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Serving The University of Alabama since 1894.

The Crimson White


Serving The University of Alabama since 1894.

The Crimson White

Serving The University of Alabama since 1894.

The Crimson White

All content by Leah Goggins | @leahisonline
cultured. The Crimson White.

Cultured | Jeffrey and Leah are the final girl(s)

Listen up, "Cultured" stans: it's the final episode. In their last appearance on your podcast feeds, Jeffrey and Leah are talking about DJ White Shadow (not DJ White Snake), a new HBO show that's not...

cultured. The Crimson White.

Cultured | Jeffrey & Leah wonder if they could survive “Survivor”

"Cultured" is back, but not for long. In this second-to-last episode, Jeffrey and Leah talk about music, reality television and the circumstances of Lori Loughlin's stint in prison. What more could you...

The Tuscaloosa Public Library misses you

The Tuscaloosa Public Library misses you

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Managing Editor April 5, 2021

People quarantine at home. Library books quarantine in a castle. Behind the children’s section at the Tuscaloosa Public Library (TPL), a room called the Story Castle, once home to regular storytimes...

cultured. The Crimson White.

Cultured | Jeffrey & Leah come out as pro-teacher

Today on the pod: Ariana Grande is a coach on "The Voice" (?); Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" still hits (!); and a movie about the city we live in is... really, really bad. Listen to "Cultured" below...

Pictured in his legendary blazer, Ratliff leads the crowd in a chant.

UA senior and superfan Luke Ratliff dies after COVID-19 hospitalization

Ratliff was a beloved fan and friend of the Alabama men's basketball team.
cultured. The Crimson White.

Cultured | Jeffrey & Leah go to the Men in Music Business Conference

Is it just us, or does Netflix’s new “Country Comfort” look like a shot-for-shot remake of a beloved network television classic?
cultured. The Crimson White.

Cultured | Jeffrey & Leah yell at each other

This week on “Cultured:” our hosts agree on only one thing: Twitter Spaces are bad for the environment. Also on the podcast this week, two soundtracks Jeffrey and Leah are obsessed with, the best movie of all time and, obviously, the Grammys.
cultured. The Crimson White.

Cultured | Jeffrey & Leah apply for Genovian visas

Everyone has a hidden talent. Jeffrey's is crying on cue during Laika stop-motion films. Leah's is reciting the lyrics of "Do It Again" by Steely Dan from memory. Listen to this week's pod below or...

Courtesy of Keely Brewer.

UA junior named editor-in-chief of The CW for 2021-22 year

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Managing Editor March 3, 2021
Keely Brewer will be the next editor-in-chief of The CW. Brewer worked her way up from a contributing writer in her freshman year, and she has since served as a staff reporter, assistant photo editor, assistant news editor and news editor.
cultured. The Crimson White.

Cultured | Jeffrey & Leah go on ‘Life Support’

We can be honest. Jeffrey and Leah occasionally lose the thread in this episode of "Cultured"—but only because they're vibing so hard. In this episode, our hosts think about some cultural artifacts (think...

Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.

[Photo] Inside Biden’s White House and the symbolism of Oval Office design

Tara Davenport | @tara_davenport, Staff Reporter February 24, 2021

Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.

cultured. The Crimson White.

Cultured | Jeffrey & Leah consider stanning Wendy Williams

This week on "Cultured," Jeffrey and Leah forget to actually stan someone and instead talk about their two snow day obsessions: climate change (Jeffrey) and Céline Sciamma movies (Leah).
cultured. The Crimson White.

Cultured | Jeffrey & Leah become #FreeBritney activists

In this episode of "Cultured," Jeffrey and Leah talk about The New York Times and Hulu's "Framing Britney Spears," Netflix's "Malcolm & Marie" and the culture desk's recommended love songs (and break-up tracks).
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Collage CW / Leah Goggins

[Photo] Can ‘Harry Potter’ live new lives with J.K. Rowling looming large?

Joshua LeBerte, Contributing Writer February 8, 2021

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Collage CW / Leah Goggins

cultured. The Crimson White.

