The man inside Denny Chimes
Tuscaloosa News – Oct. 3
About three hours before kickoff at each University of Alabama home football game, the thick metal door at the base of Denny Chimes will open. Behind the door is a small white room with a modified organ nestled in the corner. Tyler Canonico, a UA graduate student, plays the organ, which uses an electronic carillon to translate keystrokes to 25 bronze bells hidden farther up in the 115-foot brick tower. Soon a crowd will gather to listen to Canonico play and sing along with some of the more familiar tunes. Many in the crowd expressed surprise to see a real person inside the chimes. “I knew it played the chimes, but I didn’t know someone comes in and plays it,” said UA junior Alex Richey before Saturday’s homecoming game.
UA to offer free vaccinations to faculty, staff, retirees
Crimson White – Oct. 4
This Wednesday, Oct. 5, the University Medical Center will partner with the Capstone College of Nursing and Winn Dixie to administer flu shots, and shingle vaccinations for those over 50, to over 1,500 expected UA employees, family and retirees. The fair will be attended by almost one hundred sponsors and partners of the University, including Blue Cross/ Blue Shield and United Healthcare.
Students of New College are offered an alternative academic experience
Crimson White – Oct. 4
For freshmen, choosing a major can sometimes be hard. Some have no idea what they would like to do while others have a difficult time choosing between the things they love. For the latter, the idea of a double major may be daunting, both in time and academic commitment, but the idea of sacrificing a passion for convenience is even worse. “My senior year, I just had a lot of different interests, and I felt that, like, when I went to college I’d have to pick one of those interests and stick with it,” said Millicent Krebs, a sophomore majoring in non-profit studies in New College.
Touching History: Volunteers Sort Cahawba Artifacts
AlabamaNews.net – Oct. 3
People from across the state of Alabama gathered Saturday at Old Cahawba Archeological Park to uncover some of the state’s earliest history. Back in the summer, the Alabama Historical Commission and the University of Alabama partnered to excavate various sites at Old Cahawba. On Saturday, people came out to help sort and clean the various pieces during Artifact’s Day.
Associated Press – Oct. 3
WLTZ (Columbus, Ga.) – Oct. 3
Calhoun County foreclosures remain at pre-recession levels as housing market continues improvement
Anniston Star – Oct. 3
Lenders foreclosed on fewer Calhoun County mortgages over the last three months than they did in any third quarter in a decade. The drop follows the previous quarter, which also showed the fewest foreclosures since before the 2007 Great Recession … Ahmad Ijaz, economist for the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama, said the state’s housing market on average had recovered from the recession. Ijaz said job growth was key to strengthening the housing market. “Jobs are the biggest factor in improving housing markets,” Ijaz said. “The next is the interest rate.”
Fighting the statistics about Type 2 diabetes
Crimson White – Oct. 4
Eliminating certain foods and drinks from her diet, counting carbs at every meal, monitoring blood sugar and giving herself shots of insulin multiple times are the day’s demands for Alicia Traylor, a Type 1 diabetic, ever since she was diagnosed at age nine. “That was the hardest thing to adjust to at a young age,” she said. “Now, it’s just a part of my daily routine.” Traylor, a junior majoring in food and nutrition and member of the student-led organization Diabetes Education Team, said people need to be more educated on the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetics take insulin injections after meals and throughout the day because their pancreas’ do not produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes is the type that can be associated with obesity and can still produce some insulin. They may be on injections, may take oral medication, or may control it with diet and exercise. This is not possible for type 1 diabetics, Traylor said.
BamaBikes opens up 150 new bikes for rent
Crimson White – Oct. 4
The BamaBikes program made 150 new single-speed commuter bicycles available for rent. This new fleet of bicycles expands the BamaBikes current stock by 150 percent, as the number of bicycles grew from 100 to 250. It costs a student $15 per month to rent a single-speed commuter bicycle through BamaBikes, which includes a complementary helmet and lock with mandatory monthly maintenance. However, the older beach cruiser bicycles are still available for rent at $10 a month with the same benefits. “Our aim is to get alternative transportation at an affordable cost for students who don’t have a car,” said Stephen Middleton, manager of Outdoor Recreation, to UA News.
Alabama Blackbelt Project donates books to struggling libraries
WVUA 23 (Tuscaloosa) – Oct. 3
The Alabama Blackbelt Project donated nearly 10,000 books this Spring to schools in need. The project is working to give each child living in the blackbelt a book of their own. In an effort to supplement struggling libraries in the Blackbelt, The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development started this special program.
Beat Auburn Beat Hunger holds kick off
WVUA 23 (Tuscaloosa) – Oct. 3
The drive to beat Auburn off the football field is underway in Tuscaloosa. Students are collecting donations now for the Beat Auburn, Beat Hunger food drive. From now until November 15, you can drop off canned food and nonperishable food items in identified barrels on The University of Alabama campus, and in locations throughout Tuscaloosa. Donations will be given to the West Alabama food bank.
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – Oct. 3
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Oct. 3
David Melvin named Opportunity Florida Volunteer of the Year
Jackson County Floridian – Oct. 3
Opportunity Florida recently honored David Melvin, owner of Melvin Engineering in Marianna, with the Volunteer of the Year Award. The award was presented at the 2016 Florida Rural Economic Development Summit … One such session, moderated by Antonio Jefferson, featured former Secretary of Commerce Gray Swoope and Neal Wade, Director of the University of Alabama Economic Development Academy.
His dishonor: Mainstream media keep slanting news reports on ousted Judge Moore
Get Religion – Oct. 3
I’ve heard of contempt of court, but open contempt for a judge? That’s apparently OK if that judge is Roy Moore. Like this headline. ” ‘Not going to miss the Ayatollah of Alabama’: State’s chief justice ousted over anti-gay-marriage order,” crows The Los Angeles Times. And that’s just the most blatant of several tactics in several articles meant to manipulate your view of the case … Ultimately, the court fashioned a Solomonic resolution that effectively removed Moore from office while avoiding the appearance of overriding the preference of Alabama voters who elected him to office, said Ronald Krotoszynski, a law professor at the University of Alabama.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
WVUA 23 (Tuscaloosa) – Oct. 3
October is Domestic Violence Awareness month and one local shelter is helping to inform the community. Domestic Violence is a very prevalent topic and people at Turning Points Domestic Violence Services are looking to keep the residents of Tuscaloosa up to date. There are multiple forms of domestic violence than just physical abuse….1 in 3 women will experience domestic violence. Mackenzie Ross is the founder of Team One Love, and has a personal connection to domestic violence.
Alabama Power welcomes college student volunteers in Renew Our Rivers cleanup
Alabama News Center – Oct. 3
Renew Our Rivers cleanup in Tuscaloosa (Photo courtesy of the Capstone Agency)
Alabama Power gave students and locals alike the chance to welcome the fall weather and learn more about protecting local waterways by hosting Renew Our Rivers at the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk alongside the Black Warrior River on Sept. 28. Nearly 100 student volunteers met at the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk on the north side of the University of Alabama campus to begin the cleanup both on land and in water — pontoon boats allowed the volunteers to grab trash that floated along the Black Warrior. Over 85 students volunteered at the event. Volunteers included representatives from UA’s Student Government Association and the student-run communications firm Capstone Agency. Volunteers not only had the chance to clean the river, earn Service Learning Pro (SLPro) hours and cool off with Steel City Pops at the end of the event, but also an opportunity to learn more about conservation and litter-prevention efforts.