Author Warren St. John named winner of Cason Award at University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 4
Best-selling author and Birmingham native Warren St. John has been named the 2015 winner of the University of Alabama’s Clarence Cason Award in Nonfiction Writing. “We were impressed by St. John’s professionalism and productivity, both in his newspaper life at The New York Times and in his books,” said Rick Bragg, Cason Award selection committee member and previous recipient of the award. The annual award given by the College of Communication and Information Sciences and the journalism department honors a writer with a strong connection to Alabama whose work has made a critical contribution to the journalism and literature of the South. The award is named for the founder of UA’s department of journalism, Clarence Cason.
Al.com – Feb. 4
Ahead of the game: Teachers learn how to create games to engage students
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 4
What if common games — video games, board games and card games — could be used in a way that teaches students core subject matters in school? That’s what Andre Denham, assistant professor of instructional technology at the University of Alabama, Robert Mayben, technology-in-motion specialist at UA’s College of Education In-Service Center, and a group of teachers from schools throughout West Alabama have been working on since October. “What we’re trying to do is teach teachers how to use games in the classroom,” Denham aid. “Teachers have been using games for a while, but not necessarily maximizing what they can get out of games.” Denham started researching how to turn well-known games into educational tools in 2008 as a part of his doctoral research. He completed his degree in 2012 and started traveling to schools throughout the state teaching teachers how to play the educational games he came up with. But after a few years, he realized that it would be better to involve teachers in the game-creation process. That’s when he partnered with the In-Service Center to create IGBLI, the Game-based Learning Initiative Professional Learning Group.
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 4
UA Law Professor says Chief Justice Roy Moore not following the law
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Feb. 4
A University of Alabama law professor says the U.S. law is pretty clear. Chief Justice Roy Moore, however, doesn’t believe probate judges fall in the same category under the recent ruling. The state is hoping the U.S. Supreme Court takes a stand before Monday’s stay on same sex marriage is lifted. Chief Justice Roy Moore says probate judges are independent constitutional officers and should not be impacted by the federal courts decision or injunction to lift Alabama’s ban on same-sex marriage. Longtime University of Alabama law professor Bryan Fair believe Moore is disregarding the law of the land. Fair says the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution spells it out that states are to adhere to federal orders.
Alabama Lawyers Face Off Against Chief Justice In Gay Marriage Fight
Huffington Post – Feb. 4
In Alabama, which is set to begin allowing same-sex marriages on Monday, two old foes are facing off over the future of gay rights in the state. A legal group is leading the fight against Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore over his opposition to gay marriage. Last week, Moore wrote in a letter to Gov. Robert Bentley that he planned to oppose a federal judge’s recent ruling that the state’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. He referred to the decision as “judicial tyranny” and said that any Alabama judges who obey the federal court ruling and allow marriage licenses to be issued would be in “defiance of the laws and Constitution of Alabama.” … “I think it’s quite telling that the Alabama Probate Judges Association has reversed its position,” Ron Krotoszynski Jr., a professor at the University of Alabama School of Law, told The Huffington Post. “Like Chief Justice Moore, these judges are subject to popular election; yet, unlike the incumbent Chief Justice, they clearly recognize that they have a legal duty to honor a binding order of a federal court that invalidates a state constitutional provision because it violates the federal Constitution.”
UA professor discusses Harper Lee’s new book
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Feb. 5
Author Harper Lee announced, through her publisher, that 55 years after “To Kill A Mockingbird”, she is publishing her second book. Lee says she wrote the book in the 1950s. It’s titled “Go Set a Watchman” and the news has been the buzz of the literary world. Joining us to discuss Lee’s new book is University of Alabama assistant professor of American Literature, Dr. James Crank.
Bone Marrow Awareness held at UA
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Feb. 4
A special cross-country campaign came to the University of Alabama campus today. Two sisters are traveling across the country to register 50,000 bone marrow donors. The siblings are on a 50 state quest to change the outcomes for those fighting blood cancer.
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Feb. 4
UA announces three year $1.5 million study of oil spill impact
WALA-Fox (no video available) –Feb. 4
The University of Alabama and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab just announced a three-year $1.5 million research project. They will be documenting the continuing impact of the oil spill in our local ecosystems.
