Soledad O’Brien Visits UA and Impacts Students

On Wednesday, November 9^th, I had the privilege of listening to CNN journalist and anchorwoman Soledad O’Brien talk about diversity and encourage students to stand up and be an advocate for yourself and others. Mrs. O’Brien began her talk by explaining her struggles in advancing in her journalism career. She was criticized for her name and denied a job opportunity because she was not physically “dark enough” to fill the one anchor position available for African Americans on this particular news staff. 

Although Mrs. O’Brien has faced many struggles she has prevailed in her field. As a Harvard graduate, she has unveiled several documentary series focusing on “telling the stories that would otherwise not be heard”. 

She encouraged the audience to be a voice to those that may not have a voice, to always pursue your dreams regardless of what others may say or regardless of the failures you may face. From hearing her stories of overcoming odds in her career, dealing with the identity struggles of being multiracial, and seeing how she managed to travel around the world and still be involved with her family, Mrs. Soledad O’Brien is a true inspiration. It was a pleasure to also view a preview clip of her new documentary, Black In America, that aired this past Sunday on CNN. I am grateful to the Ferguson Center and all the other sponsors of this event for having the opportunity to meet Mrs. O’Brien and listen to her speak. It was truly a wonderful and enlightening experience. 

Sydney L. Page

Sophomore

Major: History; Minors: Blount Liberal Arts & Education

SGA Senator – Arts & Sciences

Life Got You Down...Roll Tide

Congratulations to Spencer Morris for winning the EA Sports NCAA Football Challenge held on the Ferg Plaza, November 4th, 2011!

Here is the exclusive Winner's Interview:

The atmosphere in Tuscaloosa was like no other campus we’ve visited so far on the tour.  Tour buses, RV’s, and campers were already parked at the stadium 3 days in advance for the matchup between BAMA and LSU.  Parking spaces were limited on and around campus.  BBQ smokers, tailgating tents, as well as the largest pot of gumbo ever prepared blanketed the campus for the big game and the EA Sports NCAA Football Challenge was also part of the festivities.  

We crowned our next campus champion, Spencer Morris who can’t wait to represent BAMA at the Rose Bowl in January.  Ladies and gentlemen...Spencer Morris... 

Q&A

• Commish - Two words...Rose Bowl
• Spencer - I know man...unbelievable!  This is amazing and indescribable...I never thought that it would happen.  I never had an idea that I would play today.  I was simply walking past and decided to register so that I can get the t-shirt, and decided to play a few games before my next class.  Next thing I knew...it was the final game for the Rose Bowl  
• Commish - Not a bad trade-off...class vs. winning a trip of a lifetime.  What’s your major by the way? 
• Spencer - Biology
• Commish - You may have missed your Biology class but you had no problems dissecting the competition today.
• Spencer - You got that right!  It was pretty easy and came naturally for me actually.
• Commish - Let’s jump off subject a little bit.  The atmosphere on campus is electric right now.  I don’t believe that I’ve ever experienced something like this for a college football game.
• Spencer - Yes, this is huge for us.  Some are calling this the game of the decade.  But, believe it or not, this is the normal atmosphere for a BAMA game against any SEC team.  We’re pretty serious about our football around here.
• Commish - Any predictions on the game?  
• Spencer - LSU has a really good team and they’re playing good ball this year.  However, I believe that we’re a little stronger than them right now.  It’s simply not happening.  Coach Saban has us playing on another level right now.
• Commish - Les Miles...more Saban huh?
• Spencer - That’s right!  I believe that Coach Saban will come out throwing the ball a lot more than people think tomorrow night.  
• Commish - I don’t know...you guys have a great running game that hasn’t been stopped as of yet.

• Spencer - That’s true, but you can’t count out the passing game either.  We lost some pieces in our passing game but we also have a great defense that factors in as well.
• Commish - I wish you guys luck tomorrow and also wish you luck in Pasadena.
• Spencer - Thank you...Roll Tide!

