UA starts exchange program
Crimson White – Sept. 25
This year marks the beginning of the International German Student Exchange Program between The University of Alabama and the University of Applied Sciences at Hochschule Esslingen. When the plant manager at Mercedes-Benz expressed to University of Alabama President Judy Bonner the need for German-speaking engineers in his company, the college of engineering collaborated to form a program which incorporated the study of mechanical, electrical and automative engineering with the study of the German language. “Typically exchange programs attempt to improve intercultural skills by giving students exposure to a foreign culture,” Bharat Balasubramanian, the coordinator of the exchange program, said. “In this program, we are going two steps ahead. We want our students to gain an exposure to the German education system by taking engineering courses in a German medium of instruction. They have access to all of the engineering courses offered in German, and they can easily immerse themselves
in the culture, because they are
proficient in the language.” Students in the program will first complete two years of engineering and German language course work at The University of Alabama, as well as an internship the summer before their sophomore year with Mercedes-Benz U.S. International in Vance, Alabama.
MLB’s metal detector policy is what ‘terrorists winning looks like’
Vice – Sept. 23
The end of the baseball season this weekend will mark a bunch of milestones: the close of Derek Jeter’s career, the likely conclusion to the Royals’ 28-year postseason drought, the last time Mets fans will be able to blame Matt Harvey’s absence for why their team sucks. But if you’re the kind of baseball fan who actually likes going to baseball games, mark down Sunday for another reason: it’s the last time you’ll be able to enter a big-league ballpark without being subjected to a metal detector. Security measures have been on the rise all across sports for years now, of course — who can forget the Yankees’ attempts to keep their fans safe by banning umbrellas and sunscreen? But last winter MLB significantly upped the ante, ordering every team to either install walkthrough metal detectors or place security staff with wands at all entrances by the start of the 2015 season. Alabama economist Walter Enders, who co-authored most of the metal detector studies, says the lesson is clear. “The people who want to do harm could substitute out and do something else instead. So you don’t hijack an airplane, but you hijack the Achille Lauro … “You’re trying to get in the door, there’s 20,000 people standing around outside. I could do a lot of damage there, just as easily as I could if I brought the thing inside. Maybe even more.” (His students, Enders notes, are constantly wondering aloud why no one ever simply flies an airplane over a stadium and drops an explosive device out the window.)
Reason.com – Sept. 24
University of Alabama to host business analytics symposium
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 24
The University of Alabama will host its seventh Business Analytics Symposium today and Friday at the Hotel Capstone, 320 Paul W. Bryant Drive. Speakers include Ray O. Johnson, chief technology officer of Lockheed Martin, and Paul Adams, head of ticket sales and other marketing for the Atlanta Braves. They and other speakers will explain how they use statistics, data mining, predictive modeling and operations research in their work. Culverhouse College of Commerce’s Institute of Business Analytics is sponsoring the symposium. The institute is an applied research center where data mining techniques are used to extract information from vast amounts of corporate data. Its researchers build predictive models to help organizations make better decisions.
Free legal clinic to be held Thursday at Tuscaloosa Public Library
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 25
A free legal clinic will be offered Thursday for low-income residents of Tuscaloosa County. The clinic will be from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at the main branch of the Tuscaloosa Public Library, 1801 Jack Warner Parkway. The clinic is open to the more than 40,000 low-income residents of Tuscaloosa County coping with civil legal challenges. The clinic lawyers are experienced in various areas of the law and will be available to answer questions about divorce, custody and visitation, landlord and tenant issues, wills and estates, debts, bankruptcy, foreclosure and domestic violence. The clinic is sponsored by the Alabama State Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program, working in cooperation with the Tuscaloosa County Bar Association, the University of Alabama School of Law and Legal Services Alabama.
University of Alabama’s Science Sunday to focus on the universe
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 24
Parents looking for a free educational activity for their children are invited to the Science Sunday program the Alabama Museum of Natural History on the University of Alabama’s campus. From 1-4:30 p.m. Sunday, the community will have an opportunity to learn about the origins of the universe. With the help of UA’s department of physics and astronomy and the department of chemistry, the hands-on, interactive event will offer presentations on the Big Bang theory, the expansion of the universe, formation of the stars and an explanation of how chemical elements were created. Children will have a learning experience in the museum’s Discovery Lab where they will make their own expanding universe, constellations and more. There will also be telescopes for children and adults to look through. The event is free to the public.
