Ed Battistella's book on presidential insults is a finalist for the Oregon Book Awards

SOU professor’s book on presidential insults is a book award finalist

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A book by Southern Oregon University English professor Ed Battistella on the history of presidential insults has been named a finalist for this year’s Oregon Book Award in the general nonfiction category. Battistella is one of a combined 35 authors announced this week as finalists across seven categories.

His book, “Dangerous Crooked Scoundrels: Insulting the President, from Washington to Trump,” was published a year ago by the Oxford University Press. Battistella and the book have since been quoted in numerous media stories – from the Baltimore Sun to the Daily Beast to Time Magazine.

The book documents more than 500 presidential insults, with each of the 45 U.S. presidents through Donald Trump receiving a share of the ire. The commanders in chief have been called everything from “ignoramuses” to “idiots” to “fatheads,” and have drawn comparisons to creatures such as “sad jellyfish” and “strutting crows.”

“I’ve always loved history and was curious about the insults and invective used in earlier elections,” Battistella said after the book was published. “Our language provides plenty of ways to insult those in power and our Constitution gives us the right to do it.”

“Dangerous Crooked Scoundrels” is one of five finalists for the Oregon Book Awards’ Frances Fuller Victor Award for General Nonfiction. The other nominees are “The Fire Is upon Us: James Baldwin, William F. Buckley Jr., and the Debate over Race in America,” by Nicholas Buccola of Portland; “No Option but North: The Migrant World and the Perilous Path Across the Border,” by Kelsey Freeman of Bend; “Persistent Callings: Seasons of Work and Identity on the Oregon Coast,” by Joseph E. Taylor III of Portland; and “Abalone,” by Ann Vileisis of Port Orford.

The winner will be decided by a three-judge panel and announced on a special episode of OPB Radio’s “The Archive Project” at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 2. Out-of-state judges are assigned to name award recipients in each category, based on literary merit, and each winner will receive a $1,000 cash award.

Frances Fuller Victor, who died in 1902, spent 35 years traveling throughout Oregon to interview pioneers and write the region’s history.

The annual awards are presented by the nonprofit organization Literary Arts, Inc., to recognize the best work of Oregon writers in the areas of fiction, poetry, literary nonfiction, drama, graphic literature and literature for young readers. The nonfiction category includes two awards for nonfiction – general and creative.

Battistella was inspired to write “Dangerous Crooked Scoundels” by the contentious 2016 presidential campaign. He is the author of several books, including previous Oregon Book Award finalist “Bad Language” and “Sorry about That: The Language of Public Apology.”

He earned his bachelor’s degree from Rutgers College and his master’s degree and doctorate in linguistics from the City University of New York. He teaches linguistics and writing at SOU.

Goldwater Scholarship recipient Sarah Emsley

SOU student awarded prestigious Goldwater Scholarship

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(Ashland, Ore.) — Sarah Emsley, a Southern Oregon University junior majoring in life sciences, is one of 410 recipients nationwide of the 2021 Goldwater Scholarship – a prestigious U.S. award that recognizes the research work of undergraduates in math, science and engineering.

Goldwater Scholars each receive as much as $7,500 annually for tuition, fees and room-and-board, along with national recognition for their undergraduate research. Emsley has been involved in multiple research projects at SOU, including a recent capstone in microbiology that examined the effects of dietary curcumin on the gut microbiome of fruit flies.

Biology faculty member Patrick Videau suggested last fall that Emsley should apply for the Goldwater Scholarship and – despite misgivings – she eventually agreed to undertake the rigorous, months-long process.

“Up until that point I had not thought myself a competitive enough candidate to attempt to apply for a scholarship at that level,” Emsley said. “The only other scholarship I had ever received or competed for was from my previous employer, and was designed to help me return to school.

“Throughout the application process for the Goldwater, I remained reserved in my expectations of receiving such a prestigious award. I screamed when I got the congratulatory email.”

She has since been awarded two more scholarships for next year – the Cora Styles Memorial Scholarship for $1,300 and the Osher Reentry Scholarship for $5,000.

