A Lingering Question From The Navy Yard
NPR – Sept. 18
In the aftershocks of a mass shooting event — like the one that occurred Monday at the Navy Yard in Washington in which 12 victims and the gunman were killed — an inevitable question recurs: Does it make any difference to society’s response — calls for more guns, calls for fewer guns, mental health arguments — if the gunman survives the event? In a research essay, Mass Shooters in the USA, 1966–2010: Differences Between Attackers Who Live and Die, published in in June, criminology professor Adam Lankford of the University of Alabama looked at the life or death results of 185 rampage-style mass shootings. He found that whereas only 4 percent of murderers commit suicide, those who kill large numbers of people were far more likely to die at the scene of the crime — some 48 percent of mass gunmen either committed suicide or were killed by police on the spot. In his research, Lankford explored the reasons for this behavior. But his findings also underscored that many mass shooters do not go to jail; they die. Subsequently they are never given a psychological evaluation or questioned about motives or modus operandi following the attack.
UA helps area teachers transition to new STEM curriculum
Demopolis Times – Sept. 18
A group of professors at The University of Alabama is helping K-12 teachers in West Alabama change how they teach science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, subjects. Through The University of Alabama/University of West Alabama Regional In-Service Center, math, science and education faculty have begun their second year of professional development and in-class support with teachers from school districts in Demopolis, Hale County, Lamar County, Marengo County and Tuscaloosa. The In-Service Center earlier secured an $800,000 Mathematics and Science Partnership Competitive Grant from the Alabama State Department of Education to establish Improving Mathematical Practices for Alabama Classroom Teachers. This initiative, known as IMPACT, is designed to help teachers in West Alabama prepare for curriculum and testing changes under the Alabama College and Career Ready Initiative .
Civil rights veterans share stories with University of Alabama students
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 19
Two veterans of the civil rights movement described on Wednesday their experiences with racism and offered advice on how University of Alabama students should deal with allegations of segregation in its sororities and fraternities. Constance Curry and Doris Derby, two women who worked in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee during the 1962 civil rights movement, encouraged students to take risks in challenging racial issues on campus. “You have to stick your necks out,” Curry said. The women detailed their personal histories and risks with the SNCC and its push to end segregation in the South. They spoke at the annual Rose Gladney Lecture for Justice and Social Change, a lecture series about social justice, at Gorgas Library on campus.
MAP provides diversity for students
Crimson White – Sept. 19
The Multiple Abilities Program only has 14 students enrolled, but acts as two degree programs, preparing education majors to be elementary school teachers as well as special education teachers. Madeleine Gregg, head of MAP, has helped to plan the program since its inception in 1993. Gregg said the idea of the program came about when superintendents of different schools complained to the Dean of the College of Education at The University of Alabama about the increasing number of children being referred to special needs and the lack of certified teachers. “More and more schools want to hire teachers who can handle both regular and special needs children,” Gregg said. “And our graduates have that diversity that prepares them for dealing with different kinds of children and their needs.” The program consists of five semesters of hands-on teaching experience at elementary schools around the city. Lindsey Lee, a junior currently enrolled in the MAP program, said the program helps prepare students to deal with different kind of children in a classroom setting.
University of Alabama sorority to hold benefit chili cook-off for pros, public on Friday
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 19
The University of Alabama’s Gamma Phi Beta sorority invites the public to participate in its first philanthropic chili cook-off from 5-7 p.m. Friday on the side lawn of the Canterbury Chapel Episcopal Church, 812 Fifth Ave., on campus. Admission is $5. The cost to enter chili for the contest is $15, with admission for one included. All proceeds will benefit Camp Fire’s Camp Fletcher and Girls on the Run Birmingham. Chili submissions from restaurants and home chefs are welcome. The contest categories will be people’s choice restaurant chili, people’s choice homemade chili, judges’ picks restaurant chili and judges’ pick homemade chili. Cash prizes will be paid to the judges’ picks, and surprise items will be presented to the people’s choice award winners.