University of Alabama researchers to examine restless leg syndrome
Tuscaloosa News – Aug. 22
University of Alabama researchers are looking for participants for a pilot study on whether meditation can help patients with restless leg syndrome reduce the severity of the disorder’s symptoms. The meditation treatments have been adapted to a variety of chronic illnesses, according to Norma Cuellar, a professor of nursing. “We just want to see if it will help with RLS,” she said. The eight-week study is being conducted by UA’s Capstone College of Nursing, the department of psychology and the Center of Mental Health and Aging. The disorder, also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, is a sleep and movement disorder characterized by discomfort that leaves sufferers with an irresistible urge to move their limbs, Cuellar said.
Study: More than half of college students not getting enough sleep
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – Aug. 21
This week, plenty of nervous parents are sending their kids off to college for the first time. There’s reason to worry, according to a new study from the University of Alabama, about 60% of those students won’t get enough sleep. And skipping the z’s can cause major health problems, even after graduation. About 33% of the general population isn’t getting enough sleep, but with college students cramming for a test or going to a football game, they are double that number. College students especially younger ones, are more sleep-deprived than the rest of us. To maximize a student’s learning-potential 7 to 8 hours of sleep is recommended. And not getting enough sleep can be detrimental in the short and long term. Students surveyed report job stress and a lack of time are the biggest factors that are keeping them from snoozing. In the future, researchers plan to use this information to develop programs that will help students balance sleep with everything else they’ve got going on.
WICC600 (Bridgeport, Conn.) – Aug. 25
University of Alabama campus gets a new look
Tuscaloosa News – Aug. 23
Buildings shrouded last fall in scaffolding were open this week as University of Alabama students returned to campus for the 2014 fall semester. The university has substantially completed work on a renovation and expansion of the Ferguson Student Center, a new $32 million student activity center, a $62.8 million residence hall and a new location for the Fresh Food Co. UA also completed work this summer on Sidney McDonald Hall, the new $13.3 administrative building for the UA system. UA is also wrapping up work on a new $4.65 million facility for the women’s rowing team at Manderson Landing. The university added about 75,000 square feet to the Ferguson Center. The $45.1 million addition and renovation to the student center was approved in 2011, and work began in 2013. The project aired out the food court on the second floor, expanded the SUPe Store on the first floor, expanded the Career Center and added new offices and a new main entrance on the south side of the building. The SUPe Store increased its floor space from 26,000 square feet to 44,000 square feet.
Overall enrollment at UA grows
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Aug. 21
Students are back in school this week at the University of Alabama. Over the past decade, overall enrollment at UA has grown dramatically, and where students are coming from, has also changed. We don’t have precise numbers on student enrollment for this fall just yet, but last year, it was just short of 35,000 students. That’s compared to about 21,000 in 2004. The most recent data shows 43 percent of undergraduate students are from outside of Alabama. The 10 states sending the most students to Alabama include Texas, Illinois, California and Virginia.
Students take part in Alabama Action
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Aug. 21
It hasn’t been an easy week for some University of Alabama students getting ready to start classes. Some have been hard at work: dozens of students, mostly freshmen, spent their first week volunteering all over Tuscaloosa. It’s called Alabama Action. The idea is that students get to meet some of their new classmates while also servicing the community they now live in. They helped spruce up schools, some even helped Habitat for Humanity. “I kind of got involved with this as a freshman. I’m now a junior. It really helps to kind of meet new people with getting involved on campus and kind of get your feet wet so to speak.” About 80 freshmen and 20-upperclassmen participated.
UA football players cut hair for charity
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Aug. 20
Speaking of college football, when Alabama kicks off next weekend against West Virginia, you might notice some UA players with interesting hairstyles. No, they didn’t lose a great cause … Many know the University of Alabama‘s mammoth right tackle, Austin Shepherd, for blasting open holes for UA’s running backs and keeping the quarterback upright. But what you might not know is that the football national champion is also a champion of an even greater cause: “And I think so far, we’ve raised over $30,000 dollars, started the Beads of Courage Program, done monthly visits, had kids come to every game.” Austin Shepherd has become a beacon in the community for children battling illnesses. Today, Shepherd’s Foundation held a “fundrazor” at the Sigma Nu House on campus, with a surefire way to raise money for his foundation and children’s hospital.
Students benefit from studying abroad with Capstone International
Crimson White – Aug. 25
Instead of packing bags and heading home this past summer, over 700 students from 90 different majors at The University of Alabama collected their most valuable belongings, passports and visas and embarked on study abroad trips across six different continents. According to data provided by Carolina Robinson, director of Capstone International Programs, the most popular study abroad destinations of summer 2014 were in Europe. During the interim and summer courses, students most often studied abroad in Spain, followed closely by Italy, England, France and Austria. Over the 2013-14 school year, almost 60 percent of students studied in a a faculty-led program, as opposed to an exchange or an affiliate program. “We had about 35 programs this summer where a [University] faculty member was taking the student abroad,” Robinson said.
Tuscaloosa Amphitheater wins education award
Tuscaloosa News – Aug. 21
The Tuscaloosa Amphitheater won the Venue Education Award at the 2014 Venue-Connect Annual Conference & Trade Show in Portland, Ore., late last month. The award, given for venues demonstrating active student involvement, educational opportunities and leadership, was given to the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater largely based on its internship program created with the University of Alabama. Interns work with artists, patrons and vendors in a variety of positions at the amphitheater. More than 45 UA students have benefited, “receiving real-world experience and job placement assistance after graduation,” according to the award. Outgoing amphitheater director Wendy Riggs accepted the award: “These educational programs allow us to shape the future of our industry and learn from the students we work with.”
