Katie Britt’s SGA presidential past brought into question
In recent months, Katie Britt’s past leadership role in the University of Alabama Student Government Association has come into question as the hard-fought Senate election draws to a close. A recent report from 1819 News brings about the question: Should a U.S. Senate candidate or any other candidate seeking higher office have to answer for their past student government record? The SGA has served as a starting point for many of Alabama’s leaders, including Jim Zeigler, John Merrill, and Don Siegelman. Britt served as Alabama’s SGA president during the 2003-2004 academic school year. In October 2003, during Britt’s tenure, the SGA Senate passed a resolution urging the University’s Russell Student Health Center to offer the so-called morning-after pill. It was passed unanimously. However, it was later met with pushback from some students. Then student Joshua Taylor commented in an article from the school newspaper, the Crimson White, “I do not believe the University of Alabama as an educational institution should be distributing the morning after pill. A public-funded institution does not have the ability to decide where life begins.” The controversy with Britt’s participation in this issue stems from the question of whether Britt had veto powers and could have attempted a veto of the SGA Senate’s resolution calling on the University’s health center to offer the morning-after pill but chose not to. According to the report, two weeks after the morning-after pill unanimous resolution, she used that power to veto an SGA Senate parking resolution calling for a one-ticket limit per 24-hour period. Opponents quickly questioned her ability to veto the resolution. In February 2004, while Britt was still SGA president, the Crimson White investigated the veto question, which stemmed from her earlier veto of the SGA Senate’s parking resolution. The question remained unanswered for years until the SGA Constitution finally stated that resolutions were not subject to presidential vetos. Britt responded to questions about her time in the SGA, dismissing the resolution as something “she had no control of.” “As a Christian, conservative wife and mother, I am proud to be 100% pro-life. Both my faith and the science tell me that life begins at conception, and I’ll fight tirelessly to protect life in the Senate,” Britt said in a statement to 1819 News. “Over 63 million innocent unborn babies have been murdered in America since the disastrous Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, and my family and I are praying that the Supreme Court finally overturns Roe this year and allows states like Alabama to defend life. “As far as my time in college goes 20 years ago, I will admit to learning and singing every single word of the Auburn fight song. And, like Justice Kavanaugh, I might have even had the opportunity to enjoy a beer or two along the way — but only after I turned 21,” Britt continued. “I am sure there are also a laundry list of things that happened on campus while I was SGA president that I had no control of. At the end of the day, I’m proud to say I was an active leader in our College Republicans chapter back then. I was raised in a Christian, conservative household in Enterprise, Alabama, and that’s how my husband and I are raising our two children. If this is how low my opponents are stooping and how far they’re stretching, I must be doing something right.”
Sen. Richard Shelby announces $360 million UA funding NOAA research
Senator Richard Shelby, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, announced that NOAA has selected the University of Alabama (UA) to host a new cooperative institute focused on accelerating hydrology research and enhancing collaboration. This new institute will be created with an award of $360 million that will be distributed over the course of five years, with the potential for renewal in another five years. The new research venture will establish the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH) and will be administered by the Alabama Water Institute. It will consist of a group of 28 academic institutions, non-profit organizations, and government and industry partners with the goal of this institute will be to improve NOAA’s actionable water resource information for forecasts, watches, warnings, and related products to protect life and property and strengthen the national economy. NOAA selected the University of Alabama as the host for CIROH following a highly-competitive evaluation. The campus is home to the National Water Center, NOAA’s hub for U.S. water forecast operations, which supports research and collaboration efforts across federal water science and management agencies. “I am thrilled that the University of Alabama has received this competitive award