University of Alabama unveils painting to make 175th anniversary of President’s Mansion
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 9
The University of Alabama unveiled a new mixed media composition of its historic President’s Mansion as the 175th anniversary of the completion of the antebellum building approaches next spring. The mixed media composition created by UA alumnus and noted artist Fred Nall Hollis, who goes by the name Nall, was unveiled Monday at the Bryant Conference Center on the UA campus. The work was commissioned by former UA President Judy Bonner in honor of the upcoming anniversary of the historic home, where the sitting campus president is required to reside. The antebellum home designed by architect Michael Barry and completed in 1841 is one of only four early buildings on campus to survive a raid by Union troops in the last days of the Civil War. The university also unveiled a painting of the early campus and its rotunda by artist and historian Dean Mosher on Sunday at the Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library.
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Nov. 9
NHTSA recommends schools install seat belts on all school busses
WAAY-ABC (Huntsville) – Nov. 9
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is recommending that seat belts be installed on every school bus regardless of the cost. Some school districts say it’s not the best use of limited funds. After a Lee High School bus crashed in 2006, researchers at The University of Alabama studied the use of seat belts in school busses.
WZDX-Fox (Huntsville) – Nov. 9
Tuscaloosa named top metro for veterans seeking higher education
Crimson White – Nov. 10
Tuscaloosa was named the top-ranked metro for veterans seeking higher education in a joint study conducted by USAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes. The top metros were selected from a pool of 401 major U.S. metropolitan areas and were determined from findings based on a variety of measurable variables, according to the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University. This designation comes in addition to the University being named one of the best colleges for veterans by U.S. News and World Report. Tuscaloosa ranked the highest out of the top 10 in two of the variables studied – graduation rate and percentage of Post-9/11 Yellow Ribbon recipients. The Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Program makes additional funds available for education programs through degree-granting institutions agreeing to pay a specified amount that is then matched by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, according to the VA website. David Blair, director of UA Veteran and Military Affairs, said The University of Alabama is an unlimited school, which means they will take any students eligible for Yellow Ribbon benefits that wish to attend the University. “A lot of your schools across the nation set limits on paying for 50 or 75 students in that category,” Blair said. “We’re wide open to as many as we can take.”
Cornell psychology professor to deliver Harold Basowitz Memorial Lecture
Crimson White – Nov. 10
Dr. Thomas Gilovich, professor of psychology at Cornell University, will deliver the Annual Harold Basowitz Memorial Lecture on Friday, Nov. 13, from 6-8:30 p.m. in 118 Graves Hall. Gilovich, a notable professional in the field, is a member of many psychology organizations, has been published in scientific journals and is the author of four psychology books. In his lecture entitled “Enemies of Gratitude,” Gilovich will discuss not only the “enemies” of gratitude and how to combat them, but why it is so easy for people to lose sight of all there is to be grateful for. “The topic pertains to a lot of people,” said Kimberly Olin, Grant and Contract Specialist for the psychology department and event organizer. “We take a lot of things for granted, but when you’re grateful you’re more thankful and happy.” Admission to the lecture is free and will include a reception following. This event has been put on annually since 2000 and tends to draw crowds of about 100 people: a mix of students, faculty, alumni, community members, and professionals in the field. Roughly the same turnout is expected for this year.
College of Communication and Information Sciences receives diversity award
Crimson White – Nov. 10
The University’s College of Communication and Information Sciences was presented with the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Diversity Award. The award was presented to Dr. Mark Nelson, dean of Communication and Information Sciences at UA, by Dr. Lori Bergen, president of AEJMC, on behalf of the college. Nelson said that receiving the award has given the University national attention towards the College of Communication and Information Sciences and is a testament to the good work that is going on in the college. “The diversity award is the result of many years of very specific planning and execution of a plan that is committed to improving the diversity in our college through teaching, research and outreach to our students so, it is the reward for a job well done,” Nelson said. “I think it’ll bring national attention to the college and be a real encouragement for students looking for a place to study communication and information sciences.”
Brown Bag Lecture focuses on LGBT black community
Crimson White – Nov. 10
Students were exposed to the battle for same-sex marriage in Maryland amongst the LGBT black community in the critical justice lecture for the Brown Bag Lecture Series Nov. 9. The speaker, Jennifer Jones, assistant professor in gender studies and American studies, led a discussion with students about their opinions after screening the documentary film, “The New Black.” “This is a really important topic to talk about,” Jones said. “The New Black” was shown to students first, followed by a discussion with Jones. The film focused a lot on black churches, and how even though the majority of blacks are Democratic, many of them have very traditional and conservative social views.
Capturing literacy: TCF majors mentor youth
Crimson White – Nov. 10
The students become the teachers, and “Key and Peele” get a run for their money. A group of middle school and high school students at the Capitol School, in the Center for Digital Literacies class, have been working all semester on parodying a “Key and Peele” sketch, “Teaching Center,” under the mentorship of telecommunication and film students from The University of Alabama. Barbara Rountree established the Capitol School in Tuscaloosa in 1993, based around the theory of multiple intelligences. Though it started as a private school, Rountree hoped the school could become a public charter school. With some bumps along the road of becoming a charter school, Rountree thought having students parody the “Key and Peele” sketch and show that film to the legislators voting on the issue would positively affect the decision, said Rachel Raimist, a professor at the University and co-creator of the Center for Digital Literacies (CDL).
Crimson Kindness holds fundraiser
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Nov. 9
Crimson Kindness gathered together to have their first fund raiser of the year at Cold Stone. The student organization engages in activities to promote and spread kindness on campus.