides students in each grade level a checklist for college preparation. It focuses on tips for high-school juniors, http://uanews.ua.edu/2014/07/ua-matters-college-prep-tips-for-high-school-juniors/. For tips for freshman and sophomores, visit http://uanews.ua.edu/2014/05/ua-matters-college-prep-tips-for-high-school-freshmen/ and http://uanews.ua.edu/2014/06/ua-matters-college-prep-tips-for-high-school-sophomores/. Contact: UA Media Relations, 205/348-5320.
UA MATTERS: WAYS TO AVOID HEAT STROKE – Having some fun in the sun is typically a popular summer activity, but it can also be dangerous. The University of Alabama’s Dr. Anne Halli-Tierney offers a few tips on how to enjoy the summer sun and stay safe, http://uanews.ua.edu/2014/06/ua-matters-ways-to-avoid-heat-stroke/. Contact: UA Media Relations, 205/348-5320.
CURRENT COMMENT
TECH INNOVATIONS IN JOURNALISM SHOULD CAUSE EXCITEMENT RATHER THAN FEAR – The Associated Press recently became the latest in a line of news organization’s to announce it would use robots to generate more content more quickly. “While most journalists’ first reaction to news like this is probably alarm, these kinds of innovations are actually an opportunity, or a challenge, to journalists to focus their efforts on ‘higher order’ thinking,” said Dr. Wilson Lowrey, UA journalism department chair. “In all fields, tech innovation gobbles up routine kinds of work, and it’s only the professions that are inflexible and too tied to particular routines or technologies that can’t adjust. Journalism can, and will, adjust to these kinds of changes, and we’ll have better journalism because of it.” Contact: Misty Mathews, UA Media Relations, 205/348-6416, mmathews@ua.edu; Wilson Lowrey, 205/348-8608. wlowrey@ua.edu.
LOOKING AHEAD
FREE CHILD NUTRITION CAMP – UA’S Institute for Communication and Information Research, located in Reese Phifer Hall, will host a free nutrition camp for children who have finished kindergarten through fifth grade. Children are invited to attend one of eight sessions on July 14-17, from 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. each day. Parents should plan to drop off their children at the Walk of Champions in front of Bryant-Denny Stadium 10-15 minutes before the start of the session and must sign a consent form. Topics covered during the camp will include how to read nutrition labels, how to make good choices for snacks, how to understand food advertising and exercise. Participants are asked to come in shorts (or exercise pants), a T-shirt and tennis shoes. For questions or to register, contact: Dr. Kim Bissell, ICIR director, 205/348-7155, Bissell@ua.edu.