Montevallo Celebrates Mother Earth

By: Dezirae Burnett

Last week, University of Montevallo students celebrated Earth Week, with the help of the UM Environmental Club.

Students took part in the festivities by participating in eco-friendly activities like making sure the E-Club’s Community Garden cultivated for summer harvest.

Students from Dr. Sally Hardig's Biology 100 class help
transport mulch across the garden. 

“This is Earth Week. We are planting lots of plants and getting things ready,” says garden manager, Holly Wadley.

Produce grown in the community garden are donated to Shelby Emergency Assistance, for community members in need.

“It’s all about giving back into the community,” she says, “and helping those to get fresh vegetables and fruit they would not normally get.”

Throughout the week, students also had opportunities to watch a screen of Take Back the Tap, a film about tap water being safe for consumption and the dangers of plastic bottled water.

Additionally, students and community members toured Montevallo’s newest park, Shoal Creek Park, as well as participated in a bicycle maintenance workshop, put on by the Montevallo bike-share organization, Vallocycle.

Earth Week came to a close Friday with Earth Fest, and an appearance by the University’s living mascot, Legacy.

Legacy is a rescued falcon whose mother lined his nest with
fishing line. Legacy suffered trauma to his toes, leaving him
unable to fly. 

“We are here today with Legacy. He’s our American Kestrel, which is the smallest species of falcon in North America,” says Brittany Muncher, a UM alum with the Alabama Wildlife Center. “He is native to Alabama. We actually see these kinds around areas kind of like Ebenezer swamp here in Montevallo.”

Friday’s event also included life music, a clothes swap, booths from wildlife, conservation and environmental organizations from across the state and arts and crafts.

“We are making pine cone bird feeders and clothespin dragonflies,” says Earth Fest attendee Hanna Irelan.

Earth week activities such as these help to teach UM students and Montevallo community members how to give back to the environment.

Though Earth Week has ended, there is never a time to stop caring for our planet.

Contact Dr. Susan Caplow in Environmental Studies for more information on how you can help, or visit the E-club’s Facebook page here: 

K & J's Elegant Pastries

By: Elizabeth Rhinehart

A fresh start can mean many different things for many different people. For Kristal Bryant and her family, it meant moving her pastry business to a new location.

After four years on Kent Dairy Road in Alabaster, AL, a road that doesn't see much traffic, Kristal got the opportunity to set up her sweet shoppe on Highway 31; one of the biggest highways in the south.

"I expected it to be busy but I did not expect it to take of like it did," says Kristal.

The "K & J"

K and J's elegant pastries is a family owned business that carries many different treats such as custom cakes, cupcakes, cookies, ice cream and "crazy"milkshakes. The most popular treat is the signature "K & J" milkshake, which features an ice cream cookie and a brownie along with the milkshake.

Even though Kristal has a passion for baking, she says the best part about owning a business is getting to interact with the customers...and one customer comes multiple times a day.

"I went ahead and got one of their 16oz milkshakes...and then I came back later that day and got another one," laughs Paula Wood during her third visit to K & J's in 24 hours.

"The reaction to making somebody else feel good and meeting other people. I like that too," says Kristal.

K & J's is located in downtown Alabaster on Highway 31. The shoppe is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

For more information on K & J's Elegant Pastries, check out the Facebook page.

UMPD: Gun Violence and Safety Tips

By: Brianna Rose

On Easter Sunday, thirty-seven-year-old Steve Stevens shot and killed a random elderly man in Cleveland, Ohio.

That elderly man was seventy-four year old, Robert Godwin Sr.

Godwin was walking along a sidewalk on Easter Sunday collecting aluminum cans. Shortly after, Stevens got out of his car while recording a video on his phone proceeding to start a conversation with Godwin before retrieving a gun and shooting him.

The video of Stevens shooting Godwin was then plastered all over social media after Stevens posted it to his Facebook page.

Photo of Robert Godwin Sr. and a family member

The senseless murder follows just days behind the San Bernandino school shooting, where a man opened fire in an elementary classroom shooting and killing a teacher and a student, also injuring another student.

University of Montevallo Police Chief, Chadd Adams, says that in cases like the murder caught on Facebook, they are rare and hard to protect yourself from.

However, Adams did have advice and tips for bystanders who witness such heinous crimes.

"If someone is being hurt or if something is happening, put your phone down and go help," Adam says.

And if you happen to catch a crime happening on Facebook or any other social media platform, Adam says to contact your local authority immediately.

To hear what Godwin's family members had to say about the tragedy, click here.

Delta Means Change

Story by: Brianna Rose

Members of the Nu Omicron Chapter and myself

The Nu Omicron Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated are celebrating their Delta Week this week. They kicked off the week with an Instagram scavenger hunt.

On Wednesday they decided to bring the fun and change to a good cause with their philanthropy event, Delta Means Change.

Delta Means Change is an event that the chapter puts on every semester to raise money and awareness for UNICEF.

UNICEF works to protect the rights of children and also works to provide better lifestyles for children and their families.

The Nu Omicron chapter started Delta Means Change last semester where they dedicated an entire week in the Anna Irvin Cafeteria during lunch time collecting donations for UNICEF.

