SOU Campus Tested for Lead in Water

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(Ashland, Ore.) — Following news that lead has been found in the water supply of some schools and cities around the state and region, Southern Oregon University has begun testing buildings on its main Ashland campus for lead in the water.
Priority testing was conducted in the buildings on campus that house childcare centers, including the Schneider Children’s Center and Community Preschool at SOU, which is located in the University’s Education/Psychology Building. SOU will test water in every building on campus that was constructed prior to the year 2000. All tests are scheduled to be completed prior to the start of fall term.
While the majority of tests found no elevated lead levels in the water, there were elevated levels in a couple of places: 1. Two drinking fountains in the Education/Psychology Building tested beyond the EPA standard; and 2. Water from a sink in the preschool was found to have lead levels within the EPA standard, but still elevated. We have taken immediate and corrective actions. These fountains and sink have been closed and additional testing is being conducted.
Because the elevated results were localized, it is believed that the lead present in the water is coming from the fixtures, not the water supply. The fixtures for the water fountains and sink are being replaced. Testing will be conducted to ensure that no elevated lead levels are present in the water before the fountains and sink are used again.
As more comprehensive testing of campus buildings proceeds throughout the summer, any results indicating lead levels beyond the EPA standard will be immediately communicated to the campus community. Any lead fixtures or pipes that are found will be replaced and water will continue to be monitored to ensure the health and safety of the campus community.
Full results from the testing can be found at www.sou/edu/ehs. These results will be updated as testing continues.
Southern Oregon University gets its water from the City of Ashland, which recently conducted tests for lead and found no concerns.
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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.

SOU Archaeologists Investigate Battle Sites

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(Ashland, Ore) Southern Oregon University (SOU) and the SOU Laboratory of Anthropology (SOULA) are conducting an archaeological field school in July, 2016 on the Oregon coast as part of their long term research into the Rogue River Indian Wars of 1853-1856. This project is funded in part by the Oregon State Parks and Recreational Department (OPRD). The project includes geophysical survey, extensive documentary research, large scale excavation, and a public archaeology program at the Geisel Monument State Heritage Site and at Miner’s Fort in Curry County.

SOU Archaeology student Daniel Meyers and historian Ben Truwe excavating at the Geisel Monument State Heritage Site

SOU Archaeology student Daniel Meyers and historian Ben Truwe excavating at the Geisel Monument State Heritage Site


In the winter of 1856, the Tututni Native American people of the southern Oregon coast joined the rebellion against the American settlement of southern Oregon that had begun in the interior Rogue River valley the previous fall. On February 22, the pioneer settlements between Port Orford and the California border were assaulted in a coordinated attack. Dozens were killed that night, including John Geisel and his two sons, who were murdered in their home in front of John’s wife, Christina, and their two daughters. The three women were taken captive and held for several weeks until ransomed by the surviving pioneers who, at that time, were besieged within the walls of Miner’s Fort at the mouth of Rogue River. A Native American woman named Betsey and her pioneer husband, Charles Brown, served as intermediaries and translators in the negotiations that secured the release of the Geisel women. Later that year, after war was over, the Geisel homestead saw additional violence: While being escorted by government agents to the newly established Coast Indian Reservation, nineteen Native American people were murdered near the burned down Geisel homestead, apparently as an act of revenge.
The Miner’s Fort site today lies on private property adjacent to Highway 101 north of Gold Beach and the Rogue River. The earthen walls of the fort are clearly visible in aerial photographs taken of the area in mid-twentieth century, and the site was often visited by local residents to commemorate the Rogue River War. The Geisel Homestead was preserved by Oregon State Parks as a memorial, and remains open to the public to this day. SOULA archaeologists and students will be conducting archaeological excavations at both sites to recover artifacts to compliment the rich historical record of the events of the 1850s.
Mark Tevskov at Miner's Fort videoing progress

Mark Tevskov at Miner’s Fort videoing progress


SOULA, working with the OPRD, the Bureau of Land Management, and western Oregon’s Native American Tribes have investigated a number of Rogue River War sites in recent years, including the 1852 wreck of the schooner Captain Lincoln on Coos Bay, the remains of the U.S. Army’s Fort Lane near Central Point, and the site of the Battle of Hungry Hill that took place in late October, 1855. This summer’s Curry County research will benefit from the partnerships developed during these earlier projects, as well as spectacular results of magnetometer, electrical resistivity, and ground penetrating radar surveys conducted this past March at the two sites: “The architectural remains of the walls and interior cabins at Miner’s Fort remain largely intact” said Dr. Mark Tveskov, director of SOULA. “The site’s integrity and the artifacts it contains, coupled with the documentary record of the Rogue River War, and the oral tradition of western Oregon Native people, will allow a more complete story to be told of events that led to the settlement of southern Oregon, and the daily lives of the people swept up in that conflict.”
SOU Student Daniel Meyers assisting with GPR.

