Mass shootings, a serious problem in America
MSNBC – Aug. 29 (Video interview)
A criminologist at The University of Alabama speaks with Alex Witt about the new focus on mass shootings and offers his insight on how the pressures of society play into the psyche of mass shooters, causing them to attack.
‘US had 31% of world’s public mass shooters from 1966-2012’
Punjab Update – Aug. 29
The US was the site of 31 percent of the world’s public mass shootings from 1966-2012, despite having only 5 percent of the world’s population, according to a new study.According to a research by Adam Lankford, associate professor of criminal justice at The University of Alabama, a combination of American exceptionalism, American gun culture and stressors are potential factors in explaining the commonality of public mass shooters in the US.
Times of India – Aug. 29
Eli Yokley: U.S. not as safe as we want to tell ourselves
Joplin (Mo.) Globe – Aug. 29
The video was both stunning and horrifying: Two women in a routine moment — this pair participating in a television interview about local tourism — interrupted by loud shots that sounded like fireworks, then screams and then the image fell fast to the ground. It could have been a scene from a violent video game or a movie, but it wasn’t. … According to a newly released study by the University of Alabama, throughout the past 50 years the United States experienced 90 public mass shootings in which a gunman shot and killed four or more victims. Only in four other countries — France, the Philippines, Russia and Yemen (Yes, that Yemen, the hotbed of the terrorist group, al-Qaida) — did the number of shootings even reach double digits.
Katrina swept many to new homes in River Region
Montgomery Advertiser – Aug. 30
When the Poff family was told it was time to evacuate their Gautier, Mississippi, home because of Hurricane Katrina, Tammi Poff refused. This wasn’t the first time they were told to leave because of a storm, and the family had spent a fortune every time preparing — there was the bottled water, the batteries, the hotels. The bad traffic, running out of gas. Enough was enough, “and I said no,” Tammi Poff said. “I refused, and said, ‘We’re not leaving.’”… The Montgomery Advertiser interviewed several who moved here from the Gulf Coast following Katrina, and while not all numbers can be attributed to the storm, the region saw a significant jump in its population from July 2005 to July 2006, according to the Alabama Data Center, Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama. In July 2005, the city of Montgomery had a population of 200,537. A year later, its population grew to 203,688.
Woman at peace with decision not to return to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Aug. 29
A University of Alabama PR instructor is at peace with her family’s decision not to return to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Teri Henley and her husband safely evacuated before Katrina made landfall. But it was nearly a month before they knew if their home was intact. It was severely damaged. But rather than repair it, they picked up and moved to Birmingham and later Tuscaloosa. Watching the suffering of those who stayed behind was just as emotional for her. “I screamed at my TV. I cried at my TV. I prayed to God in ways I can’t remember praying. It was, it was horrible,” Henley recalled. They didn’t want to spend years living in a city that’s still rebuilding today from the hurricane. She’s happy to see how far New Orleans has come 10 years later.
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Aug. 29
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Aug. 29
Dynamic Duo? The curious relationship between Donald Trump and Ted Cruz
Independent Journal – Aug. 29
With much of the focus in the presidential campaign so far on Hillary Clinton’s server scandal, the Trump phenomenon and The Donald’s back-and-forth squabble with Jeb Bush, less attention has been paid to the relationship between Trump and Ted Cruz. And it’s somewhat of an “odd couple” relationship at that. On one hand, Cruz is a staunch, unwavering conservative. On the other hand, Trump’s critics say he’s not a conservative at all – flip-flopping on issues more than a fish out of water. So the question is, why the alliance and what’s in it for both or either of them? Bill Stewart, retired chair of the University of Alabama political science department sees it this way: “Trump’s message is resonating with people. They’re upset about a lot of things, and he expresses the frustration they feel. But if they examine his stances on a whole range of issues, they’d find they are in disagreement with him. In the end, I think Trump will have generated the interest—and then Cruz will benefit from it.”
NDPC and public consultations for the proposed 40-year development plan
Ghana Web – Aug. 31
It is breathtaking to learn the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) has embarked on an extensive public consultation exercise to gather inputs for the proposed 40-year development plan for Ghana. So far, the commission’s efforts have been limited to public forum, and meetings with powerful persons and organizations in the Ghanaian society. We are beginning to sense the NDPC is finding a way to gather inputs from the seemingly less powerful in the Ghanaian society too. I trust the commission is aware that public consultation in planning goes beyond mere public forum and meetings. The approach it has taken so far, may yield less fruit by the end of the consultation exercise and its planners may have no option besides retiring into their air-condition offices and producing a 40-year plan based on their own vision for Ghana. That will be unacceptable to most Ghanaians. If the commission is determined to produce a widely acceptable long-term development plan for Ghana, it must adhere to orthodox planning process. . . . Prof. Seth Appiah-Opoku is a certified planner with the American Institute of Certified Planners and a planning professor at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, USA. He was recently a visiting professor at the University of Cape Coast, Department of Geography and Regional Planning. Email: sappiah@ua.edu
Women’s equality activist spoke on pay inequality
Crimson White – Aug. 29
On Aug. 29, the Blackburn Institute and the UA Panhellenic Association hosted special guest Lilly Ledbetter, a women’s equality activist. Ledbetter shared with students the story of her journey to getting the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act signed. Ledbetter began with her job at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, where she worked for 19 years. She worked hard, often working double shifts and overtime. “They gave me a job in 1979 during the night shift as a supervisor and manager managing mostly men,” Ledbetter said. “I didn’t see one female. In fact, I never saw a female during the night shift for a long time.”