to facilitate a cutting-edge Cooperative Institute focused on hydrology. UA has the unique environment and expertise to lead the nation in high-level water research between 28 partners. Thanks to the Alabama Water Institute’s leadership in assembling a world-class team, the growing scientific expertise and collaborations in Alabama will continue to benefit the nation. Additionally, NOAA’s efforts to create this innovative institute will, in turn, protect communities and promote wise investments across the nation through better water models, forecasts, and predictions. This award is excellent news for Alabama and its findings will influence decisions made across the continent for years to come,” stated Shelby in a press release. UA System Chancellor Finis St. John emphasized how the funding will help UA lead the nation in water research. “The addition of the Cooperative Institute to the University of Alabama’s campus bolsters UA’s position at the epicenter of water research and operations. The opportunity to earn this competitive grant and lead the nation in this transformative work providing exceptional educational opportunities for our students would not be possible without Senator Richard Shelby’s support to bring the National Water Center and U.S. Geological Survey partners to our campus,” St. John stated. “The research institutes were established on campus to support and expand upon the great work done by our faculty, staff, and students in addressing real challenges facing our society. This award will elevate those contributions, bringing innovation to such a critical issue as water quality and availability while enriching the educational experience of our students. The expertise of the Alabama Water Institute is positioned well to answer our nation’s call to improve the lives and livelihood of Americans and our partner nations,” said UA President Stuart R. Bell. “The new cooperative institute will work with NOAA to research and develop state-of-the-science water analysis, forecasts, and guidance, and the equitable delivery of decision-support services,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. “This program will train the next generation of scientists focused on addressing water issues and emergencies on all time scales, helping NOAA build a Climate Ready Nation that is responsive and resilient in a changing world.”
University of Alabama to develop CDC-funded campaign addressing vaccine confidence
The University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing was one of 10 schools selected by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) to develop a campaign to build confidence in COVID-19 vaccines and dispel health misinformation. AACN was awarded $1 million in funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to launch the Building COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Among Nurses and in Communities initiative and will provide funding for each university’s targeted campaign. UA’s efforts will be led by the Capstone College of Nursing’s Dr. Haley Townsend, assistant professor and project principal investigator; Dr. Paige Johnson, Saxon Chair of Rural Nursing; and Dr. Sara Kaylor, associate professor. The campaign will emphasize providing education and resources to rural communities. “Our team is thrilled to perform this work that will increase our nurses’ confidence in discussing vaccine hesitancy in Alabama communities, particularly in rural settings,” said Townsend. “We know this project can have a positive impact on the health and future of Alabama. We are humbled and thankful to AACN and the CDC for the funding support to the Capstone College of Nursing.” Campaign leaders will host a town hall-style event for students and faculty to discuss stories surrounding receipt or provision of the COVID-19 vaccine, dispel myths and fears, and offer training on how attendees can motivate others to get vaccinated. With the help of AACN, the Capstone College of Nursing will develop media with success stories and accurate information surrounding COVID-19 vaccines. Through a partnership with Gentry Drugs in Aliceville and CHOICE Inc. in Uniontown, UA nursing students will have the opportunity to provide education and use their training to connect with those who may be reluctant to receive the vaccine. With COVID-19 vaccines widely available, only 65% of Americans are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. According to the AACN, the initiative was developed to help nursing school faculty and students have effective conversations about COVID-19 vaccinations to boost consumer confidence. Participating schools of nursing will undertake a variety of education and outreach activities to reach individuals and populations at risk. This story originally appeared on the University of Alabama’s website.
