Honors Course Spotlight: "This Land is Your Land"

Since registration is still going strong (and I'm sure that many of you are still tweaking your class schedules), I thought it might be a good time to highlight another Honors College course offering. The course I will be highlighting today is a UH 300 seminar (UH300-015 for Spring 2011) entitled "This Land is Your Land." The course is taught by Mr. Brad Tuggle (soon to be Dr. Tuggle), our newest Honors College faculty member.

I had a chance to sit down with Mr. Tuggle recently and talk to him about the class. The main theme of the course is the idea of "agrarianism." Specifically, students explore a number of issues related to land use in America. Have we lost a connection to the land? Are we properly using the land? Do we have a responsibility to the land? All of these questions are explored in Mr. Tuggle’s course.

The course is based on a number of readings by various authors; Wendell Berry, Emerson, Robert Frost, and Shakespeare are all included in the mix. Each author offers a different way to think about the earth and humanity’s place in it.  Mr. Tuggle does not like to “take sides” in any discussion. He encourages every opinion that is backed by rigorous thought.

Mr. Tuggle feels that the issue of agrarianism is one that cannot be politically pigeon-holed. According to Mr. Tuggle, the agrarian movement is one that “draws from both left-wing and right-wing thought.” Much of the movement is complementary to the modern environmental movement, which is typically considered politically liberal. Another major aspect of the movement, however, is the support of a traditional family structure, which is typically considered politically conservative. Mr. Tuggle feels that asking students to consider these issues helps to expand their intellectual capacity.

Another one of Mr. Tuggle’s tenets is that “education is not about the classroom.” According to Mr. Tuggle, students must be encouraged to consider the real-world applications of concepts taught in the classroom. A major portion of the course is spent encouraging students to find a way to actively participate in the concepts discussed in the classroom.

Want another reason to take the class? Mr. Tuggle graduated from UA as a Rhodes Scholar.  With that background, he is able to advise students on applying for the Rhodes and other prestigious awards.

For more information on agrarianism, check out the Wikipedia page (at your own risk with regard to accuracy, of course).

Roadtrippin' to Knoxville (or "How to Survive an Away Game")

In case some of you are completely isolated from the outside world, Alabama played at Tennessee this past weekend. Of course, we won in a 41-10 blowout. For those of you who don't follow football closely, you may not realize that Alabama vs. Tennessee is actually a historically notable rivalry. Not so much this year...but definitely in the past (and probably at some point in the future).


I made the trip to Knoxville this past weekend with my roommate to see the game. Actually, I took a roundabout trip to Knoxville that began on Thursday night before the game. My itinerary went something like this: Tuscaloosa, AL to Memphis, TN to Athens, AL to Knoxville, TN to Athens, TN to Tuscaloosa, AL. I won't go into all of the details of why my trip went like that, but it did. (Wanna see a map? Here you go.)

So why am I writing about this? First of all, I'm simply a football fanatic who likes to talk about his football experiences. Second of all, I figure that some of you my make it to a road game at some point in the future...and you may be interested in what I've learned. I'm going to try to present my story as a series of "lessons" that I learned.

Sunset at Neyland Stadium.

Lesson 1: Don't But Tickets Too Early

• This really applies to any game, either home or away. Tickets prices will almost always drop as a game gets closer, even up to the week of the game (there are exceptions to this rule if a game is highly anticipated). My roommate and I bought tickets to this game before it became apparent that Tennessee was abjectly horrible...and we probably paid too much. That being said, once you've paid for your tickets, it's probably best to just not think about the cost anymore...what's done is done and you'll still enjoy the experience.

Our seats were way up high, but they were in the Bama section.

Lesson 2: Getting an Out-of-Town Hotel Can Be Good

• My roommate and I waited too late to get a hotel in Knoxville proper (that's probably a lesson in itself...hotels will book months in advance). We ended up settling for a hotel in Athens, TN. Our hotel was about an hour outside of Knoxville, and at first we thought this might be an issue. However, after the game we realized that our decision had been a good one. We didn't have to fight crowds like we would have in town, and we were already an hour closer to home the next morning. I think it was probably the right choice.

