UA students watch historic inauguration
FOX6 (Birmingham) – Jan. 20
ABC33/40 (Birmingham) – Jan. 20
CBS42 (Birmingham) – Jan. 20
NBC13 (Birmingham) – Jan. 20
In Tuscaloosa, dozens of University of Alabama students joined to witness the event. Just over 45 years ago, African Americans were not even allowed to go to school at UA. But today, students of all colors and creed joined together to watch the first African-American president take office.
Area residents hopeful about Obama administration
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 21
…Residents of all ages, races and political leanings said they hope Obama can lead the country out of its financial crisis, but some have even greater expectations. University of Alabama senior Brandon Sanders said he’d like Obama to do on the global stage what Alabama head football coach Nick Saban did for the Crimson Tide on a national level.
‘In the next four years, I’m hopeful he’ll be able to bring the United States back to its place … atop the world’s elite,’ Sanders said. ‘As the first black president, he’s already broken down barriers … and for him to unify the country like this; it just shows that anything’s possible.’ But the 23-year-old chemistry major, like others, said he’s concerned about Obama’s youth relative to other U.S. presidents and his inexperience in the national political arena. ‘I’m hoping he puts around him a good support system,’ Sanders said, ‘and the staff that’s around him, [I hope] they are seasoned enough to help him make the right decisions.’…
International students express hope about Obama
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 21
The inauguration of Barack Obama inspired celebrations by his father’s countrymen in Africa, and Kenyan students at the University of Alabama shared in the festivities…International college students gathered on campus at B.B. Comer Hall to watch the inauguration, and many were also excited to see Obama take charge, said Angela Channell, director of the Capstone International Center’s faculty-led summer programs. ‘This was the most historic and significant day in our history in a very long time,’ Channell said. ‘In my opinion, international students recognize the importance of this inauguration. I think they felt honored to be included in our celebration welcoming the president to office.’…
UA professor comments on inauguration speech
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Jan. 20
David Lanoue, the chairman of the political science department at the University of Alabama says Obama got started on the right foot, delivering a solid speech…
Dealer ends association with Lincoln Mercury
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 21
…James Cashman, a professor of management and marketing at the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration, said he expects more dealerships will end their franchises as the Big Three automakers push for fewer dealers. Ford is forcing a lot of Lincoln Mercury dealers to go out of business,’ Cashman said. The Detroit automakers learned from General Motors’ experience when it had to pay $2 billion to buy out Oldsmobile dealerships after it stopped making Oldsmobiles, he said. There are too many dealership — more than 20,000 — and the automakers need to reduce that number, he said…