Cultured | Jeffrey & Leah bully reality show contestants

Jeffrey & Leah talk about Tiffany Pollard's antics, Golden Globes nominations and The Weeknd's new greatest hits album.
‘Then COVID hit’: How UA galleries have managed a return to near-normalcy

‘Then COVID hit’: How UA galleries have managed a return to near-normalcy

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Managing Editor February 4, 2021
The UA Gallery was hosting one of its largest-ever exhibitions last March. Then everyone went home. It's been a rocky road to get back to hosting guests in the University's galleries.
cultured. The Crimson White.

Cultured | Jeffrey and Leah pronounce Bon Iver

In our second episode, Jeffrey and Leah talk about people who've never won a Grammy (stan Zubin Mehta), how to pronounce Bon Iver (bone eevare) and whether "Midsommar" is a good movie (honestly, who's to say).
The University's club tennis program is willing to mask up if that's what it takes to hit the court.

[Photo] ‘Remaining safe’: These are the plans student orgs have in place for spring

Maria Grenyo, Contributing Writer January 27, 2021

The University's club tennis program is willing to mask up if that's what it takes to hit the court.

cultured. The Crimson White.

Cultured | Jeffrey & Leah decide to stan Sabrina Carpenter

Jeffrey and Leah christen "Cultured," The CW's new podcast from the culture desk. Our hosts talk "Bridgerton," Leona Lewis, celebrity baby names and why Olivia Rodrigo makes them feel out of touch.
Want to win the CFP next year? Maybe vote blue

Want to win the CFP next year? Maybe vote blue

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Managing Editor November 1, 2020
If the policy issues at stake don't hold much sway for you in this presidential election, consider being superstitious. In 11 of Alabama's 17 national championship seasons, a Democrat has been president. A win for the Tide this year could help narrow that gap, but winning sprees under presidents like Lyndon B. Johnson and Barack Obama put Democrats in a strong lead.
It's probably going to be OK

It’s probably going to be OK

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Managing Editor August 4, 2020

When I first sat down to write this letter, I figured it should be uplifting. After all, the world is vaguely falling apart in a slightly more radical way than it usually is, and who better to encourage...

CW / Leah Goggins

I ranked the corporate coronavirus emails so you don’t have to

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Assistant Culture Editor March 14, 2020

For weeks now, Americans have received conflicting reports on the severity of the novel coronavirus pandemic. President Donald Trump has waffled over whether it is a hoax or not. Some students have returned...

Photo courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes

Rian Johnson thrills and kills with “Knives Out”

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Assistant Culture Editor January 15, 2020
The latest movie to hit the Ferguson Center courtesy of University Programs, “Knives Out” is a stylish ode to Agatha Christie that feels deeply rooted in our modern era.
CW FIle

University brought cream-of-the-crop to Coleman

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Assistant Culture Editor December 5, 2019
It’s one thing to admire the lineup on a poster for Woodstock in 1969 or the first Coachella in 1999 – but what about the lineup organized by University Programs back in the day? With chart data and awards stats, it’s not so hard to imagine what a similar lineup of A-list musicians would look like in 2019.
CW / Hannah Saad

Bama fans camp out on ‘Gump Twitter’

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Assistant Culture Editor November 21, 2019
Are you a bammer or a barner? Are you ride-or-die for the Tide? What tier Gump are you? On Gump Twitter, these questions are required for entry.
CW / Joe Will Field

Alabama’s UFO Capital still has a story to tell

Over 30 years ago, Fred Works saw something he couldn’t quite explain. What’s easier to explain is the way that Works’s sighting changed the DNA of his town forever.
CW / Joe Will Field

Budget decor spices up college housing

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Assistant Culture Editor October 1, 2019
From thrift shopping to throw pillows, four interior design students have taken their college spaces from dull to distinct.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

Campus orgs make mental health a priority

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Assistant Culture Editor September 26, 2019
As Suicide Prevention Awareness Month comes to a close, students continue to advocate for the destigmatization of mental health.
Photo courtesy of Scott Palmer

Tuscaloosa locals profile The Strip in new documentary

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Assistant Culture Editor September 19, 2019
“The Strip: Tuscaloosa’s Most Colorful Quarter Mile” premieres this week at the Bama Theatre, and after six years of hard work, the film’s creators are over the moon.
Photo courtesy of Luke Kiszla