SOU Student Daniel Meyers assisting with GPR.


OPRD archaeologist Nancy Nelson says of the project: “Oregon State Parks’ partnership with Southern Oregon University’s archaeological field school and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz is an excellent opportunity to provide our visitors with an outstanding educational experience this summer.  We are committed to the best research of our shared history and the archaeology at the Geisel Monument State Heritage Site will help improve our understanding of the Rogue River Indian War.”
OPEN SITE PUBLIC DAYS:
SOU would like to share their project with the community and interested public, and have created two “open site” public days and a free lecture series during their stay in Gold Beach:
The public is welcome to visit the field school excavations, get tours of the sites, learn about archaeology and local history, and see some of the latest finds from the project.  More information will be available at the Gold Beach Visitor’s Center.
What:                    Geisel Monument State Heritage Site “Open Site” Public Archaeology Day
Where:                                 Geisel Monument State Heritage Site, Highway 101, Curry County, Oregon
When:                  Sunday, July 10 AND Sunday July 24, 2016
Time:                     10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
FREE PUBLIC LECTURE SERIES:
SOU will host a free public lecture series at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday in July at the Curry County Fairgrounds:
July 6: Mark Tveskov, Southern Oregon University. “The Archaeology of the Rogue River War.”
July 13: Ben Truwe, Southern Oregon Historical Society. “Digging in the Archives: The documentary record of Oregon’s Early Years.”            
July 20: Robert Kentta, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. Siletz Tribal History.
July 27: Patricia Whereat Phillips. Linguist and researcher for the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians. “Ethnobotany of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians.”
About Southern Oregon University Laboratory of Anthropology
SOULA connects culture, history, and place in a meaningful way. We conduct grant- and contract- funded research that includes archaeological survey, excavation, and analysis; GIS mapping; and oral history and ethnohistoric research. We serve the interests of our university and community and we select projects in partnership with private, local, state, federal, and Tribal organizations in ways that meet our collaborators’ needs and such that the resultant data become a source for expanded research and public education. Students pursuing Sociology, Anthropology, and other majors benefit from hands-on experiences in fieldwork, laboratory analysis, conference presentation, writing, and career networking. SOULA regularly works with the Coquille Indian Tribe, the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians, The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), The Bureau of Land Management, The National Park Service, The City of Jacksonville, The City of Bandon, and many other agencies and municipalities. Visit sou.edu/soula
 
About Southern Oregon University
As the public liberal arts University of the West, Southern Oregon University 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.
 
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SOU In the News: June 14 – 20

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SOU Student, Alumni, Faculty, and Staff Features:
CSU Stanislaus – Eight Golden Grads Relive Their 1966 Stan State Commencement (SOU’s Paul Adalian featured): https://www.csustan.edu/alumni-news/june-2016/eight-golden-grads-relive-their-1966-stan-state-commencement
Oxford University Press – How to Write a Thank You Note (feature by Professor Edwin Battistella): https://blog.oup.com/2016/06/how-to-write-a-thank-you-note/
Mail Tribune – Former SOU VP Earl Potter Mourned by Colleagues in Two States: https://www.mailtribune.com/article/20160615/NEWS/160619760/0/SEARCH
Daily Tidings – Former SOU Provost Earl Potter, 69, Dies in Auto Accident: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160615/NEWS/160619890/0/SEARCH
KOBI – Former SOU Provost Early Potter Dies: https://kobi5.com/news/former-s-o-u-provost-earl-potter-dies-29407/
Minneapolis Star Tribune – SCSU President’s Death Felt in St. Cloud and Beyond: https://www.startribune.com/scsu-president-s-death-is-felt-in-st-cloud-and-beyond/383038351/
For additional coverage of former SOU Provost Early Potter’s death, click on https://news.google.com/news/story?ncl=https://www.fox9.com/news/158965800-story&hl=en&geo=US
KOBI – Teachers Crossing the Line (Professor Echo Fields featured): https://kobi5.com/news/teachers-crossing-the-line-29666/
 
