Palin tells media to leave her children alone
Associated Press National Wire – Jan. 22
…Palin “does seem to have ambitions, and this is one way of staying in the public eye,” said Janis Edwards, an associate professor of communication studies at the University of Alabama and an expert on women candidates. One of Edwards’ classes monitored Palin’s role in a project called “The Palin Watch.”…
A healthier you
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 22
…Rebecca Kelly, the director of the University of Alabama health and wellness program, recommends that people try to be realistic about their resolutions. Resolving to lose 50 pounds in two weeks is a losing proposition, but a reasonable and strategic plan of action can make 2009 a year of weight loss…Weight loss requires commitment, but there’s no reason it can’t be fun. Get creative and involve other people, Kelly said. “With resolutions, we need to include the element of connecting to other people. Groups can support each other and can be fun,” she said. Kelly said that weight loss should not be an all or nothing goal. “From a behavioral science standpoint, trying to make three lifestyle changes at once is not realistic,” she said. “I suggest making one at a time. We’re an all or nothing society, but it’s OK to pick a couple of things to build on.”…
Alabamians hope Obama brings new spirit of unity
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 22
…Jeri Bowers, 32, a social work student at the University of Alabama, said she hopes Obama’s administration will put more emphasis on social programs that help communities. “Because he’s seen and lived the problems, I hope he will provide things that social workers need,” said Bowers, the president of the Social Work Association for Cultural Awareness on campus. She said Obama’s previous work experience as a community organizer in Chicago has made her excited to be a social worker, and she believes that Alabamians are hungry for policy changes that could benefit the state.
“I think people in our state have gone through so much and so many people are having a hard time right now,” she said. “I think Alabamians want him to do a good job. A lot of people just want change, and I think Alabamians will support him, even if they didn’t vote for him.”…
Reminders of home are just a package away
Dateline.com (Student online publication on Tuscaloosa News Web site) – Jan. 22
…To bring a little bit of home to some of the troops, members of the Crimson Kaydettes, a service organization affiliated with a the Army ROTC program on campus at the University of Alabama, sent care packages to Afghanistan. This year, the organization chose to send the packages to one of the organization’s former advisors who is currently deployed. “I chose to send the care packages to Major Leopold, our former advisor, because I knew he had UA connections,” April Adams, former Kaydette president, said. “We try to keep it in the UA family. Plus, we thought it would make him feel good to know we were still thinking about him.” Asking around to other organizations from around campus and the Tuscaloosa area, many people contributed items to the collection. The Alabama Yell Crew donated t-shirts; the Registrar’s Office collected snack foods, coffee, peanut butter, canned foods, hygiene products, crossword puzzles, calendars; a Kaydette member’s father made DVDs of all the Alabama football games; and the Sunday school class from Temple Emanu-el and classes from Calvary Baptist day care made thank you cards for the troops…