1. sports
2. football

Lavender graduation 2015 Juried
celebrates LBGTIQ Student Art Show
students
S
OU’s Lavender Graduation will be
Thursday, June 11 from 4:30 pm - 6
pm at the Stevenson Union Rogue River
Room. The ceremony celebrates the lives
and achievements of SOU’s lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer,
genderqueer, and allied students.
Graduates will have the opportunity
for their accomplishments at SOU to be
recognized and honored at the ceremony.
Students will be able to ask a close friend,
family member or professor to speak
about them for a few minutes.
This event will also serve as an opportunity to publicly thank all those who
have contributed time, effort and ceaseless support to the LGBTIQ community
at SOU.
SOU choirs present
‘Freedom Come’
Voice of the Southern Oregon University students
Tuesday, June 9
Stevenson Union
NEWS
T
he annual Student Art Show is taking
place at the Stevenson Union Gallery
(third floor). Come and check out the
beautiful artwork created by your fellow
students.
The SU Gallery is open Monday through
Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Send us your events,
announcements and
calls to action:
[email protected]
S
OU Chamber Choir and SOU Concert
Choir, under the direction of Dr. Paul
French and Martin Majkut of the Rogue
Valley Symphony, perform “Freedom
Come: Music by African and African-American Composers.” Music Recital
Hall. $10 regular, $5 senior, free to fulltime students. Presented by the Oregon
Center for the Arts at Southern Oregon
University.
Summe
r 2015
CONTINUED FROM 13
got the chance to meet with various
legislatures that were on board; including
Governor Kate Brown, Representative
Buckley, and Senator Bates. Oregon
residents on the football team got to
spend some time chatting with their
individual representatives from the
section they were raised in as the out
of state residents met legislatures that
represent the Rogue Valley area.
While present, the students took the
opportunity to support state funding
for Oregon’s public universities during
some legislative meetings. This called
for the Legislature to meet $755 million
in state support of higher education for
public universities set by the President.
Students also discussed the sports lottery
to fund athletic programs. The sports
lottery was established by the Oregon
lottery as a sports betting program. The
outcome of the program is set up to
fund intercollegiate athletics in seven
OUS institutions including SOU.
At the end of the day, players seemed
tired but excited by this opportunity of
prestigious invitation. Few teams have
received recognition by the state capital
for their athletic accomplishments
and the players and students all
returned home feeling honored.
ENTERTAINMENT
SPORTS
STUDENT LITERATURE AND ART
GRADUATION!
Seven things you need to know
Sunday, June 7
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Music Recital Hall
Honor
16
THE SISKIYOU
BY CONNOR CUSHMAN
A
re you graduating?
If you’ve been at Southern Oregon
University for 4 years and thought to
yourself “welp it’s been 4 years I must be
graduating” you may be wrong. Turns out
graduating requires things like “Credits”
and “A Major” so if you’ve been coasting
through 12 terms of Intro to Theater not
only are you not graduating but you’ve
also spent a ridiculous amount of money.
I know I’m graduating, what do I need
to get?
Cap. And. Gown. Pretty basic one here,
at Southern Oregon University we pride
ourselves on being “different” and “nonconformist, you wouldn’t understand”
but graduation is the time when we all
come together and wear the same thing.
If you’re wondering where you buy
the cap and gown, they are currently
being sold at the SOU Bookstore.
Ok, I have all the stuff. Where is it?
The SOU Football Field, you know
where it’s been every year. No RSVP
required just show up to Raider Stadium
and you will be greeted by your fellow
classmates of whom you’ve only made
In This Issue:
Summer Term Survival Guide
Deer, Friend or Menace?
FIFA Scandal Shakes World
Ashland’s own races for USA
Are you ready for festival season?
awkward eye contact
with in USEM.
That’s great and
all, but when is it?!
Check in starts
at 7:00 AM and
is located on the
visitor stands of
Raider Stadium,
the procession will
begin at 8:45. I know
you haven’t seen
the better part of
7:00 AM since your
freshman year but
2014 Southern Oregon University Graduation
Southern Oregon
Photo by Daily Tidings
University is gonna
make you stick this one out. Don’t sleep in Anything else I need to know?
or your parents will be disappointed (it’s
LADIES, DO NOT WEAR HIGH HEELS.
not the first time)
Recent improvements to our facilities have
Oh yeah, what should I tell my parents? made the track and football field very
First off I would send them this article,
susceptible to sharp objects and as a result
they probably need it more than you.