News on SOU Academic Programs:
Daily Tidings – Quills & Queues: Oregon Center for the Arts in Ashland a Hub for Multiple Media: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160616/NEWS/160619856/0/SEARCH
 
News on SOU governance and Board of Trustees:
KDRV – Update: SOU Officials Announce New President: https://www.kdrv.com/news/local/Watch_Live_SOU_Officials_Discuss_Appointment_of_Next_President.html
KOBI – SOU Names New President: https://kobi5.com/news/sou-names-new-president-29288/
KTVL – Next SOU President Named: https://ktvl.com/news/local/next-sou-president-named
Daily Tidings – U of Maine President Chosen to Lead SOU: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160613/NEWS/160619933/0/SEARCH
Mail Tribune – United SOU Board Picks Schott as President: https://www.mailtribune.com/article/20160613/NEWS/160619835/0/SEARCH
Mail Tribune – SOU Names Linda Schott as its New President: https://www.mailtribune.com/article/20160613/NEWS/160619841/0/SEARCH
Oregonian – Southern Oregon University Searched Far and Wide to Find Its New President: https://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2016/06/southern_oregon_university_sea.html#incart_river_index
Washington Times – Southern Oregon University Finds Its New President in Maine: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jun/14/southern-oregon-university-find-its-new-president-/
KAJO – Southern Oregon University Board of Trustees Names Schott as New President: https://www.kajo.com/news/local/stories.php?subaction=showfull&id=1465884006&ucat=2,4
WAGM – UMPI President Accepts Job at Southern Oregon University: https://www.wagmtv.com/content/news/UMPI-President-accepts-job-at-University-of-Southern-Oregon-382855981.html
Portland Press Herald – University of Maine at Presque Isle President Leaving: https://www.pressherald.com/2016/06/13/university-of-maine-at-presque-isle-president-leaving/
Bangor Daily News – UMPI President Announces Departure for Oregon Post: https://bangordailynews.com/2016/06/13/news/aroostook/umpi-president-announces-departure-for-oregon-post/?ref=moreInaroostook
JPR – Dr. Linda Schott Named President of Southern Oregon University: https://ijpr.org/post/dr-linda-schott-named-president-southern-oregon-university
Daily Tidings – New President Was ‘On Everybody’s Priority List’: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160614/NEWS/160619905/0/SEARCH
KTVZ – Southern Oregon University Finds Its New President in Maine: https://www.ktvz.com/news/southern-oregon-university-find-its-new-president-in-maine/40046442
Odessa American – Southern Oregon University Finds Its New President in Maine: https://www.oaoa.com/article_1e61a988-d13b-578d-a745-efeff4398527.html
Corvallis Gazette Times – Southern Oregon University Finds Its New President in Maine: https://www.gazettetimes.com/news/state-and-regional/southern-oregon-university-find-its-new-president-in-maine/article_b8ad9a14-d5f4-5605-90d3-80198b2c934b.html
Walla Walla Union Bulletin – Southern Oregon University Finds Its New President in Maine: https://www.union-bulletin.com/news/northwest/southern-oregon-university-find-its-new-president-in-maine/article_4614f649-4078-58a6-9efa-f7467184862d.html
Maine Public Broadcasting – Umaine at Presque Isle President to Head Southern Oregon University: https://news.mpbn.net/post/umaine-presque-isle-president-head-southern-oregon-university#stream/0
East Oregonian – Southern Oregon University Finds Its News President in Maine: https://www.eastoregonian.com/southern-oregon-university-find-its-new-president-in-maine-eo-ap-webfeeds-news-northwestbba54d8ad81446cf8798b64b758bf02a
Bryan-College Station Eagle – Southern Oregon University Finds Its New President in Maine: https://www.theeagle.com/news/nation/southern-oregon-university-find-its-new-president-in-maine/article_04ba4022-664c-53bf-a730-9facc8302faa.html
WCSH – Southern Oregon University Finds Its News President in Maine: https://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/southern-oregon-university-find-its-new-president-in-maine/243698441
Clay Center Dispatch – Southern Oregon University Finds Its New President in Maine: https://www.ccenterdispatch.com/news/state/article_0b63f65d-2379-5e43-a17d-4a07452810a2.html
Foster’s Daily Democrat – Southern Oregon University Finds Its New President in Maine: https://www.fosters.com/article/20160614/AP01/306149987/-1/FOSNEWS
Salem Statesman Journal – Southern Oregon University Finds Its New President: https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/education/2016/06/14/southern-oregon-university-find-its-new-president-maine/85861970/
WLBZ – Southern Oregon University Finds Its New President in Maine: https://www.wlbz2.com/news/local/southern-oregon-university-find-its-new-president-in-maine/243698817
Daily Astorian – Southern Oregon University Finds Its New President in Maine: https://www.dailyastorian.com/southern-oregon-university-find-its-new-president-in-maine-da-ap-webfeeds-news-northwestbba54d8ad81446cf8798b64b758bf02a
Daily Tidings – Our View: A New Chapter for SOU: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160616/OPINION/160619881/0/SEARCH
Mail Tribune – SOU Trustees Liked New President Schott from the First: https://www.mailtribune.com/article/20160616/NEWS/160619696/0/SEARCH
Chronicle of Higher Education: Appointments, Resignations, Deaths: https://chronicle.com/article/Appointments-Resignations/236857
 