Lesson 3: Get Expert Advice on Parking

• Luckily for us, my parents went to UT and had some great advice on parking near the stadium. However, we saw several folks after the game who could not get out of their parking garage, get on the right street due to traffic, etc. If you know anyone who has some expert knowledge about gameday logistics in a given city...take advantage of it! If you aren't that lucky, do a quick Google search...many fans will post information like that on Internet forums.

Lesson 4: Get There Early Enough to Enjoy the Gameday Atmosphere

• Every school in the SEC has its own unique traditions and gameday atmosphere. Honestly, that's a big reason that I love going to away games. Be sure that you get to the campus early enough to check out the local tailgating scene and participate in any local traditions (for example, the Tennessee band puts on a pretty impressive show on their way into the stadium). This applies even if you'll have to hear Rocky Top a hundred million times.

Waiting on the band

Lesson 5: Rammer Jammer in An Opponent's Stadium is Sweet

• Need I say more? 

Maybe some of this information has been useful to you. If you have any questions about going to away games (or anything else for that matter) feel free to contact us at honorsconnection@gmail.com.

Roll Tide!

Class Registration Starts Today!

In case several of you are forgetful (like myself), class registration for Spring 2011 started this morning. Since all of you are Honors students, I've posted the priority registration schedule for you below (from the Registrar's website). Note that all Honors students will be able to register by some point today or tomorrow.

October 26 (Today):

• 7:00 AM: Students with priority registration with greater than or equal to 82 earned hours
• 1:30 PM: Students with priority registration with greater than or equal to 47 earned hours

October 27 (Tomorrow):

• 7:00 AM: Students with priority registration with greater than or equal to 22 earned hours
• 1:30 PM: Students with priority registration with less than 22 earned hours 

The times listed above are the times that registration opens for the given groups. In other words, if you miss your exact assigned time, don't worry too much. You may not be able to get all the classes you wanted, but you will still be able to register at any point during the registration period (through Nov 9).

Also be aware of the fact that you can add or drop classes at any point between now and next Spring. (The system may complain if you go under 12 hours or above 18 hours...but as long as you stay in that range you should be fine.) With that in mind, it is a good idea to go ahead and register for classes now even if you still aren't exactly sure what you need to take next semester. This will insure that you at least have a spot reserved somewhere.

If the classes you want are full, put yourself on the wait list for that class if it has one. If it doesn't, then keep a close eye on the class and hope for the best...a lot of folks will drop classes between now and the beginning of the semester.

Finally, Honors College Peer Mentors will be available today from 9am-5pm in the Nott Hall student lounge, from 6pm-10pm tonight in Ridgecrest South, and from 9am-5pm tomorrow in the Nott Hall student lounge. They will do their best to answer any questions you might have about the registration process.

Good luck and don't forget (like I did)!

Monday Major Madness: Journalism

Each Monday, we highlight a certain major here at UA. Regardless of the particular major's sanity or lack thereof, we like to call it Monday Major Madness...

In today's installment of Monday Major Madness, Honors College student Alan Blinder will be talking about his experience as a journalism major.

1)    Why did you choose your major?

For my entire life, I have been interested in people’s stories, and no matter what beat one covers in journalism, we’re always reporting on people.

As cliché as it is, working as a reporter is one of the best jobs in the world because we have the frequent opportunity to witness extraordinary events and talk with people who impact change and those who live with the effects of those changes. Sometimes, our reporting, though objective, helps to right wrongs and to shape policies by illuminating the truth.

Few journalists will become millionaires, but I console myself knowing that I’ve had priceless experiences as a reporter. From traveling with the president of the United States (and learning that a motorcade is the best way to traverse Washington) to standing on the sidelines of the national championship game to interviewing civil rights legends, world leaders and a town librarian in rural Alabama, I’ve formed some incredible memories. And it was all because I was a reporter.

2)    What are your career plans?

With the rise of digital media, journalism is a challenging industry. However, I have my sights set on covering national politics someday for a major newspaper. In the immediate future, though, I’m planning to find a job where one is available. Until our industry finds a better business model, recent graduates will have to be willing to take just about any job.

