Metamaterial Slows Light
Medical Design Briefs – Oct. 21
Researchers at The University of Alabama created a material that manipulates and reduces the speed of light in a new, more effective way. The resulting “slow light” will lead to the development of optical buffers and delay lines used in next-generation sensors. “Slow light” refers to the drastic slowdown of light waves from traveling, thus the reduction of the group velocity. An emerging class of materials called metamaterials consists of specially designed metal patterns on the substrate, like silicon, whose size, geometry, and orientation can be selected to allow for exotic optical properties, including the reduction of light speed. Unlike the best known methods for slowing light that involved cold atoms, metamaterials use no energy and are much less complex to implement. In their lab at UA, the researchers fabricated and measured subwavelength metal patterns they specially designed on top of a silicon substrate. The thin metamaterial behaves “as if it was 1,000 times thicker,” according to the engineering team, enabling integrated photonic sensors on flexible materials.
Alabama Panhellenic’s annual Sorority Row Trick-or-Treat with games and free candy coming soon
Al.com – Oct. 21
The University of Alabama’s Panhellenic Association will host its annual Sorority Row Trick-or-Treat from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26. Children from the Tuscaloosa area ages 12 and younger are invited to dress up in Halloween costumes (without masks) and visit the lawns of the campus sorority houses on Magnolia and Colonial drives for candy and activities. UA sorority members from the Alabama Panhellenic Association along with member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council and United Greek Council will dress in costumes and provide candy to children. Costumes are encouraged. No animals allowed. See photos from last year’s Sorority Trick-or-Treat in the gallery above.
Tuscaloosa News – Oct. 21
Meet 34 women who have shaped Alabama into the state she is today
Al.com – Oct. 22
Who has made Alabama into the state she is today? That’s the question Alabama Media Group posed to readers during the search for Women Who Shape the State. For the past two years, AL.com and Birmingham magazine partnered to recognize female leaders in Birmingham. This year, we expanded the program to recognize women around the state, and the response was enthusiastic. Readers responded with nearly 200 nominations of those who have changed the state for the better, and a selection committee narrowed that to the women honored here. They are zoo keepers and business women, doctors and lawyers, philanthropists and astronauts. They are mothers, daughters, sisters and your neighbors … Kagendo Mutua – Professor in the College of Education at the University of Alabama (emphasis in special education and disabilities) and leader in community organizations, 49, Tuscaloosa: Community activities: The Arc of Tuscaloosa human rights committee chair (spring 2015-present), The Arc of Tuscaloosa human rights committee member (April 2009-spring 2015), Girl Scouts Troop 68 Daisies and Brownies leader (2012-present) … “I believe that the success of tomorrow’s communities is predicated upon the children whom we raise today — all children, and especially those marginalized ones who are easily written off.” “Having been born and raised in Africa, I have a communal outlook towards childrearing. These same dreams that I have for my own children extend to the children whom I encounter in schools, in my little Daisy/Brownie troop and the bigger, more grown children whom I encounter in my college classes.”
State of the (Queer) Union: Marriage equality isn’t the end of the LGBTQ fight
Crimson White – Oct. 22
The UA Feminist Caucus hosted the second annual State of the (Queer) Union Address Oct. 21 in the Ferguson Student Center addressing the issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community today. The panel specifically focused on representation for the LGBTQ+ community in politics, the issue of marriage equality, what the term “queer” actually means, and the restoration of religious freedom acts. Ben Raye, event coordinator for the UAFC, facilitated the panel consisting of Dr. Barbara Brickman, assistant professor of media and gender studies in the New College; Brandon Hooks, a senior majoring in economics and international studies; and Carly Calhoun, a second-year law student at the University. The 70 attendees, including SGA President Elliot Spillers, were encouraged to participate in the discussion and ask questions. The panel was asked what ways they think the passage of marriage equality is beneficial and detrimental, and Hooks said it’s detrimental at times because there’s no end to equality.
