MONDAY, FEB. 26 – SUNDAY, MARCH 4
RESEARCH
STUDYING ARMS RACE BETWEEN BACTERIA, VIRUSES – Researchers at UA hope to better understand how bacteria and viruses battle each other and, in the process, devise new strategies to combat antibiotic-resistant infections. For assistance, contact Adam Jones, UA Strategic Communications, at 205-348-4328 or adam.jones@ua.edu.
BEST BETS
FULBRIGHT SUCCESS — UA has once again been recognized as a top producing institution for Fulbright U.S. Student Awards, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. Fifteen of 47 UA applicants received the award for 2017–2018, one of the highest winning percentages in the nation. This is the second time in the past three years UA has been recognized as a top Fulbright U.S. Student Program producer. For more information, contact Richard LeComte, communications, at richard.lecomte@ua.edu or 205-348-3782.
READ ACROSS AMERICA – UA’s Center for Economic Development, along with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, is promoting the National Education Association’s Read Across America Day by providing Dr. Seuss-themed reading kits to 23 schools in eight counties within the Black Belt region. For more information as well as a list of schools to be visited, contact Richard LeComte, communications, at richard.lecomte@ua.edu or 205-348-3782.
UA SWEEPS ADVERTISING AWARDS – UA swept the American Advertising Federation awards competition in Tuscaloosa last week winning 13 awards, including three Best of Show awards, eight out of nine Gold awards presented and two Silver awards. “Where Legends Are Made” won six awards, including Overall Best of Show, Best of Print and four Gold awards. The University’s campaign for the Performing Arts Academic Center won five awards. UA won a Silver award for collateral material publications design for The Giving Effect and a Silver in the category of collateral material. All Gold award winners will advance to the district competition in April, with national award winners announced in June in Chicago. For more information, contact UA communications, 205-348-5320.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH – UA’s celebration of African-American heritage includes campus tours, lectures and a film series with this month’s events concluding this week. For more information, click here. For assistance, contact Richard LeComte, communications, at richard.lecome@ua.edu or 205-348-3782.
MAKING NEWS
IS TRUMP’S $4.4 TRILLION BUDGET PROPOSAL FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE? – President Donald Trump has proposed a $4.4 trillion federal budget that will double the nation’s debt in 2019 from the previous year and bring U.S. debt to $7.1 trillion in the red over the next decade, according to some estimates. With the traditional hallmarks of Republican financial platforms being fiscal conservatism and balanced budgets, how does the direction that Trump’s budget would take the country impact the Grand Old Party’s identity? Dr. George Hawley, a UA assistant professor of political science and expert on electoral behavior, elections, migration and politics, is available to offer his expertise on the subject. For more information, contact Jamon Smith, UA Strategic Communications, at jamon.smith@ua.edu or 205-348-4956. Or, contact Hawley directly at ghawley@ua.edu or 205-348-5528.
TRUMP’S BUDGET PROPOSAL SWAPS FOOD STAMPS FOR FOOD BOXES – President Donald Trump is proposing that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, that provides food stamps for low-income American families be replaced with a commodities program, “America’s Harvest Box,” that would provide boxes of government-selected food to the poor. Dr. Richard Fording, a UA political science professor specializing in public policy, state politics and race/ethnicity politics, is available to the media to offer his expertise on the subject. For more information, contact Jamon Smith, UA Strategic Communications, at jamon.smith@ua.edu or 205-348-4956. Or, contact Fording directly at rcfording@as.ua.edu or 205-348-5528.
NEED A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT ON ANOTHER TOPIC? – See frequently revised expert directory here.
EVENTS
FACED WITH NAZIS – UA’s department of theatre and dance presents “A Bright Room Called Day,” by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and “Lincoln” screenwriter Tony Kushner, from Feb. 26, to March 4, at the Allen Bales Theatre. In 1932 Germany, Agnes and her friends find themselves in a pivotal and disenchanting moment in history: the fall of the Weimar Republic and the rise of the Nazi regime. From the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of “Angels in America” comes a story of political disillusionment across time and space. Tickets are $10. For more information, click here or phone 205-348-3400. For assistance, contact UA communications, 205-348-5320.
NOBEL PRIZE WINNING ECONOMIST VERNON SMITH TO PRESENT – Acclaimed economist Dr. Vernon L. Smith, who won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2002 for his groundbreaking work in experimental economics, will present a talk, courtesy UA’s Culverhouse College of Commerce, about how commonly held – and false – beliefs about economic behavior and the market have changed over time. The discussion will be in the Alston Hall parlor from 10-11 a.m. Friday, March 2. For more information, contact Zach Thomas, director of marketing and communications in Culverhouse, at zthomas@cba.ua.edu or 205-348-8318.
LAWYERS’ ROLES IN GOOD GOVERNMENT – Lawyers and legal experts will discuss the role of lawyers in government during a symposium at the UA School of Law beginning at 8:30 a.m. Friday, March 2, in the Bedsole Moot Court Room. Current U.S. Attorneys will discuss their roles as the chief federal law enforcement officials in their respective districts, and former government lawyers will explore key roles in law enforcement and cabinet level agencies. Legal experts will examine the role U.S. Attorneys play in shaping criminal justice policy. For more information, contact Monique Fields, manager of communications, UA School of Law, 205-348-5195 or mfields@law.ua.edu.
ALABAMA ARTISTS FEATURED AT DOWNTOWN GALLERY – UA’s Gallery will feature pieces from Doug McCraw’s collection of art March 2 to April 30 in the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center in downtown Tuscaloosa. The exhibition, “A Harder Task Than Making Bricks Without Straw,” showcases quilts, paintings, sculptures, and photographs created by Alabama natives—including Mary Lee Bendolph, Chris Clark, Thornton Dial, Lonnie Holley, Charlie Lucas, and Lucy T. Pettway. The exhibition and a reception, held March 2 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., are free and open to the public. The gallery is located at 620 Greensboro Ave. in downtown Tuscaloosa. For more information, phone the gallery at 205-345-3038 or call 205-342-2060 or contact Courtney Corbridge at cacorbridge@ua.edu.
LOOKING AHEAD
VISITING LECTURER TO DISCUSS EARLY EARTH CONDITIONS – Friday, March 9, Dr. Mark Harrison, a UCLA professor, will discuss his investigation of the near-surface conditions on early Earth. He will also explain why scientists created their own version of a “hellish” early Earth without much evidence from the geologic record. The lecture, hosted by UA’s department of geological sciences, begins at 3:30 p.m. in the AIME building, room 110. The event is free and open to the public, but space is limited. For more information, contact Courtney Corbridge, communications specialist, College of Arts and Sciences, at 205/348-8539 or UA communications at 205-348-5320.
MOUNDVILLE KNAP-IN — UA’s Moundville Archeological Park welcomes the West Alabama community to learn the Native American skill of flintknapping at the 18th annual Moundville Knap-In, March 9-10.The event will feature some of the best flintknappers from around the country demonstrating the ancient art of making tools out of stone, bone or antler using only rocks. The Knap-In will also showcase Native American culture through food and activities for all ages. For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, at 205-348-8325 or bryant.welbourne@ua.edu.