(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.

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.

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.”

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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(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.

“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.
 
 

(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.

(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University will confer degrees on approximately 1,000 new graduates at its 90^th 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.