A clean solution

UAB’S OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER

VOLUME 60, ISSUE 13

PHOTO BY LAKYN SHEPARD/ART EDITOR

A clean solution Global Soap Project founder speaks on ways to ease social issues Lauren Moore Blazer News Editor lrm33@uab.edu

See SOAP Page 6

Why we should surf the blue wave Group projects are never fair We can do more about sexual assault

Hopeless ramen-tics Alternative ways to prepare the classic student meal Juwayriah Wright CityLifestyle Reporter juwright@uab.edu ILLUSTRATION BY LEISHA CHAMBERS/ STAFF ILLUSTRATOR

The first time that Derreck Kayongo, Global Soap Project founder and former CEO of the Center for Civil and Human Rights, stayed in a hotel in America, he said that he was amazed at how many bars of soap the hotel had given him to use, supplying him with one for his face, his body and his hands.

After staying for a few days and putting the soap he wasn’t using into his suitcase, Kayongo said that he confessed to a hotel employee that he was stealing the soap and he’d like to return it. Kayongo said that the employee told him not to worry about it and that everyone takes it as it is free.

OPINION - P. 2

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018

BLAZERNEWS - P. 4 Internationally recognized painter David Kassan explains his art process Minority representation in Greek life

College students are known to be insatiable, but when most of them are on a budget or a time-squeeze, it can be hard to fit healthy, homemade meals into their schedule.

Ramen has become iconic amongst them for its ease, but also for its versatility. Just because the quick microwavable meal is simple doesn’t mean it can’t be spiced up and appreciated in different ways.

See RAMEN Page 7

PAGE 2

opinion

POLITICS

Blue wave or purple puddle?

Parker Rose Opinion Columnist pdrose@uab.edu In a recent article from USAToday, Glenn Harlan Reynolds, law professor at University of Tennessee, criticized the leftwing ideological movement entitled “The Blue

Wave,” likening it to a “Purple Puddle” more so than a “Blue Wave.”

He claimed that the dramatic shift which the movement boasted, were it to occur, would still not get at the heart of the problems in politics which the movement claimed to be able to fix. The biggest problem, according to Reynolds, is that the government has become too large. Before we talk political ideologies, we need to talk big government.

Rose While the Blue Wave may not be perfect, it’s still a movement. Moreover, it seems to be a movement in the right direction.

Even at the very least, it’s getting people out to the polls and making them care. Movements like the Blue Wave are what make change happen – not simply positing ideological problems. So perhaps instead of simply identifying why the Blue Wave isn’t successful, try offering a better option.

This has always been true, but it is especially true in the age of politics in which we are currently living – you can’t just sit back and make objective criti-

cisms without offering solutions. It is a trap for fools, and only leads to misunderstanding and unfixed problems.

While I have a lot of respect for political theorists, I do not think that politics should be solely comprised of intellectual gymnastics. We have an administration that is causing real, effectual damage to this country, and therefore our pushback should be just as real and effectual.

Let’s be clear – I am not saying that writings like Reynolds’ are not important. I am only trying to say that I think our current political climate calls for a different sort of intellectual exercise – one which informs people on how to act upon their ideological opinions rather than just state them.

Perhaps I am being hypervigilant in wanting so badly to fuel the counterculture against Trump and his supporters, but I certainly don’t think I am misguided.

All of us, including myself, need to spend more time offering helpful solutions more than just criticizing. I love solving intellectual puzzles and encouraging others to think about problems in new and innovative ways, but we need to be more responsible in doing this with regards to the current state of our, quite frankly, disastrous administration.

It seems to me that we already know what all the problems are – we just need solutions.

Editorial Board Fall 2018 Kristina Balciunaite Editor-in-Chief kribal@uab.edu Sufia Alam Managing Editor sufia@uab.edu Lakyn Shepard Art Editor layshep@uab.edu Lauren Moore Blazer News Editor lrm33@uab.edu Ceri-Lune Renneboog CityLifestyle Editor cerilune@uab.edu

Share your thoughts with us!

@kaleidoscopeuab

We welcome your opinions.

