News from the College

Joe Namath to Receive His College Degree During UA’s Winter Commencement Ceremonies Dec. 15

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:00:23 -0600

Of the roughly 300 College of Arts and Sciences students to graduate on Dec. 15, one of them is legendary Crimson Tide and NFL football star Joe Namath. He will receive his long-awaited college degree during The University of Alabama’s winter commencement ceremonies. During the past five years, Namath has worked to complete the requirement for his bachelor’s degree through UA’s External Degree program, known as EXD.

College of Arts and Sciences Sophomore Receives Prestigious Benjamin Cumming Biology Prize

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 14:58:33 -0600

University of Alabama biology major Kyle Lee of Millry has been named a 2008 recipient of the prestigious Benjamin Cummings Biology Prize. Lee, a sophomore, has been conducting research into the molecular basis of epilepsy in the lab of Dr. Guy Caldwell in the Department of Biological Sciences since the first semester of his freshman year. He was one of only four recipients selected nationally for the prize by the publisher of general biology textbooks used at The University of Alabama. The Benjamin Cummings Co., a division of Pearson Education and Addison-Wesley, publishes books read by more than 100 million people worldwide. Competition for the award is open to students of any institution where Benjamin Cummings biology texts are used. Each of the awards includes a $1,000 grant.

Alabama Legislators Tour the College’s Autism Spectrum Disorders Research Clinic and Speech and Hearing Center

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 14:57:51 -0600

The University of Alabama is leading the way in providing services to help toddlers and young adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), state Rep. Cam Ward (R-Alabaster) said to an audience at the College’s Autism Spectrum Disorders Research Clinic and Speech and Hearing Center on Dec. 4.
Cam, who is leading the Alabama Autism Task Force, visited UA’s campus along with Reps. Robert Bentley (R-Tuscaloosa) and Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa) to tour the College’s preschool classroom that specializes in teaching toddlers afflicted with ASD, which incorporates autism, Asperger’s syndrome and other pervasive developmental disorders. Legislators also learned that UA is one of only five universities in the nation with a special program to enroll young adults with autism in college courses.

UA Evolution Series Continues With Law Professor and Pulitzer Prize Winning Author Dr. Edward Larson

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 14:57:00 -0600

Dr. Edward Larson, Talmadge Chair of Law and Russell Professor of American History at the University of Georgia, will deliver his lecture, "From Dayton to Dover: A Brief History of the Evolution Teaching Controversy" on Jan.15 at 7:30 p.m. in 127 Biology Building on the UA campus. Larson will be speaking on the history of the evolution teaching controversy in the United States, with particular focus on the 1925 Scopes "Monkey" Trial in Dayton, Tenn., and the 2006 trial regarding teaching intelligent design in Dover, Pa. Larson’s lecture is part of the Alabama Lectures on Life’s Evolution (ALLELE) speakers series, now in its third year.

UA French Professor Honors Famous Feminist Writer With Her Latest Book

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 14:54:24 -0600

Dr. Metka Zupancic, associate professor of French and modern languages in the College’s Department of Modern Languages and Classics, pays tribute to one of the most influential women writers in France with her latest work. "Hélène Cixous: Texture Mythique et Alchemique" ("Mythical and Alchemical Texture"), published by Summa Publications, Inc., is a collection of essays that examine the writings of Cixous, a French feminist writer and philosopher known for her work on the relationship between sexuality and language.

2007-2008 Celebrity Series Continues With Pianist Drew Mays

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 14:54:06 -0600

Dr. Drew Mays (music, 1982; M.A. 1987) performs cataract surgery by day and Beethoven’s Waldstein Sonata by night. He will be performing on Jan.12 at 7:30 p.m. in the Moody Concert Hall as part of the School of Music’s continuing Celebrity Series. The Celebrity Series is supported by the Gloria Narramore Moody Foundation and brings performers from throughout the world to the Tuscaloosa community.

Mobile Psychiatrist Dr. John Cranton Establishes Scholarship for Students of the Arts

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 14:53:41 -0600

Dr. John Cranton (chemistry, 1957) of Mobile has established the Cranton-Massey Scholarship as a way of showing appreciation "to the state of Alabama, The University of Alabama and my step-father, John W. Massey Jr., for my education," Cranton said. The scholarship will provide financial support to students enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences who are pursuing a degree in the arts.