Emsley, 29, was born in Connecticut, grew up in Sacramento as part of a career-oriented family and was working as an emergency medical technician in Medford – where she owns a townhome – when she restarted her academic career in 2019 as a part-time SOU student seeking to finish her bachelor’s degree. She now expects to graduate in June 2022 with her degree in biology and a minor in chemistry, then will move on to a doctoral program in immunology.

Her previous career as an EMT pointed her toward the study of life sciences, and her coursework and research at SOU have uncovered a career path in translational medical research – working to improve treatment and vaccine options in the fight against infectious diseases.

“The most remarkable thing about my experience at SOU is the overwhelming support by the (faculty members) in both the biology and chemistry departments,” she said. “They have gone above and beyond the call of duty to nourish my scientific explorations and invest in my personal success.

“The hands-on lab experience, opportunities to engage in academic research and one-on-one interactions are the most valuable experiences I have had, and I suspect they’re unique to SOU.”

Emsley is the first Goldwater Scholarship recipient at SOU since 2007, and one of seven this year from the state of Oregon – joining one each from Reed College and the University of Oregon, and four from Oregon State University. A total of 1,256 students from 438 colleges and universities were nominated for this year’s scholarships – no school may nominate more than four students.

“This is great recognition for SOU’s natural science programs, and their commitment to undergraduate research,” said Susan Walsh, SOU’s provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Sarah has worked closely with our faculty on several notable research projects, and we are very proud of her achievements.”

Videau, who has mentored Emsley along with fellow biology faculty member Brie Paddock and chemistry faculty member Mark Koyack, said he is confident that she will achieve her lofty career goals.

“Sarah is an absolute joy to have in the classroom and research lab,” he said. “She approaches her work with a measured precision and thorough attention to detail that allow her to connect the dots between concepts, classes and hands-on scientific endeavors.”

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, which typically awards 260 scholarships per year, partnered with the Department of Defense National Defense Education Programs and expanded the program by 150 scholarships this year to maintain America’s “global competitiveness and security,” according to the foundation’s website.

The application process for the Goldwater Scholarships prompts students to demonstrate their commitment to research and tighten their focus on career goals – skills they will need when applying to graduate schools and for subsequent research scholarships.

“Sarah is a great student who worked closely with Dr. Videau on research projects this past summer and fall,” said Sherry Ettlich, director of SOU’s STEM Division. “We look forward to all she has yet to accomplish in the coming year before graduating and moving on to graduate school.”

Emsley said she hopes the Goldwater Scholarship will help separate her from the competition as she heads into the application cycle this fall for graduate school programs the following year at various research universities.

“I expect that being awarded the Goldwater Scholarship will not only ensure greater financial stability during my final year at SOU, but also open doors of opportunity for my future,” she said.

The Goldwater foundation is a federally endowed agency that was created in 1986. Its scholarship program “was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue research careers in the fields of the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics,” according to its website. “The Goldwater Scholarship is the premier undergraduate award of its type in these fields.”

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Haleigh Wagman will be the first female infantry officer produced by an ROTC program in Oregon

SOU graduate is Oregon’s first female, ROTC-trained infantry officer

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Haleigh Wagman knew long before her graduation from SOU last year that she was on track for something special, but she chose to keep it to herself until the accomplishment was in sight. That happened in the fall of 2019, when Wagman – a four-year Army ROTC participant – let others at SOU know she would become the first female infantry officer produced by an ROTC program in Oregon.

“I knew since the beginning of my sophomore year that it was what I was going to do,” she said. “I kept it a secret until the beginning of my senior year, when we had to announce what (field) we were choosing.

“I wanted to be given opportunities based on my own merit and reputation that came from my military knowledge, academic abilities and physical fitness.”

Wagman, now a second lieutenant in the Texas Army National Guard in San Marcos, is assigned to the Infantry Basic Officer course at Fort Benning, Georgia, and will officially become the first Oregon ROTC-trained female infantry officer when she completes the course in May.

She will then return to her 141st Infantry Battalion until she begins post-graduate studies in August. She has received offers from the Medical Science doctoral program at the Texas A&M College of Medicine, and from the Integrated Biomedical Sciences doctoral program at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Wagman graduated from SOU last summer with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in chemistry. She credits the ROTC program for helping her build discipline, and faculty members in SOU’s STEM Division for challenging her academically.

