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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 Rich Robinson

My time at the University has proven that life is about people

Rich Robinson December 1, 2014

I have greatly enjoyed my time at The University of Alabama. The past three and a half years have opened my world wide and allowed me to experience some truly incredible things. None of this would have...

Current immigration issues replaying history

Rich Robinson November 24, 2014

While the immigration debate in America has been refocused on the executive action proposed by President Barack Obama that would allow up to 5 million undocumented people to stay in the United States...

Term limits are healthy, but are not sufficient

Rich Robinson November 17, 2014

So I recently had a strange moment. No, I didn’t start watching Duck Dynasty or listening to Lana Del Rey. Are those even both things still? My strange moment was that I agreed with George Will on something...

New Congress should reform U.S. prisons

Rich Robinson November 10, 2014

The old maxim that politics is the art of the possible is on full display a week removed from the 2014 midterm election. Both parties are feeling out the political landscape to see what they can advance...

After empty election, GOP would be smart to tackle immigration reform

Rich Robinson November 3, 2014

Well, it’s finally here, Election Day 2014. The saddest, most meaningless election in years is almost, thankfully, over. The narrative is murky and confusing. Some have called it the “Seinfeld”...

Scientific facts and religion can be harmonious

Rich Robinson October 27, 2014

In the Oct. 26 edition of The New York Times, opinion columnist Nicholas Kristof called for America to “fix the escalator” of our broken education system. Citing data from a recent Organization for...

University should be investigated for covering up Pendragon incident

Rich Robinson October 20, 2014

Why is The University of Alabama covering up its response to the so-called “Authur Pendragon” threats? Your guess is as good as mine, but there is now little doubt the University has made a calculated...

Nietzsche's Dead, so we should live

Rich Robinson October 8, 2014

“We live in the most narrow present, without a past or a future, in the midst of a flat calm.” That statement sounds like it could have been spoken by a number of figures in today’s culture. With...

In defense of mass media creators

Rich Robinson September 29, 2014

I hate being this guy, really, I do. Most days, I just want to sit back in class and listen to the person with the doctorate. Not trying to start debates or pick fights with classmates, just trying to...

Feminism should be considered a force for equality, not a dirty word

Rich Robinson September 8, 2014

The United States was not founded as an equal nation. Spoiler alert: our land was not perfect at its founding despite the best efforts of historical revisionists who try to paint infant America and its...

We need dynamic optimism to cure disease, not simple acceptance

Rich Robinson September 1, 2014

One of the greatest promises of the “millennial” generation is our belief in the nearly unlimited potential for curing diseases and disabilities that have been with mankind since Adam. This is a basic...

Freshman, be active and make the most out of your time on campus

Rich Robinson August 20, 2014

Hey, I’m talking to you, new kid. I know you’ve had a rough couple days, it’s a real tough transition. The culture is different, and not the way it’s supposed to be. Do you really want to be...

Support active, engaged campus

Rich Robinson April 14, 2014

Allow me a mulligan, a trip down the rabbit hole of over-serious campus politics for just a second. But first, a disclaimer: Students at The University of Alabama have infinitely more rights and privileges...

Reform of long-term health insurance needed for secure country

Rich Robinson March 11, 2014

The AARP reports that 89 percent of Americans age 50 and above would rather live in their homes than give up control of their lives to a nursing home, but a significant percentage of them will not be able...

Calls to boycott Israel based in false history

Rich Robinson February 18, 2014

While most students probably don’t care much about what happens at academic conferences, we should probably start paying attention to one major development that is shocking and wrong. A few months...

Viewers quick to judge Super Bowl ad as unpatriotic

Rich Robinson February 4, 2014

The Super Bowl is a wonderful and strange spectacle that blends the right mix of sporting flare and commercialized hyperbole. It is a truly American event because it is fun with an agenda. Laugh, eat,...

