Huntsville to lead way as metro areas pace Alabama’s population growth
Birmingham Business Journal – March 23
Alabama’s metro areas are expected to be the big population driver for the state through 2040, but some areas are better positioned than others. That’s according to a new study by the Center for Business and Economic Research in The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce, which projected the state will add nearly 500,000 people by 2040. The study specifically found economic development in major metros will fuel the estimated 11.3 percent increase expected for the state by 2040.
WALA-Fox (Mobile) – March 22
Group seeks civil rights items & recollections from the public
Tuscaloosa News – March 23
The Tuscaloosa Civil Rights Task Force needs people to help build a historical record of the civil rights movement in Tuscaloosa. On Saturday, the task force will hold a “History Collection Day” from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at two sites: the Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy at 2800 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and the Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library at the University of Alabama.
When shall we overcome?
Modern Ghana – March 23
As I do at or after every annual commemoration of our hard won independence from colonial subjugation, this year I waited for our newly elected president to share his thoughts and reflections on our history and our promise to the younger generations. . . . T. P. Manus Ulzen is Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at the University of Alabama and Author of Java Hill: An African Journey – A historiography of Ghana
Black Warrior Film Festival highlights student filmmakers
Crimson White – March 23
Abbie Armstrong isn’t going to look at the faces in the crowd. She’s not going to try and figure what they might be thinking. When her film premieres at the Black Warrior Film Festival this weekend, she’s going to try and put the audience at the back of her mind. “I think the best thing to do is just to try and shut off your brain, and watch it as though you were watching it for the first time,” said Armstrong, a senior majoring in telecommunication and film. “It’s really hard to do, but it’s worth a try.” Black Warrior Film Festival is held annually to showcase the work of student filmmakers, not just here at the University of Alabama, but all over the country. Becca Murdoch, one of the co-directors of this year’s festival, explained that it began five years ago after a group of UA students went to Sundance Film Festival and were inspired to created their own festival.
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – March 22
From foster care to Cambridge: Montgomerian earns prestigious scholarship
Montgomery Advertiser – March 23
The 10-year-old version of Caroline James likely didn’t see herself growing up to be a Gates Cambridge scholar. She was preoccupied with surviving her father’s abuse, shielding her little brothers from her parents’ cocaine addiction and sleeping on street corners. She was concerned with figuring out how to get them out of there — something she ultimately resolved by bringing a rock of her father’s crack cocaine to school with her. Once she was removed from her parents, most of her childhood, if you can call it that, was spent at Brantwood Children’s Home. As she grew older, she focused on forgetting. She graduated from Booker T. Washington and went on to the University of Alabama — somewhere she hoped would put even more distance between her and her past. . . . So she amassed accolades. She established herself as a leader on campus. She collaborated with others to create a program that provides support to students who come from foster-care backgrounds. “Different professors really liked her and took her under their wing without knowing anything about her story because she’s very warm, sincere and very intellectually curious,” said Sheila Black, an associate professor at Alabama’s Department of Psychology, who was a research adviser to James.
State could start taxing Netflix, Spotify and other streaming services
AL.com – March 23
Netflix users, your binge-watching habit could soon get a little more expensive. The Alabama Department of Revenue has proposed an amendment that would apply the state’s rental tax to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Spotify and others. The rental tax is 4 percent on all sales. . . . But taxing these services through regulation could create problems for the state, said Bruce Ely, a tax attorney at Bradley in Birmingham and a professor in the University of Alabama’s graduate accounting program. The concept of taxing these services isn’t a problem, Ely said – it’s taxing it through regulation instead of through statute.
Adapted Athletics center is a great step forward
Crimson White – March 23
As a supervisor for University Recreation and an employee for three years, I have seen on a close and personal basis the tenacity, dedication and eager spirit of The University of Alabama’s men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball teams. Whether it be right as the facility opens at 5:30 a.m. or near closing time at 11 p.m., our University’s adapted athletes come into the Student Recreation Center each and every day hungry for success. They inspire me not only by their resilience, but by their kindness towards me and my fellow supervisors as we must do tasks for them that they are able to do for themselves, yet cannot because the Student Recreation Center is not fully accessible to their needs.
The University searches for new diversity officer
Crimson White – March 23
The University launched a search through Desir Group for an inaugural position, Vice President/Associate Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in August. Throughout the school year, the search committee has met and narrowed down the applicant pool, and the finalists were announced in early March.
Women and Gender Resource Center to hold drum circle on campus
Crimson White – March 23
If you overhear the sounds of African drums and shakers in the
distance collectively unifying into one steady rhythm, you’re likely walking into the Women and Gender Resource Center’s first ever open drumming circle. Partnering with the UA African Drumming Ensemble, the two groups look forward to the interactive event this Thursday at 4 p.m. titled, “When Women Were Drummers.” To engage the community with a sense of empowerment and unity this Women’s History Month, the UA African Drumming Ensemble will provide a variety of drums, shakers and other percussion instruments to all individuals regardless of musical knowledge and ability.
Students, professors comment on state of documentary film
Crimson White – March 23
When it comes to film entertainment, box office numbers generally indicate an interest in films with a traditional three act structure that isn’t too short and isn’t too long. Most, if not all, blockbusters follow this formula, and consumer markets let them know that it works with their dollar. There is nothing wrong with rip-roaring blockbusters about space samurai or super powered vigilantes, but these films often overshadow smaller, more intimate features, especially documentaries. . . . Despite their striking ability to provoke thought and social change, many viewers are still scared away from documentaries due to a misconception, most likely fostered in substitute teacher-led high school classrooms, that they are boring and overly informational. This misconception has long hurt the marketability of documentaries to mass audiences. Professor Nick Corrao, who teaches many documentary courses and has directed documentaries of his own, recognizes this misconception, but also sees how documentaries have evolved to fight this misconception over time.