UA to hold day of service in honor of students who died in April 27, 2011 tornado
NBC 13 (Birmingham) – April 16
In tonight’s recovery in Alabama update: if you are looking for a way to reach out those who in Tuscaloosa lost everything during last April’s tornado, there’s an event coming up this weekend. The University of Alabama is heading up a student and community volunteer “day of service” this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuscaloosa digital journalist Meredith Armstrong found out what volunteers can expect this weekend. The day of service will be aimed towards recovery clean up. Groups will disperse throughout the community to place like Alberta City, where there is still debris that needs to be removed.
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – April 16
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – April 16
WRBL-CBS (Columbus, Ga.) — April 16
WALA-Fox (Mobile) – April 16
AT LARGE: Tuscaloosans tell April 27 story in book
Tuscaloosa News – April 16
Within 10 days after the horrific tornado that cut a six-mile path of destruction through the heart of Tuscaloosa nearly a year ago, there was already an “eBook” on the Internet about the storm and its aftermath and expressing an enduring love for the Druid City. The digital collection of more than 40 short pieces, some of them accounts of how the authors rode out the storm and what they did afterward, and some of them written before the tragedy, was the brainchild of Brian Oliu, who teaches creative writing at the University of Alabama. It is called “Tuscaloosa Runs This” and can still be found online, but through a sort of cyber age reverse engineering, the collection of essays, personal stories, poems and homages to Tuscaloosa has found its way into print — it’s a real paperback book now. While the inspiration for the collection of the work of Tuscaloosa writers, including undergrads, graduate students, alumni and faculty was Oliu, the privately printed book was the work of local businessman Bob Weatherly, who discovered “Tuscaloosa Runs This” online.
Gardeners seek coveted varieties at arboretum plant sale
Tuscaloosa News – April 16
Amy Leepard and Randy Arnold wandered around the annual spring plant sale at the University of Alabama Arboretum on Sunday afternoon looking for something very specific: Cherokee chocolate tomato plants. “They don’t look or taste like anything you’d find in the grocery store,” Arnold said. “It tastes really good, and looks so different from an average tomato,” Leepard said of the Cherokee chocolate, an heirloom tomato. The arboretum held its semi-annual plant sale at the old UA golf course. Vegetables, including heirloom varieties, were sold, as well as flowering plants, herbs, grasses and leafy decorative plants. The sale, which is held in the spring and fall, has been held for about 30 years. “A lot of people come here because they can find plant varieties that you can’t find anywhere else in town,” said Josalyn Randall, a board member of the Friends of the Arboretum.
UA economists expect state’s economy to grow
WPMI-NBC (Mobile) – April 16
Economists at the University of Alabama’s center for business and economic research expect the state’s economy to grow by about 2.5 percent this year. The state hasn’t had a growth rate at that level since before the recession started. The rate was -3 percent in 2009 and 2 percent in 2010.
UA team works to take agriculture research from lab to farms
Tuscaloosa News – April 15
Research rooted to the development of the atomic bomb during World War II may someday lower the costs of growing crops, making agriculture more efficient and more sustainable. That’s the hope of a team of researchers at the University of Alabama who formed a company called MicroGreen to take their research from the laboratory to commercial development. Robert Martinez, a post-doctoral fellow who heads MicroGreen, said the team has isolated a bacteria that exists naturally in soil. The bacteria has properties that allow it to attract phosphorus, one of the three key ingredients in commercial fertilizer. Phosphorus, the most expensive ingredient in commercial fertilizer, is a mined mineral whose supply is being depleted, particularly in the United States. Martinez, who has a Ph.D. in microbiology from Georgia Tech, said MicroGreen addresses that issue by reducing the amount of phosphate-containing fertilizers farmers need to use to get the same yields.
Stimulus impact: $1 billion business loan program added jobs to U.S. economy
Fon du Lac Reporter – April 15
The federal economic stimulus funneled millions of dollars in loans to hotels, burger chains and retailers with some of the lowest wages in Wisconsin as the government tried to kick start lending and head off what some feared would be the next Great Depression. Three years after the landmark legislation passed, a Gannett Wisconsin Media investigation found little on-going government oversight of $1 billion in Small Business Administration-backed loans made in the state, or an official count of how many jobs have been saved or created through the program. The stimulus program was billed overall as a tool to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure. To keep capital flowing to small businesses at a time when banks had curtailed lending, the federal government strengthened its SBA loan guarantees to encourage banks to lend money. But the loans component did not spell out specific guidelines or target any specific industry … Wages at fast-food restaurants, taverns and other small food-service establishments typically run below the $10-per-hour mark, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wisconsin’s 64,000 food-preparation workers and servers had a mean hourly salary of $8.65 in 2010, BLS figures show, and many jobs are seasonal or part-time. Jobs in manufacturing and production tend to pay twice that amount — or more. “Those are the jobs that have a significant impact in the bottom line,” said Louis Marino, who studies loan programs as a professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration. “Money invested in (manufacturing) businesses in a community can roll over three and four times.”