If you have an idea or opinion about something and would like to possibly see it featured in an upcoming issue, please email kribal@uab.edu

Submissions must include the author’s name, year, major and daytime phone number. Phone numbers are for verification and will not be published.

The Kaleidoscope reserves the right to edit all guest columns. Guest opinions do not reflect the position of the Kaleidoscope Editorial Board.

TUESDAY, NOV. 27, 2018

OPINION

PAGE 3

GROUP PROJECTS

SEXUAL ASSAULT

United we fall

We should do more about it

Destyni Cravens Opinion Columnist dcravens@uab.edu

Whenever a group project is assigned, the first step, and maybe what will be the most significant deciding factor of one’s success, is forming a group.

Especially in college, these groups are often formed Cravens based on a random-draw done by the professor on the first day of class which leads to a group of individuals whose personalities range from the know-it-all to the lazy guy who can’t seem to make it to class.

The main problem with these random groups is the scheduling conflicts which occur with such a wide variety of people and personalities. When every member’s schedule clashes with various classes, jobs, extra-curricular activities, and volunteer commitments, finding an extra thirty minutes to meet for a project is extremely unlikely.

In fact, most of the time these “meetings” become solely reliant on each member’s individual work rather than incorporating any teamwork methodologies.

“Most of the time all the

work is pushed onto one person,” said Claire Ansburg, a freshman in biology.

This is a common fear whenever group projects are assigned. Yet more times than not, the result is one person does all the work, while the others get rewarded.

Another problem is the fear of everyone putting in an equal amount of work. A lot of the times with group projects only one grade is given. So, if one member is slacking, another member must step up to recover the grade.

“I guess the only bad thing is having to stress over if your group members will do the work,” said Jamila Pellum, freshman in nursing.

Although group projects are thought to instill collaboration, they actually introduce negative feelings toward any type of collaborative work. These negative feelings only hinder students later on when working together is necessary for success.

So why are group projects so important?

Why do professors yearn to throw together a group and plant a grade on how much we know/learned? Are students actually learning anything?

“You have to be able to work together with people you don’t have anything in common with, or people you don’t know,” said Kaye C. Nail, credentialed course instructor in the Department of History. “Group projects are a really good representation of what the real world will be like once you leave college.”

Groupwork is said to give students a first glance into the real world by allowing students to collaborate and work together towards a common goal. Key word: together. Most of the time however, this togetherness doesn’t actually occur.

ILLUSTRATION BY LEISHA CHAMBERS/ STAFF ILLUSTRATOR

Kameryn Thigpen Opinion Columnist cchs2017@uab.edu I once heard a story about someone who was groped by one of her peers at an outing and it made her feel uncomfortable.

When she was explaining all of this to me, I had to tell her that was an incident of sexual assault.

After this conversation, it got me thinking if female college students know the signs of sexual assault.

According to Women’s Health Magazine, only one in five college-age women who are sexually assaulted report the Thigpen attack to the police.

At UAB, we are taught what do if someone is sexually assaulted and how to act against it.

What about the ability to recognize the signs of sexual assault and calling it out when it occurs to prevent something worse from happening?

UAB has a policy on sexual assault awareness that brings sexual assault to the attention of students, but it can be taken a step further.

Students need to be educated on the signs of sexual assault so they can apply them to any situation.

There is a rape culture in our society right now and it very prevalent on college campuses. It is so prevalent that students are introduced to the concept of sexual assault the day of freshman orientation.

Don’t get me wrong, UAB takes a lot of precautions against sexual assault including the placement of the UAB Police Department along with Title IX training modules that you are required to complete.

After the modules are completed and you are explained repeatedly about what to do if you are sexually assaulted, you feel that you are ready to move on.

But what about applying these principles to our everyday lives and our actual social relationships that we have established with each other?

Sexual assault is real, and it is something that happens all over college campuses, and it is being broadcast on our everyday lives.

There needs to be more education on the signs of sexual assault so students will be able to recognize them and stop them at that point.

