Healthcare Protest

UA instructor watches healthcare vote: NBC 13 (Birmingham) – July 30

A University of Alabama instructor stayed awake until the early morning hours watching that vote on the Senate floor. Just last week, University of Alabama Global Studies Instructor Frannie James was arrested in Washington during a healthcare protest. Tonight, she feels relief.

Summer Reflections

UA students reflect on summer: Daily Mountain Eagle – July 30

Four students from the University of Alabama’s New College and Honors College have spent the past two months in Jasper interning with various organizations. Jenna Minser, Kimberly Oliveira, Brittany Grady and Anastasiya Titarenko shared their experiences at the First Bank of Jasper on Thursday to discuss what they learned during their time in Walker County, prior to their last day in Jasper on Friday.

Racial Divide

Is there really a racial divide between North and South?: The American Conservative – July 30

Whether it is primarily due to migration, mass media, federal policy, or the homogenizing effects of global capitalism, the cultural and political differences between the North and South have become less pronounced in recent decades. But it remains unclear just how different Southerners remain from their fellow citizens in other parts of the country. White Southerners’ attitudes on the issue of race remain a question of particular interest and importance. (George Hawley (@georgehawleyUA) is an assistant professor of political science at the University of Alabama.)

Summer Commencement

UA to hold commencement ceremony on Saturday: ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – July 31

Saturday is graduation day for more than 750 undergraduate and graduate students at The University of Alabama. Summer commencement begins at 9 a.m. at Coleman Coliseum on the UA campus. The ceremony will be broadcast live at ua.edu/commencement. It will be archived for 30 days.
Crimson White – Aug. 3
Tuscaloosa News – Aug. 3
Al.com – Aug. 4
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Aug. 5

American Political Science Association Fellowship

UA doctoral student to receive national fellowship: Crimson White – Aug. 2

University of Alabama student Cameryn Blackmore, who is on campus pursuing her PhD in political science, has been named the recipient of a national fellowship award from the American Political Science Association. Blackmore is one of 23 students nationwide who will be receiving the honor of membership in the APSA Minority Fellows Program.

Senate Race

‘Conservative thought leaders’ Hannity, Ingraham, Coulter, back Mo Brooks. Will it help in tight Senate race?: Al.com – Aug. 3

In December 1990, WVNN radio in the Huntsville region needed a temporary talk show host to “pinch hit” for a bit until the station’s new full-time hire arrived. The pinch-hitter was Mo Brooks, who was somewhat familiar to listeners as a state lawmaker from the area. The soon-to-arrive hire was Sean Hannity, who no one knew much about … Richard Fording, a political science professor at the University of Alabama, said the conservative media endorsements give Brooks an advantage in showing that he is “pro-Trump.” Hannity, Ingraham and others have consistently been big backers of Donald Trump’s candidacy and the early portions of his presidency.

President Trump

At Bradley Byrne town hall, questions swirl about Trump’s behavior: Al.com – Aug. 4

U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne wasn’t surprised that a question about President Donald Trump’s behavior would surface at one of his town hall meetings, and on Thursday, a retired military chaplain posed it to the congressman … Some political observers believe that Trump’s behavior could become a heavy burden on the GOP for the foreseeable future. For example, William Stewart, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Alabama, said, “I could see the president’s erratic behavior as putting Republican officeholders at the national level in a difficult position. They are consistent conservatives, but the president doesn’t seem to be consistent on anything.”

New Gallery

New Gallery at APSU launches inaugural exhibition “Jamey Grimes: Eclipse”: Clarksville Online (Tennessee) – Aug. 5

The New Gallery, with support from the Austin Peay State University Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts and the APSU Department of Art + Design, will present Jamey Grimes: Eclipse, to kick off the department’s 2017-18 exhibition season … Grimes lives in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he teaches in the Department of Art and Art History at The University of Alabama, and through Auburn University’s Alabama Prison Arts + Education Project.

Also making headlines

University of Alabama students head back to Tuscaloosa: CBS 42 (Birmingham) – July 30

Capstone Rural Health Center to give away backpacks: WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Aug. 1