I do think, though, that I’ll be a strong candidate for a job because I worked at The Crimson White, including a productive stint as managing editor, and served a number of internships at a variety of outlets. I’ve interned everywhere ranging from a trade publication to the Washington bureau of the Houston Chronicle and the San Francisco Chronicle. Professional preparation, my mentors tell me, will be the key to success in my job search. Moral of the story: Don’t let four years of college go to waste.

3)    What has been your favorite class for your major so far?

I earned course credit for my internships, and I enjoyed that work the most because it put me in the professional world of daily deadline reporting with tough, smart editors. (A good editor can transform your newsgathering and writing skills.)

As for a favorite course at UA, I’ve enjoyed depth reporting and beat reporting. In beat reporting (JN315), students select a beat at the start of the semester, develop sources and write a number of stories relating to that beat. For my class, I chose the race beat, which I found to be a powerful, moving experience. Covering race also allowed me to learn a great deal more about Alabama and its heritage.

I’m currently enrolled in depth reporting (JN411), which presently requires students to write four stories of significant length. My professor wants to change the course name to “centerpiece reporting” because the stories we write are the types of pieces one sees as the centerpiece on A1. The professor, a former editor of The Tuscaloosa News, also encourages us to submit our stories for publication, further bolstering our portfolios.

4)    How many hours a week do you spend working on major-related activities?

 That’s a hard calculation to make because a journalism major who will be successful after graduation is one who spends a lot of time on professional development activities, whether required for class or not.

This semester, for example, I’m interning at The Tuscaloosa News, taking two journalism courses (not counting the credit I’ll receive for my internship) and covering the midterm elections for Hearst Newspapers, the parent company of the Houston Chronicle, the San Antonio Express-News, the San Francisco Chronicle and Hearst News Service, which distributes content to more than 600 newspaper partners worldwide.

So, all told, I spend a lot of time on my work. But I still have ample time for other activities. (I’m writing this after taking a few days to travel to Tennessee to attend the game in Knoxville and to deliver a speech in Memphis on behalf of UA.)

5)    Any other advice?

Don’t be one of those people who fail to take advantage of opportunities, especially during the summer. Serve as an intern at multiple outlets (a good networking opportunity, too) and pitch ideas to your local newspaper. Also, work at The Crimson White. Contrary to what some people might say, it’s a good newspaper, an invaluable experience and it will teach you a lot about reporting.

Also, never forget that UA’s journalism department has produced some fine reporters, including Christi Parsons, a White House correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, who has served as a mentor to me and other journalism students at UA. The department’s faculty is full of fantastic people who are willing to help at every turn, but only if you ask.

After all, isn’t asking (questions, for help, etc.) what journalism is all about?

On the Lack of Recent Posts

I wanted to take a quick second to apologize for the lack of posts towards the end of last week. I had a pretty busy weekend that started on Thursday night in Memphis, TN. I then spent Friday night in Athens, AL, Saturday in Knoxville, TN (for the game of course), and finally made it back to Tuscaloosa on Sunday. Interstate rest areas are not exactly conducive to blogging.

Hopefully, I'll be able to get up a post later in the week about my trip...especially the time spent in Knoxville.

Monday Major Madness will be up shortly.

New Spots Available for Sipsey Hike This Sunday

As I posted last week, Honors College is offering two all-day hiking trips to the Sipsey Wilderness. The first one will be this Sunday (October 23). This was an incredibly popular trip last year, and it's evidently pretty popular this year as well. The sign up sheet filled up almost as soon as we posted it...but I've got good news for anyone who is interested in going...

Due to the high demand, the trip has been expanded to accommodate more students. If you tried to sign up previously but couldn't get a spot, try again! The sign up sheet is here.

You know you want to go.

HCA Presents "The Great Pumpkin Extravaganza"

Remember all the really horribly messy fun times you had as a kid carving pumpkins at Halloween? Well HCA has organized an event to help you reclaim your childhood! (Or, for those of you who never stopped carving pumpkins, HCA has organized an event to help you reclaim your...now-hood.)

Next Wednesday (October 27) HCA will be hosting "The Great Pumpkin Extravaganza" from 7:00-9:00 PM. The event will be held just outside of Lloyd Hall (that's right next to Nott on the Quad). What's going to go down? Here's your answer:

• Pumpkin carving/painting with ghastly prizes
• Scrumptious Halloween treats (read: candy)
• A spine-chilling screening of It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

Here's the thing...if you want to join the fun, we really need you to sign up in the lobby of Nott Hall by this Friday, October 22. There should be a sign-up sheet on a table located just inside the second-floor front door. I'll be honest with you guys, I think this is going to be an incredibly fun event.