Miscellaneous News:
KDRV – Students Prepare for Gathering to Honor Orlando Shooting Victims: https://www.kdrv.com/news/Students_Prepare_for_Gathering_to_Honor_Orlando_Shooting_Victims.html
Daily Tidings – Our View: Siskiyou Survives: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160614/OPINION/160619935/0/SEARCH
Mail Tribune – Guest Opinion: Diversity Benefits and Enriches All of Us: https://www.mailtribune.com/article/20160619/OPINION/160619661/0/SEARCH

Dr. Linda Schott Named Next President of Southern Oregon University

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(Ashland, Ore.) — Dr. Linda Schott, president of University of Maine at Presque Isle, has been named the next president of Southern Oregon University following a unanimous vote today of the SOU board of trustees. She will succeed Dr. Roy Saigo, who is retiring in July and has served as president of SOU since July 2014.

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Photo Credit: University of Maine Presque Isle


“We are extremely pleased to have a person and educator of Dr. Schott’s quality to be the next president of SOU,” said SOU board chair Bill Thorndike. “Following our nation-wide search, and out of a very deep pool of competitive applicants, her qualifications, experience, and interactions with the SOU community elevated her to the top.”
Schott holds a doctorate in history and humanities from Stanford University, a master’s degree in history, also from Stanford, and a bachelor’s degree in history and German from Baylor University.
Prior to her role as president of University of Maine at Presque Isle, Schott held various positions in higher education teaching and administration, including dean of the School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Fort Lewis College in Colorado; associate dean for the College of Arts and Sciences at Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti; and numerous faculty appointments.
“We are certain that Dr. Schott’s leadership style, vision, and values are aligned with the SOU mission and that she is a great fit for the university and the greater Rogue Valley community,” Thorndike added.
“I’m thrilled to have been selected as the next president of Southern Oregon University. SOU has a strong history and a bright future, and I am privileged to be able to serve as its president,” said Schott. “My husband, Tom, and I fell in love with the campus and the community during our interview, and we look forward to doing great work and building new friendships in the years ahead.” Schott will assume the presidency July 29.
 SOU trustee Lyn Hennion, who chaired the university’s Presidential Search Committee, credited the success of the search to the hard work of the committee and the thoughtful participation of the entire SOU and Rogue Valley communities. “I want to thank the search committee, both voting and ex officio members, for their hard work over many months,” Hennion said. “Everyone involved was dedicated to a fair, inclusive process that required a significant commitment of time, dedication, and effort. Our focus from the very beginning was to find the best possible candidate to serve as the next president of Southern Oregon University, and I believe we accomplished that in Dr. Schott.”
The search committee included SOU trustees, faculty, students, and staff; another Oregon university president; and community members. Six ex officio, non-voting members were appointed to the committee to serve in a coordinating or advisory capacity.
Dr. Edwin Battistella was one of the SOU faculty representatives on the Presidential Search Committee. “The search process was a great opportunity to work with colleagues, students, and board and community members to help identify SOU’s next leader,” he said. “I was particularly impressed with Dr. Schott’s strategic knowledge and her record of presidential accomplishments at Presque Isle. In the on-campus interview, she gave very thoughtful answers and showed her commitment to public higher education and student success, and her human touch as well.”
Torii Uyehara is SOU’s student body president and was one of the students on the committee. “It was wonderful to see an open process for the choosing of the next University President for SOU. I believe the student engagement throughout the process will allow the incoming president to start with a strong connection to the student body and allow for a continuation of the relationship that students have come to love and expect from our president,” she said. “This is an exciting time for students and I think students will help guide the new president in the direction of how best to support the student body.”
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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.
 
