U.S passport application services available at SOU


NEWS BRIEF (available online at https://goo.gl/igFqnX)
(Ashland, Ore.) — An officially designated Passport Acceptance Facility, operated by the Office of International Programs at Southern Oregon University, has been in operation for the past two years and is open to everyone in the community.
The passport facility is located in Room 322 of SOU’s Stevenson Union building on the university’s main Ashland campus at 1250 Siskiyou Boulevard. Please see the Passport Acceptance Facility page for current operating hours.
Prospective passport applicants are asked to visit the U.S. Department of State website (travel.state.gov) and click on “U.S. Passport” for instructions on how to apply. For general inquiries about the passport office, applicants may call the main phone number of SOU’s Office of International Programs at (541) 552-6336.
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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University provides outstanding student experiences, valued degrees, and successful graduates. SOU is known for excellence in faculty, intellectual creativity and rigor, quality and innovation in connected learning programs, and the educational benefits of its unique geographic location. SOU was the first university in Oregon—and one of the first in the nation—to offset 100 percent of its energy use with clean, renewable power. It is the first university in the nation to balance 100 percent of its water consumption. Visit sou.edu.

SOU to host 40th annual Oregon Indian Education Association conference


NEWS RELEASE (available online at https://goo.gl/8Ot59R)
(Ashland, Ore.) — The Oregon Indian Education Association’s 40th annual conference, to be held April 20 and 21 at Southern Oregon University, will feature a special presentation by tribal attorney Tara Houska, the national campaigns director for Honor the Earth and Native American affairs advisor last year to Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.
The conference, “Radical Hope and Indigenous Futures: Native Knowledge Transforming Oregon Indian Education,” is sponsored by SOU’s Native American Studies and affiliate programs. Registration for the full, two-day conference is $120 for the general public and $75 for students and elders, but SOU students will be admitted free to most of the event’s various presentations. Admission rates for portions of the conference are available on the OIEA website.
Those who attend the conference may choose among 18 presentations during four sessions on Thursday and seven presentations during two sessions on Friday. A film festival will be held Thursday evening. The conference will seek to incorporate indigenous knowledge into public education and promote quality educational services to Native American students and their families.
Houska, who is a citizen of the Couchiching First Nation, practices as a tribal attorney in Washington, D.C. Her talk will be during a special luncheon session on Thursday.
The OIEA emphasizes that teaching Native American histories and contemporary issues at every level of public education benefits all students by encouraging them to engage with their regions, cultivate civic engagement and learn to be responsible global citizens.
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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University provides outstanding student experiences, valued degrees, and successful graduates. SOU is known for excellence in faculty, intellectual creativity and rigor, quality and innovation in connected learning programs, and the educational benefits of its unique geographic location. SOU was the first university in Oregon—and one of the first in the nation—to offset 100 percent of its energy use with clean, renewable power. It is the first university in the nation to balance 100 percent of its water consumption. Visit sou.edu.

SOU’s daylong Arbor Day 2017 celebration


NEWS RELEASE (available online at https://goo.gl/SW2CyB)
(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University’s Landscape Services Department will continue its commitment to sustainability by hosting its annual Arbor Day event on Friday, April 14, featuring a new, guided botanical tour.
The virtual guided tour will include more than 100 different and unique trees – each with a physical identification plaque and a QR code for additional information. The day’s events will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until after 4 p.m.
Keynote speakers will address various Arbor Day topics, a ceremony will be held to acknowledge SOU’s designation as a Tree Campus USA, the first 200 volunteers will be offered free lunch at the Hawk, and more than 6,000 plants will be planted by volunteers.
Community members are welcome to attend the family-friendly event and get their hands dirty with SOU’s landscape team, volunteer staff, faculty and students.
An Arbor Day Disc Golf Tournament will conclude the day’s festivities at 4 p.m.
Major sponsors of SOU’s Arbor Day Event include Plant Oregon and SOU dining.
For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/802513893234129/. Those with questions may contact Landscape Services supervisor Mike Oxendine at oxendinem@sou.edu
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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University provides outstanding student experiences, valued degrees, and successful graduates. SOU is known for excellence in faculty, intellectual creativity and rigor, quality and innovation in connected learning programs, and the educational benefits of its unique geographic location. SOU was the first university in Oregon—and one of the first in the nation—to offset 100 percent of its energy use with clean, renewable power. It is the first university in the nation to balance 100 percent of its water consumption. Visit sou.edu.

