Horse riding: Alabama, Auburn have friendly rivalry
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 22
Some fans in the bleachers wore red and white, some wore orange and blue. And instead of Bryant-Denny Stadium, this competition between the University of Alabama and Auburn University was held at River Oak Farms, about 15 minutes southwest of UA’s Tuscaloosa campus. The longtime rivals held a scrimmage Friday between the two schools’ equestrian teams. And while the Alabama-Auburn competition can be fierce at times in other sports, the horse-riding teams embody a spirit of cooperation.
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Jan. 20
Area bucking trend in traffic fatalities
Florence Times-Daily – Jan. 23
The project coordinator for the North Alabama Highway Safety office said the area is bucking a state trend of an increase in traffic fatalities. “The goal of the traffic safety program is not to write tickets, but to change the driving behavior of people to make the highways safer,” said Eddie Russell, coordinator for the highway safety office located in Russellville. In a recent report released by the University of Alabama, traffic fatalities in the state increase nearly 25 percent in 2016 compared to 2015.
UA report: Fatal crashes up 25 percent statewide
Athens News-Courier – Jan. 20
Alabama’s traffic deaths increased by nearly 25 percent, according to a study released this week by researchers at the University of Alabama’s Center for Advanced Public Safety. The study found critical causes included increased speeds, lack of safety belts and more distracted drivers as well as pedestrians, according to the analysis of crash reports statewide. Although final numbers for 2016 are not yet official, the count to date is 1,058 traffic fatalities in Alabama through the end of 2016, which is 24.6 percent more than the 849 people who died in traffic crashes in 2015, according to state crash records.
WTVY (Dothan) – Jan. 20
NBC 3 (Chattanooga, Tenn.) – Jan. 20
WBBJ-ABC (Jackson, Tenn.) – Jan. 20
WPMI-NBC (Mobile) – Jan. 20
WALA-Fox 10 (Mobile) – Jan. 20
MY TURN: Coal still an important part of Alabama’s energy portfolio
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 22
I cut my teeth in the mining industry early in my career as a research engineer with the United States Bureau of Mines, and I have seen the strength and determination of the people who labor to bring us the raw materials that make so much of our life possible. Alabama was modernized because of coal, taking us from an agricultural society into one driven by industry and technology. The energy industry in this state relied on coal to power our world, but that is rapidly changing. Still, as the market, government regulations and concerns over greenhouse gases continue to stress the coal industry, it is important to remember coal remains a vital part of Alabama’s energy portfolio. (Charles L. Karr is dean of the University of Alabama College of Engineering and a senior policy advisor for the nonprofit Energy Institute of Alabama. Visit energyinstituteal.org/impact to see the complete economic impact study commissioned by the EIA.)
U.S. Air Force plane known as “Roll Tide” retired; new “Roll Tide” commissioned
CBS 42 (Birmingham) — Jan. 20
The U.S. Sir Force plane known as “Roll Tide” has a new set of wings. The plane retirement ceremony was held Friday at Maxwell Air Force Base for aircraft tail number 850042. The plane displays nose art featuring The University of Alabama. It also carried Crimson Tide memorabilia during missions around the world. A new aircraft will now sport “Roll Tide” and Big Al himself was on hand for the retirement ceremony.
WKRN-ABC (Nashville, Tenn.) – Jan. 21
WVUA 23 (Tuscaloosa) – Jan. 20
WJXT (Jacksonville, Fla.) – Jan. 20
WAKA-CBS 8 (Montgomery) – Jan. 20
NBC 12 (Montgomery) – Jan. 20
UA Law professor comments on New report from the Justice Department on Chicago Police
WXKS-AM and FM Radio (Bloomberg Law) – Jan. 21
Our guests are Stephen Rushin. He’s a professor at The University of Alabama School of Law. And, Loch Boman, executive director of the MacArthur Justice Center at Northwestern University’s Pitzker School of Law. Stephen, does the report make any conclusions about the connection between what the Justice Department has found about the Chicago PD and the upsurge in violence that Chicago has seen?
