CNN anchor Don Lemon to speak as part of ‘Through the Doors’
Crimson White – Feb. 20
Don Lemon, the host of CNN’s prime-time weekend broadcasts, will speak at the Ferguson Center Theater on Thursday as part of “Through the Doors,” a yearlong series of events, activities and speakers to commemorate the 50th anniversary of desegregation at The University of Alabama. Lemon, who grew up in Baton Rouge, La., majored in broadcast journalism at Brooklyn College and has worked for many years in the news business across the country, including two years at Birmingham’s WBRC, Fox 6…University Programs, in partnership with the Dean of Students office, invited Lemon to speak as part of Capstone Conversations with the hope that students will benefit from the perspective that Lemon has to offer as a minority in the highly competitive business of news media. “We felt that to commemorate the 50th anniversary of desegregation, we wanted to celebrate the progress of the University as well as society. Don Lemon is a great representative for CNN and can provide a great message about that progress and how we can continue to move forward,” said Betsy Stewart, a graduate assistant with University Programs.
UA honors integration with trip
Crimson White – Feb. 20
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the integration of the University, students have the opportunity to go on a free trip to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Feb. 24. The event is open to all students who register at www.uaferguson.tix.com. Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Ferguson Plaza. The buses will depart from the Ferguson Center at noon and return at 4 p.m. “Dr. Jimmy Williams from the College of Arts and Sciences approached our office about collaborating on this event,” Shannon Rice, the event programmer for University Programs, said. “They wanted to take a large group of students to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute for a tour that would be relevant and engaging for them. As we worked together, we devised a Twitter trivia game and also worked with the Crossroads Community Center to incorporate a sustained dialogue into the event to give students the opportunity to discuss what they had learned.” In addition to its regular exhibits, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is currently showing “Black from the Heart of Dixie: Famous African American Alabamians,” so students will have a special opportunity to explore Alabama’s role in African-American history.
Brundidge artist featured on television program
Troy Messenger –Feb. 19
Brundidge artist Larry Godwin will be featured today on WVUA commercial television’s “Alabama Art Seen.” Godwin is a multi-talented artist. Although he is well known and respected as a canvas and clay artist, Godwin’s most “seen” art is his metal sculptures. Godwin has life-size sculptures at Disney World and at Daytona Beach Florida and Dayton, Ohio, where his Wright Brothers “first flight” sculptures can be seen. But it was the gigantic rooster that Godwin “sculpted” from chrome automobile bumpers that caught the eye and the interest of University of Alabama professor Nick Corrao. The professor said that he knew almost immediately that the artist who produced the roadside rooster sculpture was fodder for the filming of “Alabama Art Seen.” “Alabama Art Seen” is the University of Alabama student-produced program that exhibits the many different kinds of artists living and working in Alabama. Corrao, who is executive producer of the program, said “Alabama Art Seen” was created by university faculty and is produced and hosted by media students. Three episodes will air this month.
Drish house signifies historical architecture
Crimson White – Feb. 20
Though people often immediately think of football when it comes to the culture of Tuscaloosa, there is more to the city than that – namely, architecture – said University of Alabama architectural historian Gene Ford. Much of the city’s architectural history may be traced to 2300 17th Street, where the Drish House stands. Though the Drish House is well known, the style and craftsmanship of the house goes unnoted. The architecture of the house is significant for a number of reasons, Ford said. “I look at the architectural and craftsmanship of the house,” Ford said. “I look at the craftsmanship of Drish and his slaves, in their ability to build houses across town and the first two dormitories at The University of Alabama.” Ford said Drish was an affluent Renaissance man. He not only designed the Italian/Greek style for the house, but also incorporated the relevant style of the 19th century.
College must remain a top agenda initiative for Obama
The Blue Banner (N.C.) – Feb. 19
Unfortunately for many, due to the congressional budget fights in 2011, the federal government cut Pell Grant eligibility from 18 semesters to 12 and eliminated grants for future summer studies. As a result from cuts, a study from the University of Alabama’s Education Policy Center study found enrollment declined at 47 of 62 two-year colleges in Arkansas, Alabama and Mississippi. Researchers also concluded due to changes, 5,000 students lost Pell eligibility in 2012.
‘Appreciation Week’ to highlight all shapes, sizes
Crimson White – Feb. 20
The University is joining the nationwide celebration of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week from Feb. 25-28. The Department of Health Promotion and Wellness is working alongside the Counseling Center as well as the Women’s Resource Center to organize events on campus that promote body image and raise awareness for eating disorders in honor of UA’s Body Appreciation Week, which is traditionally know as National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. The “Fashion Rocks and So Does my Body” fashion show will be held Feb. 28 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Ferguson Center Ballroom as part of this celebratory week. The free event is open to all UA students and usually attracts about 40 models each year, said Sheena Gregg, the assistant director of nutrition education and health services in the Department of Health Promotion and Wellness. “In the past, we have had student models of different shapes, sizes and genders to be a part of the show,” Gregg said. “We want to promote positive body image and the fact that everyone is beautiful.” Gregg said the event strays from the normal media image of the “thin-deal” by trying to focus on the healthy ideal.
