University of Alabama start-up advances to Alabama Launchpad finals
Al.com – July 15
A team led by an University of Alabama MBA student has advanced to the final stage of a statewide start-up competition. Sloan McCrary and his start-up, e-Electricity, have a shot at $100,000 in prize money when the finals of the 2013 Alabama Launchpad Start-Up Competition are held in September. The company, which is developing technology that will allow portable electronic devices to be charged wirelessly, will compete with two teams from Birmingham and two teams from Auburn, whittled down from the original 27-team competition.
Sports Illustrated’s Lars Anderson, CBS Sports’ Bruce Feldman to speak on sports journalism at UA institute
Al.com – July 15
Sports Illustrated’s Lars Anderson and CBS Sports’ Bruce Feldman will headline the University of Alabama’s inaugural Bryant Sports Leadership Institute July 15-16. Sponsored by UA’s Program in Sports Communication, the program is geared toward high school students with an interest in sports communications. The program will feature lectures from the prominent sports journalists and Wright Waters, the executive director of the Football Bowl Association, in addition to providing attendees with more information about the areas of study offered in sports communication by UA.
Violence, riots don’t materialize after Zimmerman verdict, but some in media cry foul
Washington Times – July 15
Analysts, law enforcement officials and, most of all, the media warned of potential riots and violence in the streets after Saturday night’s acquittal of George Zimmerman. Instead, in the hours after the Hispanic former neighborhood watch volunteer was cleared of murder charges in connection with the February 2012 shooting death of Trayvon Martin, protests across the country mostly were peaceful. … “I believe that people, like me, who are saddened that there was not at least a guilty verdict on manslaughter will spend some time reflecting and then using their energy for positive change and reconciliation,” said Montre Carodine, a law professor at the University of Alabama Law School who specializes in U.S. race relations.
Nine Alabama school districts report book ban requests
WPMI-NBC (Mobile) – July 15
Nine out of Alabama’s 132 public school districts say parents have petitioned school officials to ban certain books from classrooms and libraries. The Anniston star and journalism students from the University of Alabama collected book challenge forms from the past five years from each of the state’s public school district’s to determine how many books were being banned. Mobile county schools report no challenges in the district.
WDEF 12 CBS – July 15
Charlotte Observer – July 15
Memphis Commercial Appeal – July 15
The Atlantic Wire – July 15
Montgomery Advertiser – July 15
Seattle Post Intelligencer – July 15
UA amputee golfer overcomes disability
WMGT-NBC (Macon, Ga.) – July 14
Tournament coordinator Bill Eason calls it an amazing sight to see, as these golfers overcome their disabilities to play the sport they love. “Losing an arm or a leg is not the end of the world and these individuals can certainly attest to that. They started just like everybody else and they’ve come around and they’ve conquered it.” Ford Burttram became a paraplegic when he was 16, now years later, he’s the creator of the adaptive program at the University of Alabama, teaching fellow golf lovers how to play the sport when many would just give up. “Being out here on the golf course is very independent and you rely on yourself and your self reliance so its really important to have people with disabilities be self reliant. All though their techniques may be different, each golfer has one thing in common…”