University of Alabama revisits pairing KKK leader and Black student names
The University of Alabama is reconsidering its decision last week to retain the name of a one-time governor who led the Ku Klux Klan on a campus building while adding the name of the school’s first Black student. Trustees will meet publicly in a live-streamed video conference on Friday to revisit their decision to keep the name of former Alabama Gov. Bibb Graves on a three-story hall while renaming it Lucy-Graves Hall to also honor Autherine Lucy Foster, the University of Alabama System said. The decision to honor Foster alongside a one-time KKK grand cyclops was criticized harshly by some. An editorial in the student newspaper said Graves’ name doesn’t belong beside Lucy’s, given his association with the violent, racist organization. Foster herself expressed ambivalence, telling WIAT-TV she didn’t know much about Graves, who was considered a progressive, pro-education governor in the 1930s, despite having led the Klan in Montgomery during a period when it was at its strongest. “I wouldn’t say it doesn’t bother me, but I accept it because I didn’t ask for it, and I didn’t know they were doing it until I was approached the latter part of last year,” said Foster, 92. The committee that recommended honoring both people together “acknowledges the complexity of this amended name,” the university said. “The board’s priority is to honor Dr. Autherine Lucy Foster, who, as the first African American student to attend the University of Alabama, opened the door for students of all races to achieve their dreams at the university. Unfortunately, the complex legacy of Governor Graves has distracted from that important priority,” it said. Foster, who lives in metro Birmingham, briefly attended classes in Graves Hall after enrolling at all-white Alabama in 1956 but was expelled three days later after her presence brought protests and threats against her life. In 2019, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the university, where she had returned and earned a master’s degree in education in 1992. The university also recognized Foster in 2017 with a historic marker in front of Graves Hall, which houses the college of education. It named a clock tower after Foster, and she’s a member of the university’s student hall of fame. Graves, who began the first of two terms as governor in 1927, left the KKK in the late 1920s, after multiple terms in the legislature. As a member of the House, he opposed the ratification of Alabama’s 1901 Constitution, which was meant to ensure white supremacy in the state and remains in effect today although heavily amended. Several state universities have stripped Graves’ name from buildings in recent years as the nation reconsidered its past. Troy University renamed its Bibb Graves Hall for the late Rep. John Lewis, who was denied admission there in 1957 and led voting rights marchers in Selma in 1965. John England Jr., a former Alabama trustee who is Black, served as chairman of the naming committee. He previously said the members wrestled with what to do about Graves’ name. “Some say he did more to directly benefit African American Alabamians than any other governor through his reform. Unfortunately, that same Gov. Graves was associated with the Ku Klux Klan. Not just associated with the Ku Klux Klan, but a Grand Cyclops – It’s hard for me to even say those words,” he said. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
University of Alabama partners with USGS to build Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility
The University of Alabama is partnering with the U.S. Geological Survey to construct a new Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility (HIF), a state-of-the-art science and engineering facility that will support the agency’s Water Enterprise observing networks and research. “I am pleased that the U.S. Geological Survey has chosen to relocate its Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility to the University of Alabama, a leading innovator in the field of water research and science. This new facility will expand on the Alabama Water Institute’s critical mission of furthering the study of water as a weather-related threat, as a resource, and for distribution. I look forward to the transformative discoveries that will come from this new partnership, as well as the economic benefit it will bring to Alabama,” said U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby. Congress appropriated $38.5 million to replace the current aging USGS facilities at the NASA Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, with the requirement to collocate with complementary academic and federal partners. “We extend our sincere appreciation to Senator Shelby, who played an integral role throughout this process and helped ensure the university could expand its water research program as global demand increases,” said UA System Chancellor Finis St. John. “With the Alabama Water Institute, the Global Water Security Center, and now the USGS-HIF, the University of Alabama has cemented its position as the nation’s leader in this critical area.” UA was selected as the site of the new HIF for the opportunities it provides to dovetail with other water-related research and development already conducted on campus, including the NOAA National Water Center. The HIF, which will be built on the north side of campus near the Black Warrior River, will serve a fundamental role at USGS in providing instrumentation and equipment services to USGS Science Centers and external partners. “With the addition of the USGS-HIF to Tuscaloosa, our campus will serve as the epicenter for water research and operations in the United States,” said UA President Stuart Bell. “This mission-driven partnership will provide countless teaching, research, and service opportunities