 

SOU In the News: June 7 – 13

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SOU Student, Alumni, Faculty, and Staff Features:
KOBI – SOU Student Building School: https://kobi5.com/news/sou-student-building-school-28493/
Portland Business Journal – As Patrick Quinton Steps Down, Interim Director Steps in At PDC (feature on SOU alumnae): https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/real-estate-daily/2016/06/as-patrick-quinton-steps-down-interim-director.html
 
News on SOU Fine and Performing Arts:
Daily Tidings – SOU Dance Club to Perform Saturday: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160531/NEWS/160539958/0/SEARCH
KOBI – Final Recital for SOU Piano Prodigy with Mother in Attendance: https://kobi5.com/news/tatsianas-recital-28501/
Daily Tidings – SOU Keyboard Student Offers Free Community Recital: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160601/NEWS/160609962/0/SEARCH
Daily Tidings – Painting the Town: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160608/NEWS/160609826/0/SEARCH
 
News on Politics, Policy, and National Trends Impacting SOU and Higher Education:
Oregonian/Oregon Live – Oregon Saw Biggest Percent Increase in Completed Financial Aid Applications: https://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2016/06/oregon_saw_biggest_percent_inc.html#incart_river_index
Oregonian/Oregon Live – Student Federal Aid Applications on the Rise: Editorial Peak: https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/06/student_federal_aid_applicatio.html
 
News on SOU governance and Board of Trustees:
Daily Tidings – Second SOU President Finalist Announced: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160531/NEWS/160539959/0/SEARCH
Mail Tribune – Second SOU President Finalist Announced: https://www.mailtribune.com/article/20160531/NEWS/160539943/0/SEARCH
Daily Tidings – Candidate Praises SOU Model: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160601/NEWS/160609959/0/SEARCH
Mail Tribune – Second SOU Candidate Embraces Liberal Arts: https://www.mailtribune.com/article/20160601/NEWS/160609926/0/SEARCH
Mail Tribune – Third Finalist for SOU President Here Thursday, Friday: https://www.mailtribune.com/article/20160601/NEWS/160609961/0/SEARCH
Daily Tidings – Third Finalist for SOU President Here Thursday, Friday: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160601/NEWS/160609979/0/SEARCH
Daily Tidings – Third Presidential Candidate Makes Her Case: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160602/NEWS/160609933/0/SEARCH
Mail Tribune – President Candidate Schott Talks About Securing SOU’s Future: https://www.mailtribune.com/article/20160602/NEWS/160609877/0/SEARCH
WAGM – UMPI President is a Finalist for President at University in Oregon: https://www.wagmtv.com/content/news/UMPI-President-is-a-finalists-for-University-in-Oregon-381988371.html
Daily Tidings – Picking a President: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160609/NEWS/160609821/0/SEARCH
 
Miscellaneous News:
The Siskiyou – Student Films Spotlighted at Annual Festival: https://siskiyou.sou.edu/2016/06/02/student-films-spotlighted-at-annual-festival/
KTVL – Student Filmmakers Present at SOU Film Festival: https://ktvl.com/news/local/student-filmmakers-present-at-sou-film-festival
Daily Tidings – Our View: Hope Personified: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160602/OPINION/160609964/0/SEARCH
The Siskiyou – Letter From the Editor: Journalism at SOU: https://siskiyou.sou.edu/2016/06/06/letter-from-the-editor-journalism-at-sou/
Mail Tribune – Letters to the Editor: Diversity Born of Prejudice: https://www.mailtribune.com/article/20160608/OPINION/160609702/0/SEARCH
KDRV – Fueling Up! Marketing Workshop Welcomes Business Owners: https://www.kdrv.com/news/local/Fueling_Up_Marketing_Workshop_Welcomes_Business_Owners.html
Oregonian/Oregon Live – As Stanford Rape Survivor’s Story Goes Viral, Oregon Colleges Try to Evolve (SOU featured): https://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2016/06/as_stanford_rape_survivors_sto.html#incart_river_index
JPR – Jefferson Exchange: Regional Reactions to the Orlando Massacre (SOU’s janelle wilson and Thomas Arce featured): https://ijpr.org/post/mon-830-regional-reactions-orlando-massacre
KDRV – Raiders Celebrate Graduation: https://www.kdrv.com/news/local/Raiders_Celebrate_Graduation.html
KOBI – SOU Graduation: https://kobi5.com/news/sou-graduation-29227/
Daily Tidings – SOU Begins New Tradition with Alumni Breakfast: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160610/NEWS/160619968/0/SEARCH
Daily Tidings – SOU’s 90th Commencement Saturday: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160610/NEWS/160619969/0/SEARCH
Daily Tidings – SOU Newspaper The Siskiyou to Continue: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160611/NEWS/160619966/0/SEARCH
Daily Tidings – SOU Graduates 1,000 in Class of 2016: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160612/NEWS/160619960/0/SEARCH

