UA Honors College students work in Perry County
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – May 22
University of Alabama Honors College students have spent the last three weeks serving the Perry County community through their “57 Miles” program. WVUA’s Chelsea Barton caught up with the group in the Blackbelt to learn about their experience. Fifty-seven miles is all that separates the University of Alabama from Perry County. Student participants say they came to give to the community, but have received much in return. “Southern hospitality is not a myth. People have been so nice and welcomed us into their homes, their churches, into their community. The leadership in Perry County has given me so much respect for how much it takes to run a small town and how strong the community is. The people here are so great and so willing to help us learn more about the county and learn more about their needs so we can better serve them. With that we have had such an opportunity for growth and experience and leadership and service.” Chris Joiner first visited Perry County as 57 Miles program student. He developed such a passion for Perry County and the program’s purpose that he now serves as the initiative’s coordinator. “I’d say the most special thing about Perry County is the pride that the people have for their community and the values that have been preserved.”
College News
Tuscaloosa News – May 25
University of Alabama — Meredith Cummings of Tuscaloosa took first place in the Alabama Media Professional annual communications contest. Cummings competed against other area writers in the web and social media category. Cummings is a journalism instructor at the University of Alabama. The awards were announced May 8.
He mimicked America Psycho – he wanted to be a star: Killer virgin acted out film role because he felt like failure in reality, says criminologist
(UK) Daily Mail – May 24
Elliot Rodger was trying to act out the role of a film star when he went on his killing spree – to make up for the fact he felt like a failure in real life. Clearly he did not feel he had the status he deserved. In his last YouTube video, which he explicitly filmed to leave a legacy, he casts himself as a movie star. In another of his clips he appears to reference the film American Psycho, and it might be that he has taken the main character, Patrick Bateman, as a role model. Bateman, played by Christian Bale, is a successful Wall Street banker who picks up women and then butchers them after sex. But for Rodger, his sexual frustration was the driving force behind the anger. However, both share deep feelings of sexual desire for women and aggression towards them. There are parallels between Rodger and the Columbine High School killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, who fantasized about the idea that Steven Spielberg would make a movie about their lives. – Dr. Adam Lankford is professor of criminal justice studies at the University of Alabama.
Al.com – May 25
Why We Feel Others’ Pain — or Don’t
Huffington Post – May 24
What is it that makes two minds respond so differently to the same encounter with misfortune? Scientists have spent a lot of effort exploring the emotional, cognitive and neurological underpinnings of human empathy, but much less time studying how our fundamental world views might affect our ability to feel others’ pain. We all hold theories about human nature and the world — whether we articulate them or not. Is it possible that these implicit theories play a role in our ability to empathize and care? University of Alabama psychological scientist Alexa Tullett has been pursuing this idea. Specifically, she and her colleagues have been studying the way we think about happiness — our lay theories — as a possible precursor of empathy. To explore this question, the scientists had to develop and validate a scale for measuring people’s theories of happiness. The so-called Lay Theories of Happiness Scale, or LTHS, assesses three important and interconnected aspects of our happiness beliefs: Does our level of happiness ever change, or is it fixed? Do we control our own happiness or not? Does happiness come from within or from external circumstances?
Will Julian Assange Be Moving to a Squatters’ Settlement In Brazil?
Vice News – May 24
On May 14, João Paulo Rodrigues, a leader of Brazil’s Landless Workers’ Movement (MST), met with Julian Assange in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. The two men discussed ways in which Latin American social movements might help Wikileaks. … The day after the meeting with Rodrigues, Wikileaks tweeted, “Brazil’s MST offers asylum to Julian Assange in autonomous region.” . . . How would Assange’s life look on an MST settlement if indeed his asylum there did become a reality? … MST expert and anthropology Professor David Meek of the University of Alabama outlined some important details for VICE. What kind of security would one of the world’s most wanted hackers have on a settlement? Meek says, “MST settlements frequently have their own security patrols that form as organic collectives.” But given the many threats against Assange, and the sketchy legal grounding of the asylum, “the quality of that security is doubtful.”
Writers Hall of Fame planned for Alabama authors
Tuscaloosa News – May 24
Alabama’s literary history, if not unsung, is perhaps undersung, which is why the Alabama Center for the Book and the Alabama Writers’ Forum are teaming to create the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame. Both organizations have worked to promote and share the state’s rich history, and a Hall of Fame seemed a logical next step, said Jeanie Thompson, executive director of the AWF. “I think for a long time people have talked about the possibility of doing something like this, but the Writers’ Forum and the Center for the Book have been working on it for about two years,” she said. Both are statewide entities, though the Center for the Book is housed at the University of Alabama.