It is too much of an issue on campuses to not be addressed and it can be done. UAB focuses its attention on sexual assault but I think it can be better.

There can be steps taken to prevent sexual assault by making people aware of the situation.

Put down your red solo cup and intervene.

PAGE 4

blazer news

Finding your sisters on campus Myah Clinton Blazer News Reporter mkc16@uab.edu After Asiah Ruffins, vice president of UAB’s National Pan-Hellenic Council, rushed a College Panhellenic Council organization as a freshman and was not accepted, she decided to focus on school for a year and try again. But this time, she joined NPHC organization, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. “I love the black culture associated with being involved with an NPHC organization,” Ruffins said. “I also am extremely passionate about how service oriented these organizations are.”

UAB is often labeled a diverse institution, and Greek life is included in this as well. According to the Fraternity & Sorority Life website, 104 of 971 UAB Greek students are in organizations in the Multicultural Greek Council and 120 are in NPHC. In 1972, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was the first NPHC organization on UAB’s campus with the formation of NPHC following 20 years later in the early nineties, said Kelby Lamar, coordinator of Fraternity & Sorority Life.

MGC formed at UAB in 2011, Lamar said. According to the MGC website, Delta Phi Omega Sorority, Inc. was the first organization in the council to come to UAB, forming in Jan of 2018.

“The multicultural organizations mean something different to each person. [For some] it is a home for them to come back to at the end of the day,” said Rishi Mo, president of MGC and member of Delta Epsilon Psi Fraternity, Inc. “For me personally, I like hanging out with these people. We all have the same interests.”

Jacob McKinstry, president of the Interfraternity Council at UAB and member of Alpha Tau Omega, said

that the IFC has a lot of diversity, but it might be missing something for some students.

“While IFC and the Panhellenic Council offer an important experience to UAB students, it’s not tailored with programming with specific cultures in mind,” McKinstry said. “Some students feel more comfortable with an organization with ties to their cultural roots and find the experience more fulfilling because of it.”

Although both council organizations were formed with race and ethnicity in mind, anyone is allowed to join these organizations.

“We have a lot of different cultures and races,” said Sharan Kaur, president of Sigma Sigma Rho Sorority, Inc. “We’ve even had events where each sister will stand up and talk about the heritage of where they’re from.”

Community service is also a key element of these organizations.

“NPHC and MGC organizations are lauded for their stepping, strolling and other coordinated routines,” Lamar said. “However, at their core, these organizations place an emphasis on service and philanthropy above all else.”

NPHC and MGC have done 5,070 and 3,003 hours of community service, respectively, as of the 2018 spring semester, according to the Fraternity & Sorority Life website.

Some organizations have been recognized by UAB for their philanthropic efforts. Ruffins said that Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. won a UAB Student Excellence Award for Outstanding Community Service Project for their project Pink Topps, which focused on breast cancer awareness.

The NPHC and MGC organizations have also worked with organizations outside of their councils.

Sororities Sigma Kappa, Sigma Sigma Rho Sorority, Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. worked together on Sigma Slay Day, a tabling event where they passed out notes with encouraging words, said Hannah Hand, vice president of Risk Management and member of Sigma

What to do after the diploma Faculty and graduate students give tips for life after graduation Myah Clinton Blazer News Reporter mkc16@uab.edu As graduation approaches, many UAB students ponder their next steps.

Though there are many sources of advice available to students, including academic advisors, career counselors and information on the internet, professors and graduate students also provide great first-hand knowledge on how students should handle life after college.

PHOTO COURTESY BY SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY INC.

It is the mission of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. to enhance the quality of life for women and their families in the U.S. and globally.

Kappa.

Sigma Kappa also worked with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. On a project called Why I Love Me where they invited students to answer that prompt on a chalkboard.

“It has been an amazing experience getting to know different chapters and learn about their values and what sets them apart,” Hand said.

NPHC and MGC have done 5,070 and 3,003 hours of community service, respectively, as of the 2018 spring semester, according to the Fraternity & Sorority Life website.