Trump won’t change radically as president, state experts say
Florence Times-Daily – Jan. 20
One thing seems to be certain about President Donald Trump: He won’t be like any other president we’ve seen. “He is going to be himself and speak out on things some people think a president should be silent on,” said Bill Stewart, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Alabama. “I think we can depend on that, because he is not going to change radically as president.” Trump, a celebrity real estate tycoon from Queens, New York, has been brash and combative since he entered the presidential race as a Republican. His missives, via Twitter, have stirred controversy and concern both domestically and abroad.
How partisanship came to rule American politics
Al.com – Jan. 22
During his 1968 run for president, Alabama’s George Wallace famously called Republican and Democrats “Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-dee” and declared that there wasn’t “a dime’s worth of difference” between that year’s two major party candidates for president. These days, party identity and partisanship are the kings of American politics. Poll after poll shows wide gulfs and intense suspicions separating Democrats and Republicans. “We are light years away from Wallace’s old ‘Tweedle Dum/Tweedle Dee,'” said William Stewart, a professor emeritus in political science at the University of Alabama. He continued, “And this makes politics much less attractive to people who don’t like a lot of conflict.”
Can animals talk? UA research shows that monkeys may be capable of making vowel sounds
WTVT-Fox (Tampa, Fla.) – Jan. 20
The common theory was that pets, and animals in general, can’t talk. This goes back to a study on Rhesus monkeys back in 1969. It said their throats and mouths were the wrong shape to form the vowel sounds. However, new research done at The University of Alabama shows that monkeys can make vowel sounds.
Look Who’s Talking
Oman Tribune – Jan. 22
Oh Long Johnson,” a cat once said, back in the primordial history of internet memes. “Oh Don Piano. Why I eyes ya.” Or so said the captions – appended to the gibberish of a perturbed house cat on “America’s Funniest Home Videos” in 1999 and rediscovered in the YouTube era, when millions of people heard something vaguely human echo in a distant species. At least, that was the common thinking when Dion was little … It dates back to a study on a dead rhesus monkey in 1969, said Tom Sawallis, a linguist at the University of Alabama. “You’ve got to have contrasting vowels to have the vocabulary, and you’ve got to have vocabulary to have syntax,” he said. And so on, all the way up to carpool karaoke.
Academics race to save rare colonial documents in Cuba
Entorno Inteligente – Jan. 22
An American team of academics is racing to preserve millions of Cuban historical documents before they are lost to the elements and poor storage conditions. Many of the documents shed light on the slave trade, an integral part of Cuba’s colonial history that was intertwined with that of the United States. David Lafevor, a history professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, and his brother Matthew, a geography professor at the University of Alabama, have worked since 2005 to make computer copies of millions of documents mouldering in damp storage spaces on the island.
Relationship Experts Weigh in on Whether Women and Men Can Be Just Friends
Brit + Co – Jan. 20
The debate about whether women and men can really ever be “just friends” has been going on pretty much forever. It’s true that sometimes male-female friendships can cause issues like jealousy, snooping and even feelings of betrayal between romantic partners, but this certainly isn’t always the case. The University of Alabama survey found that most people perceive opposite-sex friendships to be pretty much harmless and aren’t concerned about their significant other having them. It seems like the academic community isn’t totally decided on this issue yet, so we sought out relationship experts to find out what the deal with male-female friendships really is.
Study: Why Millennials Should be Taken Seriously in the PR Workforce – PR WEEK
Diversity Now – Jan. 20
A study by the Plank Center confirms generation gaps between millennials and the old guard of comms, but its researchers note the much-apprised generation may not only be an asset but necessary. Millennials may clash with older cohorts, but their point-of-view could be essential for the PR industry, says a Plank Center survey … They are digital natives with “great passion for leadership and strong values for transparency, social responsibility, diversity, and community — all touchstones for our profession today,” said University of Alabama professor Bruce Berger in the study.
My Informs – Jan. 20
THE PORT RAIL: Nationalism takes hold; will it be for good or evil?
