STUDENT AFFAIRS sa.ua.edu
TABLE OF CONTENTS 20-23
Steven J. Hood, EdD Interim Vice President for Student Affairs
Alicia Browne Director of Information Management & External Relations
Editor Jessie Patterson Jones
Writers Jessie Patterson Jones Mollie Landers Paige Watson
Graphic Design Shweta Gamble
Photography Justin Barnett Miriam Brant Dave Crutchfield Pete Pajor Jessie Patterson Jones
ISSUE NO. 8 Capstone is published in the Spring and Fall by UA’s Division of Student Affairs.
A Message from the Vice President
3
The Blackburn Institute: Living Growth, Lasting Change
4-7
Student Spotlight: Chris Lancaster
8-9
SGA: Celebrating a Centennial
10-11
Staff Spotlight: Kristen Durham
12-13
NPHC: Learning to Lead
14-15
Presidential Village: Village Life
16-19
Ferguson Student Center: UA’s Grand Central Station
20-23
Alumni Spotlight: Jan Crawford
24-25
Capstone Heroes: Live the Creed
26-27
Fall Kick-Off 2014
28-29
Giving to Student Affairs
30
16-19
Address correspondence to: The University of Alabama Student Affairs Box 870301 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 For address changes, alumni notes or story ideas, email studentaffairs@ua.edu. The University of Alabama is an equal opportunity educational institution/employer. 2 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS
26-27 28-29
A MESSAGE FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT
Dear Alumni and Friends,
F
all is a wonderful time of year at the Capstone, and I am excited to share with you some images from around campus this semester. From move-in to Family Weekend, it has been a great start to the school year. We in the Division were proud this fall to celebrate two important milestones, the 100th anniversary of the Student Government Association and the 20th anniversary of the Blackburn Institute. Both of these institutions have provided rich opportunities for students to develop personally and to give back to the University, the community and the state. As we recognized these important groups, our students have thrown themselves into everything the campus offers, from the beautiful new Student Activity Center to the newly expanded Ferguson Student Center. I even got into the spirit with a climb up the rock wall in the SAC! We know that students’ experiences are enhanced and enriched by their experiences outside the classroom. In this issue of Capstone, current students and a proud alumna share the impact of Student Affairs, while in college and beyond. The opportunities to develop leadership skills, test a variety of interests and talents and gain real-world experience outside of the classroom abound, and I know that you will be as impressed as I am with the way our students take advantage of this rich variety of activities. On behalf of our students, thank you for supporting the Division, our students and our staff. I am proud to work with you to enrich the student experience at the Capstone. Roll Tide!
Steven J. Hood, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs FALL2014 | 3
LIVING GROWTH
LASTING CHANGE The Blackburn Institute celebrates 20 years.
By Jessie Patterson Jones
T
he Blackburn Institute has become a touchstone for agents of change on the campus of The University of Alabama and throughout the state that claims it. Officially formed in 1994 by the Division of Student Affairs as a tribute to former Dean of Students John L. Blackburn, the Institute works to promote his vision of developing a community of ethical leaders who set aside personal gain, benefits and goals in order to collaboratively accomplish what he once called “good and noble ends.”
Twenty years after its creation, the Blackburn Institute stands 560 fellows strong, and strives to teach each new class that they all have the ability and opportunity to impact their community in a positive way. The lasting impact the Institute leaves on the lives of its members pales in comparison to the mark they, in turn, have left on their community. “The Blackburn Institute knows our fellows will have the opportunity to make an impact, and so we try to help our students be ready when opportunities arise,” said Mary Lee Caldwell, assistant director of the Blackburn Institute and a 2012
fellow. “We try to educate them on issues, equip them with necessary skills, expose them to new people, places and ideas – and empower them to act with intentionality.” Earning the title of “Blackburn Fellow” carries with it a lifetime obligation. Students become fellows the semester prior to graduation, after completing the Blackburn Institute’s student curriculum. “Each fellow is committed to the Blackburn Institute ideals and understands that it is their obligation to work strategically to advance our state and nation in a positive way,” said Dr. Cheree Causey, a former director and current board member
Above: Bobbie and Don Siegal, longtime Blackburn Institute supporters and UA alumni, take part in a discussion with current Blackburn students. 4 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS
of the Institute. “A Blackburn fellow may not physically reside in the state of Alabama and may not be able to attend every event, but they live the ideals to network across generations, ask for a diversity of opinions and then act strategically to improve our state.” On Aug. 22-23, almost 50 Blackburn fellows gathered to kick off the Institute’s 20th year with the annual Gloria and John L. Blackburn Academic Symposium. Gathered around the theme of “Alabama Voices,” fellows heard from a wide range of speakers, including MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” host Joe Scarborough and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Rick Bragg. “Because the Institute’s mission is so connected to the state of Alabama, we thought it would be a good opportunity to highlight that focus while also introducing our students, alumni and community members to things within the state that they may not be as familiar with,” Caldwell said. “With ‘Alabama Voices,’ we wanted to do something different from anything we had done before, but that was also rooted in our mission.” More than 300 UA students and
Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and UA alumnus, talks with Blackburn fellows following dinner at the symposium.
