Students remember social work trailblazer

Hall was the first African- American woman on the state Board of Education.
Submitted Photo

Ethel Hall was the first African-American woman elected into the Alabama State Board of Education, and the first woman and African-American to graduate from the University of Alabama’s School of Social Work doctoral program. Hall died on Nov. 12 in Birmingham, Ala., from illness. She was 83. 

“Like so many other role models I hold dear, she helped to pave my journey as a black female educator in the state of Alabama,” said Joyce Stallworth, professor and senior associate dean in the college of education. “She was always the consummate teacher who privately and publically practiced what she taught. She epitomized so much of what I believe about education, schooling, justice and equity for all of the nation’s children. Now more than ever, this state needs courageous educators like Dr. Hall to ensure we remain focused on a trajectory of educational improvement and higher student achievement.”

Hall served 24 years on the Alabama Board of Education while holding the position of Vice President for 10 of those years. She released a book titled “My Journey: A Memoir of the First African-American to Preside Over the Alabama Board of Education” in 2010 chronicling her life as an educator.

Though her teaching career began on the high school level, Hall taught at the University of Montevallo and at Alabama. At one point in time, she was the lone black instructor at Montevallo. In 1990, the UA Board of Trustees named Hall associate professor emerita. She retired from UA in 1999.

Hall was a guest speaker at the School of Social Work’s first ever Women’s History Month lecture this past spring. She spoke on life experiences dealing with discrimination and poverty and becoming a pioneer on Alabama education.

“I couldn’t get over the fact that I have finally met the woman who paved the way for me,” said Tierra Gleason, a junior majoring in social work. “Who knows what could be if she never took the time to challenge the School of Social Work’s Ph.D. program. I couldn’t imagine living then with times being worse then than they are now here at UA…I was always told it takes a special person to be a social worker, and she was definitely special.”

While Hall is known for her many accomplishments, she was also adored for being inspiring and setting a path for others that came and will come behind her.

“Dr. Hall didn’t let the color of her skin limit her to what she could and couldn’t do,” Gleason said. “She came here and did what she sought out and was successful at accomplishing her tasks. Every social work major can learn from her in that aspect, not just from the color of her skin. We are not what someone says we are. We are not what someone else made us. We are not our past. We have control over our lives. We are not what happened to us. We are what we choose to be. I believe Dr. Hall exemplified that to the fullest.”

“Throughout all of those [24 years on the board of education], she remained passionate about improving the lives of others,” Stallworth said. “I am reminded of a line from my brother’s eulogy of our mother, who was also a life-long educator, titled, ‘Get to a Place.’ Like our mother, Dr. Hall was always ‘armed and ready to serve others and the public good,’ and she always challenged us to ‘get to a place where we can help someone else along life’s journey.’

Hall was a native of Decatur, Ala. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Alabama A&M University before obtaining master’s degrees from the University of Chicago and Atlanta University, and later getting her doctoral degree from UA.

Along with her education initiatives, Hall was also on the Board of Directors for the Birmingham Civil Rights Museum among a number of other institutions. In 1999, she was awarded the NASBE Distinguished Service Award by the National Association of State Board of Education.

Terri Sewell, Alabama’s first elected African-American congresswoman, talked about Hall in the House of Representatives.

In her speech, Sewell said, “Today, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in celebrating the life and legacy of this extraordinary Alabamian. Let her life stand as a testament to the courage and strength of one individual’s ability to shape the lives of many.  We should be renewed by her love of learning and recommit ourselves to providing our Nation’s greatest asset—its children—with the resources and opportunities they need to compete in this global economy.”

Hall is survived by her two children, Donna Hall-Mitchell and Alfred James Hall Jr.


print/web 11.30.11

Class brings attention to Black Belt problems

The Honors College is bringing light to issues in Alabama’s Black Belt Region. Professor Thomas Herwig’s Heroes in Faith and Justice in the 20th Century class is presenting an information session on Perry County on Dec. 1 from 6 to 8 p.m.

The event, “Soaring to new heights: Perry County a source of hope and inspiration” will be held in Lloyd Hall Room 133 with free admission and refreshments.

“In the context of my classes, I’ve organized events especially for the fall semesters,” Herwig said. “This year we want to focus on an area very close to Tuscaloosa where people are living in very different conditions in Perry County—it is kind of a left-behind area in the state of Alabama. On the other hand, it’s a place of hope, too, because they are wonderful people who try to turn the trends toward a more promising direction. We will talk about problems and hope the people in the county will fix these challenges and try to improve the conditions.”

