Pluck & Grit

Everyone warned us that four years at The University of Alabama would fly by quicker than you could say, "Roll Tide." Weeks blurred into months and months into years, and before you knew it, your photo was being taken at graduation. Despite all of our modern resources, events begin to blur together, and the moments we thought we would always remember start to disappear. That's where two Tuscaloosa owned and operated small businesses have stepped in to capture campus happenings. In this episode, we learn about ZAP Photography and JNJ Apparel, two local Tuscaloosa businesses whose commitment to preserving memories has allowed them to capture snapshots of UA's campus culture across decades.

The Capstone has welcomed countless students from hundreds of countries since the 1950s. These students have graduated and built families and careers using their time at The University as a foundation. They developed long-lasting relationships and facilitated on-campus communities through programs like the International Student Association (ISA) and Capstone International Services (CIS), but their experiences as students were not always without difficulties. In this episode we speak with international students who attended The University in the 1970s, early 2000s and in 2016 to better understand their experiences. We also hear from staff who work in Capstone International Services to gain insight into their hopes and goals for future international students.

The University of Alabama's favorite elephant has become a staple during game days at Bryant Denny and countless weddings, birthday parties and on-campus events. He takes a photo with almost every new student at orientation, and is beloved by children and adults from all areas of the UA community. Since 1980, Big Al's legacy has left an impression as one of college's most recognized mascots, but that process did not happen overnight. In our first episode we meet up with the original Big Al, Mr. Hugh Dye, former advisor, Ms. Segail Friedman, former Homecoming Chair, Ms. Anne Haedicke Parramore and former UA administrator, Dr. Kathleen Cramer, to uncover how UA earned its mascot, and more importantly how Big Al got his name.