RFID tracks historic collection at University of Alabama
RFIDnews.com – April 17
Silent Partner Technologies (SPT) has been selected by the University of Alabama to provide an RFID asset tracking system to protect the university’s historic costume collection. The University of Alabama collection includes nearly 9,000 items of clothing, dolls and doll furnishings. It includes thousands of special occasion garments and military uniforms, some of which were produced more than two hundred years ago. Unlike manual inventory, RFID technology offers real-time tracking without the physical handling the fragile items. This will minimize the possibility of damaging the historic collection. Once each item has an RFID tag, there will be instant alerts if the article is moved. The SPT solution also provides RFID tracking for the many accessories dating back to the 19th century, including picture hats, kid gloves, purses, and shoes.
Sororities to compete in Sigma Chi Derby Days revival
The Crimson White – April 17
After instating a two-year hiatus, the University of Alabama chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity will revive its philanthropic Derby Days competition between sororities this week. In 2010, the members of Sigma Chi began to notice an increasingly low turnout to the annual event, which propelled a transformation to the system. “In the past, we used to have Derby Days every year, but there were smaller and smaller groups attending,” said Alex Dinges, the Sigma Chi Derby Days chairman. “We decided to make it more special by having it every other year to bring out more people and make it a more exclusive event.” “We’re all really excited about it, especially the sophomores and freshmen who have never experienced Derby Days before,” said Matt Ford, a sophomore Sigma Chi. “The last time I saw it I was a rushee in high school, so it’s great to finally be participating in it as a college student.” Each day of the week includes contests between members of each sorority who are judged on predetermined criteria, such as creativity and spirit. The various competitions include the decoration of the Sigma Chi house and Rounders bar, volleyball, tug-of-war, a beauty pageant, hat-stealing war, karaoke and dance. Sister Hazel, CBDB, the Steven Padilla Band, Big Gigantic and Otis Day & The Knights are scheduled to perform throughout the week.
Holocaust survivor tells his story
The Crimson White – April 17
Though Max Herzel has been telling the story for more than a decade, he’s still not comfortable with it. “I feel like I have to,” Herzel said. “There is an inner voice that tells me to do it, so the new generation will know about.” Herzel, a Holocaust survivor, recounted his memories to UA students at Monday night’s “We Remember the Holocaust” event. The event is a celebration of Yom HaShoah, the Holocaust Remembrance Day celebrated on April 19. “You children are our next generation, you must maintain this commemoration of lives lost — otherwise it will be forgotten,” he said. Born in Belgium in 1930, Herzel was the son of Oscar, a diamond cutter, and Nachama, a seamstress. He was 10 years old when the Germans invaded and his family took refuge in southern France. France was invaded soon after, and the family was moved to the Rivesaltes internment camp, a pipeline into concentration camps. Oscar Herzel bribed workers to smuggle the family out. Herzel, his older brother Harry, and Oscar walked through the camp gates as their mother stayed behind — collateral until Oscar could complete the payment.
UA students honor Holocaust survivors
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – April 16
University of Alabama students organized an event tonight to honor some of the survivors, WVUA’s Travis Leder spoke to two who now call Alabama their home, and learned about their stories, as well as what they want future generations to remember. One survivor, Max Herzel, was forced to live during that time, hiding his true religion and identity. Herzel: “We lived the whole period under German occupation, and we were singled out as Jews as you well know the horrors of the holocaust.”
Nurses offer free screening at baseball game
The Crimson White – April 17
The Capstone chapter of the American Assembly for Men in Nursing will host its inaugural men’s health screening during the Alabama vs. Vanderbilt baseball game this Saturday, April 21. The chapter, which was established in October 2011, is the first chapter in the state of Alabama. Dr. Anthony Roberson, associate professor at the College of Nursing and director of Practice and Community Partnerships, said the group plans to set up a tent before the game and do screenings throughout the game. Roberson, who is also the president of the local chapter, said even though the event is focused on men’s health, women are also welcome to come. The free event, which is run by faculty, students and local nurses, will screen for many different health issues such as blood pressure, lung capacity, sun damage, body mass index, cholesterol and Glucose, Roberson said. Justin Wilson, a junior majoring in political science, said he is glad that the chapter is hosting the event.
