MONDAY, SEPT. 8 – SUNDAY, SEPT. 14, 2014
BEST BETS
UA PROFESSOR WINS PUBLIC HEALTH AWARD – Dr. Ellen Spears, assistant professor in New College and the department of American studies at UA, has been chosen as the recipient of 2014 Arthur J. Viseltear Prize for Outstanding Contributions in the History of Public Health for her recent book, published in April by the University of North Carolina Press. Spears’ book, “Baptized in PCBs: Race, Pollution, and Justice in an All-American Town,” chronicles the link between chemical contamination – particularly polychlorinated biphenyls – and the civil rights history in the city of Anniston. Contact Spears at 205/348-8410 or egspears@as.ua.edu or, for assistance from UA Media Relations, contact David Miller at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu
UA SOCIAL WORK STUDENT WINS NATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD – Ning Tang, a doctoral student in UA’s School of Social Work, has been named the winner of the 2014 Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work Student Award for Leadership and Services for her efforts to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation between Chinese and American social workers. Among her efforts, Tang established the International Association of Chinese Social Workers, a nonprofit professional global network for social workers of Chinese descent. More than 400 Chinese social workers have become members. Since her arrival in the United States four years ago, Tang’s research has helped social work students in China learn about social work education in the U.S. Contact: David Miller, UA Media Relations, 205/348-0825, dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu
UA EXPERT TIPS
UA MATTERS: WHAT IS WEST NILE VIRUS? – Late summer/early fall brings excitement about college football and hopes that the weather will soon cool off, but it also brings a risk for West Nile Virus, a common infection, but one that is not frequently diagnosed. It is important to be familiar with the signs and symptoms of this infection and ways to prevent it. The University of Alabama’s Dr. Jared Ellis, assistant professor in the department of family medicine in the College of Community Health Sciences, provides some basic information about the disease, as well as ways to prevent it, http://uanews.ua.edu/2014/09/ua-matters-what-is-west-nile-virus/. Contact: UA Media Relations, 205/348-5320
UA MATTERS: TAILGATING ESSENTIALS – WHAT NOT TO FORGET – With the Crimson Tide’s football season underway, The University of Alabama’s Ashley Clayton offers tips to make your gameday tailgating experience more enjoyable, http://uanews.ua.edu/2014/09/ua-matters-tailgating-essentials-what-not-to-forget/. Clayton is UA’s alumni events and tour coordinator and plans the official Tailgatin’ with the Tide events. Contact UA Media Relations, 205/348-5320.
CURRENT COMMENT
THINK BEFORE YOU STORE DATA IN ‘THE CLOUD” – University of Alabama criminal justice professor Dr. Diana Dolliver said the massive breach of iCloud photos that resulted in celebrities’ nude photos leaking across the internet this weekend is the result of carelessness and the inherent risk of storing documents “in the cloud.” “You can have your smart phone opt out of this option, but many do not either know how to do it or choose not to,” Dolliver said. “Additionally, the demand for more storage space for pictures and video has surpassed our cybersecurity capabilities. The ‘cloud’ houses all of our data on large servers throughout the country that are constantly vulnerable to external attacks such as this one.” The best way to avoid becoming a victim of such an attack is to think twice before taking that picture with your mobile device,” Dolliver added. For media inquiries, contact David Miller, UA media relations, at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu or Dr. Diana Dolliver, assistant professor of criminal justice, at 205/348-2062 or dldolliver@as.ua.edu.
EVENTS
LECTURE/BOOK SIGNING – UA Professor Lars Anderson will lecture and sign his book “The Storm and the Tide: Tragedy, Hope and Triumph,” Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Vestavia Hills Library. The book chronicles the rise of the Crimson Tide after the April 27, 2011 tornado, the building of its championship dynasty and the resurgence of the city of Tuscaloosa. The University of Alabama Jefferson County Alumni Chapter is hosting the event. Limited tickets are available at www.uajeffco.org for $25 and each purchase includes a signed copy of Anderson’s book. Contact: Taylor Armer, communication assistant, 205/348-6416, tiarmer@crimson.ua.edu or Lars Anderson, 205/348-7321, lranderson1@ua.edu
LOOKING AHEAD
RUSSIA AND THE MODERN WORLD – Dr. Andrew M. Drozd, associate professor of Russian at UA, deliver the first lecture of a three part series titled “Russia and the Making of the Modern World” at 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15, in 205 Gorgas Library. Drozd will lecture on the attitude towards medical doctors as it appears in classic Russian literature. His presentation will cover several better known works, such as “War and Peace,” “Anna Karenina” and “The Brothers Karamazov.” He will also introduce works by writers who are lesser known in the West. The event is free and open to the public. Contact: Dr. Andrew M. Drozd, UA department of modern languages and classics, 205/348-5720, adrozd@ua.edu
SECOND ANNUAL DAY LECTURE – Guest speaker Dr. Kelly Baker will present the second annual Day Lecture at The University of Alabama at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 22. Baker’s talk, “‘They’re coming to get you, Barbara!’: Zombie Apocalypses in American Religions,” combines a look at pop-culture undead and spirituality in modern America. Contact: Bobby Mathews, media relations, 205/348-4956 or bwmathews1@ur.ua.edu.
SEE THE STARS IN MOUNDVILLE – UA’s Astronomy Group within the department of physics and astronomy will hold a nebulae and star-cluster viewing for the public from 8 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, at Moundville Archaeological Park. The deep-sky observing sessions use the 16- and 17-inch telescopes. The telescope is set up on a pad in the field across the road from the museum (see locator map), so parking is available at the museum and near the conference center overlooking the Black Warrior River. For these events, sky watchers also use the new 20-inch “Big Little Telescope” recently donated to the department. For more information, call the department office at 205/348-5050. People with large groups need to contact the office for accommodation. Contact: Richard LeComte, UA Media Relations, rllecomte@ur.ua.edu, 205/348-3782
MOUNDVILLE NATIVE AMERICAN FESTIVAL – Visitors to UA’s Moundville Archaeological Park will have an opportunity to immerse themselves in Native American culture and history during the 26th annual Moundville Native American Festival. The four-day festival, which runs from Wednesday, Oct. 8, through Saturday, Oct. 11, features music and dance, food, arts and crafts, storytelling and demonstrations. Grammy-nominated musician GrayHawk Perkins returns to the festival’s Native American Stage. In addition to being the emcee, Perkins enthralls audiences with his storytelling, connecting with visitors young and old. His band from New Orleans performs on Friday and Saturday of the festival. The festival will be open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission to the festival is $10 for adults; $8 students; and free for children ages 5 and younger. Group discounts with reservations are available. For more information, or to make group reservations, phone 205/371-2234. Contact: Betsy Irwin, Moundville Archaeological Park education outreach coordinator, 205/371-8732, birwin@ua.edu.