Arthritis pain, lost sleep may lead to depression, disability
Reuters – Oct. 10
Having sleep problems in addition to osteoarthritis may lead to greater disability over time, according to a new study. “If your pain is keeping you awake today, you’re at risk of functional decline in the future,” said lead author Patricia A. Parmelee of the Center for Mental Health and Aging at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. But these are very preliminary results, she added, noting that her team is among the first to examine how pain, sleep and mental health symptoms interact over time. Almost 15 percent of U.S. adults over age 35 have some form of osteoarthritis, joint pain due to wear and tear on cartilage, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Previous studies have found that having arthritis increases the likelihood of sleep problems as well. But it’s been unclear which comes first and what role mood plays in both pain and sleep problems. For the new study, the researchers mailed questionnaires on sleep disturbances, pain, functional limitations and depression symptoms to 367 adults with diagnosed knee arthritis. During follow-up diagnostic interviews, participants discussed trouble falling asleep, waking frequently in the night or waking too early in the morning. About 70 percent of people in the study reported some form of sleep disturbance. For physical function, participants rated their mobility, ability to walk and bend, hand and finger function, arm function, self-care and ability to do household tasks.
Bangor Daily News (Maine) – Oct. 13
AsianOne.com – Oct. 11
Theta Chi brothers lead hundreds in walk at University of Alabama to raise funds for suicide prevention
Al.com – Oct. 12
Hundreds of people, led by the brothers and pledges of the Theta Chi chapter at the University of Alabama, walked across campus Sunday to raise funds for and awareness of the cause of suicide prevention. The march, called the Out of the Darkness Community Walk, is the signature fundraising event of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. More than 450 people registered to participate in advance of the event and many more signed up on site — an organizer said she thought 600 people or more took part in the walk Sunday afternoon. The fraternity men marched in memory of their brother Parker Jordan, who was found dead in the chapter’s house Monday morning. The 22-year-old junior was an accounting major originally from Fort Worth, Texas. The stated goal of the event was to raise $10,000 for suicide prevention. As of Sunday afternoon, more than $33,000 has been donated to the cause, a number which does not include money donated on site at the walk.
Tuscaloosa News (gallery) – Oct. 12
Ft. Worth Star-Telegram (Texas) – Oct. 12
Longtime Fox 6 Anchor inducted into UA’s College of Communication Hall of Fame
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Oct. 12
We are honored to share an award given to someone we have grown to love, and many of you have, too. Former Fox 6 Good Day anchor Bill Bolen was inducted into the University of Alabama’s prestigious hall of fame … For over 40 years, WBRC viewers saw a familiar face come into their homes … Bill Bolen became a household name. During his career with WBRC, Bolen spent his time anchoring and reporting on the front lines of history in Alabama and around the country. Bolen covered the Selma march in 1965, and even interviewed former astronaut John Glenn on his return to space in 1998. …Bolen is a proud graduate of the University of Alabama.
Joanne Carson’s Capote-edited memoir chapter still in limbo
Ventura County Star (Calif.) – Oct. 11
Joanne Carson is perfectly content to give Truman Capote credit for writing the most beautiful moment of her never-finished memoir, a passage about falling in love with the man who would become king of late-night television. Here’s what she wrote: “I wanted to hold on to that moment. To hold on to that feeling, the rush that only being in love can give you, for the rest of my life.” … Yet making Carson more interesting was Capote’s goal, too. He blithely rewrote his friend, imposing his poetic style on her more prosaic effort, inventing dialogue and taking little liberties to heighten the drama. (Carson: “Eileen Ford was seated behind a large desk talking on the phone.” Capote: “Eileen Ford, who looked like a small-town librarian, was seated behind a disorganized desk, barking into the phone.”) “What I think is most interesting about it is that he didn’t just edit her, he bludgeoned her,” said Ralph Voss, a retired University of Alabama English professor and author of 2011’s “Truman Capote and the Legacy of ‘In Cold Blood.’”
Moundville Native American Festival (gallery)
Tuscaloosa News – Oct. 11
Butch Fuller talks to Emory Summerline, 6, left, and Shain Lakhani, 10, both of Birmingham, in the Living History area of the annual Moundville Native American Festival at Moundville Archaeological Park in Moundville, Ala. Friday, Oct. 10, 2014. Fuller taught visitors at the festival about daily life at a Creek Indian Hunting Camp around the year 1800.
