The University of Alabama surpassed its enrollment record with over 42,000 students enrolled for the Fall 2026 semester. Of that number, over 18,000 of the students are Alabama natives.

“UA enrolled 18,652 Alabama residents, up 3.6% from 18,007 last year. The growth reinforces UA’s role as the state’s flagship university and its commitment to Alabama students who go on to serve the state’s workforce and communities,” said Alex House, a spokesperson for the University.

Enrollment in the UA Early College program, another college-prep program that allows high school students to earn college credits, has doubled as well.

The University’s enrollment is not the only thing that has increased, with the academic profiles of undergraduate students are also on the rise.

“The academic profile of first-time undergraduates continues to increase with an average high school GPA of 3.86. The freshman class boasts 280 National Merit Scholars who join more than 1,200 National Merit students enrolled at the Capstone this fall,” House said.

In a press release, University President Peter J. Mohler said that the numbers reflect progress.

“Our success cannot simply be measured by the size of our enrollment, but will be demonstrated by the impact of our students when they graduate. We will be a university known for the development of leaders shaping the future of Alabama and beyond,” Mohler said.

Mohler said the University will continue to evaluate enrollment strategies and align them with the needs of the state’s workforce, with the goal of students at the school leaving campus “prepared for a career of impact.”

Alabama’s win against Kentucky on Saturday wasn’t pretty. As head coach Kalen DeBoer and his team went to the locker room down 17-13 at halftime, it appeared that this coaching staff was on the road to yet another road loss against an unranked team and all the backlash that would come with it. 

But they weren’t. A three-and-out to start the second half didn’t foreshadow the turnaround the Crimson Tide was about to experience, as Alabama scored 32 unanswered points en route to a 45-17 win. 

It was a statement win after ESPN commentator Kirk Herbstreit picked Kentucky to upset Alabama and stated that the Crimson Tide “quit” in the Rose Bowl against Indiana last season. It also showed that DeBoer’s team is no longer plagued by an inability to pull ahead in close road games. 

“I felt at halftime, it wasn’t this crazy energy that we had to have,” DeBoer said. “It felt like it was kind of almost just getting locked in, getting refocused, and just knowing the game was going to be ours. We’ve just got to go out and execute.”

Road losses to Vanderbilt and Oklahoma in 2024, as well as to Florida State in 2025, formed a pattern in which the Crimson Tide fell behind early against teams it was favored over and never managed to find a rhythm. 

Those struggles on the road were some of the reasons Fox Sports commentator Joel Klatt picked Missouri to upset Alabama in Columbia last season. Sure enough, Alabama started that game down 7-0 and floundered on its first defensive possession in what appeared to be another road upset in the making.

But that time, Alabama’s offense was able to get into a rhythm as the game went on, and the defense grew stronger against the run. In a gritty, back-and-forth game, DeBoer led his team to a 27-24 win. 

Later in the season, Alabama came back from trailing 22-14 against South Carolina and 17-0 against Oklahoma for another two road wins against SEC opponents. DeBoer and his staff were showing signs that they didn’t need everything going their way to pull out a win — they were capable of winning ugly games in tough environments. 

The ultimate proof of this came in Lexington on Saturday. With three turnovers in the first half, some fans went so far as to call for offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb to be fired as it appeared the Crimson Tide was at risk of losing another road game to a team it was favored against. 

Alabama didn’t just avoid a catastrophic loss — DeBoer led his team to a 28-point victory in a game in which it was favored by 9.5 points. 

While he will want his offense to improve upon its first-half struggles that led to the need for a comeback in the first place, DeBoer has demonstrated that his team is past the days of adversity on the road being a death sentence. 

Criticism for not leading wire-to-wire in every game may be inevitable for whoever bears the scrutinized position of head coach at Alabama, but it is no longer a viable critique of DeBoer to say that his teams lack the mettle to respond to trouble away from home. 

“We faced a lot of resiliency in different ways,” DeBoer said. “Just about everything that you had to face was thrown at us, so [I’m] just really proud of the way the guys fought.”

Whether it is crocheting, knitting, drawing or even bedazzling key chains, The Crafting Corner is a space for students to unwind, learn and be part of a community. The club meets weekly on Thursdays from 5 to 7 p.m. in Doster Hall, room 308. There is no major requirement to join, and all students are welcome to be part of this newly founded organization on campus.

