University of Alabama program teaches students resiliency and how to handle stress
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 10
University of Alabama student Yisel Ochoa’s story of an angry adolescence and her perseverance to become a successful college student is the inspiration for a pilot program started this fall to help students become more resilient as a strategy for success in the classroom and beyond. “I built so much anger inside of me,” Ochoa said. Students participating in the University of Alabama System’s Resiliency Initiative pilot program this fall heard stories of resilience in the face of obstacles and failures from Ochoa, UA gymnastics coach Dana Duckworth and former gymnastics coach David Patterson at a kickoff event at Coleman Coliseum on Thursday. “The idea of resiliency is you will fall down, you will fail … and you will learn from your failures,” Duckworth said. The program, though a series of classes that looks at resilience theories and the application in the personal experience of students, is designed to help students become better and handling crises, stress and adversity.
UA works to improve bridges
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Sept. 10
The University of Alabama is partnering with the Alabama Department of Transportation in hopes of building better bridges throughout the state. Engineering students and professors are working to develop a long span girder that would reduce the number of cracking issues in bridges.
SEC announces Dr. Pepper Education Abroad awards
SECSports.com – Sept. 10
Twenty-eight students (two from from each Southeastern Conference university) will study abroad during the 2015-16 academic year, the result of a contribution to the league by Dr Pepper. The longtime SEC corporate sponsor allocated $100,000 to the conference to provide study abroad opportunities for high achieving SEC students with demonstrated financial need who represent non-traditional study abroad participants. “We are enthused to expand upon the SEC’s commitment to education by giving deserving students a chance to study abroad through the SECU academic initiative,” Jaxie Alt, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Dr Pepper said when the program was established. “Dr Pepper has continued to fund one-of-a-kind dreams since 2008 through our tuition giveaway program, and now we are able to support the great work the SEC is doing.” Students who won the award are listed below : Brittany Groves, University of Alabama; Joshua Harvey, University of Alabama; Britney Washington, University of Arkansas; Tevin Whitney, University of Arkansas; Isabella Premont, Auburn University.
Jury Deadlocked in Parker Trial, 9/11 Remembrance
Alabama Public Radio – Sept. 11
The jury has deadlocked in the civil rights trial of former Madison police officer Eric Parker. They will continue deliberating this morning. U.S. District Judge Madeline Haikala instructed the jury to come back today and re-evaluate the evidence and testimony presented in the case … It was 14 years ago this morning when planes crashed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11th, 2001. Almost 3,000 people were killed in separate attacks on New York and Washington D.C., and a plane crash in Pennsylvania. Stephen Schwab is an adjunct assistant professor in History at the University of Alabama. He is also a former member of the CIA before coming to Tuscaloosa in 2001. He recalls where he was during those events. “I was watching television when I saw one of the planes fly in to the first tower and then I saw the plane fly in to the second tower. Although I was here at the University of Alabama I felt as though I was practically there.” Throughout the day, the University of Alabama’s Denny Chimes will play patriotic music in remembrance of the lives lost.
Pair of Arkansas offensive linemen land on Schneider Scale
Oregona.247sports.com – Sept. 11
As part of its partnership to promote and raise awareness for the Outland Trophy and its candidates, graduate students from the College of Education Sport Management program at the University of Alabama have developed a rating system for linemen that makes its debut this season. The Schneider Scale has been created to provide a relative ranking for line play. The ranking takes into account both individual and team statistics and results, and then ranks players while allowing for comparison on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Created independently by the class at the University of Alabama, it will be a season-long element by which linemen can be ranked and in turn considered for the Outland Trophy. The Outland Trophy is presented to the nation’s top interior lineman on offense or defense by the Football Writers Association of America, and this season a Top 25 in the Schneider Scale will be released each Thursday. For more information on the Schneider Scale, please see the attached FAQ. “The Schneider Scale was created by our student team using statistical analysis to create a unique ranking system for all of the prospects for the Outland Trophy on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball,” said Dr. John Vincent, Professor and Director of the College of Education Sport Management program. “It is certainly not perfect but will hopefully provide a foundation for an ongoing discussion of the best players in college football.”
Alabama Gameday Traffic: Learn how road construction will impact your travel to Tuscaloosa
Al.com – Sept. 11
While the Alabama football team kicks off the home season on Saturday at 3 p.m., fans face a few challenges and changes as they travel to Tuscaloosa this entire season. Fans should be aware of two road construction projects that fall directly on the routes they’ve traditionally taken to Tuscaloosa as they arrive to watch the Crimson Tide in action on Saturdays. Interstate 20/59 is currently undergoing lane-widening that shifts lanes both northbound and southbound, and Albert City is rebuilding its bridge on University Boulevard causing a total road closure and detour. A great way to keep up with these changes and other gameday rules and precautions is to visit the UA Gameday website along with its Twitter and Facebook pages. Along with the road construction, there are other gameday rules and changes fans should know about, but take a look below first at the construction projects and alternative routes suggested by the people at Bruno Event Team and UA Gameday.
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – Sept. 11
NBC 12 (Montgomery) – Sept. 10
NBC 13 (Birmingham) – Sept. 10
University Life Track program proves it’s never too late to get an education
Crimson White – Sept. 10
Nestled in the back of Martha Parham, the University of Alabama Life Track program is where adults find their second chance for an education. This distance-learning program helps the University’s faculty who never completed their degrees, adults pursuing a higher education for the first time, or anyone who wants to earn a degree from the University. “Believe it or not, we have some students that just want a degree from the University of Alabama!” said Life Track advisor Lisa Young. The program is degree rewarding and is an extension of the Arts and Sciences department. Students range in age from as young as 25 to as old as 80. “We have a lot of students who are completing their degrees for intrinsic reasons. They are already establish or are retired, but they are inspired to continue their education. I think that’s just as good of a reason as someone who is being forced back into the workplace,” Young said.
Political Science Professors react to Kim David Controversy
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Sept. 10
Kim Davis was released from jail on Tuesday. She’s the Rowan County, Kentucky clerk who repeatedly refused to issue same sex marriage licenses based on her religious beliefs.Kim Davis does plan on returning to work this week and does not plan on resigning. That does leave one major question. Will Davis now issue marriage licenses to same sex couples? She spent five days in jail until the judge who sent her there ordered her release. In Davis’ absence, deputy clerks issued licenses to same sex couples. The judge has ordered Davis to not interfere with this once she returns to work. Davis’ lawyers have asked for an appeal that would take their clients name off the licenses. Two UA Political Science Professors we spoke with weighed in on the controversy.
Why are Alabama fans so passionate?
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Sept. 10
What makes passion run so high? Michael Wood, an American Studies professor at UA says the sport sparks such an extreme emotion in fans because it lines up with the values that Americans treasure the most.
Bryant Museum to hold festivities celebrating Coach Bryant’s birthday
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Sept. 10
Happy Birthday, Paul “Bear” Bryant. Tomorrow, the legend would have been 102 years-old. The Paul W. Bryant Museum has a weekend full of festivities going on beginning tomorrow at Paul W. Bryant High School, and on Saturday former Crimson Tide greats will be at the museum signing autographs.