“Dr. (Patrick) Videau is awesome; he always keeps things real with students and is entertaining to learn from,” Wagman said. “He and Dr. (Brie) Paddock both go out of their way in order to get students the help they need, and are both key players in my love for science and reasons for pursuing graduate school.”

Despite her love for science, it was athletics that initially attracted Wagman to SOU. Raiders volleyball coach Josh Rohlfing is a family friend who was in her parents’ wedding, and she came to Ashland to play volleyball after graduating from North Valley High School in Grants Pass.

“My dad actually was an assistant coach (at SOU) for a couple years while I was in middle school,” Wagman said. “So with that and growing up in the Rogue Valley, I felt pretty familiar with the school coming into it.”

She needed to pay for college, so planned ahead and finished high school early, joined the Oregon Army National Guard and attended Basic Combat Training before starting at SOU. The National Guard awarded a four-year scholarship that paid for full tuition and fees, and by joining the ROTC program she became eligible for its no-cost housing plan, which at the time was in Susanne Homes Hall.

“I think the thing I enjoyed most about SOU was living in the ROTC dorms,” she said. “It allowed for us to have our own culture and space that was quieter for waking up early in the mornings and building friendships through shared experiences.”

She found that the biggest challenge of her undergraduate experience at SOU was compensating for the fact that she came out of high school without any college credits and had a full schedule of required coursework in both military science for ROTC and biology for her major. She also needed to graduate in four years.

“I was at 20 to 22 credits a term, and oddly enough I actually got the best grades those terms,” Wagman said. “I think it’s because I have poor time management when left to my own devices, but when I was that busy it forced me to manage my time well and get things done.

“The ROTC program has helped with my time management and leadership skills,” she said. “Both (the ROTC and Army National Guard) scholarships required that I stayed physically fit, morally qualified and academically qualified. Those things helped push me in school and keep me on track to graduate and receive my commission as a second lieutenant in the Army.”

Former SOU student-athlete has been teaching basketball in China

SOU alum Terriel Thomas builds his own team in China

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Terriel Thomas, a 2013 SOU graduate, never imagined he would earn a living playing basketball in China. “Sometimes, I still can’t believe this is my life,” he said a year and a half ago, after three years in China. “I always dreamed of being a basketball coach and working with kids. And now, I’m doing it in this amazing place.”

The former student-athlete was working for the United States Basketball Academy’s (USBA) training academy. The USBA is an Oregon-based organization that offers young students in China the training necessary to pursue their hoop dreams, and possibly play basketball in the United States.

“I travel around the country and help set up basketball academies, teach other coaches, and even teach a bit of English related to the game,” Thomas said. “These kids are terrific. The people I’ve met in China are wonderful.”

Life in China has been an adventure. Thomas has a job he adores and a blossoming family life that includes a baby girl. “I am very happy, and I truly believe that without SOU, I would not be here,” he said. “I like to say, ‘Chicago made me, Boise raised me, and SOU made me the man I am today.’”

No stranger to making bold moves, Thomas left Boise to play basketball at SOU.

“I come from a really close family,” he said. “Some of us are in Idaho and Illinois, but I didn’t know anyone in Oregon, and it was hard at first.”

He credits a number of people with helping turn SOU into a home and eventually giving him the sense of family he longed for.

Thomas said that while he initially thrived at SOU, there were challenges. Making new friends was harder than he had hoped, and he sometimes missed being among other people of color. The period when Thomas was feeling the most homesick and out of place turned into one of the most pivotal moments of his life.

“I was really struggling, and I started acting out,” he said. “My grades were dropping and I wasn’t getting along with my coach. I was asked to leave the team. I was devastated. Nothing like this had happened to me before.”

But Athletic Director Matt Sayre and education instructor Joel Perkins stepped in.

“Matt made me see that I needed to work things out with my coach, and I needed to figure out what I wanted for the future,” Thomas said. “Joel Perkins was my advisor, and he talked to me straight, too. Just having those two talks changed me. I didn’t have a plan, and I had to make one. I’m glad that I listened to them, and I’m proud that I overcame a really difficult period.”

