Teach for America expands into state
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 20
The nationally known Teach for America service program will expand into six counties in the Black Belt during the next three years…The University of Alabama will serve as TFA’s local certification partner, and members can enroll at UA to obtain their state teaching certification. They will also have the opportunity to pursue a master’s degree in teaching. Alabama TFA teachers will spend this summer training and student teaching in preparation for the next school term. “While well over 90 percent of teachers in Alabama have come through traditional routes, Teach for America has pioneered a quality alternative that is putting teachers in some of our hardest-to-staff schools,” said James McLean, dean of the UA College of Education…
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Feb. 19
Olympic games feature UA professor working the site
Crimson White – Feb. 22
…(Ken)Wright, a professor of sport management in the college of human environmental sciences, has been in Vancouver, British Columbia, since the beginning of February drug testing athletes competing in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Wright is currently working with the United States Anti-Doping Agency to administer various drug tests to athletes competing in the games. He has worked with the agency for 21 years. “They are responsible for preserving integrity in the sport, and also holding athletes accountable to the rules of participation,” Wright said…Milla Boschung, dean of the college of human environmental sciences, said the department is more than appreciative of Wright’s accomplishments and efforts as an educator. “We are very pleased that Dr. Ken Wright was selected to participate in the Olympics,” Boschung said. “It is quite an honor for him and for the college of human environmental sciences.”…
Mud flies fast and furious in Alabama bingo dispute
Mobile Register – Feb. 20
…”This is one heck of a political fight,” said David Lanoue, chairman of the University of Alabama’s department of political science…With big money comes big stakes, but there aren’t any winners with these sorts of negative attacks,” Lanoue said. “It seems odd to be having this argument at a time when we have much bigger problems facing our state.” …
Jefferson County owes $27 million for excess interest, IRS says
Birmingham News – Feb. 20
…Robert Brooks, professor of financial management at the University of Alabama, explains it this way: The county has the luxury of being able to borrow money at the tax-exempt rate, which means the interest rate is lower than normal. “That tax exemption is provided courtesy of the Internal Revenue Service at the federal government level,” Brooks said. “What the IRS doesn’t want a municipality to do is to take the money they borrowed at the low interest rate and turn around and invest it in bonds and earn a positive spread on that difference.”…
Hispanic group tells English language students in Hoover about the importance of filling out the 2010 Census
Birmingham News – Feb. 22
…The most important effort in any strategy to reach immigrants with the Census is to get the message out that it has the sole objective of counting the population and is completely confidential, said Carolyn Trent, a socioeconomic analyst for the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama. Trent pointed out that there has been no recent action on immigration reform. She also said that unlike in 2000, the Commerce Department, which oversees the Census Bureau, is not asking federal officials to suspend large-scale immigration raids…
Miss UA crowned
Crimson White – Feb. 22
…Shellie Street, a junior from Mobile, was crowned the new Miss UA after a long process of facing five judges through a private interview, an on-stage question, and swimsuit, talent and evening wear competitions…As the 2010 winner, Street will receive a full-tuition scholarship for one year, two book scholarships and several other prizes. Last year, the prize package totaled more than $20,000…
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Feb. 20
Coleman Coliseum Turns Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness
FOX6 (Birmingham) – Feb. 19
Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa goes pink. The University of Alabama gymnastics team is helping in the fight against breast cancer, so, lights all around the facility are burning bright pink tonight…
UA Theater Performs “Saint Joan”
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Feb. 19
It dramatizes what’s known about Joan of Arc’s life, especially her trial. It’s called “Saint Joan” and it’s coming to a stage in west Alabama next week. Allie Ficken and Stephen Brunson are a part of the University of Alabama production. UA department of theatre and dance presents “Saint Joan”…February 23-28 in Morgan Auditorium…
UA professor to guest conduct TSO concert
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 20
… “I figure if you’re doing dances, you can couch a dance in the form of a party, so we’ll start our party with a piece about a party, the one Tuesday before Ash Wednesday,” said Thurman, an assistant professor at the University of Alabama School of Music…
UA Sarah Moody Gallery to open exhibit of Jasper Johns prints
Mobile Press-Register – Feb. 21
The University of Alabama’s Sarah Moody Gallery of Art presents a selection of prints by Jasper Johns for its annual Farley Moody Galbraith Endowed Exhibition. An opening reception will be 6-8 p.m. Feb. 25…