Dorm-dwellers and renters escape into HGTV

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Assistant Culture Editor August 29, 2019
Walk-in closets, hardwood floors and granite countertops—these staples of as-seen-on-TV dream homes are a far cry from the concrete blocks and icy tile floors of a dorm room.
Light show brings Pink Floyd’s music to life

Light show brings Pink Floyd’s music to life

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Assistant Culture Editor August 7, 2019
The Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular moves from town to town with over a dozen lights on its back and the spectre of Pink Floyd’s still-relevant music hovering overhead.
Photo courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes

10 Year Column: “Glee” hit most of the right notes

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Assistant Culture Editor June 21, 2019
The show that single-handedly ruined the final scene of “The Sopranos” was often hit-or-miss, but its soap-operatic plotlines and bubblegum pop covers wormed their way into America’s heart.
Photo courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes

‘Rocketman’ succeeds where ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ failed

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Assistant Culture Editor June 10, 2019
Dexter Fletcher dives headfirst into camp for his delightfully overindulgent Elton John jukebox bio-musical.
Master's student Jahman Hill uses his performance skills and personal experiences with slam poetry to promote discussion.

Jahman Hill gives everything he has to poetry

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter April 22, 2019
As graduate student Jahman Hill looks toward the future, it’s hard to ignore what he’ll leave behind at The University of Alabama: a poetry festival, a successful student organization and a brand-new one-man show.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

10 Year Column: When vampires had their heyday

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter April 19, 2019
“True Blood.” “The Vampire Diaries.” “Twilight.” How did we manage to keep up with so many pop culture vampires?
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Visiting writer keeps it short

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter April 19, 2019
Visiting writer David Shields’s fragmented writing style manages both to distance him from the material and be painfully personal.
CW/ Joe Will Field

Bowlero, The Woolworth combine arcade fun and upscale eats

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter April 18, 2019
The crash of pins and whirring of bowling ball return machines may trigger memories of tepid beer and greasy junk food. Two new bowling alleys are looking to throw that image out the window.
CW/ Keely Brewer

Photographers cash in on graduation season

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter April 15, 2019
Dead week is looming, flowers are blooming and across campus, seniors are donning their caps and gowns for one last photo as undergraduate students.
CW/ Joe Will Field

Daughter shares father’s Holocaust experience

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter April 11, 2019
In just a few years, Ann Mollengarden’s father went from an involved, community-loving child to a bullied, isolated victim during Adolf Hitler’s rise to power. Now, it is Mollengarden’s mission to take her 93-year-old father’s story to students across the state.
Photo courtesy of Brett Forsyth

Birmingham company brings new life to fan gear

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter April 8, 2019
Lifelong Alabama fans Brandon Watkins and Brett Forsyth were making concert posters in Forsyth’s basement 10 years ago – now they’re taking on their design destiny.
Photo courtesy of flickr.com

‘Broad City’ leaves a legacy of friendship

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter April 7, 2019
Four and three and two and one-one: The countdown to the “Broad City” finale has come to an emotional end.
Photo courtesy of RottenTomatoes.com

10 Year Column: Even Beyonce couldn’t save “Obsessed”

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter April 3, 2019
How is it that you can add Idris Elba, Ali Larter and Beyonce together and still end up with nothing at all?
CW/ Keely Brewer

Two hundred years of Tuscaloosa history celebrated through music

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter April 1, 2019
Despite the threat of rain, Tuscaloosans, Birminghamians and even Memphians congregated by the Black Warrior River on Saturday for a day of local music.
Rebecca Rakowitz is the editor-in-chief of Alice. CW/ Keely Brewer

Women shine in leadership at the Capstone

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter March 25, 2019
This year’s freshly elected executive board doesn’t represent the number of women on campus, so they’re making waves everywhere else.
Courtesy of Bethany Patterson

MDB member spins, wins on ‘Wheel of Fortune’

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter March 25, 2019
Everybody has a childhood dream in the back of their minds. For some people, that dream comes true. For Bethany Patterson, that dream comes with a brand new car.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

10 Year Column: One DJ distilled pop music into five minutes

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter March 8, 2019
DJ Earworm, true to his name, dropped a Swedish-inflected remix in 2009 that was so good, we couldn’t get it out of our heads.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Fashion Column: Lagerfeld leaves behind a tumultuous legacy