SGA elections need big changes

Rich Robinson January 22, 2014

Of all issues facing campus, SGA elections are one of the few that transcends the daily grind of University of Alabama goings-on and enters the realm of import. Well, at least it should, in theory. The...

America needs to stop worrying about China’s rise to world power

Rich Robinson December 4, 2013

The idea that China will overtake the United States of America as the dominant world power has grown in strength throughout the years, but it is largely a myth. China has neither the capacity nor the will...

We need a ‘New Frontier’ of leadership

Rich Robinson November 19, 2013

It’s Jan. 5, 1960. Well-known journalist James Cannon and his friend Ben Bradlee are at the home of a man about to take the nation by storm. John F. Kennedy had announced his intention to serve as...

Public lacks disabilities awareness

Rich Robinson November 5, 2013

Most people have probably never heard the name Ethan Saylor. That’s not surprising. He was just another 26-year-old guy from Maryland. But here’s why we should all never forget the name of Ethan...

Legalizing marijuana would be simple,helpful

Rich Robinson October 28, 2013

One of the biggest moral and political issues that face us is the challenge of our broken criminal justice system. It is a bloated, messy, unsophisticated monster that has failed our children and communities....

Public defenders serve as vanguards of justice

Rich Robinson October 15, 2013

The interview room is small, probably 9 feet by 9. Neglected light green walls, one blue door and large smash resistant windows. A plastic table and chairs sit in the middle. Fluorescent lights hover overhead....

Paid members of Congress the real nonessential workers

Rich Robinson October 7, 2013

The following opinion column is part of a student discussion on the recent government shutdown.   The federal government shutdown would be a joke if it weren’t so serious. The evening news is littered...

GOP using shutdown as last resort

Rich Robinson September 30, 2013

It’s official. The Republican Party is out of ideas and is resorting to insane tactics to mollify the base. Well in all fairness, I guess that it’s been official for a few years now. Spoiler alert....

Campus needs new framework for solutions

Rich Robinson September 16, 2013

I love The University of Alabama. Our success on the football field is how many people know us, but we all know there is much more to this special place. Our campus is one where anyone can learn and grow...

United States has another chance to live up to own ideals

Rich Robinson September 3, 2013

We the people have to make a difficult call in the coming days over what to do in Syria. Our elected representatives will be voting on whether to intervene in yet another seemingly unsolvable conflict...

Voting rights still threatened

Rich Robinson August 26, 2013

Wednesday, Aug. 28, 1963 will forever flutter in our national consciousness as a benchmark on the path to increased equality for all Americans. That day witnessed a human wave of anger, idealism and hope...

Next generation of leadership, change

Rich Robinson August 21, 2013

I’m going to level with you. I don’t care much about generalizations and think that generation theory is somewhat silly. Each one of us has free will and the ability to act in any manner that we...

CW reporter spends day on the job with Mayor Maddox

Rich Robinson April 7, 2013

On Feb. 25, CW staff reporter Rich Robinson spent the morning with Tuscaloosa city Mayor Walt Maddox. 8:50 a.m. It’s a typical Monday morning at Tuscaloosa City Hall in late February. Walt Maddox,...

New energy drink sales an investment opportunity

Rich Robinson March 13, 2013

Some students at The University of Alabama are working to sell Verve, a new energy drink product with nutritional benefits, to the fertile consumer base of the Capstone. Max Rubenstein, a junior majoring...

Faculty differs on constitutionality of gun laws

Rich Robinson February 28, 2013

The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution is one of the most vexing parts included in the Bill of Rights. The longtime, heated debate on its meaning may be more important than ever following...

State funds allocated for UA roads

Rich Robinson February 13, 2013

As part of statewide road infrastructure and development projects, improvements will be made to two roads inside the Tuscaloosa City Limits, including Hackberry Lane and a stretch of 10th Avenue, both...

Tax season gives accounting students chance for real-world experience

Rich Robinson February 12, 2013

As all working people know, tax season is upon us. But for some UA students, this potentially stressful time of year gives them an opportunity to expand their professional horizons and get on-the-job...

