(Ashland, Ore.) —Michael Menefee, a student at Southern Oregon University and member of the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, has been selected for a prestigious summer research internship at Harvard University.
Participation in the 2015 Summer Research Opportunities at Harvard Program provides Michael with the chance to work and study alongside Harvard faculty and graduate students and enjoy firsthand access to the resources of Harvard University while living on campus.
The Summer Research Opportunities at Harvard program is available to currently enrolled undergraduates who are considering pursuing a PhD in the humanities, social sciences or life or physical sciences. At SOU, Michael is pursuing a bachelor of science degree in sociology with a minor is statistics. He has worked closely with SOU faculty to develop his skills in quantitative data analysis and his knowledge about the relationship between mass incarceration and social inequality.
At the Summer Research Opportunities at Harvard Program, Michael will be working with Harvard Professor Devah Pager, who has completed extensive research and publication on the topics of mass incarceration and labor markets.
“This is an outstanding opportunity for me to further my education, improve my research skills, and learn from one of the world’s foremost experts on mass incarceration,” Michael said.
Michael is on track to graduate with honors from SOU in June 2016. The Summer Research Opportunities at Harvard Program includes funding for all course-related expenses, food allowance, housing, travel to and from the program, and a living stipend. The program runs June 8 through Aug. 16.
Michael’s full profile is available online at https://www.sou.edu/mcnair/scholars/michaelmenefee.html.

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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.

(Ashland, Ore.) —The week of April 26-May 2 will be a busy one for students and faculty in media-related programs at Southern Oregon University.
Independent Media Week—now in its 11^th year—kicks off with a “Media Circus” in the downtown Ashland Plaza from 12-4 p.m. April 26. According to its Facebook page, Independent Media Week “showcases a coalition of independent media producers, local activists, and community groups organized around the theme that ‘a well-informed citizenry is a cornerstone of democracy.’”
Many events will take place throughout the week, including a keynote address given by Austin Powell and Debra Van Poolen on the topic of “Local Roots, Global Reach.” Powell is managing editor of DailyDot.com, one of the highest-trafficked news sites on the World Wide Web. From his home in Ashland, Powell remotely manages a staff of more than 30 employees.
Van Poolen is perhaps best known for her courtroom drawings of Pvt. Chelsea Manning’s trial on charges related to the release of confidential government documents.
The keynote event will take place Thursday, April 30 at 7 p.m. in the Rogue River Room inside the Stevenson Union on campus at SOU. It is free and open to the public.
“These are amazing speakers who I think exemplify the concept that the media need not be place-bound,” said Dr. Erik Palmer, assistant professor of convergent media at SOU. “This is an outstanding opportunity not just for SOU students, but for the entire community to come out and hear about the world of emerging media from two great perspectives.”

Additionally, on April 29, SOU’s UN Club will host a series of films and workshops showcasing local independent media, a workshop on self-broadcasting techniques, and a panel discussion on the future of independent media in the Rogue Valley. This is an all-day event beginning at 8 a.m. and running through 10 p.m. in the Meese Room inside the Hannon Library on SOU’s main campus in Ashland.
SOU’s second annual Emerging Media Convention runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, May 1, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 2. It features panel discussions and professional development opportunities on animation and gaming, copyright law and more. One of the highlights of the convention is Artist Ally, which provides students an opportunity to display their work for both the SOU and Rogue Valley community to view.

The Emerging Media Conference is an event designed to allow businesses, SOU students, and alumni to collaborate and expand their support network. Its primary goal is to attract a wide audience consisting of students, faculty, high schools, and the community.
“In addition to providing a venue to display their creative works, Artist Alley offers students a chance to network with potential employers, gain freelance opportunities, and meet with students who share similar passions,” according to Dr. Palmer.
For more information on the Emerging Media Convention, visit www.souemcon.com. Information on Independent Media Week can be found at www.sodmc.tumblr.com.
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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.

(Ashland, Ore.) —Southern Oregon University will host its fifth annual Interactive Marketing and e-Commerce Panel later this month. The panel, which is free and open to the public, features executives and managers from Fire Mountain Gems, Harry & David, Lithia Motors, and Motorcycle Superstore discussing the latest interactive marketing practices as well as employment opportunities in the field.
“Though the Interactive Marketing and e-Commerce Panel is organized with an emphasis on SOU students in related fields, it is certainly open to the public and we feel there are many in the community who may benefit from it,” according to Dr. Joan McBee, chair of SOU’s School of Business. “Small business owners and managers may be interested in learning about the latest developments in the field of interactive marketing and what it takes to succeed in this field.”
This year’s panel will feature Cathy Fultineer, Chief Marketing Officer with fire Mountain Gems; Mark Conner, Assistant Vice President of Marketing with Litha Motors Web Marketing; Tarik Dakkar, Vice President of Digital Commerce with Harry & David; and Scott Huddelston, Vice President of Marketing with Motorcycle Superstore.
“We really want to thank our community partners who make this panel possible,” said Professor McBee. Anyone interested in learning more about SOU’s Certificate in Interactive Marketing and e-Commerce is encouraged to contact Dr. McBee at mcbeej@sou.edu.
The panel will take place Tuesday, April 28 at 5 p.m. in the Meese Room inside the Hannon Library on SOU’s main campus in Ashland.
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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.

