College-bound scramble for spot
Tampa Bay Tribune – Sept. 5
…The University of Alabama keeps a recruiter in Orlando who visits schools along the Interstate 4 corridor. The number of students graduating from high schools in Alabama has been flat, and is expected to remain that way. That leaves room at the state universities, said Mary Spiegel, executive undergraduate admissions director at the University of Alabama. And there's more wiggle room for students' academic credentials. The average GPA among incoming freshmen at Alabama is 3.3, Spiegel said. Of Florida students, she said, 'I think we have a lot to offer them here…

UA adjusts for first game day changes
Crimson White – Sept. 5
…Although there were some technical difficulties, the area was crowded with people watching the games, said Gina Johnson, associate vice president of auxiliary services. "It was shoulder to shoulder with people watching the games during the day," Johnson said…To avoid long lines in front of the gates, the University hired extra staff to help check ACTion cards and students into the game, UA spokeswoman Deborah Lane said…

Strive for Five kicks off today
Crimson White – Sept. 5
…Today marks the beginning of the "Strive for Five" program, a health improvement program created by the Office of Health Promotion and Wellness designed to encourage University staff and faculty members to adopt healthy lifestyles…Rebecca Kelly, director of the Office of Health and Wellness Promotions, said she came up with the program because she saw a need to promote healthy habits and increase activity on campus. "We hope to provide a vehicle to help individuals change their lifestyles with group support and a fun program," she said…

UA curbs energy consumption
Crimson White – Sept. 5
With alarmingly high summer temperatures, the University took measures to prevent campus energy consumption from skyrocketing. University energy engineer Robert Martin said the Capstone has made attempts to curb energy use…

Candidates blame parents, police for ballgame violence
Birmingham News – Sept. 5
…Although there may be little politicians can do to stop a shooting like this one, it's no surprise that candidates for mayor stepped up to talk about it, said David Lanoue, chairman of political science at the University of Alabama. "The more spectacular the crime is, the more people feel vulnerable," Lanoue said. "When citizens are feeling vulnerable, politicians are forced to react." …

Retailers move east, but business on boulevard still strong
Montgomery Advertiser – Sept. 5
…East Boulevard will likely remain a key part of Montgomery's retail scene, at least in the near future, said Kristy Reynolds, Bruno Associate Professor of Retail Marketing at the University of Alabama. But it may not be the small, up-market shops that drive traffic on the boulevard of the future, Reynolds said…

Austin High gets pilot conservation program
Decatur Daily – Sept. 5
…Project Community Director Doug Phillips, host of Alabama Public Television’s “Discovering Alabama” program and a University of Alabama professor, said he hopes the project will continue beyond one year. Discovering Alabama and the Alabama Museum of Natural History at The University of Alabama administer the program with funding from a $126,000 Alabama Association of Conservation Districts grant…

University of Alabama's Plank Center Awards More than $17,000 in PR Leadership Grants
AllAmericanPatriots.com – Sept. 5
The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations at The University of Alabama will award $17,000 to support two research projects that will enhance understanding of factors that contribute to effective and ethical leadership in public relations. “We congratulate the grant recipients and look forward to the results of their research,” said Dr. Bruce Berger, director of the Plank Center and chair of the advertising and public relations department in the UA College of Communication and Information Sciences…