Some organizations have been recognized by UAB for their philanthropic efforts. Ruffins said that Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. won a UAB Student Excellence Award for Outstanding Community Service Project for their project Pink Topps, which focused on breast cancer awareness.

PAGE 5

CAREER ADVICE

GREEK LIFE

Sororities emphasize community service

BLAZER NEWS

TUESDAY, NOV. 27, 2018

The NPHC and MGC organizations have also worked with organizations outside of their councils.

Sororities Sigma Kappa, Sigma Sigma Rho Sorority, Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. worked together on Sigma Slay Day, a tabling event where they passed out notes with encouraging words, said Hannah Hand, vice president of Risk Management and member of Sigma Kappa.

Sigma Kappa also worked with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. On a project called Why I Love Me where they invited students to answer that prompt on a chalkboard.

“It has been an amazing experience getting to know different chapters and learn about their values and what sets them apart,” Hand said.

1. To fight senioritis, students should remember why they came to college.

According to DeReef Jamison, associate professor in African American studies, graduating students need to remember their long-term vision.

“Take senioritis out of your vocabulary,” Jamison said. “It’s a concept that provides us with the language to explain what happens when we lose focus on the ultimate goal of graduation.”

2. Students should let their par-

ents know they have a plan.

“Even if they disagree with your plan, you can lessen some of their concerns if you have a well thought out game plan that describes where you are going, how you intend to get there and what you intend to do once you reach your destination,” Jamison said.

be. I ended up not choosing a specific topic to research, instead taking each of the assignments as they came.”

4. Finding a mentor is one of the most important things to consider when looking for a research lab as a graduate student.

Students going into research fields should reach out to researchers who they believe will mentor them instead of focusing on those with a matching field of study, according to Nirzari Gupta, Ph.D. candidate in polymer chemistry and drug delivery.

“If you have done some undergrad research before you don’t have to go in the same direction,” Gupta said. “Grad school is about exploring new [things] and how to learn new [things].”

3. Students don’t always need to know their research focus in graduate school.

Rebecca Hyde, a graduate student and teaching assistant in communication management, could have completed an optional thesis for her program, and she said many advised her to connect all of her assignments to her thesis, but she decided not to connect one of them.

“This is where coming back to grad school later on has its advantages,” Hyde said. “Because I ILLUSTRATION BY LEISHA was coming right out of CHAMBERS/STAFF undergrad, I still did not ILLUSTRATOR know what my career specialty was going to

5. Students need to make sure they set themselves apart in the job search.

Samantha Giordano, assistant professor in biomedical sciences, said that

she was incorrectly told she would not have to struggle in her job search after graduation.

“The job market is flooded with so many people who are qualified,” she said. “You need to make some strategic plans so that you can land that dream job.”

6. It’s okay if students don’t have everything figured out by graduation.

One of the worst pieces of advice Hyde said she received is that students must have a solid plan after graduation that they stick to for the rest of their lives.

“Just like in undergrad, your interests are going to shift, you’ll find new opportunities and life is going to throw things at you,” Hyde said. “Go ahead and choose your next step, but don’t think that it’s the last career choice you’ll ever make.”

7. Students should cherish their undergraduate years.

Giordano said that students should remember to enjoy the journey to graduation.

“Whether it’s shadowing, studying for exams with other students or having lunch with co-workers, enjoy your life—it makes achieving your goal so much more fun when you share it with others,” she said.

EVENTS CALENDAR Open Craft Bar Aerie Lane 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Holiday in the Hills Tree Lighting Festival Vestavia Hills City Center 6 p.m.

Women’s basketball vs. Alabama A&M Bartow Arena 6 p.m.

UAB Fall Student Demo Day Velocity Accelerator Innovation Depot Inc 5 p.m - 9 p.m.

Human Rights, Civil Rights and Indigenous Rights" with Robert A. Williams, Jr.

Show: Steve Martin & Martin Short BJCC 7:30 p.m.

HSC Alumni Theater 6 p.m.

Active Shooter Response Training HSC, Ballrooms C, D 8 p.m.

Birmingham Ballet’s “The Mutt-cracker” Alabama Theatre 7:30 p.m.