Above: Dr. Kathleen Cramer is named a member of the Blackburn Society’s inaugural class of inductees. Below: Rick Bragg, a Pulitzer Prize winner and current UA professor, speaks.
community members joined the Blackburn fellows to hear the public lecture by Scarborough, and more than 160 members of the Blackburn Institute attended other symposium events. With the symposium serving as a kick-off event, the 20th anniversary celebration will span the entire 2014-2015 academic year. It comes at the perfect time in the Institute’s history, Caldwell said. “There is so much excitement surrounding the Institute right now, and the 20th anniversary just adds to that. We are in the newly renovated and expanded Ferguson Student Center, we’re searching for our new director, and we have new leadership within Student Affairs. With so many new things going on, it’s great to use the anniversary as a touchstone for remembering our history while still looking toward the future.” For Blackburn fellow and board member Jon David Conolley, the 20th anniversary provides an opportunity to reconnect and reenergize. “The 20-year mark serves as a pretty neat milestone, and if we as an organization do a really good job of reminding one another that we have made a commitment to make a better state for future generations and reenergize some of FALL2014 | 5
“ ” Dr. Blackburn always talked about passing the torch, and that’s what we are doing. Dr. Kathleen Cramer, former senior associate vice president of Student Affairs
Patterson Hood, left, co-founder of the Drive-By Truckers band, takes part in a session on Alabama culture.
the folks that are at the margins of the Institute, I’d be really excited.” Blackburn Advisory Board chair Mike House said the anniversary was special to him because the Institute has endured and grown to become such an important part of the University. “It began as an idea, became a reality and has withstood the test of time,” he said. “It will only become more relevant to the University, the state and the nation as it continues to grow.” Landon Nichols, who serves as both the Blackburn Institute’s student chair and the program’s graduate assistant, said his experiences in Blackburn have shown him the power of networking through generations and really impacting UA’s campus and the state of Alabama. That’s something he would like to build on for the
Institute this year, he said. “I’m excited about all of the opportunities we have, but I’m most excited to take Dr. Blackburn’s mission into a new decade,” Nichols said. “We’re looking to have a more profound impact, but also a more profound presence. Having moved our office to the Ferguson Student Center will help.” For Nichols, the Institute’s call to action is something he thinks all students could take to heart. “Making our community better is easy to do. This is where you are for four years,” he said. “Take these formative years, and use them to give back so your college home is strong for future generations. Nichols said he hopes the Blackburn Institute imparts on each new class of fellows just how much of an impact they can have
as fellows during their time on campus and beyond. “I hope each of our new fellows will realize they are part of something bigger than themselves that transcends time and generations, and they will have the opportunity to not only leave a lasting impact on the entire University, but also the entire state,” he said. Travel experiences are a core component of the Blackburn experience. They provide opportunities for Blackburn students and fellows to travel to communities within the state so they can become better educated on the issues and industries impacting Alabama. “We meet with community and political leaders, visit local businesses and take in local culture,” Caldwell said. “These programs are designed to give students a more comprehensive view of what is going on in Alabama.” This year, travel experiences will take students to Birmingham, Demopolis, the Gulf Coast and Montgomery. Travel experiences routinely focus on an important industry, a rural community, a regional community and the state’s Capitol. “This year, we intentionally chose communities we have visited before, so we could honor our 20th anniversary and learn how things More than 300 University of Alabama students and community members joined Blackburn fellows at the symposium.