SOU is asking that no one wear heels. Also
Second you should reassure them that
any sign of intoxication, or any clowns who
there are no tickets required. SOU is only
want to bring beach balls or air horns will
allowing one program per family, and
be removed from the commencement. Also
gates open at 7:00 AM. Also tell your
wear sunscreen, or layers, I don’t know the
parents you love them, and you will call
weather has been crazy lately…
them when they’re old.
That’s all you need to know!
What if I get on stage and they don’t
Congrats!
hand me a real Diploma?
That’s a great question because they
won’t. Pseudo diplomas will be issued
at graduation and then mailed to your
residence. You should know the mailing
will take 4-6 weeks, a time where you may
doubt if you really graduated at all. Don’t
worry, you did graduate, wait…..did you?
Community deer can be a nuisance
Letter from the editor...
I
n your hands, you hold the first issue of The Siskiyou printed on paper
in three years...and I think that’s pretty cool. As my first year at Southern
Oregon University comes to a close it has become apparent how interesting
this school is. In just a few short terms many events took place on campus
that drew national attention. To name a few of the headlines: Last fall we
welcomed Laverne Cox tell her story and convey what it means to be trans
in America. Across the board our sports teams finished at the top of their
divisions,some even bringing home trophies. And we were able to locate and
rid the putrid smell around the dorms. OK, that last one didn’t get national
attention, and now I’m just self-promoting, but these are all big events that
The Siskiyou covered.
With the diversity in people and events on campus, there needs to be a
united voice of the students, and this paper has been dedicated to being just
that since 1926.
Now I’m not under any false beliefs about students and school papers.
Some people choose not to read us and some didn’t even know we existed.
But personally, I couldn’t be more proud of this first year with The Siskiyou, as
well as the first print in your hands. Considering that the paper, in its entirety,
was under the threat of being cut just two months ago, the reinstatement of
the class and publication means the world to me.
This paper will surely continue its online presence, but it has been our hope
for awhile now to start printing issues again in order to reach a larger number
of students on campus as well as community members. Thanks to our new
friends, who happen to be former Siskiyou writers, at A-street printing, we are
able to have this first sample edition. In the summer, myself and a few other
select staff will be working to keep stories coming online and also iron out
the specifics of creating a regular print edition for the fall.
For those of you graduating this weekend, Congratulations and goodluck
in your future endeavors. But for those coming back next term, there are still
some openings in the course and there has never been a better time to come
aboard. Whether you’re already a stupendous writer looking to showcase
your talents or a newbie who just wants to learn, we would love to have you.
If you still need more persuading on joining the staff, feel free to email me
at : [email protected]. Also, be looking for our upcoming articles online at
Siskiyou.sou.edu. For now, take a break from your hectic cramming and enjoy
this issue of The Siskiyou.
Goodluck on your finals and thank you for the great first year,
Eli
Staff
Editor-in-Chief
Eli Stillman
Literary Editor
Eric Ghelfi
Staff Writers
Ryan Degan
Connor Cushman,
Ashley Winkler
Jay Hoppe
Delaney Vallee
Michael Brock
Keith Proctor
William Babishoff
Nathan Torres-Walker
Special Contributors:
Alexander Mesadieu
Kate Burkhardt
Adviser
Julie Akins
Layout
Jason Houk
Rogue Valley
Community Press
(541) 622-9483
Printing
A Street Print and Parcel
258 A Street #1
Ashland, OR 97520
BY ELI STILLMAN
W
hether they’ve decapitated your
flowers, played chicken with your
vehicle, or charged you on your walk home
at night, avoiding interactions with the
deer of Ashland is nearly impossible. The
Rogue Valley has become a hotspot for the
Black Tailed Deer that have migrated down
from the hills. With a surplus of food in
almost every yard and lack of predators, the
growing population has become a problem
in the city that appears to only be getting
worse.
Learning to live among the speeding cars
and pets have made the urban deer braver
when it comes to confrontation. One of the
most infamous incidents occurred in 2012,
when a doe ran through the window of a
high end clothing store downtown.
Another confrontation occurred last year
when 52 year old resident Amy Femeley
was attacked by a doe at 5:30 AM in her
backyard. When Fenley let her small dog,
Buddy, out back it was cornered by a large
female deer who was lurking on the property. After Femeley ran to help her dog, the
deer turned to her and while pinning her
against the house began attacking with its
hooves.
In an interview with the Daily Tidings Ms.
Femeley reported, “I screamed bloody
murder for help, but no one came. Buddy
jumped in and tried to scare her off, which
he did. He saved my life. I was in shock, hyperventilating and shaking uncontrollably.
I’m still rather traumatized.”
Legal steps to help the problem have had
little success in Ashland in recent years.
