UA stadium expansion cheaper than expected
Tuscaloosa News – April 17
An expansion to Bryant-Denny Stadium should cost about $15 million less than expected. Construction bids came in below what University of Alabama administrators predicted when they asked trustees for approval of the project in February. The roughly 9,000-seat expansion to the stadium’s south end zone should cost $65.6 million instead of the $80.6 million originally estimated. “The university was the beneficiary of the economic climate we’re in right now,” Mike Lanier, project manager for UA construction projects, told trustees at a meeting Thursday. With construction projects drying up during the recession, those who are building are finding heavy competition – and lower prices – for their projects.
Board committee approves new scoreboard
Crimson White – April 17
The UA Systems Board of Trustees Physical Properties Committee approved a resolution to install a new state-of-the-art scoreboard at Coleman Coliseum at its Thursday meeting, which will be subject to final approval today. The circular scoreboard will hang from the center of the coliseum, display four High Definition LED screens, and have scrolling graphics to update fans on the score and time left in the game. In addition to the new center hung display, fans can expect to see the replacement of the two existing scoreboards that are located on the east and west sides of the arena with static scoreboards to be installed in the upper corners of the coliseum’s seating.
Silence, stigma still mark HIV
Birmingham News – April 16
When Harold Mays tested positive for HIV in 1998, he hesitated telling family members. Eventually, he told them about his HIV “as it got deeper in my life,” said Mays, 58, of Birmingham. “They didn’t accept it at first, but now they do.”…Mays is much like participants in a recent University of Alabama study. The participants were HIV-positive, black, older than 50, from Central Alabama and reluctant to share their HIV status with people they didn’t know very well…Susan W. Gaskins, a professor at UA’s Capstone College of Nursing and a researcher in the study, said the problem is that HIV can have a tremendous impact on a person’s life, something that requires social support. Unfortunately, the stigma of having HIV drives people into secrecy and shame, and that effect seems to be stronger in the black community, she said. The recent study of 24 HIV-positive blacks by Gaskins and Dr. Pamela Payne Foster found that three-fourths of them didn’t feel they could be open with others about their disease….
Ginormous ‘Millie’: UA Theatre working to pull off one of its biggest shows yet
Tuscaloosa News – April 17
Over the past several years, as the University of Alabama Department of Theatre and Dance has expanded its musical theater focus, the shows have gotten bigger, with works such as “Ragtime,” “West Side Story,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Into the Woods.”…But the stages and shops haven’t grown to match the shows…UA theater bursts at the seams of Rowand-Johnson, built in 1955, and not designed as a theater complex. Backstage and working space is more cramped than before as the student population explodes. And the production of “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” opening Tuesday in the Gallaway, is in some respects, UA theater’s biggest show yet….
Google to power new UA e-mail
Crimson White – April 17
The University announced its plans to switch all students to a new e-mail service powered by Google. The Crimson mail service, a Google Apps for Education domain, will allow students 7 GB of storage space. Students now have 50 MB with BamaMail, according to a release from the Office of Information Technology. The switch will happen over the weekend of May 8 through 10. The Crimson mail service will look like the interface of Gmail, but with the UA Crimson logo, said Jaclyn Whitehorn, director of customer relations for the OIT. Instead of an e-mail address that ends in bama.ua.edu, students’ e-mail addresses will end in crimson.ua.edu.
More than 150 gather to support autism legislation
Gadsden Times – April 17 (Associated Press)
More than 150 people gathered in front of the Alabama Statehouse on Thursday to push for passage of two bills to improve services available in Alabama to people with autism. One of the bills…establishes an interagency council to coordinate services available for autistic Alabama residents. It has gone to Gov. Bob Riley for his signature. The other bill would establish regional autism centers around the state. It has passed the House and is awaiting action in the Senate… The director of the autism clinic at the University of Alabama, Laura Klinger, said the bill establishing regional centers is important because it will make services more accessible to Alabama residents, particularly those living in rural areas. “It will make sure that every family regardless of where they live will have access to help,” Klinger said.
Local business leaders think Alabama economy has hit bottom
Birmingham Business Journal – April 17
After Alabama businesses shed more than 44,000 jobs in the first two months of 2009 and the unemployment rate jump to one of its highest levels in 22 years, local business leaders are confident that the state’s economy can’t stoop any lower. In fact, going into the second quarter of this year, many business leaders believe they will see slight improvements in four primary areas: Sales, profits, hiring and capital expenditures, according to the latest Business Leaders Confidence Index.
The quarterly poll conducted by Birmingham’s BBVA Compass and the University of Alabama, received a half-point boost to 32 points – compared to its record-low of 31.5 in the first quarter of 2009. “It was actually a little bit surprising that they had a more positive outlook than in the past given the state of the economy,” said Sam Addy, director of the University of Alabama’s Center for Business and Economic Research. “For me it says that they think that we really have touched bottom.”
Druid Arts Award ceremony honors patrons, artists, educators
Tuscaloosa News – April 17
Painter Evan Wilson was given the first Home Grown award at the 18th annual Druid Arts Award ceremony…Dozens more area artists, educators and patrons received similar support at the event, held Thursday night at the Bama Theatre…Longtime Theatre Tuscaloosa and University of Alabama performers Kathy Wilson and Charles Prosser received theater artist awards… Al Sella was honored as visual artist; his second Druid Arts Award after a 2002 nod as visual arts educator. UA book arts program director Steve Miller won visual arts educator…
UA Campus Ministry Group Smurfs Out
WBRC-Fox, Birmingham – April 16
University of Alabama students tried to make history. They turned their campus into Smurf village. The Chi Alpha campus ministry wants to Smurf out poverty. They’re attempting to break the world record of 1,253 people dressing as Smurfs.
WIAT-CBS, Birmingham – April 16
WVUA, Birmingham – April 16
List of students honored
The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Ky.) — April 16
Anthony Osbourne, St. Xavier High School — Anthony is truly outstanding. He is president of the NHS and coordinated all service projects for the group. Over spring break, he went to New Orleans to help rebuild, and later to Belize to build shelters. He has been a four year contributor to the football teams, and has a 3.7 GPA in the honors and AP program. Anthony has been awarded a full scholarship to the University of Alabama. He plans on majoring in mechanical engineering and then perusing medical school.