Bamalog: The UA Undergraduate Admissions Blog

UA Wins Annual Food Drive Competition

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

Several days before the 2008 Iron Bowl, The University of Alabama won this year's Beat Auburn Beat Hunger Food Drive, which ran from October 20 to November 20. UA collected 270,000 pounds of goods while Auburn collected 210,000.

The food collected in last year's competition was able to provide for families in need until March. The efforts of the 2 universities have raised more than 1.5 million pounds of food since the event's inception in 1994.

View photos from the food drive on the UA Community Service Center website.

Collegiate Readership Program provides free newspapers around campus

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

I recently wrote this for the College of Communication and Information Sciences newsletter The Phifer Piper. After beginning as a project within the College of Communications, the Collegiate Readership Program has gained attention over the years and other UA colleges and schools have begun making newspapers of national and international importance available for students campus wide.

With a stand located outside room 216 in Reese-Phifer Hall, College of Communication students have access to free copies of USA Today and the New York Times.

The newspapers are a part of the Collegiate Readership Program, which has been in effect at the University for 5 years. The program uses newspapers as a teaching tool.

The idea behind the program is to connect students with real-life examples through current events.

Studies show that students who read the newspaper are more informed on current events, have a higher vocabulary, do better academically, and are more politically involved, according to Journalism Department Chair Jennifer Greer.

"This works well in conjunction with the school newspaper," Greer said. "USA Today has good national (coverage), but the New York Times is unparalleled with its international news."

The newspaper stands are not only located in Reese Phifer, but also across campus.

New student group seeks to improve literacy in West Alabama

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

LITE (Literacy Is The Edge) is a new student organization at The University of Alabama with the goal of improving literacy rates in West Alabama. LITE is recruiting student volunteers to tutor children and adults, write stories, develop a web site, and speak to groups about the importance of literacy.

LITE is just one of the many opportunities at UA for students to get involved in serving the community.

University Days gives prospective students an up-close look at UA

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

Each semester, University Days offers students several chances to take a day-long visit of the University and everything it has to offer. As I entered the Ferguson Center on November 11, I ran into a crowd of eager prospective students ready to take part in the second University Days session of the Fall semester.

During University Days, prospective students can tour the campus and talk to faculty, staff, and current students. Students can also discuss their interests and goals with academic advisors and faculty, or find out how to get involved in some of the more than 200 student organizations on campus.

As I watched the students file into order for registration, Avanti members greeted them and handed out nametags, new Alabama T-shirts, and brochures to browse through later. After registration, students had the opportunity to look around an Information Fair.

Later, the students were welcomed and divided into groups for their College or School Information Sessions. Following an Avanti member to the desired location, students got a chance to see where they might be located in less than one year.

Students weren't the only ones having fun and learning about the University though. I spotted parents all across campus as well.

University Days covers a broad range of topics including admissions, undergraduate schools and colleges, majors and minors, cost and financial aid, scholarships, on-campus living and dining, student organizations, and career opportunities and services.

One session students were able to attend was about Alabama's Freshman Learning Communities. Freshman Learning Communities offer a pre-planned schedule of courses that pairs you up with other students with similar interests and sets your education on the right track.

At the end of the day, students and parents left campus excitedly discussing all the possibilities of a future at Alabama. From chit-chat of how to get involved in their college or what to put in their new dorm room, the students gained personal knowledge of what the University is and what it offers to them.

Learn more about University Days at universitydays.ua.edu.

Paul Jones Donates $4.8M Art Collection to UA

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EST

One of the top 100 art collectors in the United States, Paul R. Jones has donated a 1,700-piece art collection valued at $4.8 million to The University of Alabama.

The collection includes a variety of art from more than 600 artists, including Romare Bearden, Prentice Herman (P.H.) Polk, Carrie Mae Weems and Benny Andrews.

"The Jones Collection is remarkable not only for the breadth and quality of African-American artists represented in it, but also because it brings together a body of artists who worked at a time in recent American history when African-American artists were not widely collected," said Dr. Amalia Amaki, professor of art in the UA department of art and art history.

