COLLEGE NEWS: December 4
Tuscaloosa News – Dec. 3
Community Foundation of West Alabama Scholarship – The Community Foundation of West Alabama has awarded the first annual Elois Zeanah Endowed Scholarship to University of Alabama student Marla Hogue. Hogue completed an essay on “the most challenging issues facing my generation and how I can make a difference.” She was selected from a pool of statewide applicants because she best exhibits the driving spirit of Elois Zeanah’s life, especially in maturity and conservative values, conceptual thinking; recognizing the problems of our generation and accepting the challenges to solve them; and motivating others with ideas to lead and encourage others to build a better state and country.
Breaking Up With Your Church Over Politics
Wall Street Journal – Dec. 5 (Subscription Only)
The Cruz-Uribe family changed parishes over politics. A few weeks before the election, 19-year-old Francisco Cruz-Uribe was sitting with his family in the front of his church in Tuscaloosa, Ala., when the priest delivered a homily centered on abortion and said those who voted for Democrats were committing a sin. He got up and walked out. “I would have walked out even if he said don’t vote for Trump,” says the sophomore at University of Alabama. “I don’t come to church in order to be told who to vote for.”
How economic incentive packages in Alabama may change after Trump deal with Carrier
Al.com – Dec. 4
President-elect Donald Trump’s deal to keep a major heating and air conditioning manufacturer operating in Indiana was hailed by the incoming administration as a victory, saving about 1,000 jobs. The incentive-laced deal also involved awarding tax credits and wielding possible threats of federal action to keep the company from leaving the United States. In the aftermath, many other states, counties and cities – all of which engage in developer agreements, Alabama included — are watching closely. “It kind of sets a trend,” said Amad Ijaz, executive director of economic forecasting with the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama. “You cannot do it for every manufacturer. It depends on what industry it is.”
After deadly crash, local schools highlight bus driver accountability
GoDanRiver.com (Virginia) – Dec. 4
After a school bus crash killed six students in Chattanooga, Tennessee, two weeks ago, Dan River Region schools said transportation safety systems both hold bus drivers accountable and protect the lives of students. “Safety of the students is the top priority,” said Pittsylvania County Schools Director of Transportation Kenyon Scott … Students are six to eight times safer riding to school in a school bus than riding to school in their parents’ cars, according to a 2010 University of Alabama study. However, the study found seat belts would make those buses even safer, but decrease the number of bus seats available.
Trump: A new kind of president
Florence Times Daily – Dec. 4
President-elect Donald Trump’s grasp of the Constitution might not be very good, or he might simply be saying what his supporters want to hear. Trump a week ago said those who burn the United States flag should be punished with jail time or banishment. That might appeal to many people on a certain level, but it is protected political speech that the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld twice in the past. “It shows a gap in his knowledge,” said Bill Stewart, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Alabama.
Dry Winter Expected
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Dec. 2 & 3
Emergency officials are reminding people in Alabama the state remains under a burn ban. Despite the recent rains, conditions are still too dry. The geography department at The University of Alabama believes we are in for a dry winter. One professor says our region is experiencing a La Nina event, that statistically creates drier conditions.
Kettle Moraine High School Senior receives Presidential Scholarship offer
WTMJ-NBC (Milwaukee) – Dec. 4
Andre Lirette’s hard work and dedication have recently paid off in the form of a couple of very lucrative scholarship offers. The schools that want him so badly aren’t pursuing Andre for his wrestling skills. The University of Colorado-Boulder, and The University of Alabama have offered Lirette Presidential Scholarships based on academics. The scholarships are worth tens of thousands of dollars over four years.
UA Theatre Honor Society raises money for AIDS research funding
WVUA 23 (Tuscaloosa) – Dec. 2
Some UA students spent some time this evening helping raise money for a good cause. Tonight, UA’s Theatre Honor Society hosted a fund raiser in Marina Galloway Theatre that raised money for research to find a cure for AIDS, and to support West Alabama AIDS outreach. Some of the University’s best and brightest sang, danced and even performed a monologue from the Broadway mega-hit Hamilton to get the donation dollars flowing.
William Brock Lewis receives Dean’s Medal
WVUA 23 (Tuscaloosa) – Dec. 2
The University of Alabama’s Dean of Communication and Information Sciences presented a Dean’s Medal today to William Brock Lewis. The Dean’s medal is an honor a dean can present whenever he likes, but Dean Mark Nelson has not presented one until today. Dean Nelson says Lewis deserves the award for all of the help he has done with the college.
UA Gymnastics team holds holiday party for Rise
WVUA 23 (Tuscaloosa) – Dec. 2
With the holiday season comes Christmas parties and the University of Alabama gymnastics team hosted one of their own today. The gymnasts threw their annual holiday celebration for the children of the Stallings Rise Center this afternoon in the Crimson Tide’s practice facility. This tradition has gone on for more than 20 years.
Tuscaloosa students to perform in holiday shows
Tuscaloosa News – Dec. 2
Tuscaloosa City Schools will be holding a number of performances throughout the month to celebrate the holidays. Over the next three weeks, a total of 17 holiday performances will be held across the city involving all grade levels to showcase a variety of art shows, choral music, instrumental music and drama … The following performances will be held from Sunday through Jan. 12: Sunday: Strings in Schools at the University of Alabama’s Moody Music Concert Hall, with a 6 p.m. performance by sixth- and seventh-graders and a 7:30 p.m. performance by eighth– through 12th-graders.
FACT SHEET: The Obama Administration Announces New Steps to Advance Soil Sustainability
WhiteHouse.gov – Dec. 5
Today, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), in collaboration with Federal agencies and private-sector stakeholders, is announcing new steps to work towards the long-term health and sustainable use of one of America’s most important natural resources: its soil … University of Alabama (UA) will, in collaboration with more than 15 organizations and cities, establish the Southern Urbanism and Policy Initiative, a new organization with a mission to develop innovative strategies to reverse soil loss and sustainably manage urban soil resources, and to develop new research efforts to scale and apply engineering- and science-based solutions to restore soil health in cities. UA will hire more than 50 new faculty members to engage in research areas related to the Initiative’s work.