A&S in the News: September 10-16, 2017

Cloud Lecture Series

Fall brings a full slate of arts offerings at W&MWilliamsburg and Yorktown Daily – Sept. 10

A mural project completed with visiting artist Steve Prince over the summer to kick off the yearlong commemoration of the 50th anniversary of W&M’s first African-American residential students will be unveiled this week and on permanent display in Swem Library … The Cloud Lecture series will host Trudier Harris, American literary historian and professor of English at The University of Alabama, at 5 p.m. on Sept. 28, in the Tucker Theatre. She is the author, editor or coeditor of 23 books, most recently The Scary Mason-Dixon Line: African American Writers and the South, South of Tradition: Essays on African American Literature,and The Concise Oxford Companion to African American Literature.

Alabama Student Association for Poetry

Student poets aim to build community with new organizationCrimson White – Sept. 11

When Jamarey Carter was a freshman at The University of Alabama, he saw a local poetry scene that was active and thriving. But after taking a break from college, he came back to find it hadn’t stayed that way. Knowing what the local poetry community could be, Carter and a few friends, including Jahman Hill, decided to found ASAP, the Alabama Student Association for Poetry.

Confederate Monuments Panel Discussion

Irma forces Confederate panel event to rescheduleAtlanta Journal-Constitution (Georgia) – Sept. 11

A panel discussion on Confederate monuments planned for tonight will be held later this month, due to Hurricane Irma – now Tropical Storm Irma. “Confederate Memorials: De-Mythologizing the Iconography of the South,” has been moved to at 7 p.m. Sept. 25 at the Margaret Mitchell House in Midtown. Admission is free but registration is encouraged. See this web site for details … Speakers include Regina Bradley, Kennesaw State University; James A. Crank, University of Alabama; Maurice J. Hobson, Georgia State University; and Erich Nunn, Auburn University.

Hurricane Harvey

Facing danger, Americans help AmericansCapital Research Center – Sept. 11

Hurricane Harvey left an unprecedented trail of devastation in its wake, rendering thousands in Houston, Texas without shelter or aid. But in the midst of historic tragedy the country rallied to help residents in their time of need as Americans of every stripe came together for the common good … In the spirit of giving back, four local radio stations owned by the broadcasting giant Clear Channel transformed their usual lineup of talk radio and music into what David Beito, a history professor at The University of Alabama, called “a relief clearinghouse.”

Hinduism in America

Heathen, Hindoo, HinduNew Books Network – Sept. 12

Scholars regularly assert that at Chicago’s World’s Parliament of Religions in 1893 Swami Vivekananda initiated Hinduism in America. Many histories of Hinduism in America reproduce this type of synthesizing narrative … In Heathen, Hindoo, Hindu: American Representations of India, 1721-1893 (Oxford University Press, 2017), Michael J. Altman, Assistant Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at The University of Alabama, tackles literary and visual accounts of religion in India to understand the production of the category Hinduism in America.

Top-Rated Professor

Douglas Klutz
Professor Douglas Klutz

Students choose their favorite professors – And the best places to studyForbes – Sept. 12 

Students have chosen their favorite college professors in a nationwide poll which also highlights their top places to study … The top-rated professor was Douglas Klutz at The University of Alabama, a criminal justice professor. One student commented: ‘Best class I have taken at UA. Must take if you are wanting to go to a law school to learn about legal stuff,’ while another said: ‘Amazing class and Mr. Klutz is such a nice teacher.’

Storm Preparation

UA professor discusses floodingWVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Sept. 12

We spoke today with Dr. Sagy Cohen in the Department of Geography at The University of Alabama. Cohen says we should be better prepared for more storms like these in the future.

Alabama School of Fine Arts

ASFA celebrating 50th anniversaryHoover Sun – Sept. 12

The Alabama School of Fine Arts is turning 50, and the school has prepared a special open house to introduce prospective students to their unique curriculum … Boyd has worked as ASFA’s stage manager for theater productions and was selected for the Capstone Leadership Academy at The University of Alabama.

