Latest news with #SamfordUniversity
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Pete Hanna, namesake of Samford University's football and basketball facilities, dies at 88
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Pete Hanna, the namesake of the Samford University's football stadium and basketball arena, died at 88 years old Sunday. Hanna, former CEO and chairman of Hanna Steel, was a significant philanthropist for the university, going back to his days as a student-athlete, where he played halfback, center and linebacker from 1955-58. Though he graduated from the University of Alabama in 1960, he spent years as a Samford trustee. 'I have been blessed beyond my fondest dreams, and I am pleased that as a steward of the Lord Jesus Christ, I have a part in Samford's future,' Hanna said, according to his university obituary. 'This is a most unusual university, and we want it to continue to be outstanding as an academic university and a Christian university.' The Pete Hanna Center was named after him during its 2006 groundbreaking. It's home to the basketball and volleyball teams, athletics department, Samford Athletics Hall of Fame and hosts commencement ceremonies. During the Bulldogs' game against Furman in October 2023, the school's football stadium was renamed for Hanna, who was presented with a golden key to the facility. John Merrill discusses Alabama governor, U.S. Senate races 'Pete had a loving heart, which was apparent by the way he operated his company, cared for his employees and generously sought to improve the community,' said Martin Newton, director of athletics at Samford. 'The blessings he extended toward Samford athletics and our entire institution won't be forgotten. Knowing that his impact will stretch for generations, so many of us are grateful for having known and befriended such a wonderful man.' Hanna served for 14 years in the Alabama Army National Guard and retired as captain. According to his family's obituary, they will receive friends at the Southern Heritage Funeral Home from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. A celebration of Hanna's life will follow. 'With a legacy extending beyond the facilities that bear his name, Pete Hanna provided a lasting impact of compassion, humility and service,' said Samford President Beck Taylor in a statement. 'While embracing his calling to become an industry leader, he stayed true to the principles of Christian stewardship and inspired others to do the same. The Samford family is grateful for having known Mr. Hanna, and we celebrate the life of a friend who embodied the best our university has to offer.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Post
26-05-2025
- General
- New York Post
Gen Zers who are actually happy are saying yes to religion and family — and no to social media
Many of the kids are not alright — though some are. According to the 2025 World Happiness Report, Americans ages 18 to 29 ranked 62nd amongst the 140 countries surveyed in terms of self-reported well-being and life satisfaction — far below all US adults, who ranked 24th in the most recent report. But a small segment of young Americans are bucking the trend and finding happiness. The Post spoke with several, and they all noted that limiting their time on Instagram, TikTok and the like was crucial to their mental well-being. The average Zoomer spends three quarters of their day consuming content. Advertisement 8 Kevin Alexander has cerebral palsy and believes he's happier than most of his able-bodied peers. Courtesy of Kevin Alexander 'Social media in and of itself is a very negative and toxic place,' Kevin Alexander, a self-described happy 28-year-old from Southern Florida, told The Post. 'I don't use it that much.' Alexander has suffered from cerebral palsy since birth and uses crutches for mobility. His disability taught him that 'comparison is the thief of joy' early on, so he's always avoided social media, which he believes has been key. Advertisement 'I happen to be physically disabled, so I tend to look more for positive things, because I've certainly dealt with a host of negativity in my life through operations, through stigma, through a lot of things,' he explained. Alexander, who recently got his master's degree in history and is working on an essay collection while applying to PhD programs, also credits his intellectual pursuits for his positive outlook. 