Editorial: Bonner should be remembered for leadership
Tuscaloosa News – June 17
It probably is inevitable that Judy Bonner will be remembered as the first woman president of the University of Alabama. That is to be expected because it is a significant milestone in the university’s history. But it would be a shame if that were all that she was remembered for because her dedication to UA has been exceptional. “The first thing I have got to do is become a recovering workaholic,” Bonner told The Tuscaloosa News for a story about her upcoming retirement as president. “And I think I can handle that. In order to do that, I am going to spend some time away.” That will be a new experience for Bonner. She earned two degrees at the university and then joined its faculty in 1981. She has dedicated most of her adult life to the institution. Bonner noted that one of her favorite places on the UA campus is the front porch of the antebellum President’s Mansion. It’s a fitting place for a lady from the small Alabama Black Belt town of Camden
UA Eco Car 3 Team wins “Team to Watch” Award
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – June 16 (No video)
A major honor for a group of University of Alabama students: They’re being recognized for their work in an international competition to design a fuel-efficient sports car. Video journalists Neal Posey learned more about the project today. UA is racing to the top of the Eco Car 3 challenge in its very first year. Alabama’s 150 student team covers eight majors from every corner of the Capstone. They are challenging 16 schools. And, if designing a fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly car wasn’t tough enough, these students will have another challenge when they receive a 2016 Camaro in December from General Motors. Once they receive the new car, the team will have a few more years to road-test their project.
Crimson White (Print only) – June 17
Guest Columnist: Abercrombie decision has no clear guidelines
Tuscaloosa News – June 17
This week, the U.S. Supreme Court decided a case brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of a Muslim woman against the clothier Abercrombie & Fitch. Samantha Elauf was rated qualified for a position in an Abercrombie Kids store. Yet Abercrombie & Fitch declined to hire her because her head scarf did not comply with company’s dress code, designed to project an East Coast collegiate image. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits religious discrimination in the workplace. It defines religion to include both beliefs and religious practices. Employers must accommodate the religious practices of employees, such as wearing a head scarf, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. (To be clear, I have no quarrel with this rule). At issue in the Abercrombie case was whether a job applicant must affirmatively inform the employer that she needs an accommodation. The court said no, by a solid 8-1 majority. Few observers will be surprised by this outcome, given the Court’s recent tendency to protect religious interests. In last year’s Hobby Lobby decision, for example, the court upheld an employer’s religious objections to mandatory contraceptive coverage under the Affordable Care Act. The Abercrombie holding will also strike many people as humane, tolerant and perhaps necessary in a religiously diverse nation. It certainly spares an individual any unwanted burden of voicing religious beliefs before a job is offered. . . . James Leonard is vice dean and James M. Kidd Sr. Professor of Law at the University of Alabama School of Law.
St. James students invited to the Capstone
Montgomery Advertiser – June 17
Two Saint James School sophomores, Mason Edwards and Joseph Gary, were recently selected to participate in the 2015 Capstone Leadership Academy at the University of Alabama. The students asked to attend were chosen from a pool of more than 200 applicants who have shown an interest in leadership through service. The UA Honors College sponsors the Academy and selects the participants each year. During the two-day leadership academy, the attendees participated in talks and discussions focusing on values, vision and voice. Among the speakers were Lew Burdette, president of King’s Home, members of UA’s Capstone Council, and Barrett Jones, center for the St. Louis Rams, two-time NCAA All-American and four-time NCAA Academic All-American.
Whitaker named as interim provost
Crimson White – June 17
Kevin W. Whitaker, The University of Alabama’s associate provost for academic affairs, will take over as interim provost this summer, UA President Judy Bonner announced in an email Wednesday. “Dr. Whitaker’s leadership skills, experience at The University of Alabama, and his collaborative and analytical approach to decision making will prove helpful to Dr. Bell as he forms his administrative team,” said Bonner. Whitaker will take over this summer after current provost Joe Benson retires from his 37-year career at the Capstone. Whitaker began his time at the Capstone as an assistant professor of aerospace engineering in 1987. From there, he would hold various other leadership positions including associate professor of aerospace engineering and mechanics and associate dean for academic programs in UA’s College of Engineering. Whitaker was named as associate provost for academic affairs last July.
Earthquakes in Alabama
WSFA-NBC (Montgomery) – June 16
Earthquakes are not typically a problem associated with Alabama, but there has been more than a dozen earthquakes in West Alabama since November. State geologists say they are monitoring the increased activity. The Alabama Geological Survey based at The University of Alabama says it does have some ideas about why the earthquakes are increasing. So far, there have been 14 earthquakes in the Greene County area since November. The last one was a 3.0 in June. Denise Hills with the Alabama Geologic Survey says there are no major fault lines in the area and is ruling out any human involvement. She believes the culprit cold be very old, inactive faults that are just adjusting. In April a new seismic monitor was installed in Greene County to get a better idea of when and where the earthquakes are occurring.
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – June 16
Summer Institute aims to improve flood modeling
Crimson White – June 17
When it rains, it pours. Most Alabama residents recognize the literal truth behind the phrase, having been caught in a flash thunderstorm or harsh torrent. Meteorologists and emergency workers, however, see its metaphorical sense, as these weather conditions can present serious hazards, and any breakdowns in forecasting and communications can magnify the potential destruction. Current technologies often fall short in these areas. Aiming to solve this problem, The University of Alabama is hosting a seven-week “Summer Institute” for students participating in the National Flood Interoperability Experiment which aims to develop new modeling and data tools for use in predictive weather modeling. This opportunity is made possible by a grant from the National Weather Service in conjunction with the new National Water Center in Tuscaloosa.