Dance Marathon to benefit Children’s Miracle Network
The Crimson White – April 17
University of Alabama students are bringing a dance party to campus for the first time. The Dance Marathon is a fundraiser that will benefit Children’s Hospital and support the Children’s Miracle Network. “It has been quite a journey,” said Alexandra Rhett, president of the Dance Marathon committee, who has been working for the last three years to get the Dance Marathon started. “But it has been well worth it.” The Dance Marathon will be Friday from 1 to 8 p.m. at the Student Recreation Center. The marathon will only last eight hours, much less than the typical 24 hours most schools do, but Rhett said this was because students may find standing for 24-plus hours daunting. “We want to make a good impression on students,” she said. “We want them to want more, not less.” Their chief challenge for the Dance Marathon committee has been raising awareness. “Our goal has been trying to get people to know what it is,” said Katie Klootwyk, public relations and recruitment committee member. “People hear of it and are like, ‘I don’t dance,’ but really you spend very little time dancing. We want to get people hooked on it.”
WRC to host ‘Take Back the Night’
The Crimson White – April 17
The University of Alabama Women’s Resource Center will host “Take Back the Night,” an international rally aimed to support the end of violence against women, tonight at 6 p.m. on the Ferguson Plaza. The month of April is national Sexual Assault Awareness Month and UA’s Women’s Resource Center has been hosting events throughout the month to raise awareness across campus. Students and volunteers at the WRC have also sported teal-colored ribbons to show their support. “Take Back the Night” is the culmination of these events as an international rally aimed at unifying the UA community to stop violence against women. “Take Back the Night” began in Europe in 1976 with women who attended the Tribuna on Crimes Against Women. The rally has travelled across the globe, coming to the U.S. in 1978 and then to UA in 1986. The event is sponsored by Verizon Wireless, Pepsi, Alabama Panhellenic Association, Alpha Chi Omega, Judicial Affairs and the department of race and gender studies. “We are proud to work with the Women’s Resource Center to bring about awareness of abuse on campus throughout Alabama,” said Caran Smith, Verizon Wireless public relations manager for the Alabama/Georgia Region. Wendy Murphy, nationally recognized keynote speaker from Boston Law School, will address the crowd as a personal survivor of sexual assault. A survivor from Shelton State community college will give a vocal performance as well.
Marketing group to hold fundraiser at Red Shed
The Crimson White – April 17
The University of Alabama Sales and Marketing Association will hold a fundraiser to send a child with muscular dystrophy to a Muscular Dystrophy Association summer camp, said Kelsey Kurth, chief operating officer of SMA. The event will begin at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday at The Red Shed located on The Strip, Kurth said. The event is open to anyone 19 years of age and older. “Children with Muscular Dystrophy face difficulty every day because of this disease, and what we’re trying to do is help send a few kids to camp, so that they can have the same fun summer camp experience that most kids get to enjoy,” said Brandon Poley, upcoming president of SMA. “We want students to come out and enjoy themselves but also raise some money to send these children to summer camp.” The event will feature a live music performance by Daniel Crane and drink specials with no cover charge, Kurth said. Fifty percent of the money raised from shots sold will go to the philanthropy, and there will be donation jars throughout the bar as well as a prize raffle including a charter fishing trip for 10, a free manicure and pedicure and gift cards to Zoe’s and Yogurt Mountain. SMA is a student-run organization that focuses on professional development and community contribution, according to the organization’s website. Each year, SMA hosts events designed to help its members grow both personally and professionally, as well as providing each member a chance to give back to the community.
UA Students Hold Golf Tournament to Raise Money for Special Olympics
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – April 16
Golfers are teeing off for the fourth annual Rise and Shine golf tournament. The Student Alumni Association and Phi Sigma Kappa joined forces to raise money for the Special Olympics and student scholarships. David Brock/University of Alabama: (We’re) out here just trying to raise money for a great cause. It’s a good event to do because it draws a lot of people and you raise a good amount of money. And at the same time you go out and have a good time.” Over $4,000 was raised this year and the proceeds will be split 50-50.