8 Kevin Alexander says he escapes in books and history. Courtesy of Kevin Alexander 'I read a lot, and I try to stay inside in my own head more than listen to the external noise,' he said. 'I'm just so in my books and in my writing that I can get lost to the world for several hours of the day at a time.' Advertisement Ben Feinblum, a 20-year-old sophomore studying business at Georgia Tech, believes social media is bringing his generation down and credits his positive outlook to restricting his use of it. 'Social media makes people very comfortable being alone, and even when they are hanging out with people they're on their phones and texting people that aren't even there,' the New Rochelle native said. 8 Ben Feinblum believes his generation's mental health is harmed by social media. Courtesy of Ben Feinblum Feinblum turns off notifications on apps, such as Instagram, that aren't essential, and he and his friends have created rituals to stay in the moment while hanging out. Advertisement 'My friends will be very conscious of who's on their phone and call them out,' he said. 'We stack up our phones on the table, and whoever picks theirs up first is the one to pay the tip for dinner.' Sarah-Elisabeth Ellison, an unusually upbeat 20-year-old sophomore at Samford University in Alabama, also makes efforts to rein in her social media use when she feels it getting out of hand. 8 Sarah-Elisabeth Ellison says that exercising and getting outside helps her stay happy. Courtesy of Sarah-Elisabeth Ellison 'I can kind of take authority and say, you know what, Instagram, Snapchat, or TikTok is really affecting me. I've got to delete it for a week or two or whatever,' she said. She also avoids 'bed rotting' — a wallowing form of self care beloved by Zoomers — in favor of healthier pursuits. 'Instead, [I say] I'm gonna go take a walk outside. I'm going to read a book,' she said. 'I think sometimes you need to escape whatever your situation is, and I think reading is the greatest resource.' 8 Sarah-Elisabeth Ellison sometimes deletes social media apps when she feels they're detrimental to her mental health. Courtesy of Sarah-Elisabeth Ellison Daily journaling has also been proved helpful to Ellison, who dealt with anxiety in her teens. Advertisement 'Just getting my thoughts out and getting to stretch those writing legs has always brought a boost to my serotonin,' she said. 'I try to get down five things I'm grateful for.' Nearly all of the happy Zoomers The Post spoke with cited their religion as a major reason for their contentment. 'Something that has always influenced me is growing up with a dad that's a pastor,' Ellison said. 'My faith has ebbed and flowed and changed a lot as I've grown up, but it's always been consistently there for me to fall back on.' 8 Kevin Alexander recently received a master's degree in history and plans to pursue a PhD. Courtesy of Kevin Alexander Advertisement For Alexander, his Christian faith has helped him frame his disability in a positive manner. 'The fact that I'm still here 28 years later makes me believe that God has me here for a reason,' he said. 'I have physical limitations, but He spared my ability to speak, to think, and to write effectively. The idea that I'm here for a purpose keeps me from falling into the generational nihilism.' 8 Fay Dubinsky's Jewish faith grounded her with larger meaning. Courtesy of Fay Dubinsky Fay Dubinsky, 28 of Boca, Florida, credits Judaism with providing her with a sense of community and meaning. Advertisement 'I grew up Jewish and religious, and I think that's probably one of the reasons that I'm not depressed or anxious,' she said. 'I have so much meaning in my life, and that's not typical for my generation.' 8 Dubinsky, 28, is the mother of a son and is also 7 months pregnant with her second child. Courtesy of Fay Dubinsky Dubinsky, who works as a therapist, also says her choice to get married early, at age 25, and start a family soon after has given her more purpose. She has a nearly 2-year-old son and is 7-months-pregnant. 'I take time for myself, but so much of my day is to help others, to take care of my family, to take care of my baby,' she said. 'I think the number one problem in my generation is a lack of meaning. People my age, their life is about them, and serving themselves, and always seeking out more pleasure.'
CNA
15-05-2025
- Health
- CNA
Why do some people swear while working out? Does it actually help you perform better at the gym?