for our students and faculty.” The new USGS-HIF is expected to increase economic development in the region. USGS anticipates the facility will also support and encourage strong collaboration with other federal agencies on campus. The 95,000-square-foot, two-story facility will include a hydraulics lab, water quality labs, field testing facilities, environmental chambers, sensor innovation space, warehouse, training labs, network operations center, and administrative offices. Construction is expected to begin in late 2022, and the USGS plans to take occupancy in 2023. “This partnership will ensure a world-class USGS facility for the testing and development of cutting-edge USGS hydrologic instrumentation, which provides the backbone for our near-real-time water monitoring and other research,” said Don Cline, associate director for the USGS Water Mission Area. “This information enriches the lives of everyday Americans and is used nationwide by all types of end-users, from water managers to recreational boaters, to make critical decisions.” Water is a signature research and academic focus at UA The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees recently approved the creation of the Global Water Security Center, which will be part of the Alabama Water Institute and will provide national decision-makers with strategic information, groundbreaking research, applied scientific techniques, and transformative best practices to inform appropriate action regarding water distribution. Mike Gremillion, an experienced weather professional in the military and intelligence communities, will lead the Global Water Security Center while continuing as deputy director of the AWI. The AWI, led by executive director Scott Rayder, serves as a world-class interdisciplinary water research institute that develops pathbreaking, holistic, and environmentally friendly solutions to ensure people and ecological systems in the community, state, nation, and world are water secure, with access to clean water and are resilient to extreme events. Rayder has played a key role in continuing collaboration with the NOAA National Water Center on UA’s campus. “As global demand for water increases alongside a predicted decrease in water quality and availability, the University of Alabama is taking a leadership role to ensure the nation can better understand water security and predict how changes will impact the geopolitical sphere,” said Dr. Russell Mumper, vice president for research and economic development. “We are pleased to welcome USGS to Tuscaloosa and stand ready to support USGS and NWC in their missions.” This story originally appeared on the University of Alabama’s website.
Richard Shelby announces $4M to establish a national center on forensics at University of Alabama
U.S. Senator Richard Shelby announced that the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice (NIJ) agency has awarded $4,000,000 to the University of Alabama (UA) to establish and operate a National Center on Forensics. The funding is in partnership with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences (ADFS) and the Alabama District Attorney’s Association. The funding was provided through the FY21 Consolidated Appropriations Act. The center helps provide forensic science and legal training to law enforcement, district judges, prosecutors, and other criminal justice agencies. It will also give access to education, training, and provide best practices in the forensic science community. “The U.S. Department of Justice has awarded The University of Alabama $4 million for the development of a National Center on Forensics, one of the first of its kind in the United States. This is outstanding news,” Shelby said in a press release. “The NIJ funding will allow UA to implement important training and learning opportunities in fields where forensic science and law intersect, with a heightened focus on underserved rural areas. I look forward to the lasting benefits that this new center will undoubtedly have on forensic science for years to come.” Senior associate vice president for research and economic development Dr. John Higginbotham stated, “This unique and emergent initiative will enable our UA team and our UAB partners to help improve forensic investigation, particularly in rural areas of our state and become a national leader for these training and learning opportunities. The grant will provide many valuable benefits, including the ability to offer medical and legal learning opportunities for students training as deputy medical examiners or coroners, with a special emphasis for those planning to live and work in underserved rural areas. We are grateful for the support of Senator Shelby during this highly competitive grant process and look forward to formally presenting this to the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees.” ADFS director Angelo Della Manna praised Shelby’s efforts. “The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences is one of the nation’s oldest forensic science systems and has a long and well-established history of excelling in several previous NIJ forensic science initiatives. As the only accredited provider of forensic science services in Alabama, ADFS is uniquely positioned to help train medical students early on in their medical school education sequence on the exciting career options of becoming a medical examiner/coroner through the Center, as well as helping the Center provide local, state, and nationwide training to forensic science practitioners on new and emerging technologies in the field. We offer our deepest thanks to Senator Shelby for his long-standing support of forensic science and look forward to partnering with UA in this exciting endeavor to create the National Center on Forensics on the campus of the University of Alabama,” stated Della Manna.
