A&S in the News: May 13-19, 2018

Decriminalization

‘Not ready for that’: How Alabama Republicans thwarted marijuana decriminalizationAl.com – May 13

Nine states and Washington, D.C., allow for the recreational use of marijuana. Another 22 states have decriminalized the drug, and public opinion suggests legalization is supported by more than 60 percent of Americans … Jennifer Kenney, assistant professor at the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at The University of Alabama, said she doesn’t believe if Alabama decriminalized low amounts of marijuana possession, there will be a “huge drop” in the state’s overcrowded prisons.

SummerTide

Campus NewsMarietta (Georgia) Daily Journal – May 13

University of Alabama student Daniel Fobes of Kennesaw will play Jackson in the summer 2018 SummerTide production of “Pump Boys and Dinettes” in June at the George C. Meyer Performing Arts Center in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Summer Camps

UA offers summer campsWVUA (Tuscaloosa) – May 15

The University of Alabama is also offering a wide variety of summer programs for children of all ages. Students will get the opportunity to work alongside scientists in the field of archaeology, learning about fossils and animals, and even learn the basics of computer programming. There will even be several camps going on for student who enjoy music.

Parking Deck

UA begins work on parking deck near Moody Music BuildingTuscaloosa News – May 15

The University of Alabama has begun work on a $22 million parking deck on Second Avenue across from the Moody Music Building. The work, which will replace the current Moody surface lot, began following the end of the spring semester and will see sections of Second Avenue and Paul W. Bryant Drive periodically closed this summer, according to the university.
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – May 15

Crimsonettes

McAdory High School honor graduate Claire Harrison earns spot on 2018 University of Alabama’s Million Dollar Band Crimsonette Majorette teamThe Cutoff News – May 15

Congratulations to Claire Harrison, a senior and honor graduate at McAdory High School! Claire is a member of the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta … On April 26-27, she auditioned and earned a spot on the 2018 Crimsonette Majorette Team of the Million Dollar Band at The University of Alabama. Claire will pursue a degree in Communicative Disorders and she hopes to one day work with children.

Governor Ivey

How will allegations about Ivey’s personal life change the race for governor?Al.com – May 17

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has stayed away from the debate stage and has enjoyed a sizable advantage in polling and fundraising. To her advantage, the governor’s race had been described by political observers as “boring.” . . . Still, there has been plenty of criticism heaped upon all three involved in Tuesday’s news blitz: Ivey, for the way she responded to LGBTQ allegations as “disgusting,” Todd for spreading a rumor about the governor’s lifestyle and seemingly attempting to out her, and Dawson for questioning the grant to a LGBTQ organization while dismissing accusations that he had knowledge about Ivey’s personal lifestyle.  “Most voters in Alabama have moved past this type of politics, but unfortunately, Todd’s accusations take us back 10 years or so,” said Richard Fording, a political science professor at The University of Alabama.

Columbia River Basin

Study looks at how viral disease spreads to juvenile salmon/steelhead, hatcheriesColumbia Basin Bulletin – May 18

Most infections of a viral disease that can hit hatcheries particularly hard originate with adult salmon and steelhead, according to a recent study that modeled how the infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus spreads to young trout and salmon in the Columbia River Basin … “However, the model also showed exposure by the previous generation of young fish at the hatchery is more likely to result in infection (22 percent) compared to exposure by adult or juvenile fish in the river (no more than a 17 percent change of infection),” said researcher Paige F.B. Ferguson, assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at The University of Alabama and at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Middleton, NY.

T.R.M. Howard

Dr. David Beito discusses book about Dr. T.R.M. Howard (Live Interview)KXL-FM (Portland, OR), The Lars Larson Show – May 18

Long before Dr. Martin Luther King led the charge for racial equity and equality in America, one unsung hero was fighting for civil rights on several different fronts. There’s a book about him. His name is Dr. T.R.M. Howard. David Beito joins me now, research fellow at the Independent Institute and a professor of history at The University of Alabama.

Female Mass Shooters

What female mass shooters reveal about male onesDaily Beast – May 19

After the shooting at YouTube headquarters early last month, perpetrated by a 38-year-old woman, news coverage latched onto the fact that female mass shooters are extremely rare. While true—about 95 percent of mass shootings are committed by men—writing female shooters off as outliers may obscure deeper truths about the psychology of people who commit these awful crimes … “Toxic masculinity can contribute to the problem but would not be primary cause,” Adam Lankford, a criminal justice professor at The University of Alabama, told The Daily Beast. “There are countries that are far worse than ours in terms of toxic masculinity, where spousal abuse and genital mutilation are legal, but they don’t have the same rates of mass shootings,” Lankford explained.