I've recently started going to a gym where everyone is exceedingly polite. On any given day, the most explicit sounds are grunts and huffs, if at all. But in other gyms I've been to, swearing could be as commonplace as sweating. Nothing polarises people, gym-goer or not, as much as cussing does. But why? For instance, what makes the word 'f***' intrinsically offensive and 'puck' okay – even though they sound similar? For one, swear words are taboo words that are 'usually judged as shocking'. 'The swearer may be considered antisocial and offensive', wrote Associate Professor Nicholas Washmuth from Samford University's Department of Physical Therapy in a 2022 paper he co-authored. And in most cultures, there are three areas that are often contentious: Religion; sex and sexual body parts; and bodily excretions, according to Dr Karyn Stapleton, a senior lecturer from Ulster University's School of Communication and Media, in her paper. Which explains why 'damn', 'hell', "piss', 'ass', 'shit', "p****" and "f***" are often regarded as swear words. Then, there are those who regard swearing as a passionate way of communication – and even a sign of intelligence. "People that are good at language are good at generating a swearing vocabulary," said Timothy Jay, a professor emeritus of psychology at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on CNN. And for that matter, more honest as well. 'When you're expressing your emotions with powerful words, then you're going to come across as more honest," he added. WHY DO PEOPLE SWEAR IN SPORTS? Why indeed since 'swearing can negatively impact how the swearer is perceived by others, which may lead to social isolation and depression', according to Assoc Prof Washmuth? As the over-50 per cent of the population who swears 'sometimes' or 'often' in his study probably already knows, swearing can also have its benefits. 'Like drugs, words have an ability to change the way a person thinks, feels and performs,' he wrote. In a separate 2024 mini review on previous studies that look into swearing's effects, Assoc Prof Washmuth concluded that swearing 'has been shown to improve physical performance during short and intense tasks requiring strength and power development'. In a 2022 experiment, participants doing chair push-ups were able to hold the position for 10 per cent longer when swearing, compared to repeating a neutral word. In a 2023 study, where a swear word of the participants' choice (the majority chose "f***") was repeated every 5 seconds during each task, it was found that grip strength went up by 9 per cent, push-ups to fatigue extended by 15 per cent, planking to exhaustion by 12 per cent, and wall-sit time to exhaustion by 22 per cent. 'Delving deeper, researchers believe that it is not because of any mystical property of the four-lettered word but because swearing reliably induces a state of heightened physiological and psychological arousal as well as reducing inhibition,' said Assistant Professor Audrey Lim from SIT's Health and Social Sciences Cluster. The 'physiological arousal' could be the result of activating the sympathetic nervous system responsible for the fight-or-flight response during stressful or dangerous situations, she said. Also, 'the taboo nature of profanity can heighten emotions, producing a mini jolt of excitement, anger, aggression or bravado, which might trigger pain-inhibitory circuits, reducing the discomfort of effort or limitations by pain', said Asst Prof Lim. 'This naturally enables one to apply more force or persevere slightly longer than we otherwise could under a calmer state.' It's probably why athletes such as Serena Williams and NBA players sound as explicit as rappers on the court – although in some cases, swearing doesn't help with the exercise itself but as an expression of relief or victory, said Yan Lin, Bespoke Fitness's FitRX head coach. 'Swearing can also create a mental shift, helping people focus and feel more determined. In some ways, it works like the grunting sounds tennis players make to increase their power,' said Alla Demutska, the clinical director of psychotherapy and counselling at The School of Positive Psychology. 'When we swear, the brain's emotional centre, the amygdala, becomes more active. This could help people push through discomfort and give extra effort,' said Dr Demutska. 'While we don't fully understand all the ways this works, it's likely a mix of physical, emotional, and mental effects coming together to give that extra push.' HOW DO YOU TAP INTO THE BOOST FROM SWEARING? First, the timing appears to play a role, much like vocal expressions of exertion like grunting or huffing, said Dr Demutska. Research suggests that swearing just before or during an exertion may improve strength and endurance, she said. 'Experiments have shown that participants who swore at specific intervals – such as every few seconds or at a steady pace – demonstrated improved performance, regardless of the exact frequency or volume,' said Dr Demutska. Second, the language you cuss in also plays a part. 'Swearing is probably most powerful when done in your mother tongue. The connection is the most primal,' said Tiat Lim, a FitRX coach with Bespoke Fitness. Dr Demutska agreed: 'Research suggests that swearing tends to have a stronger impact when it's in a person's first language or a language with deep emotional ties as these words often carry more intensity and personal meaning. The choice of swear words may matter because our emotional connection to language influences how we react to certain words'. But don't take this as a sign to let fly your swear words; you don't want to disrupt or offend others. 'Cultural norms and social acceptability also play a role,' said Dr Demutska. 'Some words may carry more stigma or be less appropriate in certain environments.' WHAT IF YOU CAN'T SWEAR IN PUBLIC? You can still psyche yourself up or produce comparable effects as swearing through shouting, grunting or yelling, suggested Asst Prof Lim. 'The common thread is that heightened emotional intensity – whether induced by a swear word, a shout, an inspiring song or a slap on the back – tends to transiently increase one's ability to generate force,' she said. 