UA Astronomy Group to host star cluster viewing at Moundville
Crimson White – Sept. 25
The University of Alabama’s Astronomy Group within the department of physics and astronomy will hold a nebulae and star cluster viewing for the public from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday at the University of Alabama’s Moundville Archaeological Park. Ronald Buta, a member of the public viewing event committees, said the
astronomy group holds this viewing every semester. “It is for public outreach, it is for engagement,” Buta said. “People will be interested in the objects of the astronomy. For most people that might be the first time they see the stars, and we provide high quality computer controlled telescopes.” Most sessions use the 16-inch research-grade reflector in the dome on the top of Gallalee Hall, located at the northeast corner of University Blvd. and Hackberry Drive. Deep-sky observing sessions use 16’’ and 17’’ telescopes located in the park.
Opera Guild to host gala
Crimson White – Sept. 25
The University of Alabama Opera Guild will present its latest fund raising event, “Music and Food from Around the World: A Gustatory Gala,” to benefit the University of Alabama Opera Theatre and its students. The gala, held Friday, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Alabama Museum of Natural History, will include a variety of ethnic food. There will be selections from places such as Asia, the Middle East, Germany, Sweden, America and Latin America. Over 25 restaurants are collectively donating food for the gala. The entertainment will feature
similar variety. “We have 22 performers, every kind of music ranging from jazz to opera, and a mix of guest artists,” Elizabeth Aversa, professor emerita and coordinator for the University of Alabama Opera Guild, said. Performers include current UA opera students, recent alumni from all over the country and special guest artist James Bobick.
Crimson Tide Ballroom Dancers holds first dance event
Crimson White – Sept. 25
The Crimson Tide Ballroom Dancers will host their first dance of the semester Saturday night with a football and tailgate theme. CTBD is a student-affiliated organization that hosts monthly ballroom dances and weekly beginner lessons every Sunday for those interested in learning different dance styles including waltz, rumba, swing, salsa, tango and samba. “The main purpose of this organization is to bring life into those who want to learn social dance and encourage others that had not experienced ballroom dancing in the past,” Jennifer Kunz, the group’s co-founder, said. Kunz founded the group along with her husband in 2006. By 2010, Kunz decided to affiliate with The University of Alabama in order to bring more diversity in members and styles of dance to the group. Kunz currently serves as the head of public relations and dance instructor for the group. Michael Sides, president of CTBD, said beginner lessons are accessible to all students of any dance level. “There aren’t any requirements to join, anyone can do it,” Sides said. “No dance experience is necessary and there are always plenty of people who are happy to help newer members out.”
Alabama cool after Saudi Arabia
Crimson White – Sept. 25
Azughaibi Salman is a 19-year-old international student from Saudi Arabia. He is a sophomore at The University of Alabama majoring in electrical engineering in hopes of working for the Mercedes Factory once he graduates. He has been at the University for a year already and said he feels pretty comfortable around campus. He said one of his favorite things about Alabama is how cool the weather is here compared to back home. Hailing from Riyadah, the capital city of Saudi Arabia, where it is typically in the 100s until around 7 p.m., the Alabama heat has nothing on him. Q: Why did you come to America and choose UA? A: I came to America because I wanted a better education, and I came to UA because of the Mercedes factory. I want to work there when I’m done with school. Q: What do you like about campus? A: What do you not like about campus? There’s a lot of students here, and they are all really nice. The thing I don’t like about campus is that since I live near to BB Comer there are a lot of smokers nearby, and cigarettes are left everywhere.
UA kicks off United Way Campaign
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Sept. 24
The United Way of West Alabama kicked off its campaign with the University of Alabama today. The celebration took place at the child development and research center. Those who came out to the kickoff event today enjoyed an ice cream social and meet-and-greet with Big Al. Dean of the College of Human Environmental Science, Dr. Milla Boshung says she’s proud to partner with an organization that does so much good for the community.