6 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS
have changed in areas since we last visited.” Each year, the travel experiences help train a new class of fellows along with other current Blackburn students, and prepare them to take up the torch of leadership within the state. “Dr. Blackburn always talked about passing the torch, and that’s what we are doing,” said Dr. Kathleen Cramer, former senior associate vice president of Student Affairs. “We were
very intentional about this year’s programming. We are being very intentional about the leaders we select to lead. We are passing the torch to the next level of the Blackburn experience. “Two decades later, it’s important for
us to remember where we have come from, but also to grow up into our future. I think Dr. Blackburn would be very pleased with the foundation we have set, but also with the future that we are embracing.” FALL2014 | 7
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
AN UNLIKELY
Ambassador Texas native bursts with pride for the Capstone By Jessie Patterson Jones
M
any students are raised to love The University of Alabama from birth. They clutch small elephants as toddlers, and spend their high school years dreaming of walking onto campus as a student for the first time. Chris Lancaster is not one of those students. The sophomore from Plano, Texas, grew up an Oklahoma fan – and the son of two loyal OU alumni. After applying to Alabama on a fluke following a meeting with a UA regional recruiter during his junior year of high school, he applied to nine other schools. When he narrowed his choices down to his top three, the Capstone
“
I want to open donors’ eyes. If you come to this University, you will be able to do anything and everything you want to do. If you give to this University, you are making people’s dreams come true. Chris Lancaster, University of Alabama sophomore
remained in contention along with the University of Oklahoma and Georgetown University. A visit to Tuscaloosa, a walk across the Quad and the realization that he qualified for a full-tuition scholarship made a strong case for Alabama. “The day before enrollment deposits were due, I decided to come to The University of Alabama,” Lancaster said. “I decided to jump right in and come here.” That day, Lancaster became a Crimson Tide fan and a beacon for all The University of Alabama stands for. “I bleed enthusiasm for this place,” he said. “I want to be an ambassador for everything this University has to offer. I want to meet as many people during the rest of my three years as I can. The people are what makes this place so amazing.” Lancaster is a dual degree candidate, studying economics and French. He said he plans on pursuing acceptance into the University Scholars Program, which would enable him to earn a master’s in economics during his four years at the Capstone. When Lancaster arrived on
4 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS
campus, he knew he wanted to make a mark on the school he fell in love with. He decided to apply for Freshman Forum, a program run by First Year Experience & Parent Programs. “It started with Freshman Forum, and then I got involved as a parent ambassador,” Lancaster said. “I basically started doing anything and everything you could think of. I like to say I’ve gotten involved up to my eyeballs, and I really wouldn’t want it any other way.” Lancaster credits his experience in Freshman Forum with his current involvement on campus. “Freshman Forum pushed involvement and opened doors for us, and it made such an impact on my first semester at the University.” Lancaster continued that involvement in the spring, becoming a parent ambassador and embarking on a summer welcoming parents of incoming students to UA through parent orientation. “That was the single greatest thing that I have done in my life,” Lancaster said. “The experience was amazing.” While the summer made an impression on him, Lancaster in turn left his mark on parent orientation.
”
“Chris was a favorite among parents at parent orientation,” said Annie Baldwin, coordinator for First Year Experience & Parent Programs. “He’s one of those students that is so enthusiastic all of the time. If it’s for the benefit of UA, he’s on board — and he goes above and beyond. He won’t just give 100 percent.” Lancaster is continuing to recruit the best and brightest to UA as a University steward. And just one year into his time on campus, he has high hopes for the years to come. “I can’t believe all that I’ve done in one year, but now my goal is to dive in deeper into those offices I’ve been involved in. I want to stay involved, but start working on a broader scale,” he said. “I want to promote the University, along with the entirety of Student Affairs. “My goal is to show that this place is truly amazing. I want to open other students’ eyes. I want to open donors’ eyes. If you come to this University, you will be able to do anything and everything you want to do. If you give to this University, you are making people’s dreams come true.”
CAPSTONE MAGAZINE STUDENT AFFAIRS | FALL2014 | 9
UA President Judy Bonner and former Vice Provost and Vice President for Student Affairs Mark Nelson enjoyed lunch with 10 former SGA presidents.
10 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS
Historic anniversary fosters new connections for SGA By Mollie Landers
A
“
s the 100th year of UA’s Student Government Association comes to an end, past members of the historic student organization recently came together in a new way. Several former SGA presidents met with University of Alabama President Judy Bonner and Dr. Mark Nelson, former vice president for Student Affairs, in the spring to discuss ways that the group of alumni could stay engaged with the University and give back in a more meaningful way. Out of this meeting, the Council of SGA Presidents was formed. “If you look at our past presidents, we have had the privilege of serving through many of the key turning points of the University’s history. Out of the living past presidents, we’ve worked with 11 UA presidents collectively,” said Bill Hankins, 1998 SGA President and the first chairman of the Council of SGA Presidents. “We have a unique institutional knowledge, but the question was how can we share that knowledge with current student leaders?” The council plans to meet on a biannual basis, once in the fall and once in the spring on the day of the SGA inauguration. Its purpose is two-fold. Council members will serve as a resource to the University, SGA, and each other, while reconnecting with the progress and achievements on campus.
Past presidents of SGA have two important things that aren’t being utilized – their experience and maturity, and their ability to lend support to persons who haven’t perhaps had a lot of experience in human relations, which is an important skill to have as SGA president.
