UA in the News: Jan. 23-25, 2016

UA student may become state’s youngest delegate
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Jan. 24
It’s rare for a 19-year-old college student running to be a delegate, but it’s not just the position he is looking for. He’s also working hard to get more people registered to vote and involved in the process. Ross D’Entremont is a freshman at The University of Alabama. While he’s busy keeping up with classes, he’s also trying to educate his peers about the right to vote.

Notable & Quotable: Historian Forrest McDonald
Wall Street Journal – Jan. 24  
Historian Forrest McDonald, who died Jan. 19 at age 89, writing in a 1999 Commentary magazine symposium on the results of the 1998 midterm elections:

UA holds national championship celebration
Al.com – Jan. 23
The University of Alabama held a celebration to honor the National Champions Alabama Crimson Tide.
WRCB-NBC (Chattanooga) – Jan. 24
WVTM-NBC 13 (Birmingham) – Jan. 23
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Jan. 23
WAKA-CBS (Montgomery) – Jan. 23
WBRC-Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Jan. 23
WCFT-ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Jan. 23
WSFA-NBC (Montgomery) – Jan. 23

How Mobile’s Airbus plant might be affected in post-sanction Iran
Al.com – Jan. 23
Political sensitivity in the U.S. over the lifting of nuclear sanctions with Iran could put Airbus Americas in a peculiar position, according to analysts. The European-based company, which opened its first North American manufacturing plant in Mobile last year, is reportedly in talks with Iranian officials about an order of 114 plans. An Iranian news agency quoted an official last weekend saying that Tehran had “taken the first step in agreeing with Airbus” for the plane purchases … Franco Parisi, an instructor at the Culverhouse College of Commerce at the University of Alabama, said any deals with U.S. companies are going to be slow going considering both the political and economic hurdles facing the issue. “I believe the U.S. will step down for a little while,” Parisi said. “You have an election year and things are going to change so rapidly that companies will be waiting to clarify the international economic and political situation here.” He also said that slumping oil prices could take a toll. Also, financing considerations will also have to be taken into account. “There will be so many questions on whether the country can repay the loan on the planes,” Parisi said.

Baptist rival attacks Congressman’s Episcopal faith, says too tolerant on gay marriage
Al.com – Jan. 24
The Episcopal Church’s acceptance of same-sex marriage has surfaced as a campaign issue in South Alabama where conservative candidate Dean Young is accusing U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne for being too lenient on the issue. Young, an Orange Beach developer who is challenging the incumbent congressman during the March 1 Republican primary, is linking Byrne’s affiliation with the Episcopal Church to the issue … William Stewart, a professor emeritus of political sciences at the University of Alabama, said he doubts Young’s appeal linking the church with same-sex marriage and tying Byrne to the issue will be met with much success politically. “There is not a lot one individual member can do when his or her church takes a stand on an issue opposite to that which the member takes,” Stewart said. “We have a lot of Alabama politicians who are United Methodists who oppose some of its doctrinal shifts.”

AUM conference examines life in the south
Greenfield Reporter (Ind.) – Jan. 24
February Auburn University Montgomery conference focusing on the South will offer insight into the region’s culture, history, art, music, and journalism. AUM history professor Ben H. Severance said the public is welcomed and can register at the student rate either by mail or during the conference, which is set for Feb. 5-6 on the east Montgomery campus. The speakers and presenters are established scholars who are experts on the South, and who have published in their fields of interest … On Feb. 5, Trudier Harris, a professor of English from the University of Alabama, will present “Meditations on Horror, History, Black Lives, and Literature.”
The Olympian (Wash.) – Jan. 24

Sewell Thomas Stadium holds open house
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Jan. 23
The University of Alabama held an open house for their brand new Sewell Thomas baseball stadium.