Although city council passed a vote to allow
8 foot tall fences to be built, gardens are
still being ravaged as the deer are finding
their way through holes and weak points.
Also, in 2012 a fine of up to $425 was put in
place for feeding the deer, when residents
complained that deer would hang around
their yards when neighbors would willingly
supply them with food.
A study last week by Progressive insurance proved the suspicion that Oregon
drivers are some of the slowest in the
nation. Even with Siskiyou Boulevard being
a 25 MPH zone and relatively low limits
throughout the town, it was confirmed
that vehicles have killed at least 250 deer
between 2001 and 2011. According to the
Wildlife Society Bulletin, deer account for 1
billion dollars in damages and 200 human
fatalities in America annually.
Last year Dr. Michael Parker, Chair of
Southern Oregon University’s Biology
Department, told Jefferson Public Radio,
“We’ve created a beautiful habitat for this
particular animal.”
Ideas of how to get the deer to move are
still difficult to choose though; relocating
through wildlife services can cost thousands of dollars per animal and also runs a
high risk of disease transfer.
In Connecticut a town fed up with damaged property and sickness from deer overpopulation founded the Fairfield County
Deer Management Alliance. The group
works to inform the towns about the dangers of deer population but is most notably
known for their organized hunts.
Serendipitously enough the town of Ashland, Wisconsin last year implemented very
specific rules and guidelines for a hunt of
their own, and bow hunters of southern
Oregon have jumped at the idea of adopt-
Siskiyou Newspaper
Love
CONTINUED FROM 13
Contact Us
old men are when you’re still beautiful
and you think about young faces when
you think of love and you think about
young limbs when you think of sex
i recognized him in almost immediacy
which didn’t feel like enough
i walked up to him with my wrinkled
hands that i placed around his body
it didn’t feel ugly; nothing felt ugly anymore
i woke up feeling imperceptible amounts
of naive and wise obliterated by something
much larger and more imperceptible
Email:
[email protected]
Twitter: @the_siskiyou
Web: siskiyou.sou.edu
FIND US ONLINE AT SISKIYOU.SOU.EDU
2
ing this practice. But d ue to resistance
from animal rights activists and possible
crossfire, the plan has yet to take flight.
These culling efforts are akin to calling
an exterminator, Parker told JPR, “It’s not
savory at all, and has nothing in common
with sport hunting.”
While plans for official hunts or removal
of the deer will be kept on the back burner,
residents of Ashland can take preventative
steps to avoid the creatures by following
some basic rules:
• Don’t approach deer or their fawns.
• Don’t leave food outside that will attract
them.
• Be alert at night when driving.
• It is better to collide with the animal than
to swerve into traffic.
• If you see one, there are probably more
around.
June 8, 2015
15
Drones of the future
On the Fringe
BY DELANEY VALLEE
BY JAY HOPPE
A
t the age of twenty eight, Dusty
Newkirk has become self employed
and come up with a few business ideas
that give a preview of what business
ventures of the future may look like.
“We are in a golden age right now
where innovation and technology are
advancing at a mind blistering speed.”
The entrepreneur, husband, and father
decided to venture off on his own and
become independently employed when his
former job was leaving him with limited
time for his family. Newkirk, then a sales
associate in Charter Communication’s
telecommunications department, reflects
on the responsibilities that came along
with the job. “As it turns out, I was
pretty well suited for sales and over the
next 8 years I rose to the top of my sales
organization at Charter Communications
– ending with a corporate management
job that required me to travel, a lot.”
Newkirk, though initially enjoying the
success in his career, soon reconsidered.
“I learned fairly quickly that once the
flash of flying around the country 4 days a
week and getting to spend inconceivable
amounts of company money wore off
– I wasn’t really satisfied with my job
and my wife didn’t care for it either.”
Newkirk ventured out to find a new career
that fulfilled his interest in technology
and telecommunications, as well as
allowed for more time for his family’s
favorite activities, “camping, hiking,
boating, swimming, (and) fishing,” with
his kids, Jayden and Kade, and wife,
Jen. “We have a very active lifestyle.”
Becoming self-employed made sense,
having the freedom to choose his own
hours as well as getting to invest time in to
a long-lasting interest of his. “I have always
seen the practical use for sUAV’s (small
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) in business.”
Newkirk started his own company,
SkyActiv Media, an aerial videography and
surveying venture in Southern Oregon.
