Vanguard The
Volume 45, Number 28
Funding approved for new Engineering and Science Center T.R. Risner STAFF REPORTER wxman08@yahoo.com
The Omnibus Bill, sponsored by Alabama Senator Richard Shelby, to approve the new engineering and science building has been passed by the federal government and will bring more than $33 million to the University of South Alabama. The $30 million for the new Engineering and Science Center has been included in the budget by Sen. Shelby the past few years, but finally made it through Washington. The money has been a major goal of Shelby’s ever since he has been in office. The proposed building has a price tag of $50 million. $10 million, previously approved by the federal government, will be added to the $10 million USA officials have already put up for the building to get the $50 million total. The Engineering and Science Center will bring additional classrooms, laboratories and office space to the fast growing engineering department. The facility would provide laboratory and research facilities for future engineers, scientists and researchers. “The plans for the new building will be presented in the near future,” said Keith Ayers, director of the USA’s public relations office. “The Engineering College has been growing, now having more than a thousand students, so we need the additional classrooms and office space,” said Dr. John Steadman, dean of the College of Engineering. The faculty will be in one building which will “lead to better communication, more interdisciplinary research and sharing practices in teaching,” according to Dr. Steadman. “The expanding science and technology based industry in Mobile will only demand more university skilled workers for high paying jobs in the future; the new center will allow USA to prepare students for the workforce,” according to Sen. Shelby. The bill that could help build the Engineering and X
March 3, 2008
Review of the Mobile Ballet’s Coppelia see page 10
Serving USA SinCe 1965
EADS lands major tanker bid Tankers to be built at Brookley Field; economic impact expected to be huge Jason Shepard EDITOR-IN-CHIEF jason.shepard@comcast.net
On Friday, the U.S. Air Force announced Northrop Grumman Corp. and EADS North America beat out Chicago-based Boeing for a multibillion-dollar Air Force contract to build 179 next-generation aerial refueling tankers over the next 10 to 15 years. The contract is estimated to be valued up to $40 billion. The company plans to build the tankers at Brookley Field Industrial Complex in Mobile, Ala., creating 1,500 new jobs at that sight. With its overarching economic impact, the tanker contract is expected to support a total of 25,000 jobs. "This is really a historic and great day for Mobile and our entire region," Mobile Mayor Sam Jones said at a news conference. "This is a community-changing industry, and we will see our community change for the better." Chicago-based Boeing was considered a heavy favorite
due to Boeing’s political clout and long-time ties with the Air Force. Boeing had been supplying the Air Force with refueling tankers for nearly 50 years. Boeing plans to protest the award. Some influential politicians in Washington plan to support Boeing’s protest. "It's stunning to me that we would outsource the production of these airplanes to Europe instead of building them in America," said Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kan.). "I'll be calling upon the Secretary of Defense for a full debriefing and expect there will be a protest of the award by Boeing." The tanker announcement is the second competitive major economic development package awarded to the Mobile area in the last year. In May, Alabama beat out Louisiana in a bid to attract German steelmaker ThyssenKrupp AG. The company plans to build a new $3.7 billion steel plant in northern Mobile County, creating an estimated 2,700 permanent jobs.
USA says ‘goodbye’ to Dr. Adams
see FUNDING, page 21
Corrections and Clarifications
The picture to the left accompanied “Riley, Jones honored at alumni dinner,” The Vanguard Feb. 18. The caption under the picture misidentified Sam Jones’ guest (second from right) as his wife. Jones is not married. Jones’ guest was Tameka McCall, Jones’ god daughter.
Inside
Lifestyles pg. 8
Marzieh K. Atigh / Photo Editor
The University of South Alabama bid a farewell to the former vice president of student affairs Dr. Dale Adams Feb. 28. Adams served more than 18 years at the University and has been involved with a lot of USA’s growth. One of his biggest accomplishments while being at USA, according to a previous interview with The Vanguard, is the new addition of the new housing at the University, including the Greek houses. The biggest one was being a part of the development of the new Recreation Center. Even though he will not be around while it is being built, he was instrumental in getting the process going.
Fine Arts pg. 10
Entertainment pg. 12
The Vanguard P.O. Drawer 25100 Mobile, Ala. 36688 Newsroom - 460-6442 Fax 414-8293 Advertising - 460-6898 Letters, press releases, announcements - vanguard@jaguar1.usouthal.edu
Sports pg. 14
Opinion pg. 18
Classifieds pg. 26
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