The Crimson White Local Edition, Aug. 18, 2022

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022
VOLUME CXXIX | ISSUE I
LOCAL EDITION
Meet the restaurants transforming the Tuscaloosa food scene
ANNABELLE BLOMELEY
CULTURE EDITOR
Tuscaloosa has many food and restaurant
staples, from breakfast at Rama Jama’s
and buffalo chicken dip at Buffalo Phil’s to
fried green tomatoes at City Cafe and the
yellowhammer from Galettes. But despite
our staples, Tuscaloosa’s food scene is always
undergoing changes.
With Birmingham, Tuscaloosa’s closest
large city, winning awards from CNN
Travel and Fodor’s for its up-and-coming
restaurants, it’s no surprise that Tuscaloosa
is trying to make a name for itself in the
hospitality industry, especially since the city
welcomes thousands of visitors a year for
campus tours and football season.
Although many beloved Tuscaloosa
restaurants have come and gone over the
years, the Tuscaloosa restaurant community
is bringing new flavors to this small
college town.
River
The city of Tuscaloosa was built around the
Black Warrior River, with many restaurants
calling its banks home for decades. While
most of those have closed, one remains on
Jack Warner Parkway nestled on the shores,
aptly named River.
Lauren Jones, the general manager of
River, has been with the restaurant since
its opening in 2016. The Tuscaloosa native
entered the service industry when she was
17, starting as a hostess at the now-closed
CONTENTS
NEWS
returns to normal
3AMove-in
after two years of COVID
Cypress Inn. After working at the Cypress
Inn and The Levee through her time at the
University of Alabama, she was asked to join
the River team by the then-general manager
who worked with her at a previous restaurant.
“I was born and raised here, so I can say
that [Tuscaloosa’s] definitely come a long
way. When I was in college, we didn’t have
anywhere to eat, really,” Jones said.
River specializes in more upscale food
that can range from $20 to more expensive
options, such as steak, a variety of fish,
quail and seasonal vegetables year-round.
The riverside restaurant also sells cheaper
options, such as flatbread for under $20
and charcuterie boards, and it has a bar and
dessert menu.
“It’s all about the experience, so we're not
trying to get people in and out as quickly as
possible,” Jones said. “From the moment you
walk in the door, you should be greeted. You
should feel like if you’re not ready to order
anything to eat yet, then that’s fine. It’s all
the way to the end with after dinner drinks
and desserts and being greeted as you leave
the restaurant.”
Jones said River has been working
towards using as many local ingredients as
possible, including using locally sourced
eggs, vegetables and meat so they can give
back to the community and use the freshest
ingredients. While the windows overlook
the banks of the Black Warrior, one of the
owners, Kim Hudson, makes sure to put out
fresh flowers every week, which come from
her own personal garden in the summer.
Because they use vegetables and fruits that
are in season, River changes their menu often
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to reflect the products that will taste the best.
While Jones said some people are thrown off
by the menu changes since they get used to
what they order, they do this to keep their
food as tasty as possible and to experiment
with new flavors and meals.
“Our chefs and our cooks are putting this
effort into something that you couldn’t go to
the store and get something out of a bag and
put it in a fryer. You could do that at home,
but it comes back to the experience, which
is what you’re paying for when you’re dining
out,” Jones said. “The cooks love what they
do and then put that pride into what they’re
doing so that it’s passed along to the guests.”
The Veganish Market
One of Tuscaloosa’s newest restaurants,
The Veganish Market, soft opened on Aug.
7 and hopes to bring more plant-based food
options to the city.
Yazmyn Rozier, the owner of The Veganish
Market, based the restaurant on her own
journey with veganism and eating plant-based
food. While she wasn’t initially interested in
the hospitality or restaurant industry, she fell
in love with it through several jobs, including
being the current business manager for Urban
Bar and Kitchen in downtown Tuscaloosa.
“I just wanted to open up a concept
where it’s veganish; it’s not entirely vegan so
it’s inclusive,” Rozier said. “So, if you’re not a
vegan or if you are, everybody can come and
dine with us and enjoy the space.”
Some of the food options at the restaurant
include street tacos, burritos, pastas,
sandwiches, soups, salads, smoothies and
6APartnerships with higher
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smoothie bowls. Also, inside the building and
on the website, there will be ethically made
and sustainable ornaments, gifts and more
available for purchase.
“I wanted to go for a street food style but
in a brick and mortar for stability,” Rozier
said. “We have a really, really small location.
But as far as the menu goes, I was inspired by
my travels.”
While The Veganish Market is one
of Tuscaloosa’s only primarily vegan
establishments, Rozier said she’s proud of the
growth Tuscaloosa has shown in recent years,
especially the independent businesses and
restaurants that have opened.
“I just wanted to show the Tuscaloosa
community that they’re missing the mark on
offering vegan food,” Rozier said. “You have
restaurants here that offer one or two vegan
or vegetarian options. So, we’re 80% vegan
vegetarian, just to show that it’s a growing
community of people... I wanted to create a
place where you don’t have to get just fries or
salad everywhere you go.”
Rozier said she hopes The Veganish Market
can cater to a market that isn’t available
throughout Tuscaloosa and that it will give
students a new plant-based option.
“I think [Tuscaloosa] is growing. I’m
proud of the progression, the new restaurants
come to downtown especially. I love to see
independent owned businesses come here
just because I feel like Tuscaloosa stays heavily
with their chains so the growth that I’ve seen
over the past few years is incredible to me,”
Rozier said. “Promote growth. I hope that
Veganish will inspire other restaurants to add
vegan items to their menu.”
SEE PAGE 3B
SPORTS
6BNick Saban brings more than
championships to Tuscaloosa

2A
EDITORIAL STAFF
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assistant news editor Kayla Solino
culture editor Annabelle Blomeley
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Game days in Tuscaloosa:
The transformation from small town to frenzy
3A
ABBY MCCREARY
STAFF REPORTER
In the middle of Alabama and in
the heartland of SEC football sits
the headquarters of the Crimson Tide
fan base. Although just a little more
than 100,000 people claim Tuscaloosa
as home every year, during football
season, ‘T-Town’ is home to anyone
and everyone who sports the crimson
and white. For seven Saturdays
every fall, Crimson Tide fans roll
into Tuscaloosa ready to remember
better days, but Tuscaloosa residents
are left to wonder about the state of
their hometown.
Tuscaloosa resident and UA
junior Avery Lake remembers how
frustrating it was being a child during
an Alabama home football game.
“There were four kids in my family
so all of us getting tickets to go to the
Alabama game just didn’t happen,”
Lake said. “As a kid, I didn’t know any
of these things so I’d ask, ‘Can we do
this?’ and they’d say ‘No, not today.’ It
was just not an option for the day […]
There’s no hope in driving through
campus or even around it, on a game
day. Just don’t even try.”
According to UA Gameday maps,
nearly two dozen roads are shut
down every weekend for tailgating
and campus celebrations, but this
makes driving around on game day
difficult. To prepare for fans coming
from all directions, the UA Police
Department has designed for
most travelers to take one of
four routes into the city. Those
routes all lead to parking in
different zones, but Lake said
that Tuscaloosa residents often
take part in the parking situation
as well.
“My brothers were in Boy Scouts
and so they would go to St. Francis
[Catholic Church] and help park
cars,” Lake said. “You get there super
early in the morning and take the
money from people and help
them park somewhere. It doesn’t
matter what your business is,
[anyone] can benefit from
game day.”
Although being a Crimson Tide
fan is a constant for most Tuscaloosa
residents, they prepare for football
season with just as much gusto as
everyone else. While Tuscaloosa may
not seem like much from the outside,
the home of The University of
Alabama is rich in both history and
pride for all residents. Giving up their
city every Saturday to accommodate
the crowds of fans coming from
across the county, the state and even
the country, then, is almost welcome.
Tuscaloosa resident and UA junior
Katherine Weber said that living
Two University of Alabama students cheer on the Crimson Tide at a home
football game in 2021. CW / David Gray
CW / David Gray
in Tuscaloosa simply makes game
days better.
“Personally, I think being a
resident of Tuscaloosa makes game
days so special,” Weber said. “Just
knowing that I grew up in the town
of the team that has won 18 national
championships is amazing.”
However, residents still have to
put in a lot of work to get their city
ready to welcome so many people
every fall.
According to a UA News article,
maintenance crews begin working
on Bryant-Denny months before
the first kickoff. These crews work
on everything from plumbing
to electricity, and everything in
between, all to ensure that the
stadium is prepared to accommodate
the flood of fans pouring in to watch
the Crimson Tide take on their latest
opponent of the season.
According to the article, during
the week of each home game the
University of Alabama campus
becomes home to “countless
amenities,” including “325
portable toilets, 12 airconditioned
restroom
trailers, 400 trash cans
and 130 recycling
containers.” Crews also
provide resources to
make tailgating as
efficient and effortless
as possible. Every
Saturday, several crew
members walk around
campus to ensure that
game day runs as smoothly
and cleanly as possible.
After each game, the goal is to have
the Quad and Tuscaloosa back to
normal as soon as Sunday afternoon.
On average, each game day produces
more than 50 tons of garbage,
meaning that the crews work hard
to return Tuscaloosa to pregame
standards. By Sunday, there is no
evidence that the city’s population
had doubled over the weekend.
But many still remember the mix
of people who came to Tuscaloosa.
Between high out-of-state enrollment
at the University and a large national
fanbase, Tuscaloosa is home to
more than just Alabamians. While
Tuscaloosa and Southern culture are
obviously prominent, out-of-town
visitors still bring their own ways
and traditions, although Alabama
football seems to be a top priority for
everyone involved.
Lake said that even age changes
the game day experience.
“Now that I’m in college, I’m
walking with the crowd of college
students […] it’s very different,”
Lake said. “The language is different,
what people are talking about, what
the goal is, why you are there, it’s all
totally different as opposed to me
showing up with my dad as a little
girl, wearing my Alabama cheer
uniform. I was just there to hang
out with my dad […] It really is for
everyone. You can make it your own.”
While Lake remembers being
transfixed by the cheer team, UA
GameDay also provides inflatables
in the tailgating area on the quad,
making the gameday experience
truly for everyone. Although kids
might beg to come back to jump
on inflatables, their parents keep
returning to Tuscaloosa for far more.
Tuscaloosa may seem small
outside of football season, but its
traditions stay strong and relevant
year-round. Every fall, though, they
become even more prominent as tens
of thousands of fans come back for
games and seek mementos of their
championship-caliber team.
Some fans buy a legendary
yellowhammer drink from Gallettes
before the game. Others head to
Rama Jama’s to have breakfast
surrounded by the Crimson Tide’s
best moments, memorialized by the
legendary Alabama decor. Other fans
are simply happy with bringing home
a tiny script A, whether in the form
of a Koozie from a street vendor or a
new sweatshirt from a local store.