Online classes become increasingly popular

Rich Robinson February 7, 2013

Some UA students are spending less time on the campus and more time at their computers, as online courses become more popular at the Capstone. Rebecca Pow, associate dean of the College of Continuing...

Health committee to vote on medicinal marijuana

Rich Robinson February 6, 2013

The future of the use of marijuana as medicine in Alabama will be determined this afternoon as the Alabama House of Representatives Committee on Health will vote on a proposal to allow the drug to be...

Renters should be aware of rights, rules in individual leases

Rich Robinson February 5, 2013

As many UA students sign leases at the various apartment and housing complexes across the Tuscaloosa area, questions are raised about the renter-landlord relationship. Can you negotiate a lease? Is it...

Tax credit for student loans survives politics of ‘fiscal cliff’

Rich Robinson February 4, 2013

One of the many under reported stories from the recent “fiscal cliff” debate was the survival of a tax credit that helps many middle class families send their children to college. With so many University...

UA cancels classes on case-by-case basis

Rich Robinson January 24, 2013

After last week’s rare Tuscaloosa snowstorm, some students at The University of Alabama were questioning how the University makes decisions regarding the cancellation of class. The University did not...

Elect Her encourages women to run for office

Rich Robinson December 5, 2012

An initiative headed up by a handful of student groups is looking to put more women into leadership positions on campus. Elect Her is a joint effort of the Women’s Resource Center, Student Leadership...

UA professors take stance on fiscal cliff solutions

Rich Robinson December 3, 2012

The looming confluence of economic forces known collectively as the “fiscal cliff” is probably not on the radar of most folks at The University of Alabama. But for some UA professors, the self-imposed...

University Fellows to travel to Cuba for spring break

Rich Robinson November 20, 2012

The University Fellows Experience, a highly selective group of Honors College students, is planning a trip to Cuba over spring break. Jacqueline Morgan, associate dean for the Honors College, made the...

Campus GOP, Dems opposed to re-instated justice

Rich Robinson November 8, 2012

Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore defied the odds on Election Day by reclaiming his old job in a close vote that put many state and campus Republicans in a politically compromising position. With...

UA counseling professor wins award for mental health research

Rich Robinson October 30, 2012

Despite University of Alabama counseling professor Lisa M. Hooper’s immense success, she claims it has not been an individual effort. Hooper recently received the Dr. Linda Seligman Award from the American...

Siegelman trial judge spoke at Ferg, denies Rove connection

Rich Robinson October 10, 2012

Mark Fuller, a University of Alabama graduate and federal judge best known for presiding over the trial of former Gov. Don Siegelman spoke to a group of student leaders at the Ferguson Center last night....

Roy Moore’s comments prompt UA student reaction

Rich Robinson October 10, 2012

Former Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court and current candidate for the same position Roy Moore has come under fire for recent comments he made regarding same-sex marriage. According to an al.com...

Election showdown to decide future of state trust fund

Rich Robinson September 12, 2012

Voters in Alabama will be tasked with deciding if they want to tap into an emergency trust fund to bridge the state’s budget gap on Sept. 18. If the vote is defeated and no agreement is made in the legislature,...

Less block seating, more room for students in general admission

Less block seating, more room for students in general admission

Rich Robinson September 6, 2012

The SGA released the official block-seating map for the upcoming football season and a series of documents that detail the allotment and final score for each student organization that is involved in the...

UA students use reddit for campus discourse

Rich Robinson September 3, 2012

By Rich Robinson Assistant News Editor When President Barack Obama sat down at a computer on Aug. 29 to conduct an “Ask Me Anything” segment on Reddit and Redditors - the site’s users - tuned in...

Students sound off on parking concerns

Rich Robinson August 22, 2012

As students settle into campus, a grievance commonly heard among students at the Capstone is the limited parking available to them. Christina Bockisch is a first year graduate student studying public...