Photo of the Delta Means Change sign with all Delta organizations

They also included all other Delta greek organizations in their philanthropy such as FIJI, Delta Gamma, etc.

They hope to make their philanthropy event bigger and better over the next few semesters and plan to include the entire Montevallo community.

For more information on how to give back or become a part of UNICEF, click here.

The Birmingham Barons Celebrate 70th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson Day

By: Hope Finley

Official Major League Baseball
Jackie Robinson Day Logo

April 15, 1947 America's favorite pastime was changed forever.

That was opening day for Major League Baseball and also the first time an African American would play for a major league team.

Ultimately, this would end 80 years of baseball segregation and break the color line barrier that once stood.

 Jackie Robinson began his career playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers, now known as the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 1962, Jackie Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and his number 42 jersey was retired.

Jackie Robinson set an example for all young black athletes to follow their dreams and pursue them with dignity, courage and honor at all times.

Many athletes, especially professional baseball players, look to Robinson as a hero.

Pitchers Colton Turner and El'Hajj Muhammad running
 to bullpen to warm up on Jackie Robinson Day 

The first Jackie Robinson Day took place on April 15, 2004 and was celebrated at every major league ball park, with every official, player, coach and manager for both teams would wear the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson. It has since become an annual tradition and is celebrated even in the minor leagues.

The Birmingham Barons took part in the celebration this year.

Pitcher El'Hajj Muhammad said even at a young age Jackie Robinson influenced his baseball career.
"Growing up my dad always told me to play the game with some dignity, pride, respect and he would always bring up Jackie Robinson", said Muhammad.

El'Hajj Muhammad signing autographs
before Jackie Robinson Day Game

In 2013, the movie "42" was released in theaters and brought light to all of the issues Robinson faced when becoming the first African American player in Major League Baseball.

The celebration of Jackie Robinson Day is not only significant for baseball, but also for our country. 

Muhammad said, "Its a great way to get people out to the ball park, it makes people aware of what actually went on back then. I think Jackie Robinson Day, when there’s no names on the back of anybody’s jersey, I think that’s a very, very powerful message. This man changed the game of baseball for the better. He brought everybody together".

To find out more about Jackie Robinson and his legacy, you can click here. To catch the Birmingham Barons playing at Regions click here for more information.

UM lights the way for art students

Story By: Adam Pettway


The University of Montevallo has started its annual Kiln firing event where students and faculty work together with 18 other high schools to make different kids of art within the kiln. The anagama kiln  is an ancient type of pottery kiln brought to Japan from China in the 5th century.

It is a version of the climbing dragon kiln of south China, whose further development was also copied, for example in breaking up the firing space into a series of chambers in the noborigama kiln.

Dr. Scott Meyers and his students have been working all semester to get the kiln started which takes a lot of wood to fire up. The kiln heat has to be constantly maintained for a week until it reaches a heat of about 2500 degrees. After the heat is reached they will let it sit for a week to cool for the students to take their sculptures out.

Students like Hunter Vroonlande say that they can't wait to see what their sculptures come out because the kiln makes their art look older and gives it a unique look.

The kiln was first built in the early 2000's and has continued to grow and has been used since it conception.

It is a one of a kind kiln that is not found in many places throughout Alabama.  

The Kiln was closed last Sunday and will continue to be closed until this Sunday April 22 where the students will gather together and get everything out. 

An Inside Look at Strong Hall

Story By: Dezirae Burnett



Since January, the area beside UM's Mass Communication building has transformed from an open lawn to the fenced off construction site of Strong Hall.

The building, once completed, will bring Mass Communication and Communication Studies under one roof.

Chain link fences and caution tape surround the Strong Hall
 construction site for maximum campus safety. 

Currently, Communication Studies courses are held in Reynolds Hall.

As Strong Hall slowly starts to take shape, students and faculty are beginning to see what the new building will have to offer.

Strong Hall will feature a new, state-of-the-art TV studio and control room, as well as all new, high definition equipment.

"And further down on the left, will be the computer lab and some state of the art bathrooms," jokes Department of Communication chair Dr. Randall Scott. "Gotta have those."

This summer, the existing building will be remodeled to include additional classrooms, a conference room and more faculty offices.

Strong Hall is set to open its doors in the Fall of 2017. The time
capsule will be dedicated at this time. 

"I'm excited. Its going to be great," Scott says.

As Communication Studies and Mass Communication come together, the Department of Communication is putting together a time capsule to commemorate the end of one era and the start of a new one.

Both current Mass Communication and Communication Studies students and alumni are encouraged to participate.

"When I started talking to Dr. Scott more about it, it really just pumped me up, and I decided to take it on," said Kit Martin, a Mass Communication student who is heading up the time capsule project.

"It will be like my fingerprint that I'm going to leave behind," she says. "And in 50, 100 years, people are going to see Kit Martin left something here. And that's cool."

Students and alumni interested in contributing to the time capsule can bring items to Olivia Ard in Bloch Hall, suite 201.

Donors should include with their items their name, major, graduation date or anticipated graduation date and a short reason why you are contributing.

For more information contact Kit Martin here: