Dialog, UA Faculty and Staff News

UA Holiday Season and Activities Approaching
History Professor to Join PBS Producer on Non-Violent Conflicts
Moundville Exhibits Native American History Art
December Commencement Scheduled
Graduation Stories Needed
UA Libraries Announce Thanksgiving Holiday Hours
Sela Ward Returns to UA Campus for Book Signing
Campus Mail Service Announces Expanded Route

UA Holiday Season and Activities Approaching

The December holiday season is approaching, and Dialog and Dialog Extra will announce activities and events as plans are completed. As the season reflects differences among cultures and people's beliefs and traditions, the University is planning some events to celebrate the diversity it represents.

Hilaritas

"Hilaritas" is a Greek word that translates loosely into "Live joyfully and be proud of what you are!" The highly anticipated Hilaritas program, since 1969, traditionally introduces the Holiday season with music and singing. University Singers will join the UA Jazz Ensemble for two presentations at the Bama Theater in downtown Tuscaloosa -- Friday, Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at the Moody Music Building ticket office or the Bama Theater at performance time only. For ticket information, call 348-7111.

Holiday Tree Lighting

Recognizing campus diversity, the members of the Independent Voters Association (IVA) are inviting all campus organizations, faculty, and staff to submit ornaments to decorate the tree. The ceremony will take place in front of Rose Administration Building on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 4:30 p.m. Friends and family are welcome. For information on submitting ornaments, contact Joey Crabill in the IVA office at 348-2416 no later than Monday, Dec. 2.

President's Mansion Open House

All UA faculty and staff are invited to the holiday Open House, hosted by Interim President Barry Mason in appreciation of all employees, Thursday, Dec. 12, from 10 a.m.-noon. Refreshments will be served.

Museum Display of Holiday Collectibles

Holiday collectibles on display at the Alabama Museum of Natural History UA's Alabama Museum of Natural History is hosting a privately-held display of holiday collectibles dating back to 1943, through Dec. 20, in Smith Hall, on the UA campus. The unique, personal display by Marchelle "Marty" Lawson of Tuscaloosa includes handmade and storebought villages, sets, carolers, and figurines made of materials from wood to ceramics. Lawson dedicates the display to the memory of her mother, the late Lois Hood of Tuscaloosa, who began the collection in 1943. The display is part of the Museum's "Christmas Dreams" theme as we celebrate cultural diversity throughout the season. For more information, call 348-7550 or visit the Web site at http://amnh.ua.edu/.

Museum's "Christmas Dreams" Programs Celebrate Cultural Diversity

UA's Alabama Museum of Natural History will celebrate cultural diversity with holiday programs and exhibits, open through Dec. 22.

Luminary Display and Open House

On Dec. 8, from 5-7 p.m., stroll the candlelit UA Quadrangle during a holiday luminary display by the Circle K Club, hear the seasonal music of Denny Chimes, and visit the decorated Museum in Smith Hall to enjoy refreshments and tour exhibits of fossils, rocks, and minerals from the Coal Age, Dinosaur Age, and Ice Age.

Children's Christmas Market

The Museum has scheduled a holiday shopping experience for children on Dec. 13, from 4-6 p.m. to buy gifts for friends and family. The Museum will offer items for sale priced less than $10. Food and entertainment will be provided for children of all ages. Admission is $2.

Christmas Posada

Experience a traditional Latin American Christmas celebration, featuring Latin foods, fashion, singing, and dancing, at the Museum, Dec. 14, beginning at 4 p.m. Free admission.