Thomas eventually connected with the Black Student Union and worked for SOU’s EPIC events planning organization, which offers a variety of socially engaging events for the campus community.

“I just had to get out there,” he said. “I made a point of saying hello to at least one stranger a day. I attended events outside of basketball and tried to move outside my comfort zone. That helped a lot.”

The fact that his teammates, coaches and teachers stuck with him even when things were hard was the real mark of a family for Thomas. “My time at SOU ended up being some of the best years of my life,” he said.

In his work, Thomas draws every day on what he learned at SOU, not just the academics and basketball skills, but also the loyalty and support needed to make a team truly thrive.

“I want to show the kids and adults I work with how strong a team can be when they trust and love each other,” he said, adding that he’s proud of the young players he coaches. “The classes are intense but these kids are strong players. These kids are amazing.”

Thomas posted recently on his website that 2020 was off to a good start for him “until COVID-19 decided to call a timeout on us all.” He has taken a much more active role in his home life – from doing dishes to changing diapers – and said the pause has helped bring him balance.

“Just like back at SOU (Go Raiders!!!), during timeouts I just watched the board, drank water, looked for my snickers and well, never really actually listened to what Coach was saying … this virus, being slowed down and now having to listen (no distractions) I’m able to play my part better,” he said.

“And being a better husband and father helps me to become a better coach. And better coaches know how to effectively use timeouts and make the necessary in-game adjustments that will lead to success on the court.”

Shared and updated from the Fall 2019 issue of The Raider, SOU’s alumni magazine

In-person experiences for SOU students and employees will resume in the fall

SOU to resume in-person classes for fall term

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(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University President Linda Schott announced Wednesday that SOU will return to primarily in-person classes and student activities for the start of fall term in September.

The announcement came two days short of a year after President Schott informed students and employees last March that the campus would shift to remote operations due to the spreading COVID-19 pandemic.

“I have wanted to tell you for almost a year now that we are preparing to fully reopen our campus, and finally I feel confident that I can do so,” she said in a message to campus. “We are in position to begin a return to normalcy as the availability of vaccines expands to include all adults by summer.”

SOU’s plan for reopening in the fall will feature flexibility, with remote or hybrid alternatives available as needed for both academic and student support programs. The university will tailor its plans to account for the restrictions on gathering sizes and public events that are expected to remain in place statewide and for southern Oregon over the next several months.

President Schott said SOU will work closely with Jackson County Public Health and the Oregon Health Authority throughout the reopening process, and will ask students and employees to help prevent a recurrence of the pandemic.

“We also recommend that all employees and students receive COVID-19 vaccinations as soon as they are eligible, in accordance with CDC guidelines,” she said. “Vaccination is just one step in our larger effort to keep our community safe, so please be mindful of your personal safety and respect for those around you by wearing masks and avoiding close contact.”

The president told students and employees a month ago that there would be increased opportunities during this year’s spring and summer terms for hybrid classes – those with options for remote and in-person learning. She said Wednesday that the university should reach a tipping point by fall term, with most classes by then leaning toward on-campus experiences.

“We have all seen how the virus has changed course during the last year, so my optimism for what lies ahead remains cautious,” President Schott said. However, with careful actions and continued support from the state and federal governments, we are planning for the time when we will see each other, interact as normally as possible, and get back to the business of living and learning together.”

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FAFSA form for financial assistance

Prospective students lagging behind on financial assistance applications

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(Ashland, Ore.) — The Southern Oregon University financial aid office and Oregon’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission have an urgent message to anyone considering college this fall: the time is now to submit applications for public and private assistance that can help make higher education affordable.

The HECC reported that the completion rate for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms as of Jan. 1 was 15 percent lower among this year’s high school seniors in Oregon than it was at the same date in 2020. Kristen Duncan, SOU’s financial aid director, said her office is seeing about a 10 percent decline in FAFSA submissions for the 2021-22 academic year.