Personally, I think being
a resident of Tuscaloosa
makes game days so special.
Just knowing that I grew
up in the town of the team
that has won 18 national
championships is amazing.
KATHERINE WEBER
It’s these small mementos and
keepsakes that remind fans of the
legendary traditions of Crimson
Tide football and make Tuscaloosa
much more than just a small town
in the middle of Alabama. Although
Tuscaloosa sits quiet most of the year,
during football season it comes to life,
using decades of Alabama history as
a way for both local residents and
out-of-town visitors to connect over
keeping Tuscaloosa as the place
where legends are made.
JENNIFER BAGGETT
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Thousands of University of
Alabama students began
moving onto campus on Aug. 3 in
preparation for the beginning of
the fall semester, which starts on
Aug. 17.
Early move-in began for
members of the Million Dollar
Band, some honors students and
students involved in sorority
recruitment. More than 1,200
students moved in on Aug. 3
alone. Additional students arrived,
Aug. 6 and Aug 7, in order to
participate in Biology Boot Camp,
Bama Bound orientation and
Camp 1831.
I encourage students to
participate in activities,
get connected and put
themselves out there.
Connecting with student
involvement is a great
way to find out about
opportunities on campus.
STEVEN HOOD
“Regular move-in begins
on August 12. Over the course
of move-in a total of 8,700
students will move on campus,”
said Matthew Kerch, executive
director of housing and residential
communities. “We really pride
ourselves on being a coordinated
effort; it’s not just housing staff,
it’s UAPD and parks and services.
There are so many campus
partners participating.”
Welcome back: Campus move-in 2022
Planning for the movein
process began six to eight
months ago.
“We try to make it as seamless
as possible for the students,” Kerch
said. “There’s a lot of behind-thescenes
work.”
With move-in under way and
Alabama Panhellenic AssociationF
recruitment beginning on Aug. 7,
freshman women began moving
into the new Tutwiler Hall.
“I’m excited for students to
finally move into the new Tutwiler
Hall. We started planning for this
in February of 2016,” said Steven
Hood, interim vice president for
student life.
The former Tutwiler Hall was
demolished on July 4 after over
50 years of operation. Initial
construction for the current
iteration began in 2019, and fall
2022 will be the building's first
semester housing residents.
There are currently 2,569
women registered for recruitment,
the third largest class behind
2016 (2,875) and 2017
(2,655), according to the APA
executive council.
“We are very much moving
back to a normal recruitment
process,” said Elise Anzaldua,
UA panhellenic director of
recruitment. Recruitment
is moving to a more valuesbased
process, more focused on
understanding the potential new
members shared characteristics
and values rather than decor and
superficial things.
As students return or move
in for the first time, many could
not wait to get started on the
upcoming year.
Freshman Eli Hill was able to
move into John England Jr. Hall
on Sunday.
“Since it’s my first year here,
I’m probably more excited than
anything else,” Hill said. “The
campus is really big. I’m super
excited to meet new people and
branch out.”
Makayla Davis, a freshman
majoring in criminal justice,
agreed that she’s excited to meet
new people and get started
on campus.
“I’ve never been away from
home for a long time so it’s
definitely a new experience,” Davis
said. Like many students, Davis is
interested in getting to participate
in several of the upcoming events
that start out the new year.
“I’m looking forward to the
spa day event,” Davis said. Tied
with the Tide Spa Night was
an event held as a partnership
between University Programs and
UA Panhellenic Association that
included facials, manicures, and
the opportunity to create DIY kits.
According to The University of
Alabama Quick Facts, of the 38,320
undergraduate, professional and
graduate students enrolled in the
fall semester of 2021, 42.1% came
from Alabama, and 57.9% came
from somewhere else in the United
States or one of 92 countries.
Many new students are coming
after losing a year of high school
to COVID-19 restrictions and
lockdowns. Caden Johnson,
a freshman majoring in
communications, is particularly
looking forward to being back in
an in-person setting.
“I’m really looking forward to
a different experience. During
COVID, I lost a whole year of high
school and only took one class
senior year, so this is really an
opportunity to be back in person
at school after not going for almost
two years,” Johnson said. “I’m also
a lot more excited after seeing the
dining hall. It’s a lot better than I
was even thinking.”
University volunteers direct the move-in process at the Presidential
Villages. CW / David Gray
A group of Blount Scholars
program freshmen were
specifically excited about the
opportunity to attend backto-school
events. Grace Neil,
Emma Hurst, Brandon Suerth
and Elizabeth Harrell all found
the move-in process very quick
and easy.
“It was really smooth; it took
less than 10 minutes for them to
unload my car with four people,”
Harrell said.
When students move in on
campus, many are excited and
eager for new experiences.
“I encourage students to
participate in activities, get
connected and put themselves out
there,” Hood said. “Connecting
with student involvement is a great
way to find out about opportunities
on campus.”
The group of Blount students
were also interested in getting
to look around and find
opportunities at Get On Board
Day, which is Aug. 25 from 5 to 9
p.m. on the Quad. Get On Board
Day is an involvement fair hosted
each semester by The Source
that provides an opportunity for
students to learn about over 600
student organization options
on campus.
“I’ve already looked up some
clubs that I want to find and am
really excited about seeing what’s
offered there,” Neil said.
The beginning of early movein
also marked the start of the
University's Week of Welcome
(WOW), a series of more than
30 events throughout August
designed to welcome new and
returning students. The goal
of WOW is to help students
find resources, build a sense of
community at the University, and
have fun.
Many parents are also
experiencing campus move-in for
the first time. Naomi Barnes, who
is from New Jersey, helped with
move-in on Sunday.
“The process has been really
good, very organized,” Barnes said.
“My daughter and her friend were
able to live together, and it’s been
an excellent process going through
it with another family.”
Assisted on-campus move-in
ended Aug. 14, while unassisted
move-in concluded on Aug. 16.

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JENNIFER BAGGETT
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The new Julia Tutwiler Hall
is now in its third iteration.
Initial construction began in June
2019 after years of planning, and
the hall was completed in time for
the first round of early move-in on
Aug. 3. Room selection has already
been completed, with 100%
occupancy for the new spaces
according to Matthew Kerch,
executive director of housing and
residential communities.
The new residence hall
accommodates 1,284 students in
two-person rooms. The rooms
feature private bathrooms. The
new occupancy equals the number
of beds previously available in the
old Tutwiler Hall and Harris Hall.
The previous Tutwiler Hall was
demolished on July 4 and Harris
Hall demolition began earlier
this summer.
Resident rooms are single
occupancy for resident advisors
and double occupancy for
students. Individual desks, closet
space, storage, and lockable
A hallway in Tutwiler Hall. CW / David Gray
THE NEW JULIA TUTWILER HALL
The outside of the new Julia Tutwiler Hall. CW / David Gray
desks are available in each
room. Each room also includes
a microwave and a mini fridge.
Doorbells compliant with the
Americans with Disabilities
Act are also included for
ADA-accessible rooms.
Each floor offers lounges, study
spaces, and community-style
residence hall spaces in addition
to a community kitchen. Access
to the building is designed to
be completely keyless, where an
individual’s Action Card will
function as the key to the building
and the individual room. All the
floors feature a distinct color
along the ceiling accents and pay
homage to the old Tutwiler Hall
which also had a representative
color distributed along each
individual floor.
“Safety and accessibility were
key components in design,” Kerch
said. “Guests will be checked in
and escorted by residents while in
the building.”
Kerch said it will take three
action card swipes to gain entry to
the main building from the street,
further enhancing security for
students. Additionally, American
with Disabilities Act accessibility
was considered for access to each
facet of the building.
Julia Tutwiler Hall also includes
a multi-purpose room, which
doubles as a storm shelter capable
of holding 1,700 people. Storm
doors and drop-down covers for
the windows and storm doors can
be deployed using a single point
panel mounted on the wall. In a
power outage, back-up generators
will allow for the covers to still
be deployed.
The multi-purpose room
can be configured to different
arrangements to meet the needs of
users. The space will be available
for event reservations throughout
the year, with public events
using a separate street-facing
entrance to enhance security and
separation from the living spaces.
Directly in the center of the
5A
building is the main courtyard,
which is monitored by security
cameras and Wi-Fi covered.
Additionally, there is a secondfloor
balcony with seating that
overlooks the courtyard.
Emphasis was placed on the
ability to meet student needs with
the spaces designed to encourage a
sense of comfort and togetherness
among the residents.
“Student input was considered
for everything from design to
outlet placement,” Kerch said.
Surveys, student feedback, and
resident advisor inquiry were all
used to obtain student feedback.
Even the furnishings took years
of planning. The University of
Alabama Furnishings and Design
team and interior designer Leah
Shephard worked with multiple
vendors to obtain pieces for
the project.
Safety and accessibility were
key components in design.
Guests will be checked in
and escorted by residents
while in the building.
MATTHEW KERCH
“It was a collaborative process
with multiple samples and
design considerations taken into
account,” Kerch said.
In addition to the new resident
rooms, multi-purpose space, and
community opportunities, the
offices for the Office of Housing
and Residential Communities is
now housed on the first floor of
Tutwiler Hall, and it will be a stop
prospective students make when
touring University residence halls.
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6A
SARAH CLIFTON
STAFF REPORTER
When it rains, it pours:
Why UA floods so often
When students come
to the University of
Alabama, they find that not only
is the climate generally muggy
and intensely hot most of the
year, but torrential rainfall isn’t
unheard of, or even uncommon.
According to the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Climate
Normals, the United States
average annual precipitation
amounted to 30.28 inches,
whereas the annual average
for Tuscaloosa amounted to
57.78 inches.
As a result of this amount of
precipitation, flooding has been a
common problem on campus, as
well as in the city of Tuscaloosa
at large. Last year was a prime
example of this: on Sept. 18, 2021,
the UA campus experienced
a substantial downpour that
accumulated “3.5 inches of rain
in just over an hour,” according to
the University’s official website,
In this incident, multiple
campus buildings were affected
and stormwater systems
throughout Tuscaloosa were
“backed up,” according to the
University’s flooding updates.
Several
basement-level
classrooms in Farrah Hall, Reese
Phifer Hall, Doster Hall and
the Bureau of the Mines were
“damaged and taken offline” for
up to two weeks.
Rain like this is expected,
due to the local climate
and infrastructure. Hamed
Moftakhari, a civil engineering
professor at The University of
Campus floods during one of Tuscaloosa’s frequent storms.
Courtesy of submissions from UA students
Alabama who specializes in
water engineering, said that
Tuscaloosa is in “one of the
wettest regions in the United
States,” so during a wet season,
“torrential downpour”
is normal.
There are a number of
projects going on around
Tuscaloosa, which is nice
and a good sign of growth
and development. However,
you have to consider the
unintended effects of these
land intensification projects.