SOU to Host Inaugural Alumni Breakfast

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(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University will initiate a new tradition this weekend, when the institutions inaugural Alumni Breakfast takes place prior to Commencement Saturday morning.
“This event provides an opportunity to recognize the contributions of several outstanding SOU alumni on a day when we are also celebrating our current graduates,” said Janet Fratella, vice president of development and executive director of the SOU Foundation. “Our new alumni will join 40,000 other SOU graduates who live and work around the world, and we are proud of all that they do.”
Five alumni awards will be given out during the breakfast:
The Distinguished Alumni Award will be presented to Gary Miller. Miller is an SOU business graduate from the class of 1968. He is recognized for his 32-year career as area manager for U.S. West and Qwest as well as his volunteer work around the Rogue Valley. He is former CEO of Access, Inc., which provides food, housing, and other services to low-income children, families, seniors, and people with disabilities. He has served on various local boards and is a past president of the Medford Rotary Club and the Miles Field Renovation Soceity.
The Young Alumni Award will be presented to Brandi Jo Moles. Moles graduated from SOU in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and began a career as a child welfare caseworker for the State of Oregon. In 2015 she received statewide recognition as a recipient of the Tom Moan Memorial Award for Excellence in Child Welfare Casework Practice. Last weekend she received her Master of Science degree in social work from Portland State University.
The Alumni Excellence in Education Award will be presented to Patti Kinney. Kinney graduated from SOU in 1973 with a Bachelor’s Degree in elementary education. She then earned a Master of Science degree in general studies with an emphasis in outdoor education in 1977. In 2007 she was awarded the Oregon Middle Level Association’s first Distinguished Service Award—an award that was named in her honor. She has earned various awards for her work as a school administrator, including the Met-Life/National Association of Secondary School Principals National Middle Level Principal of the Year Award.
The Stan Smith Alumni Service Award will be presented to Karen Amarotico. The Alumni Service Award recognizes alumni who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the community and service to people. Amarotico earned a Bachelor’s Degree in business administration from SOU in 1990 and a Master’s Degree in management in 2008. Since moving to Ashland in 1986, Amarotico has logged hundreds of hours volunteering for a range of non-profit organizations, including Rotary, SMART, Ashland Schools Foundation, and the Elks. In 2011, Karen began a year-long project in pie baking to express her gratitude. For 365 days, she chose a friend, neighbor, or stranger who she knew could use a pick-me-up and baked them a pie.
The Alvin Fellers Memorial Scholarship will also be awarded for the first time during the Alumni Breakfast. Dr. Alvin Fellers’ distinguished career in education spanned more than 40 years, nearly half of which were as dean of men and dean of students at SOU (then Southern Oregon State College). This new scholarship recognizes students who have demonstrated the characteristics and qualities of Dr. Fellers: a warm, friendly demeanor; extraordinary professionalism and integrity; and a devotion to human values. The inaugural recipients of this scholarship are Kaylin Murdoch, Andria Rasmussen, and Myana Dhenin.
Also being recognized at the breakfast and Commencement ceremony are SOU alumni celebrating their golden anniversary. Fourteen members of the class of 1966 will be on hand for the breakfast and Commencement ceremony to follow.
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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.