SOU unveils unique MBA in Arts Administration program


NEWS RELEASE (available online at https://goo.gl/TBTcTg)
(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University continues to set itself apart in arts education, currently with the introduction of a one-of-a-kind MBA degree in Arts Administration that opens numerous career paths for students in the performing and visual arts. The program is currently accepting students.
Undergraduate students can earn the new MBA in Arts Administration in as few as five years – four to complete a bachelor’s degree with a business minor in one of SOU’s arts programs, and a fifth year to complete the master’s in business administration degree. Arts students can alternatively complete their bachelor’s degrees without the business minor, then move on to a two-year MBA program.
“This MBA program builds on SOU’s excellence in the arts, expanding it into the business side,” said Greg Jones, director of the university’s Division of Business, Communication and the Environment. “It provides new opportunities for students to capitalize on their arts education.”
The MBA in Arts Administration is the result of collaboration between SOU’s School of Business and the university’s Oregon Center for the Arts. The new degree is intended for those who are interested in leading arts organizations, galleries or museums, or directing, producing, marketing or managing in the arts.
“This program is unique in the nation in that most arts administration programs are arts programs and not MBA programs,” said David Humphrey, director of SOU’s Oregon Center for the Arts. “An MBA degree is highly marketable, especially if students want to work in the arts.
“I am excited about this program in that it provides a career path for those arts students who do not wish to perform or exhibit,” he said.
The MBA in Arts Administration program equips students for local, regional or national arts management, combining business strategy and community insights to create connections with artists and the arts. It is intended for those pursuing bachelor’s degrees in any of the five Oregon Center for the Arts programs: Art, Emerging Media and Digital Arts, Creative Writing, Music and Theatre Arts.
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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University provides outstanding student experiences, valued degrees, and successful graduates. SOU is known for excellence in faculty, intellectual creativity and rigor, quality and innovation in connected learning programs, and the educational benefits of its unique geographic location. SOU was the first university in Oregon—and one of the first in the nation—to offset 100 percent of its energy use with clean, renewable power. It is the first university in the nation to balance 100 percent of its water consumption. Visit sou.edu.

SOU Earth Week: a call to action


NEWS RELEASE (available online at https://goo.gl/vt0Ic5)
(Ashland, Ore.) — A broad range of activities that fit within the theme “A Call to Action” will be highlighted during Southern Oregon University’s second annual and student-driven Earth Week celebration from April 15 through 23.
Events will include film screenings, an educational fair, an anti-pipeline rally and a presentation on pipelines and resistance. The celebration is being organized by Sustainability at SOU, a university-sponsored program of sustainability initiatives that focus on student involvement.
“Student leaders across multiple programs and sectors of SOU have spent months preparing for an educational, engaging and inspiring week,” said Sydney Lund, student director of SOU’s Ecology and Sustainability (ECOS) Resource Center. “Each event will offer students and community members a clear take-home message about how to become involved with climate action within their personal lives and the Rogue Valley.”
Earth Week at SOU will feature public events both on and off the university campus.
Earth Week highlights
“Ruin and Rose” film screening, 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, April 17, Rogue River Room of the Stevenson Union. The film explores the future of water resources on earth and incorporates ski and snowboard footage into an unforgettable movie experience.
“Earth Day Extravaganza,” 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18, Stevenson Union Courtyard. The education tabling event will offer information about how to become involved with climate action in the Rogue Valley; SOU Dining will provide free food and the first 125 students will receive free “Sustainability at SOU” cups.
“Siskiyou Film Festival Roadshow,” 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18, Rogue River Room of the Stevenson Union. KS Wild (The Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center) comes to campus with its Siskiyou Film Festival, featuring four of the organization’s most popular films. Two filmmakers will be on hand for a discussion following the films.
“No Pipelines Rally,” noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19, Stevenson Union Courtyard. Students and the public may take action against the proposed Jordan Cove Pipeline, which would move liquefied natural gas through 400 Oregonian watersheds. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission denied permits for the project a year ago and refused to rehear the case a few months ago, then agreed in February to allow developers to refile their applications.
“Pipelines and Resistance: An Evening with Tara Houska,” 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 20, Stevenson Union Arena. Houska, a citizen of Couchiching First Nation, will discuss environmental justice around pipelines and resistance.
A full list of SOU Earth Week events can be found at https://sustainability.sou.edu/news/.
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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University provides outstanding student experiences, valued degrees, and successful graduates. SOU is known for excellence in faculty, intellectual creativity and rigor, quality and innovation in connected learning programs, and the educational benefits of its unique geographic location. SOU was the first university in Oregon—and one of the first in the nation—to offset 100 percent of its energy use with clean, renewable power. It is the first university in the nation to balance 100 percent of its water consumption. Visit sou.edu.