HAMED
MOFTAKHARI
Despite the expectation of
large amounts of precipitation
and preventative measures
such as calculating the amount
of storm water drainage
systems can handle before
installing them, Tuscaloosa still
floods often.
According to Moftakhari,
part of the reason Tuscaloosa
floods so often is because of its
modernized nature. Absence of
green space—specifically the
replacement of green space with
shingles or concrete—increases
the risk of flooding, because the
rainwater cannot be reabsorbed
into the ground and instead must
build up on the surface.
“There are a number of
projects going on around
Tuscaloosa, which is nice and
a good sign of growth and
CW / Shelby West
development,” Moftakhari said.
“However, you have to consider
the unintended effects of these
land intensification projects.”
Another major factor in the
flooding Tuscaloosa experiences
is the fact that the systems put
in place to mitigate the build-up
of water, despite being originally
constructed with calculations in
mind to account for the rainfall
Tuscaloosa experiences, have
remained the same for years.
“Our city has drastically
evolved over the past two
decades,” Moftakhari said. “This
means that even if the climate
does not change, the amount of
runoff being generated is way
different than it was in the past
as the amount of impervious
surfaces, like concrete or
shingles, increases.”
Moftakhari said a potential fix
to this problem would include
something like a green roof,
which is essentially a rooftop
garden instead of shingles or
other impenetrable, artificial
surfaces used for roofing, or
a permeable pavement, which
is partially concrete and
partially soil.
Moftakhari said these avenues,
as well as other ambient options,
are both “environmentally
friendly and effective for
stormwater management.”
In response to the flash
flood incident on Sept. 18,
2021, the University said that,
looking forward, they will
“keep flooding concerns at the
forefront of planning,” and that
they intend to work with “several
research teams to monitor flood
prone areas.”
The University did not
respond to multiple requests
for comment about any
progress or updates that
have been made regarding
prevention or preparation of
flash flooding.
Higher education partnerships drive local growth
JUSTIN MCCLESKEY
OPINIONS EDITOR
Each year, students from
across the state gather
in Montgomery to participate
in Higher Education Day. The
advocacy event is hosted by the
Higher Education Partnership to
bring funding and attention to
Alabama’s colleges and universities.
These pushes are especially
beneficial as state financial support
for Alabama’s institutions sits
below the national average.
“Alabama has a lot of low-income
people, but our tuition revenue is
twice the national average,” said
Alabama Commission on Higher
Education Executive Director
Jim Purcell. These factors hinder
accessible higher education,
contributing to Alabama ranking
39th among all states in higher
education outcomes.
Even as pushes for increased
funding occur and lawmakers
signal hope, Alabama has remained
under the national average for perstudent
education appropriations
for all but two years since 1980.
While institutions lobby for state
funding, state officials should bear
in mind the collaborative economic
strength of colleges and universities
in their local communities.
West Alabama signals that
increased cooperation between
higher education, government
agencies and other organizations
creates greater outcomes for
everyone involved.
Each higher education
institution holds special qualities
that bolster economic and
community development. West
Alabama wields a trio of higher
education institutions whose
varying specialties prepare
students to broadly impact the
local community. The economics
of colleges and universities fall
within their local communities,
making cooperation a
powerful tool.
Research universities like
The University of Alabama
are major innovators that
fuel entrepreneurship and
development within the local
community. A study by the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York found
research universities to be a
major contributor in creating an
innovation-based economy.
Local engagement generates
better outcomes for all parties.
Universities across the nation
have taken strides to strengthen
entrepreneurship among faculty
by transferring intellectual
property rights to private
firms, using incubators to
commercialize innovation and
strengthening entrepreneurship
across curriculum.
Maintaining and expanding
partnerships connects students
to tangible career options while
developing faculty research
and local services. For over 140
years, the University has been so
intertwined with the Geological
Survey of Alabama that they hold
“one coordinate history.”
Placing an emphasis on researchdriven
economic development
reaps tangible benefits for the state
and its institutions. The Georgia
Research Alliance is a publicprivate
partnership with eight
state institutions that expands
exploration and entrepreneurship
by funding leading researchers,
upgrading lab infrastructure,
and helping to launch and
grow companies.
They provide a model for
Alabama to follow. In a report
covering their first two decades,
the Georgia Research Alliance
recruited over 60 researchers,
generating some $2.6 billion
in investment, launching 175
companies, and creating 5,500
high-wage jobs across Georgia.
Broader programs like these
drive local connections that deeply
impact community development.
Beyond necessary funding
increases, government officials
should recognize the impact that
universities make to the local
economy not as a singular factor,
but as something that can be
bolstered through cooperation
and funding.
While research institutions
create knowledge that drives
innovation, growing local
organizations helps translate those
developments to the marketplace.
Liberal arts institutions like
Stillman College and the
University of Alabama equip
graduates with the soft skills that
generate effective leaders who can
adapt to new technologies.
Increasing collaboration with
local agencies and organizations
bolsters outcomes for everyone
involved. The Edge is a business
incubator and accelerator that
exists from collaboration between
the University of Alabama,
the Chamber of Commerce
of West Alabama, and the
City of Tuscaloosa.
Combining their efforts,
The Edge has brought multiple
industries to Tuscaloosa
including Camgian Microsystems
Corporation. Jim Page, the
president and CEO of the
Chamber of Commerce of
West Alabama expects their
efforts to “alter Tuscaloosa’s
economic trajectory.”
Alabama has a lot of lowincome
people, but our
tuition revenue is twice the
national average.
JIM PURCELL
When government officials
fail to provide adequate higher
education funding, they ignore
the potential impact that colleges
and universities can have on their
local community.
Comprehensive universities
and community colleges like
Shelton State Community College
specifically equip students with
direct jobs skills or training that
allows students to effectively
contribute to the local community.
Stillman College partners
with Verizon to provide STEM
training to under-resourced
middle schools. The Chamber of
Commerce of West Alabama and
Shelton State partner to expand
workforce development through
direct job training programs.
Keeping a closer eye on
collaboration with comprehensive
universities and community
colleges provides the most room
for growth because they train the
majority of local skilled workers,
boosting competitiveness in
the region.
As Alabama continues to
underfund higher education
support, state officials cannot
ignore the local impact that
colleges and universities possess.
These programs can be fostered
to develop academic powerhouses
and alter social landscapes.
In one of the most comprehensive
studies of higher education as
economic drivers, the Rockefeller
Institute of Government issued a
report detailing the necessity of
recognizing the potential power
of colleges and universities in
local communities.
“From
Springfield,
Massachusetts, where a technical
college has converted an abandoned
factory into an urban tech park, to
Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina,
where research universities worked
to turn a sleepy backwater into a
global powerhouse of innovation
and manufacturing, to Sidney,
Nebraska, where a community
college operates a training
academy that has helped keep the
headquarters of a growing national
company in its rural hometown,
communities today recognize
that their hopes for the future
are tied to higher education,” the
report read.
Such collaboration is strategic
for everyone involved. Increasing
communication with public
agencies establishes more direct
lines to request and explain
funding requests. When Alabama
officials undercut higher
education support, they ignore
the potential for community
growth, better opportunities and
economic competitiveness.
CW / Autumn Williams

A glimpse into the world of Tuscaloosa’s cat colonies
7A
MADDY REDA
ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR
While most people
assume that Tuscaloosa
is synonymous with the word
“football,” not everyone is aware
of the city’s infamous abundance
of stray cats and feral cat colonies.
According to the American
Bird Conservancy, every year
in the United States alone,
cats kill more than 1 billion
birds, an unsustainable level of
predation for already-declining
bird species.
While these effects are more
dramatic in remote island
environments like Hawaii, where
it is estimated that feral cats have
contributed to the extinction
of nearly 33 native species,
unmonitored feral cat colonies
could create a similar imbalance
in the local area.
The Tuscaloosa Spay &
Neuter Incentive Program,
began trapping through their
Trap-Neuter-Return program
in the spring of 2014, after
the Tuscaloosa Metro Animal
Shelter was forced to euthanize
over 1,800 cats and kittens that
year due to overcrowding. Since
then, the non-profit organization
has been supporting over 175 cat
colonies in Tuscaloosa County.
Basically, there is ignorance
in terms of pet ownership.
A lot of students will get
cats or dogs off the internet
for free. Mom and dad say,
‘No, you’re not bringing that
home,’ and then they just
dump them on the streets.
JESSICA
BRINKMAN
By trapping, fixing and
returning the cat to its colony,
feral cats don’t have to undergo
trauma waiting to be euthanized
at an overcrowded shelter, nor
will they reproduce or overhunt
small birds and rodents. Despite
sometimes overhunting, Katie
Elliot, the health, behavior and
intake manager at Tuscaloosa
Metro Animal Shelter, said
controlled cat colonies are good
for the environment because
they prey on snakes and stabilize
the populations of small prey.
“If you fix a colony instead
of just relocating it or killing
it, it actually maintains a stable
environment and it prevents
more cats from moving in,”
Brinkman said. “If you get the
cat fixed and you take care of
its food and its prey drive in a
healthy manner, then that's not
going to be an issue, right?”
According to the 2021 Annual
Report from TSNIP, Tuscaloosa
County has approximately
33,000 pet cats, with over 8,000
that can produce kittens. The city
of Tuscaloosa has approximately
16,000 pet cats, 5,000 of which
are not spayed or neutered and
therefore can produce kittens
if they escape or run away
from home.
As is the case when most
animal populations spiral out of
control, human activity tends to
be the root cause of the problem.
While releasing a pet into the
wild does not always guarantee
that it will quickly overpopulate
its new environment, cats can
have several litters a year.
Brittany Hood, a coordinator
at TSNIP, said it only takes one
cat to start a feral colony.
“It only takes one female
cat that hasn't been fixed to be
running around. They can have
up to three litters a year. Six or
eight kittens per litter,” Hood
said. “It doesn't take long at all
for a cat colony to multiply.”
According to the official TSNIP
website, community education
and feral cat control are the two
main ways in which people are
working to lower the unwanted
pet population. Jessica Brinkman,
the team leader at the Humane
Society of West Alabama, said
cats are multiplying so quickly
in Tuscaloosa due to minimal
spay and neuter laws as well as
human neglect.
“Basically, there is ignorance
in terms of pet ownership,”
Brinkman said. “A lot of students
will get cats or dogs off the
internet for free. Mom and dad
say, ‘No, you’re not bringing that
home,’ and then they just dump
them on the streets.”
Students often have limited
budgets or unclear housing
situations which may fluctuate
on their allowance of pets.
Brinkman said Tuscaloosa
does not regularly enforce the
few spay and neuter laws it has,
meaning many animals on the
streets have never been fixed to
begin with.
“There's not a lot of low-cost
spay [and] neuter options in
town,” Brinkman said. “Students
have a very limited budget.
