The mind of those who kill, and kill themselves
New York Times — April 6
He was described, in the immediate aftermath of the Germanwings crash, as a cheerful and careful pilot, a young man who had dreamed of flying since boyhood. But in the days since, it has seemed increasingly clear that Andreas Lubitz, 27, the plane’s co-pilot, was something far more sinister: the perpetrator of one of the worst mass murder-suicides in history. If what researchers have learned about such crimes is any indication, this notoriety may have been just what Mr. Lubitz wanted. The actions now attributed to Mr. Lubitz — taking 149 unsuspecting people with him to a horrifying death — seem in some ways unfathomable, and his full motives may never be fully understood. But studies over the last decades have begun to piece together characteristics that many who carry out such violence seem to share, among them a towering narcissism, a strong sense of grievance and a desire for infamy Adam Lankford, an associate professor of criminal justice at the University of Alabama, said that in his research on mass killers who also took their own lives, he has found “a significant number of cases where they mention a desire for fame, glory or attention as a motive.”
Citizen Scientists Find Green Blobs in Hubble Galaxy Shots
Wired.com — April 3
IN 2007, A Dutch schoolteacher named Hanny var Arkel discovered a weird green glob of gas in space. Sifting through pictures of galaxies online, as part of the citizen science project Galaxy Zoo, she saw a cloud, seemingly glowing, sitting next to a galaxy. Intrigued, astronomers set out to find more of these objects, dubbed Hanny’s Voorwerp (“Hanny’s object” in Dutch). Now, again with the help of citizen scientists, they’ve found 19 more of them, using the Hubble space telescope to snap the eight haunting pictures in the gallery above … What causes these wispy tendrils of gas to glow? … Beaming out from the galaxy, that ultraviolet radiation strikes nearby clouds of gas, left over from past collisions between galaxies. And it makes the clouds glow an eerie green. “A lot of these bizarre forms we’re seeing in the images arise because these galaxies either interacted with a companion or show evidence they merged with a smaller galaxy,” says William Keel, an astronomer at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa.
Daily Telegraph — April 4
Perth Now (Australia) — April 4
Maine News Online – April 4
UNB.com – April 4
Astronomy Now – April 4
Customs Today – April 4
Top News – April 3
BBC – April 4
Inquisitr – April 5
Science Blog – April 5
Designing history: New University of Alabama exhibit features models of buildings burned in Civil War
Tuscaloosa News – April 3
In the Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library on Friday, a professor of architecture and historian discussed the building’s antebellum predecessor that stood at the site on the University of Alabama’s campus 150 years ago and the influence of its designer on the architecture of the Southeast. “What he did here, I believe, truly defined what Alabama would become, especially in the north of the state,” lecturer Paul Kapp said of William Nichols, the designer of the original UA campus, which was burned by Union cavalry on April 4, 1865. Kapp, an associate professor of architecture at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, discussed the work of Nichols, the architect who designed the old state capitol in Tuscaloosa. Kapp reviewed Nichols’ professional life in the U.S. after the architect emigrated from England, including his residential work in Tuscaloosa, Greene and Lauderdale counties.
Trussville native wins UA College of Commerce award
Trussville Tribune – April 5
The University of Alabama Culverhouse College of Commerce’s highest student honor, the Austin Cup, was recently awarded to senior Zachary Adams of Trussville. The award was presented to Adams during UA’s Honors Week. He is a senior graduating in May with a triple major in finance, economics and math with a 4.0 grade-point average. He’s also a student ambassador for Culverhouse. He received a Presidential Scholarship, is in Honors College and has made the President’s List four times.
Honor societies recognize inductees Friday
Crimson White – April 6
Members of University of Alabama honor societies were recognized Friday during the annual Honors Day Tapping on the Mound ceremony, a long-standing University tradition. The Tapping on the Mound ceremony, a tradition at the University since the early 1900s, serves to both recognize new honor society members and provide an opportunity for the Coordinating Council of Honor Societies to present their annual awards for outstanding students, faculty and staff. The Mortar Board, a national honor society dedicated to recognizing college seniors for their achievements in scholarship, leadership and service, tapped 74 new members at Friday’s ceremony.
UA partners with AU, MSU on water resources
Crimson White – April 6
Sports may divide schools in the Southeastern Conference, but one of Earth’s most basic resources has brought together three Southern institutions. On March 12, Mississippi State University officially signed into a partnership with The University of Alabama and Auburn University to collaborate on water resource issues. Bennett Bearden, director of The University of Alabama’s Water Policy and Law Institute, said the initiative will bring together the strengths of each of the schools’ long-term research programs. “It forms the approach we need, because most research on water needs to be interdisciplinary in order to be effective,” he said. Bearden said the agreement, which is the first of its kind among these three schools, will utilize research each school. Each of the schools does water-related research independently, he said, but now they can combine their efforts.
