Toxic Coal Ash

Uniontown is polluted with coal ash. Here’s how some UA students are helping: Crimson White – March 14

About an hour away from The University of Alabama, the city of Uniontown faces a daily crisis. In December 2008, a malfunction at the Tennessee Kingston Fossil Plant released more than a billion gallons of toxic coal ash. Two years later, with approval from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, the Tennessee Valley Authority transported some of the coal ash more than 300 miles by train to Arrowhead Landfill in the low-income, predominantly Black community of Uniontown. … After seeing Uniontown, a documentary by Fraser Jones, UA student Mary Eliza Beaumont was inspired to act. Beaumont is a senior majoring in environmental science and a member of the Blackburn Institute, a leadership development and civic engagement program on campus.

History Tourism

Alabama’s hidden history: How the U.S. 43 project could fuel terrorism: Al.com – March 15

“I think there is a way in which a transportation official can imagine more of an obligation to bring traffic, or at least information about the past to the road they are building,” said John Giggie, director of the Summersell Center for the Study of the South at The University of Alabama. “Places like Eutaw and Demopolis have a rich history in the civil rights era and are not told right because access to them is off the beaten path. I see no reason why these roads can’t be built with the ambition of, ‘can we enliven the historical past?’”
Chron.com
SFGate
The Washington Times
Houston Chronicle
Star-Telegram.com
…and many more

Spring Commencement

Alabama announces Spring 2021 commencement details: WVUA – March 19

The University of Alabama announced its dates and times for Spring 2021 commencement. There will be nine ceremonies on the weekend of April 30-May 2, all featuring safety protocols and social distancing. With over 5,000 graduates expected in attendance, UA is limiting each participant to four guests. Ceremonies, as always, will be at Coleman Coliseum located on campus.