University of Alabama students replace stairway at Moundville Archaeological Park
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 13
Equipped with hard hats and hand tools, University of Alabama engineering students are replacing by hand the cross tie stairway that ascends Mound B at Moundville Archaeological Park as part of a service project at the Native American cultural site south of Tuscaloosa. “The student involvement is perfect for something like this because it requires so much labor that can’t be done with heavy machinery,” said Matt Gage, director of the UA Office of Archaeological Research. “It gives them a perfect opportunity to experience working on a site that has sensitive cultural resources.” Saturday was the third weekend volunteers with UA’s Student Engineers in Action gathered to work on the project, which has been a priority for the park.
Tuscaloosa News photo gallery – Feb. 13
Silvestri, Higgins & Cohen’s new musical The Countess of Storyville to premiere at University of Alabama
Broadwayworld.com – Feb. 12
The University of Alabama Theatre & Dance just announced that — in association with Tony Award-winning producerMargot Astrachan — it will present the world premiere of the new Broadway-bound musical THE COUNTESS OF STORYVILLE. Astrachan states: “This is a wonderful opportunity to develop new work and interface with a terrific educational institution and its resources.” The developmental production is a collaboration between Broadway professionals, UA Theatre & Dance, and the Tuscaloosa community. A five-week rehearsal period will culminate in a fully staged production with a week of public performances at the Marian Gallaway Theatre from February 16-20.
The scene behind the scenes in “The Countess of Storyville”
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 15
The first time I wrote an inside-the-scenes tale of putting on a show with the kids, I had zero stage experience, aside from rock ‘n’ roll bands and long, long ago school things, in which being loud and not shaking uncontrollably meant Star. In winter and spring of 2002, I played Pilate in the University of Alabama Department of Theatre and Dance’s production of “Jesus Christ Superstar.” For the weeks from beginning to show, I kept a journal, not just for me and my silly thoughts, but to share with our readers the tremendous detail work, the numbers of people and hours and sweat and screw-ups and fixes and laughs and stresses, the insurmountable obstacles, and the mystery of an actual performance.
No limits: Student at The University of Alabama overcomes accident to become international athlete
AL.com – Feb. 15
Life is what you make it. This phrase pretty much sums up the outlook of 24-year-old Jannik Blair, a Paralympic champion and student at The University of Alabama. At a young age, Blair had dreams of becoming an athlete. But an unexpected tragedy would test his endurance and ultimately mold him into the athlete and young man he is today. 12-year-old Blair was working on his family farm in Australia when a tractor ran him over, breaking his back. Despite the devastating news that he would never walk again, Blair was able to move forward with the love and support of his family. “They made sure not to treat me differently,” remembers Blair. “They also told me that I had no limitations and I could still play sports.” Before the accident, Blair played a variety of sports including basketball. During his time at rehabilitation, Blair learned about wheelchair basketball and knew that was the sport that would get him back into the game he loved so much.
Hall of fame inducts Robert Witt
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 12
University of Alabama System Chancellor Robert Witt will be inducted into the National Collegiate Wheelchair Basketball Intercollegiate Division Hall of Fame on Feb. 26 for his support of adaptive athletic programs. Witt will be inducted during halftime at the UA women’s wheelchair team’s game against Illinois on Feb. 26 at Foster Auditorium. The women’s game will start at 6 p.m., followed by a men’s game at 8 p.m.
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Feb. 12
NBC 13 (Birmingham) (no video available) – Feb. 12
Alabama Gymnast finds balance between work and love
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – Feb. 14
Being a college athlete is like being married to a full-time job. But one Alabama gymnast shows us it’s possible to find a good balance between work and love. Being an Alabama athlete, it ain’t easy. And even more demanding for a gymnast like Lauren Beers, whose standard never falls short of perfection. An all-around competitor for The Crimson Tide, Lauren is fully committed to her team, her university, and her husband.