Year-End Recycling Event Enables Students to Help the Community and the Environment

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(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University and Southern Oregon Goodwill® Industries have teamed up for the fifth annual Move Out Donation Drive.
The year-end event enables students clearing out their rooms and apartments in SOU residence halls to dispose of things they no longer need in an environmentally responsible way that also supports job training and employment programs for people with the most need locally.
“It’s a great partnership,” said Roxane Beigel-Coryell, Sustainability & Recycling Coordinator at Southern Oregon University. “We started it to reduce the garbage volume and expenses related to that, but it also introduces our students to the opportunity to donate to an organization that creates jobs and provides affordable goods in the community through reuse.”
In the past, SOU had to order several large garbage bins to handle what students threw away as they moved out of residence halls. Much of what was tossed in the trash was useful — in some cases unused — including clothes, shoes, small appliances, electronics, books, office supplies, linens, furniture, rugs, and more.
Since 2012, SOU students have brought 29,795 pounds of donations to Goodwill bins on campus during the Move Out Donation Drive. Donated items are either sold in Goodwill stores or recycled if not in gently used condition. Revenues from donated items fund employment training and placement programs in Southern Oregon and Northern California.
Find a complete list of on-campus donation locations and items that will be accepted at www.sou.edu/sustainable/moveout.html or learn more at www.sogoodwill.org/moveoutsou/.
For more information contact:
Roxane Beigel-Coryell, M.M.
Sustainability & Recycling Coordinator, Southern Oregon University
541-552-8139
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About Southern Oregon Goodwill Industries:
Southern Oregon Goodwill Industries is headquartered in Medford Oregon and is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to the mission: enable employment by providing opportunities for personal and professional growth. The agency is one in a network of over 160 Goodwill agencies in the US and Canada. Revenue generated through the sale and recycling of donated goods is used to fund job training and support programs for the people in Southern Oregon in Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, and Lake Counties and Siskiyou County in California. For more information about Southern Oregon Goodwill Industries, go to www.sogoodwill.org.
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.

SOU's 90th Commencement to Take Place Saturday

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(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University will confer degrees on approximately 1,000 new graduates at its 90th Commencement ceremony Saturday at Raider Stadium on the University’s main campus in Ashland. The processional will begin at 9:45 a.m. with the ceremony following immediately thereafter.
Featured speakers at this year’s ceremony include SOU President Dr. Roy Saigo and Bill Thorndike, who is speaking on behalf of the SOU board of trustees.
This year’s Commencement address will be given by Dr. Harry “Doc” Kloor. Dr. Kloor is the first—and only—person to have earned two Ph.D. degrees simultaneously, having earned them in Physics and Chemistry at the same time from Purdue University. He is also an alumnus of SOU. Dr. Kloor is a writer, scientist, educator, researcher, inventor, editor, producer, national technology policy advisor, and chief technology officer.
Associated Students of Southern Oregon University President Torii Uyehara, who is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in business administration, has been selected as the student speaker.
SOU students Adriana Alexander and Benjamin Comer will receive the Dankook Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Students. This award commemorates more than thirty years of friendship between SOU and Dankook University in Seoul, South Korea. Each year at Commencement, SOU honors its outstanding female and male graduates with this award. The criteria used to select the Dankook Award recipients are: demonstration of scholarship, contributions to campus life by playing a leadership role, and evidence of citizenship and character.
Alexander will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a 4.0 GPA. Comer will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a 4.0 GPA.
Nicole Doran will be honored during the ceremony with the Universidad de Guanajuato Award for Outstanding Graduate Student. Doran graduates with a master in management and a 4.0 GPA.
Gates to Raider Stadium open at 8 a.m. the morning of Commencement, and seating is available on a first come, first served basis. Free parking is available in all parking lots on the SOU campus throughout the day. The ceremony will be broadcast live on RVTV and archived for later viewing.
More information on SOU Commencement ceremony is available online at www.sou.edu/commencement.
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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, and it is the first university in the nation to balance 100% of its water consumption. Visit sou.edu.