Excellent.

Also, all of the pumpkins that are carved will be delivered to Capstone Village and Tuscaloosa One Place. See...you can have a great time and still be helping to make someone's Halloween a little bit more cheerful. (Wait, maybe that's not the right word for Halloween. Whatever, you know what I mean.) Of course, one thing that should be mentioned is that this event is absolutely FREE.

So, come on out to the pavilion outside of Lloyd Hall next Wednesday!

Monday Major Madness: Accounting

A new Monday feature is starting on the blog today. Each Monday, we will highlight a certain major here at UA. For each major, we will cover things like career opportunities, workload, good professors, and challenging classes. Ladies and gentlemen, Monday Major Madness...

In today's installment of Monday Major Madness, Honors College student Fernanda Lima will be talking about her experience as an accounting major.

1) Why did you choose your major?
I have wanted to be a business major since I was a sophomore in high school. Although I did not originally understand what business entailed, I had always been told that I was a "people person" so business sounded like the perfect career for me. When I got to UA, I realized that saying I was a business major would not be enough. I would have to pick from the dozens of business majors. I sifted through all the different options and tried to find the major that seemed to best fit my personality. I love numbers, working problems, and trying to make ideas fit within a set of rules so accounting appeared to be a perfect fit.

2) What are your career plans?
I am planning on pursuing a Masters degree after school and then sitting for the CPA exam. I hope to work for an accounting firm early in my career but I am not sure where that will take me further down the road.

3) What has been your favorite class (required for your major) so far?
I have really enjoyed the three accounting classes I have taken so far, specifically AC 210 and 310. Both classes teach the fundamentals of accounting and are very interesting.

4) How many hours per week do you spend working on major-related activities?
I'm not going to lie, it is hard hard work. I spent virtually every spare minute of last week studying in the days leading up to a test. The classes are doable but you must be prepared to work for them. It is important to study, read, and work problems daily so you do not fall behind in class. It depends on the teachers but most accounting classes have between 3 and 4 tests with quizzes and assignments counting as  a very small percentage of the grade.

5) Any additional information?
If you think you are interested in accounting definitely give it a try. Do not be discouraged because it does not come easily to most. You might be surprised to find that you love it or you might find that accounting is definitely not for you. Regardless, it can't hurt to take the introductory class. One final piece of advice- class is nothing like what you will be doing in the day-to-day accounting profession. I cannot speak to much to that since I am still a student but from what I've heard, the job itself is better than class.

Homecoming Weekend!

IT'S FRIDAY! It also happens to be Homecoming Week...which means that there's a bonfire and pep rally tonight! Starting at 7:00pm on the Quad, several things will be happening tonight:

• The band will play on the steps of Gorgas.
• Several speakers will also be present on the steps of Gorgas (Eli Gold and hopefully Coach Saban).
• Homecoming Queen will be announced.
• A huge bonfire will be blazing next to Denny Chimes.

No, Denny Chimes is not on fire.

It should be a great event to get you excited for kickoff against the Ole Miss Rebels Black Bears. Obviously, our football team has some room for improvement, and hopefully they'll come out fired up this week (it would help if our crowd could be fired up as well). Kickoff is set for 8:10pm tomorrow evening.

The game won't be the only thing going on tomorrow, though. The annual Homecoming Parade will start at 12:00pm tomorrow at the intersection of University Boulevard and 22nd Avenue. The parade will continue down University and will end at 5th Avenue (click here for Google Maps). Tyrone Prothro will be the grand marshal.

Your Grand Marshal

Of course, all of the Homecoming lawn decorations will be out tomorrow, and "Paint the Town Red" will be at its peak. We've got a couple of days full of events, and I'd encourage you to check them all out. Should be a good time for everyone involved.

Enjoy Homecoming and Roll Tide!

Sipsey Wilderness Hike (Two Options...Sign Up Now!)

