MONDAY, APRIL 17 – SUNDAY, APRIL 23
BEST BETS
NEWS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE MAJOR GIFT SET FOR APRIL 21 — Details of the second largest gift in UA College of Arts and Sciences’ history will be announced Friday, April 21, by UA President Stuart R. Bell and Dr. Robert Olin, dean of A&S, in a news conference. The 2 p.m. news conference will be held in Oliver-Barnard Hall (just west of Gorgas Library). The gift will have a remarkable impact on UA and its students. Media wishing to attend are asked to confirm their participation by contacting Chris Bryant (chris.bryant@ua.edu, 205/348-8323) or Shane Dorrill (broadcast media only) at shane.dorrill@ua.edu, 205/348-8319. Directions/Parking: From Hackberry Lane, turn west onto Margaret Drive. Travel about one block and turn right at yield sign onto Capstone Drive. After passing the stop sign, continue straight on Capstone (traveling behind Gorgas). Watch for available parking on both sides of street near Capstone and McCorvey Drive intersection.
CHECK OUT CRIMSON RACING FORMULA VEHICLE, MEET INDY WINNER — The Honda STEAM Connections Tour makes a stop at UA Wednesday, April 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Approximately 340 area middle and high school students are expected to participate — looking at motorsport vehicles, watching the debut of Crimson Racing’s 2017 Formula SAE vehicle and hearing from 2014 Indy 500 and 2012 IndyCar Series Champion, Ryan Hunter-Reay. The event is designed to highlight science, technology, engineering, arts and math, known as STEAM, and how those fields are pivotal in motorsports and the automotive industry. The 2017 Crimson Racing Formula SAE vehicle will be revealed at 1:45 p.m. in front of Hardaway Hall on 7th Avenue. At 11 a.m., Hunter-Reay will arrive at the Ferguson Center in a street-legal, two-seat Indy car. For more information, contact Alana Norris, engineering communications, 205/348-8644, anorris@eng.ua.edu or UA media relations, 205/348-5320.
CHESAPEAKE BAY POLLUTED EARLIER THAN THOUGHT – Humans began measurably and negatively impacting water quality in the Chesapeake Bay in the first half of the 19th century, according to a study of eastern oysters by UA researchers. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA media relations, 205/348-4328 or adam.jones@ua.edu.
GOLDWATER SCHOLARS – The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program has selected four UA students as Goldwater Scholars for 2017-2018. From 2007 to 2017, UA is No. 1 in the United States for Goldwater Scholars with 31. Harvard is second with 29. UA is one of only four institutions — along with Stanford, Princeton and Iowa State — to have as many as four nominees selected this year. In addition, 2017 is the third time in the past seven years that UA has had all four nominees selected for this award. The recipients are Sean Devey, of North Salem, New York; Alison Farrar, of South Pasadena, California; Melissa Mathews, of Birmingham; and Melissa Uehling of Cary, North Carolina. For biographies of the students and other information, go here. For more details, contact Richard LeComte, media relations, rllecomte@ur.ua.edu, 205/348-3782.
SYMPOSIUM EXPLORES WHETHER TRUE ROMANCE POSSIBLE BETWEEN WHITES, SUBORDINATE BLACKS IN 18TH AND 19TH CENTURIES – Thomas Jefferson, third president of the U.S. and principal author of the Declaration of Independence, lived a life of conflicting dualities. On one hand, Jefferson thought that blacks lacked human emotions, that they were inferior to whites in body and mind and that free blacks were “pests in society,” according to a New York Times article. On the other hand, it has been said that he deeply loved a black enslaved woman he owned named Sarah “Sally” Hemings. Jefferson’s controversial relationship with Hemings, and the paradox in his thinking that the relationship illustrates, raises the question: Could true love really exist between a white person in authority and a black subordinate? That is the question that several panels of academics from across various disciplines and universities, including a school in France, will talk about at the UA English department’s “Black/White Intimacies: Reimagining History, the South, and the Western Hemisphere” symposium at Hotel Capstone from 8:45 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. April 21, and 8:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. April 22. For more information, contact Jamon Smith, UA media relations, 205/348-4956 or jamon.smith@ua.edu
50 YEARS AGO SHE ENROLLED IN NEW PROGRAM, UA TO RENAME IT FOR HER — In celebration of its 50th anniversary and in honor of its longtime director who was formerly a student in its inaugural class, UA’s Computer-Based Honors Program will be renamed the Catherine J. Randall Research Scholars Program. The name change will take place in 2018 in commemoration of this milestone anniversary. For more details, contact Kim Eaton or Chris Bryant in media relations, 205/348-8323 or chris.bryant@ua.edu.