‘Beat Bama, Beat Hunger’ food drive begins
OANow.com – Oct. 12
The annual Auburn-Alabama “food fight” has started. For the past 20 years, Auburn University and the University of Alabama have competed with each other prior to the Iron Bowl to determine who could raise the most food for their local food bank. This has grown from a relatively small-scale event to become one of the largest food drives in the state. Last year, Alabama won with 299,398 pounds, compared to Auburn’s 169,702. This year’s “Beat Bama, Beat Hunger” starts Monday and continues until Nov. 24. Results will be announced at the Auburn-Alabama game. This competition is primarily a student-organized activity, but the local community also participates. Many public schools host food drives and many of the local grocery stores allow the Food Bank to place barrels in the store lobby during the food drive.
Bama Dining reduces foam waste
Crimson White – Oct. 13
Campus dining halls no longer use polystyrene containers, and dining hall consumers who wish to use a to-go option will have to purchase a reusable container. According to the Earth Resource, the biggest environment health concern associated with polystyrene is the danger associated with Styrene, the basic building block of polystyrene. In addition, polystyrene production was facilitated by the use of chlorofluorocarbons, the chemicals that break down ozone in the troposphere. Even though polystyrene can be recycled, the market is
small and shrinking. Bama Dining partnered with the SGA to go foam free to contribute to better surroundings for the community. This foam free movement is to help the campus be more environmentally conscious and reduce the amount of polystyrene in landfills. This sustainability measure keeps more than 1,500 pounds of waste from landfills each week. “Bama Dining is always searching for ways to become more sustainable across campus,” said Rachel Barwick, the marketing coordinator for Bama Dining. “In the past, we’ve gone trayless in our dining halls, we offer sustainable mugs or tumblers and we use bleach-free and recycled napkins, to name a few.”
UA offers LGBTQ studies
Crimson White – Oct. 13
October marks the 21st anniversary of LGBTQ History Month, and National Coming Out Day celebrated its 27th anniversary Oct. 11. To encourage student interest in the LGBTQ community, one university now allows students to study it. Louisiana State University introduced a new LGBTQ minor for students this fall. … Students also have the possibility to study the LGBTQ community at The University of Alabama. “New College is home to the interdisciplinary studies B.A. and B.S.,” said Barbara Jane Brickman, assistant professor of media and gender studies. “Therefore, any student who wanted to pursue a degree in gender and sexuality studies, queer theory, gender studies or gay and lesbian studies, all interdisciplinary fields, could do so in New College.” Brickman said she sees a need for students to study the LGBTQ community. … “Students can also minor in gender and sexuality studies, queer theory, gender studies, gay and lesbian studies, etc., through our ‘Self-Designed Minor’ program,” Brickman said. “However, the University already has a department where students can minor in women’s studies, the department of gender and race studies, where their course work would necessarily include topics and courses on issues of gender and sexuality.”
New group enters the ring: Students start boxing club welcome to all skill levels
Crimson White – Oct. 13
When Cameron Carver heard a rumor circulating among the students in Shelby Hall about his chemistry professor, he went to the professor’s office hours to investigate. Carver had recently taken up boxing, and his professor, Shane Street, had been pegged as an experienced boxer. Carver left Street’s office knowing the rumor was false, but he did leave with a new faculty advisor for the Alabama Boxing Club, a student organization in the process of reviving the ancient discipline. “So many [students] talk to me, and as we talk about what we did in high school, boxing will come up,” said Carver, a sophomore majoring in business management. “And we’ll end up talking about how interested they are in boxing, and how much they would love to learn how to box.” The idea to begin a club at The University of Alabama quickly snowballed from this collective interest.
Sunday performance of ‘Lux Aeterna’ to benefit Rome Symphony Orchestra
Northwest Georgia News – Oct. 11
Local musical groups and even a few celebrities will come together Sunday for a performance at Garden Lakes Baptist Church. The Rome Symphony Orchestrais bringing together choral groups, favorite soloists and a choral conductor with ties to Shorter University to perform “Lux Aeterna,” or Light Eternal, by Morten Lauridsen. … John Ratledge, professor and director of choral activities at the University of Alabama, will conduct, and members of the symphony will accompany the combined chorale.
Former UA football player writes book
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Oct. 12
Former University of Alabama linebacker Tim Bates played for Coach Bryant, and to put it mildly, he was a bit of a wild man. Today, he’s written a book about his playing days, his turnaround and his faith. Like most, the 2014 version of Tim Bates is better than the college version back in the mid 1960s while playing football at the University of Alabama. Tim Bates – Wheelin’ and Dealin’. Cheatin’ and Stealin’. “There was nothing Ii wouldn’t do.” Age and maturity has helped Bates grow up through the years along with a better understanding of his faith which, in turn, led him to put his life experiences on paper and write a book.