The Crafting Corner was initially formed through the Hispanic-Latino Association’s GroupMe in the spring of 2025. Destiny, the founder, sent out a message asking if anyone was interested in starting a separate group for students who enjoyed crafts. What began as a small group chat eventually grew into a recognized organization through the SOURCE and membership continues to increase.

“It was really interesting to see us all come together because of a group chat,” said Thalia Cosyleon, a junior majoring in marketing and co‑president of the club. “I wasn’t really a part of many organizations, and it felt good to be part of something, especially something I helped create.” 

The club hosts several holiday‑themed events but primarily holds weekly meetings for any kind of craft or for students looking to find community on campus. While they do not offer formal classes, members are always willing to help others hone their skills or learn something new. 

“I didn’t know anyone when I moved here, so I got to meet a bunch of new people,” said Brayden Miller, a sophomore marketing major and co‑president of the club. “I’ve made friends, and I’m involved now because I’m an officer. So this club has made a great impact on my life.”

The Crafting Corner has grown into more than a place to make art. It is a club that can help students find connection and community, especially when they are new and looking to find their place at the University. “These have become some of like the best people I’ve ever met, and so I think it’s really just an opportunity for the people who aren’t really active on campus to sit down, hone in on their crafts,” said Quinn Jackson, a senior majoring in criminology on the criminal justice pre‑law track and secretary of the club. 

The club also gives students a break from the constant pressures of exams, homework and networking. Even though creativity is at the center of the club, its impact reaches far beyond crafts. It offers students a moment to slow down, decompress and feel grounded on campus.

“We don’t have a lot of time as students to do things that we enjoy,” Jackson said. “So it allows you to not only build community, but to do things that you would have loved doing anyway.”

The Tuscaloosa Police Department arrested a second suspect in connection to the Saturday night shooting on 22nd Street that left seven people injured.

On Tuesday, four days after the shooting, the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit announced the arrest of 22-year-old Kemarkus Antonio Allen. He was charged with seven counts of first-degree assault and served with a probation violation for second-degree receiving stolen property.

The gunfire — believed by authorities to be gang-related activity — began at approximately 10:30 p.m. in the 2600 block of 22nd Street following a block party event called “Shacktown Reunion.” 

The first suspect, 23-year-old Keyontae Jones, was arrested Sept. 15 and charged with eight counts of first-degree assault. Since then, one of the reported victims was found to have not been present during the shooting, and their injuries were determined to be unrelated. 

A separate investigation is currently underway regarding the false report, and one of the charges against Jones has been dropped. 

According to a press release from Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit commander Capt. Jack Kennedy, the investigation is ongoing and more arrests may occur. 

The shooting garnered the attention of the FBI, which is currently working with the Tuscaloosa Police Department to investigate multiple persons of interest.

Authorities are requesting witnesses or anyone with information about the shooting to contact VCU at 205-464-8690 or to utilize the FBI tip line. 

When promoting films, the media landscape is no stranger to marketing. However, recent reactions to film marketing campaigns have become a popular topic of conversation.  

“The Drama,” released earlier this year, received mixed reactions from audiences. Some moviegoers felt as though the marketing of the film neglected to reflect its traumatic or triggering subjects; however, other audience members said that would have spoiled the film. 

With the star-studded cast of leads Robert Pattinson and Zendaya, “The Drama” was marketed specifically to Generation Z and millennial moviegoers on social media. Audiences believed the movie would be a romance but were surprised by its heavy content.

Variety reported that Gen Z is the generation with the highest rate of movie attendance, with 87% of Gen Z going to see a film in theaters in the last year. 

Jarion Anderson, a senior majoring in real estate, said he liked the finesse of marketing campaigns for movies. 

“Who wants to watch something when you already know what happens.” Anderson said. “Definitely preserve the plot points to avoid spoilers.”

However, there are some moviegoers who believe a certain amount of transparency for audiences is warranted.

Amira McCants, a junior majoring in psychology, said she recalls moments of disappointment when watching films that turned out to be different from how they were advertised.  

“I think advertisements should give a warning when a movie contains traumatic or potentially triggering content, but they do not necessarily need to reveal the specific plot point,” McCants said. “This allows people to make a safe decision about whether they want to watch the movie without completely ruining the story.”

Max Shores, a journalism and creative media professor at the University, said visitors could be surprised by some things they see in movies. 

