U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby Comes to UA for Town Hall

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby will visit The University of Alabama on Monday, Oct. 24, for an open question-and-answer session as a part of UA’s Blount Speaker Series.

The event, at 7 p.m. in the Sellers Auditorium at the Bryant Conference Center, is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Attendees can reserve their tickets at ua.tix.com.

An election year is the ideal time for student as well as members of the community to learn about the people who represent their state, said Dr. Deborah Keene, assistant professor in the department of geological sciences and a senior fellow of the Blount Scholars Program,

“This is a great opportunity to ask a senator anything you want to know about government in general or our district in particular,” Keene said.

As attendees take their seats, they will have the opportunity to write down their questions. Throughout the evening, Shelby will go through as many answers as the time allows.

“We feel lucky to have Senator Shelby come and interact with our community during a time which is so busy for him,” Keene said. “We hope that the students and community will take advantage of this opportunity to interact with their senator.”

Shelby was first elected to the Senate in 1986. He is the chairman of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. He also serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Before his election in the U.S. Senate, Shelby served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and eight years in the Alabama legislature. He is a fifth-generation Alabamian and a graduate of The University of Alabama’s undergraduate and law programs.

The Blount Scholars Program is a part of UA’s College of Arts and Sciences, which is the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes and Goldwater scholarships.