She emphasized that financial wellness and success for many students begins with submission of the FAFSA or ORSAA (Oregon State Aid Application) – the two aid applications that cover most forms of government assistance and many private resources.

“By filling out this application, students are ensuring that they will be eligible for some form of federal aid – both need-based grants and the option to borrow Federal Student Loans,” Duncan said. “The FAFSA takes just under 20 minutes to fill out from start to finish, and is available via your smartphone and tablet by downloading the MyStudentAid app.

“The FAFSA does not have an official deadline, but needs to filled out before June 30 to be considered for aid. Not filling out this federal application can limit the amount of aid that a student can receive from the school of their choice. It affects everything from outside scholarships to school-specific scholarships.”

Duncan pointed out that – as its name implies – there is no cost to complete or submit the FAFSA, and most who do so are eligible for one or more forms of aid. “Not filling out the FAFSA is the number one biggest mistake a student can make if they are trying to pay for college,” she said.

The HECC noted in a recent memo to Oregon’s colleges and universities that FAFSA and ORSAA submissions – which are down a combined 13 percent this year – are particularly important to students experiencing poverty, students of color and those from rural areas. The agency suggested that disruptions and uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past year have caused the drop-off in financial aid applications.

“This decline means that many high school seniors, continuing college students and adults seeking to continue their education or workforce training could miss out on financial assistance that can make education more affordable,” the HECC said.

Completion of the financial aid forms keeps options open for accessing and using aid anytime in the upcoming academic year.

Information from FAFSA and ORSAA submissions determines students’ eligibility for public grants and numerous scholarships. The ORSAA is Oregon’s alternative to the FAFSA for students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and/or undocumented status.

The applications can be submitted throughout the academic year, but several private scholarships and institutional aid programs have spring deadlines. Some grants also have limited funding, so filing late could mean missing out.

Data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data shows that students who complete the FAFSA are 84 percent more likely to enroll in postsecondary education.

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Oregon Fringe Festival to be online

Honorarium recipients announced for Oregon Fringe Festival

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This year’s Oregon Fringe Festival, which will take place online and feature outdoor art installations on the SOU campus, has selected recipients and awarded honorariums to seven artists worldwide whose work is boundary-breaking, unconventional, excites discussion and explores different perspectives of a held position, principle or belief. The festival will be presented by the Oregon Center for the Arts at SOU from April 29 to May 1.

The Fringe Festival – usually a six-day event at SOU – will be condensed this year but will maintain its trademark edge as emerging creators and real-world artists share their experiences and engage with each other’s work. The festival’s mission is to provide a boundary-breaking platform for free expression and celebrate unconventional art and spaces.

The 2021 version will feature more than 50 acts and more than 40 different artists. Viewers will have opportunities to interact with a variety of creative work – including live virtual performances, artist lectures/workshops, an extensive virtual gallery and outdoor art installations.

Seven local, national and international artists were selected for this year’s honorariums:

• Carlos Fernandex and Manisha Sondhi (Theatre), London
• Neila Miller (dance/movement), Chicago
• Aurelia Grierson (theatre), Ashland
• Cody Clark (magic/comedy), Louisville, Kentucky
• Nat Allister (theatre), Minneapolis
• Derek Keller (music), Ashland
• Ginger and Johnny (theatre), Los Angeles

The Oregon Fringe Festival, which began in 2014, is an Oregon Center for the Arts-funded showcase of SOU students’ creative work. It includes presentations of music, visual art, theatre, dance, creative writing and spoken word, and is built to expand as needed. The festival invites artists from all stages of their careers – from beginners to award-winners – to mingle, network, and perform.

“Our mission is simple: to provide a platform for free expression, and work to secure a tolerant space for the sharing of ideas through story,” the OFF website says.

The festival provides a boundary-breaking platform for free expression that amplifies the voices of those who are unrepresented in the creative arts. A lens on equity, diversity and inclusion will filter the selection process for all projects submitted.

People with disabilities are encouraged to enjoy the events, and those who require accommodations can contact SOU’s Disability Resources office in advance at DSS@sou.edu.

All of the festival’s presentations are free and open to the public.

