Climate Change Messaging

How the weather gets weaponized in climate change messaging: New York Times – March 2

In the summer, when heat waves scorch cities or heavy rains flood the coasts, some climate scientists and environmentalists will point out any plausible connections to global warming, hoping today’s weather will help people understand tomorrow’s danger from climate change … Prof Wanyun Shao, an assistant professor of geography at The University of Alabama, lands in the middle. Her research has found that Democrats and Republicans do perceive severe weather differently: Democrats tend to see it as part of a broader pattern of climate change, Republicans as more of an aberration.
Vaaju.com – March 3
Santa Fe New Mexican – March 2
Boston Globe – March 2
Indian Express – March 2
VIP Portal – March 1
The Bend Bulletin (Oregon) – March 1
TodayOnline – March 3

Oldest-Ever Graduate

At 97, Vicksburg woman becomes oldest-ever to graduate from University of Alabama: Vicksburg Post (Mississippi) – March 2

The early 1940s were a turbulent and uncertain time for Americans, as the strains of World War II required men and women to serve beyond their traditional roles and make extraordinary sacrifices … In 1943, Frances Gammon, a first-generation college student from a farming family of 10 children in Fort Deposit, was nearing completion of her education degree at The University of Alabama.

Outstanding Graduate Student Awards

College News: Tuscaloosa News – March 3

The University of Alabama Graduate School has announced the recipients of the 2018-2019 Outstanding Graduate Student awards. The awards will be presented as a part of UA Honors Week (Monday, April 1, to Friday, April 5).

Blakeley State Park

Blakeley State Park offers Civil War artillery and wildlife demonstrations this weekend: Gulf Coast News Today – March 6

On Saturday, March 9, Blakeley State Park offers a pair of special programs highlighting the park’s unique cultural and natural heritage … At 10 a.m., the park will dedicate interpretive signage being placed along its waterfront as part of the new Alabama Indigenous Mound Trail. A product of The University of Alabama Museums and The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development, the Trail celebrates the cultural heritage of our region through highlighting over a dozen important archaeological sites.

Moundville Knap-In

Moundville to hold 19th annual Knap-In: WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – March 7

The event will feature some of the best flint knappers from around the nation demonstrating the ancient art of making tools out of stone, bone or antler using only rocks.
Great Day Tuscaloosa – March 6
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – March 8

Antarctic Research

These women are changing the landscape of Antarctic research: National Geographic – March 7

Up on the helicopter deck Meghan Spoth and Victoria Fitzgerald practice setting up camp. Just over Spoth’s shoulder a mile-wide tabular iceberg slides past, revealing the piercing cobalt at the berg’s cold center. Spoth pulls at the brim of her condor-embroidered ballcap and tosses a roll of duct tape to Fitzgerald … “That retreat, when the grounding line moves all the way to the inner shelf around 10,000 years ago, that is nowhere near as rapid as what we are witnessing now,” says Rebecca Totten Minzoni, assistant professor of Geological Sciences at The University of Alabama.
MSN – March 7
Rolling Stone – March 14

Plough Gallery

Plough Gallery to host double exhibit March 9: The Tifton Gazette (Georgia) – March 8

Plough Gallery is hosting a double show on March 9. “Remember Me a Story” and “Low-Poly Echos” brings together the sentimental work of Abigail Heuss and the unifying work of Matt Mitros, according to a press release … Mitros is a Philadelphia born artist who currently works as an assistant professor of art at The University of Alabama as well as maintaining a studio in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, according to the release.

The Southern Pronoun

Y’all Heard? An argument for the great Southern pronoun: WUWF.org – March 9

Listen up, y’all: Perhaps even Yankees should start saying “y’all.” That’s an argument put forth by Catherine Davies, a professor of linguistics at The University of Alabama, in a collection of essays titled Speaking of Alabama: The History, Diversity, Function, and Change of Language (edited by Thomas E. Nunnally). Davies’ essay includes a section with the heading “A Southern Improvement to the Pronoun System.”

UA German Day

James Clemens wins ‘Top School’ at UA German Day: Madison Record – March 9

James Clemens High School students claimed the title of “Top School” by winning the most awards across all categories at German Day at The University of Alabama. UA professors who teach German hosted the event in the Ferguson Center on March 1.

Young Texas Artists Music Competition

Winners of Young Texas Artists Music competition entertained and inspired audience: The Woodlands Paper (Texas) – March 14

The 35th annual Young Texas Artists Music Competition culminated on Saturday, March 9, with the highly anticipated Finalists’ Concert & Awards at Conroe’s Crighton Theatre. The event featured CEO of Steinway & Sons Ron Losby, who flew in from New York City, as guest of honor and drew a full house … The award was presented by Young Texas Artists 2019 Judge Diane Schultz, professor of flute, School of Music at The University of Alabama, and Young Texas Artists Board Chairman Richard Griffin.

New Zealand Shooting

New Zealand shows America’s mass shootings have global consequences: USA Today – March 15

The Australian suspect who claimed responsibility for the New Zealand shootings that killed at least 49 people in two mosques wrote a 70-page anti-immigrant manifesto calling himself a racist, ethno-nationalist and fascist. He also called President Trump a symbol of “renewed white identity.” … “There’s no doubt that previous mass shooters in the United States have been imitated by shooters in the U.S. and outside it,” said Adam Lankford, a criminal justice professor at The University of Alabama who studies mass shootings, noting “the influence of America culturally and cross-culturally.”
Naples Daily News (Florida) – March 15
App.com – March 15
Argus Leader (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) – March 15
Finger Lakes Times (New York) – March 16
CMG Media Group – March 16
News Bug – March 16
Yahoo! – March 15
Colorodoan – March 15
Washington Post – March 16

Anti-terror Policies

New Zealand shootings shows anti-terror policies should be tough on white supremacists too: The Daily Hunt (Indonesia) – March 16

The deadly attacks on two New Zealand mosques should draw attention to an obvious fact: Terrorists linked to the far right are no less murderous than the Islamist groups that get more headlines and attention from politicians … A recent paper by Erin Kearns of The University of Alabama and her colleagues showed only 12.5 percent of the 136 terrorist acts that occurred in the US between 2006 and 2015 were linked to such groups — but they received more than half of the news coverage. If the perpetrator is a Muslim, the number of stories about the attack increases by 357 percent, the academics calculated.
Twin Cities Pioneer Press (Minnesota) – March 16
The Daily World – March 16
The Exponent Telegram (Clarksburg, West Virginia) – March 16
Charleston Post and Courier (South Carolina) – March 16
Bloomberg – March 15
Welland Tribune (Canada) – March 13
The Waterloo Record (Canada) – March 13
Arca Max – March 15