Pulitzer winner to speak at UA today
Tuscaloosa News – March 30
E.O. Wilson, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner widely considered one of the world’s most influential scientists, will give two public talks today on the University of Alabama campus. Wilson, a UA alumnus, will present the Blount Undergraduate Initiative 10th Anniversary Lecture and Colloquium, part of a year-long celebration honoring the anniversary of the founding of the program. The Initiative is a privately supported liberal arts program in the College of Arts and Sciences. The lecture and colloquium are free and open to the public, and Wilson will sign books at both events, including his first novel, “Anthill,” which came out this year…
Birmingham News – March 30 (Print version only)
UA lineman spends spring break in Haiti
Tuscaloosa News – March 30
Barrett Jones knew he would find need of every sort when he decided to spend his spring break in Haiti, volunteering for earthquake relief efforts. Every day, the University of Alabama offensive lineman either called or sent text messages to his parents in Memphis, Tenn., relaying stories of what he saw. Stories of devastation. Of inspiration… “I think Barrett made a tremendous sacrifice and showed what kind of person he is in how he’s willing to sacrifice his spring break to go to Haiti,” said UA head coach Nick Saban. “He was very touched and moved, and (he) said it sure does make you appreciate what we have relative to what we take for granted, and relative to how people have to live in other parts of the world, especially after that tragedy. “It was a wonderful experience for him; he really enjoyed it. I think there is a lot to learn for the rest of our team to have compassion for other people, to be able to give back in so many ways, how much self-gratification you can get from doing things like that.”…
Under shadow of 1957, Arkansas stays out of health-care fight
Washington Post – March 29
… When Beebe, the current governor, drew the explicit comparison between this week’s events and the drama of the 1950s, it was not a surprise to University of Alabama legal historian Tony Freyer, who has written about the Arkansas desegregation fight. “The Little Rock crisis is still a present memory,” Freyer said. “It still has a long shadow.”…
Employee ownership of companies on the rise
Christian Science Monitor – March 29
…The ESOP – Employee Stock Ownership Plan – is, slowly, on the rise. These worker-owned businesses are more productive and could benefit the American economy. … Not everyone’s sold on the idea. Norman Stein, a professor at the University of Alabama School of Law, objects to the generous tax benefits ESOPs receive. He also says they present too much risk to employees, who may “lose their jobs as well as their retirement savings in one stroke.”
Alabama storytelling festival celebrates art form
Montgomery Advertiser (Associated Press) – March 29
…”We are celebrating the art of story-telling through the spoken word,” said Courtney Marr, a University of Alabama senior from Mobile working with Creative Campus, the organization that presented the festival. “We have storytellers from around the state.” … Creative Campus is a UA program in its fifth year as a division of the Office of Academic Affairs, said Associate Provost for Academic Affairs Hank Lazar. About 25 graduate and undergraduate interns work to broaden the offering of cultural activities on and off campus, he said. The storytelling festival is part of that effort.
Girls can excel in math and science
Huntsville Times – March 29
… Her calculus classmate, Anna Hawkins, is a senior and is heading to the University of Alabama this fall on a full academic scholarship, including a National Merit Scholarship. Anna’s plan is to double major in bio-chemistry and music followed by medical school. She chose Alabama because of the opportunities undergraduate students get to do research. A trip to the chemistry labs was one of the highlights of her recent tour of the campus, Anna said.