Football in the south is like religion as they say.  This game will be one to remember regardless of the outcome.  

 --Shared by Game Live Events

The World's Largest Pot of Gumbo!

Prior to kickoff on Saturday, November 5th, former Crimson Tide player Bob Baumhower, alongside renowned chefs from both Alabama and Louisiana, created the world’s largest pot of gumbo to raise money for charities helping with tornado relief.

The event, called the “LouisiBama Gumbo Bowl,” took place between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. outside of the Ferguson Student Center. Attendees received a cup of seafood gumbo after it had been post-certified by Guinness World Records to ensure the world record was reached.

All funds raised will benefit the Nick’s Kids Fund, a nonprofit charity started by head coach Nick Saban and his wife Terry to promote and support children, family, teacher and student causes and Caring Days, a day program for adults with memory disorders.

The gumbo recipe called for 750 pounds of shrimp, 450 pounds of catfish fillets, 100 pounds of claw crabmeat, 50 pounds of white crabmeat, 200 pounds of alligator meat, 25 pounds of Louisiana crawfish tail meat, 10 gallons of oysters with liquid, 200 pounds of diced onions, 75 pounds of diced celery, 100 pounds of diced green bell peppers, 150 pounds of sliced okra, 50 pounds of dehydrated garlic and 20 pounds of butter.

YUMMY.

--Natalie Beck

Rising Tide Student Tailgate Photo Album

We want to give a BIG thanks to Tiara Dees for the awesome pictures she took at this weekend's Rising Tide Student Tailgate. We had a great turnout for the free Full Moon Bar-B-Q, stickers and giveaways from the Less Than U Think team and music from Eric Fry and William Stephenson. Here are a few pictures from the day. To view the full slideshow click here: http://bit.ly/qU81L2

Thanks to everyone who came out on Saturday and be sure to come to the next Rising Tide Tailgate on October 22nd for the Tennessee game!

Tailgating for a Cause: Rising Tide Student Tailgate this Saturday on the Quad!

Though I have never been a “huge” fan of football, I can safely say that tailgating is my favorite aspect of the sports traditions here at the University of Alabama. I love the food, fun and atmosphere created by people who love the same school that I do.

This weekend, I am especially looking forward to the Rising Tide Student Tailgate. Rising Tide is a free tailgate that offers students at UA a chance to mingle with each other on the Quad. 

When I attended the tailgate last year, there was plenty of food by Full Moon Barbecue, a live band and even video games (which is my kind of tailgate)!

I especially love the outreach that Rising Tide creates for students. Last year, this student tailgate promoted alcohol awareness for those tailgating with them. Rising Tides is still supporting this cause through their Facebook page through the “Less Than U Think” campaign.

I hope to see the same amount of outreach and support for UA students during the next couple of tailgates on the Quad!

If you would like more information on the Rising Tide tailgate, be sure to like “Rising Tide Student Tailgate" or "The Ferg at UA" on Facebook!

--Tiara Dees

Parent & Family Weekend Tailgate: Pre-event Blog from the Ferg Bloggers

EXCITED much for some more Alabama football this weekend?! To add to the game excitement, get ready for our first Family Weekend Tailgate on September 17^th! The Ferguson Center Programming Office will be working in conjunction with Parent Programs this Saturday at Presidential Park, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. There will be a small raffle for registered parents and family members. So if your parents or family have not registered yet, make sure they sign up and get ready to Roll with the Tide. To maximize the tailgate experience for our families, Full Moon BBQ will be served along with great music from the band Two and Half White Guys.  So remember to sign up and come out and ROLL TIDE!

--Joycelyn Kennedy

The Whole Shebang:

This Saturday, September 17^th,  is the Family Weekend Tailgate. It’s a tailgate that Parents Programs is throwing for students and their families who are making the pilgrimage to our capstone dearest to spend the weekend in all out, total UA style. (Parent Programs is a part of Student Affairs, for anyone who doesn’t recognize the name) Anyway, I’ve heard that there are about three thousand people coming to this shin-dig, and I can say that impresses me a whole lot.  As my friends have said, “UA goes big, or stays home.”  