Well-known environmental scholar to discuss the future of water in SOU visit


NEWS RELEASE (available online at https://goo.gl/pTPjoW)
(Ashland, Ore.) — Nationally recognized environmental law scholar and author James Salzman will visit Southern Oregon University on Monday, April 10, to address a topic of relevance to everyone on Earth: “The History (and Future) of Drinking Water.”
Salzman points out that people have fought over water sources since before biblical times, and water continues to make headlines – including crises over the past few years in Charleston, West Virginia; Toledo, Ohio; and Flint, Michigan. He will discuss issues with tap water safety, concerns about future water supplies and fears about contamination by terrorists.
Salzman is the Donald Bren Distinguished Professor of Environmental Law with joint appointments at the UCLA School of Law and the Bren School of the Environment at University of California-Santa Barbara. His visit to SOU is sponsored by the university’s Environmental Science and Policy Department.
The lecture is at 7 p.m. in Room 151 of the SOU Science Building. Admission is free and the public is welcome to attend.
Salzman frequently serves as a media commentator and has offered environmental policy lectures on every continent except Antarctica. He previously served on the faculty of Duke University and as a visiting law professor at Columbia, Harvard, Stanford, Yale and at universities in Australia, Sweden, Portugal, China and Italy.
Prior to his work in academia, Salzman served in Paris in the Environment Directorate of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and in London as the European environmental manager for Johnson Wax.
The honors graduate of Yale College and Harvard University has published eight books and more than 80 articles and book chapters on topics ranging from drinking water to policy instrument design. His most recent book, “Drinking Water: A History,” is in its third printing.
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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University is a medium-sized campus that provides comprehensive educational opportunities with a strong focus on student success and intellectual creativity. Located in vibrant Ashland, Oregon, SOU remains committed to diversity and inclusion for all students on its environmentally sustainable campus. Connected learning programs taught by a host of exceptional faculty provide quality, innovative experiences for students. Visit sou.edu.

Recent SOU graduate’s capstone project is documentary on opiate addiction


NEWS RELEASE (video news release available at https://youtu.be/36GBjVPPOxM)
(Ashland, Ore.) — Kyle Simpson’s journey from enrollment to graduation has been a little longer and more difficult than those of most Southern Oregon University students. He spiraled into an opioid addiction during his first two years, left school and was arrested after returning home to Southern California.
Kyle has now been sober for three years and graduated from SOU in December with a bachelor’s degree in communication. His capstone project – a culminating, multi-term academic assignment – is a short documentary titled “Junk,” which shines a light on Southern Oregon’s opiate epidemic through the lens of a recovered addict.
The documentary was produced in cooperation with SOU’s Community of Recovery in Education (CORE) program, which supports and promotes the academic success, recovery and well-being of SOU students recovering from addiction.
“Junk” will screen on Tuesday, April 11, at Meese Auditorium in the SOU Center for the Visual Arts. The event will begin with a short reception at 6:30 p.m., and the film screening at 7 p.m. A panel discussion featuring five key members of the Rogue Valley’s recovery community will follow the documentary.
An SOU video news release features clips of Kyle describing his project. Media outlets may use all or edited portions of the news release in their news products. The video news release is also available upon request in mp4 format.
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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University provides outstanding student experiences, valued degrees, and successful graduates. SOU is known for excellence in faculty, intellectual creativity and rigor, quality and innovation in connected learning programs, and the educational benefits of its unique geographic location. SOU was the first university in Oregon—and one of the first in the nation—to offset 100 percent of its energy use with clean, renewable power. It is the first university in the nation to balance 100 percent of its water consumption. Visit sou.edu.

