UA holds commencement ceremonies
WVUA 23 (Tuscaloosa) – May 6, 7 and 8
The University of Alabama held its spring commencement ceremonies this weekend.
WKRG-CBS 5 (Mobile) – May 7 and 8
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – May 6 and 7
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – May 6
Tuscaloosa News (gallery) – May 7
Aquatic reptiles living in the Cretaceous period had body temperatures similar to sea birds
The Daily Mail (U.K.) – May 9
They were a group of giant reptiles that ruled the oceans at around the same time as Tyrannosaurs rex was terrorising animals on land. But new research suggests mosasaurs, marine reptiles that grew up to 43ft-long (13 metres), were warm blooded creatures that had body temperatures similar to modern birds. The work suggests the animals, unlike modern reptiles and fish, were able to maintain their own body temperature, helping to make them the top predators in the oceans at the time … According to Dr Alberto Perez Huerta and his colleagues at the University of Alabama, these creatures may have had an additional weapon in their arsenal – warm blood. By analysing oxygen isotopes in mosasaur fossils at the Alabama Museum of Natural History, the researchers compared them to fossils of cold-blooded fish and turtles from the same period, as well as warm-blooded birds.
Science Daily – May 9
Online Nigeria – May 9
Student is able to graduate because of Bryant Scholarship
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – May 6
Haylee Walker will be graduating tomorrow. She has a lot of people to thank for getting her to this point, including Bear Bryant. Haylee’s father, who had played for the Bear, died from a heart attack. Haylee decided on a last minute transfer to her father’s alma mater. As a child of a former Bryant player, Haylee was given a full ride to The University of Alabama under the Bryant Scholarship.
Retin Obasohan graduates
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – May 7
Retina Obasohan made a name for himself at The University of Alabama. Last night, he received his degree. Look at his Twitter picture. This photo shows he wore his basketball jersey under his graduation gown.
MILITARY NEWS: May 8
Tuscaloosa News – May 7
The University of Alabama’s Senior Army Reserve Officer Training Corps, Crimson Tide Battalion, held a commissioning ceremony May 7 at the Ferguson Center Theatre. The ceremony marked the commissioning of 17 UA seniors as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army. They took the Army oath at that time. The students are William Sims, David Townes, Anthony Harned, Bart Jeffrey, John McDaniel, Hayden Faith, Scott Harkey, Jordan Spivak, John Tolliver, Billy Downs, John McCrary, Jacob Impavido, Alisha Christensen, Ashok Yalla, Megan Greaves, Kaitlin Carlisle and Cedric Moore.
Virtual school, dual enrollment expansion coming to ECS
The Southeast Sun (Enterprise) – May 6
The Enterprise Board of Education approved virtual school policy changes and expansions in dual-enrollment options during an April 26 meeting. In 2015, Governor Robert Bentley signed a law requiring schools to develop a policy focusing on virtual school options for students, forcing schools to address the topic. Currently, the Alabama State Department of Education offers online courses for grades nine-12 through the Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators and Students Statewide (ACCESS) program … During the meeting, Hanchey also provided a proposal to further expand dual enrollment opportunities with the University of Alabama through its Early College.
UA to hold viewing of Mercury passing in front of sun
WVUA 23 (Tuscaloosa) – May 8
Mercury will make a rare pass between the earth and the sun on Monday. The public is invited to The University of Alabama to view the image. UA’s Department of Physics and Astronomy will host the event.
Political scandals pile up in Alabama; Roy Moore’s suspension adds to mess
Associated Press – May 7
Alabama politics are at a low point even by Alabama standards: In a state that trails the nation in many areas, three top elected officials are embroiled in scandal or facing removal from office while a former governor serves time in federal prison on a corruption conviction … “I never recall when the top leaders of all three branches of government were simultaneously accused of improper behavior,” Bill Stewart, a retired political scientist from the University of Alabama, said Saturday. It’s hard for state government to concentrate on issues like Medicaid or improving a dilapidated prison system when so many officials are fighting for their jobs, he said.
Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette (Ind.) – May 7
Toshiba.com – May 8
Competitive job field for UA grads entering the workforce
WVUA 23 (Tuscaloosa) – May 6
It’s a beautiful weekend for commencement ceremonies at The University of Alabama. But, the degrees don’t necessarily guarantee a career. Many of the jobs that college grads are working aren’t worth the price of their diploma. Of the nearly 42 million college graduates in 2010, nearly half of them began working jobs that did not require a bachelor’s degree, and 38% of those didn’t even require a high school diploma.
UA grads take photo with Elephant topiary
WVUA 23 (Tuscaloosa) – May 6
If you’ve driven by The University of Alabama, you may have seen some grads taking pictures with the topiary elephant in front of Rose Administration Building.
World War II pilot returned home to run family printing business
Al.com – May 6
He once sank a Japanese ship and took part in air raids that helped the Allies regain footing on a Japanese stronghold during World War II. He also ran a successful family printing business in Alabama that traced its history back before the Civil War and churned out weekly bulletins that Birmingham-area churches handed out in their worship services for decades … The family business was started in 1860 by George R. Cather, who joined the Confederate Army and was captured during the Civil War. The Union Army seized his printing press, but he got it back after the war and resumed printing. That press is now housed at the University of Alabama.
Rep. Bradley Byrne: Paul Ryan ‘sooner rather than later’ to support Donald Trump
Al.com – May 7
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan “will get there sooner rather than later” in supporting Donald Trump’s candidacy for president, said U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne on Friday. William Stewart, professor emeritus of political sciences at the University of Alabama, said that Alabama politicians who “really, really don’t like Trump” are walking on a political “minefield.” … “Many of their constituents are enthusiastically for Trump,” Stewart said. “Even though an incumbent has great advantages in seeking re-election, they might be put in jeopardy in a red state like Alabama if they remained neutral.”
Holloway scholarship awarded to former Catoosa student
Northwest Georgia News – May 7
Caitlin Craft, a 2015 honor graduate of Heritage High School, was awarded the Hugh Holloway Endowed Scholarship. Caitlin is a freshman at the University of Alabama and is in both the honors college and new college, divisions of the university. These schools are for highly motivated, high achieving students. The Hugh Holloway scholarship is given annually to the student in who has demonstrated excellence in the sciences.