Engineering Day a Success

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EST

The College of Engineering hosted a successful E-Day on October 2. Prospective students and their families were welcomed to the College of Engineering, took tours, and viewed exhibits in H.M. Comer Hall.

Lynsey Dill, Coordinator of Student Recruitment for the College of Engineering, said this year's turnout for E-Day was even better than expected. If you didn't make it to E-Day, you can learn more about the College of Engineering at eng.ua.edu, or contact Lynsey Dill for more information.

UA Recycling Numbers on the Rise

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EST

The University's dedication to becoming a more environmentally friendly campus is evident in a massive increase in recycled goods. From October 2007 to September 2008, UA recycled 468 tons of material, a 151 percent increase over the 186 tons collected the previous year.

With programs that make recycling convenient for students, I find myself thinking twice before absent-mindedly throwing away a finished soda bottle.

Learn more about UA's recycling statistics.

UA Senior Helps Students Eat Healthy Meals

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EST

Dana Lewis, a senior at UA, has single-handedly made an impact on campus by changing the way we eat. She has integrated a nutritional labeling system for on-campus dining halls. The initiative began because Lewis wanted to be more aware of what she was eating due to living with diabetes.

Read more about Dana and how she's making an impact at UA.

UA Green Fair Kickoff Event

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST

As part of the University's dedication to making the campus better for the environment, UA is "Going Green" and hosting its first Green Fair on Thursday, October 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Green Fair is a way to make students and faculty more aware of how they affect the environment. In addition to giving professors the opportunity to showcase environmental research, the Green Fair will feature bands, a "green" car, and a bake sale featuring organic food.

In preparation for the Green Fair, the Community Service Center sponsored a kickoff event that called for student volunteers to help clean up the campus. Volunteers were broken up into teams and sent out across campus to pick up trash and collect recyclable goods.

UA students were very dedicated to the cause and determined to do their part. Looking through the crowd of 58 volunteers, I even saw several green people. Yes, in fact, they were painted green for the event.

Clubs such as the Environmental Council, Freshman Forum, Xchange, and Sigma Chi fraternity were represented at the event, and awards were given out to the team that collected the most trash. All volunteers also received T-shirts for their service to the campus.

UA College of Engineering to host Engineering Day Open House

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST

The College of Engineering will host an open house for high school students and their families on Thursday, October 2, beginning at 8 a.m.

Engineering Day, or E-Day, is an opportunity for prospective students to take a closer look at the College of Engineering and a chance to get a realistic view of how engineering skills are used in everyday life.

More information on E-Day

Go for the Gold!

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST

Propelled by three UA players, the United States Women's Wheelchair Basketball Team brought home the gold medal this year in the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. Alana Nichols, Mary Allison Milford and Stephanie Wheeler brought the winning attitude of the Crimson Tide to the United States national team.

Tuscaloosa Area Attractions

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST

The University's student newspaper, The Crimson White recently did a listing of 10 popular cultural attractions in the Tuscaloosa community. If you are heading this way for a visit or to be a student, you might want to check out some of these spots.

Get On Board Day Provides Opportunities to Get Involved

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST

This week started out with some cloudy skies and rainy days, but the clouds parted and the rain stopped Wednesday for students and organizations to gather for Get On Board Day.

Sponsored by the Coordinating Council for Student Organizations, Get on Board Day is a great way for students get involved in some of the 275 organizations offered at Alabama.

Beginning at 10 in the morning, each organization was allotted a space in the area between Ferguson Center and B.B. Comer Hall. The various organizations had officers and members on hand to talk with students interested in their organizations.

The organizations featured at Get On Board Day included academic, social, political, and recreational groups as well as a few local venders.

Making my way through the crowd, I found myself talking with people at various booths and learning more about organizations I had not even heard of. I even signed up to get involved at one booth.

Get On Board Day takes place during the fall and spring semesters, so students who were not able to take part Wednesday will have another opportunity to visit the student fair next semester.

Best Selling Writer Visits UA to Talk Football

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST

In Tuscaloosa, football is not just a sport. It is a way of life. On game day, RVs and caravans of people from all over the country pour into town to support one of the most storied football programs in the nation.