”
Don Siegal, 1965 SGA president
“Past presidents of SGA have two important things that aren’t being utilized – their experience and maturity, and their ability to lend support to persons who haven’t perhaps had a lot experience in human relations, which is an important skill to have as SGA president,” said Don Siegal, 1965 SGA president. Katie Britt, 2003 SGA president, agreed. “Looking around the table and seeing so many distinguished past presidents, we can learn from what they did on campus, but also their journey from that point forward. It would have been extremely beneficial to have that resource when I was SGA president,” Britt said. The Council held its first meeting on Aug. 22, 2014, the morning after the ribbon cutting and grand opening for the Ferguson Student Center. The first meeting’s agenda included campus and student life updates from current SGA President Hamilton Bloom and the SGA
Executive Council. The group also discussed possible projects that they could take on. “The Council of SGA Presidents will be a strong group of supporters to Student Affairs,” said Dr. Steven Hood, interim vice president for Student Affairs. “Their first meeting was highly successful and it was great to connect and reconnect with this group of former student leaders who have and will continue to have a significant impact on our entire campus.” Hankins said he hopes in the coming years that the Council can find other unique ways to be a resource for student leaders. “The more interaction we have with student leaders, we’ll be able to refine what the Council is all about and what resource we can be,” Hankins said. “It will evolve while maintaining the dual role of being a resource to students, but also identifying projects and being a resource to the University as a whole.” FALL2014 | 11
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
No
place like HOME Kristen Durham finds unexpected career, growth in University Recreation By Jessie Patterson Jones
W
hat started out 20 years ago as just a college job turned into a career Kristen Durham never imagined for herself. Now a longtime University Recreation staff member, Durham has seen the evolution of recreation on campus firsthand – and has helped shape the department’s growth in both membership and programming along the way. After accepting a job working in University Recreation’s membership office during her freshman year at the University, Durham found herself changing all of her plans for the future. “All of a sudden, I figured out I really liked fitness and I saw all of these incredible people around me who did it for a living,” she said. “I thought ‘what could be better’ and I changed my major.” 12 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS
“
I work in a place where people are here because they want to be here. Being here all of this time, it’s just an affirmation of how much I like my job and how great the environment is.
From lifeguarding to earning her personal training certifications, Durham worked almost every job she could. Following graduation, she was offered a graduate assistantship to earn her master’s while working in personal training and group exercise. Durham chose to pursue her dream of working in corporate wellness following graduation, but found something was missing from her days. “I missed the students so much,” she said. “I missed their attitude and excitement.” She made a quick return to the Capstone a year later after accepting a full-time position as a coordinator in the department. Durham, who worked out in the original rec center during high school, played a large part in University Recreation’s expansion process that began in 2002 with the addition of the outdoor pool and tennis courts, along with the new Student Recreation Center that opened in 2004. “From that point on, fitness programming was growing so much,” Durham said. “We realized our programs needed to grow.” As director of recreation services, Durham oversees fitness programming and membership. In recent years, oversight of marketing and research have been added to her duties as well. George Brown, executive director of University Recreation, said that
”
Kristen Durham
Durham’s ability to grow and adapt has made her invaluable. “Every opportunity she has had to grow professionally, she has taken it on positively and she has been very successful,” he said. “We truly have a team approach, and she’s a big part of that team because she’s so respected and admired.” For Durham, coming to work each day feels like coming home. “I work in a place where people are here because they want to be here,” she said. “Being here all of this time, it’s just an affirmation of how much I like my job and how great the environment is. “I’m proud of what we have done in my time here, too. As we go to conferences and do our benchmarking, we have been, and continue to be, leaders in the field across the country. Nobody else — for our population — has as many group exercise classes as we do, and I think that’s important.” For University Recreation and Durham, each day brings new challenges to how to best serve the campus community. “Our No. 1 priority is the health, wellness and safety of our patrons, and that makes it so exciting to look at the future,” she said. “No matter what comes up, what challenges or new ideas come up, it’s going to be great because it’s all based around improving quality of life, and you just can’t beat that.” FALL2014 | 13
Learning to LEAD
NPHC organizations learn to lead through service By Jessie Patterson Jones
T
he National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), operated through the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life, includes six Greek-letter sororities and fraternities with active members. NPHC promotes the wellbeing of its fraternities and sororities, facilitates the establishment and development
4 | |CAPSTONE 14 CAPSTONEMAGAZINE MAGAZINE| STUDENT | STUDENTAFFAIRS AFFAIRS
of local organizations within NPHC and provides leadership training for its constituents. Nicole Jackson, coordinator in the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life, said NPHC groups are known for developing future leaders and also for making significant contributions to their community. “NPHC as a whole serves as a tool to develop students into leaders that excel well
beyond college,” Jackson said. “These chapters, as well as the NPHC council members, spend countless hours volunteering, and I’m so proud of that.” ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY The Theta Sigma Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, chartered at UA in 1974, has ongoing initiatives volunteering in the office at