Professor creates film about past
Crimson White – June 17
Making the film, “Service to Man,” has been the collective dream of
directors Seth Panitch and Aaron Greer since Panitch started working on the script in 2008. Loosely inspired by Panitch’s father’s experiences, “Service to Man” follows the journey of the first white student, Eli Rosenberg, attending the historically black Meharry Medical College in the late 1960s. Panitch, a University of Alabama professor of theatre, said he used the framework of his father’s experiences to tell a story of universal communication and discovery. Having just wrapped principal photography, Panitch and his team will be busy editing the film, polishing scenes and incorporating music.“Considering present circumstances, I’d love a modern audience to fascinate in these characters, historical and otherwise, who were able to forge relationships across race during a time of great upheaval and animosity,” Panitch said. “Also, the central battle of the film for Eli — service to self or service to man — is one we all fight daily, so I hope people can see their own struggles reflected in that journey.”
UA student takes choreography to NYC festival
Crimson White – June 17
New York City is home to the 2015 Young Choreographer’s Festival, where the recent University of Alabama dance and musical theatre graduate Ameen Price-Burnett will lead a team of five others in the
performance of a dance he created. The Young Choreographer’s Festival is an annual event featuring up-and-coming talent, which serves as a showcase of all genres of dance. The festival will take place Saturday. “There’s no prize, reward or anything,” Price-Burnett said. “It’s just to show off young choreographers to dance professionals in New York City and let them see what’s coming out of young minds.” While participating in a workshop in the city last year, Price-Burnett attended the festival as a spectator and said he was impressed by the talent on display. He decided to submit some of his own work to see what would happen, he said. The choreographer entered a piece he put together in December 2014 and performed in Morgan Auditorium for the university’s Dance Collection. Three members of the original group will travel to perform in the show.
Student receives art grant
Crimson White – June 17
A Windgate Fellowship worth $15,000 was recently awarded to University of Alabama senior Alexandra “Ali” Hval for her work in textile craft. The grant is given to 10 graduating seniors each year who are chosen from 120 art programs around the country. Hval is the third UA student to win the award, and she plans to spend the next 18 months creating many new pieces and attending workshops in Florida and Tennessee. Two of Hval’s pieces were shown during April in Contact, an exhibit at the Sella-Granata Art Gallery in Woods Hall.
Gorgas hosts Confederate publication exhibit
Crimson White – June 17
Many University of Alabama students haven’t taken the time to access the vast collection of historical material available to the University, provided by generous donations. Tucked away in a corner of the third floor in Gorgas Library lies one pocket of this stockpile – the A.S.Williams III Americana Collection. In it can be found items ranging from Southern historical documents to presidential papers and addresses. Melissa Young and Lindsay Smith, Ph.D., students at the University, co-curated the current exhibition in Williams. It features imprints that were created between 1860 and 1865 in the Confederate States of America. After receiving the broad topic of the imprints, Young and Smith chose to focus primarily on studying elements of Confederate nationalism.
Student enhances his Spanish skills
Crimson White – June 17
Editor’s note: In each issue this summer, The Crimson White will publish a column written by a student who is studying abroad in order to share their
experiences in a foreign country. . . . Our group of students trickled in busloads into la Universidad Maria Cristina, in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Madrid, over the course of half a day, bleary-eyed from a 10-15 hour block of traveling and quietly absorbing the feel of the new country. For me, it was a full-day since I arrived for my flight out of Atlanta; I had slept about two hours in the interim. It was my first time outside of the United States and everyone was (unsurprisingly) speaking Spanish. Under a thin coat of exhaustion, I was ecstatic. I was finally here, studying with UA in Spain for a month, an opportunity to go somewhere where people dressed differently, spoke differently, thought differently. Of course, after a brief period of settling in with the other students, we had to actually start speaking in Spanish.
Instrumental Music graduate: Danielle Weniger
Orange County (Calif.) Register – June 17
Name: Danielle Weniger. From: Arnold O. Beckman High School. Attending: University of Alabama. Studying: music therapy major. How did you get involved in music? I have been singing in choir since I was 3, and I have played various instruments such as piano, flute, viola and guitar over the years. I love performing, and I cannot wait to (improve) my guitar and piano skills as a part of the music therapy curriculum. Why did you choose the University of Alabama? I have always wanted to attend a large university, and UA was not only that, but an amazing institution that feels like home, plus they have a great music therapy department. Plus, I wanted to continue performing with color guard, and I made the team, so I will perform at every game.
All About That Bass: University of Alabama club fishing team to compete in Ranger Cup
Crimson White – June 17
As a child growing up on the lake, John Davis would watch fishermen in boats catch bass, all the while dreaming of owning his own boat and competing in tournaments. Now, as president of The University of Alabama club fishing team, Davis is
living that dream. avis, a junior majoring in marketing, and his fishing partner Payton McGinnis, also a junior majoring in marketing, qualified for the 2015 Ranger Cup Team of the Year Challenge after placing seventh at the 10th Anniversary BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship. The two will travel to Florida in October to compete against anglers from Liberty University. “Honestly, it was a surprise because we didn’t expect it,” Davis said. “One of the qualifications for Ranger Cup is you have to have their logo on your jerseys. I was looking at all the guys in front of us, and I still hadn’t seen somebody with a Ranger Cup on their jerseys. I thought we might win Ranger Cup. I’m really looking
forward to it. It’ll be great experience.”