Clean Water Campaign shares a little bit of hope
Gadsden Times – Feb. 4
Cow manure turns a bucket of water into a murky brown liquid unfit for the human body to consume. But with a hole drilled into the bucket, a blue tube and a Filter of Hope attached at the end, the water comes out clear, clean and ready to drink. In developing countries, families bathe, cook, clean and drink from rivers and streams alongside cows and pigs because they don’t have access to clean water. The contamination makes them sick and even kills. Multiple University of Alabama organizations have joined with Filter of Hope in the UA Clean Water Campaign to raise awareness of the water problem in developing countries and to raise money for water filters. UA students will travel to the Dominican Republic in May to distribute water filters to families living in abject poverty, meaning they make less than $2 a day. Filter of Hope is a nonprofit organization founded by Northport native Bart Smelley that produces and distributes inexpensive, gravity-fed, point-of-use water filters that remove harmful bacteria and protozoa from water.
Demolition of Bryce Hospital
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Feb. 4
Parts of a historic building are coming down as the University of Alabama expands its campus. The outermost east and west wings of the old Bryce hospital main building are under demolition this week. The central part of the building will be renovated and turned into a performing arts center.
Workshop to discuss combatting illiteracy
Crimson White – Feb. 5
A group of students working to bring a Design for America studio to The University of Alabama is hosting a workshop Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. in Nott Hall 173. This workshop is the second phase in the group’s three-part process to apply for a DFA studio on campus. Megan Smith, a junior majoring in economics and political science and a co-studio lead for the University of Alabama studio, said Design for America Fellow Rob Calvey is leading the open workshop. She said Calvey also helped co-found a DFA studio at Virginia Tech and serves as a mentor to other studios across the country. “He has a lot of great insight that he brings to the table in this process, so we’re excited to have him,” Smith said. At the two-hour creative workshop, Calvey will lead students through a brainstorming session in which they will develop ways to combat functional illiteracy in the community.
HCA to host Valentine’s event for senior citizens
Crimson White – Feb. 4
The University of Alabama Honors College Assembly will host a Valentine’s Date Night for local senior citizens Sunday. Residents at Regency Retirement Community will spend an evening with volunteers from the Honors College playing Bingo and eating a restaurant-style dinner with a variety of desserts. Valentine’s Day décor will cover the room, including a wall with props and decorations to take photos. “I know that my grandma, we visited her over the break, and she was talking about how she gets kind of bored,” said Ally Mitchell, director of the event and a sophomore majoring in communicative disorders. “She has friends, but they do the same thing all the time. So this is kind of a way to shake it up and give them an option for a nice night without needing to worry about the money aspect of it.”
Indian student looking forward to seeing snow
Crimson White – Feb. 4
Tony Manuel recently moved to Alabama from Kottayam, India. He is a 24-year-old graduate student in his last year at the University. Manuel is majoring in mechanical engineering, plans on applying to be an official U.S. citizen and hopes to work for Mercedes or Honda upon graduation. Why did you come to America and choose The University of Alabama? I came to America this past fall to pursue the end of my graduate program and to study here at The University of Alabama. My older brother came to America and studied here and started his own company. He now lives back in India, but he still comes to the U.S. to visit clients that he has here. What do you like about campus? What do you not like about campus? I like campus a lot. There are a lot of very cool and very beautiful plants, flowers and greenery here that are different from what we have in India. I think Alabama should be well known for how pretty everything on campus looks. There isn’t anything I dislike. People here are very lucky to be at the University.
Sumner students earn honors at University of Alabama
The Tennessean – Feb. 4
The following students made the University of Alabama’s dean’s and president’s lists in the fall semester. Dean’s list students have a 3.5 or higher GPA, while president’s list students have a 4.0 GPA, or all A’s. President’s List – Gallatin: Margaret H. Clanton and Mckenna T Mccracken. Hendersonville: Caitlin Wilks Burns, Lawrence Brentwood Maverick Flowers, Kathryn E. Hollingsworth, Charles William Lewis IV, Christopher M Swinea and Madison Lauren Wilhite.
Undergrad writer to see her play performed
Guntersville Advertiser-Gleam – Feb. 4
Laura Coby of Guntersville has achieved a first at the University of Alabama. She is the university’s first undergraduate to have her one act play performed by the university’s theatre program. She is the daughter of Mitch and Laureen Coby of Guntersville. This story about her achievement appeared in the “Crimson White,” the university’s student newspaper.