Next Sunday (October 24) and the following Saturday (October 30), the Honors College will be offering all-day hiking trips to the Sipsey Wilderness near Haleyville, AL (click here for Google Maps). For each trip, transportation will be provided to and from the hike. We will leave in the early morning (probably around 9:00am) and return to Tuscaloosa in the late afternoon. The hike will last approximately three hours, and trained guides from the Outdoor Rec office will be leading the group.

Sipsey: "The Land of 1000 Waterfalls"

The Sipsey Wilderness is the third largest wilderness area east of the Mississippi River. It was actually the first wilderness area to be established east of the Mississippi, and its establishment in 1975 was somewhat of a landmark political event (see the Wikipedia page for more information on that). It is known for its abundance of waterfalls and rough terrain. It is home to some of the most beautiful wilderness in the state.

Of course, an important consideration (at least for me) with any weekend event is football. Don't worry! The first hike is on the Sunday after we play Tennessee in Knoxville...so no issues there. The second hike is on the Saturday of our bye weekend...so no worries there either!

So...for those of you looking for a free outdoor event that includes both strenuous activity and fun companions, this is the trip for you! Sign up for either trip here.

Discounted Tickets to Kentuck Art Festival

This weekend (both Saturday and Sunday), the annual Kentuck Festival will be taking place in downtown Northport. This is one of the coolest cultural events that happens in the Tuscaloosa area. Incredible art will be on display, two stages will offer continuous musical enjoyment, master artisans will offer training sessions in their crafts, and food vendors will offer a veritable plethora of food. The good news for you...Honors College will be offering half-price tickets to interested students!


The normal price for a daily pass to the Festival is $10. Honors College has acquired 15 tickets for this Sunday for only $5 each for interested students. Want to take advantage of this great offer? Here's how:

1. Email Grant at honorsconnection@gmail.com to request a ticket.
2. Meet in the parking lot behind Nott Hall this Sunday (Oct. 17) at 1:00pm. Bring your money.
3. Carpool with other Honors students to the Festival and enjoy!

Here's a little more information about the Kentuck Festival (from their website):

The Kentuck Festival, nationally recognized for its quality and diversity, celebrates a variety of artistic styles ranging from folk to contemporary arts as well as traditional crafts.  Each of the 250+ artists participating in the Festival is either invited as a guest artist or is juried based on the quality and originality of their work.  The guest artists are nationally recognized folk and visionary artists whose powerful visual images continue to capture national and international acclaim.  Annie Tolliver Turner, Lonnie Holley, Butch Anthony and Charlie Lucas are among the self-taught artists Kentuck has been honored to showcase.  The Kentuck Festival of the Arts takes place the third weekend in October every year.

See you this Sunday!

Dean Sharpe to be Pied!

As I posted last week, the kickoff for Beat Auburn Beat Hunger took place at the Ferg Plaza yesterday. Part of the kickoff was a competition to determine one faculty member and one student to receive pies to the face. Basically, jars were set out with faculty members' and students' pictures on them, and the jars that had the most money in them at the end of the day became the 'winners' (these would be the folks getting pied). Thanks to the generous donations of Honors College students, our dean, Dr. Shane Sharpe, will be receiving a pie tomorrow. (The student 'winner' was Richard Cockrum, a senior Honors student you may know.)

The event will take place at the Ferg Plaza tomorrow, Wednesday October 13 at 12:00pm.

 I have a few quick comments about this...

• First of all, a big thanks to everyone who stopped by the kickoff and donated some cash. I'm guessing that mainly Honors students were contributing to Dr. Sharpe's jar...which means that the Honors College must have had pretty good representation at the event. Kudos.
• Second, while I really respect Dean Sharpe (for real..he's an excellent man), I find it very hilarious to think of him receiving a pie to the face.
• Finally...you should all come to the event! It will (a) be fun and (b) be a great opportunity to continue to raise awareness for Beat Auburn Beat Hunger.

So...come on by the Ferg Plaza tomorrow at 12:00. Also, if you haven't had a chance to donate some food to Beat Auburn Beat Hunger, please take the time to do so (donation barrels are located all around campus).

Quick Reminder: Vote For Homecoming Queen Today!