SGA moving toward mathematical grading of block seating apps

Rich Robinson August 22, 2012

SGA President Matt Calderone outlined a sweeping shift in how the applications for student block seating will be graded for the upcoming football season in a presentation to student groups Wednesday night....

Group marches for immigrant rights on campus

Group marches for immigrant rights on campus

Rich Robinson August 22, 2012

A group of undocumented immigrants, students, immigration reform supporters and clergy marched down University Boulevard on Monday. The crowd was part of the “Undocubus Riding for Dignity,” a bus tour...

Court ruling could affect Alabama law

Rich Robinson July 2, 2012

The Supreme Court struck down key provisions of Arizona’s new immigration law last week, while upholding one controversial section. The suit and resulting decision have stirred up debate about the...

Life after the storm: Post-disaster is only Tuscaloosa freshman have known

Rich Robinson April 26, 2012

Tuscaloosa is a place of rich tradition and routine. April 27, 2011 proved to be anything but as lives were shattered and ended in a show of natural fury. For many Alabama students with no direct connection...

UA political groups adjust to Romney

Rich Robinson April 23, 2012

With Mitt Romney as the presumptive Republican nominee, the 2012 presidential election seems to be ready for primetime. And despite the fact that Romney has yet to officially clinch the nomination, the...

Bentley outlines plans for Bryce

Bentley outlines plans for Bryce

Rich Robinson April 17, 2012

Gov. Robert Bentley recently announced that the mental health facilities project, which stalled in recent months, would resume construction. Bentley originally ordered construction of the new Bryce Hospital...

University students ‘Cover the Night’ for Kony 2012

Rich Robinson April 16, 2012

More than 100 million people have watched the Kony 2012 video on YouTube and Vimeo since it was posted on March 5. Invisible Children, the group behind the video, has urged its supporters to take to the...

Football players take to paintball for charity

Rich Robinson April 15, 2012

It’s not every day you get to see the 6-foot-4, 350-pound Terrence Cody rolling on the ground, dodging paintball rounds. But for the crowd assembled at the Splatzone Paintball Field in Cottondale on...

Out-of-state students band together in new group

Rich Robinson April 11, 2012

With the number of out-of-state students exploding at the Capstone in the past few years, a new group is being organized to give those students a more unified voice on campus. The name of the program is...

UA sets remembrance date

Rich Robinson April 11, 2012

The University of Alabama is planning a day of service on Saturday, April 21 to honor the victims of the April 27, 2011 tornado. In a press release, Mark Nelson, vice president for Student Affairs, said...

Shaq's got 'Bama's back

Shaq’s got ‘Bama’s back

Rich Robinson April 4, 2012

Former NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal will be on campus tomorrow to help film a public service announcement about the dangers of binge drinking. The PSA is in conjunction with LessThanUThink, an anti-binge...

Senate confirms new member for trustees

Rich Robinson March 28, 2012

Last week, the Alabama Senate approved two members of the Alabama Board of Trustees. Incumbent trustee Vanessa Leonard and newcomer Kenneth Luckie Vandervoort were confirmed by a vote of 28-0 and 30-0,...

UA Professor believes immigration law will hurt economy

Rich Robinson March 19, 2012

The controversial immigration law that has been in effect in Alabama since September is hurting the overall economy of the state, according to one University of Alabama professor. Samuel Addy, the director...

UA changes graduation day for three colleges

Rich Robinson March 1, 2012

The University announced that it would be adding a Friday night ceremony for its spring commencement exercises. Students in the Colleges of Communication and Information Sciences, Education, Human Environmental...

Historic JD's to reopen after Spring Break

Historic JD’s to reopen after Spring Break

Rich Robinson February 28, 2012

JD's, a Tuscaloosa institution since 1949, will reopen as a modern convenience store and pizza shop, with a liquor store attached, after the University of Alabama’s spring break. Tom Cubelic, the vice...