Loft Show MakeBHM 7 p.m.

Magic City Ribeye Rumble Back Forty Beer Company Birmingham 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Bham Eat Drink Ride Food Tour 780 Brookwood Village 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting City of Birmingham Government 710 20th St N 4 - 7 p.m.

MBK4L Tour: Ralo's B'day Bash feat Lil Baby The BJCC

Free First Mondays, adult coloring ArtPlay House 5:30 - 8 p.m.

BLAZER NEWS

PAGE 6

Painting the past Famous artist David Kassan explains his creative process actually denied being painted by me because she didn’t like my work. But that struck an idea with me.”

Kassan said he never met his grandfather on his dad’s side who escaped ethnic cleansing in 1917 in Romania to David Kassan, internationally recogcome to the US. nized contemporary American painter, “Meeting these folks that I have been brought his realism-based artwork to painting is really my way of connecting UAB’s campus two weeks ago and with my heritage, my past and my grandshared his story of how he connected to father that I never got to a part of his heritage meet,” Kassan said. through his most Kassan recently met recent art project, with Robert May, Ph.D., a portraits and video Holocaust survivor and recordings of HoloUAB alumni specializing caust survivors. in internal medicine, “[The project] who was forced to leave happened kind of his home country of by accident,” Kassan Germany in 1939. said. “I was asked by “As I’m working on a collector to do a these prints of Dr. May portrait commission, I - David Kassan and hearing his story don’t ever do portrait of how his family got commissions at all and I was kind of trythrough Kristallnacht and came to Amering to put him down nicely. He goes ‘well, ica through Cuba, I’m thinking about that it’s my mother-in-law and she’s a special as I’m doing the drawing for him,” Kassan woman, she’s a survivor of HaShoah, the said.

Holocaust.’”

Kassan said he connected with UAB Kassan said that hearing this he imthrough Derek Cracco, Associate Promediately changed his mind and agreed fessor of Printmaking in the Department to paint her, refusing any commission. of Art and Art History, in the Humanities “It will be a painting that I want to do Building. Cracco and Kassan met at Syrathat I have full control over,” Kassan said. cuse University in the 1990’s, where they “He went both studied. back to “[Cracco] had asked if I would want to her come down here and be a visiting artist and she where I could work in the shop and we could develop a series or couple of prints together for the collection here, as well to share with people online as a fundraiser,” Kassan said.

Kassan said that when he creates his artwork, he also contemplates the story behind the subject. For instance, he said that while working on May’s Ph.D., PHOTO portrait, he incorporated his backBY LAKYN ground of how his family endured SHEPARD/ART Kristallnacht and escaped to the US. EDITOR “As I’m sculpting out his face, I can see his history in his face and it’s a way of me connecting with him in a more intimate and proactive way,” Kassan said.

The visiting artist series gives students the opportunity to work with established artists and help assist in various projects. The money raised from the sale of the prints will help fund the UAB DAAH Visiting Artist and Scholar Series.

Myles Womack CityLifestyle Reporter mjw3@uab.edu

Meeting these folks that I have been painting is really my way of connecting with my heritage.

SOAP

From FRONT

Kayongo said that he also learned from the employee that the hotel’s policy was to throw any soap away, used or not, that was left in the hotel room day to day.

According to TheObserver.com, 800 million bars of hotel soap are thrown away in the U.S. every single year.

Kayongo said that this number baffled him, and that he decided there had to be some way he could recycle the soap. Eventually, Kayongo said he realized that if he vacuum-sealed the soaps for a certain amount of time, all of the bacteria would die without any oxygen to thrive off of.

“For me, the value comes from having been a victim [of the Ugandan PHOTO BY LAKYN SHEPARD/ART civil war],” Kayongo said. “Being a EDITOR victim is sometimes what makes you Kayongo was awarded the 2011 see the value of the marketplace.”

CNN Hero Award for his work.