The event will bring light to the issues that Perry County, one of the poorest counties in the state, has been facing for years, especially those relative to the economy. The class focused a lot on the city of Marion, which was an important location during the Civil Rights era. Coretta Scott King was born in Marion and graduated as valedictorian of Lincoln Normal School.

Today, Marion Military Institute, Judson Collge and Vaiden Field Airport are three of the most talked about areas in Marion. The airport is the motivation behind the class’s title for the event.

The class will be presenting information including history while raising awareness about issues in the Black Belt region. Lauren Wolfe said more people need to know about the issues in Perry County.

“Hopefully, we will be able to give people ideas of how they can use their talents and passions to make a difference in Perry County,” said Wolfe, a junior majoring in human development. “What this area really needs is new businesses to stimulate their economy. There are already a lot of wonderful people in the area who are devoted to making improvements to the conditions there. If we would join them in their efforts, so much could be done to benefit Perry County.”

Rebekkah Powell, a junior majoring in human development and German, said there is not a single hospital in Perry County and most people who make a small living have to commute out of the county to find work. There has been a 50 percent population decrease in Perry over the last 50-plus years.

“However, they just became a Teach for America school system,” Powell said, “and all four of their schools are ranked in the top six percent of all Alabama public schools.”

While the conditions in Perry County may not be ideal, the students in Herwig’s class are hopeful.

“The purpose of the event is to inform and inspire,” said Allie Hulcher, a sophomore majoring in journalism. “I think events like this are important because they not only educate, but inspire people to take action. We don’t want to discourage people with depressing statistics or facts – we want to educate people on the very real challenges in Marion and also inspire them to take action.”

print/web 11.29.11

City needs students volunteers

The Tuscaloosa Area Volunteer Reception Center is looking for student volunteers to assist with the clean up of Alberta City and the surrounding areas. Since the summer, the number of available volunteers has decreased, but the need for help is still there.

“There’s still a strong need for volunteers,” said Jon Lambert, TAVRC student coordinator. “Over the summer it was awesome to have all the volunteers we wanted because they were coming daily, but now we’re kind of having to reach out to let volunteers know we’re still there.”

Lambert said there is also the “community led efforts in affected neighborhoods” initiative available for groups of volunteers. Any organization, group of people or class can volunteer by picking a day and time. TAVRC will provide all equipment and supplies.

There are other volunteer opportunities besides hands-on debris removal. Lambert said students could visit warehouses, help the school board and assist with administrative tasks.

Students can register with and log volunteer hours on SLPro.

“Volunteering with the Tuscaloosa Area Volunteer Reception Center is a great way for students to be involved in the tornado clean-up efforts,” said Amy Buchanan, research coordinator for the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility, in an emailed statement. “It can be difficult to think of places to volunteer on your own, but with the TAVRC, all you have to do is show up and they will put you to work. They are sending volunteers out into the community daily and are always in need of extra help.”

Buchanan said students from the Honor’s College Moral Forum course volunteered this past Saturday. On Sundays, the Student Government Association goes out with other members of the student body to assist with cleaning up the area.

“The TAVRC is making a significant impact in the Tuscaloosa community and is instrumental in the clean-up and rebuilding efforts,” she said. “If you’re looking for a way to serve Tuscaloosa and assist in the rebuilding efforts, go to the TAVRC and lend a hand.”

Volunteers can lend a hand any day of the week. For more information on volunteering contact Lambert at jmlambert.al@gmail.com or 205-361-0760. TVRC is located at 2512 University Blvd. E.

“I hope the community will see the crisis that has happened and unite to help the area recover,” Lambert said.

print/web 11.15.11

Tide prepares for first road test at Central Arkansas

The Crimson Tide women’s basketball team won their first game of the season at home, and now they are quickly heading out for their first road test. The Tide will take on the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Farris Center in Conway, Ark.

“Because it’s our first road game, I think the players are going to be excited about going to play in somebody else’s venue,” head coach Wendell Hudson said. “Central Arkansas is a very good basketball team. They had a great crowd when they played Indiana, so we’re expecting to play in front of a really great, hostile crowd, which will tell us a lot about ourselves really early…I think this is going to be a really big test for us, and we’re really excited about it.”

