UA grad’s designs debut in Miami
Tuscaloosa News – March 13
University of Alabama graduate Smith Sinrod has joined the ranks of other UA grads making names for themselves in the fashion industry, with an appearance in the Gen Art Fresh Faces runway show that began the FashionMiami event this month. Sinrod, 24, of Atlanta was selected as one of six new designers for the show, which has helped propel the careers of several popular designers.…Sinrod launched her own line of clothing during her senior year at UA and traveled to Thailand two days after graduation in search of inspiration and business resources. “I think that while all the students have creativity, what separates Anthony (Williams), Lauren Leonard and Hunter Bell with their lines is their drive,” said University of Alabama clothing, textiles and interior design professor Virginia Wimberley. “Smith was always a careful student, and you could tell that she was serious about her designs. She was always meticulous in getting it right and making it perfect, and that’s necessary in her line of work.” Milla Boschung, a dean in the UA Human Environmental Sciences, said Sinrod’s fame is another first for the UA apparel design program, which also includes:
Anthony Williams, a contestant on “Project Runway.”
Lauren Leonard, whose line “Leona” is in 80 stores worldwide.
Hunter Bell and Jennifer Dixon’s Hunter Dixon line in boutiques around the world, as well as Saks Fifth Avenue.
“We’re just so pleased that she’s being recognized in this way. It really is a great honor to have Smith recognized as a fresh face in fashion,” Boschung said. “(FashionMiami) is another highly regarded fashion event, and we are just so pleased.”
More students take AP classes for college credit
Tuscaloosa News – March 13
… For most classes, the University of Alabama gives college credit to a student who earns a score of 3 or better.… Wilson Boardman, a UA senior and Homewood High School graduate, came to Tuscaloosa with scholarships and 37 hours of credit, which allowed him to double major in Spanish and international finance while spending semesters in Cuba and Oxford, England…Overall, UA has seen an increase in students entering college with AP credit. In 2008, 787 students enrolled at UA with AP credit, while 958 enrolled in 2009. “We attribute the increase in freshmen coming in with AP credits to the overall increase in the quality of students being attracted to the University of Alabama,” said Mary Spiegel, executive director of undergraduate admissions. “For fall 2009, more than 1,150 freshmen entered UA with a 4.0 or higher high school grade-point average, so it’s no surprise that many of these students would have taken AP courses in high school.” The university does not keep track of scholarships and graduation rates for students with AP credit. However, because of the advanced nature of the high school classes, many of those students do accept scholarships. “AP classes are beneficial to students,” Spiegel said. “They provide an advanced challenge to high school students, and, in many cases, these students receive college credit, which provides them an advantage when they enter college.”
Life Project helps with chronically ill
Tuscaloosa News – March 14
…The study, called the Life Project, seeks to improve the quality of life for chronically ill patients age 55 and older. Trained volunteers have been assisting patients and their caregivers with everyday chores like grocery shopping, washing dishes and doing laundry. The second part of the study is a creative collaboration between the volunteers and the patients, in which the volunteers help the patients produce something that encapsulates their life story. “The idea behind the project is simple,” Daniel Durkin, a UA doctoral candidate in the school of social work who has been involved with the project since it began in 2003. “What you do is get together with the patient and their caregiver and ask them questions that are designed to get patients to think about their life in a positive manner. Eventually it will lead to the creation of an actual product that they can pass on to future generations…UA associate professor of psychology Rebecca Allen said the service originally started as a clinical training study but after receiving funding from the National Institute of Health and Nursing, began including involves community senior volunteers from FOCUS on Senior Citizens in Tuscaloosa and Positive Maturity in Birmingham…
Pakistani woman studies to bring peace home
Tuscaloosa News – March 15
…Mushtaq, who is working on her doctorate in child psychology, got permission from her home school, Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad, to study for six months alongside University of Alabama professor John Lochman, the director of UA’s Center for the Prevention of Youth Behavior Problems.They are using a program co-developed by Lochman called Coping Power, which was designed to help reduce aggressive behavior in children. The program focuses on children between the ages of 8 and 14. Since arriving in Tuscaloosa on Oct. 24, Mushtaq said she believes she has come a long way with her research and is ready to use it when she returns home…
Finalists selected for Alabama Launchpad
Birmingham Business Journal – March 15
Nine teams of researchers from universities across Alabama have been selected as finalists to compete for seed money in the 2010 Alabama Launchpad contest…Three teams come from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, two from the University of Alabama at Huntsville and University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and one from Auburn University and the University of South Alabama…
UA student’s work on cover of national magazine
Tuscaloosa News –March 16
The April issue of Marie Claire magazine, with a dress designed by University of Alabama graduate and “Project Runway” competitor Anthony Williams is on sale now, featuring three pages dedicated to Williams and the dress he created for model and judge Heidi Klum…
Applicants flock to teaching program
Tuscaloosa News – March 17
…Of this year’s 46,359 applicants for Teach for America, 405 of them applied from Alabama, including 121 University of Alabama seniors…Elizabeth Jones and Alex Flachsbart from the University of Alabama… have already been selected for the program and will teach in the Black Belt region…The University of Alabama will serve as Teach for America’s local certification partner, and all area corps members will enroll with UA to obtain their state teaching certificate. Corps members who are confirmed to teach in Alabama will arrive in their assigned regions in early June before going to a five-week training session…
Bob Jones graduate to lead University of Alabama’s SGA
Huntsville Times – March 19
James Fowler…was elected SGA president at the University of Alabama…James, a political science and business major, said he sought the challenge. “When first becoming involved at UA, I knew I wanted to serve in some capacity in the university’s SGA,” James wrote in an e-mail. “SGA has become a passion for me. Many students pursue athletics, art, drama and other passions in college, and I have been fortunate to pursue my passion, SGA.” His new role keeps him busy; he is already planning for the SGA to host a 2010 gubernatorial debate at the Capstone. James also hopes to start a laundry delivery service to serve all campus dorm rooms and a transportation master plan to expand the university’s campus transit system on and off campus. A member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, James has worked on a number of SGA projects, including creating the weekend, late-night shuttle, which transported more than 16,000 riders during its pilot semester last fall; expanding UA’s initial textbook rental program with a $300,000 federal grant; and hosting a UA Date Auction that raised over $13,000 in student scholarships. He is a member of several honor societies, including Omicron Delta Kappa, Cardinal Key, Order of Alpha, Phi Eta Sigma, Sigma Alpha Lambda and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
Is recovery on the horizon?
