UA In the News — Feb. 2

UA’s Dr. Richard Streiffer on Potential Impact of Affordable Care Act Repeal
Alabama Public Radio – Feb. 2
The Affordable Care Act is seen as one of the defining pieces of President Obama’s legacy – and the new Republican majority has targeted it for repeal … Dr. Richard Streiffer is the dean of the College of Community Health Sciences at the University of Alabama. He joins us to explain the current state of the health insurance marketplace in Alabama, what the Affordable Care Act has done for Alabama’s citizens, and what it might mean for the state if the act is repealed.

University of Alabama trustees to consider new projects
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 2
The University of Alabama System trustees are scheduled to meet Thursday to consider a range of construction projects including a renovation of UA’s Aquatic Center, a new retail center and a new alumni building on the Bryce campus. The projects are part of a lengthy agenda for the Physical Properties Committee. The UA System board of trustees will meet at the Hill Center on the UAB campus Thursday and Friday. On Thursday, the Investment, Finance and Audit Risk Compliance committees are also scheduled to meet. After more committee meetings on Friday morning, the full board will meet to consider items approved by the committees.

Trump Administration Begins Threat Inflation on Iran
CATO Institute – Feb. 2
In an op-ed for the Boston Herald last week urging the Trump administration to uphold the Iran nuclear deal, I noted that the precise posture that the Trump White House will have toward Iran is not yet known … With regard to Iran’s ballistic missile test, the reality is far less alarming than Flynn’s words suggest. The nuclear deal itself doesn’t prohibit these missile tests. And as Dan Joyner, professor of international law at the University of Alabama School of Law, explains, “the assertion that Iran’s ballistic missile tests…violate UN Security Council resolutions is incorrect because, as of Implementation Day, all UNSCR’s adopted prior to that date regarding Iran are terminated except for Resolution 2231.

Cadets compete in brigade Ranger Challenges
Defense Video Imagery Distribution System – Feb. 2
After several months of competitions involving many hours of sweat, blisters and physical and mental exhaustion, some of Cadet Command’s best of the best have been named winners in their respective brigade’s Ranger Challenge competition. While no two Ranger Challenge events were exactly the same, Cadets from each of the command’s eight brigades faced a variety of tasks that tested their hearts, minds and bodies. Cadet Brandon Sinnott, from the University of Alabama, said he thinks being a part of a Ranger Challenge team has given him experience that will be useful throughout a lifetime.

UA Department of Theatre and Dance holds Dance Alabama Film Festival
WVUA 23 (Tuscaloosa) – Feb. 1
A film festival at The University of Alabama Ferguson Center brought dancing to the big screen. The Dance Alabama Film Festival featured ten short films created entirely by University dancers, filmmakers and composers.
 
Don’t appoint Strange to replace Sessions
Florence Times Daily – Feb. 1
Strange should not replace Sessions. On Jan. 25 the TimesDaily had an article titled “Aderholt a contender to replace Sessions,” written by Mary Sell. In this article, Sell quotes Shannon Bridgmon, an associate professor of political science at Northeastern University in Oklahoma. She agreed it might raise eyebrows should Gov. Robert Bentley pick Luther Strange to replace Jeff Sessions., but she thinks Strange makes sense as Bentley’s pick. The article also quotes Bill Stewart, former chairman of the University of Alabama’s political science department.

UA Health programs continue healthy initiatives and giveaways
Crimson White – Feb. 1
A new college t-shirt has been seen on University of Alabama students, and it’s not for for UA. Rather, the shirt is for the “University of Avocado.” The shirts are sponsored by Project Health and Gamma Peer Health Educators, UA’s go-to sources for health and wellness education. They have a different weekly giveaway for each week of their programming; this year, they chose to incorporate avocados for a number of reasons. Brittney Vigna, assistant director of Health Promotion and Wellness and of the Student Health Center and Pharmacy, said the avocado focus this year came out of the spike of individuals practicing different dieting at the start of the New Year.

Bama Theatre’s ‘Evening of African Film’ showcases the continent’s culture
Crimson White – Feb. 2
With the Oscars this month, 
award-winning movies from around the world are in the spotlight, and local organizations are hosting a film festival to highlight cinema from one continent in particular: Africa. The fifth annual Tuscaloosa Evening of African Film, co-sponsored by the University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences, will be held this Saturday. This year’s 
marquee film is a 2014 Nigerian production called “Dazzling Mirage,” which tells the story of a young woman with 
sickle-cell disease. “Many times we are not exposed to how rich the African film industry is so we wanted to expose people to the 
culture and the fine films that are available in Africa,” said Bill Foster, the 
executive director of AframSouth, an organization which seeks to help African American communities through health and education resources.

UA to hold Students of Color Summit
WVUA 23 (Tuscaloosa) – Feb. 1
The University of Alabama is holding a summit on Friday for Students of Color. The goal of the summit is toe pose students of color to campus and community opportunities.

Immigration and crime: What does the research say?
Econo Times – Feb. 2
But, what does research say about how immigration impacts crime in U.S. communities? We turned to our experts for answers … Robert Adelman, University at Buffalo, and Lesley Reid, University of Alabama: Research has shown virtually no support for the enduring assumption that increases in immigration are associated with increases in crime.
The Sentinel – Feb. 2
 
Student Health Center to host “Fashion Rocks and So Does My Body” event
Crimson White – Feb. 2
The University of Alabama’s Student Health Center is presenting a fashion show called “Fashion Rocks and So Does My Body.” The event, which is part of the University’s Body Appreciation Week, is a fashion show that promotes body positivity. It will take place on Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. in the Ferguson Center Ballroom, and the show is free to the public.
 
University offers inclusive campus breakfast
Crimson White – Feb. 1
Open to students, faculty and staff, the Inclusive Campus Breakfast offers eggs, muffins, coffee, a side of fruit and a one heaping serving of dialogue on the topics of diversity, inclusivity and equity on The University of Alabama campus. This past Wednesdays breakfast had approximately 30 attendees, primarily faculty involved in inclusivity initiatives, a handful of students interested in engaging in the topics and SGA members, including President Lillian Roth.