Usa Today Publishes Article Of Una Student, Flor-ala Editor

Mar. 21, 2012

Michelle Eubanks, UNA, at media@una.edu, 256.765.4392 or 256.606.2033

FLORENCE, Ala. - Alex Lindley, a junior English and professional writing major at the University of North Alabama and copy/opinions editor for The Flor-Ala student newspaper, was recently published by USA Today for his article "International students often struggle with culture while studying in the U.S." The story was featured online for USA Today's college blog. According to Lindley, USA Today allows college students to pitch article ideas to the news organization each month. Lindley was informed in late February that his idea was accepted for publication. "I had sent several pitches by the time my idea was accepted," he said. His article is about Pierre Jamot, 20, who arrived at UNA from France to study abroad in the U.S. In France, the legal drinking age is 18. Jamot, a sophomore majoring in marketing, immediately fell into a culture shock and contributed some of his homesickness to the reality that he could no longer legally drink in the U.S. Lindley said that attending UNA, a university with a large international student population, is what helped him develop the idea for his article. Lindley also added that his own personal experience with culture shock helped him come up with the story idea. "I studied abroad in Switzerland last summer," said Lindley. "I am 20, so I cannot drink in the U.S., but when I got to Switzerland, I was of legal age." He said being able to drink legally was a cultural adjustment. "So I wondered what the reverse would be like." Lindley has had several articles published in The Shoals Variety Show magazine and does freelance work for Shoals Woman Magazine, an affiliate of The TimesDaily newspaper. He has also been published in the Encyclopedia of Alabama for his article on the history of UNA, and has recently had a writing piece accepted by Outrageous Fortune, an online creative magazine. Lindley writes stories for The Flor-Ala on a weekly basis and he has been hired to be next year's news and managing editor. For more information, contact the Office of Student Media at 256-765-4364 or email florala@una.edu.