UA In the News — May 28-30

CrossingPoints students arrive at University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa News – May 30
The University of Alabama’s CrossingPoints launched a new semester-long program on Sunday that will help students with mild to moderate disabilities learn skills necessary to pursue college educations. We are giving the student the opportunity to experience it at a time when there is quiet — a time when there isn’t as much hustle and bustle,” said coordinator Amy Williamson. Sunday began the transition to college life for 10 students with intellectual disabilities who moved into the Lakeside East dorms and will take college courses during the nine-week program, said CrossingPoints associate Heather English. The students will live in four-bedroom suites, sharing the space with other students in the program, Williamson said. A resident adviser will be present in the dorm, and 20 undergraduate mentors will assist the students as they learn to navigate the daily routine of being a college students. “The month of June, we are really working on their self-advocacy skills,” Williamson said. “That is such an important part of a college experience, to be able to communicate with professors and others.”
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – May 29
 
High school leadership program at UA begins Sunday
Tuscaloosa News – May 28
The weeklong American Legion Alabama Boys State convention returns to the University of Alabama campus starting Sunday. The 2016 leadership and government training program will continue through Saturday. Some 600 high school seniors from across the state will learn about politics and civics and work on community service projects. Students will work on service projects at Central Elementary School and Northington Elementary School. Guest speakers for the week include Clint Usher, retired Merrill Lynch executive and motivational speaker; Tuscaloosa County Circuit Judge John England; Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill; and UA System Vice Chancellor and former Congressman Jo Bonner. Usher will speak at 7 p.m. Sunday, England at 7 p.m. Monday, Merrill 9 a.m. Tuesday, and Bonner at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. The speeches will be in Morgan Auditorium on the UA campus.

Memorial Day program in Tuscaloosa to honor veterans Monday morning
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – May 30
The Tuscaloosa Veterans Memorial Park Association and the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center will host a Memorial Day program Monday at 9 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, located on McFarland Blvd., in front of University Mall. The program will feature patriotic music, as well as keynote speaker LTC Jonathan L. Goode (U.S. Army) , who is Professor of Military Science at The University of Alabama.
Tuscaloosa News – May 29

Alabama Troopers concerned holiday weekend could add to the high accident numbers
Daily Home (Talladega) – May 28
State troopers say drivers should slow down and stay alert or risk getting a ticket as patrol coverage increases on state highways.   With 12,656 crashes so far this year statewide in the agency’s jurisdiction, Trooper Chuck Daniel said, there have been 5,417 injuries and 229 fatalities. . . . Plott said the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency contracts with a data center at the University of Alabama that uses wreck reports to determine where those hot spots are across the state.

UA senior competes on TV show
Tuscaloosa News – May 29
Four years ago, University of Alabama senior Casey Suchocki saw competitors, or ninjas, on the Japanese show “Sasuke” scrambling through obstacles courses and thought, “I could do that.” The 24-year-old civil and construction engineering major, who competes under the name Bama Ninja, is among the hopefuls vying in the eighth season of “American Ninja Warrior,” a Sasuke-inspired show currently on NBC. Suchocki is competing in the regional competition in Atlanta, one of five cities nationwide where qualifying rounds take place. The Atlanta episode debuts June 8 at 7 p.m. on NBC with encores on June 9 on the Esquire Network. Suchocki’s story of how he was drawn into the community of ninja competitions is similar to those of other competitors. The challenge of it appealed to his competitiveness, a family trait shared by his brother and grandfather, Suchocki said. “He had as older brother, who couldn’t stand to let someone do better than him,” his grandfather Emmit Pitts said. “They are going to be the best, and they are not going to give up practicing to get there.”

Demand for new homes in Calhoun County may indicate economic uptick
Anniston Star – May 30
Mack Huckaby will sell another newly built house in this community’s Hidden Valley subdivision in the next month. The single-story home, with its granite countertops and stainless steel appliances, will be the second built and sold this year by Southern Group Construction, which Huckaby runs with his son. Two more houses are on the way. “This is all new construction,” Huckaby said Thursday, outside the home. It’s part of Calhoun County’s first new subdivision development since just after the Great Recession of 2007, according to the county engineer. The selling prospects for builders of new homes like Huckaby seem to be improving nationwide, and especially in the South. The Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced this week that sales of new homes nationwide in the month of April rose 16 percent over sales in March. Such sales are up nearly 24 percent over April 2015, according to data collected by the agencies. Ahmad Ijaz, economist for the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama, says the numbers suggest more confidence in an economy that’s been slow to improve since the recession ended. “They feel more secure about their jobs,” Ijaz said of consumers. “When the economy was coming out of the recession, no one was sure.”

Mountain Brook resident receives honors at University of Alabama
Village Living – May 29
Faulkner Hereford, a junior at the University of Alabama from Mountain Brook, was recognized during the university’s Honors Week in April. From April 4 to April 8, the university recognized student and faculty achievements. Hereford was tapped into three honorary organizations, including Omicron Delta Kappa, Mortar Board and Blue Key Honor Society. He was also named president of Mortar Board. Hereford is in the University Scholars Program, where he is pursuing a double major in political science, economics and history. He is also pursuing a double minor in French, social innovation and leadership and a master’s in applied economics. Hereford is involved in the University Fellows Experience and serves as vice president of the Capstone Men and Women. He is the son of Mountain Brook residents Will and Laurie Hereford and the grandson of Larry and Patty Faulkner, who also live in Mountain Brook.

Northview’s Amerson Awarded National Merit University of Alabama Scholarship
NorthEscambia.com – May 29
Northview High School honors graduate Jessica Amerson has been awarded a National Merit Scholarship sponsored by The University of Alabama. As a junior, Amerson entered the National Merit Scholarship Competition by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test which served as an initial screen of program entrants.

8 Small Things People Use To Judge Your Personality
Huffington Post – May 28
The human brain is hardwired to judge. This survival mechanism makes it very hard to meet someone without evaluating and interpreting their behavior. While we tend to think that our judgments are based on the content of conversations and other obvious behaviors, the research says otherwise. In fact, the majority of our judgments are focused on smaller, subtler things, such as handshakes and body language. We often form complete opinions about people based solely on these behaviors. . . . 5. Your handshake. It’s common for people to associate a weak handshake with a lack of confidence and an overall lackadaisical attitude. A study at the University of Alabama showed that, although it isn’t safe to draw assumptions about someone’s competence based on their handshake, you canaccurately identify personality traits. Specifically, the study found that a firm handshake equates with being less shy, less neurotic, and more extroverted.