Absentee Ballots

Alabama no longer allows COVID concerns as reason for absentee ballot: Al.com – Aug. 15

… Richard Fording, a political science professor at The University of Alabama, has been critical of Alabama’s slow approach toward election reform. He said he believes the state has one of the toughest absentee eligibility laws in the country that leads “unsurprisingly” to one of the lowest rates of absentee voter turnout. Alabama, for instance, was the only state to score a “F” by the Washington, D.C.-based Brookings Institute during its analysis last year of each state’s ability to allow residents to vote by mail during the 2020 election.

War on Terrorism

UA political science professor comments on Afghanistan: WVUA – Aug. 17

There are fears that the Taliban will take revenge on any Afghan that helped the United States during the war. Dr. Daniel Levine, who teaches political science here at The University of Alabama, says our entry into a War on Terrorism was certainly understandable 20 years ago, but now it is time for Americans to move forward wisely. “My memory of the way the war began was that it was very closely tied to 9-11 and to the particular kind of fear that people experienced in the wake of 9-11…”

LeAnna Roberts

Tuscaloosa 15-year-old celebrates first day of school at University of Alabama: WVTM 13 – Aug. 17

A Tuscaloosa teenager is starting a new chapter. She’s a full-time student at The University of Alabama.

Active Shooter Incidents

The popular Alabama bar has been closed since the killing, but is it an ‘active shooter’ incident?: Al.com – Aug. 18

… But when the FBI determines “active shooter” incidents, they limit them to “planned or premeditated attacks,” said Adam Lankford, a professor in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at The University of Alabama.

High Energy Neutrinos

Study examines emission from blazer TXS 0506 + 056: Florida News Times – Aug. 18

… A group of astronomers, led by Weidong Jin of The University of Alabama, recently completed a three-year observation campaign for TXS 0506 + 056. This is the relationship between this blazer and high energy neutrinos, hoping to shed more light on the emissions from this source. To this end, they adopted VERITAS, which consists of an array of four 12-meter imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory (FLWO) in southern Arizona.

Course Delivery Methods

‘Not everyone wants to go back’: UA professors prepare for return to in-person classes: Crimson White – Aug. 18

As the University returns to in-person classes for the fall semester, professors have received mixed messages about offering online options to students. Some students and teachers are nervous about returning to face-to-face operations as COVID-19 cases continue to surge. In an email to University deans, UA Provost James Dalton stressed a return to “normal course delivery methods.”

Faculty & Staff Accolades

University of Alabama announces faculty and staff accolades: Tuscaloosa Patch – Aug. 18

The UA Career Center’s Campus Career Influencer Program targets faculty and staff who have a compelling interest and commitment to the development of student career readiness, in addition to academic excellence. Influencers promote career awareness and competencies through personal interaction with students in their current roles by providing information, data, event details and specialized development to guide students to the resources, programming and career development provided by the UA Career Center.

Rhyan White

Ultimate Alabama Athletes: Rhyan White: NBC (Mobile) – Aug. 19

Today’s ultimate athlete is Rhyan White. White is a swimmer for The University of Alabama. She made the Olympic team this year and won a silver medal in the four by 100 medley relay. She also competed in the 100 and 200 meter backstroke finishing fourth in each at the Tokyo games.

Official Hymn

UA School of Music premieres official hymn: WVUA – Aug. 20

The University of Alabama’s School of Music premiered its official hymn this afternoon. The hymn is titled “After a Season of Silence: a Huxford hymn” and was created by UA’s head of music composition, Dr. Amir Zaheri. Inspiration for the hymn came from the COVID-19 pandemic that silenced many concerts and performances this past year.