Both teams won their season openers. Alabama overtook Nicholls State 72-51, while Central Arkansas beat Indiana 58-46. Hudson said the Tide must be defensively aware and shut down Sugar Bear perimeter players who are a threat from beyond the three-point line.

“We have to be sure that our perimeter defense is what it should be because all five of their players on the floor can really shoot the ball from the perimeter,” he said.

Central Arkansas made 61.5 percent from the three. Junior Westin Taylor made five of the team’s eight three-point field goals.

Junior guard Meghan Perkins led the Tide in scoring with 13 points. Freshman Aneesah Daniels tallied 10 rebounds and seven points, while senior guard Ericka Russell tallied 11 points and moved into the 1,000 point club for her college career. Alabama held Nicholls State to 29 percent shooting and forced 19 turnovers.

The Tide shot 55 percent from the free-throw line, making 16 out of 29 attempts. Hudson says there are still improvements that can be made to become a better team.

“The biggest thing that we have to improve on is being ready to play right off the bat, as soon as we get started,” he said. “What we did in the Nicholls State game, I thought we came out in the second half and really played well and really had it turned up, but we did not start the game with the intensity level that we needed to start that particular game with.”

Alabama played Central Arkansas for the first time last year in Tuscaloosa, winning 87-76.  The game will be on the airwaves on WACT-FM 1420 and can be heard on Crimson Tide Sports Network.

print/web 11.15.11

Tide kicks off regular season at home

Erin Hogue passes the ball to Kyra Crosby against Auburn-Montgomery.
CW | Pete Pajor

It’s been months since the women’s basketball team faced an opponent in a regular season game. After an 81-27 exhibition victory last week, the Tide will be hitting the court against Nicholls State for their first game of the 2011-2012 season. Tipoff is set for Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. in Foster Auditorium.

“The exhibition game really taught us a lesson about ourselves,” said head coach Wendell Hudson. “I think that our intensity was up for forty minutes. That’s going to really help us prepare for the opening game.”

Alabama got leading double-digit scoring efforts from Kyra Crosby and Celiscia Farmer, who had 15 points each. The team out-rebounded AUM 29-19 and also dished out 19 assists. Nevertheless, they saw many areas of improvement.

“We need to make free throws, and just being able to get everybody on the same page every possession are the biggest things we’ve been working on,” said senior Ericka Russell.

Sophomore guard Khristin Lee said, “We’re working on cleaning up all of our small mistakes. We’re putting big emphasis on defense and sharing the basketball.”

This year’s team features Russell as the lone senior who was named a finalist for the Lowe’s Senior Class Award, as well as second team All-Southeastern Conference. Though the squad will not have players due to injury, it welcomes three junior college transfer All-Americans – Crosby, Jessica Merritt and Meghan Perkins – that will play big minutes.

Nicholls State finished last season with an 8-21 record and returns three of their five starters. The Tide ended last season with an 18-15 record and a trip to the Women’s National Invitational Tournament Sweet Sixteen. They’re excited for the start of this season.

“I think we just have to be able to compete against other teams,” said Russell. “We’ve been working hard in practice, so we’re just ready to go compete and get it started. We’re pretty excited.”

Hudson says the key to victory is to stay focused while they look to build off of the success from the exhibition game.

“It’s going to count for real on Saturday,” he said. “I think the big key is to continue to play the way we practice because we’ve had some really good practices… If we play to our potential, we really believe winning and losing will take care of itself.”

Lee says the team’s goals are simple.

“Dominate,” she said. “We want to be the team that everybody else hates to play.”

print/web 11.10.11

TV anchor to lecture on diversity

     Award winning journalist and anchor Soledad O’Brien will speak to students Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. in the Ferguson Center Ballroom. O’Brien’s talk, “Diversity: On TV, Behind the Scenes and In Our Lives,” will touch on her experiences as a multi-racial professional working in the journalism field.

Submitted photo

     “[My hopes are] that people will attempt to understand Soledad as an individual, that she is a multi-cultural, multi-racial individual and understand her story, her reporting style and disparities that exist in America,” said Lowell Davis, assistant dean of students.
     
     “To talk and have discussion with students about those I think is good and fantastic. We need to have hard conversations with students on campus, and I don’t know if we necessarily do enough of that. We need to give students honest answers.”
     