“I would say that advertisements for movies certainly promote things that they think will bring viewers into the theater, but they don’t necessarily have to reveal everything that’s in the movie,” he said. 

Shores said that while the MPA movie ratings go by age-related guidelines, they still act under the notion that age-appropriate audiences are still able to handle the content they are presented with.  

“There are some warnings that are usually used in regard to movies. I would hope that the distributors of the film would inform their audiences of those various categories that are commonly used,” Shores said. “I hope that people would make good ethical decisions and would allow their viewers to have advanced knowledge if there’s something really shocking going on in the film.”

Athleisure is a common trend among Southeastern Conference schools, and it is prevalent on The University of Alabama’s campus. But what prompted the movement of matching sets? And how are other students on campus defying the trends and integrating their own style?

Fashion and style in themselves are forms of expression, and at an SEC school that prides itself on its athletics, students would want to fit the part. Many students, like Marley Schrauth, a doctoral student in the College of Communication and Information Sciences and an interpersonal communications instructor, said that this form of indirect support that stems from a trend often blends into lifestyle.

“I think that [the trend of athleisure] is an undercurrent of a lot of SEC schools in Alabama in particular. We care a lot about our sports, but also in the behaviors that students think are normative here,”  Schrauth said. “[Athleticism] is very common, and there’s a certain culture here around health.”

As an instructor, Schrauth tends to lean more toward the business professional side of style, while adding her own elements of individuality.

“I am not a minimalist in any sense of the word, so I like to take up space stylistically,” she said. “I try to live my life as a way for my students to see that you can be yourself and still be appropriate, still be professional, still be successful.”

Schrauth said both a comfort element, as well as maintaining her authoritative presence in an academic setting inspire her style, referencing a familial tie to her fashion choices while teaching.

“I want to feel comfortable, not just in the physical sense, but also in a sense that feels authentic to me,” she said. “When I teach, I wear heels or shoes that make a lot of noise. My mom was an elementary school teacher, and if you heard the clicking of heels, there was an authority figure.”

Regarding authority figures and professors on campus, other students believe that the trend of athleisure could be deemed inappropriate in class settings, with some students having heard their professors directly address this trend.

“I prefer it because it’s typically more comfortable than dressing up,” said Kallie Brown, a junior majoring in sports management. Though she prefers to wear athleisure, she understands the reputation it can have in an academic setting.

“In an academic or professional setting, I don’t think it’s very professional,” Brown said. “It tends to look unprofessional towards our professors, which some professors have made comments about bettering style.”

Other students, like freshman nursing major Abby LeBlanc, think otherwise. Unless attending church or a sorority formal event, she chooses to wear athleisure.

“Class is just casual and you’re not trying to impress anyone, so why dress up whenever you could wear something like a comfy athletic set,”  she said.

LeBlanc also mentioned her discovery of athleisure being a norm in her sorority, and how it helps members blend in with one another, rather than stand out.

“At first I was going to wear a nicer outfit to class, but then like my sorority said we’re an athleisure school, so I had to invest in some sets,” LeBlanc said. “But I don’t mind wearing it.”

Elle Sims, a junior international studies and political science major, said she takes on more of a colorful, expressive route when it comes to her style.

“I love color,” Sims said. “Anything with a fun pattern, anything color is how I’d describe my style.”

Sims said she is aware of the prevalent fashion trends on campus, and though not pressured by the phenomenon, she will occasionally wear an article of athleisure for comfort. But even then, there is support for any style or fashion choices.

“I love to see anyone’s style, especially if it’s something that’s a little bit more out of the box,” Sims said.

Between lectures, studying and everything college offers, Christa Brooke Williams, a junior public relations major, can also be found packing orders, designing new pieces and creating content. With The Bee Shop, her apparel business, she proves it is possible to be both a student and entrepreneur.

What started as a passion project during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 became an online storefront selling apparel with designs inspired by pop culture and The University of Alabama game days. Williams describes the brand as cozy, homey and effortless.

“More than anything, I want my pieces to feel like your favorites,” she said. “The sweatshirt you always grab, the T-shirt you throw on for class or the set you can wear when you want to be comfortable but still feel cute.”

Williams said she had long dreamed of owning a business and wanted to use her creativity to make something she owns. The time spent at home during the pandemic gave her the freedom to be creative and helped her build community.