So, [the cats] haven't
been fixed and
then they put
them out on
the streets and
CW / Shelby West
then they just breed and they
explode from there.”
Feral cats don’t qualify for
most rescue groups because
they are not socialized well
enough to live in captivity,
meaning they can’t be housed in
animal shelters.
On the other hand, abandoned,
socialized housecats who are
introduced to feral colonies will
typically be perceived as a threat,
as cats are extremely territorial,
especially in the wild where they
must fight for resources.
There are key indicators to
look out for that will determine
if a cat is feral or has been
neglected and is still dependent
on humans to survive.
Hood said the best way for
students to help is to track the
cats and get them fixed to stop
the reproduction rather than
uprooting them and risking
stress and injury to both
parties involved.
“They won't let you approach
them. They won't let you get close
to them. That's what makes them
feral is they don't want human
contact or interaction,” Hood
said. “People tend to just pick up
kittens and that’s when they get
bit or scratched or injured.”
It is crucial to study the cat’s
behavior and appearance to see if
it has a tipped ear, which is the
universal sign that the cat has
been fixed.
“If you see a colony of cats
and you notice that most of them
have tipped ears, then that means
that somebody is a caretaker of
that colony,” Hood said. “That is
kind of also how you can tell if a
colony is maintained or not.”
Euthanasia rates and feral cat intake have both dropped dramatically
since the program’s inception in 2014. Courtesy of TSNIP
Hood said people who call in
to report a cat sighting usually
team up with the volunteers
at TSNIP to set up a safe,
humane trap.
“What we do is we get them
to start putting food inside of
a trap. And every single day at
the same time they put food out
in the trap,” Hood said. “What
that does is that teaches the cat
to start eating inside of the trap.
So, when we go to trap the cat,
it won't be this foreign object
that shows up but they don't
really know what to do with and
they're scared.”
Once the cat is trapped, it is
spayed or neutered and released
in the same area where it was
picked up. Hood said people
wanting to trap a cat should
reach out to TSNIP or Tuscaloosa
County Animal Control rather
than attempting to approach the
animal themselves.
“The best thing that I could
recommend is if you see a cat and
the cat is feral, and the cat doesn't
have its ear tipped, is to probably
reach out, borrow a trap and let
us arrange an appointment for it
than it is to reach out and touch
it,” Hood said.
Because rabies can only be
diagnosed by direct examination
of the brain, a cat suspected
of biting and passing rabies
to a human will most likely
be euthanized if it cannot be
monitored in a secure
location, an unintended
consequence of
someone harming rather
than helping.
While it is not
uncommon for
unsuspecting
students to
“rescue”
strays,
by doing
so, they could
disrupt the environment, create
problems for volunteers or
potentially harm the cat itself.
While TSNIP, Tuscaloosa
Metro Animal Shelter and the
Humane Society of West Alabama
have all made leaps and bounds
in working with the community
to stabilize and control the local
cat population, there are still
plenty of things students can do
to help to reduce euthanasia rates
in Tuscaloosa to zero.
In only seven short years of
the TNR program, there has been
drastic success. The Tuscaloosa
Metro Animal Shelter only
euthanized 121 cats and kittens
in 2021 compared to the 1,800
euthanized in 2014.
Elliot said using tools like
social media is a great way for
animal lovers to stay in the loop
and connect with the resources
needed to take care of all kinds
of cat problems.
“Post pictures on Facebook.
With a lot of people, their cats
will get away from them, so
they’re missing and come into
the shelter looking for them,”
Elliot said. “The quicker you get
a picture uploaded, the quicker it
helps us find out.”
All three organizations are
actively accepting a variety
of donations. The Humane
Society of West Alabama accepts
monetary donations and has
an Amazon Wishlist on their
website for people to donate
food, bedding, supplies and
more. Tuscaloosa Metro Animal
Shelter accepts monetary and
food donations, and even allows
parents to give their child a visit
to the animal shelter as a part of
their birthday gift. TSNIP uses
their donations to provide needbased
funding for surgeries,
transportation and concentrated
outreach in areas with higher
levels of unwanted animals.
Alcohol may be coming to Alabama athletic events
TZALI NISLICK
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
It appears that alcohol sales
may finally be coming
to Alabama athletic events,
after athletics director Greg
Byrne announced June 15 that
the University had reached
a compromise with the City
of Tuscaloosa.
The University initially
announced it would serve alcohol
inside Coleman Coliseum in
February, but those plans fell
through after the city
said it would impose
an added service fee
on all tickets sold for
events with stadium capacities of
at least 1,000 people.
Byrne and Tuscaloosa Mayor
Walt Maddox both released
public statements at the time,
with Byrne’s condemning the
city’s proposed tax and Maddox’s
in favor of it. Maddox’s rationale
was that the fee would help
pay for any added aid that
UAPD and the fire department
would have to direct toward
an incident stemming from
alcohol consumption.
After negotiations over the
last few months, the
two sides
struck a
deal that cuts
the service
fee and
could result
in alcohol
b e i n g
sold at
athletics
events as
soon as
this fall in
Bryant-
Denny
Stadium.
“We appreciate our
partnerships, especially with
the city, and the efforts of all
the public safety personnel and
first responders who work in
and around our venues,” Byrne
said. “With the recent expanded
collaboration between The
University of Alabama and City
of Tuscaloosa we will continue
our due diligence and revisit the
opportunity for alcohol sales at
select athletics events with our
university leadership.”
To account for the money that
would have gone toward first
responders from the service fee,
the deal includes the University
devoting $250,000 to Tuscaloosa
City Hall each year from 2024 to
2028, as well as scholarships for
Tuscaloosa police officers and
firefighters and their children.
“We can’t express enough
how much we appreciate and
value the many public safety, fire
and rescue, transportation, and
other staff who help keep our
communities safe and running
smoothly,” UA President
Stuart Bell said. “This agreement
Bryant Denny Stadium could sell alcohol in the fall. CW / David Gray
underscores the important roles
they play and how the University
values their roles.”
Maddox voiced his happiness
with the compromise, citing the
University’s importance for the
Tuscaloosa economy.
“The University of Alabama
is not only our region’s largest
employer and economic driver,
they are partners when it comes
to ensuring that Tuscaloosa
is safe,” Maddox said. “The
incredible growth of UA is
phenomenal for our community,
and this agreement will ensure
that we continue to offer the
best and safest experiences in
the nation.”
Byrne has not yet announced
a date when alcohol sales at
athletics events would begin,
but this deal is a significant step
forward in the process.
CW / Shelby West

8A
Druid City Music Hall comes back better than ever
ALYSSA SCHUBERT
STAFF REPORTER
Located on University
Boulevard, Druid City
Music Hall is the heart of live
entertainment in Tuscaloosa.
Offering concerts that range
from bands to country music
stars and festivals, it has been
providing live entertainment
to the community for nearly
six decades. Before being a live
entertainment venue, Druid City
Music Hall was a bowling alley.
Originally opening in 1940, the
alley was in operation for 30
years, but transitioned into a
movie theater in 1969. The “Tide
Theater” housed two screens,
called Tide I and Tide II, and
was the home to Hollywood
feature films that were only $1
per ticket, which ran successfully
for 11 years. Eventually, the
building was renamed the Druid
City Music Hall—but not before
trying out names such as The
Varsity, The Jupiter and The
Bama Beach Club—and began
hosting live music.
In 2020, the venue underwent
extensive renovations, adding
two new balconies and updating
the stage and backstage area.
Today, the venue hosts acts like
Luke Combs, Kenny Chesney,
Rainbow Kitten Surprise and
Band of Horses.
Made up mostly of standing
room only, the Druid City Music
Hall has a total capacity of 12,050
people. While the venue does
have VIP seating options, most
tickets are listed as “General
The inside of Druid City Music Hall during a performance.
Courtesy of Druid City Music Hall
Exterior of Druid City Music Hall before it was a concert venue. Courtesy of Druid City Music Hall
Admission.” Accessible seating
is also available. A bar stretches
across the back of the main floor,
mirroring the stage at the front.
While the venue is smaller, it
creates a scene of intimacy for
the acts and attendees alike.
This year, Druid City Music
Hall is planning to expand its
events to include everyone in
the community. Paige Parrucci,
a social media manager and
content creator for the Druid
City Music Hall, talked about
the rebranding that Druid City
Music Hall will be undergoing
this fall.
“One of the main things that
we are doing is trying to partner
with local citizens around
Tuscaloosa and the University
specifically,” Parrucci said.
Working closely with The
University of Alabama has
become a priority for the Druid
City Music Hall. “We have
some [employees] with Druid
City Music Hall that are going
into The University of Alabama
and teaching some classes with
their music department, as well
as our ambassador program
for the students where we are
working directly with those of
whom are interested in working
in the music industry or venue
management,” Parucci said. “We
want to teach them more about
what it means to work for a venue
or promote shows.”
Having the venue in one of the
most popular areas in Tuscaloosa
has its perks when it comes to
connecting with the students.
The Strip runs along University
Boulevard and is one of the most
iconic spots for students and
residents alike. Especially known
for its nightlife, the Strip houses
bars, restaurants, grocery and
merchandise stores, and Druid
City Music Hall.
While working with students
is on Druid City Music Hall’s
agenda, so is expanding events
and trying new things to involve
the entire community. While
concerts are still bookmarked
for the year, with acts such as
The Stews and Corey Smith, so
are other events, such as football
watch parties and festivals.
“This coming fall we are still
doing our watch parties, but we
are also going to be launching
a beer festival with all local
breweries around Alabama,
Florida and North Carolina,”
Parucci said. “We are also
starting DJ nights. We want to
incorporate more events that will
attract the local community.”
A whole new lineup of events
is a part of the semi-rebranding
of the venue and the rekindling
of the community. Starting on
Sept. 3, all Crimson Tide home
games will be shown on 16-
foot HD LED screens and the
official website says it will be
“a new favorite spot to watch
your favorite team.” An array of
concerts is also set to take Druid
City’s stage. The lineup kicks off
with Gov’t Mule, an American
Southern rock band that first
formed in 1994. Other acts
include indie band, The Stews,
country singer-songwriter,
Ernest, and American southern
rock band, The Cadillac Three.
Finally, country music star Chase
Rice will wrap up the 2022 lineup
on Nov. 18.
One of the main things that
we are doing is trying to
partner with local citizens
around Tuscaloosa and the
University specifically.
PAIGE PARRUCCI
Between watching the
Alabama Crimson Tide with
fellow fans and enjoying live
music, there are plenty of events
for Tuscaloosa students and
residents to take part in this fall.
To get more information about
upcoming show announcements
and how to access presale codes,
visit the Durid City Music Hall’s
official website.
