Columbus author wins prize for legal fiction
Columbus Dispatch – July 1
Columbus resident Deborah Johnson has won the University of Alabama School of Law’s Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction for her novel, “The Secret of Magic.”  The award puts Johnson alongside previous winners John Grisham and Michael Connelly, and compares her book to Harper Lee’s classic novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird.” “I just love Michael Connelly and John Grisham,” Johnson. “Plus Harper Lee and ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.'” The Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction began five years ago in honor of the 50th anniversary of the publication of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” as well as Lee, who was an alumna of the University of Alabama School of Law. The prize is given to the author of a book-length work of fiction which portrays lawyers’ role in society and the power they have to effect change. The prize is authorized by Lee.

UA students teach at camp for Tuscaloosa kids
Crimson White – July 1
Waking up at 5 a.m. in the middle of the summer is difficult at any age, though experienced teachers may find it an easier task than their undergraduate counterparts. For the past 38 years, graduate students and undergraduates alike have taken part in a 3-week-long summer teaching camp. The teachers at the camp are all UA education students and use the camp as an opportunity to hone their skills as teachers while providing an interesting catalog of courses for gifted students in the Tuscaloosa area. Shanna Akery, a graduate student in the gifted and talented master’s program, taught a course on game creation. “First we explored different games and different genres of games, we talked about the aspects that made them successful, and the aspects that made them fun,” Akery said. By the end of the class, her students had all created their own original game. … There are roughly 250 children in attendance, and each gets to design his or her own course-load of the 19 “mini-courses” offered. These courses are similar to interim courses at the University, in that they are shorter in duration, but class times are longer and more intensive than classes during regular sessions.

The 10 Most Underrated Theater Colleges : Southeast
Onstage – June 28
This past year, we released our rankings for the best BFA and BA programs in the country. In prepping for this, we did a ton of research on many schools throughout the country. We looked at everything from curriculum, facilities, productions, faculty, alumni, cost, etc. After all that research into literally hundreds of colleges, we ended up only listing about 50 of them across our lists, leaving plenty of others worthy of mention. . . . When you think of the University of Alabama, you’re not likely thinking about theatre, but you should. UA has a fantastically rigorous program that rivals most BFA programs. Acting Students can take advanced courses in movement such as Clowning, Mask Work, Stage Combat, Suzuki, Contact Improvisation, Physical Characterization, Tai Chi, and Karate. Even more impressive is that they have a chance to dive into phonetics (IPA), stage dialects, archetypes, and alba emoting. The program also features concentrations in Costume Design/Production, Design/Tech and a Musical Theatre Track which produces three musicals a year that offer students studying musical theatre performance opportunities. Two of the musicals are produced during the season. The third, SummerTide Theatre (UA Theatre & Dance’s professional production), produces a musical each summer in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Student applies classroom learning to cultural experience in Ireland
Crimson White – July 1
Ireland. To my mind, the island’s name has always acted as a sort of spark that inevitably leads to a blaze of wanderlust. I have had a strong desire to visit the country for as long as I can remember. This summer, one of the University of Alabama’s faculty-led programs has allowed me to make my dream a reality and study at the National University of Ireland in Galway. While in Galway, I had the opportunity to immerse myself in the hustle and bustle of everyday Irish life. Studying abroad forces one to step out of their comfort zone in a massive way, while providing a true opportunity for self-growth as well as a lovely way to experience a new slice of the world. Of course, this is an academic trip first and foremost; yet, the classes have extended themselves beyond the halls of academia and have influenced my experience of the local culture. The classes here have helped to synthesize my knowledge of the ancient past and the present into a better understanding of the multiplicity of Irish identity, and have enriched my every experience. … Francis Ittenbach is a senior majoring in English.

Local businesses aid river preservation
Crimson White – July 1
Starting July 4 and running through Labor Day, 19 Tuscaloosa area businesses will be participating in the annual event “Save the Black Warrior.” The event raises awareness for Black Warrior Riverkeeper, a Tuscaloosa-based nonprofit organization which advocates to keep the Black Warrior River clean and free of pollution. Our ‘Save the Black Warrior’ partnership with SweetWater has raised over $68,000 for our clean water advocacy since 2008,” said Charles Scribner, executive director of Black Warrior Riverkeeper. … “I think it’s really important for all students and citizens of the Tuscaloosa area to get on board with this initiative because it really comes back to us,” said Kristen Ellis, public relations intern at Black Warrior Riverkeeper and UA senior majoring in advertising and public relations. “The drinking water that we use is being conserved and because of the efforts of Black Warrior Riverkeeper is pollution-free and it stays clean for our enjoyment.”

Campus buildings reflect Civil War-era history architecture
Crimson White – July 1
Even though the Civil War left devastation and destruction for communities everywhere, it influenced how many of the buildings on the University’s campus were structured and designed. Harold Selesky, an associate professor in the history department, said that it was a miracle that the campus survived this destruction. At that time, the University was fortunate to have structures remaining from Civil War events such as Croxton’s raid. “Croxton’s raid gutted the heart of the University, inaugurating a long re-building process in which it was fortunate to have any structures remaining,” Selesky said. Four of the buildings on campus were actually places that were involved during the Civil War: the Gorgas House, President’s Mansion, Round House, and Frederick R. Maxwell Hall. For more information, visit tour.ua.edu/tourstops.

OUR VIEW: Two deserve a salute
Gadsden Times – July 1
We can’t accompany it with any fireworks — head out to the Coosa River Saturday night to see those — but here’s a salute to two extraordinary young ladies from different ends of Etowah County. Alexandria Hallmark, who will be a senior at West End High School this fall, was thrilled just to be selected by Principal Craig Shoemaker to represent the school at Girls State. The annual program, which began in 1937 and is sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, seeks to, according to its website, “offer young women the opportunity to not only study the workings of government, but to be actively involved in governmental procedures.” This year’s event took place the week of June 7 at the University of Alabama. Participants had a busy time learning how state government functions, and getting a taste of the political process through an actual election for Girls State offices.