I'm sure most of you are already aware of this, but the election for Homecoming Queen is being held today until 7:00pm. To vote, simply log onto myBama and click on the "Vote Now" button. For those of you who really need detailed instructions, I've copied the button below so that you know what to look for.

This is the button you're looking for.

I know many of you are Honors College Assembly members, so I thought I'd just mention that the HCA is running fellow FYE intern Anna Foley as a candidate for queen.

Honors Course Highlight: Citizenship and Service Lerning

Since class registration is coming up pretty soon, I thought it might be a good idea to highlight a couple of the courses that the Honors College will be offering next semester. The course I will be highlighting today is one of our UH 101 courses...Citizenship and Service Learning.

I took this course during the fall of my freshman year, and it was one of the best class experiences I have had thus far. This course has two components: a classroom component and a tutoring component. You'll meet in a classroom once a week for philosophical discussions on a wide variety of topics related to the themes of community and leadership. You'll also spend two hours a week tutoring at-risk kids at a local elementary school. (Don't worry, no previous tutoring experience is required...although a thorough knowledge of third grade level addition and subtraction is helpful.)

I tutored third graders at Holt Elementary when I took this course.

The tutoring component of this course serves several purposes. First of all (and probably most obviously), you'll be helping kids learn material that will be very important to their future academic endeavors. Second, and perhaps more importantly, you'll be providing these kids with some much needed special attention. Many of the kids (but not necessarily all of them) who sign up for the program come from families with tough economic backgrounds. In many cases, this means that the parents unfortunately have to spend most of their time working...and the kids really craze attention as a result.

While the tutoring is definitely a satisfying component of this class, the time that you spend in the classroom is also quite rewarding. The teacher, Judith Halli, is one of the best discussion leaders I have encountered on campus. If the class is structured the same way it was when I took it, then there will be a brief assigned reading for every meeting (you will also have to write a one page reflection on the reading). The class meeting itself consists mainly of discussion of that week's reading. I would describe the workload as light...and as long as you participate in discussion and put some thought into your reflections, an A is a likely grade.

This course really was one of my best academic experiences on campus. It was both fun and rewarding. So...if you're looking to pick up and Honors course next semester, I can definitely recommend "Citizenship and Service Learning."

Homecoming Week Starts Sunday!

One of the most exciting times on campus every year is Homecoming Week. Alumni are on campus, fall is in full swing, students are excited, and professors...well, I guess they actually just carry on business as usual. Anyway, there's an activity almost every day of the week...with the culmination coming on Saturday when Alabama plays (and hopefully beats) Ole Miss. For your convenience, we have put together a (non-exhaustive) list of the events that are going on next week. If you know of any other cool events going on, shoot us an email at honorsconnection@gmail.com and we'll add them to the list. We'll be highlighting specific events as they get closer.


Sunday (Oct 10):

• Roll Tide Run at 1pm on Capstone Drive (registration and check-in held at the rear entrance of Gorgas Library)
• Crimson Kickoff Powder Puff Charity Football Game from 2:30-4pm at the Rec Center intramural fields 

 Monday (Oct 11):

• UA Homecoming Bowling Tournament at 9:30pm at Bama Bowl on 15th St.
• Beat Auburn Beat Hunger Kickoff from 11:00am-1:00pm at the Ferg Plaza

Tuesday (Oct 12):

• Homecoming Queen Election  (online voting from 9am-8pm)
• Homecoming Basketball Tournament at 7pm in the Rec Center
• Homecoming Talent Show at 6pm in the Ferg

Wednesday (Oct 13):

• Homecoming Dodgeball Competition at 7pm in the Rec Center

 Thursday (Oct 14):

• Homecoming Choreography Contest at 6pm in Coleman Coliseum

 Friday (Oct 15):

• Homecoming Pep Rally and Bonfire at 7pm on the Quad (Homecoming Queen will be announced)

 Saturday (Oct 16):

• Homecoming Parade (time to be announced) from downtown Tuscaloosa to the UA campus
• Alabama vs. Ole Miss (time to be announced)

"Walk With Me" Service Opportunity This Saturday

This Saturday (Oct 9), Easter Seals of West Alabama will be hosting their annual "Walk With Me" event. This event is a 1.5 mile "fun walk" that helps Easter Seals raise money to assist people suffering from disabilities. Participants are paired with a child or adult who is suffering from a disability and has received support from Easter Seals. As with most fundraising events, participants can form teams and takes pledges to raise money.

