Women took over NBC’s Winter Olympics for first time ever
New York Post – Feb. 25
The Winter Olympics were the Women Olympics on NBC. For the first time in Winter Games history, NBC televised more minutes of women’s competition than men’s. . . . In the Winter Games, there is usually a huge gap in favor of men’s coverage over women’s — 20 percent or more, according to Andrew Billings, the University of Alabama’s chair of its broadcast journalism and creative media department [sic]. In Sochi, four years ago, the gap closed to less than 6 percent, Billings said.
UA professor monitors Olympics for coverage’s gender gap
Crimson White – Feb. 25
Beginning research in the mid-1990s as a graduate student at Indiana University, Andrew Billings has monitored the Olympics for gender gaps in coverage for over 20 years. Billings, director of the Alabama Program in Sports Communication and Ronald Reagan Chair of Broadcasting, has been looking for how much coverage the Olympics is dedicating to male and female athletes. Monitoring the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics has led to new findings.
LEND A HAND: Musical brings Dr. Seuss’ message of hope
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 25
A portion of the proceeds generated by the Actor’s Charitable Theatre’s production of “Seussical the Musical” will benefit Success By Six, an early childhood initiative of United Way of West Alabama. . . . Maggie Butler, a student at the University of Alabama, will portray Gertude McFuzz. She says she relates to the character on many levels. “Gertrude is this sort of hopeless romantic that keeps on going despite her clumsiness and awkwardness,” Butler said.
University named top producer of Fulbright students
Crimson White – Feb. 25
After being named one of the top 25 universities for producing Fulbright students, the University has shown that not only is it a leading institution in academics and football, it has influence that can be spread internationally.
UA students take part in Startup Weekend
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Feb. 25
While the event is open to any young entrepreneur s in the Tuscaloosa community, most are University of Alabama students. The students I talked to said that the experience really built their confidence in their own ideas.
Could gun-carrying Alabama teachers be sued if something goes wrong?
Al.com – Feb. 25
If Alabama teachers start carrying guns in school, as some lawmakers want, could they be financially or even criminally liable if their gun wounds or kills an innocent child or adult? … “How is the law written?” University of Alabama law professor Jenny Carroll said early in a discussion of Ainsworth’s plan.
Making Amazon’s top 20 is turning heads toward Columbus
Columbus Dispatch (Ohio) – Feb. 25
Regardless of how each of the 20 metro areas fare in their bids to become the site of Amazon’s second headquarters, is there a chance all of them could be a winner? … “You guys are now on the radar screen. You’re getting global exposure by being on the list,” said K.C. Conway, chief economist for the commercial real-estate group CCIM Institute and director of research at the Alabama Center for Real Estate at the University of Alabama.
UA criminal justice professor comments on gun violence in America (Live Interview)
CNN-International (International) – Feb. 25
Why is gun culture in America so pervasive and so different from the rest of the world? Joining me now are two scholars who have thought, written, and spoken at length about these issues. Saul Cornell is a professor of American history at Fordham University and former director of the second amendment research center at the John Glenn Institute and Adam Lankford is from the University of Alabama. Thank you both for joining me. Adam, let me begin with you.
The Struggle to Predict—and Prevent—Toxic Masculinity
Kopitiam Bot – Feb. 24
So if you could identify those kids then, maybe you could make things better later? Of course, things are way more complicated than that … That said, researchers have found a few commonalities. The shooters are often suicidal, or more precisely have stopped caring whether they live or die, says Adam Lankford, a criminologist at the University of Alabama. Sometimes they’re seeking fame and attention. And they share a sense that they themselves are victims. “That’s how they justify attacking others,” Lankford says. “Sometimes the perceptions are based in reality—I was bullied, or whatever—but sometimes they can be exacerbated by mental health problems or personality characteristics.”
Wired – Feb. 24
Long Island Technology News – Feb. 24
4 robots that aim to teach your kids to code
Seattle Times – Feb. 23
You’ve seen apps and toys that promise to teach your child to code. Now enter the robots … But experts like Jeff Gray, a computer-science professor at the University of Alabama and an adviser to the nonprofit coding-education group Code.org, say kids can derive other benefits from coding robots and similar toys. They can, for instance, learn “persistence and grit” when the toys inevitably do something unintended, he says.
Business Mirror – Feb. 24
Whistle while you work
Uganda Today – Feb. 26
What is the key to being happy? More specifically, what is the key to being happy at work? More money, more time off, family benefits? Researchers suggest that they may have found the answers … That’s what researchers at The University of Alabama want to know and they may have found some answers. Dr. Jonathon Halbesleben, associate professor of human resource management and organisational behavior at the Culverhouse College of Commerce, has spent his career researching what makes people happy and more productive in their jobs.
Grant provides help with improving technology
Florence Times Daily – Feb. 26
Amanda Oldag said she can teach about computer programming and coding from a book, but nothing compares to the hands-on experience students get from using technology. Thanks to a grant through the Alabama Department of Education, sixth-grade students at Belgreen are getting that opportunity … “They use a program Code.org, which is in partnership with the University of Alabama, which helps the students learn coding on computers,” Hamilton said.
U of Alabama names dean’s list recipients
The Star Democrat (Easton, Maryland) – Feb. 23
A total of 12,594 students enrolled during the 2017 fall semester at The University of Alabama were named to the dean’s list with an academic record of 3.5 or above, or the president’s list with an academic record of 4.0 (all As).
Leader Telegram (Eau Claire, Wisconsin) – Feb. 25
Valley News (Fallbrook, California) – Feb. 24
Newport Plain Talk (Newport, Tennessee) – Feb. 24
Volunteers help clean up at Hurricane Creek
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 23
Several dozen volunteers persevered through scattered showers Saturday and removed hundreds of pounds of litter and other garbage during the 25th annual Friends of Hurricane Creek Cleanup … A group of volunteers primarily made up of members of the University of Alabama Environmental Council and UA Vegan Voices collected several truckloads of garbage from Kennedy Mill Road, and another group filled their canoes with litter pulled from the creek itself.
Names and Notes for Feb. 25
Aiken Standard (South Carolina) – Feb. 24
Allen graduates firefighter course … Patheja earns bachelor’s degree: Adam Singh Patheja of Aiken, received the following from The University of Alabama: Bachelor of Science in Commerce & Business Administration. UA awarded some 2,077 degrees during winter commencement Dec. 16.
Framingham (Mass.) Source – Feb. 25
UA students from Parkland, Florida talk about shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Feb. 23
I spoke with former Alabama Punter P.J. Fitzgerald and four other Marjory Stoneman Douglas alumni, who are all current UA students. They all shared their feelings with me about last week’s tragedy.
SCHOOL NEWS: February 25
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 23
Tuscaloosa County High School: The multimedia students at Tuscaloosa County High School participated in the Alabama Scholastic Press Association State Convention at the University of Alabama on Feb. 9.