Group will advocate to protect state’s education budget
The Tuscaloosa News – Dec. 3
The chancellor of the University of Alabama System is spearheading a coalition of K-12, community college and four-year institution leaders advocating for the state’s education system, including the protection of the education budget from further cuts. “The messages we will be able to deliver through this coalition will be stronger and will be received by a significantly broader group of people than we could possible reach if we operated solo,” UA System Chancellor Robert Witt said. The Alabama Unites for Education coalition launches today. The group includes the leadership of the UA System, the Alabama Community College System, and the Alabama Department of Education as well as the presidents of the UA system’s three campuses and Auburn University.
Fairhope artist researches, paints original University of Alabama campus
Al.com — Dec. 2
But thanks to the painstaking research of Dean Mosher, an artist and historian from Fairhope, and a team of experts he assembled, the university now has a painting that depicts the original campus, as well as several models of the buildings lost to fire. More than a year after the University of Alabama’s then-President Dr. Judy Bonner commissioned the painting, Mosher recently unveiled the 14’9″ wide by 6’2″ high painting, which is hanging in the Pearce Grand Foyer of the Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library.
Multiple shooters, including a woman: What sets California apart from other mass shootings
FoxNews.com – Dec. 4
The slaughter in San Bernardino, California, in some ways does not fit the mold of past mass shootings. Details that have emerged about the massacre contrast with other examples of a form of violence typically carried out by men acting alone. Some of the elements that make the latest attack especially unusual: … While rumors often circulate about a second shooter, they nearly always are proven false. In this case, Farook and Malik carried out the attack together with assault rifles and semi-automatic handguns. Adam Lankford, a criminal justice professor at the University of Alabama, said his review of mass public shootings indicates it is the first in recent history to involve a joint male-female team of shooters. Duwe said it was also the first public mass shooting to involve multiple assailants since a pair of teenagers killed 12 fellow students and a teacher at Columbine High School.
ABC News – Dec. 4
Denver Post – Dec. 4
Time.com – Dec. 4
Toshiba – Dec. 4
Jakarta Post (Indonesia) – Dec. 4
KDBC-CBS (El Paso, Texas) – Dec. 3
WBUR-FM (National Public Radio) (Boston, Mass.) – Call-in show called “On Point” – Live Interview – Dec. 3
WCMH-NBC (Columbus, Ohio) – Dec. 3
KSHB-NBC (Kansas City, Mo.) – Dec. 3
America Has Seen More Mass Shootings Than Days in 2015
Complex – Dec. 4
In the wake of yet another mass shooting in the United States, the country’s steadily worsening statistics on gun-related violence have once again started invading headlines. When a couple fatally shot at least 14 people at Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino on Wednesday, the tragedy became the 355th mass shooting of 2015. In fact, the massacre in California was actually the second mass shooting on Wednesday alone, as NBC News reports that three people were wounded and one killed during a shooting Georgia earlier that day. As we’re still less than 340 days into 2015, this startling statistic means that this year has seen more mass shooting tragedies in the United States than days. Coupled with the University of Alabama Department of Criminal Justice‘s estimate that 31 percent of the world’s mass shootings occur in the U.S., despite only containing five percent of the global population, the drastic need for reform once again becomes strikingly clear.
Official: California massacre gunman contacted extremists on social media
Alaska Dispatch – Dec. 4
San Bernardino gunman Syed Rizwan Farook had been in contact with known extremists on social media, a U.S. intelligence official said Thursday, and police said he and his wife had enough bullets and bombs to slaughter hundreds when they launched their attack on a holiday party. The details came to light as investigators tried to determine whether the rampage that left 14 people dead was terrorism, a workplace grudge or some combination … Adam Lankford, a criminal justice professor at the University of Alabama, said his review of mass public shootings in the U.S. indicates this is the first one in recent history to involve a male-female team.
The Chronicle Journal (Ontario, Canada) – Dec. 3
Developers, retailers see business potential from parkway opening
Anniston Star – Dec. 3
Matt Pickette hasn’t invested in the recently unveiled plan to add new retailers in the former Kmart building on Alabama 21 in Anniston. The development could make money for him just the same. Pickette owns Pickette’s Feed and Pet Supply at the corner of Alabama 21 and Blue Mountain Road, across from the Kmart. Both are just about 2 miles from Veterans Memorial Parkway, set to open this year. Some developers, economists and Anniston city officials say the Kmart project could be the precursor to more retail development around the parkway once it opens. Those new retailers could in turn attract others to the area, creating a new hub of economic activity for the city, they say … Ahmad Ijaz, director of economic forecasting with the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama, said new highways and interstates can help in generating economic growth. “In some areas like Anniston, it might help a lot more than in extremely rural areas because of the population count,” Ijaz said.
