Moundville museum ready to display $5M renovation
Tuscaloosa News – April 4
The ‘Big Apple of the 14th century’ is back in action with the imminent reopening of the Jones Archaeological Museum at Moundville Archaeological Park. Visitors will see the results of the 10-year, $5 million renovation at the museum’s official opening on May 15. The newly renovated museum tells the story of one of the most significant Native American archaeological sites in the U.S. through modern technology and celebrated artifacts. ‘When we started planning, we had two goals for the museum. First, we wanted to bring the Moundville culture to life through immersive experience,’ said Bill Bomar, director of the Moundville Archaeological Park. ‘And we wanted to present artifacts in a way that shows their significance.’ The museum’s setup is the culmination of two years of collaboration between archaeologists, artists and Native American scholars…The ultimate goal, Bomar said, was to provide a more up-to-date and in-depth interpretation of the Moundville culture…John Blitz, an associate professor of anthropology at UA, is confident the museum will generate greater interest in Moundville. ‘It will bring Moundville into the 21st century,’ he said. ‘People with different interest levels will be able to enjoy the museum. It will make a connection to Native Americans who are still with us today.’
Feedback shapes Foster plaza redesign
Tuscaloosa News – April 6
Administrators will ask trustees to approve the new design at a board meeting in Huntsville on Thursday, five months after President Robert Witt told trustees input from the UA community would shape the final look of the plaza…The redesign was crafted from the feedback on the Web site and at the forums, said Dan Wolfe, university planner…“People said there needed to be something very memorable to celebrate the integration of the University of Alabama,” Wolfe said. “There were different ideas, but everybody had the sort of general idea that there needed to be something there that would become a landmark on campus and be a memorable experience.” Some suggested a fountain, others a sculpture and one even suggested a glass house, but Wolfe said a clock with arches opened beneath it was the best option. “It’s that one element a lot of people who commented felt was very important,” he said. The tower will be named for Autherine Lucy Foster, who in 1956 became the first black student to enroll at UA…The plaza should cost about $1.5 million and will be added to the $15 million renovation and expansion of Foster Auditorium, which will be the new home for women’s basketball and varsity volleyball…
Anniston Star – April 6
FOX6 (Birmingham) – April 6
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – April 6
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – April 6
WAKA (Montgomery) – April 6
WBHM-FM (Birmingham) – April 5
Survey: Confidence of state business leaders up slightly
Montgomery Advertiser – April 6
The confidence of business leaders in Montgomery and across the state rose again slightly this quarter — very slightly — largely because of the automotive rebound at automakers such as Hyundai. The increase was a modest 0.7 percent for the state, which added up to expectations that were close to neutral for the economy in the next quarter, according to a regular survey by the University of Alabama. The school’s Center for Business and Economic Research asks executives each quarter about things such as hiring, sales and profit for their business and the economy at large. A result above 50 shows a general expectation of a growing economy. Results below 50 point to a shrinking economy…