Indian tribes seek return of remains, artifacts from Alabama
Seven tribes are asking an Alabama university to return the remains of nearly 6,000 people excavated over the years from what once was one of the largest Native American settlements in North America. The Oklahoma-based Muscogee Nation, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and five other tribes have filed a petition under a federal law for the return of 5,982 “human remains of our ancestors” and funerary objects now held by the University of Alabama and its Moundville Archaeological Park. “These are human beings. We consider them to be our grandparents,” Raelynn Butler, the Muscogee Nation’s historic and cultural preservation manager, said in an interview. Butler said tribes are seeking the return so the remains can be reburied with the funerary objects. In a Friday letter to tribal officials, James T. Dalton, Executive Vice President and Provost of the University of Alabama, said that the university hopes to work with the tribes. The Alabama site, simply known as Moundville because of the large earthen mounds constructed there, once housed what was believed to be a large and thriving settlement. While its ancient name is unknown, the city was founded around 1120 and, at its peak, was one of the largest Native American settlements in North America, according to the university. The site included a great plaza and 26 earthen mounds. It later fell into decline, although it was used as a ceremonial site and burial ground. It was largely abandoned by the 1500s. The site and museum run by the University of Alabama is now a regular stop for elementary school students on field trips. Tens of thousands of indigenous peoples, including the Muscogee Nation, were forcibly removed from their ancestral homelands by the U.S. government between 1830 and 1850 during the devastating Trail of Tears. Muskogee Nation officials came to Alabama this week to meet with university representatives and deliver a letter to the governor. “The remains held by the University were left behind when our ancestors were forced from our ancestral homes in the Southeastern United States and into other states through the nene estvmerkv or ‘road of misery’ also known as the “Trail of Tears,” David W. Hill, Principal Chief of the Muscogee Nation and Chief Gary Batton wrote in letters to Gov. Kay Ivey. “While no one can change the past, it is our hope that you will help encourage others to do what is right in the present,” they added. The 1990 federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act requires federally funded institutions, such as universities, to return Native American remains and cultural items to lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations. However, the return has been slow to happen. While nearly 83,000 remains in the U.S. had been returned to descendants, the National Park Service indicates remains of about 116,000 Native Americans are still held by institutions around the country. Many of them have not been linked to a particular tribe — a designation called “culturally affiliated” — that allows return. The settlement at Moundville predates the modern tribes, but the seven tribes argue they are linked by lineage and language. Tribal officials are asking the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee to declare the site culturally affiliated with the tribes to pave the way for the return of the remains. A hearing is scheduled for next week. “We still have a lot of work to do in the Southeast. Only 26% of remains of ancestors that have been dug up or excavated from the Southeastern states have been returned or repatriated to tribes through the NAGPR process,” Butler said. Dalton said the University of Alabama will be providing more suggestions on the “most productive and efficient manner to address the pending joint request.” “It is our hope that, in joining with the tribes in consultation, all parties can reaffirm their shared goals of honoring and preserving the cultural heritage of the Moundville civilization,” Dalton wrote. The tribe has been seeking the return of the remains and objects taken from Moundville since 2018 and have “thus far been unsuccessful in obtaining rightful return,” they wrote. “We are hopeful the university does the right thing. We are hopeful the state urges the university to do the right thing,” Muskogee Creek ambassador Jonodev O. Chaudhuri said.