#TheresNoPlaceLikeUA
Thursday
Aug 25
5-9 pm
On The Quad

1B
‘HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL REIGNS SUPREME’
Teams and players that shine on Friday nights in Tuscaloosa
AUSTIN HANNON
SPORTS EDITOR
The defending 7A state
champion Thompson
High School Warriors are the
obvious choice as the No. 1 team
in Alabama to begin the 2022-23
season. But the race doesn’t end
there, as the city of Tuscaloosa
boasts two of the top teams in
6A and 4A high school football.
Here are the top two teams in the
Tuscaloosa area that could be
lifting hardware at season’s end –
and they have the same mascot.
Hillcrest Patriots, 6A
Last season, the Hillcrest
Patriots had an impressive 11-3
season that ended in a 44-16 6A
semifinals loss to the Hueytown
Golden Gophers. Hillcrest will
have a rematch with Hueytown
on Sept. 9. The Patriots are
returning lots of talent on both
sides of the ball and should be
an interesting team to watch in
2022. The other scary part is that
Hillcrest was a game away from
a state championship in head
coach Jamie Mitchell’s inaugural
season with the program. Is
this going to be another year
under his belt? The Patriots will
be a force to be reckoned with
this year.
American Christian
Academy Patriots, 4A
In 2021, American Christian
Academy went 11-2 and put
together an undefeated 7-0 run
inside the region. The season
came to an end in a 26-10 loss
to the eventual state champion
Vigor High School Wolves in
the 4A quarterfinals. It was
not the ending anyone within
the program wanted, so
expect the Patriots to be very
hungry in 2022, potentially
taking a few more steps in the
playoff bracket.
Players to watch
this season in the
Tuscaloosa area
The state of Alabama has loads
of talent every year in football. In
a region where college football
rules, high school football is just
a step down. Bo Jackson, Terrell
Owens, Phillip Rivers and Julio
Jones are just a few of the names
that came from the state. On the
current Alabama football roster,
47 players are in-state. Four are
from the Tuscaloosa area.
High school football reigns
supreme on Friday nights in
Tuscaloosa. Here are the top
players in the class of 2023
according to 247Sports.
Wilkin Formby, OT,
Northridge High
School Jaguars
Wilkin Formby is first on
the list, coming in at 6-foot-
7 and 295 pounds. Formby is a
member of the Northridge High
School football team – a team
coming off a 7-4 season in 2021.
This isn't the fault of Formby,
who anchors the offensive line as
offensive tackle for the Jaguars.
Formby is a four-star recruit and
is the No. 73 overall recruit in
the country.
He is the No. 10 offensive
tackle in the nation, and the
ninth-ranked prospect in the
state of Alabama. Formby was
recruited by 34 schools, but it
came down to Ole Miss and
Alabama. Many people believed
he would end up choosing the
Rebels, but on June 20, Formby
formally decided to remain in
northwest Alabama and play for
his hometown Crimson Tide.
Watching his highlights,
you can see why head coach
Nick Saban wanted to lock up
the local product. Strong at
run blocking as well as pass
protection, Formby is a force
at offensive tackle, a position
in which Alabama may
need a lot of help in the
near future.
Collin Dunn, LB,
Hillcrest High School
Collin Dunn has been a
prominent player on the Hillcrest
defense for a few years now. A
little undersized at the position,
the 6-foot-1, 195-pound
linebacker more than makes up
for it with his speed and pursuit
skills off the edge. Dunn is also
a versatile player, as he can play
the safety position just as well.
According to 247Sports, Dunn
is a three-star and is the No. 42
prospect in the state of Alabama.
Dunn drew interest from 15
schools, but ultimately decided
to take his talents to Manhattan,
Kansas, and play for the Kansas
State Wildcats for college ball.
Dunn will look to get Hillcrest,
11-3 last season, back to the state
championship game.
Ethan Crawford, QB,
Hillcrest High School
A teammate of Collin Dunn,
Ethan Crawford has held the keys
to the Hillcrest program since
2020. A three-star, Crawford is
the dictionary definition of a
dual-threat quarterback. He can
turn any play from nothing into
something, and for his size, has
impressive arm strength.
While receiving offers from
SEC schools Tennessee and
Kentucky, as well as Georgia
Tech and Maryland, Crawford
decided that the best fit for him
was playing for head coach Will
Hall and the Southern Miss
Golden Eagles. Crawford is the
No. 72 ranked quarterback in the
country and the No. 51 prospect
from Alabama.
Sawyer Deerman, RB,
Tuscaloosa County
High School
The No. 96 running back
prospect in the country hails
from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. After
three years at American Christian
Academy, Sawyer Deerman
has one more year, joining the
Tuscaloosa County Wildcats
for his senior season, and it is
an important one. Deerman
has yet to commit to a school
for the next four years, but he
has plenty of offers. Michigan
State, Ole Miss and Tennessee
Hillcrest quarterback, Ethan Crawford (3) throws a pass.
Courtesy of Gary Cosby Jr.
have already offered the 5-foot-
10, 175 tailback, and another
strong season could go a long
way in securing even more highprofile
offers. Deerman is the
No. 56 overall player in the state
of Alabama.
In 2020 during his sophomore
season, he was used as an allaround
athlete, playing multiple
positions on offense, including
the wildcat quarterback at times.
His former head coach, Cody
Martin, had very encouraging
words for the senior.
“Sawyer is a phenomenal
athlete but an even better leader,”
Martin said. “He always does
the right thing, works hard, and
always lifts his teammates up. He’s
a great young man with a bright
future. I’ve coached him since
he was in sixth grade, and he’s
had my heart ever since. I know
he’s going to make a huge impact
this year.”
Although there will be plenty of
excitement around the Crimson
Tide football season, there will
be more great football played just
down the road as well throughout
the fall.
Northridge offensive tackle Wilkin Formby (75) sets a block.
Courtesy of Gary Cosby Jr.
Graphics CW/ Autumn Williams
Understanding the University’s financial footprint
RAELEE SENTS
STAFF REPORTER
Before the COVID-19
pandemic, the University
of Alabama brought more than
$2 billion in revenue to the
Tuscaloosa metro area per the
latest economic report.
A 2019-2020 economic impact
report, conducted by the Center
for Business and Economic
Research in the Culverhouse
College of Business revealed the
financial benefit of the campus
on Tuscaloosa’s community.
A conservative estimate
of $42.7 million in city and
county sales tax came from
the University, according to
the News Center story.
The University is the largest
employer in Tuscaloosa per the
city of Tuscaloosa’s fiscal year
2021 annual comprehensive
financial report.
University employees and
families made up roughly half
of the city’s 100,000-person
population, not including the
more than 38,000 students
that were enrolled at the time.
The University employed over
7,100 people in the 2019-2020
academic year.
Samuel Addy, associate dean
for economic development in the
Culverhouse College of Business,
told UA News on April 28 that “a
lot of growth and development
in the Tuscaloosa area is more
or less driven by growth at
the University.”
The Division of Strategic
Communications stated in the
same article that “economic
impact derives from three main
areas: direct spending by UA,
student spending and visitors.”
According to the CBER impact
report, “UA expenditures for the
year totaled $1.577 billion.” The
University spent “$516 million
on payroll and $517.7 million
on purchases.”
Student spending on offcampus
housing, food and other
necessities equaled $542.8 million
in 2019-2020.
The economic impact report
also stated that compared to
in-state students, out-of-state
students spend more while
attending the University.
As a result, out-of-state
students create “educational
tourism” opportunities.
There was also an impact
from visitor spending. In fall
2019, football games brought in
about $26.6 million per game.
The Tuscaloosa metro area saw
an estimated $19.8 million in
visitor expenditure.
A conservative estimate
of $42.7 million in city and
county sales tax came from the
University, according to the
News Center story. This estimate
did not include property and
business tax influenced by the
University’s community.
Shane Dorrill, the assistant
director of communications,
said the University helps the
Tuscaloosa economy through The
EDGE program.
The EDGE is compromised
of The University of Alabama,
the West Alabama Chamber
of Commerce and the city
of Tuscaloosa.
The EDGE was started in
2012 and works to connect
entrepreneurs with workspaces,
innovators, and assistance, per the
official The EDGE website.
Russell Mumper, vice president
for research and economic
development at the University, said
that “in goal 2 of the UA strategic
plan ‘Advancing the Flagship:
The Next Phase (2022-2027),’ UA
remains committed to promoting
innovation and research in ways
that positively impact economic
and societal development.”
When asked about
seasonal impacts,
Ahmad Ijaz, executive
director and director
of economic
forecasting at the
Culverhouse
Center of
Business and
Economic
Research, said
that “activities
still take
place at The
University,”
even when
students
are gone, so
usually only an
annual impact
is done.
The Crimson
White contacted
Kevin Lake,
marketing and
communications
manager for
Tuscaloosa, regarding
an estimate on revenue
from student spending,
but Lake referred to the
economic report.

2B
Caffeinate your college experience
ELLE STANDISH
CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST
With over 38,000 students
enrolled at The
University of Alabama, there
is a clear demand for coffee
shops around the city. Whether
providing a quiet place to study
or supplying the caffeine to
finish a paper, Tuscaloosa offers
a variety of coffee shops that
cater to each student.
Coffee is such a hot commodity
that its demand has created a
number of excellent locations.
Locally owned coffee shops stack
the deck of Tuscaloosa’s top five
coffee shops:
1. Monarch
Espresso Bar
Monarch Espresso
Bar is by far the
best place to go
for specialty craft
coffee. They are a
locally owned coffee
shop that has hosted
events with University
of Alabama faculty. Playing off
$$
their phrase “where fast lives
slow down,” Monarch has ample
room for a lively community
space, perfect for catching up
with friends or studying for
an exam.
Their baked goods are made
from scratch daily and their
avocado toast is a hit with
regulars. Monarch does not take
Dining Dollars, but you might
luck out and get a free latte on
a catering day. They frequently
do fundraisers for University
organizations, as they a r e
conveniently only a
couple miles away from
campus, and they host
catering events
across campus,
which makes
buying a
good latte a
$$
little bit more
guilt-free.
2. Turbo Coffee
If you want a place
to charge up, Turbo is
the place to go. Unlike
Monarch’s mantra, Turbo is
based on the idea of “making
Heritage House Coffe, Tea, & Cafe is located in downtown Tuscaloosa.
CW / David Gray
people faster.” They have great
coffee and tea, but also
offer smoothies and açaí
bowls. Turbo also has a
rewards program where
you can earn stars from
your purchases for
free drinks. They
are locally owned
and frequently
showcase local $
artwork for sale.
This is my top pick
to go study when I need a quiet
space a couple miles away from
campus, but they do not have
ample seating, making their
busiest hours difficult to find
a spot. Turbo is adjacent to
Greasy Hands Barber Shop
and if you walk through the
door to Greasy Hands, you
will likely find sweet Molly,
the shop dog. Overall,
between getting to
pet a dog and drink
good coffee, I love
this place.
