MONDAY, JULY 11 – SUNDAY, JULY 17, 2016
BEST BETS
UA, YMCA TEAM TO DELIVER SUMMER READING PROGRAM – As teachers and parents try to stem summer learning loss, staff members of the Benjamin Barnes YMCA and faculty and graduate students from the UA College of Education are continuing the Y’s Reader Program, a daily educational component of the Y’s summer camp schedules for children ages 4 to 14. The younger campers are exposed to new literacy and social and emotional skills to increase readiness, while older ages gain practice and exposure to different reading materials. Middle-schoolers have formed a book club. Children from across 16 schools in Tuscaloosa County are participating. The camp is open to members of the media from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday. For more information, contact, David Miller, UA Media Relations, at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.
CONSERVATIVES LESS INTERESTED IN EMPIRICAL DATA, RESEARCH INDICATES – It’s widely accepted that partisan news and commentary help shape political opinions, but what about scientific studies? Dr. Alexa Tullett, UA assistant professor of psychology, recently completed a study in which conservatives and liberals in the Deep South and on the West Coast were given the chance to view findings from studies about the justness of the world, efficacy of safety nets and the value of social media. Tullett didn’t offer the results of those studies or the origin to participants, just the opportunity to view the novel data. She found conservatives were far less interested in the data than liberals, an implication that political divisiveness is partly driven because people rely on different methods of persuasion. “They disagree about the value of scientific evidence, and if you’re relying on different types of evidence, you’re less likely to come to an agreement,” Tullett said. For more information, contact David Miller, UA media relations, at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.
PICKENS COUNTY PARTNERSHIP AIMS TO IMPROVE HEALTH, EDUCATION – UA has teamed with Pickens County to provide learning opportunities for students while improving the health and well-being of the rural county of nearly 20,000. The University of Alabama-Pickens County Partnership seeks to provide sustainable health care for the county and “real world” training for UA students in medicine, nursing, social work, psychology, health education and other disciplines. For more information, contact Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 808-640-5912, kkeaton@ur.ua.edu, or Brett Jaillet, assistant director of communications, College of Community Health Sciences, 205/348-2041, bjaillet@cchs.ua.edu.
‘REMEMBERING 4 LITTLE GIRLS’ – An exhibit, “Remembering 4 Little Girls: A Gallery of Creative Expressions” remains open through Sept. 24 at the The Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum. On loan from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the exhibition includes 36 multi-media pieces including paintings, sculptures and other media and was inspired by “4 Little Girls,” Spike Lee’s Oscar-nominated documentary about the 1963 Birmingham church bombing that took the lives of four young girls. For more information, contact: Katherine Edge, museum director, 205/348-4932, kbedge@ua.edu or Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.
PROFESSORS CREATE BRANDING COURSE FOR OLYMPIC ATHLETES — Drs. Andrew Billings, Kim Bissell and Kenon Brown, from the College of Communication and Information Sciences, have created a course for Olympic athletes on managing their online presence, engaging with traditional media channels and handling situations that may compromise their image or reputation. The International Olympic Committee initiated the project, and the course is now available to all Olympic athletes through the Athlete Learning Gateway. The course addresses case studies and practical examples of how to take control of online identity and build a successful athlete brand. The videos for the course were produced at the Digital Media Center located inside Bryant Denny Stadium. For assistance, contact Hailey Grace Steele, UA media relations, 205/348-6416.
FORUM AT UA TO DISCUSS SAFETY DURING SEVERE WEATHER AT OUTDOOR EVENTS – UA, along with the American Meteorological Society, will host a panel discussion among meteorologists and organizers on weather safety during outdoor events. The forum will be Sunday, July 17, in the Bryant Conference Center. Media can interview panelists beginning at 3:30 p.m. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA media relations, at 205/348-6444 or acjones12@eng.ua.edu.
LOOKING AHEAD
PUBLIC ARCHAEOLOGY DAYS TO BE HELD AT OLD CAHAWBA — The Alabama Historical Commission and UA’s Office of Archaeological Research invite the public to participate in three days of investigation, presentations and discovery of the mysterious town of Old Cahawba during Old Cahawba Public Archaeology Days. The three-day event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 21 through 23 at Old Cahawba Archaeological Park in Orrville, includes daily excavations at Old Cahawba’s State House lot, daily tours of Old Cahawba, a series of daily lectures and an artifact display and children’s craft tables July 23. For more information, contact Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu; Matthew Gage, director, UA Office of Archaeological Research, mdgage@ua.edu; Dr. Virgil Beasley, cultural resources investigator, Office of Archaeological Research, vrbeasle@ua.edu.
UA EXPERT TIPS
UA MATTERS: JUICING AND SMOOTHIE CONSIDERATIONS — Trendy diets during hot weather are all the rage, especially when it comes to the various juicing and smoothie programs that are being advertised on the market today. Though promoted as an easy and refreshing way to lose weight and consume more vitamins and minerals, it is important to consult with your physician or other healthcare provider before starting any kind of juicing or smoothie program. UA’s Sheena Quizon Gregg shares how to incorporate a juicing or smoothie regiment as part of your regular dietary intake in UA Matters. For assistance, contact Kim Eaton, UA media relations, at 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.