Freshmen confront student loans

Rich Robinson February 21, 2012

A fact of life for today’s college student is one that is tough to grapple with. The average senior will leave college with an average of $25,250 of student loans debt. That albatross around the neck...

Alabama-Cuban Initiative celebrates 10 years

Rich Robinson February 16, 2012

A delegation of Alabama faculty traveled to Cuba last week to meet with academic collaborators in the island nation. The trip was part of the celebration of the 10th year anniversary of the Alabama-Cuban...

Why do young people support Ron Paul?

Why do young people support Ron Paul?

Rich Robinson February 9, 2012

If Ron Paul were to be elected President, he would be the oldest in history. At 76, the long-serving Congressman from Texas is not given much of a shot by the national media to win the Republican nomination....

New member to join board of trustees

Rich Robinson February 8, 2012

Kenneth Luckie Vandervoort was elected last week to the University of Alabama System’s board of trustees. A resident of Anniston, Vandervoort was elected by the current board member’s to represent...

One year into the Bentley Administration

One year into the Bentley Administration

Rich Robinson February 7, 2012

Many people questioned whether Governor Robert Bentley, a retired dermatologist and University of Alabama graduate, could do the job. After a year in office, leaders across Alabama are beginning to evaluate...

Alabama College Republicans sound off on influential primary

Alabama College Republicans sound off on influential primary

Rich Robinson January 31, 2012

With four candidates left in contention for the GOP nomination for president of the United States, Republican voters go to the polls today in the important primary state of Florida. Newt Gingrich and...

The death of a coach and legend

The death of a coach and legend

Rich Robinson January 24, 2012

The Jan. 27, 1983 edition of The Crimson White ran eight pages with a total of 13 stories. All of them were about one man and how important he was to Tuscaloosa. Paul “Bear” Bryant died the previous...

UA freshmen take Frisbee golf to the web

UA freshmen take Frisbee golf to the web

Rich Robinson January 19, 2012

An all-freshmen tandem known as the Four Stooges spends their afternoons on the Quad or Rec fields working hard to hone their craft: throwing flying discs. One of the Stooges, Preston Thompson, a music...

City council passes zoning

City council passes zoning

Rich Robinson January 18, 2012

  The Tuscaloosa City Council passed a zoning ordinance unanimously Tuesday night that will create new mixed zones in areas impacted by the April 27 tornado. The vote followed a public hearing that was...

System Chancellor to leave position

Rich Robinson January 17, 2012

University of Alabama System Chancellor Malcolm Portera announced Monday that he would be stepping down after nearly 10 years of holding the position. “The time is right for a transition in leadership...

Panhellenic Association selects new leaders

Rich Robinson December 7, 2011

Last week, the University of Alabama Panhellenic Association announced the new group of student leaders selected to serve on its Executive Council for 2012. Olivia Hunnicutt, a junior majoring in Spanish,...

Board of Trustees members speak out on Machine

Rich Robinson December 1, 2011

Several members of the UA system board of trustees have confirmed their knowledge—and even association with—the Machine, a secret political coalition of traditionally white fraternities and sororities....

Former U.S. Justice speaks to Law School about time on bench

Former U.S. Justice speaks to Law School about time on bench

Rich Robinson November 17, 2011

Former Associate Justice to the Supreme Court John Paul Stevens outlined some major cases in his career and imparted advice to the gathered students Wednesday during a lecture at UA’s School of Law....

Former Justice Stevens to discuss career on bench

Former Justice Stevens to discuss career on bench

Rich Robinson November 15, 2011

Former Associate Justice to the Supreme Court John Paul Stevens will visit the University of Alabama Wednesday for a speech hosted by the Law School. Stevens will be the tenth justice of the nation’s...

Occupy Wall Street founder hopes to form new political party

Rich Robinson November 14, 2011

From his Vancouver office, Kalle Lasn, who many consider to be the de-facto founder of the Occupy Wall Street movement, recounted the true origin of the group and what he believes it should and will become....

Where did Occupy Wall Street movement originate?