SOU in the News: March 27 to April 2


Media coverage and relevant mentions of Southern Oregon University for the most recent week

SOU student, alumni, faculty and sta news and features

Whittier (California) Daily News • April 1
Santa Fe High theatre teacher named to national advocacy group for the arts: Longtime theatre arts instructor Alison Johnson earned degrees at Cal State Los Angeles and SOU
Albany Democrat-Herald • April 1
At Our Best (April 1): Cassandra del Nero of Corvallis graduated magna cum laude last June from Southern Oregon University (this story also appeared in the Corvallis Gazette-Times)
Estes Park Trail-Gazette • March 29
Inside People Feature – Ranger has life-long love of National Parks: Kathy Brazelton, a naturalist for Rocky Mountain National Park’s East District, earned masters degrees from SOU in education and plant ecology
Sierra News Online • March 28
A Boy And His Dog And Their Community Service: Joe Campbell will pursue International Studies at SOU after he graduates in June from Yosemite High School

News about SOU academic programs

KTVL-TV 10 • April 2
SOU students preserve artifacts before site construction: Archaeology faculty and students from SOU lead a survey of artifacts prior to infrastructure improvements at Hanley Farm
KDRV-TV 12 • April 2
SOULA leads archaeological survey at Hanley Farm: An archaeological survey at Central Point’s Hanley Farm is led by the Southern Oregon University Laboratory of Anthropology
KOBI-TV 5 • April 2
Archaeological dig at Hanley Farm: Archaeologists and students from the Southern Oregon University Laboratory of Anthropology help survey and preserve artifacts from Hanley Farm

News about fine and performing arts

News – DailyTidings.com • March 29
Embodying the Bard: Geoff Ridden lectures and acts as William Shakespeare in performances at SOU, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and elsewhere

News about politics, policy and national trends impacting SOU and higher education

KOBI-TV 5 • March 23
Research symposium shares Cascade-Siskiyou ecology: Annual symposium for Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument features research from grad students including SOU’s Kendra Madaras-Kelly

Miscellaneous news

The (Coos Bay) World Link • March 31
Geology lecture series continues April 15: SOU anthropology professor Mark Tveskov to speak April 15 about the archaeology of the Rogue River War
Medford Mail Tribune • March 30
Get Out: Friday, March 31: Kerry Byrne or Oregon Institute of Technology to address conservation efforts for a rare species of milkvetch in a lecture at 7 p.m. on April 20 in Room 161 of the SOU Science Building

SOU archaeologist featured in new book as role model for girls


NEWS RELEASE (online at https://goo.gl/36Zavo)
(Ashland, Ore.) — As a child growing up in Northern California, Chelsea Rose loved exploring outside and getting her hands dirty. Rose, a research archaeologist at Southern Oregon University, now finds herself in a position to serve as a role model to young girls interested in science, and she encourages them to do what led her to archaeology.
“My advice is to be curious, be brave, ask lots of questions and never pass up an opportunity to get your hands dirty,” Rose says.
She is one of three U.S. archaeologists featured in a new book, “Archaeology: Cool Women Who Dig,” which is aimed at 9- to 12-year-old girls who enjoy looking for clues about life in the distant past. The book, by California author Anita Yasuda, is scheduled for publication April 11 and is available to order now on Amazon.com.
Twenty pages of the 106-page book are devoted to telling the stories of how Rose became an archaeologist and some of her archaeological projects. Rose says she was chosen for the book because of the recognition she gained as a cast member on the PBS series “Time Team America,” which last aired in 2014.
She serves currently as research faculty member in the SOU Laboratory of Anthropology, where her focus has been on archaeology of the American West, including the dispersal of an early Chinese migrant population in Oregon.
“I love being able to be a role model for young girls interested in archaeology,” Rose says. “I know I don’t look like your average everyday scientist, and I think it is important for young women – or anyone, really – to discover that if they have an interest or passion for a certain subject, then there is a place for them in that field.
“If all you see is pictures of male scientists in white lab coats (or fedoras and bull whips in the case of archaeology), it is understandable that young girls might not think they belong,” she says. “But they do!”
Other archaeologists featured in the new book are Alexandra Jones, founder of the nonprofit Archaeology in the Community; and marine archaeologist Justine Benanty, a cofounder of ArchaeoVenturers. Both are based in Washington, D.C.
Yasuda, the new book’s author, has written more than 100 books for children and adults, including “Astronomy: Cool Women in Space.” The archaeology book is part of the Nomad Press “Girls in Science Series,” which also includes titles from various authors about “cool women” in astronomy, technology, forensics, engineering, aviation, marine biology, zoology, architecture and meteorology.
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About Southern Oregon University
As a public liberal arts university, SOU focuses on student learning, accessibility and civic engagement that enriches both the community and bioregion. The university is recognized for fostering intellectual creativity, for quality and innovation in its connected learning programs, and for the educational benefits of its unique geographic location. SOU was the first university in Oregon—and one of the first in the nation—to offset 100 percent of its energy use with clean, renewable power, and it is the first university in the nation to balance 100% of its water consumption. Visit sou.edu.