'Replacing swear words with non-offensive but intense words or sounds that have strong emotional connections to the individual might still provide a similar effect.' Or do as Lim does and swear when you need to, such as 'for maximal effort to get you over the hump'. 'For example, when pushing your final-to-failure rep,' he said. 'We are a gym, not a library. If it helps to squeeze out better performance, hell yeah!' And while it may not be as effective (the scientific jury is still out on this), try swearing internally, suggested Asst Prof Lim. Saying it in your head or quietly to yourself may possibly enhance performance, she said. Dr Demutska also seconded the silent swearing alternative. 'Mentally repeating a swear word may still activate the brain's emotional and pain-processing centres without disturbing others.' If it's a family-friendly gym, try using positive, emotionally charged phrases such as 'let's go!' or 'jia you!' instead, said Dr Demutska. 'However, research suggests that made-up swear words don't have the same pain-reducing effects as real swear words.' Of course, you can always use non-verbal vocal exertion techniques such as grunting, forceful exhalation or controlled yelling. There are studies linking grunting to increased force output in sports like tennis and shouting to enhanced grip strength, said Dr Demutska. 'Until further research explores silent swearing, gym-goers may want to experiment with breath control, grunting or mental swearing to tap into its potential benefits – without risking side-eye from fellow lifters,' she suggested.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Alabama bill raises concern among licensed wildlife rehabbers
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — At least 24 times a day, birds at the Alabama Wildlife Center are fed with nutrients to help them grow and gain strength in hopes of releasing them to the wild. Called rehabilitating, it's something the center has been doing for nearly 50 years. 'It takes professionals and dedication,' said Alabama Wildlife Center Executive Director Chris Sykes. 'It takes a lot of resources.' Sykes said he's concerned that could change with the introduction of HB448, known as the Alabama Good Samaritan Wildlife Rehabilitation Act. The bill would allow people to care for injured or orphaned wild birds or animals under certain conditions, regardless of experience or qualifications. The bill does not include wildlife that is federally protected. 'There's a whole host of issues that can arise from taking in wildlife without knowing the proper protocols on releasing or the proper protocols on caring for these individual animals,' Sykes said. 'There's a lot that goes into nutritional guidelines and what you have to do to get them ready for the wild.' Should there be harsher punishments for Alabama's Hands-Free Law? David Frings, associate director of the master of science in environmental management program at Samford University, shares a similar view. 'I see the compassion side of it, but if we're going to try to get the state to step up and allow people to help, these people just need to be trained,' Frings said. 'They just need to know what they're doing for both the animal and human sake.' The bill, which is sponsored by state Rep. Ben Harrison (R-Athens), does not allow people to keep the animals as permanent pets or authorize a person rehabilitating to engage in the practice of veterinary medicine. The bill is awaiting a vote from the House Agriculture and Forestry committee. 'Let's see how maybe we could increase the numbers of professional rehabbers that have the knowledge of how to actually rehab and have gone through the anti-rabies treatments.' Frings said. Alabama has seven licensed wildlife rehabbers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Samford University student launches petition drive after university raises parking fee
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Some Samford University students are not happy about the private school's decision to increase fees for student parking permits. Several gathered at Ben Brown Plaza Friday morning holding up signs and encouraging students to sign a petition launched last night on which has garnered more than 1,900 signatures. Next year, the cost for students to park their cars on campus will go up significantly, putting them on par with what UAB and University of Alabama students pay for parking, although those are public universities which are less expensive. Friday morning, we talked with the student who launched the petition drive that has garnered 1,900 signatures by late afternoon. Freshman Lachlan Caligiuri from Lakeland, Florida is attending Samford University on a partial academic scholarship and she works a part time job: 'I was flabbergasted,' she said. 'Honestly, I didn't know what to think, because how do you go from $60 to $500 dollars, like that's not feasible, that's an insane jump.' Beautiful saturday, severe risk sunday night This past semester she says she only paid $30 for her parking permit. That fee will increase to $250 dollars a semester beginning next fall, which will be $500 a year. Fellow freshman Emilia Horton launched a petition on asking the school to re-consider the parking permit increase. 'I ran the numbers and it's 733.333 % increase in pricing,' Horton noted. 'You need to realize that not all your students are upper upper class and that super high upper class.' Horton said she wished the administration had provided students with an explanation for the increase. While on campus Friday, we observed a lot of new construction underway, including work on a new parking deck and a new freshman residence hall. We reached out to the administration at Samford University Friday morning asking for an interview. They sent us an official statement which reads: 'Samford is pleased to provide convenient, safe on-campus parking in response to our students' preferences and enrollment growth, with parking fees comparable to other regional universities. The addition of a new 550-space parking facility, a $24 million investment to open in August, will further enhance our student experience and improve parking on campus.' For more information on the petition, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
