Enrollment Is Up!
I'm delighted to announce that we have exceeded our fall enrollment goal! On Thursday, November 13, the Oregon University System announced an official number of 5,082 students—a 5.1 percent increase over last fall's enrollment of 4,836.
The growth occurred in both resident and nonresident categories and was boosted by strong retention of earlier entering classes. This is an exceptional achievement in light of the budget cuts and reorganization we have gone through over the past two years.
I especially want to highlight SOU's increase of students of color, including a 14.2 percent increase in Hispanic enrollment over last year. We've also seen growth in our graduate programs and in classes at the new Higher Education Center in Medford.
The new academic year is off to a great start! Many thanks to everyone who contributes every day to student retention and achievement. We're building a great foundation for long-term success.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Most of you have already heard that SOU student Brianne Sherman struck it rich on the November 12 episode of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Brianne walked off the set with $250,000, making her the biggest winner this season. A junior majoring in French and international studies, Brianne auditioned for the game show last June and made it into the contestant pool. She says her education here at SOU, especially her French studies, helped give her an edge. Brianne plans to use the money to help finance a three-month internship at the University of Poitiers in France next spring.
Research Oregon Online
SOU was recently highlighted in Research Oregon, a journal that focuses on Oregon's universities. Research Oregon highlighted the immersion program of our geology and hydrology field course, a 33-day program in the mountains and valleys of southern Oregon. For the full article, please visit the Research Oregon website.
Native American Student Union Drum Circle
November is Native American Heritage month. Many of you heard the sound of drumbeats coming from the Stevenson Union courtyard on Wednesday, November 12. In case you missed this powerful performance by our student and faculty drum circle, I include some audio excerpts:
SOU Middle School Honor Band Festival
More than 100 students from eighteen local middle schools came to campus on Saturday, November 8, for the annual SOU Middle School Honor Band Festival. The bands practiced under renowned composer and clinician Robert Sheldon. On Saturday afternoon, the group performed a selection of Sheldon's compositions for a concert in the Music Recital Hall.
I want to thank all who attended this public event, especially those who made the trip from Klamath Falls, Grants Pass, Medford, Talent, Shady Cove, Central Point, and Eagle Point. I'd also like to thank Associate Professor of Music/Band Conductor Cindy Hutton (shown above conducting the Middle School Honor Band) for arranging this event, now in its fourteenth consecutive year.
Siskiyou Saxophone Orchestra
The Siskiyou Saxophone Orchestra gave a beautiful performance in the SOU Music Recital Hall on November 14. Saxophone Colors showcased a wide variety of musical talent, with Professor of Music Rhett Bender as the featured soloist. Associate Dean Vicki Purslow and SOU alum Erin Luce were guest conductors on Egmont Overture by Beethoven, Mars by Holst, and Bethena by Joplin, as well as original works from Arthur Frackenpohl and Walter Hartley.
If you couldn't make it to the event, you can view some of their performances online.
An Enemy of the People and Ring Round the Moon
The Department of Theatre Arts is currently performing two new plays: An Enemy of the People and Ring Round the Moon.
SOU Professor Dennis Smith directs An Enemy of the People, the nineteenth-century classic by Henrik Ibsen about a man brave enough to stand up for his own morality.
David Kelly of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival directs Jean Anouilh's Ring Round the Moon, a comedy of manners that exposes the vanity of the French aristocracy.
Both plays are running during the week with matinees on the weekend. For more information, visit the ticket office or the Theatre Arts website.
Art Affair
Great food, fine wine, outstanding music, and inspiring art greeted all those who attended the Schneider Museum of Art's sixth annual fundraiser, the Art Affair, on Saturday, November 8. Thanks to the many sponsors and donors who made this yearly event possible. Please know that your generous donations keep the arts alive in our community.
At the event, the Thorndike Family and Gerhard Heiter received the Schneider Award for Extraordinary Contributions to the Museum and the Arts Community of Southern Oregon. Throughout the years, members of the Thorndike family have served on numerous museum and campus committees. Gerhard Heiter has also been a strong supporter of SOU, and his contributions helped lead to an expansion of both the Schneider Museum and Hannon Library. Mr. Heiter also provided a generous donation to SOU scholarships that benefit fine and performing arts students.
SOU Men Claim Cross Country Conference Title
Congratulations to the Southern Oregon men's cross country team, which just claimed the Cascade Conference team title at the league championship meet in Seattle, Washington.
The fifth-ranked Raiders are still undefeated against NAIA competition as they finished ahead of Concordia 38-64. The College of Idaho finished third with 81 points. In the women's race, the College of Idaho defeated Concordia 48-83. The SOU women,
ranked last in the conference coming into the race, finished ninth with 221 points.The victory for the SOU men advances them to the November 22 NAIA National Championships. The conference crown is the third for the SOU men. The Raiders also won the championship in 2004 and 2005.
In the men's race, all seven of SOU's runners finished in the top 21, and two finished in the top four.
