Bird’s-eye view: Check out this University of Alabama campus tour filmed by drone
Al.com – Sept. 10
For University of Alabama alumni and fans who haven’t been to campus in a few years, it’s probably difficult to point out all the changes on campus. There are new buildings, expanded buildings and even no buildings where campus mainstays used to stand. The campus is constantly changing as the student body expands. But if you don’t have time to come to Tuscaloosa to see the changes yourself, the university has produced a video from a unique perspective: tour by drone. The drone video highlights some of the newest parts of campus, including the Capstone College of Nursing, located along University Boulevard, and the Shelby Engineering and Science Quad. It also features one of UA’s most historical landmarks, Foster Auditorium, and the Malone-Hood Plaza memorial of the school’s first black students.
Groups support recycling initiatives for September
Crimson White – Sept. 11
RecycleBama, an SGA-led initiative, is encouraging the University to take more responsibility for its impact on the environment by implementing Sustainable September. The three week series of events supporting a greener campus kicked off this week with a Week of Action and will continue next week for a Week of Appreciation, followed by a Week of Awareness. Alicia Ollis, a senior majoring in communicative disorders and member of RecycleBama, said she hopes the Sustainable September project will inspire students to form environmentally friendly habits that outlast the month-long event. “We’re aiming to celebrate the environment and raise awareness for opportunities that students and faculty have to move toward a greener and more responsible campus,” she said. The Week of Action began on Monday and will conclude on Friday with a clean-up of Marr’s Spring Creek led by UAEco. Anyone interested in participating can meet at the Ridgecrest South courtyard 3 p.m. Friday..
University of Alabama’s Huxford Symphony Orchestra opens 2014 season
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 11
The University of Alabama’s Huxford Symphony Orchestra will open its 2014-15 season at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 18 in the concert hall of the Frank Moody Music Building on UA’s campus. The symphony is collaborating with faculty artists, presenting the world premiere of a piece by Amir Zaheri, musical director and conductor of the University of Alabama Contemporary Ensemble, and it will join forces with the University Singers, UA Contemporary Ensemble, and the UA Opera Theatre throughout the season. The Huxford Symphony Orchestra is composed of music majors as well as majors from other disciplines at UA. The orchestra is named after its benefactor, Camilla Huxford, a UA graduate. All Huxford concerts will be in the concert hall of the Moody Music Building. Tickets can be purchased online at uamusic.tix.com or by phone at 205-348-7111. General admission is $10, senior (55 and older) tickets are $5 and student tickets are $3.
A Look at the Start of a New Season of Classical Music
Metro Pulse (Knoxville, Tenn.) – Sept. 10
Although it is an unfortunate fact that Knoxville classical music performances take a summer vacation, there is one bright side to that hiatus—it builds up a tantalizing anticipation for what lies ahead as the fall music scene roars back to life. … Adding to the classical music scene are two stand-alone programs by Knoxville churches, the Master Arts series of Church Street United Methodist and Friends of Music and the Arts at Church of the Ascension. This fall, a highlight of the Master Arts series is the University of Alabama Contemporary Ensemble on Nov. 1.
Million dollar gameday
Crimson White – Sept. 11
It’s gameday in Tuscaloosa, and as the sweat seeps through their 10-pound crimson and white uniforms, the 400 members of the Million Dollar Band enter Bryant-Denny Stadium, raise their recently shined instruments, adjust their shakos and waits in anticipation for those chilling words to fill the packed stadium: “Please welcome the Million Dollar Band.” Gameday is much more than watching the football pass up and down the freshly cut field for the Million Dollar Band. Gameday is what the band practices up to two hours each day for. “A lot of people are surprised to hear we practice for two hours every day,” said Haley Carnes, trumpet player for the Million Dollar Band and a senior majoring in theatre. “Sunday is our only day off.” The band does not have an indoor facility for practice, and rehearsal has to be called off for thunder or lightning. The Alabama heat is also a common obstacle. However, Carnes said they learn to push through the high. “The weather is a big challenge,” she said. “If we didn’t practice in the heat, we wouldn’t be prepared for the games.” Practice makes perfect, and gamedays are no exception for rehearsal. On gamedays, the band usually practices the pregame and halftime shows in the morning.
Monologue project accepting submissions
Crimson White – Sept. 11
The National Alliance on Mental Illness at The University of Alabama continues to fight the stigma against students with mental health issues on campus. The organization has set up a new alliance group session every Thursday called NAMI connections. The meeting is for students to come and speak about the issues they might be facing. “You can have a mental illness, even a severe mental illness, and still be a student,” said Elise Goubet, president of NAMI-UA and a senior majoring in psychology. Goubet said even though the group has two facilitators, it is led by students so everyone is encouraged to participate and doesn’t feel left out. She said the group is not specialized and is open to everyone with any diagnosis, big or small.
Nashville native chairs philosophy department
Crimson White – Sept. 10
Scott Hestevold has been on The University of Alabama’s faculty since 1978 and is currently the philosophy
department chair. Hestevold grew up in Nashville, Tennessee. He later received his doctorate from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. While working on his doctorate, he made money at night doing magic tricks at bars and wrote his thesis during the day. He said he never thought he’d want to come back to the South at all, much less the deep South of Tuscaloosa. Fortunately, he was pleasantly surprised by the supportive community of scholars in the philosophy department at The University of Alabama. At one point he looked around for different job opportunities, but nothing compared to what he already had here at the University. He has enjoyed it so much, he is around after 36 years. He said the town has grown culturally and the University has grown intellectually over the years. He plans on staying at The University of Alabama as long as he is physically and cognitively healthy and finds his writing and teaching rewarding.