St. John wins book award
Crimson White – Feb. 17
This month, Warren St. John joined the ranks of Alabama’s acclaimed nonfiction writers in receiving the prestigious Clarence Cason Award from The University of Alabama’s journalism department. This award has highlighted Alabama’s most talented writers since 1998 and is usually given to an author who has some relation to the state. “Even though the award stipulates books, most of the people who have won it have some kind of literary life beyond books, usually journalism. Most of us worked for a newspaper,” said Rick Bragg, a journalism professor and past recipient of the award. “Nonfiction stories in my experience tend to resonate with people and linger longer. To be recognized for nonfiction is the first thing that is appreciated. Then the fact that it’s from The University of Alabama, a flagship university in the author’s home state, means the world.” Bragg, who had a role in deciding this year’s recipient, said St. John was the perfect choice. Wilson Lowrey, the head of the journalism department, also agreed that St. John was the clear choice for the award. “He is a beautiful writer; he also has had a very prominent journalism career, making him the natural choice.” Lowrey said.
Leftover grease from J Street to be turned into biodiesel
The GW Hatchet (Washington, D.C.) – Feb. 16
Leftover grease in J Street is now being turned into a clean source of diesel. GW is partnering with Standard Biofuels, an oil collection and transformation systems company based in Washington state, to turn 100 percent of wasted oil into renewable fuel, general manager of campus dining Bernadette Thomas said. The process started this semester, after the campus dining venue signed on to recycling extra cooking oil from fryers. The University’s food manager, Sodexo, joined J Street in the nationwide PURE program designed by shortening and oil producer Ventura Foods and Standard Biofuels … The University of Alabama began recycling fryer oil about six years ago, the institution’s Executive of Sustainability Logistics Tony Johnson said. Some of GW’s peers, including American University and Washington University in St. Louis, have been recycling excess oil from dining halls since 2009. The University of Alabama also uses Standard Biofuels to recycle waste oil. The process is cost-effective for large institutions like universities, Johnson said. “A lot of universities don’t realize just how much money they could be making off of recycling stuff like this,” Johnson said.
No seat belts worn in nearly half of state traffic fatalities
Montgomery Advertiser – Feb. 16
John Roberts didn’t grow up wearing a seat belt and said starting to wear one took a little getting used to. But the Hope Hull resident said he and his wife Phillis wear them now. “It’s the law,” he said. But there is an even better reason to wear one — surviving a crash. More than 700 people died on Alabama roadways last year and nearly half of those victims were not wearing seat belts, according to comprehensive data provided by law enforcement agencies across the state. The data is collected and compiled by the University of Alabama’s Center for Advanced Public Safety from accident reports filed by Alabama state troopers, Alabama County Sheriff’s Offices, city police departments and the Alabama Department of Transportation.
Montgomery #2 in U.S. where black-owned businesses find success
NBC 12 (Montgomery) – Feb. 16
Angela Tellis always dreamed of owning her own business in Montgomery and six months, ago her dream became a reality. She’s seen success with her southern food restaurant, Angela’s Kitchen, on West Fairview Avenue. … According to NerdWallet.com, she chose a hot spot to open her business. … The site lists Montgomery as #2 in the nation for black-owned businesses … The University of Alabama also recently released a study showing that Montgomery has the best business outlook of any major city in the state.
Rev. Thomas Linton to speak at UA
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Feb. 16
The University of Alabama is highlighting black heritage with special guest Rev. Thomas Linton. At 82 years old, he’s still working at his barber shop in Tuscaloosa, where he’s been for 64 years. He served as a prominent leader during the civil rights movement. Rev. Linton is speaking on Friday in Little Hall at noon.
Spectrum to host LGBT conference
Crimson White – Feb. 17
The University of Alabama will host the 2015 Southeastern LGBTQ+ Student Conference, an annual conference dedicated to topics affecting the LGBT community. “This is a traveling regional conference that aims to foster a safe space to explore issues affecting the LGBT community, and specifically the issues that come with existing and doing activism work in the Southeast,” said Mat Wimberly, vice president of Spectrum and a senior majoring in management and marketing. Spectrum, the University’s registered student group for the LGBT student population, is organizing the event. “Students in Spectrum at UA decided to start the conference back up in 2008,” Wimberly said. “Since then, we have played a pretty big part in making sure that the conference comes to fruition each year, whether that be by hosting it ourselves, or assisting our counterparts at other universities who decide to take it on.” The conference will be held from Feb. 27 through March 1 and will include universities, high schools and community organizers from across the southeast.
Saturday in the Park program to resume at Moundville
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Feb. 16
Later this month, The University of Alabama is going to resume its Saturday in the Park program at Moundville Arcaheological Park. It is a series of demonstrations and presentations about native American life, natural history and archaeology. Hands on activities for children are planned. The program will resume on Saturday, February 28.
Miss University of Alabama pageant to be held Saturday at Bama Theatre
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 16
The Miss University of Alabama competition will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Bama Theatre, 600 Greensboro Ave. Seventeen UA students will compete for the title. The winner will qualify for the Miss Alabama pageant to be held in June in Birmingham. The Miss University of Alabama program is an official preliminary competition for the Miss Alabama and Miss America organizations and is sponsored by the University of Alabama National Alumni Association. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors and $5 for children younger than 10 years old. Tickets can be purchased at the theater box office beginning at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
Lynn grows evolutionary studies at Alabama
Crimson White – Feb. 17
Like many students, Christopher Lynn’s college experience took a winding route that involved dropping out and ultimately enrolling with a different major, but now as a professor he helps students explore the field of evolution. Lynn, an assistant professor of anthropology and the director of the UA Evolutionary Studies program, grew up in Indiana and went to college immediately after high school to study journalism, but he ended up leaving school to move to New York City and work in music distribution. While working in record stores he read magazines like Discover and National Geographic and found he enjoyed that style of writing. He later enrolled in Brooklyn College and studied under anthropologist John Beatty. “I realized from taking his course that I didn’t want to just be, no offense, reporting on what other people were doing,” Lynn said. “But I really wanted to get in depth with some of this type of stuff.”
Shelton to host local author signing
Crimson White – Feb. 17
Authors face different struggles and hurdles on the way to fulfilling their dreams for their books. Whether the topic is current issues, religious principles or their relationships, the authors all want to achieve a similar goal: impacting readers. Twenty-one Southern authors, including some authors from Tuscaloosa, will be presenting their books for the second annual book signing at Shelton State Community College on Tuesday. The signing will have free admission to the general public. Organizer Ronda Shirley said the event is a fundraiser for Shelton State’s Alumni Association and spotlights the works of local talents. … Bruce Berger, a University of Alabama advertising and public relations professor, is one of the authors who will be in attendance. Berger will be presenting his book, “Our Dreams We Read,” a collection of stories that chronicles the struggles of adult illiteracy in Alabama.