UA teacher says new “Star Wars” movie brings a new hope
Tuscaloosa News – Dec. 16
David DeWitt doesn’t teach the seminar “Star Wars: A Cosmic Gospel Reborn” every year, but he’s reviving it for this spring. As you might have heard, there’s a new Force in town. So DeWitt, whose pop-cultural seminars also include “Harry Potter Franchise: Critical Lenses and Worldview,” through the University of Alabama’s Blount Undergraduate Initiative, is staying busy this holiday season catching up on the mythos and ethos begun a long time ago, mid-’70s, in a state far, far on the other side of the nation. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is the first feature film of its line by Disney, directed by avowed “Star Wars” fanatic J.J. Abrams, and the first not to have direct involvement by mastermind George Lucas. So yes, there’s a new hope, even after the three desperately loathed prequels, all written and directed by Lucas, concluded in 2005.
UA Professor: Han Solo was legally justified to shoot first
Al.com – Dec. 17
With the upcoming release of “The Force Awakens” and the return of Harrison Ford to the iconic role of Han Solo now is the time to finally set the record straight: A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, Han Solo shot Greedo and he acted in self-defense. In the original theatrical release of Star Wars: A New Hope, Han Solo shoots and kills the bounty hunter Greedo in a Mos Eisley cantina. George Lucas, the film’s director, has said that he was dissatisfied with the scene because Solo shoots Greedo first, making it seem as though he is “a cold-blooded killer.” In later editions of the film the scene was edited so that Greedo fires at Solo from point blank range, somehow misses, and then Solo returns fire. That change never sat well with fans of the original film for the simple reason that it was completely unnecessary. Nothing about the original scene suggests that Han Solo is a cold-blooded killer. (By John Gross, assistant professor of Clinical Legal Education and Director of the Criminal Defense Clinic at the University of Alabama School of Law.)
WHNT-CBS (Huntsville) – Dec. 17
Stiffen child abuse penalty
Montgomery Advertiser – Dec. 17
Child abuse is always ugly, but a case now being investigated by 19th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Randall Houston is particularly horrific. As the MontgomeryAdvertiser’s Marty Roney reported, Hallee Ann McLeod, 28, of Wetumpka, faces aggravated child abuse and chemical endangerment of a child charges in Elmore County. McLeod’s 4-year-old son was found unresponsive and injured in the back of the car of her boyfriend, Scott Hicks, in Panama City, Fla., in September. The boy was dehydrated and found to have bruises and injuries over his entire body, having been tortured, allegedly, by the adults who should have been protecting him … But there is much more to be done to curb child abuse and protect potential victims. More than 9,000 children are victims of child abuse and neglect around the state each year, according to a University of Alabama report released in April. And the state invests too little in child maltreatment prevention, the report authors concluded.
What does federal interest rate hike mean for average consumers?
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Dec. 17
With the Federal Reserve raising interest rates this week, we wanted to know what this means for the average consumer. WVUA spoke with Dr. Robert McLeod, a financial instructor at The University of Alabama, who gave his insights on the rate hike. Dr. McLeod says it will hinder purchasing power.
PNC Foundation gives $45,000 in grants to The University of Alabama
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Dec. 17
The PNC Foundation is giving $45,000 in grants to The University of Alabama. The money goes toward supporting early childhood education as well as to UA students. The University is using the money to support their child development resources program, and for scholarships award to students in UA’s College of Human Environmental Sciences.
UA now featured on University Fancards
Fox 6 (Birmingham) (Live Interview) – Dec. 17
University Fancards are printed with the unique logos and slogans from universities. They are also MasterCard gift cards. A card that says “Roll Tide” and has the Alabama “A” is now for sale online.