Volume II: Issue 9
Raider Rollout
SOU's future depends on stabilizing our finances through increased enrollment. Many kudos to everyone who is working to keep our current students enrolled and increase the number of new admitted students who choose SOU for fall 2008. Both efforts are crucial to our success.
Please join me on Friday in the Rogue River Room as I recap highlights from this academic year and discuss challenges and plans for the remainder of spring term.
Campus Update: Taking Charge of Our Future
John Frohnmayer Speaks at SOU
A good crowd came out on the snowy evening of April 14 to hear John Frohnmayer, former head of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Visiting campus as part of the Jackson County Reads Program, he addressed issues of censorship, the First Amendment, and the need for education. His talk, titled "No Read, No Think, No Democracy," was cosponsored by SOU's Hannon Library (as part of the Siskiyou Views Lecture Series) and Jackson County Library Services. The talk was a commentary on Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, this year's featured book in the Jackson County Reads Program.
Frohnmayer captured his experiences in Washington, D.C., painfully but beautifully, in his own book Leaving Town Alive, published in 1993. He has recently worked with a collaborator to turn Leaving Town Alive into a musical called Spin, scheduled to premiere at OSU in May.
High School Math Contest
On April 15, the Rogue River Room overflowed with nearly 300 high school students as the Southern Oregon Math League, a high school math contest begun in 1970 by SOU's Mathematics Department, held its final contest of the year. Fourteen regional high schools participated. This is a wonderful event, showcasing SOU to hundreds of gifted students every year.
I was happy to welcome these students to our campus. I was also delighted to speak with Emeritus Math Professor Ron Steffani (above), who generously volunteered his time to help with the event.
Sixteenth Annual Powwow
I hope you were able to attend SOU's sixteenth annual Native American Student Union Powwow and Tribal Gathering on April 12 and 13 at McNeal Pavilion. The two-day event featured drumming from the Native Canadian group Perfect Storm and the northern Californian group the Mankillers, as well as a Brush Dance demonstration by the Klamath River tribes. Other activities included dance and hand-drum competitions, individual Native dancers performing in ceremonial costumes, and vendors selling Native American wares and art.
Above are pictures from the Drum Circle held by NASU on March 31. Kudos to Native American Studies Program Coordinator David West, Academic Programs Coordinator Brent Florendo, and Department of Communication Chair D.L. Richardson, SOU leaders and organizers of the event.
Capstone Review
On April 18, the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment (CTLA) hosted an informal discussion of capstone projects. Faculty were invited to share examples of outstanding capstone projects, comparing notes about requirements, quality expectations, grading practices, and strategies to encourage student success.
Chair and Professor of Business René Ordoñez began by citing recent business plans created for local businesses by students Daniel Cecchini, Shelby Jones, and Christine Allen, while Associate Professor of Health, PE, and Leadership Laura Jones addressed how their seniors use the capstone as an opportunity to work in fields ranging from teaching and coaching to nutritional programs and even pet therapy.
Associate Professor of Geography/Environmental Studies Pat Acklin discussed the 6-credit capstone focused on land use planning that was started by Emeritus Professor of Geography Claude Curran back in the 1970s—when Pat herself was a student at Southern.
Associate Professor of Geology/Environmental Studies Bill Elliott shared how his students assess landslides, groundwater quality, and erosion. In addition, his students collaborate with agencies such as the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Park Services on a long-term research project that continues each year with new students completing their capstones.
The cross-disciplinary discussion highlighted the value of the senior capstone, which CTLA Director Kay Sagmiller described as "the bridge between the academic world and the world of work." Students enjoy putting their theory into practice, and they often come away with impressive portfolios, conference presentation experience, and an understanding of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and grant-seeking processes.
Wrestling Awards Ceremony
Congratulations to our Wrestling Team, which has completed its thirty-eighth consecutive winning season. With four national championship team banners under its belt, the SOU Wrestling Team finished second in the region and eleventh in the NAIA National Tournament this year.
On April 16, we celebrated these outstanding Raiders at an awards ceremony. Congratulations to the following wrestlers who were honored: Team Captains Skyler Massey and Jimmy Ulrey; Dan Speasl Outstanding Wrestler Barry Johnson; Freshman of the Year Tommie Hooper; National Wrestling Coaches Association Academic All-Americans Trevor Lofstedt and Tomas Rosa. Trevor was also honored for Most Wins (24) and Most Pins (11).
Above, Raider Wrestling Team Captains Skyler Massey (left) and Jimmy Ulrey pose with Head Wrestling Coach Mike Ritchey.
