SGA to supply suits to those in need
Crimson White – Jan. 27
…The SGA launched the “Suiting your needs” campaign that will give students the opportunity to go to the dean of students office if they are in need of business attire and need to try on suits. The student then will be able to select the one that fits him or her best. “The idea of starting a business attire program at UA stemmed from SGA’s eagerness to truly reach out to students and help those in need have all the advantages that other students might have,” said Stephen Swinson, vice president of student affairs.
The dean of students office informed the SGA about the need some students have for business attire, Swinson said. “In my capacity at the University, I interact with many different students who have different needs,” said Lowell Davis, assistant dean of students. “When the SGA talked about a service project that would assist students in this manner, I was immediately excited.”… The SGA encourages all students, faculty, staff, administrators and members of the Tuscaloosa community to donate male and female business apparel. Those who donate professional attire will receive a tax deduction. The drop-off for the attire is in Room 231 in the Ferguson center. Those who want to make financial contributions should make checks out to UA and drop them off in the dean of students office in the Ferguson Center …
UA archaeologist honored
Crimson White – Jan. 27
After fifty years of being a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Richard A. Diehl, UA archeologist, has been named an AAAS Fellow. There were 503 AAAS members who were elected as Fellows in December for their contribution to science and technology…Michael Murphy, archeology department chair, said, “Along the way Diehl has developed into one of the world’s foremost authorities on the Olmec civilization and he’s also done great work on the Toltec and on this big site called Teotihuacan, which is one of the premiere archeological sites in the world,” he said …
Governor, ag commissioner hire their former opponents
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 27
… Longtime Alabama political observer William Stewart said he can’t recall another Alabama governor immediately hiring an opponent. Gov. George Wallace appointed John Patterson to the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals in 1984. Wallace had lost to Patterson in the 1958 race for governor and Wallace’s wife, Lurleen, beat Patterson in the 1966 race for governor, Stewart said. Stewart, the retired chairman of the political science department at the University of Alabama, said rural development has traditionally been the focus of the state Department of Agriculture and Industries, and Bentley’s creation of a new state program was a surprise. “It seems to be in contradiction to the goal of reducing the size of government, which is a Republican tenet,” he said …
Fox bans stadium ad
Crimson White – Jan. 27
…Others believe FoxSports is just following protocol by not allowing the commercial to be aired due to its biblical content. “I once did a study of an advertising campaign by the United Church of Christ denomination in the North,” said Theodore Trost, Chair of the University’s religious studies department. “The slogan read, ‘No matter where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here in this church.’ The commercial was banned by all the major networks, who consistently said it went against their charters to promote religion.” Trost said on one level, the networks are being consistent with their policy, and on another level he can see where the commercial can be considered controversial. “Controversy may not be obvious if you are a follower of Jesus Christ and see it as a message of hope,” Trost said. “However, the ad is controversial in the way it treats people of other faiths. What about Muslims, Jews, Hindus and atheists? That particular verse excludes all of those groups from God’s love.”…
Plaque Found
FOX6 (Birmingham) – Jan. 26
WSFA (Montgomery) – Jan. 26
A University of Alabama plaque, which predates World War II and went missing for years, is now in the Bryant Museum. It was recently discovered in a Birmingham warehouse. The 200-pound bronze plaque was originally installed in what is now Foster auditorium in 1939, but was taken down for some reason and eventually lost.
A-Day, homecoming dates are set
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 26
The A-Day Game will be held on Saturday, April 16, at Bryant-Denny Stadium, the University of Alabama announced Tuesday. The spring football game will be free to the public with kickoff tentatively set for 2 p.m. … Details on television coverage and events surrounding the annual spring game will be released at a later date. Alabama also announced Tuesday that its game against Vanderbilt on Saturday, Oct. 8, at Bryant-Denny Stadium, has been designated as homecoming. No kickoff time has been set.
Housing sponsors first-ever Bama Idol
Crimson White – Jan. 27
…Bama Idol, a singing competition put on by Housing and Residential Communities, is currently in the audition stage of the competition. The winner will receive an iPad. Like American Idol, there is an audition round and a finale night. The top ten competitors from the audition round will compete in the finale, and by audience vote via text message, the winner will be determined. The finale night will take place on Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Ferguson Center Ballroom, with free admission. Bama Idol came from a brainstormed idea between Jenn Glenn, the programming and civic leadership coordinator for Housing and Residential Communities, and Sara Webb, a senior majoring in political science and the programming assistant for Housing and Residential Communities …
UA to Host Alabama Honor Choir
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Jan. 26
The University of Alabama will host the 23rd annual Honor Choir this Saturday at Moody Music Building. The choir is a collection of high school choral singers from all over the state. The concert will begin at 7:30 and is free to the public.
A pixel is worth a thousand words
Crimson White – Jan. 27
…This Saturday from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., the Ferguson Center will potentially be filled with more than 500 PixelCon attendees. PixelCon is a gaming convention hosted at the University, which celebrated its inaugural year last year …The convention is a joint project between ABXY and Creative Campus … Last year PixelCon had approximately 450 attendees. This year 300 people have already registered, and the event is expecting double the amount of that to register on-site, Smelley said …