Thus, the Global Soap Project was born. The company takes used success as an entrepreneur to his soaps from hotels, sanitizes them parents, who left their jobs as teachand then forms new bars of soap out ers and found ways to be successful of them. There are currently three in business. His father started a busifactories that process the soap in ness making soap and his mother Vegas, Orlando and Hong Kong. became a David’s Bridal franchise Kayunga said that these factory owner. locations have been picked because “I think parents should be the of their extremely large population most inspiring thing a child should and the hotel density in the cities. have,” Kayongo said. “My father, The next factory to open will be in learning a new skill, seeing him England due to the hotel density in fail every day in making soap, was the country. probably the best education I could The soap have gotten. My that is made in mother taught these factories me to have is then given intuition.” to refugees Now, in around the addition to his world. Kayonhumanitarian go said these work, Kayonsoaps help go travels the refugees in world sharing multiple ways. the stories of his For example, little life and letting other girls can now atknow how they can tend school and no find success. He was also awarded longer worrying about thier hygiene, the 2011 CNN Hero Award. with many refugee girls being bullied To students at UAB, Kayonbecause of the way they smell. go said that they need to think of Kayongo said that he prides activism in their community like an himself in knowing that he is helpinsurance policy. ing young girls to be able to get “I can’t pay for everybody’s insuran education and feel better about ance coverage,” Kayongo said. “But, themselves. He said he is also happy we can all pull together and create to see the soap use deter some of a fund so that in the event that, say, the diseases that can be cut down any of us gets into a car accident or just by washing your hands, such as something happens, that we take childbed fever and lower respiratory care of each other. The contribution diseases. is mutual, it is valued and respected.”

Kayongo said that he credits his

For me, the value comes from having been a victim [of the Ugandan civil war].

- Derreck Kayongo

citylifestyle RAMEN

From FRONT Elizabeth Jaimes, junior in communications management Jaimes, said she only buys 37-cent Maruchan Instant Lunch brand from Wal-Mart. While she doesn’t add additional ingredients, the way she approaches her dish makes it unique.

“I get the shrimp chili lime flavor because it’s a good balance of sour and spicy. I just add water and microwave it. A little secret between you and me is that I take out the veggies before I put the water in it and eat them without being cooked. I have no clue why I started doing this, maybe because of my impatience, but it’s turned into a habit. I guess I’d say now it’s more of a guilty pleasure. I know it’s not the healthiest thing to do but I like the saltiness of the uncooked peas, carrots and tiny shrimp.”

Alex Noble, senior in chemistry Noble, years after following the basics, now approaches ramen in a completely different way.

“After a while I got tired of eating ramen plain just with the seasoning, and I needed to add some extra stuff to spice it up, like vegetables, chicken and beef.

I like crunchy vegetables like broccoli, just so there’s a texture.

A lot of my friends would make a pasta out of it, sometimes. They’d drain the broth and wouldn’t add the seasoning, and just put tomato sauce in it. It actually isn’t that bad, it’s decent.”

Hannah Bae, junior in public relations Bae is loyal to only one brand of ramen, also known as one of the spiciest ramen on earth.

“I eat Korean Samyang fire ramen, which was the subject of all those YouTube spicy ramen challenges over the past few years. There are several types of fire ramen, but I tend to stick with the original on the typical day.

It’s different because there’s no “broth” and after the noodles are

done boiling, it’s briefly stir fried in the spicy sauce that comes in a packet. I cook it according to the instructions and then on a separate pan, I fry a little bit of spam and add it to the noodles. It makes the dish a little more savory. Then you add shredded cheese of your choosing on top to help temper the spice level.”

Juan Sanchez, junior in accounting Sanchez uses a recipe he found online which he said although is different, truly is the best mix of ramen possible.

“I just drain the water out of the ramen and then dump the noodles into a container. Then I add canned tuna and mix it with mayonnaise. It’s got to be the McCormick brand, though. I also add corn and green peppers.”

IKKO Japanese Ramen and Sushi Julie Wang, Manager of IKKO Japanese Ramen and Sushi, suggests that adding vegetables such as bok choy and mushrooms to your ramen will both enhance the flavor as well as add nutrition.