Tuscaloosa News – Aug. 29
Bill Nye ‘The Science Guy’ to speak at University of Alabama; learn about how to get free tickets
AL.com – Aug. 28
It’s a National Bow Tie Day miracle! Scientist and entertainer Bill Nye will speak in Tuscaloosa as part of the Blount Undergraduate Initiative lecture series at the University of Alabama. Known to many as Bill Nye “The Science Guy,” he will speak in the Moody Music Building Concert Hall on Monday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m., according to the Blount website events page. Free tickets will be available from 1-3 p.m. on Sept. 24 at the Alabama Museum of Natural History, also known as Smith Hall on campus. Nye hosted the popular Disney/PBS television series “Bill Nye the Science Guy” from 1993 until 1998. He continues to make various national television appearances as a science educator.
Greek organizations to hold philanthropy events
Crimson White – Aug. 28
Fraternities and sororities across campus will host a variety of philanthropy events this semester. They hope to raise thousands of dollars for their respective organizations. ome of the major events coming up this semester are Alpha Chi Omega’s Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, which raises awareness for domestic violence, Delta Chi’s second annual Veterans Appreciation Dinner at Bryant Denny Stadium, and Sigma Phi Epsilon’s Casino Royale. Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is on October 1, the first day of Domestic Violence Awareness month. Teams of men from different fraternities, friend groups and campus organizations will compete in a relay race while wearing women’s high heeled shoes. “There is an old saying, ‘You can’t really understand another person’s experience until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes,’” Abigail Taylor, philanthropy chair, said. “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes asks men to literally walk in women’s high-heeled shoes to raise awareness about the serious causes and effects of domestic violence.”
Bryce construction on schedule
Crimson White – Aug. 28
Construction on The University of Alabama’s Bryce campus remains on schedule, according to head of construction for the University Tom Love. Students and staff can plan on getting around campus much easier within the next few months when construction on the entrance road is completed. “The new intersection at Hackberry Lane was constructed this summer to minimize the impact to campus and to facilitate move-in,” Love said. “The new Peter Bryce Boulevard project is going to be an exciting improvement that will allow the entire Peter Bryce Campus to be interconnected to campus with vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle access.” Additionally, University Planner Dan Wolfe said the new classroom buildings, welcome center and auditorium are still on schedule to open summer 2016. “This is one exciting project, “ Wolfe said. “Bryce was completed in 1852; there’s so much history and life there, and I can’t wait to bring it back.”
UA film graduates make feature film
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Aug. 30
Two University of Alabama film graduates are trying to pursue their dreams of making a feature film. The film, called “That Dog Will Hunt,” will be a revenge thriller with lots of twists and turns set in Tuscaloosa. And you can get involved.
Removing the label from adaptive sports
CBS 42 – Aug. 29
Mary Allison Cook, communications specialist at Lakeshore Foundation, shares with us a different perspective about adaptive sports. Her love and dedication to the sport eventually won her a scholarship to play wheelchair basketball for The University of Alabama.
Japanese student seeks to learn more about America’s past
Crimson White – Aug. 31
Ryotaro Fushitani is an international student from Japan. He is a junior and seeks to learn more about America’s past while adjusting to a wildly different culture. Q. Why did you come to America and choose UA? A. It is because I studied about American culture and history such the African-American Civil Rights Movement at Kansai Gaidai University, where I attended classes in Japan. I became interested in America and wanted to talk with people who live in a society called “a salad bowl,” which means a society in which different cultures mix and experience
various things I have never done. In addition, I chose UA since UA is one of the universities, which are closely related to the African-American Civil Rights Movement, and I wanted to touch its history directly.
UA alum publishes new novel
Crimson White – Aug. 31
A radiation oncologist and medical director of Anderson Cancer Center in Meridian, Mississippi, Russell Scott Anderson doesn’t fit the stereotypical mold of the reclusive, neurotic author. A jovial man who loves hunting, Anderson wrote his first books with a pen on a yellow pad while sitting in a deer stand. “What else you going to do?” Anderon said. “You’re just sitting there. I wish it was more romantic than that, but it isn’t. That’s not going to make any noise. The deer don’t care.” When he’s not busy in the hospital, Anderson, an alumnus of The University of Alabama, spends his time writing or managing the China Grove literary journal. His second novel, “The Hard Times,” written under the pen name Russell Scott, will be released Sept. 1.
Giving back to Vets
NBC 13 (Birmingham) – Aug. 29
All weekend, the city of Tuscaloosa is hosting veterans and current service members for the Veterans Reunion. Military leaders say this is a way to serve those who serve our country. It’s also a way to make the public aware of the challenges service men and women face, particularly finding jobs once they’ve completed their service. Nina Smith of The University of Alabama’s College of Continuing Studies says the veterans they employ bring their military training to the work force.
Tuscaloosa already in game day spirit
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Aug. 30
We are six days away from Alabama kicking off against Wisconsin, and the town is already in gameday spirit. WVUA 23’s Yazmin Pineda went out to see what the hype is all about.