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 22
Nationalism is complicated. One dictionary has seven different meanings, from “spirit or aspirations common to the whole of a nation” to “a movement, as in the arts, based upon the folk idioms, history, aspirations, etc. of a nation.” Sometimes patriotism and chauvinism are associated with nationalism. Perhaps the best definition is No. 5: “The policy or doctrine of asserting the interests of one’s own nation viewed as separate from the interests of other nations or the common interests of all nations.” (Larry Clayton is a retired University of Alabama history professor. Readers can email him at larryclayton7@gmail.com.)
Local businesses take center stage today at Birmingham Boat Show
Cullman Times – Jan. 22
Cullman County’s growing contingent of Smith Lake business owners will be well represented today when this weekend’s Birmingham Boat Show resumes at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex … Ethan Flack, a Cullman High School graduate who’s now on the University of Alabama fishing team, will be among today’s local presenters. “Ethan will be talking about how there’s so much more to do on the lake besides fishing,” Newsom said.
The Jamaica Gleaner – Jan. 22
Mobile student gets perfect score on ACT, plans to attend UA
NBC 15 (Mobile) – Jan. 22
A Davidson High School senior has pulled off a rare feat, earning a perfect score on the ACT. Chandler Whiting scored a 36 on the college entrance exam. That’s something that less than 1 percent of students in this country achieve. Whiting plans to attend The University of Alabama.
UA Alumnae selected to be Guidon Bearer for Trump Inauguration
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Jan. 20
Tuscaloosa was represented at today’s Inaugural parade. Air Force staff sergeant April Hill was selected to be Guidon Bearer representing the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Hill is a University of Alabama graduate.
Faith in Tuscaloosa series: Hindu student talks beliefs, misconceptions
Crimson White – Jan. 23
History, heritage and Hinduism are always on Sudarsan Murali’s mind. “There is no place on earth as colorful, religious or eccentric as India,” Murali said. Murali was born in Chennai, India, but now lives in New Albany, Ohio, with his parents when he is not attending The University of Alabama. He is a sophomore majoring in psychology and one of the students at the University who practices Hinduism. Murali describes the principles of his faith as very personal. “It essentially believes in doing the right thing, doing good and not hurting others,” Murali said.
PREVIEW: WellBAMA to hold faculty and staff health screenings
Crimson White – Jan. 23
The University’s signature health and wellness program, WellBAMA will be holding free health screenings for faculty and staff. They have also introduced a new rewards program for members who join in 2017. WHO: Any UA benefit-eligible faculty or staff member. WHAT: The WellBAMA program consists of a team of health and wellness professionals who are here to help you understand your current level of health, identify goals and provide you with programs and resources, according to the WellBAMA website.
Crimson 2 Go expands options for students
Crimson White – Jan. 23
The convenient app that we all love and know too well has expanded its options. Crimson 2 Go offers students a choice of different restaurants being delivered right to their door. Now, students can not only order from restaurants such as Moe’s Southwest Grill, Burgerfi and Mellow Mushroom (just to name a few), but Crimson 2 Go has also added restaurants such as Chicken Salad Chick, Vera Cruz, and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop. Among some of the other newer options are Pastor’s Kitchen, a Mexican cuisine; Local Roots, a traveling local food truck; and DePalma’s, an Italian restaurant located downtown.
Tuscaloosa Public Library provides free service to UA students
Crimson White – Jan. 23
The Tuscaloosa Public Library is the fifth-largest library in the state, and many days when it opens there’s already a line of people waiting to get in so they can check out books or use the computer lab. Located across from the River Market on Jack Warner Parkway, the Tuscaloosa Public Library offers
students and the community a way to connect to resources they may not
otherwise be able to access. “They have a need and we have a resource that we can hook you up with and meet that need,” said Richard Freemon, the library’s executive director. Those resources include reference
materials, both in print and online, a book club, a computer lab with a 3D printer, coding classes and mobile hotspots that patrons can check out.