NIH funds robot project to improve mobility for elderly people
Healio.com – Dec. 3
The NIH recently announced it will fund the development of co-robots — robots that work cooperatively with people. As part of the National Robotics initiative, the NIH will fund three co-robots, one of which will aim to improve mobility in elderly individuals. According to a press release, the NIH will spend about $2.2 million during 5 years on the three projects … The project to create a smart walker to increase mobility in elderly individuals will be led by Xiangrong Sheng, PhD, an associate professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. Shen and colleagues will develop a four-legged robot with two modes: a smart power-assist walker and a smart mule. The power-assist mode will allow users to choose a level of power assistance while they are situated within the robot. The smart mule mode will allow users to walk unassisted while the robot walks alongside them and carries a load, such as groceries. The robot will use a 3-D computer vision-based sensing system to detect both the user’s motion and the environment, and will have smart legs to surmount environmental obstacles more easily than a wheelchair.
Senior Journal – Dec. 3
CNB News (South New Jersey) – Dec. 3
Kansas City Info Zone – Dec. 3
Fact check: Obama’s assertions on mass shootings in the U.S.
Sun Journal – Dec. 3
Readers requested us to fact-check Obama’s broad statement at the Dec. 1 Paris news conference, that “mass shootings just [don’t] happen in other countries.” Critics pushed back on that comment immediately, noting that Paris – where Obama was speaking – had just experienced a mass shooting. Mass shootings do happen in other countries, and that statement clearly is false … The White House also pointed to research by University of Alabama criminal justice professor Adam Lankford, who declared mass shootings the “dark side of American exceptionalism.” The paper is not yet published officially, but his findings have been covered widely in the news and has been used to support Obama’s argument. Lankford ran statistical analyses of the total number of public mass shooters per country from 1966 to 2012 in 171 countries, and controlled for the national population size.
Daily Comet (Lafourche, La.) – Dec. 3
Yoolanda – Dec. 3
Mass shooting science
Al Jazeera – Dec. 3
Jacob Ward reports on a study by a University of Alabama criminologist that finds common factors in the shootings.
OPINION–Cantu: Do not discount sleep during final exams
Daily Toreador (El Paso, Texas) – Dec. 3
As the warship that is finals is approaching the shoreline, I think it is safe to say most students are getting to a panicking point of high anxiety. While you are digging through your books, notes and whatever other resources you can get your hands on, sleep does not need to be left in the dark. According to a study by University of Alabama professor Adam Knowlden, roughly 60 percent of college students get an adequate amount of sleep on a regular basis. Since irregular sleep schedules are already common occurrences among my fellow peers, by the time final exams approach and the cramming sessions come into play, there are a few possible outcomes, and most of them negative.
UA’s ‘Hilaritas’ program is Friday night
Tuscaloosa News – Dec. 3
The University of Alabama School of Music’s annual “Hilaritas” holiday performance will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Moody Music Building concert hall, 810 Second Ave. The concert will include holiday music arranged for jazz, chorus and more. Tickets are $5 and $7 for students, $10 and $15 for general admission. For more information, go to www.uamusic.tix.com or call 205-348-7111.
Bryant-Denny tops in Instagram popularity
Tuscaloosa News – Dec. 3
Bryant-Denny Stadium is the most popular place in Alabama for users of Instagram to post photos or videos from, according to Time magazine’s website Time.com. The piece, “The Most Instagrammed Places in America,” lists the most popular sites in each state. Bryant-Denny was the only collegiate stadium listed across the 50 states. Other top Instagram sites included Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Florida, Wrigley Field in Illinois and the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Instagram is an online mobile photo-sharing, video-sharing and social networking service.
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Dec. 3
GospelFest to be held at Moody Concert Hall
ABC 33/40 (live Interview) – Dec. 3
The GospelFest will be held on Sunday, January 10 at Moody Music Concert Hall.