University of Alabama students gear up for graduation this weekend
Tuscaloosa News – April 29
The University of Alabama will have its graduation ceremonies Friday and Saturday, while Shelton State Community College and Stillman College will have their commencements next week. More than 4,700 degrees are scheduled to be awarded during spring graduation ceremonies at UA on Friday and Saturday in Coleman Coliseum. The commencement marshals will be Michael George, university registrar, and John Schmitt, associate graduate dean and assistant to the executive vice president and provost. The first ceremony will be at 6 p.m. Friday and includes students from the colleges of communication and information sciences, education, human environmental sciences and nursing. Events Saturday will include three ceremonies: the graduation ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Social Work will be at 9 a.m.; the ceremony for the Culverhouse College of Commerce and the College of Engineering will be at 1:30 p.m. The School of Law will have a separate ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Mark Crosswhite, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Alabama Power Co., will deliver the law school commencement address.
Tuscaloosa students build, test model buildings to beat earthquakes
Tuscaloosa News – April 29
At 9:35 p.m. May 18, 1940, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake referred to as “1940 El Centro” occurred in the region of Imperial Valley, El Centro and Holtville, Calif. The quake killed nine people and caused an estimated $6 million in property damage. The historic quake, as well as two others, were simulated at the Large Scale Structures Laboratory in the South Engineering Research Center on the University of Alabama’s campus Tuesday to test the strength of a six-story high-rise building model designed and constructed by students in a civil engineering class at the Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy. “Earthquakes, hurricanes and all the normal things that nature (produces) has force,” said Kris Strickland, the civil engineering instructor at TCTA. “The thing we’re trying to show our students is to build things thinking about how to use the skills they’ve learned. “This (model) has been designed, put together to scale, tested with computer programs and now it’s going to be put on the (shake) table and they’re going to stress test it to see what limits it can withstand before it breaks.”
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – April 28
Aston Martin plant could be built in West Alabama
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – April 28
West Alabama could see a new luxury automaker. The CEO of Aston Martin may be looking at a site in the area for future development. Autocar magazine reports the Aston DB-X concept car is based on the new Mercedes GLC, which could be built in Vance. If the plants were next door, the chassis could be sent from the Mercedes plant to an Aston Martin factory to be finished. Aston Martin could also use Mercedes existing suppliers in Alabama for their needs. University of Alabama economic researchers say a move like that would have a huge economic impact on the region and state.
One year anniversary of storm that killed John Servati
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – April 28
Hard to believe it’s been a year since University of Alabama swimmer John Servati lost his life while saving his girlfriend’s. The Tupelo native held up a retaining wall in his apartment long enough for her to escape. The wall eventually collapsed on Servati. Since then, the NCAA has honored him with its Award of Valor. Over the weekend Servati was remembered at the Tupelo Aquatic Center.
WTVA-NBC (Columbus, Miss.) – April 28
Dozens gather at UA for vigil for same-sex marriage
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – April 28
Dozens gathered at The University of Alabama in support of same-sex marriage. They held a candle-light vigil discussing how the current Supreme Court ruling could affect them. The event was hosted by UA’s SafeZone Resources Center.