A&S in the News: January 28-February 3, 2018

Mass Shootings

America’s mass shooting epidemicWDIV-NBC (Detroit, Michigan) – Jan. 28

On average, there’s a mass shooting almost every day here in the U.S. The statistics prompted folk at The University of Alabama to take an in depth look at the epidemic. 2017 was the deadliest year ever in modern history for mass shootings in America. 345 mass shootings almost one a day. To look at the horrific problem we sat down with The University of Alabama professor Adam Lankford.

Visiting Writers Series

Award-winning author to present at Visiting Writers SeriesCrimson White – Jan. 28

As part of The University of Alabama’s Visiting Writers Series, author Sarah Manguso will take the mic for an evening of novel inspiration. From autobiographies, investigations of friendship and suicide, a personal memoir, an assembly of short stories and an assortment of poems, Manguso has offered up a taste of just about everything in her work. She has appeared in multiple editions of the Best American Poetry series, and is recognized on an international level.

Theatre Competition

Students host 24-hour theatre competitionCrimson White – Jan. 29

Stakes were high for student actors and writers this weekend as teams of five rushed to create 10-minute-long performances with a 24-hour timer ticking in the back of their minds. On Saturday, Crimson Stage hosted Between the Lines, the first 24-hour performance festival our university has seen. This high-stress, low-stakes environment served as a learning experience for all involved. “It’s an opportunity to learn and grow and push yourself,” said Zach Stotlz, a third-year acting graduate student who functioned as one of the festival’s hosts and captains. “We learn the most under crisis, and this is the most fun crisis you have available. It’s a controlled crisis. It’s a storm in a bottle.” Each team was randomly assigned an opening line, closing line and prop at 5 p.m. on Jan. 26. They performed their pieces at 6 p.m. the following evening in the Allen Bales Theatre in front of a live audience and a panel of three judges.

Semester at Sea

UA professor finds adventure teaching at seaCrimson White – Jan. 29

Pink hair, hockey player and triathalon runner are three characteristics one might not expect from a professional forensic psychologist, but bright Patricia Zapf’s bright hair and athletic ability aren’t the only surprising facts about her; she’s also a teacher sailing with Semester at Sea. “Semester at Sea is such a cool experience,” said Zapf, a previous University of Alabama professor. “I see it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel, teach and learn.”

STEM Majors

Public schools in the South need more investments, poll of region’s voters findsEducation Week – Jan. 29

Southern states must be more aggressive in closing achievement gaps, increasing post-secondary readiness, improving teacher-quality and providing non-academic supports for an increasingly diverse student body, a new report from education advocacy groups argues … While pointing to stark data showing where some Southern states are lagging, the report also highlighted several initiatives in the states to address challenges, including a program at The University of Alabama that allows STEM majors to simultaneously earn teaching certification

Tuscaloosa Bicentennial

Quilters needed for bicentennial projectTuscaloosa News – Jan. 30

The Kentuck Art Center is searching for four artists to help commemorate the city of Tuscaloosa’s 200th birthday next year. The Druid City’s official bicentennial is Dec. 13, 2019, but a yearlong celebration is set to kick off with a special event this December, when folk artist Yvonne Wells will present a large storytelling quilt that illustrates the city’s history. Amy Echols, the executive director at the Kentuck Art Center, said Wells will partner with Kari Frederickson, a history professor at The University of Alabama, to oversee a team of volunteer artists and create a four-part quilt that tells tales from every corner of Tuscaloosa.

Supermoon

UA to host supermoon viewing WednesdayTuscaloosa News – Jan. 30

The University of Alabama’s department of physics and astronomy will offer a free public viewing Wednesday night of the supermoon, a full moon at the closest point in its orbit of the Earth. The viewing will be at the Gallalee Hall Observatory at the northeast corner of University Boulevard and Hackberry Drive from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday. Professor Jeremy Bailin will host the event.
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Jan. 30

Green Chemistry

Robin Rogers
Dr. Robin Rogers

Plastics from shrimp shells? Chemist talks bioplastics at FGCUNaples Herald (Florida) – Jan. 30

Imagine the cellular material in plants, or the shells of crustaceans being used to replace that plastic bag at the grocery store. If one chemist has his way, that’s where the future is headed. Dr. Robin Rogers, a research professor at The University of Alabama, adjunct professor at McGill University in Montreal and president and owner of 525 Solutions, a hard science solutions company with multiple technological investments, spoke at FGCU on Friday to talk about sustainable solutions for plastics in what he calls “green chemistry.”

Law School Fair

Law School Fair returns to the Ferguson CenterCrimson White – Jan. 31

The annual Law School Fair, an opportunity for students to meet with recruiters from law schools across the country, will be Thursday. This year’s fair will be the biggest fair that the pre-law program has hosted with representation from many prestigious schools from across the southeast as well as newcomers such as University of Southern California, University of California Los Angeles, Boston College and Boston University.
JD Journal – Feb. 1

Geology

Dr. Delores Robinson

UA professor leads students, mapping mountains with rocksCrimson White – Jan. 31

Before she became a UA professor leading students on geology excursions in the Himalayan Mountains, Delores Robinson was a young girl in West Virginia, roaming the hills and exploring the caves that formed on her family’s farm. Without an Earth science class in high school, Delores Robinson found herself learning geology on her own without even knowing it.

Africana Film Festival

Festival has new name, broader missionTuscaloosa News – Feb. 1

For its sixth year, Saturday’s slate of movies has been re-named the Tuscaloosa Africana Film Festival — formerly African Film Festival — to reflect its inclusion of works from the African diaspora, in addition to those works created on the continent … Thursday at 7 p.m., filmmaker Tyrik Washington will lead a workshop titled “Arts in Activism,” Room 159 in Russell Hall on the University of Alabama campus. The Emmy-award-winner will discuss film’s role in social change, and present the film “Under the Heavens,” which he wrote, directed, composed the score for, and co-starred in.
Crimson White – Feb. 1
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Feb. 2

UA Museums

Alabama Natural History Museum invites preschoolers to Grow Up WildCrimson White – Feb. 1

What: The Growing Up Wild Preschool Friday. Preschoolers and their caregivers are invited to explore the Alabama Natural History Museum where they can learn about nature through activities, crafts and stories.

Richard Rothstein

Policies, segregation linked, researcher saysTuscaloosa News – Feb. 1

Government policies help foster racially segregated communities in the United States, a researcher and author said during a speech at The University of Alabama. “I didn’t discover this material … this material has been written about for years,” author and researcher Richard Rothstein said Tuesday. “This is not hidden history. This all history that we all have not been taught.” … Rothstein was introduced by UA history professor David Beito, who invited him to campus to discuss the book. “This is an important book, a memorable book,” Beito said. “He is reshaping the way we view a lot of important issues.”

UA Choirs

UA Choirs perform at Tuscaloosa Heritage FestivalWVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Feb. 2

The Stillman College and The University of Alabama choirs and dancers performed, along with some talented young people from dance and step studios across West Alabama.