University of Alabama’s ‘father of music education’ dies at 98
Tuscaloosa News – April 4
To the public, Edward Cleino will be remembered as the “father of music education at the University of Alabama,” but to his family and friends, he will be remembered as a kind, inspiring man who lived his life by Christian principles. Cleino, former chairman of the music education department at the University of Alabama’s College of Education, died Saturday at Hospice of West Alabama. He was 98 years old. … Cleino taught music in primary and secondary schools for many years before assuming the chairmanship of music education at UA in 1949, serving in that role until 1979.
Chemical Used to Clean Up BP Oil Spill Dangerous
Dive Photo Guide – April 4
Even five years after the BP oil spill, new concerns are being raised regarding the effect of the chemical dispersant used to clean up the disaster. The chemical known as Corexit has been found to cause damage to lungs in humans, fish, and crustaceans, according to a new study from the University of Alabama. Cough and shortness of breath are common symptoms experienced by the cleanup workers, but there was little known effect on the marine life within range. The study revealed that fish and crabs experienced swelling and fluid that disrupted breathing, much like asthma in humans. Nearly 1,000,000 gallons of Corexit were used by a crew of 300 in the days following the spill. However, a total of 48,000 workers were involved in the overall cleanup, and the total damage to marine life has yet to be assessed.
Refund proposal risks further trooper shortage
Montgomery Advertiser – April 4
A legislator’s bill to refund money to people getting driver’s licenses will keep the number of state troopers patrolling Alabama’s roadways at a critical low, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. After the consolidation of ALEA, the state has 431 troopers — less than half the number that a study says Alabama needs. And if Alabama Senate Bill 44 becomes law, ALEA says to expect little improvement in those numbers. The University of Alabama’s Center for Advanced Public Safety finished a study which concluded Alabama should be staffed with 1,016 troopers in order to adequately cover each county. Even the 431 troopers the state currently has shown some progress.
Tuscaloosa News – April 4
Gadsden Times – April 4
Dothan Eagle – April 4
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – April 4
‘Classier’ stripping: Burlesque straddles the line
DelawareOnline.com — April 4
Before her burlesque set in Philadelphia last month, Claymont native Lucy Smith sat at the bar next to a tightly wound couple that reminded her of Brad and Janet from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The affable, curvaceous blonde persuaded them to stay for her set. After “Harley Aphrodite” was through, the woman took her aside and confided: “I didn’t know someone who looked like me could be sexy.” Encouraging self-love among women of every shape is one of Smith’s main reasons for stripping for money … Performers are more teasing and theatrical and spend more time bedazzling clothes that wind up in a pile at the end of a routine. Instead of dollar bills, they are rewarded with hoots … On the continuum of striptease and lap dance-style stripping, burlesque could be viewed as “classier,” according to Catherine Roach, professor of gender and culture studies at New College University of Alabama. In burlesque, physical contact with the voyeur is frowned upon. Because of strict zoning codes, dancers typically strip down to pasties and G-strings. Many performers are motivated by artistic sensibility and toy with beauty norms. “Exotic dancers strip for money,” says Roach, author of the book “Stripping, Sex and Popular Culture.” “Burlesque dancers, for the most part, make very little money at what they do.”
University of Alabama students present self-written productions
Tuscaloosa News – April 4
Two students from the University of Alabama, one current and one recent graduate, get the opportunity to see their work on stage this week, when the UA Department of Theatre and Dance presents “UA Writes: Student-Written One Acts.” “UA Writes” stems from one-act plays written last spring in Steve Burch’s playwriting classes. “I had at least four scripts from my class that were really good,” said Burch, associate professor of theater history and playwriting. “The fact that we hadn’t done an original play by a student in many years was attractive.”
Basket weaving class held at Moundville
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – April 4
The University of Alabama’s Saturday in the Park Program featured a basket weaving class in honor of Easter. Master Basket Weaver Mary Smith came out to teach the art of Muscogee basket weaving. Smith researched and rediscovered ancient methods of basket weaving.
THE PORT RAIL: Navy’s alternate morality just secular religion
Tuscaloosa News – April 4
During World War II, a Navy chaplain was featured in one of the most popular songs of that era: “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition.” Today, a much decorated Navy chaplain to Marines and SEALS is being drummed out of the Navy for being “unable to function in the diverse and pluralistic environment” of the Navy of the 21st century. What’s happening here? The first chaplain was standing by his men under fire on the cruiser USS New Orleans as Japanese dive bombers hurled fire and destruction down on the American ships in Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Chaplain Howell Forgy, Lieutenant (JG) ranged up and down the ammunition line of sailors, manhandling shells from the magazines to the turrets, encouraging them with “praise the Lord, and pass the ammunition.” (Larry Clayton is a retired professor of history at the University of Alabama. Readers can contact him at larryclayton7@gmail.com.)