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter March 8, 2019
He was the creative genius behind Chanel’s modern era and the entirety of Fendi’s ready-to-wear legacy. He leaves behind his celebrity cat, Choupette.
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Students asked to respect spring break spots

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter March 7, 2019
Panama City Beach, Florida, was once the center of spring break debauchery, but after a ban on beach alcohol and a damaging natural disaster, students are wondering if PCB is for them.
CW/ Kallie Chabla

Memes, candidates’ friends power social media campaigns

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter March 4, 2019
Leading up to March 7, UA students’ social media feeds will be full of amateur political pundits stumping for their favorite SGA candidates – their friends.
CW/ Keely Brewer

Student expression blossoms in podcasts

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter February 28, 2019
If the Alabama Student Ticket Exchange is any indication, UA students have plenty of opinions on plenty of things: So why not start a podcast about it?
CW/ Carter Eike

Hard rock artist shifts from music to activism

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter February 25, 2019
John Kay used to parade around global stages in leather trousers and dark sunglasses. Now, he and his wife throw on their safari gear and make friends with elephants.
Courtesy of flickr.com

Morrison, Lorde shaped American literature

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter February 22, 2019
While some celebrated Presidents’ Day Monday, others were reading and remembering the works of two great American authors who share a birthday.
Courtesy of Flickr.com

10 Year Column: ‘The L Word’ is back, and there’s gonna be trouble

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter February 19, 2019
One of the 2000s’ most progressive television shows plans to make a comeback ten years after its finale--but will it correct it’s most glaring mistakes?
Photo courtesy of  Maurgan Haynes

Black dancers excluded by limited costume options

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter February 18, 2019
It can be difficult enough for a child to settle into a new dance class or company – but a lack of diversity in clothing choices makes it even harder.
Photo Courtesy of Flickr.com

Music Column: Women strike back at the Grammys

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter February 12, 2019
Soon-to-be retired Recording Academy President Neil Portnow told women to “step up” last year—so this year, they didn’t leave room for Portnow to say a word.
Photo Courtesy of The University of Alabama Museums

Elementary schoolers take center stage at UA gallery

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter February 11, 2019
One UA art gallery has been taking local elementary school students under its wing since 2014. Its February display celebrates the Harlem Renaissance just in time for Black History Month.
Student-run festival celebrates film, creators

Student-run festival celebrates film, creators

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter February 7, 2019
The Black Warrior Film Festival returns in March, and its co-directors can hardly wait. Several students experienced in event production discuss what it takes to host a large-scale event.
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

10 Year Column: When vegetables owned the pop chart

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline,  Staff Reporter February 6, 2019
The Black Eyed Peas won’t be winning any awards for most-improved anytime soon, but when their #10YearChallenge looks this good, maybe they don’t have to.
CW/ Kallie Chabla

English majors find freedom in online publishing

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter January 31, 2019
Whether in middle school, high school or college, students who love to write need a place to cut their teeth. For many, that place is just a few clicks away.
Courtesy of flickr.com

Series Review: Everyone is watching ‘You’

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff reporter January 25, 2019
In Netflix’s latest addition to the streaming platform, Penn Badgley stars as an obsessive, criminal stalker striving to make his girlfriend’s world perfect in bizarre, troubling ways. Note: This article contains spoilers for ‘You.’
CW/ Hannah Saad

Interns weigh value of experience with financial needs

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter January 24, 2019
Internships, be they paid or unpaid, have become integral to a modern college education – but how feasible are they?
Variety show serves Deaf, hard-of-hearing audiences

Variety show serves Deaf, hard-of-hearing audiences

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter January 14, 2019
Clad in signature grey T-shirts and black pants, Sunshine 2.0 seems like any old theater troupe – but the four-person team integrates American Sign Language seamlessly into each performance.
CW/ Joseph Field

Out-of-the-box movies are back at the Bama

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter January 10, 2019
Tuscaloosa’s Bama Theatre welcomes back two film series this spring, preparing students and residents for Oscars season and their Shakespeare final.
CW/ Austin Bigoney