3. FIVE Java
$$
FIVE Java is
connected to FIVE
Tuscaloosa, which
is known for its limited
five dinner, cocktail and wine
options on the menu. It is one
of four locations, the others
being in Mobile, Birmingham
and Athens, Georgia. The design
is eclectic and artsy, with a
simple yet rich menu and a lively
environment to compliment it.
If you enjoy studying in a
busy environment, FIVE Java
is the place to be. It is situated
downtown two miles from
campus, and brunch goers
provide ample white noise. People
who need quieter environments
for work or relaxation may want
to avoid FIVE Java at peak hours,
but the unique design and drinks
add to the allure.
4. Heritage House
Coffee and
Tea
Heritage
H o u s e ’ s
menu has a
larger variety
of food
for a coffee
shop than just
about anywhere in
town. They have a
very diverse coffee
selection that favors
people with a sweet
tooth. The Sugar Daddy
espresso drink is a local
favorite and sure to sweeten up
your day. Along with a diverse
selection of coffee options,
Heritage House has a large
tea selection.
Their atmosphere is warm
and welcoming, fostering a sense
of community that allows
groups to gather there.
And with three locations,
Heritage House allows
patrons to choose their
favorite space.
Heritage house offers a
multitude of catering and event
options, making it likely to see
their products around campus.
One of my favorite things
about this establishment is how
kind and respectful the managers
are to their workers. Heritage
House values community
engagement and offers jobs
to people with disabilities by
working with United Cerebral
Palsy of West Alabama. The store
can get crowded with long wait
times but luckily, there are other
locations near the University.
At the end of each day, they
sell old pastries and muffins for
cheaper prices.
Graphics CW / Autumn Williams
5. UPerk
UPerk is a
nonprofit
coffee shop
owned by
the ministry
of First
$
Presbyterian
Church of
Tuscaloosa. They
are tucked under apartments
off of University Boulevard,
providing a comfortable place
to study about two miles away
from campus. Live music as well
as public and nonprofit events
provide excellent opportunities
to stop by for coffee.
Open seven days a week, they
offer a range of coffee drinks to
give anyone any option at any
time. My go to drink is the Spice
of Life, a cortado with a pinch of
cinnamon and nutmeg, drizzled
with honey. UPerk accepts
Dining Dollars and Bama Cash,
which makes the purchase feel a
little less impactful to your bank
account. They offer a large space
equipped with board games to
play with your friends.
Take classes at
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Visit sheltonstate.edu to apply and register!
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
Bistro 17
The Veganish Market isn’t
the only new restaurant
eagerly waiting for students
to get back. After opening in
mid-June, Bistro 17 has had
nearly two months to perfect its
American food fare, including
burgers, fried chicken, philly
The Tuscaloosa food
scene is so much fun, and
especially downtown. here’s
some great venues that are
just bringing a lot of flavors,
and I’m excited to just watch
it continue to grow.
VINCENT SHAKIR
cheesesteaks and more.
Vincent Shakir, who co-owns
Bistro 17 with his business
partner Raji Singh, was born
in Tuscaloosa and graduated in
2004 from the University with a
degree in theatre. After getting
his food service start at Logan’s
Roadhouse during college, he's
now worked in New York City
and Southern California in
everything from Italian cuisine
and pub food to specialty craft
cocktails. When he moved back
to Tuscaloosa this past year, he
reconnected with Singh, who
owns several restaurants across
town, and together they decided
to open Bistro 17.
With members of their families
The restaurants that are giving UA students a taste of local.
Top photo courtesy of River, Bottom left courtesy of Veganish, Bottom right courtesy of Bistro 17
3B
dealing with Celiac’s disease, the
partners wanted to offer classic
American food with a healthier,
gluten-free twist. They hired a
chef whose children were glutenfree
due to Celiac’s and who had
decades of experience cooking
without gluten contamination.
“We started workshopping
all of the recipes that we could,
trying to push the envelope like
how we can bring the right flavor
and the right mouthfeel to gluten
free ingredients in gluten free
items because a lot of times it
just feels like you're chewing on
cardboard or something yucky,
just no flavor, no texture,” Shakir
said. “So that's kind of the story
of the food itself, but also wanting
to incorporate things from all
over the country and really bring
American comfort food as well.”
Nineties percent of Bistro
17’s menu is gluten-free, and
the restaurant dedicates certain
surfaces to gluten-containing
items. The chefs change
gloves after making every
meal, and all of their tools are
color coded as well to avoid
gluten contamination.
Located on University
Boulevard, Bistro 17 has already
made an impact on those who eat
gluten-free. Shakir said people
who haven’t eaten in a restaurant
in years are able to come to Bistro
17 and not worry about gluten
contamination. For others who
eat gluten free, the restaurant is
the first time they’ve been able
to eat grilled cheese or similar
products in years.
“The Tuscaloosa food scene
is so much fun, and especially
downtown,” Shakir said. “There's
some great venues that are just
bringing a lot of flavors, and I'm
excited to just watch it continue
to grow.”
Professional athletes from the city of Tuscaloosa
WILL MILLER
STAFF REPORTER
The city known for its
top-of-the-line collegiate
athletics naturally has had no
shortage of names come through
the pros. From football to
combat sports, it isn’t unlikely
to tune in to a big sporting
event and see somebody
hailing from Tuscaloosa in a
professional uniform.
Deontay Wilder
(Professional boxing, former
World Boxing Council
heavyweight champion)
Deontay Wilder, one of the
most feared knockout artists of
this generation, isn’t done in the
squared circle yet. Wilder (42-
2-1) is reported to be finalizing
arrangements to fight again in
October in an effort to snap a twofight
skid. He has knocked out
everybody he’s ever beaten and
defended the WBC heavyweight
title 10 times. This includes
four championship fights in
Alabama. Wilder was born in
Tuscaloosa in 1985 and attended
Central High School. After he
graduated in 2004, he began
at Shelton State Community
College in Tuscaloosa, with plans
to transfer to the University of
Alabama at some point. Then his
life changed completely.
He fought 43 times before
suffering a defeat and the
aforementioned title reign took
place over a span of more than
five years. His iconic nickname,
The Bronze Bomber, comes from
medaling in amateur boxing at
the 2008 Olympics. Wilder made
his pro debut later that same
year. He possesses 20 first-round
knockouts and is still a topfive
heavyweight in the world.
Wilder’s trilogy opposite Tyson
Fury consisted of some of the
most lucrative fights that the
heavyweight division has seen
during recent times, both from
an anticipation and a pay-perview
standpoint.
Some of his notable wins
include two crushing knockouts
over the man from whom he
took the WBC title, Bermane
Stiverne, and two stoppage
wins over former World Boxing
Association titleholder Luis
Ortiz. In May, Wilder had a statue
unveiled for him in Tuscaloosa,
and he attended and spoke at the
accompanying event.
Tim Anderson
(Major League Baseball,
Chicago White Sox)
The 2019 batting champion
in the American League is also
an alumnis of Hillcrest High
School, graduating with the
class of 2011. Chicago White
Sox shortstop Tim Anderson,
a two-time MLB All-Star, has
also played for the Birmingham
Barons from 2014-2015.
In his short career, he has been
a centerpiece of a reemerging
team which in 2020 made the
playoffs for the first time in 12
years. After batting .322 with
10 homers during the shortened
2020 season, he earned a Silver
Slugger award. He has been
playing in the majors since 2016.
In 2021, he hit a walk-off home
run during the inaugural edition
of MLB at Field of Dreams, the
most-viewed regular season
baseball contest since 2005.
Anderson’s blast led the Sox
to a 9-8 victory over the New
York Yankees. He was the cover
athlete of R.B.I. Baseball 21, the
final edition of the video game.
As of August, he has 97 career
home runs to go with 313 RBIs
and a .288 batting average.
Brian Robinson Jr.
(NFL, Washington
Commanders)
Two-time national champion
Brian Robinson was born in
Tuscaloosa and spent five seasons
on the Crimson Tide football
team before being drafted
in 2022 by the Washington
Commanders. His rookie year
will be the first for the franchise
with the Commanders name.
Like Anderson, Robinson
went to Hillcrest High School. At
Alabama, Robinson’s best season
was 2021, where he rushed for
1,343 yards and had 16 allpurpose
touchdowns. He was a
third-round selection in the NFL
Draft, going 98th overall. Much
like many Alabama football
players before him, he waited
his turn and became an impact
player when his name was called.
He was the MVP of the
Crimson Tide’s 2021 playoff
semifinal win over the Cincinnati
Bearcats following a 204-yard
rushing performance, setting a
school record for a bowl game.
He inked a four-year deal with
Washington after being drafted.
Bo Scarbrough
(USFL, Birmingham Stallions)
A big talking point on the
revived Birmingham Stallions’
USFL title run was the signing
of former Crimson Tide running
back Bo Scarbrough. After being
a part of two national titlewinning
teams and two SEC title
teams, he declared for the NFL
Draft in 2018.
He was a significant offensive
contributor in 2016 and in
2017. His monster showing in
the 2016-17 College Football
Playoff was a play away from
culminating in a third college
title for Scarbrough, but he was
forced out of the championship
game due to injury after scoring
twice. Several Alabama fans have
posited the hypothetical that if
Scarbrough plays the full game,
the Crimson Tide wins.
He totaled 1,512 rushing yards
in three Alabama seasons to go
with 20 touchdowns. Scarbrough
was originally drafted by the
Dallas Cowboys in the seventh
round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Sandwiched between Dallas and
Seattle was a two-month stop
in Jacksonville.
The bulk of his NFL action
came across the 2019 season with
the Detroit Lions. He returned to
pro football in 2022 after a brief
time on Seattle’s regular season
roster in 2020 and an offseason
stint with the Raiders in 2021.
He was also on the Seahawks
during the home stretch of the
2018 regular season.
During the USFL title game
against the Philadelphia Stars,
Scarbrough ran for over 100
yards and a touchdown.
As of today, he remains a
member of the Stallions.
Lester Cotton
(NFL, Las Vegas Raiders)
After four seasons at Alabama
and two titles, Lester Cotton
joined the Las Vegas Raiders
as an undrafted free agent. The
former four-star out of Central
High School started 28 games
with the Crimson Tide and was
part of an elite pass protection
unit which only allowed an
average of one sack per game
during the 14-1 2018 season.
He made his NFL debut in
2019, playing in a single game for
the then-Oakland Raiders. He
has been signed by them several
times and was brought on in a
future/reserve deal following
the 2021-22 season. Cotton also
signed such a deal in 2021. He
remains on the Raiders roster
as of this writing. In the pros,
he is playing the right
guard position, from
which he moved to
left guard in 2018.
Throughout the
duration of his
NFL career, he
has appeared in
five games.