Former Alabama dean Chuck Karr named interim president at UAH
A former engineering dean at the University of Alabama is being recommended as interim president at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, the University of Alabama System said Wednesday. Chancellor Finis St. John’s appointment of Chuck Karr still must be approved by trustees, but St. John was a member of the board for 17 years and opposition to Karr was unlikely. Karr, who worked as engineering dean at the Tuscaloosa campus for 16 years, would replace Darren Dawson, who cited private family matters in stepping down after less than three years on the job at UAH, which has an emphasis on engineering and technology. “The board of trustees and the University of Alabama System have made the success of UAH a top priority, and I am confident that Dr. Karr is well-positioned to help UAH reach its full potential,” St. John said in a statement. Trustees will vote on Karr’s appointment during a meeting Thursday. The interim appointment would be for at least 18 months, the system said, and Dawson will remain on the payroll until the end of the year. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Alabama campus no longer requiring masks if fully vaccinated
The University of Alabama will no longer require face coverings in most of its facilities for people fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. Beginning Friday, masks only will be mandated for unvaccinated people indoors and in crowded outdoor settings or during outdoor activities that involve sustained close contact with others who are unvaccinated, the university said in a statement. Masks are will remain required for people in patient clinical-care settings at University Medical Center, the Student Health Center, the Capstone Village assisted living and specialty care units, Brewer-Porch Children’s Center, and the Working on Womanhood program — and for those on Crimson Ride buses, WBRC-TV reported. The university said unvaccinated people will not have to wear masks when eating or drinking or while maintaining appropriate distancing, when alone in offices with closed doors, while exercising, or in residence hall rooms. Since the pandemic began, 15,573 COVID-19 deaths have been reported in Alabama, according to the state Department of Public Health. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
University of Alabama extends mask requirement for COVID-19
The University of Alabama has extended its indoor mask requirement through October 29 to protect against the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Face coverings will continue to be required inside all non-residential buildings on the campus in Tuscaloosa, including all classrooms and academic buildings, and on-campus transportation through that date, the university announced Wednesday. The policy applies even to people who are vaccinated, but there are some exceptions to the rule on the campus of more than 38,000 students. Masks are not required in residence hall rooms or in residential common areas when social distancing is practiced. Masks are also not required during football games at Bryant-Denny Stadium except for fans in enclosed areas such as elevators or club seating. The practical effect of the rules are unclear since bars, restaurants, and other businesses in the student-oriented city are operating without masking requirements and often are crowded, particularly on football weekends when thousands of visitors converge on the city. The university’s announcement came as the Alabama Department of Public Health encouraged school systems statewide to continue requiring masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. While some local districts have relaxed mask mandates because of declining cases, Jefferson County schools said they would extend a masking rule beyond Friday, when it had been set to expire. Alabama has one of the nation’s lowest vaccination rates and worst death rates from COVID-19. Statewide, 14,200 people have died from the illness, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
University of Alabama offers monetary COVID-19 vaccination incentive to students
As Universities across the nation are bracing to host thousands of students in the classroom this upcoming Fall, many have forced students to supply proof of their COVID-19 vaccination, while other institutions have opted to offer a wide array of benefits. The University of Alabama sent an email to students Friday, offering to insert an automatic $20 within the students’ “Bama Cash” account if students notify the school that they have been vaccinated by August 28, 2021. The school email clarifies, “All students currently enrolled for the Fall 2021 Semester are eligible and qualify after their first dose. Check the status of your $20 Bama Cash reward through the eAccounts app, Apple Wallet, Google Pay, or the Action Card website. For a list of locations that accept Bama Cash and more information, visit the Bama Cash website.” The message includes no further information regarding the source of these awarded funds, which adds to the stack of ethical and legal concerns the incentive opportunity raises. The American Psychological Association additionally forewarned institutions in March against socially engineering individuals to receive the COVID-19 vaccine stating, “Direct monetary incentives are likely to backfire.” A March cover story analyzed the intersection between psychological science and vaccine hesitancy as they cautioned, “Research led by psychologist and marketing professor Cynthia Cryder, Ph.D., of Washington University in St. Louis, found that paying people to participate in potentially risky research studies made the participants believe that the studies were riskier than if they weren’t paid (Social Science & Medicine, Vol. 70, No. 3, 2010). The money ‘conveys that this is a risky thing that you don’t want to do unless we’re paying you,’ Chapman says.” However, the University of Alabama is not the only American college gearing up with carrot-and-stick measures designed to persuade students to become vaccinated before returning to school this Fall. A U.S. News and World Report reveals some of the current benefits universities are offering, “One college, Rowan University in New Jersey, is both requiring all students to be vaccinated and also providing monetary incentives: up to $1,000 in credit toward tuition and housing.” Opponents of this nationwide phenomenon argue these monetary vaccination incentives lack equity and fairness when accounting for the multitude of students across the nation who have already been granted religious or medical exemptions from receiving the vaccine.
Alabama researchers working on robots to be used by police