(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University is one of the 353 most environmentally responsible colleges according to The Princeton Review (www.PrincetonReview.com). The education services company known for its test prep and tutoring services, books, and college rankings features SOU in the 2015 edition of its free book, The Princeton Review Guide to 353 Green Colleges.
Published April 16, a few days before the April 22, 2015 celebration of Earth Day, the free, 218-page guide can be downloaded at www.princetonreview.com/green-guide.
The Princeton Review chose the schools for this sixth annual edition of its “green guide” based on data from the company’s 2014 survey of hundreds of four-year colleges concerning the schools’ commitments to the environment and sustainability. (Notes follow on how schools were chosen.)
“We are very pleased with our inclusion on this list, which clearly illustrates Southern Oregon University’s commitment to sustainability,” said SOU President Dr. Roy Saigo. “This announcement, closely following our designation as Tree Campus USA and the nation’s first Bee Campus USA, is very welcome news. We are always on the lookout for ways by which we can make improvements and become even better stewards of the land and environment while engaging and empowering our students to become involved as well.”
“We strongly recommend SOU and the other fine colleges in this guide to the many environmentally-minded students who seek to study and live at green colleges,” said The Princeton Review’s Robert Franek, Senior VP-Publisher.
Franek noted the growing interest the company has seen among college-bound students in green colleges. “Among nearly 10,000 teens who participated in our 2015 College Hopes & Worries Survey, 61% told us that having information about a school’s commitment to the environment would influence their decision to apply to or attend the college.” (A complete report on that survey is at www.princetonreview.com/college-hopes-worries.)

The profiles in The Princeton Review’s Guide to 353 Green Colleges provide information about each school’s admission requirements, cost and financial aid, and student body stats. They also include “Green Facts” about the schools with details on the availability of transportation alternatives at the schools and the percentage of the school food budgets spent on local/organic food.
In the “Green Facts” section on SOU, The Princeton Review cites the availability of alternative transportation for SOU students, the percent of local/organic food available, recent LEED-certified construction projects, and the availability of a sustainability-focused degree option, among other highlights. The Princeton Review also notes that SOU is the first public university in the United States to offset 100 percent of its water use.
The Princeton Review first published this guide in 2010. It remains the only free, annually updated downloadable guide to green colleges. The company is also known for its dozens of categories of college rankings in its annual books, The Best 379 Colleges and Colleges That Pay You Back.

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How Schools Were Chosen for the Guide
The Princeton Review chose the colleges based on “Green Rating” scores (from 60 to 99) that the company tallied in summer 2014 for 861 colleges using data from its 2013-14 survey of school administrators. The survey asked them to report on their school’s sustainability-related policies, practices, and programs. More than 25 data points were weighted in the assessment. Schools with Green Rating scores of 83 or higher made it into this guide. Most of the schools (347) in this edition are in the U.S. Five are in Canada. One is in Egypt. Information about Princeton Review’s Green Rating and its Green Honor Roll saluting schools that received the highest possible rating score, 99, is at www.princetonreview.com/green-guide. Note: The Princeton Review does not publish the schools’ Green Rating scores in this guide. The scores can be found in the profiles of the schools on www.princetonreview.com and in the 2015 edition of The Princeton Review books, The Best 379 Colleges and The Complete Book of Colleges, published in August 2014.
How the Top 50 Green Colleges List Was Done
The Princeton Review developed the ranking list using data from its institutional survey for its Green Rating and its surveys of students attending the colleges. Ten data points from the institutional survey were factored into the assessment. Data from the student survey included student ratings of how sustainability issues influenced their education and life on campus; adminis­tration and student support for environmental awareness and conservation efforts; and the visibility and impact of student environmental groups.
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.
About The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review is a leading test preparation, tutoring, and college admission services company. Every year, it helps millions of college- and graduate school-bound students achieve their education and career goals through online and in person courses delivered by a network of more than 4,000 teachers and tutors and its more than 150 print and digital books published by Penguin Random House. The Princeton Review is headquartered in Natick, MA, and is an operating business of IAC (NASDAQ: IACI). For more information, visit The Princeton Review on its web site and on its Facebook page. Follow the company’s Twitter feed @ThePrincetonRev.