     O’Brien is well known for her award-winning “In America” documentaries. Journalism professor George Daniels has done work with O’Brien on the series in the past. Daniels has helped to organize viewings and discussions on installments of “Black in America” and “Latino in America.” One of his classes also did a Skype interview with O’Brien.

     “The idea of having her on our campus to have some discussion about not only diversity in the projects she’s producing, but in the journalism field, I think is outstanding,” Daniels said.  One of the partners hosting the event is Capstone Conversations, whose goal is to bring all colleges and students together through conversation and nationally acclaimed speakers twice a school year.

     “After Cornel West came to campus, we decided the University of Alabama needed to take some efforts to bring people of his caliber to campus on a regular basis or at least more frequently,” Davis said.

     All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attend the event that focuses on an important part of American culture. Daniels said the event brings someone to an environment that has had issues with addressing racial and ethnic diversity, while providing the opportunity to interact with someone who’s experienced it first hand.

     “[People should come] because they need to hear from the horse’s mouth why an Afro-Cuban named Soledad O’Brien is the face of an unprecedented effort to bring issues of race, ethnicity and other kinds of diversity, the untold stories to air,” Daniels said.

     “I think often times students don’t understand the importance of going to hear someone who has expertise in a field,” Davis said. “I think to hear her story, to hear how she became a journalist on CNN, to understand why she reports what she reports and why she selects her topics for her documentaries is important for students to understand and listen to.”

     O’Brien has worked for the network since 2003 according to cnn.com. She has also been an anchor for NBC News and MSNBC. O’Brien’s new documentary and latest installment of the Black in America series, “The New Promised Land: Silicon Valley,” will air on CNN Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.

print/web 11.8.11

Athletes help rebuild Tuscaloosa

It’s been six months, and Tuscaloosa has made progress toward rebuilding. Volunteers came from across the state and from across the nation to clean up and piece back together a city that was ravaged by the April 27 tornado. Nonetheless, there are young adults who have taken it upon themselves to help as many people as they can.

While there are few Alabama student-athletes who have called Tuscaloosa home since birth, each one came together with his or her respective team to assist the people of Tuscaloosa and the surrounding areas.

Sophomore women’s tennis player Mary Anne Macfarlane did a lot of philanthropic work with her church. Sophomore men’s tennis player Carlos Taborga worked as an interpreter for those who could not speak English at all or very well.

Over the summer, the women’s basketball team partnered with Russell Relief for a school supplies drive. Senior guard Ericka Russell started the relief organization. The team gathered supplies, ranging from backpacks to crayons, for students at elementary schools that were damaged or destroyed by the tornado.

“I think it showed the community that athletes do think about other things besides sports,” Russell said. “I think people are just happy to see us go out and give back to the community and just show that we do have a heart and care about the community as well. It touched my teammates as well, just being able to help to do whatever they could do.”

Junior guard Jessica Merritt got involved with tornado relief efforts with the team by doing volunteer work through Habitat for Humanity, helping to build houses for those who lost their homes during the tornado.

“Tuscaloosa is our community,” she said. “I’m not from here, but being here, I feel like I’m a part of it. If anybody can help their community, I feel like we should take a big part in that because this is our home now. This is our community.”

Junior Ben Eblen spoke on behalf of the men’s basketball team’s tornado efforts. The team participated in projects including helping at Holt. Eblen said working with tornado relief helped bring the team together and gave them the opportunity to help those in need. After the season starts, Eblen said he looks for the team to continue its work helping to rebuild the city throughout the semester.

The softball team recently worked with student-athletes from The University of Notre Dame during the school’s fall break service trip. The groups worked in Alberta City, cleaning up debris. Notre Dame students also got to tour some of the University’s sports facilities and meet athletic director Mal Moore. The volunteering was done through Project Team Up.

The football team has been recognized for its efforts helping the city that the players carry on their backs. Since the season kicked off, players have donned the yellow ribbons on their helmets as a means of recognition and remembrance. There is also the Houndstooth painted ribbon on the field that is to be put on other athletic playing grounds. Some other teams will be sporting embroidery on their uniforms as well.

The football team recognized first responders at the first game of the season and will have the uniform and field markings through April 27, 2012. While almost all teams are about to be deep into their regular season schedules, athletes said they still want to help any way they can.

“I would love to keep helping in tornado relief,” Merritt said. “It’s fun knowing that you’re giving back."

This is also six month tornado coverage for the CW's special issue. For the sports desk.

print/web 10.26.11