Where did Occupy Wall Street movement originate?

Rich Robinson November 8, 2011

As the Occupy Wall Street movement enters November, many around campus, and even the country, do not seem to fully understand it. However, some Alabama students, including Lucie Enns, a senior majoring...

UA student gets credit for becoming involved in protest

UA student gets credit for becoming involved in protest

Rich Robinson November 8, 2011

While many UA students watch the Occupy Wall Street protests from afar, one has jumped onto its front lines and is receiving class credit for doing so. Henry Perkins, a junior in New College, has been...

Scott Atterton

Scott Atterton

Rich Robinson October 25, 2011

History and the hardwood—those were Brandon “Scott” Atterton’s two biggest passions. The high school basketball star from Bryant, Ala. was one of the lives lost during the April 27 tornado. Atterton...

Board of Trustees president reflects on life as son of Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant

Rich Robinson October 19, 2011

Paul W. Bryant, Jr., president pro tempore of the Board of Trustees, has become a major figure at the University of Alabama, nearly 30 years after his father, legendary head football coach Paul "Bear"...

Debate over gun control continues

Rich Robinson October 5, 2011

As the freshly energized debate over allowing firearms on college campuses is brought back into the spotlight by the actions of state legislatures across the country, it is important to remember the event...

Creative Campus featured in bestselling book

Rich Robinson October 4, 2011

Thomas Friedman, a well-known columnist for The New York Times, recently featured the Creative Campus program at The University of Alabama in his book, “That Used to Be Us: How America Fell Behind in...

Judge upholds most of harsh immigration bill

Judge upholds most of harsh immigration bill

Rich Robinson September 29, 2011

Yesterday at the Hugo Black Courthouse in Birmingham, Judge Sharon Blackburn ruled on three separate lawsuits in a consolidated appeal that challenged Alabama’s controversial immigration law. Blackburn...

Blackburn to rule on immigration law House Bill 56 today

Rich Robinson September 28, 2011

Today, the eyes of the legal world will be on U.S. District Judge and University of Alabama graduate Sharon Blackburn. At stake: the fate of House Bill 56, informally known as the “Alabama immigration...

UA professors debate merits of Obama Jobs proposal

Rich Robinson September 26, 2011

With the background of a national unemployment rate at 9.1 percent and confidence in the economy at an all time low, President Barack Obama introduced his long awaited plan to Congress on Sept. 12. In...

The history of Sigma Alpha Epsilon

Rich Robinson September 22, 2011

The Crimson White was recently given the opportunity to tour the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house in an effort to understand more about the history of the oldest fraternity on campus and in the South. The delegation...

UA rises in national rankings

Rich Robinson September 19, 2011

U.S. News & World Report released its 2012 rankings of best colleges in the United States last Tuesday. Although its metrics and data are often disputed among many in academia, its influence is not. The...

National ranking confirms UA growth in prestige

Rich Robinson September 19, 2011

  U.S. News & World Report released its 2012 rankings of best colleges in the United States last Tuesday. Although its metrics and data are often disputed among many in academia, its influence is not....

Tragedy of 9/11 mirrors April 27

Tragedy of 9/11 mirrors April 27

Rich Robinson September 11, 2011

As a piece of the South Tower stood beside him as a silent testament to the resilience of a nation, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox called Sunday’s Sept. 11 commemoration “the most important thing we’ve...

UA interns play role in tornado aftermath

UA interns play role in tornado aftermath

Rich Robinson September 1, 2011

Three city interns were among the many unsung heroes of Tuscaloosa following the aftermath of the deadly EF4 tornado last April. The students, John Bishop, Meredith Lynch and Matt Calderone, were all...

APR professor recounts Red Cross

APR professor recounts Red Cross

Rich Robinson September 1, 2011

The trying times that have gripped Tuscaloosa in the past few months have unmasked the true identity of many in our community. On April 27, most did not know the strength and ability of many unnamed heroes,...