Florence Times-Daily – March 14
… While many prognosticators are predicting more gloom for the nation’s economy, an economist at the University of Alabama said the worst days of the recession have passed for the state. Sam Addy, director of the university’s Center for Business and Economic Research, is optimistic about the economy. He said a recent survey of business leaders around the state shows they are becoming more confident in Alabama’s economy. Some survey respondents expect to increase their payrolls this year, especially those in the leisure and hospitality, education and health services, and service-related business sectors. He said businesses and industries that create new jobs or recall laid-off workers will be the key to jump-starting the economy. “Some of the industries here in Alabama that had cut employees back to a three-day work week have returned to working five-day weeks,” Addy said. “With their employees working more hours and earning more money, they are going to be spending more money. As they spend more money, the economy is going to grow and everyone will benefit.”…
Free spending
Montgomery Advertiser – March 14
… Not everyone thinks such free spending is a great idea. Jan Brakefield, professor at the University of Alabama who studies consumer habits, said lingering impacts from the recession and high unemployment should have many consumers worried more about saving money. “I would not have expected that,” she said of the increase in spending. In fact, she questioned whether or not the survey’s results would hold up once the money reaches consumers. “We will have to see if the people in fact do what they say they are going to do,” she said. In most cases, consumers will be better off either paying down debt or increasing personal savings with the refund, she insisted. Still, she said some people treat a tax refund as found, rather than earned, money. “I had hoped we were looking at a fundamental culture change,” she said…
James, Davis lead in campaign cash
Tuscaloosa News – March 14
…With the primaries less than three months away, expect that campaign money to start flowing freely, said a University of Alabama expert on election spending. “With no incumbent in the race and a field of several unknown candidates, it will be crucial for them to begin buying media advertising,” said Karen Cartee, a UA professor of advertising and public relations who has written several books on political media strategy. “Most of them need to get their name out there and as positively as possible.”…
Alexandria HS stops morning prayers after student complains
Anniston Star – March 18
… Supreme Court decisions have set precedents prohibiting school-sponsored religious activity, based on the First Amendment, which states Congress may make no law “respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” “The U.S. Supreme Court has made it pretty clear that school officials cannot sponsor prayers,” said Bryan Fair, a University of Alabama law professor. “They control the PA system; the student doesn’t control the PA system. That is going to be considered government speech rather than private speech.”…
Mobile still faces tough building market
Mobile Press-Register – March 21
… Alabama’s new construction figures were more positive, with a 34.3 percent increase in permits when comparing January to the same month in 2009, according to the Alabama Center for Real Estate at the University of Alabama. There were about 4,000 new houses on the market in January statewide, a 40 percent drop from January 2009, the report showed…
Board outlines new building
Florence Times-Daily – March 13
University of North Alabama…Board members also learned of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education’s approval of a partnership between UNA and the University of Alabama. The partnership will allow educators who want to complete a doctorate in education degree from Alabama to do so through classes at UNA.
Organization seeks to help special-needs students
Crimson White – March 21
…Best Buddies, an international organization that works to develop one-on-one relationships between special needs students and college students…Heather Houghton, president of the UA chapter of Best Buddies, said they mainly focus on helping adults with intellectual disabilities to develop leadership and social skills. Participants commit to contacting their buddies at least once a month via phone call or visit…
HelpDesk fixes computer problems for students
Crimson White – March 21
…There is HelpDesk, a service part of the UA Office of Information Technology that fixes computer problems quickly and for a reasonable fee, offering technical support to all students and faculty… HelpDesk can also install anti-virus software onto computers to protect against future viruses and also gives students a complimentary anti-virus CD…