Now a college student, her biggest challenge is balancing her business with her studies. She said since her sales have boosted over the past year, she is learning to manage that while also taking classes and being involved in clubs and internships.

“I’m still learning what balance looks like for me,” Williams said. “I’ve realized that I have to be intentional about separating my time, knowing what deadlines I have for school and the business and also making time for myself.”

Williams said she has grown creatively over time, improving her photography, graphic design and marketing skills. TikTok is one of the biggest ways she reaches customers.

Being a student at The University of Alabama has inspired her game day-related pieces and has helped her understand her audience and new clothing trends. She looks forward to developing her “Campus Club” collection, focusing on loungewear suited for everyday college life.

“Being a college student influences ‘The Bee Shop’ a lot because I’m surrounded by the same people I’m designing for,” Williams said. “I get to see what people are wearing to class, what trends students are interested in, what people are wearing on game days and what types of pieces actually fit into college life.” 

Williams’ definition of success has changed since starting The Bee Shop. While she initially only focused on the clothes themselves, she now emphasizes customer relationships and the community around her brand. 

Taking on the challenges of entrepreneurship as well as student life has taught her how to be creative under pressure and flexible when solving problems.

“My biggest advice would be not to limit yourself just because you’re young or still figuring things out,” she said. “A lot of what I know now came from simply starting and learning as I went.”

The Tuscaloosa Police Department announced they had identified and charged a suspect in the Saturday night shooting that injured seven people and left two with critical injuries, in a press conference Monday afternoon.

23-year-old Keyontae Jones was charged with eight counts of first-degree assault and was taken to jail. A judge set his bond at $250,000.

The police department said that multiple persons of interest were actively being investigated, and that the shooting was related to gang activity.

“At present, it is believed that the shooting involved possible gang activity, with one group encountering or actively searching out another group and engaging them in this large public space crowded with uninvolved persons,”  said Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit commander Capt. Jack Kennedy.

After originally reporting the total victims as seven, the police department said that the number of victims has changed throughout the investigation. 

“One victim did not report to police that they had been struck by a projectile causing a minor injury until almost a day later, at that time bringing the total number of reported victims to 8,” the press release said. 

Following the charges of Jones, one of the reported victims was determined to have made a false report to police. The total victim count now stands at seven, and one of the charges against Jones will be dropped. 

Two individuals with critical injuries were reported to be in stable condition, with the other five victims released from the hospital Monday.

The victims were aged 12, 14, 17, 17, 18, 20 and 40. 

The police department said the shooting occurred at a local community party in the 2600 Block of 22nd Street called “Shacktown Reunion.” Shacktown is the former nickname of the specific neighborhood, and there were 500-1000 attendees.

At the time of the incident, a TPD officer was able to respond within minutes, with a large presence of local law enforcement responding immediately after. 

Tuscaloosa Police Major Crimes Unit was the primary investigators for the case, along with the TPD Cyber Unit, SWAT Team, the U.S. Marshall and FBI Task Force and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Metro Area Crime Center.

In partnership with The University of Alabama, the Shelby Institute, the Blackburn Institute, the Student Government Association and Veterans and Military Affairs, hosted a 9/11 tribute talk Thursday in the Student Center Theatre. 

The event was titled “9/11: Voices From Inside the Pentagon” and featured Lt. Cols. Daune Gunn and Chris Shannon, two military veterans who were in the Pentagon during the attack. Gunn and Shannon discussed their experiences that day and how it has affected them emotionally.

“There has never been a time in my time in the Air Force where an instructor walks out in the classroom, stops a class and says, ‘Hey, we’ve got something going on here,’” Shannon said. He went on to say that the instructor put the footage of the plane hitting the second tower of the World Trade Center on the TV screen in the classroom. For Shannon, the moment seemed like something out of a movie. 

Gunn said he had only been working at the Pentagon for three weeks when 9/11 happened.

“9/11 started out as a normal day until about 9 a.m.,” Gunn said. “Then, as a lot of people like to say, the world changed in a matter of seconds. Over the next hour and 50 minutes or so, we would go from a world of peace to a world of war.” 

Similar to Gunn, Shannon also felt the way of the country changed from peaceful to tumultuous. “9/11 became one of those days where all of us, family and country, felt like it was under attack,” he said. 

Gunn expressed how he and his peers thought the first plane hitting the tower was an accident. 