Tuscaloosa’s One Place, tutoring and mentoring third-grade students at Oakdale Elementary and implementing the AKA national program Emerging Young Leaders for middle school girls. In addition to ongoing initiatives, last year AKA hosted a forum called “The Unknowns,” which focused on unrecognized black pioneers. AKA celebrated its 40th anniversary at UA in April 2014. “Having the opportunity to serve as the president of our chapter has been one of the highlights of my college career,” said Alayah Walton. ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY The Iota Eta chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, chartered at UA in 1974, works to uphold its founding principles of scholarship, service, sisterly love and finer womanhood. Last year, Zeta Phi Beta participated in many service opportunities in the Tuscaloosa area, including volunteering at a soup kitchen, Holt Elementary School and the Stork’s Nest. “The Iota Eta chapter has helped me grow into the successful woman that I am today by providing me with the love and support of a family here at the Capstone,” said chapter president Loren Sargent. ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY Alpha Phi Alpha’s Kappa Alpha Chapter is known for working with the Kick Start College program,
which was founded by a member of the chapter. The program brings students to UA to see what a college campus looks like, in addition to showing them all the resources UA provides. Alpha Phi Alpha also hosts the annual Ms. Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant each spring, in which eight to 10 women compete and all proceeds go to charity. “I can honestly say being a leader at The University of Alabama has been an opportunity like no other,” said Ryan Coleman, chapter president. “Our goal for community service has been to establish our footprint on campus as a service organization and to continue to expand that footprint to the Tuscaloosa community.” KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY The Eta Chi chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi wrapped up the 20132014 year with multiple service projects, which ranged from throwing a fun day for the Boys and Girls Club to hosting two oncampus blood drives. The highlight of the year was the Boys and Girls Club fun day, where Kappa Alpha Psi provided everything from the cotton candy to a moonwalk to show Tuscaloosa children a good time. “I feel that our chapter has done a great job with service projects, but we want to take it to the next level now,” said chapter president Brandon Hill.
PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY Phi Beta Sigma, celebrating its centennial in 2014, focuses on service projects that highlight helping others and being a beacon of light in the world. Last year, chapter members held a winter coat drive, and volunteered at Temporary Emergency Services and Bryant High School. As the Theta Delta chapter celebrates 100 years of brotherhood, scholarship, and service, it is looking ahead to upcoming service projects including informational forums, a charity baseball event and a community service week.“[Our centennial] shows that our work over the years has made an impact on not only just the nation, but also the world,” said Jamaris Jackson, chapter president. “Becoming a member of Phi Beta Sigma has changed me for the better.” OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY During the 2013-2014 year, the Beta Eta chapter of Omega Psi Phi gave more than $2,000 back to the Tuscaloosa community. “We pride ourselves on serving others that are less fortunate,” said chapter president Jaylan Fields. “This semester we plan to continue to donate to various charities, and possibly bring back our annual toy ball. We give back to the community because it’s right and it feels great to be a part of it.”
FALL2014 FALL2014| 15 |7
Village LIFE
New residence hall, Student Activity Center anchor north side of campus By Jessie Patterson Jones
16 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS
A
t the north edge of campus, the newly completed Student Activity Center and Presidential Village II provide a new look — and a welcoming home — to the more than 1,700 students who call “the Village” their campus home. After Presidential Village I was opened for the 2013-2014 academic year, construction quickly began on Presidential Village II and the Student Activity Center to round out the north side of campus. In August, both opened to welcome more campus residents and Student Affairs offices to kick off the new year. With stunning views of the Black Warrior River, the $32 million, 135,000-square-foot Student Activity Center offers more than 10,000 square feet of weight/fitness space, in addition to basketball and indoor sport courts, personal training studios and group exercise areas. “As someone comes into this building, they find themselves looking at multiple levels of recreation amenities that in many cases mimic what is at the Student Recreation Center, but also enhance
it,” said George Brown, executive director of University Recreation. The Student Activity Center is in walking distance of 5,500 beds on campus, providing easy access to recreation amenities — and a unique anchor feature to the north side of campus. “We’ve created a living community on the north end of campus,” Brown said. “We believed this would be largely a student facility, because it’s directly embedded between 1,800 beds at Presidential Village I and II.” In planning for the recreation aspects of the SAC, Brown said the planning team realized it wouldn’t have a large horizontal footprint, so they took advantage of the natural geography of the land and created a more vertical building. That approach created a stunning visual impact from the front and back of the building — and created multiple levels of dining space, offices and recreation areas with views of the river. “We definitely took advantage of the natural resource that is the Black Warrior River, and that was part of [UA Chancellor and former UA President] Dr. Robert Witt’s vision.” “Our original vision was to take advantage of the things that were
being highly utilized at the Rec Center,” Brown said. “We put in two traditional hardwood courts and a rinked court as well.” The wow factor at the SAC, Brown said, comes from the 40-foot climbing wall in the center of the building that looks directly into a large skylight. “The rock wall is the first thing that catches your attention, even before you get to the rec area,” he said. “It’s a really cool destination attraction, and it’s twice the size of the climbing wall at the Rec Center. In addition to vertical size, the climbing wall features more linear
space as well.” Just next door to the Student Activity Center, Presidential Village II, a $62 million residence hall, completes the Presidential Village complex. More than 1,800 students live in the pair of Presidential Village buildings. “Adding these bed spaces to campus has really anchored the north side of campus,” said Matt Kerch, interim executive director of Housing and Residential Communities. “We’re in a prime location on the north side of campus because we have so many students in close proximity to us.” In addition to Housing and
FALL2014 | 17
18 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS
“
The Student Activity Center offers basketball courts, a 40foot climbing wall, gym and recreation equipment and multiple dining options.
