BEST BETS
SMITH FAMILY GIFT PUSHES THE RISING TIDE OVER $1 BILLION — The University of Alabama’s Rising Tide Capital Campaign surpassed $1 billion in charitable commitments toward its $1.5 billion goal thanks to a recent gift commitment of $20 million made in memory of Mark Smith, co-founder of the global telecommunications company ADTRAN. The Performing Arts Academic Center will be named the Smith Family Center for the Performing Arts, pending approval by the UA System Board of Trustees. For more information, contact Stephanie Kirkland, UA Division of Advancement, at stephanie.kirkland@ua.edu.
ALABAMA STUDENTS CAN APPLY TO UA FREE THIS WEEK — The University of Alabama is joining other state schools in the Spring 2022 College Application Campaign, coordinated by the Alabama Department of Education. From now through March 5, applications fees are waived for Alabama residents applying to UA as an undergraduate, first-time freshman, or as a transfer student. Applications are available online for first-time freshman and transfer students. This opportunity is not available through the Common App. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA Strategic Communications, at adam.jones@ua.edu.
UA TO SIGN PARTNERSHIP TO MAKE JOB SITE SAFER — The UA SafeState Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Program will sign a partnership with the OSHA Area Office in Birmingham and Brasfield & Gorrie General Contractors for the new UAB MedWest project being built in McCalla. The signing will take place Wednesday, March 2 at 11 a.m. at 4501 Bell Hill Road, Bessemer. The partnership will establish a job site safety team, consisting of all the primary contractors who work at the site, whose responsibility will be to develop an understanding and awareness that all accidents are preventable and unnecessary. For more information, watch for a news release or contact Don Elswick, executive director of UA SafeState at ddelswick@ua.edu.
UA MOUNDVILLE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK HOSTS KNAP-IN MARCH 4-5 — The UA Moundville Archaeological Park will host stone tool makers and flint knappers from around the nation during its annual Knap-In March 4-5. Knapping is the process of shaping stone to make tools, such as — but not limited to — arrowheads. People have chipped rocks into tools and weapons for thousands of years. Native Americans knapped stone arrow and spear points, knife blades, scrapers, drills, and many other tools and weapons. For more information, contact Lindsey Gordon, Moundville Archaeological Park, at fgordon@ua.edu.
EVENTS
RETIRED U.S. NAVY CAPTAIN PRESENTS TALK ON COLD WAR — Retired U.S. Navy Captain Dr. Alfred Scott McLaren will present a talk on his book “Emergency Deep: Cold War Missions of a Submarine Commander” Tuesday, March 1, at 9:30 a.m. in 220 Farrah Hall. The memoir discusses McLaren’s experiences commanding the USS Queenfish, an attack submarine from 1969 to 1973 off the coasts of Russia and Vietnam. McLaren, who received the Distinguished Service Medal and two Legions of Merit, will also speak on climate change, exploration of the Siberian Continental Shelf and the Arctic. The lecture is open to the public.
CURRENT COMMENT
GAS PRICES WILL RISE DUE TO RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE — Disruptions to Russia’s oil industry — due to the conflict in Ukraine and the resulting sanctions against Russia — will have an effect on the price of gasoline throughout the world, according to Dr. Jim Cochran, associate dean for research in the Culverhouse College of Business. Because gasoline is necessary to transport goods and services, the prices of these other goods and services will increase. “However, there are reasons the impact of increasing oil prices on the U.S. economy may not be too severe. First, we have already seen some of the inflationary impact of increasing oil prices; as the conflict in eastern Ukraine has escalated, oil prices have increased in anticipation of a reduction in the supply of Russian oil. Second, other oil producing nations may elect to increase the supply they make available. Third, consumers may react to increasing prices by using less gasoline, effectively reducing the gap between the supply and demand of oil,” Cochran said. To schedule an interview, contact Cochran at jcochran@culverhouse.ua.edu.
CYBERATTACKS BECOMING A COMMON WARFARE TACTIC — “Nation-targeted cyberattacks occur on a rather frequent basis and can have varying levels of impact depending on the tools utilized and the resources targeted,” said Dr. Matthew Hudnall, assistant professor of management information systems at UA. “As countries look to intervene in the developing Russian invasion of Ukraine, cyber conflicts are a significant concern. The largest threat in that area is the fear of an unknown/unpublished exploitation that could cripple large segments of infrastructure and industry. Such ‘zero-day’ attacks are typically held onto by hacking groups until ideal usage scenarios and large-scale cyber warfare would seem opportune times to use them. The good news is that this is a battlefield that the U.S. government, industry and critical infrastructure have been fighting daily for multiple decades. However, such attacks could result in significant economic impacts, temporary loss of utility and government services, and other impactful scenarios that other countries have faced in recent years.” To schedule an interview, contact Hudnall at matthew.hudnall@ua.edu.
Y2K IS COMING BACK IN FASHION — Although we’re still in the midst of winter weather, retailers are already stocked up on spring fashion merchandise, according to Babs Davis, an instructor in UA’s department of clothing, textiles and interior design. Davis says to watch for fashion trends from the early 2000s to make a comeback this spring. “Yes, it has been 20 years since the early 2000s! Enough time has passed that it is time for trends from the era to make a comeback,” Davis said. “Some of the trends we’ll see coming back are chunky platform shoes, slip dresses, and low-rise jeans with camisole tops.” Davis also believes that bright, bold colors, especially greens and pinks will be the trend, not just with clothing, but also with shoes, handbags and other accessories. But Davis also said, “You don’t have to dress in the latest trends to be fashionable. Fashion is a form of self-expression and we live in a time when many people dress in what makes them most comfortable and confident — which is always in style!” For more information, contact Davis at bdavis@ches.ua.edu.
BOOK BANS HARMFUL TO CHILDREN’S UNDERSTANDING OF SOCIETY — Efforts to ban books from school libraries across the country goes against the Library Bill of Rights from the American Library Association and can harm children, said Dr. Jamie Campbell Naidoo, interim director and the Foster-EBSCO Endowed Professor in UA’s School of Library and Information Studies. Naidoo’s research and expertise in children’s literature, particularly in library services to diverse populations and diverse representation in children and young adult books, brings a unique perspective to a trend in local school districts to remove some books from circulation. “The type of book banning we see now seeks to erase the existence of diverse children, families, and individuals from the pages of books, an existence that is extremely important as children develop their sense of self and understanding of our culturally pluralistic society,” he said. To schedule an interview, contact Dr. Naidoo at jcnaidoo@slis.ua.edu.
NEED A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT ON TOPICS MAKING NEWS? – See our frequently updated experts directory here.
VISIT THE UA NEWS CENTER FOR STORY IDEAS.
The University of Alabama strives to remain neutral on public policy issues. Strategic Communications may facilitate interviews or share opinions expressed by faculty, staff, students, or other individuals regarding policy matters. However, those opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the University or its leadership, and do not constitute a statement on behalf of the University unless explicitly designated.