SOU In the News: May 31 – June 6

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SOU Student, Alumni, Faculty, and Staff Features:
KOBI – SOU Student Building School: https://kobi5.com/news/sou-student-building-school-28493/
 
News on SOU Fine and Performing Arts:
Daily Tidings – SOU Dance Club to Perform Saturday: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160531/NEWS/160539958/0/SEARCH
KOBI – Final Recital for SOU Piano Prodigy with Mother in Attendance: https://kobi5.com/news/tatsianas-recital-28501/
Daily Tidings – SOU Keyboard Student Offers Free Community Recital: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160601/NEWS/160609962/0/SEARCH
 
News on SOU governance and Board of Trustees:
Daily Tidings – Second SOU President Finalist Announced: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160531/NEWS/160539959/0/SEARCH
Mail Tribune – Second SOU President Finalist Announced: https://www.mailtribune.com/article/20160531/NEWS/160539943/0/SEARCH
Daily Tidings – Candidate Praises SOU Model: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160601/NEWS/160609959/0/SEARCH
Mail Tribune – Second SOU Candidate Embraces Liberal Arts: https://www.mailtribune.com/article/20160601/NEWS/160609926/0/SEARCH
Mail Tribune – Third Finalist for SOU President Here Thursday, Friday: https://www.mailtribune.com/article/20160601/NEWS/160609961/0/SEARCH
Daily Tidings – Third Finalist for SOU President Here Thursday, Friday: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160601/NEWS/160609979/0/SEARCH
Daily Tidings – Third Presidential Candidate Makes Her Case: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160602/NEWS/160609933/0/SEARCH
Mail Tribune – President Candidate Schott Talks About Securing SOU’s Future: https://www.mailtribune.com/article/20160602/NEWS/160609877/0/SEARCH
 
Miscellaneous News:
The Siskiyou – Student Films Spotlighted at Annual Festival: https://siskiyou.sou.edu/2016/06/02/student-films-spotlighted-at-annual-festival/
KTVL – Student Filmmakers Present at SOU Film Festival: https://ktvl.com/news/local/student-filmmakers-present-at-sou-film-festival
Daily Tidings – Our View: Hope Personified: https://www.dailytidings.com/article/20160602/OPINION/160609964/0/SEARCH

SOU Students Monitor Changing Landscape of Family Farms

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(Ashland, Ore.) — Third year Southern Oregon University sociology students Alessandra de la Torre and Kate Hillis have a unique understanding of sustainable agriculture—from a historical perspective.
Thanks to a 2015 grant from the Oregon Heritage Commission to SOU’s sociology/anthropology program, de la Torre and Hillis are researching Jackson County family farms that have been in the same family and in production for over 100 years. The students are finding that it takes commitment, strategy, and sometimes a bit of luck to keep land in the family over the course of four or five generations.
As an object lesson in the complexities of heritage agriculture, de la Torre discovered the sale of the 1852 Birdseye Ranch donation land claim to Del Rio Vineyards as it was happening in March 2016. In April, she met with the family, walked that historic Gold Hill property along the Rogue River, and talked with three Birdseye generations as they prepared to move from the home they’d lived in for 160 years. The Birdseye’s were pleased that their family heritage was documented for the project, and for de la Torre, it was a powerful and emotional experience.
Hillis researched Reginald Parsons’ 1908 Century Farm in East Medford, Hillcrest Orchards (now also Roxy Anny Winery). The property is owned by the Cogswell Limited Partnership, a partnership of Parsons family descendants. At the same time Hillis was tracing Hillcrest through the generations, Medford City Council held public hearings about annexing the property into the city’s Urban Growth Boundary. An aerial view of Hillcrest Orchards shows that housing and mixed use properties surround the green of the vineyard and Medford’s growth means more housing is needed. Jud Parsons is a member of the Cogswell Limited Partnership; he’s not sure how the partnership will vote if the land is annexed and the family is able to develop the property as housing. Hillis is scheduled to interview Jud Parsons later this spring.
You might not think that a farm established a hundred years ago would be of interest today but de la Torre and Hillis’s research shows that Southern Oregon agricultural landscapes continue to change and that family legacies change as well. Under the Oregon Heritage Commission grant, these two SOU students are researching 20 multi-generational farms to identify factors that contribute to how and why some properties stay in agricultural production and others do not.
“Understanding the patterns of agricultural land changes in Southern Oregon reveal the interweaving of environmental, economic, political, social, and personal influences that give nuance to why these changes occur,” said de la Torre. “It is certain that these factors continue to guide the path of our lives today, making the past an emblem of human lessons we can all learn from.”
For more information on the heritage agriculture project, contact Maureen Flanagan Battistella, affiliate faculty in SOU’s sociology/anthropology program, at 541-552-0743 or battistem@sou.edu.
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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.