UA In the News — Feb. 18

The quest for cleaner fire: Why it’s time to rethink our favourite way to get warm
The Globe and Mail (Canada) – Feb. 17
On a crisp winter day, few scents appeal more than wood smoke, which signals, on a primal level, comfort and even safety. It is hard to imagine the aroma rankling anyone in the middle of February. And yet, smoke from wood-burning fireplaces and stoves is a major source of wintertime smog. It is a health threat and some municipalities are taking action … Does the sound and sight of fire trigger the relaxation response and alleviate stress? University of Alabama professor Christopher Lynn was eager to find out, because stress-related disorders are among the leading causes of disability in the modern era, with significant economic impact.

MARK HUGHES COBB: Curtain rises and it’s showtime in Storyville
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 17
If the adage “bad dress; great run” holds true, my week in “The Countess of Storyville” should be freaking spectacular. I just … man. But yay: Opening night shone. Not perfection, because that’s the horizon to drive ever toward, but overall lovely. The audience seemed to dig the lush melodies and voices, the comic bits, the zippity so forth. Earlier I tried, in two stories, to give inside scoop; in any show, much less one of this scope, all the space will not be enough. But let me hit a few more notes … Producer Margot Astrachan stays ever-smiling, upbeat, clearly proud of local crew and cast, which includes 16 University of Alabama students, two theater faculty members, Emily Herring and Bill Martin, and community actors Jake Whipple, Charles Prosser and me.

The opportunity cost of studying abroad
USA Today College – Feb. 17
Kaitlyn Nott left her home in South Korea to have a college experience that would be different from her friends back home. She was finished with her years in the Korean school system, being ranked against every student in her class and having to spend five to six hours a day after school with a tutor to stay on top of her grades … The Asian culture is just very focused on academics and good grades, and you feel that pressure from your family most. When you grow up in that environment, you feel that for yourself, too.” Once Nott enrolled in The University of Alabama, she realized that stress easily translates into every language. It would have followed her no matter how far away she went.

Traffic fatalities up 30 percent in 2016
ABC 31 (Huntsville) – Feb. 18
Traffic fatalities are up this year, and Alabama State Troopers say there’s one reason, not enough troopers on the roads … Most of these deadly wreck have happened on rural roads, which is typically where troopers are stationed. A report by the University of Alabama’s Center for Advanced Public Safety last year found that the department is operating on 42 percent of the recommended staffing.
WZDX-Fox (Huntsville) – Feb. 18

UA Theatre Department to produce Ghosts  
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Feb. 17
Ghost, a 19th Century play written by Henrik Ibsen will begin showing Monday, February 22 at the Allen Bales Theatre on the UA campus. The show is put on by the University’s Theatre and Dance Department. The play’s main appeal is its ability to depict the perfect family drama.

Hallowed Grounds Tour at UA
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Feb. 17
The Hallowed Grounds campus tour focuses on sites of African American memories. The tour highlights the grounds of the people who worked as slaves from the founding of The University of Alabama up until the Civil War. Assistant Professor at UA, Hillary Green says by the end of the tour students should see how the University has changed in race, class and inclusion.

UA’s Campus Mail Service earns spot in Best Practice Competition
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Feb. 17
The University of Alabama is getting some recognition for its mail service. UA’s campus mail service earned a spot in the top 5 for the Southern Association of College and University Business Officers’ Best Practice Competition. They’re being recognized for efficiency.

118 employers present at General Interest and Business Career Fair
Crimson White – Feb. 18
Students clad in professional attire flocked to Coleman Coliseum with their resumes in hand for a General Interest and Business Career Fair from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Wednesday Feb. 17. Around 1,500 students were expected to attend the event that hosted roughly 118 employers. Among the companies present were Apple Inc., Enterprise Rent-A-Car, The Hershey Company, LG Electronics Alabama, Inc., Northwestern Mutual of Alabama, PepsiCo, Southwest Airlines and Target. Companies were looking for both full-time employees and interns. Amanda Ingram, Director of Operations for The University of Alabama’s Career Center said the event was a great opportunity for students to meet employers in person, adding that there is only so much you can say on paper. “It is a good chance for students to stand out,” she said.