Alabama student builds boat to study river bottom
Biloxi Sun Herald (Miss.) – Sept. 4
At a public boat launch on the Black Warrior River packed with boaters taking advantage of the long Labor Day weekend, University of Alabama graduate student Eugene Randle, plastic champagne coupe in hand, celebrated his months-long labor moored at the busy dock. Randle gathered with family, neighbors and fellow graduate students and professors from the department of geography to celebrate the launch of his research vessel Minerva, a renovated pontoon boat outfitted to help him study the river bottom of the Black Warrior River. “She’s not a luxury craft, she’s kind of Spartan,” Randle said. The group gathered late Monday morning to celebrate the christening of the Minerva as a parade of fishing boats, ski boats and pontoon boats were hauled up and down the steep concrete ramp nearby at Rock Quarry Branch Boat Launch.
BP plans to appeal federal judge’s ruling
National Public Radio, Morning Edition (aired on Public Radio stations nationwide) – Sept. 5
Law professor Montre Carodine of The University of Alabama has been following the litigation. She says it’s significant that U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier found gross negligence. MONTRE CARODINE: It’s close to acting intentionally, and it’s certainly acting recklessly. You knew something bad could happen, but you acted anyway. And that’s pretty serious under the law, and the penalties are pretty harsh under the law when you act that way.
‘Buy for Rise’ benefit set Sept. 26-27
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 7
The formula for the annual Buy for Rise charity sale and silent auction is tried and true, so organizers plan few changes for this year’s fundraiser on Sept. 26-27. “The format is the same, but the silent auction is fabulous with many ‘packages’ for bidding,” said Martha Cook, executive director of Rise School. All proceeds benefit the Rise School on the University of Alabama campus, which enrolls nearly 100 preschool children, about half of whom have special needs. The program uses a creative curriculum that integrates therapy into the classroom. “As usual, the money raised is for the operation budget for Rise. We have to raise at least $300,000 per year just to fund the program,” Cook said. “The golf tournament (held in the spring) is our major fundraiser, but this one is the second best. (I) hope we have a great turn out this year. Our goal is (to raise) $50,000.”
University of Alabama summer 2014 honors lists
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 6
President’s list (Full-time undergraduates with a 4.0 grade point average) Alabama – Alabaster: Bevin E. Clark. Anniston: Miranda G. Chauncey. Ardmore: Bobby L. Lewis Jr. Athens: Emmie Kathryn Bodiford. Birmingham: Paul Bryant Birdwell, Jan Elaine McDow Brewer, Grace E. Friday, Caroline R. Garrison, Tyler E. Gester, Michael P. Kerr, Velmatsu Rethelyn Lewis, Madeline Grace Shipley, Monica G. Whisenant.
More space and more food in the Ferguson Center
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Sept. 5
You may want to visit the University’s Ferguson Center. The Supe Store is much bigger, and now includes a Nike store, making the university one of only a handful of universities that do. The second floor food court is bigger, and, there’s a lot more seating space. Speaking of more, how about more places to eat? The Ferg now houses Auntie Annie’s Pretzels, Panda Express, Wendy’s, and an expanded Chick-fil-A.
Safe zone trains students, faculty to provide supportive community
Crimson White – Sept. 8
The emotional stress lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people go through during their early adulthood is extremely challenging. There is a vital need among the LGBTQ community for a support system that can help them through tough times. The Safe Zone Resource Center trains students, faculty members and staff each month through the Ally Training Program. Allies receive UA Safe Zone stickers, which they can place on the door of their office to indicate that it is a safe place for LGBTQ students to come seek help. “We want students to know when they see the stickers that there are people that are fighting the good fight for them,” said Ben Van Dyke, the graduate assistant for the UA Safe Zone
Resource Center. Van Dyke said more than 1,000 faculty members have elected to become allies since 2007. He said just having the Safe Zone stickers visible throughout the buildings on campus creates awareness and helps LGBTQ students feel safe.
Tide tailgaters get more space in Tuscaloosa
NBC 12 (Montgomery) – Sept. 5
Walk around the University of Alabama campus and signs are evident football isn’t too far away. Tents are already popping up in the yard of the President’s Mansion. Also power outlets are in place on the Quad. And lines clearly mark where not to pitch your tent for tailgating. However, tailgaters get a little more space to work with this year. The Supply store is moving its tent off the Quad. That opens up even more space for tailgaters east of Gorgas Library. Students can’t wait for the home opener to kick off. “I can’t wait to see how the tailgating is going to be. How the crowd is. How the stadium is going to be and how chaotic. And I really want to see how the Tide rolls,” Evan Dwyer said, a freshman at UA. Tailgaters will new venders selling products on the Quad. Tide Pride members who temporarily lost parking spaces on campus will be able to park at Tuscaloosa Central High School. You can find out about these changes and more info about Alabama’s home opener by going to uagameday.com.
Tailgating tips
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Sept. 5
Game day and tailgating clearly go hand in hand, but there are some things you may want to keep in mind before heading out to The Quad in the morning because Saturday’s game is earlier than most. Ashley Clayton with the Alabama Alumni Association says you should take advantage of the early Quad drop off, which will take place in the morning from 6 until 8:30. She also recommends having a post-tailgate party versus only having one before the game, and sticking around to enjoy other parts of the city.
UA prepares for first home game
NBC 13 (Birmingham) – Sept. 5
We are less than 24 hours away from the Crimson Tide kicking off their first home football game of the season. The university is hoping changes on campus and in the stadium will enhance fans’ game day experience … It won’t be long before the University of Alabama campus is packed with football fans. Game day operations director Gina Johnson is expecting 120,000 people on campus Saturday. But Johnson says the early start time will create some traffic problems for fans coming from Birmingham.
UA has a severe weather plan for Gameday
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Sept. 5
What happens if the weather gets rough and you’re on campus for the game? In the event of dangerous weather, Bryant-Denny Stadium will be cleared, and fans will be instructed by the stadium announcer on where to go, and what to do. If you’re tailgating around the stadium, keep your eyes open for game day staff who will be wearing bright yellow vests and jackets. They’ll open certain buildings around the quad, and direct you inside, where it’s safe. “We have a plan to open some buildings, and we would direct our fans in those particular buildings. The plan is scalable, so if we only have a few people on The Quad for tailgating on The Quad at the time of the storm, then we wouldn’t open as many buildings.”
Teacher Feature Brittney Reeves
Gulf Coast News Today – Sept. 5
TEACHER: Brittney Reeves; SCHOOL: Gulf Shores Middle School; SUBJECTS TAUGHT: Language Arts: Brittney Reeves is an eighth grade language arts teacher at Gulf Shores Middle School. She also teaches seventh and eighth grade yearbook and newspaper…. She is currently working towards a Masters degree in gifted education from the University of Alabama.