Holiday traditions connect campus, heritage

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter December 6, 2018
A menorah sits proudly at the Ferguson Student Center, and a Christmas tree has sprouted up at Gorgas Library, but for many students, the real holiday celebration won’t begin until they are reunited with their families.
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

‘Maisel’ is home for the holidays

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter December 5, 2018
Following critical acclaim, television’s favorite comedian, Midge Maisel, returns to Amazon Video on December 5.
CW/ Austin Bigoney

Nonprofits provide basics this holiday season

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter December 3, 2018
As the semester wraps up, the holiday season of generosity is beginning in Tuscaloosa.
Photo Courtesy of Flickr.com

Native American mascots create ‘double oppression’

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter November 20, 2018
In a new book from UA professors past and present, it becomes clear just how complicated, offensive and personal the Native American mascot debate can be.
CW/ Austin Bigoney

Art students offer their collegiate swan songs

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Writer November 19, 2018
In dual exhibitions opening Monday, two photography-minded friends will display their work in Sella-Granata Gallery as they prepare to graduate. Their Bachelor of Fine Arts degree exhibitions, presented by The University of Alabama Department of Art and Art History, serve as one last on-campus calling card for the graduating seniors.
CW/ Scarlet VanMeter

Dancing lights celebrate Native American culture

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter November 14, 2018
Now on display at the Birmingham Museum of Art, “Waterline” creates dazzling images along the walls as a reflection of the artist’s roots.
CW/ Austin Bigoney

Classic story mirrors present-day feminism

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter November 8, 2018
The leading ladies of the UA production of “Little Women” agree the show still has a lot to give to modern audiences. The show runs through Sunday at the Allen Bales Theatre, and tickets are $10 for students.
CW/ Austin Bigoney

“Othello” staged reading comes together like magic

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter October 30, 2018
With only a couple weeks to rehearse and one night in the spotlight, UA students and Tuscaloosa community members came together for a staged reading of “Othello.” The performance drew record attendance for the group.
CW/ Evan Pilat

Issues with Halloween costumes spark debate

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter October 22, 2018
Native American Seductress, Sugar Skull Señorita, Ninja Assassin – all are costumes available to Halloween party-goers this spooky season. But they carry more weight than some may realize.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Students react to Swift’s voting advocacy

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter October 18, 2018
Pop star Taylor Swift was heralded for her Instagram call to action for young voters, but for some students, it didn't make a difference. A professor said to be cautious about saying Swift is responsible for the voter registration spike.
CW/ Scarlet VanMeter

Film Column: ‘A Star Is Born’ just keeps getting better

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter October 12, 2018
It seems that every generation gets their own era-appropriate version of “A Star Is Born.” In the Bradley Cooper-helmed 2018 version, the film improves upon its past depiction of alcoholism and introduces an audience to Lady Gaga: the actress.
CW/ Austin Bigoney

Visiting writer talks poetry, ASL and John Donne

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter October 11, 2018
Poet and professor Meg Day relayed their life experiences through a poetry reading. The reading took place in Gorgas Library and featured several poems detailing Day’s various struggles and triumphs as a deaf storyteller and part of the genderqueer community.
CW/ Austin Bigoney

UA professor posthumously honored with art exhibition

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter October 9, 2018
When Gay Burke arrived at The University of Alabama in 1973, she had no idea her colleagues and students would still be paying homage to her influence 45 years later. Burke’s legacy will be honored Oct. 5-26 with two exhibitions: one of her own work, and another of her students’.
CW/ Joe Will Field

Review: Father John Misty shows off in Birmingham

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter October 8, 2018
Josh Tillman, better known as Father John Misty, made a stop in Alabama on Wednesday night, sharing songs from his latest album as well as other fan favorites. Tillman was joined by King Tuff, an opener whose stage presence was a hard act to follow.
CW/ Scarlet VanMeter

Slam poets perform at Para La Cultura

Leah Goggins | @leahisonline, Staff Reporter September 28, 2018
“America loves pure, and you are messy.” Those are the words of featured poet Mercedez Holtry, the centerpiece of Tuesday night’s celebration of Hispanic culture through spoken word. The first event of its kind, Para La Cultura focused on the expression of cultural identity as part of Hispanic Heritage Month.