I think we have created a community within a campus community. We have heard students start to refer to this as ‘the Village’ and I think they take pride in where they live.
”
Matt Kerch, interim executive director of Housing and Residential Communities
Residential Community offices at the Student Activity Center, the First Year Experience & Parent Programs and University Recreation offices provide even more student services readily accessible to students living in the complex. Intercollegiate Athletics also houses their rowing indoor training areas, along with coaches’ offices in the SAC. “I think we have created a community within a campus community,” Kerch said. “We have heard students start to refer to this as “the Village” and I think they take pride in where they live.” The transformation of the area from its former home to Rose Towers to the new Presidential Village is amazing, Kerch said. “The whole project took approximately five years from starting Presidential Village I to
finishing the Student Activity Center and Presidential Village II,” he said. “It’s very rewarding to know all the work that went into this, and to see students using the facilities and enjoying them.” Outside of the residence halls, a lot of focus was put into the surrounding area, providing multiple options for outdoor seating and grilling in the courtyards. “We have grills, picnic tables and gazebos. Those gathering spaces outside the building make this area great,” Kerch said. In addition to creating great outdoor spaces surrounding Presidential Village, other upgrades went into the area as well. To connect the Student Activity Center and the Presidential Village buildings to Riverside North, Kerch said that multiple projects took place over the
summer to enhance the area. “We really tried to tie the north side of campus all together,” he said. “We put a new walkway through Riverside North, and did a lot of enhancements to the Riverside courtyard to create a lot of gathering spaces for students inside and outside the building.” Now complete, Presidential Village shows how UA and Student Affairs are committed to enhancing the student experience on campus. “Our buildings and our facilities that we offer students, along with our services, are second to none,” Kerch said. “I think we offer great customer service and amenities to our students, and I think that’s a major contributing factor to why we have such high student success and satisfaction.” FALL2014 | 19
GrandCentral Station UA’s
20 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS
Ferguson Student Center renovation, addition completed
By Jessie Patterson Jones
W
ith approval given in 2011, construction began in July 2013 to renovate 100,000 square feet of existing space and add 75,000 square feet to the Ferguson Student Center. Barely more than a year later, UA welcomed an updated Ferg back into the swing of campus life without missing a beat. “I think the Ferg fits with our campus now,” said Carl Bacon, director of the Ferguson Student Center. “I like that we’ve brought a lot more departments here to the Carl Bacon, Dr. Steven Hood, Dr. Judy Bonner and Hamilton Bloom cut the ribbon at the grand opening Ferg, like the Blackburn Institute of the Ferguson Student Center. and Safe Zone that didn’t have space before.” “The student reaction has been office space and a new main entrance On Thursday, Aug. 21, UA incredibly positive from day one in on the south side of the building. President Dr. Judy Bonner and all facets of the new building,” said The south side of the building also Interim Vice President for Student Dr. Adam Sterritt, assistant vice features a “great hall” to serve as a Affairs Dr. Steven Hood hosted president for Student Affairs. place for students to gather, study Student Affairs supporters and On average, more than 21,000 and enjoy time on campus. staff members for a formal grand students, faculty, staff and visitors “The new design of the Ferg really opening, which was followed on make their way through the Ferg supports Student Affairs’ mission, Friday, Aug. 22 by a student grand each day. The $45 million renovation to maximize student learning with opening. More than 6,000 students and addition included much-needed more meeting rooms and dining turned out to get to know their updates to the food court, an options.” said UA senior Dorothy updated Ferg. expansion for the Supe Store, new Beck. “It really meets student needs.” FALL2014 | 21
“
The student reaction has been incredibly positive from day one in all facets of the new building. Dr. Adam Sterritt, assistant vice president for Student Affairs
22 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS
Career Center renovated for success
T
he Career Center was one of the departments that found itself in a new home to start the academic year, and the new space more than doubled that of the office’s former home. Not only is the Career Center more visible to students and visitors to the building, but it was able to add seven more interview rooms, giving potential employers 18 rooms in which they can conduct interviews with UA students. As the Career Center got into the swing of fall interviews and events, the new space was making its presence known. “It’s making a very good impression for us and for UA,” said Travis Railsback, executive director of the Career Center. “The feedback from students and employers alike has been fantastic, and that makes use so proud.”
The updated and expanded Career Center in the Ferguson Student Center features 18 interview rooms.
The buzz around a new year and a new location have had an impact on programs as well, Railsback said, with the Career Center’s fall career fairs receiving record registration numbers. “The Career Center plays a huge
part in helping thousands of our students explore, prepare for and ultimately connect with career opportunities each year,” Railsback said. “I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity this growth gives us to help our students even more.” FALL2014 | 23
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Behind the headlines Crawford credits The Crimson White with much of her success
By Jessie Patterson Jones
I
f you walk into Jan Crawford’s office at CBS News in Washington, D.C., there is no mistaking where she went to college. From her University of Alabama diploma to a photo of George Teague’s famous strip in the 1993 Sugar Bowl, her office shouts “Roll Tide” at colleagues and visitors. “I’ve got an Alabama sticker on my car, too,” Crawford said. “I’m extremely proud of the University, of being a graduate and of what I learned at Alabama.” Crawford, a journalist, author and lawyer, can be found regularly on CBS This Morning, CBS Evening News, Face the Nation, and CBS Sunday Morning as a national correspondent and chief legal correspondent for the network. She is a widely recognized expert on the United States Supreme Court, whose widely acclaimed book, “Supreme Conflict: The Inside Story of the Struggle for Control of the Supreme
24 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS
Court” was a New York Times bestseller. She also led CBS News’ coverage of the 2012 presidential elections. It is a career and a life she never imagined. Crawford, who grew up in rural north Alabama, said she had never thought about journalism as a career one way or another. “I didn’t even know someone who was a journalist,” she said. “It never occurred to me that that was a career.” After winning a statewide speaking competition, Crawford earned a speech scholarship to attend UA. With aspirations of attending law school, Crawford realized that getting some writing experience would help her get there. “I very nervously went to the office of The Crimson White, keeping my fingers tightly crossed that they would let me write a story for them,” she said. “I wrote one story, and it was so exciting. I turned it in, and they seemed to like it. They gave me another assignment and I kept going. “I could not believe I could go out
and ask people questions and write about it, and find out things before anyone else — and that was a job.” Crawford devoted herself to The Crimson White, UA’s student newspaper, eventually serving as editor-in-chief. Those years, Crawford said, changed the course of her life. “My years at Alabama really opened up these doors for me that have allowed me to have a career that I love,” she said. “From the minute I went into the CW offices before my sophomore year, the experiences I had working for the student newspaper changed my life.” Crawford’s time at the CW in the mid-1980s saw the paper win national awards following stories about UA’s Greek organizations, including the Associated Collegiate Press’ highest honor, the Pacemaker award. “It was a big year for the CW. There was a lot of tension on campus and we all covered it,” Crawford said. “That time at UA was some of the journalism I am most proud of.
“
”
My years at Alabama really opened up these doors for me that have allowed me to have a career that I love.
I feel like we worked so hard, and we helped, along with UA leaders, affect incredibly important change that paved the way for progress.” Despite long hours, deadlines and mountains of writing and editing, Crawford said her days of collegiate
Jan Crawford, CBS News
journalism were some of the best. “Some of my favorite memories in life are the times I spent at the Crimson White, about the stories we did, the convictions we had and the excitement we felt. “It’s hard to even put into words
what UA did for me. It shaped the course of my entire life,” she said. “To this day, I cannot believe I get to do the things that I get to do. It’s hard to believe it’s even work most of the time, and I owe all of that to Alabama.” FALL2014 | 25
Living CREED THE
Capstone Heroes awards program honors those who embrace the Capstone Creed
By Paige Watson
S
tudent Affairs’ Office of Student Conduct seeks to routinely honor those who truly embody and embrace the spirit of the Capstone Creed. The Capstone Heroes award was created in 2007 to honor those on campus for their outstanding achievements, community service, ideals and values and for embracing the Capstone Creed. Paula Perry, Student Conduct associate director and advisor for Capstone Heroes, serves as the main organizer of the award. Award nominations are sent to an advisory council that decides the top two recipients who will receive the award. “There are usually about 15 nominees each month, so it’s a pretty tough decision,” Perry said. Students, faculty and staff are all encouraged to nominate others on campus in a written summary of 500 words or less. Award winners are notified via email and then awarded at the Student Affairs Leadership Service awards. Each spring the honor has humbled many of its winners. Lane McLelland, director of Crossroads Community
Center, was honored as a Capstone Hero for outstanding service to students. McLelland’s nominator highlighted how she revamped the Sustained Dialog program on campus and was instrumental in the foundation of Blend, a student organization that promotes diversity. McLelland was praised for her willingness to always sit down with students to discuss their frustrations and what can be done to fix them. “Having received an honor for something I know others more clearly deserve has made me profoundly aware of the importance of finding a way to thank the many heroes I encounter in my work at UA. Their untold efforts and ongoing devotion to the University make so much possible for us all,” McLelland said. Tatiana Carrasquilla, nominated by her brother Juan, created the Swipe Away Hunger meal donation program at UA. Last year, the program provided more than 423 meals during Thanksgiving at the East Tuscaloosa Community Soup Bowl. Carrasquilla originally came up with the idea to
have UA students donate their excess and unused guest swipes while studying for finals, and she first wanted to nominate her brother for his help with the program. “I was so surprised when I got the email, and then to find out my own brother nominated me, I was completely shocked. Capstone Heroes is a great program to inspire students to do great things on campus, and through this program I’ve learned that there’s so many people here who do so much already,” Carrasquilla said. Capstone Heroes focuses on highlighting the service and positive actions of those on campus. “It is so wonderful to see so many people at UA doing great things on campus, who really care, are focused and are being smart and responsible,” Perry said. Capstone Heroes has shown many just how much UA has to offer students, and how those students promote the University’s values. “This has truly opened my eyes to all that UA has to offer its students, and there’s so much opportunity here for everyone,” Carrasquilla said .
Above: Jessie Ashton presents Ana Schuber with her Capstone Hero award. FALL2014 | 27
; ;
26 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS
; .
GOING EXTREME UA’s Week of Welcome kicked off in an extreme way, welcoming thousands of students to Coleman Coliseum for the Week of Welcome Xtreme Kick-Off, featuring a pep rally, zip-lining and skydiving simulations.
Fall 2014 COMMITTING TO THE CREED
FAMILY WEEKEND More than 3,600 family members joined their students on campus to take part in Family Weekend 2014, enjoying a beach bash, tailgate, football game and jazz brunch hosted by Student Affairs.
Dr. Judy Bonner and other UA administrators welcomed the Class of 2018 to UA at Foster Auditorium. New freshmen and transfer students committed to uphold the Capstone Creed.
PHOTO BY JUSTIN BARNETT
RUNNING HOME Fall formal sorority recruitment at UA was once again the largest in the nation, with more than 2,000 women joining Panhellenic sororities on campus. 28 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS
PHOTO BY PETE PAJOR
FALL2014 | 5
WARM WELCOME More than 8,400 students moved onto campus to kick off the 2014-2015 academic year, with almost 500 fellow students, faculty and staff members providing assistance to welcome all students to campus.
CAMP LIFE More than 160 students attended Camp 1831, an experience that allows first-year students to make friends, have fun and develop the pride that comes with being a UA student prior to the start of classes.
MAKING WAVES More than 200 students started their time at the Capstone by giving back to the Tuscaloosa as part of Ripple Effect, a freshman day of service.
CREATING CONNECTIONS A highlight of each fall, Get On Board Day took place in late August. Hundreds of student organizations took part to help students find new ways to get involved for the coming year. FALL2014 | 29
SUPPORT LEARNING
Beyond the Classroom Gifts tto the Division of Student Affairs support: Campus and student life initiatives Camp Caree Career education Paren Parents Fund UA A Away scholarships Veter Veterans and military dependents
Gifts ifts from our generous g supporters fund a variety of initiatives that enrich students’ educational opportunities outside of the classroom. A donation to Student Affairs can provide a meaningful way to honor a special individual or cause, while helping UA students. For more information about how to give to Student Affairs, please call External Affairs at 205-348-6275 or go to giving.sa.ua.edu.
Lead the way. Give today. 30 30 || CAPSTONE CAPSTONE MAGAZINE MAGAZINE || STUDENT STUDENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS
“
The Center for Sustainable Service & Volunteerism is more than just service. It is a way of finding yourself through selflessness and joy through the measurable change in your environment. The CSSV has equipped me with the tools needed to activate, inspire and motivate others to plant the seeds of change in their spheres of influence.
STUDENT AFFAIRS
Elliot Spillers, UA Student & CSSV Team Leader
Dean of Students
”
Assessment Blackburn Institute Career Center C enter for Sustainable Service & Volunteerism Counseling Center External Affairs Ferguson Student Center F irst Year Experience & Parent Programs Graduate Student Services Fraternity & Sorority Life H ousing & Residential Communities Office of Student Media Student Conduct Student Government Association Student Involvement Student Leadership University Recreation Veteran & Military Affairs Women’s Resource Center FOLLOW US! #UASTUDENTAFFAIRS
instagram.com/uastudentaffairs twitter.com/uastudents facebook.com/uastudentaffairs FALL2014 | 31
Division of Student Affairs Box 870301 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0301
We give because… “We believe it is essential to support students at The University of Alabama with our resources and our time. As students some years ago, we found that being active in Student Affairs was a great learning tool for our commitment to community throughout our lives. We hope you will join us in supporting the next generation.” BOBBIE AND DON SIEGAL Bobbie and Don Siegal are longtime supporters of the Division of Student Affairs and The University of Alabama. From scholarships to the Blackburn Institute, the gifts of these former student leaders make a difference in the lives of students on campus today.
Make a gift to Student Affairs today at giving.sa.ua.edu.
Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Paid The University of Alabama