Woodwind Quintet

Woodwind quintet to perform free concertTuscaloosa News – Sept. 13

The University of Alabama Capstone Woodwind Quintet will perform a free concert at 4 p.m. Sunday at Christ Episcopal Church, 605 Lurleen B. Wallace Blvd. The Capstone Woodwind Quintet consists of UA faculty members Diane Boyd Schultz on flute, Mary Lindsay Bailey on oboe, Jenny Mann on bassoon, Osiris J. Molina on clarinet and Skip Snead on horn. For Sunday’s performance, the quintet will be joined by pianist Kevin T. Chance.

Visiting Writers Series

Visiting Writers Series welcomes Douglas KearneyCrimson White – Sept. 13

The Visiting Writers Series will welcome Douglas Kearney to the UA campus on Thursday, September 14. Students are invited to come meet Kearney and discuss his works in the literary world. The event will take place from 7-8 p.m. at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center, where students can attend for free.

Diabetes Research

Creative minds: Potential diabetes lessons from binge-eating snakesNIH Director’s Blog – Sept. 13

Many people would do just about anything to avoid an encounter with a snake. Not Stephen Secor. Growing up in central New York State, Secor was drawn to them. He’d spend hours frolicking through forest and field, flipping rocks and hoping to find one. His animal-loving mother encouraged him to keep looking, and she even let him keep a terrarium full of garter snakes in his bedroom. Their agreement: He must take good care of them—and please make sure they don’t get loose.
Elbirunblogspot.com – Sept. 14

Governor Kay Ivey

Observers see Ivey as front-runner in Alabama governor’s raceAl.com – Sept. 13

The party primaries are almost nine months away, but some political observers already say it will be a formidable task to dislodge Gov. Kay Ivey from her position as front-runner in the governor’s race. Ivey announced last week that she would run, a move that was expected after she had already raised $1 million in campaign contributions for the race … William Stewart, professor emeritus of political science at The University of Alabama and author of “Alabama Politics in the Twenty-First Century,” said Ivey’s assets at this point outweigh any liabilities. “Ivey has handicaps such as being single and not having a photogenic family to put pictures of in her brochures,” Stewart said in an email.

National Science Foundation

NSF awards $14.7 million for research to deepen understanding of Earth’s biodiversityEureka Alert – Sept. 14

Symbiotic bacteria — microbes that have close and long-term relationships with their “hosts” — are everywhere on Earth: in soil, in coral reefs, in humans …2017 NSF Dimensions of Biodiversity Awards … Laura Reed, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa: Dimensions: Collaborative Research: Integrating phylogenetic, genetic, and functional approaches to dissect the role of toxin tolerance in shaping Drosophila biodiversity.

Million Dollar Band

Grandmother and grandson march at UA football gameNBC 13 (Birmingham) – Sept. 16

A Homewood woman and her grandson shared a special moment in front of thousands of football fans. Ethan Standard is use to performing with The University of Alabama’s Million Dollar Band, but the college sophomore is not use to performing with his grandmother. His grandmother, Faye Black, is part of the Million Dollar Band alumni. She performed back in the 1950’s when she was a student, and says getting to come back and perform with her grandson on alumni band weekend is a real treat.
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – Sept. 15
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Sept. 15

Luther Strange

Luther Strange touts ethics, anti-corruption team during Robertsdale appearanceAl.com – Sept. 16

U.S. Sen. Luther Strange is touting his approach to ethics, calling his former anti-corruption unit the “best public integrity unit” in the country during the waning days of a campaign ahead of the Sept. 26 GOP runoff … William Stewart, a professor emeritus of political sciences at The University of Alabama, said Strange’s recent messaging comes with some risks. “Alabama voters are not known for insisting on the highest standard of integrity when they vote,” Stewart said. “Otherwise, Alabama would not be ranked as one of the most corrupt states in the nation.”