So what does this have to do with Honors College (other than being an awesome event that it very much in line with the Honors College tenant of service)? One of our Freshman Year Experience interns, Fernanda Lima, has been working tirelessly to set up opportunities for Honors College students to volunteer at the event. Any student interested in helping out is asked to be at the Park at Manderson Landing from 8:30-12:30. For most of you, that's an easy walk from your dorm!

Honors students will be doing the following...

• Monitoring the course
• Helping with clean-up activities after the event
• Participating in the walk

This really will be a great way for you to get involved in the Tuscaloosa community while helping out with a great cause at the same time. For more information and specific meeting instructions for Saturday morning, email Fernanda at fvlima@crimson.ua.edu.

Beat Auburn Beat Hunger Kickoff

For those of you who aren't from Alabama, let me explain something to you...Alabama fans and Auburn fans are constantly trying to one-up each other in EVERYTHING. I am one of these Alabama fans...I cannot and will not accept that Auburn could possibly be better than Alabama at anything. (Which, let's be honest, is pretty much true.)

In recent years, Alabama has in fact gotten the better of Auburn in several areas. We won the last two Iron Bowls, we beat them the last time we played in basketball, and we're currently ranked ahead of them in the US News college rankings. Those are all good things, but there is one area where Auburn unfortunately has a lead...and that's Beat Auburn Beat Hunger.

Beat Auburn Beat Hunger is an annual food drive competition between Alabama and Auburn (Auburn calls their version "Beat Bama Beat Hunger"). The competition this year will kick off on Monday, October 11 and will run through Monday, November 22. While we have won the past three competitions, Auburn leads overall by a score of 9-7. I know what you're thinking...WE'VE GOT TO BEAT AUBURN IN EVERYTHING ROLL TIDE LET'S WIN ROLL TIDE!! So...let's do it.

(Seriously, though, this event has been incredibly successful throughout its history. The two schools have donated more than 2.5 million pounds of food since the event began in 1994. This really is about feeding the hungry, and both schools should be commended for their efforts.)

How can you help? There a a few options...

1. Bring canned food to the donation trucks that will be stationed at the Ferg Plaza throughout the event.
2. Make a monetary donation using a credit card at the Beat Auburn Beat Hunger website.
3. Come to the kickoff! Several campus organization leaders (including Honors College's own Hallie Paul) will be present at the event. The leader of the organization that donates the most money will be pied! Check out the Facebook event for more info.

Get involved! This is a great event and a chance for you to help the University in its mission to better the lives of all Alabamians beat Auburn.

Need Help Picking Courses for Next Semester? (Advising 101)

Well folks, it's getting to that time of the semester. You've gotten about halfway through your classes and you're having to turn your attention to what you would like to take next semester (you can look up classes for next semester in MyBama under the Home tab). You should have received an email from someone in your department or college about signing up for advising...do it! You are required to see an advisor before you register for classes, and the most popular times fill up quickly. So, if you don't want to have to be at an advising meeting at 8:00 am on a Friday, sign up quickly!

This will be you if you don't go to advising.

That being said, I'm excited to announce that Honors College will be offering a special service this semester to help you through your advising process. During Oct 25-27, upperclassmen Honors students will be available in the Student Lounge in Nott Hall and in Ridgecrest South to answer your questions about what classes to take, which professors are good, and how to register for classes. Please note that this does not count as attending an official advising session. Here's the schedule:

Monday, October 25 and Tuesday, October 26

¨     9 am-5 pm in the Student Lounge (Nott 257/259)

¨     6 pm-10  pm in Ridgecrest South

      
Wednesday, October 27

¨ 9 am-5 pm in the Student Lounge (Nott 257/259)

You will still have to see an advisor in your department before you register for classes. However, I know from personal experience that many departmental advisors get very...frazzled...this time of year and can't always answer all of your questions in a timely manner. Hopefully having these Honors students will help you in that regard. Plus, they can give a student perspective on which classes are fun, which are hard, etc.

So...check out the Nott Hall Student Lounge and Ridgecrest South during Oct 25-27 for great advice from fellow Honors students.