Talk on preventing problem behavior set for February 16
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 15
A leading researcher in the prevention of problem behavior will discuss the inclusion of families in school-based interventions for at-risk youth at the Center for Prevention of Youth Behavior Problems Speaker Series on Feb. 16 at the University of Alabama. Beth Stormshak, a professor in the College of Education at the University of Oregon and the director of the Prevention Science Institute, will speak on “Family-Centered Prevention Across Development to Reduce Later Risk”. Her talk will focused on targets of intervention for at-risk youth and outcomes and will be at 2 p.m. in 1093 Shelby Hall.
Alpha Phi Sorority member talks about West Alabama Heart Walk (live interview)
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Feb. 12
West Alabama Heart Walk is coming up tomorrow in Tuscaloosa. Many teams are raising money for research and programs. Leading one of those teams is Audrey Barnett. She’s a heart surgery survivor. She attends The University of Alabama where she is in the Alpha Phi sorority.
College News: Feb. 14
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 14
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA: Berry H. “Nick” Tew Jr., Alabama’s state geologist and oil and gas supervisor, has been named director of the University of Alabama’s Center for Sedimentary Basin Studies and a research professor in the UA’s geological sciences department. Tew said he wants to broaden the scope of the center’s research and seek external funding to accommodate substantial research. The Center for Sedimentary Basin Studies is part of UA’s College of Arts and Sciences.
U of Alabama students create their own comic book company
Gadsden Times – Feb. 13
For more than a year, Ethan Newsome-Jackson and Kris Pearce have been obsessed with the same woman. She only exists on paper, but for the two University of Alabama students, creating the character in the upcoming comic book “Breeze” has been grueling, mainly in how to present the heroine’s duality. “She’s very care-free, where she enjoys all kinds of things, but she lives in a very dark world,” Newsome-Jackson said during a recent work session with Pearce at The Comic Store on Hargrove Road. “She actually gets through it and keeps her sense of humor about it.”
AL.com – Feb. 15
Athens News-Courier – Feb. 13
UA’s Phi Alpha Honor Society gives teddy bears to children at West Alabama Boys and Girls Club
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Feb. 12
Members of UA’s Phi Alpha Honor Society delivered teddy bears to 213 children at the Boy’s and Girl’s Club of West Alabama. Phi Alpha held a bear drive on campus to collect the toys, and many donations came directly from members. They collected about 230 teddy bears, and the group says the extras will go to another local organization.
Minions, political clones serve it up hot at Great Tuscaloosa Chili Cook-off
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 13
Things were spicy on Saturday at the 10th annual Great Tuscaloosa Chili Cook-off at the Bryant Conference Center on the University of Alabama campus. Chili enthusiasts and chefs gathered to sample different chilis and compete for the best recipe, as well as make a fashion statement with fun costumes and booth decorations. Participants dressed as television and movie characters stood behind booths, handing out chili samples and entertaining the crowd. The Red Hot Chili Bankers, the team representing Bryant Bank, had a 2016 presidential debate-theme booth with Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders look-alikes appearing in a bipartisan effort to promote their chili.
Tuscaloosa News (gallery) – Feb. 13
‘Pelo Malo’ film to facilitate discussions on race and culture in Latin America
Crimson White – Feb. 12
What: “Pelo Malo” Film Screening. The film follows the story of Junior, a 9-year-old boy living in Venezuela who, because of his mixed ancestry, struggles with his physical identity. Who: Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies Program When: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17. Why: “We’re trying to bring visibility to the new Latin American studies program… and also to bring greater awareness about some of the shared histories that the United States and Latin America have in common,” said Teresa Cribelli, an assistant professor in the Department of History. “The film will really kind of bring to light, at least in the context of Venezuela, discussions about race and bodies and hair and all the meanings those convey.”
Brussels Sprout Challenge
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Feb. 12
People taking part in this year’s heart walk will have an added challenge – eating their vegetables. The second annual Brussels Sprouts Challenge encourages participants to eat their brussels sprints, and they have to eat one every mile of the 3.1 mile walk to complete the challenge, and receive a free t-shirt. Organizers with the UA College of Community Health Sciences say they hope this will put heart health on the minds of the participants.