No one knows that better than Warren St. John, a Birmingham native and author of "Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer: A Road Trip into the Heart of Fan Mania." The national bestseller documents the 1999 Alabama football season and St. John's journey to understand the culture of football fans.

Warren St. John recently visited the University of Alabama campus and spoke to a collection of students and faculty.

UA Doctoral Student Blogs from the Olympics

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST

As the top athletes across the world have journeyed to Beijing to compete in the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, Alabama's own third-year doctoral student in mass communication and Beijing native Lu Zheng has also traveled to Beijing. There Zheng acts as a trilingual reporter for Village Life, a daily publication circulated inside the Olympic Village. She is also documenting her experiences on a UA Blog: Inside the Olympic Village.

Capstone Convocation formally welcomes freshman class to UA

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST

Tuesday night's Capstone Convocation represented the formal welcoming of the freshman class to the University of Alabama, highlighting some of the accomplishments and credentials of the Class of 2012 and introducing them to what is possible as they begin their college careers.

A number of university officials took time out to introduce themselves and personally greet the incoming freshmen. Dr. Hank Lazer, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, served as moderator for the event, introducing a panel that included UA President Robert E. Witt, Student Government Association (SGA) President Cason Kirby, talented violinist Derryck "D-Sharp" Gleaton, members of the theatre department, and Kendra Key, student chair of the Blackburn Institute.

The evening is centered around the Capstone Creed, which was developed by students and is also demonstrated by students in the University of Alabama community:

"As a member of the University of Alabama community, I will pursue knowledge; act with fairness, honesty and respect; foster civic responsibility; and strive for excellence."

With that in mind, members of the panel delivered speeches encouraging the Class of 2012 to abide by the creed and adopt it as routine in their endeavors. Capstone Convocation concluded with a recitation of the alma mater and the Capstone Creed.

Following the event, a dessert reception gave freshmen a chance to get to know each other better, ask questions to Avanti staff members, and speak with members of the panel.

Bama Blast welcomes new students to campus

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST

As part of the Week of Welcome (WOW Week), Monday's Bama Blast event kicked off at 4 p.m. on the Quad. Designed to help welcome freshman and transfer students, Bama Blast featured free giveaways and a time to socialize with other new students before classes even began.

Although we had a little rain immediately before the start of Bama Blast, it quickly passed and did not dampen the day. Check-in booths lined the quad as Avanti team members gave out wristbands to all the participating students. With a wristband on hand, students had access to all that Bama Blast had to offer such as a free T-shirts and TCBY.

With a new Bama Blast T-shirt on and TCBY in hand, mingling students headed over to Denny Chimes where the famous Million Dollar Band played popular songs featured at Alabama games. After a large crowd gathered, the band members began to line up for a game day favorite — the Elephant Stomp.

Following the cry of "Roll Tide," students marched behind the Million Dollar Band toward Bryant-Denny Stadium. At the entrance gates, Avantis cheered and encouraged school spirit as they handed out shakers to all the students.

After finding a seat in the stadium, students looked out upon a field full of the glittering outfits of the Alabama Dance Team, the shiny instruments of the Million Dollar Band, and the shaking pom poms of Alabama cheerleaders. With the first home football game in the near future, students could learn all the cheers for their first game as a student.

Eli Gold, "the voice of Alabama football," led the pep rally with the help of the cheerleaders, Avantis, and of course Big Al. After the first notes of the first song, shakers flew in the air as everyone joined together in chanting the Alabama fight song, "Yea, Alabama!"

As part of the pep rally, the Alabama Basketball team and the freshman members of the Crimson Tide Gymnastics team were introduced. Students also got a chance to hear from Head Football Coach Nick Saban and Head Gymnastics Coach Sarah Patterson.

After an eventful Bama Blast, students headed back to the Quad to experience the Taste of Tuscaloosa, an event displaying food from local restaurants.

Bama Blast was designed to help new students socialize and from the sounds of the loud chatter and the glowing smiles seen across the Quad, it did just that. Students didn't just idly talk through introductory statements, they met their new cheering partners for gamedays and some of their future best friends.