Herb Jones
(NBA, New
Orleans
Pelicans)
One of the
most impactful
p l a y e r s
in recent
A l a b a m a
basketball
memory has now
emerged as a playmaker
at the NBA level. Herb
Jones, 2021 SEC Player
of the Year and SEC
Defensive Player of
CW / Autumn Williams
the Year, is a fan favorite who
appeared in 78 games during his
rookie season in New Orleans.
He averaged 9.5 points per game
with 3.8 rebounds during the
regular season.
In the 2020-21 season with the
Crimson Tide, he was a leader
in a group which advanced
agonizingly close to a berth
in the Elite Eight round of the
NCAA Tournament. That team
also swept the SEC regular season
and tournament championships.
Jones had 11.2 points per game
and 6.6 rebounds per game.
Lauded for his defense during his
time at the Capstone, he’s shown
that the best of his skills translate
to the NBA.
The Pelicans drafted him in
the second round in 2021 with
the 35th overall pick and he
subsequently made the NBA
All-Rookie Second Team during
the campaign.
The Pelicans
also made the
playoffs, where
Jones averaged
10.7 points, 3.3
rebounds and
1.8 steals across
six games.

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6B
SABAN’S IMPACT:
How Tuscaloosa was forever changed
MATHEY GIBSON
STAFF REPORTER
Nov. 27, 2006.
Less than a year after the
Crimson Tide finished a 10-2
season, The University of Alabama
fired head coach Mike Shula.
Sitting at 6-6, interim coach Joe
Kines was tasked with facing Mike
Gundy’s Oklahoma State Cowboys
in the Independence Bowl.
Kines, who notoriously gave
a halftime interview for the ages,
lamented the Crimson Tide’s
inability to “stop that inside trap”
in his ever-gravelly Piedmont,
Alabama accent.
With eight seconds remaining,
the Cowboys drilled a 27-yard,
game-winning field goal behind the
leg of kicker Jason Ricks.
Final Score:
Oklahoma State, 34.
Alabama, 31.
A once proud program
shepherded by the likes of Paul W.
“Bear” Bryant, Frank Thomas and
Wallace Wade, the Crimson Tide
had fallen to the depths of college
football with seemingly no escape
in sight.
Mediocrity had become the new
normal in Tuscaloosa — and to
some degree, so had embarrassment.
After all, who can forget the Mike
Price debacle of 2003?
Shortly after being hired as head
coach in December 2002, Price’s
contract was rescinded in May after
news reports surfaced that Price had
been seen at a strip club in Pensacola,
Florida. The kicker? This came after
the embattled coach had received
reprimand for visiting local bars and
drinking into the early hours.
Dennis Franchione, Price’s
successor, was once considered to
be the metaphorical deliverer of
salvation in Tuscaloosa.
Hand-picked from Texas
Christian University by Alabama
athletic director Mal Moore,
Franchione’s tenure didn’t exactly
Alabama head coach Nick Saban looks on in the Crimson Tide’s 24-22
victory over the Auburn Tigers on Nov. 27, 2021 at Jordan-Hare Stadium
in Auburn, Ala. CW / David Gray
result in the Crimson Tide’s discovery
of the land flowing with milk and
honey. Rather, a quick exodus was
in store after a 10-3 (6-2) season saw
the second-year head coach bolt for
Texas A&M — without informing
his team in Tuscaloosa, nonetheless.
Price. Franchione. Shula.
Three strikes, you’re out.
Even before the three musketeers
of disappointment, there was Mike
DuBose, who was fired after a 3-8
(3-5) season in 2000 that ended
with five years of probation, a twoyear
bowl ban, and the loss of 21
scholarships. Something had to give.
Jan. 3, 2007.
The college football world learns
by multiple media outlets that Nick
Saban, the disenchanted head coach
of the Miami Dolphins, comes that
night to Tuscaloosa.
Mal Moore, in the crosshairs of
Crimson Tide boosters, rolled the
dice on his entire Alabama legacy.
In what was only comparable
to a Marvel-esque movie scene,
thousands of people arrived at the
Tuscaloosa Regional Airport to greet
Saban with a hero’s welcome on an
otherwise chilly winter evening.
Eight years, $32 million.
Six national championships,
eight SEC championships and three
Heisman trophy winners later, Saban
has proven to be quite worthy of
his initial investment — and then
some. Not only for The University
of Alabama, but for the city of
Tuscaloosa itself.
Since Saban’s arrival, Tuscaloosa’s
population has increased by more
than 10,000 people, per a 2022
census. Tuscaloosa county as a whole
has seen an increase of over 40,000.
It’s a simple formula, really.
Winning produces infrastructure.
While general economic inflation
plays a factor, median home prices
in Tuscaloosa have climbed from
$149,000 in 2008 to over $268,500
in July of 2022, according to realtor.
com. Previously open patches of
land have turned into additional
student housing and rental
opportunities. Main city drags have
become modern-business hotspots.
Many local establishments, such
as Egan’s Bar and El Rincon, have
been replaced by student-centric
nightlife ventures.
Six national championships,
eight SEC championships
and three Heisman trophy
winners later, Saban has
proven to be quite worthy of
his inital investment – and
then some.
For long-time Tuscaloosa
residents, the footprint stemming
from Saban’s dominance is even
more distinguishable.
Robin Spence-Vanderford, a local
business owner, says the legendary
coach has become more than just a
pawn for economic growth — but an
integral part of the community.
“The Sabans have had a great
impact on our city with their
contributions from Nick’s Kids,
Habitat for Humanity and other
programs,” Spence-Vanderford said.
“Coach Saban has brought much
stability to our male athletes, and
he’s been a stickler for discipline.
Tuscaloosa has seen a great deal
of development enrooted in
his success.”
In December 2019, plans for
Tuscaloosa’s Saban Center, an
innovative community partnership
bringing STEAM-centered children’s
organizations together with theater,
outdoor recreation, literature, and
interactive learning stations, were
announced after Saban and his wife
Terry gifted the city $1.25 million in
celebration of its 200th birthday.
“This learning hub will draw
people from across the nation
to enjoy and inspire learning
and to socialize in a spirit of
togetherness,” Terry Saban said.
“We are proud to call Tuscaloosa
our home as it continues to grow
and evolve.”
As Saban enters his 16th season
as head coach at Alabama, very few
questions remain about his place on
top of college football’s Mt. Olympus.
When it’s all said and done, many
will maintain that Saban is the
greatest college football coach of all
time. Just as many will try to refute
that notion.
What cannot be argued? The
place Saban holds in the hearts of
those that have been forever changed
by his generosity and success.
Because at the end of the day, it’s
not about what you have done, or
what you’ve accomplished, it’s about
what you give — and nobody has
given more to the city of Tuscaloosa
than Nicholas Lou Saban Jr. Because
at the end of the day, it’s not about
what you have done, or what you’ve
accomplished, it’s about what you
give — and nobody has given
more to the city of Tuscaloosa than
Nicholas Lou Saban Jr.
Tuscaloosa gyms should acknowledge queer health
ALEX BREWBAKER
CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST
Just four days after the
overturning of Roe v. Wade,
Alabama Attorney General Steve
Marshall begged the federal courts to
drop their block on Alabama Senate
Bill 184.
This bill effectively eliminates
certain healthcare practices for
transgender youth, making the future
of healthcare for trans individuals
and the greater LGBTQ+ community
in Alabama uncertain. While other
states have similar bills, Alabama is
the only state that makes genderaffirming
care for trans youth a felony.
With the health rights in the
LGBTQ+ community in jeopardy,
many are left to question what can
be done to combat the agenda of
the Alabama Legislature. When our
government fails to uphold the health
of a marginalized group, it’s up to
everyone else to assure that other
health outlets are readily available for
that group.
Some non-medical outlets for
health have not always been welcoming
to queer communities. Discrepancies
in treatment make access to physical
health and development more
difficult for queer individuals, making
an already unequal healthcare system
more stringent.
While gyms are a great option
to maintain and pursue physical
health, most gym goers aren't privy
to “gym bro” culture, the overintense
and hostile attitude some
regular gym patrons —mainly
men— have towards others. This
can make some people, especially
those in the LGBTQ+ community,
feel unwelcome or unsafe. One gym
in Tuscaloosa, however, is seeking to
change that.
Jacob Summers is the owner of
Bars and Stripes Fitness, a gym in
Tuscaloosa. Upon entering Summers’s
gym, there’s the usual decor and
equipment. More distinctly, the
walls are lined with flags supporting
everything from the U.S. Marines to
Black Lives Matter, the trans and gay
community, as well as women’s rights.
A political message of this nature
is not usually expressed in gyms,
especially in the South.
After serving in the military,
Summers wanted to bring the
same unity he felt in uniform to the
fitness industry. Fitness can either
be a welcoming or exclusionary
environment, and that variation
influences whether people stick
to routines.
Summers noticed a rise in
bigotry in the fitness community
after the Roe v. Wade decision and
mentioned that those who were
previously holding their tongues were
now “emboldened.”
He blamed larger corporate gyms
for seeing this behavior and allowing
it to happen, even citing other gyms in
Tuscaloosa as an example.
He said gyms do not do enough to
make the LGBTQ+ community feel
safe or welcome, and that the gyms
ignoring this toxic behavior are afraid
of clientele, so they don't speak out.
Bars and Stripes fitness is located near Ion Tuscaloosa. CW / David Gray
Gym etiquette is seriously
overlooked. Summers contemplated
ways to make the queer comunity
more welcomed, saying gyms should
have a way to phase out people
who may not be a “good fit” to keep
everyone feeling welcome, and
encourage gyms to speak out against
bigoted behavior in these spaces.
In the wake of corporate gyms
allowing bigoted behavior in their
facilities, it falls on the fitness
community and general public to
take steps towards correcting that
behavior. Gyms and members can be
active participants in making sure the
LGBTQ+ community feels welcome.
While some gyms may be looking
out only for their profit margins,
we can look out for our fellow gym
patrons whose health is already in
political crisis.
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Students shouldn’t overlook Tuscaloosa’s local history
7B
Tuscaloosa’s organizations talk nonprofits and volunteering
AUGUSTUS BARNETTE
STAFF REPORTER
Nonprofit organizations are
widely misunderstood;
from believing employees work
for free to thinking that overhead
is low, the general public has a
warped understanding of the place
of a nonprofit in the Tuscaloosa
community.
Charles Scribner, executive
director of the Black Warrior
Riverkeeper, a branch of the
Waterkeeper Alliance that aims
to protect the Black Warrior
watershed, agrees that nonprofits
are misunderstood.
“It can be said that nonprofits
have to focus on not one, but two
‘bottom lines’ as an organization.
Like for-profit businesses, they must
focus on the financial bottom line:
to bring in more money than they
spend, or else they will cease to exist,”
Scribner said. “On the other hand,
[nonprofits] must simultaneously
ensure that they are fulfilling their
mission, or else they will lose the
trust and support of people in their
service area.”