ANTARCTIC MOUNTAIN RANGE FORMED FROM HEAT BELOW – Work by geologists from UA show that a layer of heated earth just below portions of Antarctica is pushing the Transantarctic Mountains up from the ground. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA media relations, 205/348-4328 or adam.jones@ua.edu.
EVENTS
ANNUAL SPRING FASHION SHOW COMBINES CREATIVITY, SUSTAINABILITY — T-Time Fashion Show, slated for Wednesday, April 19, is an annual spring fashion show that focuses on sustainable design for students in the College of Human Environmental Sciences’ department of clothing, textiles and interior design. Students will create one or two looks that focus on a mix of sustainable design using alternative materials or knit jersey fabrics. The event begins at 6 p.m. on the front lawn of Doster Hall on UA’s campus. Donations will be taken to help cover the cost of producing the event; the public is invited to attend. For more information, contact Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.
NEW COLLEGE PROFESSOR RECEIVES BURNUM AWARD — A culture and gender studies professor whose research pushed her beyond the typical academic world into the study of fantasy is this year’s recipient of the Burnum Distinguished Faculty Award, one of the highest honors bestowed on professors at UA. The University will present Dr. Catherine Roach, professor of New College, with the Burnum award at 4:30 p.m. April 19 in the Ferguson Center, room 3111, where she will deliver the Burnum Award lecture. A reception and book signing follows, and the public is welcome. For more information, contact Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.
GOLF TOURNAMENT FUNDRAISER BENEFITS RISE CENTER – The RISE Tournament of Champions benefiting UA’s RISE Center will be April 20 and 21 at NorthRiver Yacht Club. The tournament is a four-person scramble (handicaps required) with tee times at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. on both days and shotgun starts. Registration deadline is April 11. In addition to the tournament, golfers and guests are invited to CHIP-In for RISE from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 20, at the Yacht Club at NorthRiver. The event, which is open to the public, includes a silent auction and light refreshments. For more information, contact Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.
UA’S THEATRE, DANCE CLOSES SEASON WITH ‘A CHORUS LINE’ – Nearly every dancer, actor and singer dreams of performing on Broadway. Viewed as the epitome of commercial theatre, many performing artists believe that if they can make it on Broadway they’ve reached the top and the doors of opportunity will swing open, leaving their days as starving artists behind. That Broadway dream, and struggle, is so intimately familiar to performing artists that there’s a classic musical about it, one that’s beloved by those in and outside of the profession. On April 18-22 at 7:30 p.m. and again on April 23 at 2 p.m., UA’s theatre and dance department will perform that beloved musical, “A Chorus Line,” at the Marian Gallaway Theatre as the department’s season finale. For more information, contact Jamon Smith, UA media relations, 205/348-4956 or jamon.smith@ua.edu.
BIOBLITZ HAPPENING AT MOUNDVILE PARK SATURDAY – UA Museums is hosting its first BioBlitz from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at Moundville Archaeological Park. During this event, participants will record observations of as many different organisms as possible through the smartphone application iNaturalist. There will be guided tours throughout the day, as well as different community groups available to talk about their organizations. For more information, contact Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.
UA STUDENTS, AREA HIGH-SCHOOLERS PARTNER TO CREATE ‘TNR’ WEEK – UA and Tuscaloosa County High School students have partnered to establish “Trap-Neuter/Spay-Release Week,” a week of awareness aimed at reducing the feral cat populations in Tuscaloosa and Northport. UA students have mentored high-schoolers in strategizing campaigns and creating community events April 17 through April 22. Tuscaloosa County high School students hope to raise awareness of the plight of feral cats in the city and county and the prospect of effective and humane community management to reduce their number and negative impact on neighborhoods and businesses. For more information about the events this week, contact David Miller, UA media relations, at 205/348-0825 or david.c.miller@ua.edu.
UA TO HOST LITERACY SUMMIT – Researchers from Florida State University’s Regional Education Laboratory Southeast will showcase k-3 literacy research and unique materials for literacy teacher education at the Alabama Literacy Summit, Thursday, April 20. The event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Bryant Conference Center. The summit is geared toward teacher educators and those teaching university methods courses, reading coaches/instructional coaches, and district administrators. For more information, contact David Miller, UA Media Relations, at 205/348-0825 or david.c.miller@ua.edu.
OB/GYN PRESENTS DURING OLLI PROGRAM — Dr. Dan Avery, professor and former chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at UA’s College of Community Health Sciences, will present “Lessons learned from three decades of Ob/Gyn practice,” at noon Monday, April 17, as part of a lecture series for UA’s OLLI program. The presentation will provide an entertaining account of Avery’s three plus decades of practicing obstetrics and gynecology in Alabama, as well as an overview of general medical information, including communication and access to care. The presentation will take place at the Bryant Conference Center. For more information, contact Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.