AL.com – May 25
WTVY (Dothan) – May 25
Governor plans to launch help for small businesses
Cullman Times – May 25
A group of small business owners and politicians gathered at the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce Friday to hear Gov. Robert Bentley’s pledge to bring more assistance to locally owned shops. Bentley said he plans to unveil a new website soon to help small business owners and entrepreneurs find valuable information and assistance from the state. “We’ve announced 55,000 to 60,000 new jobs with industry, but we haven’t done a lot for small business,” Bentley told the audience. … The governor said he has asked the University of Alabama to put together a comprehensive website for business owners and those looking to start a business. He also said a telephone number would be established for those who prefer to call.
UA Library honors Kate Ragsdale with miniature book collection
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – May 22
Colleagues of Kate Ragsdale have found a “small” way to honor the former librarian. They’ve created a display of miniature books in the Gorgas Library at the University of Alabama. Ragsdale was killed inside her home last year. One of the displays tells about Ragsdale’s fascination with miniature books. “The year before she was killed, she took her granddaughter to campus to see the collection. Her granddaughter fell in love with the little books as well. So, that Christmas, her grandmother gave her her very first miniature book. So, we remembered that, after Kate’s tragic death and wanted to honor her in this special way.” Ragsdale’s collection of miniature books will remain on display until the end of the month.
Southern lights: Exhibits at Smith Hall are about forever
Tuscaloosa News – May 24
Since time immemorial — or at least, for as long as I can remember (which these days is to say about the same thing) — there have been the fossil remains of two plants outside the Alabama Museum of Natural History in Smith Hall on the University of Alabama campus. Signs identify them as trees, and I suppose they are, but the same signs also tell us they are lepidodenchron. I had always understood the fossils to be club mosses. Perhaps they were identified by an earlier sign as such. In any event, the lepidodenchron is now extinct. It grew some 300 million years ago in swampy areas that later became coal forests. … As a consequence of seeing and thinking about the fossils outside the doors of the building, I have a lifelong fondness for the museum at Smith Hall. … It’s notable, in my mind at least, mainly for the ornate interior of Smith Hall — with its gracefully curving imperial staircases, its polished wooden floors, its beautiful proportions — and for the fossils on display.
Graduation 2014: 50 seniors graduate from Mobile Christian School
AL.com – May 25
Mobile Christian School held commencement exercises Saturday, May 24, at 2 p.m. at the University of South Alabama Mitchell Center. … The Class of 2014 valedictorian was Jacob Sims, the son of Jimmy and Jane Sims. a National Merit Scholar, he plans to attend the University of Alabama on his National Merit scholarship award, which totals $72,550.
Meet Louisville’s outstanding high school seniors
Louisville (Ky.) Courier-Journal – May 23
Public, private and Catholic students who have excelled in and out of the classroom were honored Tuesday night by Mayor Greg Fischer as recipients of the annual Mayor’s Outstanding High School Seniors Award. . . . Jordan Pamplin, Sacred Heart Academy: Jordan demonstrates great leadership skills both in and outside of class while maintaining a 4.14 GPA. She is a member of the soccer team, 2012 National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine, Beta Club, 100 Club, National Honor Society, Future Doctors of America, Peer Leaders, Spanish Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Jordan has been named to the Honor Roll and Academic All-State Team. Jordan enjoys volunteering with Gilda’s Club and Baptist East Hospital. She will attend the University of Alabama to pursue a career in the medical field.
100 Black Men of Mobile honor Sam Jones, announce scholarship winners at annual gala
AL.com – May 25
The 100 Black Men of Mobile honored former Mayor Sam Jones with the Pioneer Award at the group’s 14th annual fundraising gala on Thursday at the Arthur R. Outlaw Convention Center. . . . A $2,000 scholarship, courtesy of a gift from the Christian Benevolent Funeral Home, was awarded to Blount High graduate Terrow T. Franks, who will attend the University of Alabama, majoring in chemical engineering.
Miss University of Alabama on ABC 33/40’s Talk of Alabama
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – May 23
This is a live interview with Miss University of Alabama, Danielle DuBose, a senior accounting major.