MONDAY, OCT. 26 – SUNDAY, NOV. 1, 2015
BEST BETS
CROSSINGPOINTS TO GROW VIA $2.5 MILLION GRANT – UA’s College of Education recently received a $2.5 million grant to add 10 more students annually to its existing transitional services program for Tuscaloosa-area students with disabilities and to add additional support staff. The five-year project will also launch the “Summer Bridge Program,” a new component that will provide a college preparation program, from guidance on how to complete financial aid paperwork to simulations of independent living, for students with mild to moderate disabilities. For more information, contact David Miller, UA Media Relations, 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.
STUDENT’S COMPOSITION TO BE PERFORMED AT CARNEGIE HALL – A composition by Tyler Grant, a sophomore in UA’s School of Music, has been selected for showcasing at Carnegie Hall in New York City in April. “Panoramic Landscapes” will be performed by the Scarsdale, New York, High School wind ensemble under the direction of Jason Noble. It is the Hoover native’s first work to be played at Carnegie Hall. Originally written for a brass ensemble, Grant later transcribed the three-minute concert fanfare for a full wind orchestra. In it, he portrays the landscapes one might see from a mountaintop. For more information, contact Richard LeComte, media relations, rllecomte@ur.ua.edu, 205/348-3782.
ASTRONOMERS GAIN INSIGHT INTO ENVIRONMENT AROUND BLACK HOLE – New details about what happens when a black hole tears apart a star have been gathered by a trio of orbiting X-ray telescopes, giving scientists an extraordinary opportunity to understand the extreme environment around a black hole. Dr. Jimmy Irwin, associate professor in UA’s department of physics and astronomy, is a co-author of the research publishing in Nature. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville manages the Chandra program for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. An extended photo caption and a link to the Chandra X-Ray Observatory’s news release are available here. Contact Irwin directly at 348-3791 or jirwin1@bama.ua.edu. For assistance, contact Chris Bryant in media relations, 205/348-8323 or cbryant@ur.ua.edu.
EVENTS
TRICK-OR-TREAT: UA’s Panhellenic Association will host its annual Sorority Row Trick-or-Treat from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. 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. Tutwiler and Harris residence halls will also host trick-or-treaters. UA sorority members from the Alabama Panhellenic Association, National Pan-Hellenic Council, United Greek Council, and College of Social Work will provide candy to area children. Big Al will appear on Sorority Row from 6 until 7 p.m., and children will have an opportunity to receive information about joining Big Al’s Kids Club. For details, contact Richard LeComte, media relations, rllecomte@ur.ua.edu, 205/348-3782 or Leah Seay, UA Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, 205/348-2693, greekgrad4@sa.ua.edu.
UA MUSEUM GHOST TOUR PROVIDES HALLOWEEN FUN — The community is invited to explore UA’s rich history from a slightly spooky perspective during the annual “A Haunting at the Museum.” Sponsored by UA’s Alabama Museum of Natural History, the free event is open to all ages and features guided, candlelit ghost walks around the Quad, followed by children’s activities and a scavenger hunt at the museum. The event runs 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27. Contact: Allie Sorlie, museum education outreach coordinator, 205/348-6383, acsorlie@aalan.ua.edu, or Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, 205/348-8325, kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.
CURRENT COMMENT
HAVING A SAFE AND FUN HALLOWEEN — With Halloween right around the corner, safety should be first on parent’s minds. “Always know where your children are going to be trick-or-treating and who they will be with if they are not going to be with you,” said Amy Walker, a parent resource specialist with Alabama’s Parenting Assistance Line at UA’s Child Development Resources. “You also might want to carry a flashlight or wear some piece of reflective clothing.” For more safety tips on enjoying the spooky holiday, contact Walker directly at 205/348-0181 or awalker@ches.ua.edu. For assistance, contact Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.
UA EXPERT TIPS
UA MATTERS: ORDERING HEALTHIER OPTIONS AT RESTAURANTS – Eating out at restaurants is often seen as an obstacle when trying to maintain a healthy diet for weight or chronic disease management. However, many restaurants are willing to work with customers to modify entrees in order to meet any special dietary restrictions. UA’s Sheena Quizon Gregg offers a few strategies for ordering healthier options to accommodate your dietary restrictions in this week’s UA Matters. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.