MONDAY, SEPT. 12 – SUNDAY, SEPT. 18, 2016
BEST BETS
LAW ENFORCEMENT TO LEARN TIPS ON INTERACTING WITH DEAF – A communications studies professor will host training for police officers from across Central and North Alabama on working with citizens who are deaf or hard of hearing. Dr. Darrin J. Griffin, assistant professor of communication studies, is an advocate for the deaf and has conducted research and service for the deaf community. He has organized a training session for roughly 24 law enforcement officers at 8 a.m., Tuesday in Reese Phifer Hall, room 466. Officers will learn best practices for working with the deaf, basic sign language that can be used during traffic stops, civil rights and the key components of the Americans With Disabilities Act. Registration is closed, but media are invited to attend. For more information, contact David Miller, UA media relations, 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.
LAW SCHOOLS TAKING INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO TEACHING, RESEARCH SHOWS — Research authored by Pamela Bucy Pierson, Bainbridge-Mims Professor of Law, UA School of Law, recently published in the “Journal of Legal Education” shows almost three-fourths of law schools teach or plan to teach students about economic trends in the legal profession, almost half of the schools teach or plan to teach emotional intelligence and less than half of the nation’s law schools report teaching personal financial management relevant to a law career. Pierson gathered data in 2014 and 2015 in a survey of all U.S. accredited law schools to determine how law schools are covering subjects. These data are exciting,” Pierson writes in her article, “Economics, EQ, and Finance: The Next Frontier in Legal Education.” “They show a rich, diverse, and innovative range of approaches law schools are taking to bring these tools to law students. It also shows more needs to be done.” For more information, contact Monique Fields, UA Law, manager of communications, 205/348-5195, mfields@law.ua.edu, or contact Pierson directly at 205/348-1139 or ppierson@law.ua.edu.
PROFESSOR, GRADUATE STUDENT SHED LIGHT ON HOW SPEECH, GESTURES IMPACT POLITICAL DEBATES – Dr. Anthony Buhr, an associate professor of communicative disorders, and graduate student Katerina Puzinauskas are researching how presidential candidates’ images are impacted by speech disfluency and hand gestures during presidential debates. Watch for a news release with more information, or contact Jamon Smith, communications specialist, 205/348-4956, jamon.smith@ua.edu
RESEARCHERS BRING HIV EDUCATION TO PAROLEES, PROBATIONERS — Due to overcrowding in Alabama prisons, the state recently began diverting felons with lesser charges into parole and probation programs. One unexpected outcome, however, was that these convicted offenders, who fall in a higher risk bracket for HIV, no longer had access to the HIV education classes routinely offered in prison. Wanting to close this educational gap and bring free HIV testing to those willing to participate, Dr. Bronwen Lichtenstein, a professor in UA’s department of criminal justice, joined with the West Alabama AIDS Outreach and the Tuscaloosa Parole and Probation Office to find a plausible solution. Findings were recently published in top scholastic journal. Watch for an upcoming news release or contact Courtney Corbridge, cacorbridge@ua.edu, 205/348-8539 or Chris Bryant, cbryant@ur.ua.edu with more details.
LOOKING AHEAD
SOCIAL WORK TO HOST VETERANS SUMMIT – National and international military advocates, researchers and a Pulitzer Prize winning military correspondent highlight the lineup of keynote speakers for the Service Member to Civilian International Summit 2016, a three-day assembly of researchers, military officials and activists that will begin Sept. 21 at the Hyatt Regency in Birmingham. The summit’s aim is to present research, form agendas and expand the leadership role of higher education institutions to aid in military veterans and their families’ transitions from active duty to civilian life. For more information, contact David Miller, UA media relations, at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.
HOMECOMING: UA’s annual Homecoming celebration runs from Sunday, Sept. 25, to Saturday, Oct 1. This year’s theme is “A Legendary Legacy: Honor. Build. Live.” The Homecoming Parade will take place before the Alabama-Kentucky football game Oct. 1. Parade lineup and start times are to be announced and depend on the starting time of the game. The traditional pep rally and bonfire will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, on the Quad. For details on Homecoming events, registration and tickets, go to https://homecoming.sa.ua.edu/. For more details, contact Richard LeComte, media relations, rllecomte@ur.ua.edu or 205/348-3782.