SOU will have a virtual commencement ceremony for 2021

SOU to go virtual for 2021 commencement

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(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University will hold this year’s commencement ceremony on a virtual platform to ensure a safe, high-quality experience for its 2021 graduates and an inclusive, flexible venue that is accessible to family members and friends.

SOU President Linda Schott announced the decision on Tuesday, more than a month before the start of spring term. It will be the university’s second consecutive year without an in-person commencement, but will be distinctly different than the 2020 event – which the university pulled together after the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a move to remote instruction for spring term and beyond.

This year’s June 12 event will include a live-streamed ceremony, Zoom parties and private, dedicated social media engagement. The university will encourage additional virtual or hybrid events by its various academic programs and departments.

“I feel very positive about this decision,” President Schott said. “Committing to this format early in the game allows us to create the best ceremony possible to recognize the achievements of a 2021 class of graduates who have overcome unprecedented obstacles to complete their degrees and prepare for successful lives of purpose.

“We will avoid the uncertainty that would be unavoidable with an in-person ceremony in June, and will be able to provide a lively virtual experience that will enable families and other supporters from around the world to participate.”

SOU will also build on the successes of some program-level celebrations that were held in a variety of remote formats last year, by creating a template for academic programs and departments to use in recognizing their own graduates.

SOU expects that some students and their families may still choose to be in Ashland for the June commencement weekend, and the university will work with the local business community on tourism opportunities.

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Searle family with SOU Athletic Director Matt Sayre

Going long: Searle family’s connection with SOU began with football

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SOU has provided lasting memories of football and friendships for four members of the tight-knit Searle family. Sport phenoms and Raider Hall of Fame brothers Sammy (class of 1989), David (1992) and Ted “Baba” Searle (1989) each agree that their time at SOU helped shape them as the men they are today and led to lifelong friendships and an ongoing connection to the university.

“From my first day, it was incredible,” Sam said. “The people there, the staff, teachers and students were so kind and supportive, and I formed relationships that continue to this day.”

Sam said he was thrilled when his son Taylor (2015) decided to attend SOU and play football.

“I was so happy, knowing that he would find the same kind of support and friendship that my brothers and I had,” Sam said.

Even though he heard all the stories about SOU from his family, Taylor said he was still surprised at the easy camaraderie he felt from classmates and teammates from the beginning.

“Initially, I wanted to do my own thing and go somewhere different, but when I visited SOU, I just fell in love with the place,” Taylor said. “With the football team, it was an instant connection, like you already have good friends before you even take your first class.”

Sam was the first of the family to attend SOU after a friend suggested he check it out.

“Coming from Hawaii, I wasn’t expecting to be so moved by the natural beauty of the campus and the town, but it is really a beautiful place and I loved everything about it,” he said.

His brother, Ted, soon followed.

“Sam and I were really close, and when he went I knew I wanted to go there as well,” he said. “It was wonderful. We had a great group of guys on the team and a supportive community.”

Ted now lives near Portland, where he is vice president of operations at International Wood Products.

“The work ethic and the relationships our team and classmates built with one another stayed with us,” he said. “We took care of each other, from football games, to homework, to firing up the grill on weekends.”

Sam and Ted were considered to be among the Raiders’ best defensive players during their time at SOU. Sam garnered attention for his 18 career interceptions – ranking third in team history – which helped win many games.

Ted was named Columbia Football Association Player of the Year and earned NAIA All-America honors after totaling 130 tackles before he left school to raise a family. He finished his college career with the second-most tackles in program history, at the time.

Their younger brother David joined SOU and the Raiders in 1989.

“I had played at the University of Hawaii my freshman year, but I wanted the opportunity to play ball with my brothers,” he said. “It was by far some of the best times. I have some really fond memories.”

David made the team’s top five in nearly every passing and total offense category over his three years as a Raider. He earned consecutive all-conference honors and became the first SOU quarterback to throw for more than 500 yards in a game. He was the season record-holder in passing yards, touchdowns and total offense when he graduated with a degree in communication.

“It’s fun to look back on our experiences at SOU and to share our stories with our children,” David said. “It’s great that Taylor got to go there, and it’s fantastic to think we have a family history with SOU.”