“It was one of those where you have heard, and it’s well documented, that small planes had hit the towers before, but the first one we’re going, ‘Maybe that’s an accident’. The second one, game on. Something is changing in the world,” Gunn said. 

Gunn and Shannon did not know they shared the experience of the 9/11 Pentagon attack until over a decade later. Shannon had come to visit Gunn after the latter finished teaching his college class; they both taught at Troy University at the time. 

“He’d been in my office a bunch of times and he looks and he goes, ‘DG, where’d you get that picture from?’” Gunn said. 

The picture Shannon was referring to was a framed photo of the Pentagon burning. 

“The only way you could get that picture was you had to prove that you were physically in the Pentagon on 9/11. He and I both had the same picture,” Gunn said. 

Not only were they at the Pentagon at the same time on that day, but they also sat in the same room. 

“I think that’s the power of understanding how small the world is,” Shannon said. 

Zoi Moon, a Blackburn Institute member and a systems thinking major in New College, said that remembering 9/11 should not just be about remembering the historical significance of the event. 

“I think it’s important for us to not just look at it as a historical event and a book, but as an event that still affects even the youth and the way we’re going through the airport and how we interact with one another has an impact on the relations of how polarized we are today,” Moon said.  “Being able to recognize people who have actually went through this and were there to see what was happening and speak about how they were impacted and learn and hear from them.”

Sadaris Williams, the director for the Center for Service and Leadership, said that the memorials dedicated to 9/11 and the services for the veterans and first responders who were affected by that day are necessary. 

“I feel like it’s needed. I think that acts of service is what we are, what we need in this country what we always gear ourselves towards,” Williams said. 

The University of Alabama Student Government Association met to pass several legislative items and discussed events for students to promote mental health awareness and honor deceased students.

Alex Soliz, vice president for financial affairs, presented legislation to update stipend compensation for the 115th executive administration following increased funding from the Division of Student Life.

The updated stipends would increase by roughly 25% to Executive Council and Cabinet position stipends.

“After a recent funding increase from the Division of Student Life, this legislation updates and formalizes stipend compensation, reflects increased funding, and adds two new paid cabinet positions, as well as excluding currently vacant positions from compensation,” Soliz said.

Concerns were raised by Reese Gabrielson, a senator for the graduate school, regarding the justification of spending.

“A lot of my constituents are very concerned about the justification for the spending; they’re very concerned with how they don’t see how these sanctions are justified … they think it’s a very poor decision,” Gabrielson said.

Mary Frances Itsede, a senator for the Barefield College of Arts and Sciences, presented to defend the bill.

“It’s outlined that this is not just an increase for like SGA in particular, this has all to do with student life … I think it should be passed,” Itsede said. 

After a revote of the bill, it was ultimately passed.

The SGA Senate passed Bill-B-1426, which was introduced to ratify the new fiscal year 2027 operating budget to establish the funding for key offices, departments and programming under the responsibility of the Senate.

Patrick Dolan, senate parliamentarian, announced upcoming events for Suicide Awareness Week in collaboration with Tide Against Suicide from Sept. 20-27. Activities will include training, tabling and puppy dogs in the Student Center Plaza, as well as yoga at the Alabama Museum of Natural History and stress ball making.

“September is Suicide Awareness Month and it’s vital to learn to recognize the signs and struggles of people who may be going through a mental health crisis,” Dolan said. “This is kind of a resource for people to learn how to recognize the signs of suicide and learn to be able to handle those issues.”

The Senate passed Bill-B-1326 to modify the role of the Lobby Board executive team in the selection process and its role in the University and Tuscaloosa Communities, and the process for creating new initiatives.

A resolution was also passed to honor students James “Walter” Hensley and Mark “McNeil” Mostellar, two fraternity members of Delta Kappa Epsilon who died in a hunting camp fire this summer, to recognize their impact on the community and their character.

“Whereas Walter and McGill’s legacy will live on through their friends and brothers forever reflected in the lasting brotherhood of Delta Kappa Epsilon, it’s a reminder to live like Walter and live like McNeil,” said Russell Cole, a senator for the Culverhouse College of Business and a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon. 

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct two names. The senator that presented to defend the bill was Mary Frances Itsede, not Izzy Brooks. The senator that presented the resolution about Hensley and Mostellar was Russell Cole, not Henry Lapeyrouse.