‘The idea machine’
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 24
Maxwell, chosen as the observatory because it stood at the university’s highest point, now houses the Creative Campus Initiative, where between 20 and 25 students each year deepen and broaden art experiences for the community. “They’re the core of this five-year experiment,” said Hank Lazer, executive director of Creative Campus. “It’s students putting innovative ideas into action.”…“It’s an idea machine,” said Lizzy Carder, a senior majoring in digital media and a member of the Blount Undergraduate Initiative. “It’s an interdisciplinary organization focused on enhancing the arts environment of the university, and of Tuscaloosa County,” said sophomore Colin Whitworth…
PR department rakes in top honors
Crimson White – Jan. 25
“PRWeek” magazine recently ranked the University’s public relations department as one of the top five PR departments in the nation earlier this month. Joseph Phelps, professor and chair of the UA department of advertising and public relations, said this is the second year in a row that the PR department ranked in the top five by the magazine. Phelps said “PRWeek” would also be hosting a ceremony in New York City on March 11, where it will announce the winner and give awards to the other top departments…
UA Center for Public TV and Radio produces documentary about violence
FOX6 (Birmingham) – Jan. 23
…the film is produced by the University of Alabama Center for Public Television and Radio…
UA continues school bus seat belt study
WSFA (Montgomery) – Jan. 22
…The University of Alabama is in charge of the seat belt study. They’ll present their findings to the Governor at the end of the summer.
Ala. jobless rate highest in 26 years
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 23
…The last time Alabama’s unemployment rate was higher was in January 1984, when the rate hit 11.1 percent. And the outlook for the immediate future isn’t better. UA economist Sam Addy said he thinks the state’s unemployment rate could climb to 11.2 percent or 11.3 percent in January, as retailers lay off temporary workers they hired during the holiday shopping season. Addy said, however, that he thinks unemployment is nearing its peak and things will gradually improve this year, get better in 2011 and even better in 2012. Trends show job losses in manufacturing are slowing, he said, and in some manufacturing areas such as wood products, machinery and transportation, they are seeing some growth…
Montgomery Advertiser – Jan. 23
Huntsville Times – Jan. 23
WSFA (Montgomery) – Jan. 22
UA students raise money for Haiti
FOX6 (Birmingham) – Jan. 23
…University of Alabama students are accepting donations at the Ferguson Center. It’s part of the “UA Students for Haiti Relief” effort…The University of Alabama Community Service Center also offers information sessions and counseling to those with family or ties to Haiti…