I have only ever been to one football game (don’t get mad, I watch on TV when I can!), and I definitely can’t say that I am a seasoned tailgater.  But I will say that in all my time here, experiencing a game-day (the way you see it depicted on all those nifty UA brochures and online) is one of the things I am determined to do at least once before I graduate.

And so we’re off! I am buckling down and really going for it—the whole shebang-- the complete game-day tailgating experience. I’m going to get that washable tattoo put on my cheek, and I’m going to take pictures of random people in copious amounts of houndstooth and crimson, and if I’m lucky, I am going to find that guy with all those UA tattoos.  

So, this Saturday at Presidential Park, at 3PM, three thousand people (students and family alike!) and I will be rolling with the tide, getting ready to see our school make us proud. Roll Tide!  

--Dominique Duerr

Perspectives on Family Weekend: Interview with Litsa Orban, coordinator of the First Year Experience and Family Weekend staff member

September is always an exciting time of year for students at UA. School has barely begun and the sights and sounds of football season can be all seen across campus.

However, September is also a very exciting time for families of UA students as well. Every year, the Office of Parent Programs hosts Family Weekend (hyperlink: http://parents.ua.edu/familyWeekend.cfm), a weekend geared towards offering the families of UA students a chance to visit the campus and really experience what it means to be a part of what we call the “UA Family.”

I had the pleasure of talking with one of our newest members of the UA Family. Litsa Orban is the new coordinator of the First Year Experience and a staff member for Family Weekend. Though Litsa did not graduate from the University of Alabama, she has actually been involved with the UA Office of Parent Programs since 2010, when she was a graduate intern.

She has a deep love for UA, and that is most apparent through her work on Family Weekend:

Q: What is your role or involvement with Family Weekend? How long have you been involved with this event?

LO: Family Weekend planning is a team effort with all staff of First Year Experience and Parents Programs. My specific responsibility was to plan the Family Weekend Student Affairs Brunch. Truly, the execution of this large event is a team effort with all areas of the Division of Student Affairs.

Q: What is Family Weekend about? Why is it important to the UA community and families?

LO: Family Weekend is about sharing. It is about students sharing their lives at UA with their family members; it is about the UA family sharing the place we love with our students’ families; it is about families sharing their lives with the University. At the end of the weekend, we are all family.

Q: Has attending or working Family Weekend changed or deepened your perspective on what the “UA Family” is? How so?

LO: UA is special and Family Weekend reminds everyone exactly how special it is. Although our students’ family members may not always be on campus, they are our family. So, it’s nice to have the whole family together.

Q: What are you looking forward to from this event?

LO: Family Weekend is a time for family members to experience The Capstone. It is always fun to witness others falling in love with UA.

With Family Weekend coming up this Saturday, we are all very excited to meet more of our UA Family!

--Tiara Dees

Hey, Crimson Tide family! Join us this Saturday, September 17, for our Family Weekend Tailgate party! This is an exciting way to meet up with all your friends here in our UA family and have a good time before the game.  Bring your family and introduce them to your friends, and show them what weekend life is really like here at UA.  It's fun, family friendly and it's absolutely free.  Then, join us afterwards at 6:30pm Saturday evening, when YOUR Alabama Crimson Tide marches onto the gridiron to take on North Texas at the famous BRYANT-DENNY STADIUM! A limited number of tickets are still available for that game, so don't wait.  If you or your family don't have tickets, order today by calling the UA Ticket OFFICE at 348-2262; 348-BAMA.  So come on out, bring your family, and join your UA family for the Family Weekend Tailgate Party, this Saturday afternoon only, here at the University of Alabama.  It's free, it's fun, and you don't want to miss it.  You and the University of Alabama: ROLL TIDE!

--David Rissling