Gorgas brings WWI to life
Crimson White – Aug. 25
World War I is coming to The University of Alabama – minus the actual fighting and soldiers. Gorgas Library is housing a new art exhibit, Glimpses of the Great War, in honor of the war’s 100th anniversary. The exhibit is located in the Pearce Foyer on the second floor of the library, just inside the Quad entrance. “There are over 70 items and nine books featured in the cases,” said Martha Bace, processing archivist of the Hoole Special Collection Library. “Items featured in the exhibit include two uniform tunics, pants, boots, campaign hat, helmet, trench coat, mess kit and canteen, bayonet, letters and photographs.” Bace co-curated the exhibit with Patrick Adcock. to commemorate the 100th anniversary of
World War I. “It was upon receiving two donations of military uniforms and artifacts that we decided to curate an exhibit to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I,” Bace said. “We pulled materials – uniforms, paraphernalia, letters, photographs, maps, sheet music and books – from approximately 30 collections before narrowing it down to about 20 collections.” Putting the exhibit together was a long and strenuous process, Adcock said. Many of the pieces in the exhibit have long histories that relate to each other, including a United States Service Flag and a War Department telegram.
Scarborough speaks on American politics
Crimson White – Aug. 25 (Print edition only)
Joe Scarborough said he believes America’s greatest days are still ahead. Scarborough, the current host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and former U.S. Representative, spoke to students, fellows and community members at the 20th Anniversary Blackburn Symposium Friday night. The University of Alabama alumnus said it was “good to be home.”
THE PORT RAIL: Learning about ethics, morals starts at home
Tuscaloosa News – Aug. 24
I have put aside the Rev. Al Sharpton’s sermons in the endeavor to make some sense of recent events in Ferguson, Mo. We are dealing here with some basic elements in our culture and society that sometimes get buried in the rancid rhetoric generated by both sides. Everyone is set on edge in this country. The question is why? Black African slavery receded all across the Americas in the 19th century. Other countries with large numbers of descendants from African slaves — Brazil, Cuba, Venezuela — don’t go into semi-cataclysmic fits when something like Ferguson, Mo., happens, publicly beating breasts and suffering collective angst, slinging racism, police insensitivity and brutality and other insults at each other. Riots and looting accompany this like the obligatory Greek chorus off stage … I think the system of law, common respect for each other and decency has broken down. This leads us into the home. (Larry Clayton is a retired professor of history at the University of Alabama. Readers can contact him at larryclayton7@gmail.com.)
Former Project Runway designer Amanda Perna opens studio in Delray Beach
Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel (Fla.) – Aug. 23
On the fringe of downtown Delray Beach, Project Runway contestant Amanda Perna has set up her first studio, House of Perna. The studio, in an area called Artist’s Alley, looks like a typical warehouse — except for the well-dressed mannequin at the door. But step inside, and you find yourself in a brightly colored swirl of clothes and jewelry, reflecting Perna’s South Florida-influenced designs. “Color makes you feel alive. It’s like a ray of sunshine,” said Perna, 28, who who said she opened the studio to have more interaction with customers. … The clothing designer has had a loyal following since her appearance on TV’s Project Runway in 2011. Earlier this year, Women’s Wear Daily — the bible of the fashion industry — named House of Perna an “emerging brand.” … Perna graduated from the University of Alabama’s apparel design school in 2008. Even then, she was working toward her own clothing line. “Amanda is a leader,” said Sue Parker, one of her professors at University of Alabama. “She’s driven to be prepared.” Those qualities will help her as an entrepreneur, Parker said.
UA Cheerleaders attend Pick for Kids Campaign at Children’s Hospital
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Aug. 22
It looked like a pep rally at Childrens of Alabama today. University of Alabama cheerleaders and ‘Bama mascot Big Al were at the hospital for the kickoff of the “Pick for Kids” campaign. Every time an Alabama or Auburn player picks off a pass this season, Wells Fargo will donate a thousand dollars to the hearing and speech center at Children’s. The idea is to let all those interceptions add up to make a difference in the lives of children.
Big Al, cheerleaders and Million Dollar Band to appear at Chick-fil-A
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Aug. 21
The start of college football is just around the corner and the Northport Chick-fil-A is getting pumped. Big Al, the University of Alabama cheerleaders, and some of the Million Dollar Band will appear at the ‘Bama Spirit Day. It’s all happening this Saturday from noon to 2 p.m., and one lucky person will walk away with tickets to the Chick-fil-A kickoff game of Alabama vs. West Virginia next Saturday at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Million Dollar Band practices in the heat
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Aug. 21
How would you like to practice in this heat? The University of Alabama’s Million Dollar Band does. Band director Ken Ozello says the program is taking every precaution to make sure students and staff are taken care of during this heat wave. Students are provided with drill aprons that holds their band books and their water bottles. They are given this so students always have easy access to their water. Ozello says they have never cancelled practice due to heat.
Retirees Association extends deadline to register for bus ride to Atlanta
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Aug. 22
If you are looking for a ride to Alabama’s big game in Georgia next week, we have a solution for you. The University of Alabama Retirees Association has extended the deadline for their charter bus trip to Atlanta until Wednesday. So, if you’d like to ride in style with other Alabama fans to see the Tide tangle with West Virginia, there’s still time. This trip is a fundraiser for the UA retirees which helps future students attend college. “We award now, six scholarships to students and they’re book scholarships for first-generation University of Alabama students.