History Professor to Join PBS Producer on Non-Violent Conflicts

The executive producer of the Public Broadcasting Service television series "A Force More Powerful" will lead a video presentation and discussion on the history of non-violent action as a political strategy during a Nov. 25 session at UA's ten Hoor Hall, room 30. The 7 p.m. session, titled "A Force More Powerful: Nonviolent Action and Regime Change," will be led by Jack DuVall, PBS producer and director of the International Center for Non-Violent Conflict, and Dr. Scott O'Bryan, assistant professor of history in UA's College of Arts and Sciences. DuVall will use video presentations from the PBS series to bring to life historical case studies depicting means of non-violent conflict resolution. The event is sponsored by the department of history, the Blount Undergraduate Initiative, the Asian studies program and the department of religious studies. For more information, contact O'Bryan at 348-1860.

Moundville Exhibits Native American History Art

An exhibition of Native American history paintings, drawings, and prints by Alex Davis is on display through Dec. 8 at UA's Moundville Archaeological Park. Honored by his Seneca/Cayuga tribe with the name "Truth He Seeks," Davis is an award-winning artist from Oklahoma who explores stories from his culture in his paintings.

Davis's art focuses on historical detail and daily life of the Native American people. The features of each piece reflect his relentless effort in traveling around the country to museums, reservations, libraries, and universities to research his art subjects. Davis's works have been on exhibit in galleries and at Native American art shows around the country, including the Sundance Film and Arts Festival, the Eiteljorg Museum, and the Red Earth Festival. For more information, phone 205/371-8732.

December Commencement Scheduled

The University of Alabama's winter commencement will be held Monday, Dec. 16, at 9 a.m. in Coleman Coliseum. The ceremony will include a processional in full academic regalia. Orders for rented caps and gowns should be made at the University SUPe Store by Wednesday, Nov. 27. Faculty are invited to interim President Barry Mason's reception for graduates and their families at the President's Mansion Sunday, Dec. 15, from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Graduation Stories Needed

The Office of Media Relations seeks interesting and unusual stories of graduates who will receive degrees at Commencement on Dec. 16. Story angles might include graduates overcoming adversity to get an education, non-traditional graduates, or graduates with interesting job offers. If you know such a graduating student, please contact Suzanne Dowling at 348-8324 as soon as possible.

UA Libraries Announce Thanksgiving Holiday Hours

Thanksgiving Schedule:

Bruno Business Library, Gorgas Library, McLure Education Library and Rodgers Library for Science and Engineering will be CLOSED on the following dates: Thursday – Saturday, Nov. 28-30. The W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library will be CLOSED Thursday-Saturday, November 28-30. The hours for December holidays and winter break will run in the Dec. 9 issue of Dialog.

REMINDER: When the libraries are closed, many library resources can be accessed through the University Libraries Web site at www.lib.ua.edu.

Sela Ward Returns to UA Campus for Book Signing

Book cover - Homesick, by Sela Ward Acclaimed actress and UA C&IS graduate Sela Ward will be at the SUPe store on The University of Alabama campus on Dec. 6, to sign copies of her book "Homesick: A Memoir." The signing is tentatively set for 1:15 p.m. Ward is best known for her television roles as Lily Manning on "Once and Again" and Teddy Reed on "Sisters." During her years at UA, she was a cheerleader and was crowned homecoming queen.

Her memoir chronicles the rediscovery of her Southern roots after three decades spent away from her native region. Ward grew up in Meridian, Miss. Ward told the Birmingham News that she names her favorite Alabama restaurants as the Cotton Patch and Taco Caso. "I dream about Taco Casa," she says. "I love those beef-and-cheese burritos."

Campus Mail Service Announces Expanded Route

Campus Mail Service has expanded its current three-route delivery system to a three-and-onehalf- route delivery system to accommodate growth of the University and. the increase in incoming mail volumes. The added route will consist of several mail stops from the original three routes and be ultimately responsible for timely delivery of all incoming accountable mail. Offices may see a change in the time their mail is delivered and picked-up as the new delivery system is put into place. A different delivery clerk may be assigned to the routes, as mail stops have been reconfigured for the new route system. Visit the Campus Mail Service Web site at http://campusmail.ua.edu/ to check expected mail delivery/pick-up times.