Beat Auburn Beat Bingo collects cans for West Alabama Food Bank
Crimson White – Oct. 22
University Programs and the Restaurant, Hotel and Meeting Management Deparment hosted Beat Auburn Beat Bingo (BABB) Wednesday night in Lloyd 131. BABB supported Beat Auburn Beat Hunger (BABH), an annual competition between the two schools to see who can collect more canned goods to support their regional food bank. About 25 students attended BABB, receiving one bingo card for each canned good they brought. The event collected over 50 cans of food for the West Alabama Food Bank. Sydney Cochran, a senior in the Restaurant, Hotel and Meetings Management (RHM) Department, helped run the event and felt there was a good turnout. Andrea Rock, Campus Liaison for Beat Auburn Beat Hunger, started off the event by explaining the importance of the “Beat Hunger” aspect of Beat Auburn Beat Hunger. One statistic that she shared was that there are enough hungry kids in Alabama to fill Bryant-Denny Stadium and Jordan-Hare stadium twice.
Domestic Violence Awareness
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Oct. 21
What was once a dark secret that many endured in silent shame is in the news more and more. October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. The victims and survivors of abusive relationships are being asked to share their stories to help victims who are too afraid to report or escape from their abuser. Signs of an abusive relationship include jealousy or controlling behavior, discouraging you from talking to or seeing family and friends, threatening behavior or destroying your property and using physical force. Dr. Tricia Witte says, “You need to take all threats seriously. So, if you’re in a relationship that’s violent, and your boyfriend or girlfriend has threatened your life and they’ve done it before but they didn’t act on it, you still need to take every single treat seriously.”
National Fossil Day
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Oct. 21
Today in Tuscaloosa, a celebration of really big old bones. It was national fossil day at the Alabama Museum of Natural History. The program was started by the National Park Service with the intention of raising awareness of fossil heritage. Visitors got to see fossils from fish all the way to dinosaurs. Alabama is one of the richest states in the country when it comes to fossils.
UA graduate seeks votes to win Super Bowl ad for company
Crimson White – Oct. 22
Robert Armstrong, founder of G Momma’s Cookies, is asking The University of Alabama community to help win an advertisement to be featured during the 2016 Super Bowl. G Momma’s Cookies was chosen from 15,000 applicants in a competition sponsored by Intuit QuickBooks, and is among the top 10 finalists. G Momma’s is reportedly the only participant from the South entered in the competition. Armstrong graduated from The University of Alabama with a degree in business management in 2008. He founded G Momma’s in 2009, using his grandmother’s all-natural cookie recipe, in his hometown of Selma, Alabama. The brand started distributing cookies to 35 local retailers. They now have their product in 2,000 stores nationwide including Piggly Wiggly, Cracker Barrel and Wal-Mart. “He always wanted to do it,” said Hannah Benak, a representative for G Momma’s.
Omega Psi Phi impacts community, members
Crimson White – Oct. 21
Troughout Derek Lee Biddings II’s youth, he witnessed an older cousin never give up regardless of the constant struggles he faced. His cousin was put through the difficulties of an illness to his wife, but he would not slow down. He never stopped working hard in order to provide for his daughters and his family. His cousin said he learned these qualities from his collegiate fraternity Omega Psi Phi, and that has had an impact on Biddings. From the individual accolades to the collective accomplishments of the organization, the Omega Psi Phi chapter at The University of Alabama has been able to create a story that reads of honor and success. The 17 current student members and the alumni emanate brotherhood. The impacts of the tight-knit family can be found from the Black Belt region that they constantly aid to the classrooms of Tuscaloosa schools to local charities and events. According to the official website of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, “Omega Psi Phi does not seek members; quality men seek Omega Psi Phi.” Former Chapter President Jaylan Fields is a legacy member of the organization. Current Chapter President Jeromey Beaman saw the qualities and attributes that were embedded into his mentor by the fraternity. Beaman wanted to seek what made his mentor
this way. “We say we want the best of the best,” Beaman said. “We are an open enterprise, but we want the best we can get.”
Halloween in Oz
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Oct. 21
Come meet Dorothy and her friends at the 6th Annual Halloween in Oz at Moody Music Hall. The University of Alabama Community Music School will offer live music, face painting, costume contests and games. More than a family friendly event, Oz also serves as a fund raiser for the Community Music School’s Children’s Scholarship Fund, which helps children in the community who have financial difficulty learning music.
Tide for Tusks
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Oct. 21
Tide for Tusks, a way for everyday people to help save an amazing animal. The Tide for Tusks exhibit opened today at the Alabama Museum of Natural History. Tide for Tusks is a non-profit organization that is raising awareness of poaching and the need for conservation of African elephants. The exhibit allows students and community members to see UA’s connection and history with elephants.