Students approve SGA constitution
Crimson White — Feb. 2
The UA student body passed the Student Government Association’s rewritten constitution 92.28 percent to 7.72 percent in a referendum vote Tuesday. The vote capped months of work and compromise by members of the SGA Constitutional Revision Committee. 2,300 students voted in the special election. “We’re very pleased with the results of today’s referendum,” SGA President James Fowler said in an e-mailed statement after voting closed. “Today, we enter a new era of student government, and our highest ideals will guide the way. I’m confident in that fact.” The vote’s turnout represented around 7.6 percent of enrolled students. By comparison, more than 7,900 students voted in last spring’s SGA elections, representing more than 27 percent of the enrolled student body…
UA iPhone app to launch this spring
Crimson White – Feb. 2
The UA application for Apple products is expected to launch sometime this semester, University Relations officials said. The app, originally announced in April 2010, is the product of a collaboration of the University and Blackboard Mobile, and at the time of release, will be compatible only with the iPhone and the iPod touch. “Development work began in July 2010, once all legal agreements were in place with Apple and professional services from Blackboard were finalized.” Assistant Vice President for University Relations Deborah Lane said. “The development and testing phases are now nearly complete, and we expect to be able to launch the app later this spring,” Lane said. “The development process for apps for Blackberrys and Androids will begin when this version is finalized.”
Alabama author to discuss state history
Crimson White – Feb. 2
Alabama author Wayne Greenhaw will be on campus tonight to discuss his newest book, “Fighting the Devil in Dixie: How Civil Rights Activists Took on the Ku Klux Klan in Alabama.” The lecture will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library in Mary Bryant Hall, with a reception in Greenhaw’s honor in the lobby starting at 5 p.m. and continuing after the lecture…He’s one of those people that you’ll meet him and you’ll remember it forever, even if you haven’t read his books,” said Jessica Lacher-Feldman, curator of rare books and special collections for Hoole. “I just think this is one of those times where people will really enjoy themselves, remember it for a long time and talk about it later.”…Besides coming to campus to discuss his new book, Greenhaw will be bringing some of his personal first edition copies of his other books to donate to the Alabama Collection of the W.S. Hoole Special Collections library. The Alabama Collection, which houses books by Alabama authors, books about Alabama and books published in Alabama, aims to be the best and most well-rounded source for anyone interested in or researching Alabama literature and history…
UA oil expert doesn’t expect gas prices to rise quickly because of turmoil in Egypt
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Feb. 1
…A University of Alabama professor tells ABC 33/40’s Isaiah Harper, it’s a sign of what could lie ahead. Chemical science professor Dr. Peter Clark says he doesn’t expect gasoline prices to jump to fast…“It all depends upon whether the oil that comes through Egypt gets cut off or not. Roughly 2-million barrels of oil a day pass through the unstable region.” Dr. Clark says that can push the price of oil up. “That would cause a major supply interruption.”
UA political science expert says Egyptian protests will have huge impact around the world
CBS42 (Birmingham) – Feb. 1
…University of Alabama scholars say these protests will have a huge impact on people around the world, including the U.S. Doug Gibler, “You have insecurity in the Middle East it’s going to affect oil prices, it’s going to affect stock markets, things like that. U.S. interests in the region are strong because of the presence of oil, and the ripple effects throughout the economy because of that.” The turmoil in Egypt is causing shakeups in Jordan.
UA wheelchair basketball teams host tournament
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 2
The University of Alabama wheelchair basketball club teams will host some of the top programs in the country at the second annual Bama Fever tournament this weekend at the Student Recreation Center…
Opening weekend announced for amphitheater
Crimson White – Feb. 2
…The Ferguson Center staff and the SGA are collaborating with Red Mountain Entertainment to put on the performance by The Avett Brothers and Band of Horses. “With 33,000 students, we wanted to book bands that would appeal to students and that play at a lot of colleges,” said Red Mountain Entertainment’s Gary Weinberger. “We want to let students know right away that we’re sensitive to their needs.”… “We’re definitely excited that the University gets to be a part of the opening show and that students get to be some of the first to attend an event there,” Roberts said. Though this is the only event the University is currently helping to plan, Roberts said she hopes to plan more shows in the future, with the Ferguson Center staff serving as a liaison between the University and the amphitheater…
Rec introduces new series
Crimson White – Feb. 2
…the Rec is offering its members another set of classes including belly dancing, therapeutic yoga and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. These classes, called the Discovery Series, cost between $40-$99 per person and meet weekly, lasting anywhere from four weeks until April 27 during the spring semester, according to the Rec Center’s website. Leigh Darilek, manager of Group Exercise and Non-credit Instruction, said the Discovery Series classes serve as another non-credit extracurricular opportunity for students, faculty and Rec members. She said class structure and consistent attendance differentiate between the Discovery Series and regularly scheduled group exercise…
Rec offers alternative spring break outdoors
Crimson White – Feb. 2
…the Student Recreation Center is offering two spring break trips for students who enjoy outdoor recreation. “We actually have two spring break trips going this year,” said Lance Haynie, program coordinator of Outdoor Recreation. “There is one to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to go backpacking and the other to Indian Creek, Utah for rock climbing.”…