“Traditionally we don’t use a lot of vegetables, but here we really like bok choy. Mushrooms are also really good for you; most mushrooms are crispy. The noodles in ramen are soft, so we try to make something crispy on the top, so you taste something different with a different texture. I really like cilantro, after you finish cooking the ramen put some in there; it makes a really big difference.

It tastes fresher. Packaged ramen has all those chemicals but if you put some vegetables, like tomato or cilantro, and then put some cheese on the top, it really makes it taste fresh.”

PHOTO BY DREW CRENSHAW / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

PAGE 7

Birmingham City Council Highlights staff reports by Bella Tylicki

Citizen discontent with chemical waste

In a public hearing, residents, riverkeepers, and activist groups such as PANIC (People Against Neighborhood Industrial Contamination) & GASP (Greater Birmingham Alliance to Stop Pollution) voiced opposition to renewing Coke’s air pollution permit for the Tarrant plant.

The plant has been operating for more than 100 years, coking for steelmaking and making byproducts marketable by turning them into coal tar and coke-oven gas.

Emissions harmful to the environment and local residents, who are disproportionately lower-income minorities, counter the plant’s industrial impact.

“I have [elevated levels] of 15 deadly chemicals on my property,” resident Jimmie Smith said, before naming several family members who had died from cancer.

“Without sufficient date the JCDH nor the EPA, can adequately know if the plant is in compliance with the permit, something that is required by federal law,” said Sarah Stokes, senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center.

Funding agreed for transit authority

Just days after two senior officials were fired from the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority for tax fraud, the Council executed a $2.5 million funding agreement consistent with the FY 2019 budget which allocated a total $10 million to the BJCTA. “The City of Birmingham has been in agreement with the BJCTA to provide quarterly dispersions of $2.5 million for services to the residents,” Mayor Randall Woodfin said.

Innovation grants for economic development offered given to non-profits

Jones Valley Teaching Farm and Create Birmingham entered funding agreements with the City as part of the Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity’s BOLD grant program (Building Opportunities for Lasting Development.) JVTF will receive $82,000 to expand its Farm Fellows Apprenticeship Program for Woodlawn High School graduates. Create Birmingham will receive $117,000 to expand its CO.STARTERS small business development program to Pratt-Ensley and North Birmingham.

They will partner with The Dannon Project to enroll formerly incarcerated individuals in the program.

DEC

04

Reception

DEC

@ Commons on the Green from 4 PM until we run out Swipe + $9

05 DEC

06 DEC

07 DEC

07

Join us in the Commons on the Green at 3 PM as we celebrate the Fall 2018 participants of Blazer Bites with jacket presentations and hors d’eouvres.

Stress Less Week

BONFIRE

6-9 PM @ the Mini Park

@ Starbucks from 7 AM to 10 AM

FREE PASTRY WITH ANY BREWED OR SPECIALTY COFFEE PURCHASE Must show valid Faculty or Staff ONECard

Stress Less Week

MOVIE NIGHT CRAM JAM IN THE COMMONS Take a break from studying each night during finals week at dinner in the Commons on the Green SUNDAY

MONDAY

09

10

DEC

DEC

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

DEC

11

DEC

12

DEC

13

DEC

04

Reception

DEC

@ Commons on the Green from 4 PM until we run out Swipe + $9

05 DEC

06 DEC

07 DEC

07

Join us in the Commons on the Green at 3 PM as we celebrate the Fall 2018 participants of Blazer Bites with jacket presentations and hors d’eouvres.

Stress Less Week

BONFIRE

6-9 PM @ the Mini Park

@ Starbucks from 7 AM to 10 AM

FREE PASTRY WITH ANY BREWED OR SPECIALTY COFFEE PURCHASE Must show valid Faculty or Staff ONECard

Stress Less Week

MOVIE NIGHT CRAM JAM IN THE COMMONS Take a break from studying each night during finals week at dinner in the Commons on the Green SUNDAY

MONDAY

09

10

DEC

DEC

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

DEC

11

DEC

12

DEC

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