ARDT begins weeklong annual spring concert
Crimson White – Feb. 20
Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre has begun its week-long spring performance, made up of five acts individually directed by a member of the UA Dance and Theatre Department. The show began Tuesday in the Morgan Hall auditorium. Qianping Guo, an assistant professor of dance, is one of the five choreographers with a piece in the event. Guo’s piece, first in the line-up, is a 45-minute condensed version of Don Quixote, with different elements intertwined. Guo said he mostly stuck to the original story but added a mental hospital, which does not appear in the original production, as well as elements of humor. “Normally the traditional is over 90 minutes and is more classical,” Guo said. “I was thinking to do the traditional but I changed my mind and decided I wanted to do contemporary. Contemporary is more mixed. I wanted to make it more funny and not make it just serious.” Dance professor Cornelius Carter choreographed a piece that combines celebrating the 50-year anniversary of the desegregation of the University with a Whitney Houston tribute. “I’m saluting Vivian Malone and James Hood, the two students that integrated The University of Alabama,” Carter said. “And I go into the second half doing a tribute of the late Whitney Houston.”
UA troupe ‘makes Shakespeare characters approachable,’ worth seeing
Crimson White – Feb. 20
The University’s version of “Othello” turns the stage into a gigantic mood ring. It happens amidst a canopy of curtains and veils that melt from blue to green to scarlet to black, tracking the emotional shifts in the greatest soap opera of all time. This is good, because for us non-English majors, it can be a little difficult to follow the marital woes of Othello (Michael Luwoye), Shakespeare’s Saharan prince of Venice, his new wife Desdemona (Abby Jones) and his ensign Iago (Samuel Hardy), a sociopathic genius who really, really hates his boss. Beat out for a promotion by the goody-goody Cassio (Michael Witherell), Iago sets out to trap the other three in a net of suspicions, lies and trickery that makes Madoff look like a Sunday school kid. And trap he does. This charismatic baddie’s hatred for Othello is matched only by his power to mind-screw. Iago is Shakespeare’s Darth Vader, his Joker, his Hannibal Lecter – the Bard knows he’s the most interesting guy in the script, and so does director/fight choreographer Seph Panitch. As he speaks, Othello, Desdemona and Casio appear behind thin shrouds, writhing like puppets as he plots their demise. Even when he’s out of sight, which is rare, it feels like he’s still somewhere, listening from behind a curtain.
UA students trying to be the next Bama Idol
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Feb. 19
An American Idol style competition in Tuscaloosa to tell you about … Hundreds of students on the University of Alabama campus are trying to be the next Bama Idol. Hopefuls started lining up Monday night to begin the audition process. Eight contestants will be chosen to move on the finals and compete in front of their fellow students. Obviously, it’s not exactly American Idol, but the judging can be almost as tough.
UA jazz ensemble performs at Afternoon of Jazz
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Feb. 20
Students at Shelton State Community College got to hear some jazz…it’s all part of their Terrific Tuesday Concert Series, a free concert open to the public. This is the University of Alabama‘s jazz ensemble; they played pieces by Miles Davis, Gil Evans and Hank Mobley. The next concert is next Tuesday at 1:15 p.m.
Alabama wheelchair hoops teams take on rivals
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 20
A double showdown of national powers awaits Foster Auditorium on Friday night when the University of Alabama men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball teams host defending men’s and women’s national champions Wisconsin-Whitewater. The women play at 6:30 p.m., and the men tip off at 8:30. The games, which pit four teams that likely will be among the field at the 2013 national championships, which Alabama hosts at The Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham on March 7-9, will be broadcast by WVUA-TV and WVUA 90.7 FM. “It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Alabama women’s coach Charlie Katica said. “The band will be there, Big Al. A lot of people have been working together to make this a special event.” Admission is $5. UA students and kids under 10 attend free.
Southern Circuit Film Tour starts tonight
Outer Banks Sentinel (N.C.) – Feb. 20
The Dare County Arts Council is bringing the Southern Circuit Film Tour to the Outer Banks, beginning with a screening Feb. 13 at the Outer Banks Brewing Station at 7:30 p.m. The film was directed by documentary filmmaker Andrew Grace, director of the Documenting Justice program at the University of Alabama. “Eating Alabama” features a young couple who return home to Alabama in search of a simpler life where they can eat the way their grandparents did, locally and seasonally. “I’m thrilled to be visiting the Outer Banks,” said Grace. “I know there’s a strong local food scene in the area and I think the film will speak to those folks who are interested in trying to build a more sustainable food system.”
UA football player Carson Tinker, sports psychologist Kevin Elko speak at Hoover High
Al.com – Feb. 19
University of Alabama football player Carson Tinker and Kevin Elko, a motivational speaker whom Nick Saban uses to sharpen his team mentally, spoke to the student body at Hoover High School today. The two first shared with the entire 2,600-member student body during a 30-minute assembly and then met with Hoover athletes for about an hour, sharing inspirational messages designed to help the students reach their full potential.