Avery Rhodes, a University
of Alabama alum and executive
director of Community on the Rise,
said that running a nonprofit must
come from the heart.
On the hard days, the days
that are not joy-filled, the
passion that you have for
the work can be the gas
you need to keep moving
forward. That passion can
sustain you.
AVERY RHODES
Community on the Rise is a
nonprofit based in Birmingham,
Alabama with the goal of
empowering the community
through the four tenets of housing,
education, healing and employment.
With these, Community on the Rise
aims to lift people out of poverty,
and recover identity documents,
as well as provide other services to
those impoverished.
“On the hard days, the days that
are not joy-filled, the passion that
you have for the work can be the gas
you need to keep moving forward.
That passion can sustain you,”
Rhodes said. “If you love the work,
the climb is worth it, and you know
there is a breathtaking view waiting
for you at the top of the mountain.”
Whereas Black Warrior
Riverkeeper and Community on
the Rise have become established
nonprofit organizations, recognition
is not something that comes
overnight, and in the case of the
West Alabama Women’s Center,
located on Jack Warner Parkway in
Tuscaloosa, it’s very fresh.
Robin Marty, the director of
operations at the West Alabama
Women’s Center, said she wants
people to know the struggles of a
newly minted nonprofit.
“One thing that I think people
don’t understand when it comes to
transferring over to a nonprofit, but
especially when you’re a medical
center that goes from what was
essentially a task-based operation
to now doing everything and based
either on grants or on insurance, is
that the big danger of this is that you
have a period of time where there is
no income,” Marty said. “It doesn't
matter how much work you do, there
is going to be no income because
you’re waiting for grants to come
in, or you’re waiting for insurance
to happen, and you’re waiting for
reimbursements to happen.”
Once an abortion clinic before
the overturning of Roe vs. Wade,
the West Alabama Women’s Center
now aims to provide gynecological
care, access to contraception and
more to the people of West Alabama
as an alternative to going to the state
health department.
“At this point, we have transitioned
over services away from elective
abortion, and the clinic currently is
focused primarily on a few different
forms of healthcare,” Marty said.
“We actually launched a ‘Pay What
You Can’ emergency contraception
program, which is a prescription only
brand of emergency contraception,
and have just received a large
donation of that which we will also
be offering up and that will be for
free… our job is to get as much
contraception into people’s hands as
possible, because we know that that’s
really how you stop abortion.”
While the West Alabama
Women’s Center leaves a noticeable
mark on Tuscaloosa, it may be hard
to notice these other organizations’
marks on the Druid City. However,
these nonprofits are still invested in
the wellbeing of Tuscaloosa even
behind the scenes.
As for Black Warrior Riverkeeper,
it’s best for Tuscaloosa not to get highand-mighty,
as it’s county is only one
of 17 which the organization keeps
under its radar.
“Black Warrior Riverkeeper's
patrol area is the entire Black Warrior
River watershed: all the land area that
drains to the Black Warrior River.
This service area includes parts of 17
counties in Alabama, including not
only the river itself in Tuscaloosa,
but also Lake Tuscaloosa, which
is the Tuscaloosa-area's drinking
water source,” Scribner said.
“Our organization is increasingly
active in and around Tuscaloosa,
patrolling for pollution, engaging
volunteers, and making educational
presentations to schools, businesses,
religious organizations and
civic groups.”
Like Black Warrior Riverkeeper,
Community on the Rise is based in
Birmingham, but its reach extends
into Tuscaloosa.
“While we are based in
Birmingham, we accept clients
from all over Alabama. If you are
struggling to obtain your identity
documents due to poverty, we
welcome you,” Rhodes said.
Community on the Rise
employs survivors of homelessness
through their Wellness & Housing
Opportunity Linked to Employment
program. Workers gain access to a
clean-living space and earn a salary
through creating artisanal goods out
of recycled #5 plastics, which are the
most common household plastics
and includes items like pill bottles
and storage bins.
Rhodes said she noticed that
Tuscaloosa generates #5 plastic
waste during football games, but the
city only recycles #1 & #2 plastics.
In addition to helping those in need
from all over the state, Community
on the Rise is open to a partnership
to reduce plastic waste and educate.
“We’d also welcome partnership
A few of the artisanal goods from Community on the Rise.
Courtesy of Community on the Rise
with Tuscaloosa organizations and
schools like UA to collect those #5
plastics… We’d love to come on
campus and educate about #5s and
how we recycle, as well as talk about
homelessness and poverty in our
state,” Rhodes said.
Even with a dedicated team of
nonprofit leaders, if the community
is unaware of the services, it’s easy for
nonprofits to fizzle out.
Marty said that other than
financial contributions, the best
thing citizens can do to help the West
Alabama Women’s Center is to take
advantage of their services.
“It’s really important that we
let the community know that we
are here and we’re still open… I
believe that a lot of people tend to
go to Birmingham when it comes to
getting gynecological care and they
don't need to, there’s a doctor right
here. There's someone right here
who can help,” Marty said.
As for Black Warrior Riverkeeper,
Scribner added that volunteering
for a nonprofit is beneficial to
both parties.
“Volunteering at nonprofits is a
great way to support good causes
while also building your resume
and experience. Black Warrior
Riverkeeper continually offers a
wide variety of volunteer projects
for people of all ages, backgrounds,
and locations,” Scribner said. “When
students volunteer for different
nonprofits, they can get a better
sense of the type of work they might
want to do upon graduating.”
Rhodes shares a similar view
to Scribner, in that working with
a nonprofit can be a great way to
gauge your own interest, as well as
change lives.
“Nonprofits often offer internships
and hands-on opportunities to
delve more deeply into the work - a
great way to gauge how interested
you truly are in a subject,” Rhodes
said. “Nonprofit work is beautiful,
demanding, life-giving, hard, joyful
- all these things on any given day of
the week.”
MARY CLAIRE WOOTEN
STAFF COLUMNIST
While residing in Tuscaloosa,
we find ourselves easily
fixated on the luxuries accessible
to us here. Whether that be new
student housing apartments popping
up within months to accommodate
growing student populations or the
abundance of downtown scenery and
restaurants, the “college portions” of
Tuscaloosa steadily grow.
But what’s at the root? Tuscaloosa
is more than we see on the surface of
the Quad’s thick grass and within the
stands of Bryant-Denny Stadium.
The University of Alabama’s
Department of History offers courses
focusing on Southern history and
racial and gender exclusion. Joshua
Rothman, professor and chair of the
department of history, published his
book “The Ledger and the Chain”
which follows the business history of
domestic slave traders and exposing
their cruel daily lives.
These courses and professors
provide valuable resources for
students to learn about Tuscaloosa,
but there is much more beyond the
classroom. Tuscaloosa was the state
capitol from 1826 to 1846, but its ruins
remain in Capitol Park.
Throughout Tuscaloosa are
historical buildings that have
withstood some of history’s most
prominent and violent periods.
Historic Tuscaloosa is a nonprofit
organization that works to preserve
several buildings around the city and
the history they represent.
Among their properties, Historic
Tuscaloosa preserves the Jemison-
Van de Graaff Mansion, the residence
of Robert Jemison Jr., who was a
plantation owner and a state senator
from 1859-1863. They provide free
public tours of the mansion and other
properties Tuesday through Sunday.
Senator Jemison’s lineage
continued to make headlines. His sonin-law,
Colonel Hargrove, a decorated
confederate general, would later go
on to be the dean of the University of
Historic Tuscaloosa preserves the Jemison Van de Graaff Mansion and
other properties around the city. Photos CW / David Gray
Alabama School of Law.
Later, his grandsons, Robert Van de
Graaff, awarded physicist and inventor
of the Van de Graaff Generator, and
William Van de Graaff, named the
first All-American football player for
the University of Alabama’s football
team, would become responsible for
the partial namesake of this building.
Historic Tuscaloosa works to
upkeep and preserve this building
along with four others that remain
crucial to the foundation of the city.
Alfred Battle, of the Battle-
Friedman homestead, was a wealthy
merchant and crucial financier of
many railroads we drive past today.
One hundred years later, after financial
loss from the Civil War, the house was
then bought by the Friedmans and
it became their new family estate. In
1963, the house was later sold to the
city of Tuscaloosa to be upkept by the
historical association.
While these buildings hold
centuries of complex history, the styles
incorporated into the homes represent
the popularized Southern antebellum
architecture that began appearing
30 years before the Civil War began.
The Battle-Friedman home is the site
of the last antebellum style garden
in Alabama.
The University of Alabama offers
tours for incoming students to
familiarize themselves with campus,
and there are also self guided tours
available to learn about history that
often goes unspoken by the Capstone.
In 2015, Hillary Green, a history
professor at the University, began
researching campus history with a
focus on those enslaved in Tuscaloosa
between 1829 and 1865. Her work
seeks to provide accessible, hands-on
forms of education about the enslaved
individuals who lived, worked and
even died during this period.
Historic Tuscaloosa is a
nonprofit organization
that works to preserve
several buildings around
the city and the history they
represent.
The Hallowed Grounds Tours are
available in pamphlet form, estimated
at a leisurely pace for 90 minutes, or as
a mobile device tour through Adobe
Spark, an abbreviated 45 minute tour
utilized for classes.
That history expands to the city.
The Tuscaloosa Civil Rights History
and Reconciliation Foundation also
hosts a Civil Rights History Trail that
covers 18 locations across the city and
details the local fight for racial equity.
These trails give a personal
perspective to Tuscaloosa’s racial
past and provide powerful narratives
of local resistance. While
many assume they
are aware of the
South’s brutality,
these initiatives
function as a
reminder of the local,
personal stories that
follow from slavery
and oppression.
H i s t o r i c
Tuscaloosa
owns the
Murphy-
Collins House, which now holds the
Murphy African-American Museum.
It preserves the lives of Will Murphy,
Tuscaloosa’s first black mortician and
funeral director, and his wife, Laura
Murphy, who was the principal of
20th Street Elementary School. The
museum also places an emphasis on
the history and culture of Tuscaloosa’s
African-American population.
Then there’s the more hidden
histories associated with Tuscaloosa.
The Prewitt Slave Cemetery is the
largest of its kind in the state, but it was
overtaken by nature through time.
Patricia and Eloise Prewitt now work
to ensure that the history remains.
“That cemetery needs to be
publicized,” Patricia Prewitt said.
“School kids need to drive over there
and say look, that’s a slave cemetery.”
Those sites hold realities beyond
words, statistics or any history lesson.
The University of Alabama offers
an educational foundation to better
understand history, but those lessons
become more personal through
Tuscaloosa. The city is rife with
historical sites and stories that provide
a new lens for learning and growing
that students would be remiss
to overlook.

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