A&S in the News: July 2-8, 2017

Saturday in the Park

Saturday in the Park features river cane arrow-makingTuscaloosa News – July 1

The University of Alabama’s Moundville Archaeological Park continued its Saturday in the Park programs this weekend with river cane arrow-making with Greg Drowningbear. Saturday in the Park is a series of demonstrations and presentations related to Native Americans, archaeology, natural history, sustainable gardening and more. Many of the topics directly relate to the recently renovated exhibits in the Jones Archaeological Museum or the archaeology, flora and fauna of the park.
Crimson White – July 3

US Mass Shootings

Hot dogs and fireworks are great, but it is time to stop shooting each other for no reasonKwotable – July 1

As CNN reports, when it comes to gun massacres, the United States is tragically exceptional: There are more public mass shootings in the United States than in any other country in the world, according to a study published recently … The 90 US mass shootings are nearly one-third of the 292 such attacks globally for that period. While the United States has 5% of the world’s population, it had 31% of all public mass shootings … “People have been a little surprised by these statistics,” said Adam Lankford, an associate professor of criminal justice at the University of Alabama, who did the analysis. Lankford presented his work at the American Sociological Association’s annual conference last year and said it’s the first research of its kind to do a global comparison.

Red River Lyric Opera

Opera invasion: Texas town sings a new tune – in operaTimes Record News (Wichita Falls, Texas) – July 3

More than 50 students are cuddling up to the music of Puccini and honing their Italian on the campus of Midwestern State University as part of Red River Lyric Opera, an intense summertime bootcamp for vocalists, some of them students, some of them already professional singers and college professors. “They’ve come in from Wisconsin, New York, Boston, California, Oklahoma. One of our assistant directors is from Brownsville,” said Red River Lyric Opera General Director Darla Diltz, Wichitan-turned-New-Yorker who organizes the unique vocal camp.  . . . “Conductor Geoffrey McDonald works in Philadelphia and New York City and is the music director with On Site Opera (in New York). He is very well known in New York and Philadelphia and works a lot in Berlin,” Diltz said. “Our director for ‘Alcina,’ Paul Houghtaling, is from the University of Alabama. Stephen Dubberly is from the University of North Texas. Director Copeland Woodruff is from Lawrence University in Wisconsin.”

Honors Performance Series

From GMS to Carnegie HallGeneseo Republic – July 5

Eight Geneseo Middle School band musicians performed at New York’s famed Carnegie Hall on Sunday, June 25. Eight Geneseo Middle School band musicians performed at New York’s famed Carnegie Hall on Sunday, June 25. The students appeared at Carnegie Hall as part of the Honors Performance Series … They were under the direction of Dr. Ken Ozzello, director of bands at the University of Alabama.

Druid City Garden Project

Druid City Garden Project is now Schoolyard RootsAlabama Public Radio – July 6

Since 2010, the Druid City Garden Project has operated teaching gardens in Tuscaloosa city and county elementary schools. The gardens enhance students’ math, science and even English classes – and a University of Alabama study has shown working in the school gardens has not only improved students’ education, but also their eating habits and propensity to eat healthier food options.
Tuscaloosa News – July 6

Alabama Blues Weekend

Weekend celebrates spirit of the bluesTuscaloosa News – July 6

A mournful song began in the slave fields of the South more than 150 years ago. That song slowly evolved into today’s blues music. The songs sung by slaves as they worked the fields or played music in camps at night formed the foundation of the vibrant music sung and played today by generations of blues musicians … The Alabama Blues Project in partnership with the University of Alabama is presenting the Alabama Blues Weekend at the Bryant Conference Center on Friday and Saturday. The event will feature mentors from the UA and from the blues community who will help develop an interest in blues music in young people.
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – July 5
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – July 6
Crimson White – July 6
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – July 7

Warren G. Harding Symposium

Harding Symposium focuses on 100th anniversary of ‘The Great War’The Marion Star (Ohio) – July 7

The Ohio State University at Marion will welcome presidential enthusiasts and historians from across the country to the 2017 Warren G. Harding Symposium, “The Great War: How America Came of Age,” July 14 to 16 … Dr. Michael Kazin of Georgetown University, Dr. David Steigerwald of The Ohio State University, Harding researcher and author Sherry Hall and Dr. Andrew Huebner of the University of Alabama will each bring insights into events leading up to our entry into the conflict, the domestic impact, and the “return to normalcy” following the “war to end all wars.”

Capitol Hill Internship

UA student finished Capitol Hill internshipWHNT-CBS (Huntsville) – July 7

Clay Martinson is one of three university students who finished the Capitol Hill internship program. He goes to The University of Alabama.

Also making headlines

Camp offers fun for kids with diabetesTuscaloosa News – July 1

University of Alabama hosts wheelchair basketball campTuscaloosa News – July 8