Newkirk took his interest for the new
technology of drones and incorporated
it into a business plan. “I have been
following the development of civilian RC
drones or sUAV’s for the past few years –
from the start I could see a great number
14
of opportunities to integrate this
emerging technology into marketing,
agriculture, mining, construction,
timber, wild land firefighting & SAR
(Search and Rescue).” Newkirk uses drones with high quality
cameras to take photos and video
footage of various things for various
employers. Some of the specialties
SkyActiv Media offers include aerial
videos and photos of real estate,
agriculture, mining, construction, and
search and rescue. “We utilize sUAV’s to
capture video, photo and data for clients
that historically could only be done by
hiring expensive full size aircraft or using
dated satellite imaging systems. We are able
to complete jobs more accurately, more
effectively and most important - safer than
traditional methods. We also operate in
compliance with current FAA regulations
and are fully insured.” Some examples of
what SkyActiv Media can offer are aerial
footage videos and photos of properties
for relators to show to potential buyers, or
assistance with SAR missions providing
“quick ‘eyes in the sky’,” as phrased by
Newkirk.
SkyActiv Media is one example of a
business that is taking advantage of the
new technology at their disposal. A DJI
drone (one of the leading affordable
brands in drones for aerial videography
and photography) costs between $499
and $2,899 depending on the model.
Comparing the less-than $3000 investment
and the possible payback, Newkirk felt that
it was a wise business choice. Taking about
one hour per video shoot, and between one
and two days to edit and have the video
product ready, the money invested is made
back swiftly. “The return on investment
(ROI) can be very fast--as little as 6
months or less. For example, one of our
UAVs cost us $2,400 upfront and we can
charge between $500-$2,000 per real estate
marketing video… If you could schedule
four video shoots a day, averaging $600
profit (after expenses like paying the video
editor), you can see how quickly the ROI
can be. ” And Newkirk is not the only one
who feels that a drone may be an intelligent
investment.
I
Many individuals believe the market for
products made with drones is rising. Tim
Wilson of Forbes predicted in an article
last October that drones would be used for
“aerial observation and imaging,” in the
future, as well as other uses like package
delivery once the FAA (Federal Aviation
Administration) makes clear regulations on
drone flying.
According to the FAA’s website, as long as
flyers of sUAV’s follow parameters listed in
Section 336 of Public Law 112-95 (the FAA
Modernization and Reform Act of 2012) ,
drone flyers do not need special permission
to fly. In addition to this, FAA has started
a campaign called Know Before You Fly,
which is intended to educate people who
intend to fly drones recreationally. Know
Before You Fly outlines safety guidelines
that people can follow to avoid accidents,
including where and how high to safely fly
drones.
People who plan to fly drones nonrecreationally can get a Section 333
Exemption or a Special Airworthiness
Certificate.
With the industry of drones becoming
more popular, entrepreneurs may want to
consider incorporating this new technology
into their own business endeavors to keep
up with the times. “The sUAV industry is
exploding and the revenue generated from
this industry is only going up… There is
always going to be resistance to change,
technology and so forth – but I believe
collectively we will always be pushing
the limits and striving for bigger and
better ways of accomplishing things – it’s
simply human nature,” stated Newkirk.
The Siskiyou Newspaper
nspired by tradition. Driven by passion.
A student-produced arts festival is taking
its second run around the Southern Oregon
University campus, and will be continuing
its escapee celebration for the next five
days (until June 5th). Invented by students
in 2014, the Oregon Fringe Festival (OFF)
provides a platform for young artists to
produce both new, inventive works and
is an outlet for creative passions. From
guerilla theater to beatboxing jugglers to
pop-up playgrounds. OFF is sponsored by
the Oregon Center for the Arts at Southern
Oregon University, taking place every year
on campus and the town of Ashland.
Fringe Underground is this year’s
prominent theme. Tyler Kubat, the festival’s
artistic director, shares that this theme
focuses on the “creating and recreating”
of art and can be demonstrated in all of
the vents being held for this weeklong
extravaganza. One of the most compelling
performances listed for this year is An Ill
Word, which was last seen performed in the
SOU event Shakespeare in Contemporary
America (see article). Directed by Frankie
Regalia, An Ill Word will be making its
Fringe debut June 4th and 5th in the
downstairs arena at the SOU Stevenson
Union and in the theater department on
Friday.
Sunday was a host to a few Fringe
events such as Crash, a performance by
Sean Muir using a combination of hihats and hand cymbals. Accompanying
Sean was an equally musical performance
featuring SOU students and professors
performing various interactive freejazz, progressive, and generally eclectic
compositions called “Hello America”. The
last event of the day was a fundraiser and
farewell recital hosted by Colin Thomas
Campbell, who combines classical and
musical theater including Rossini, and
Vaughan Williams – to Leonard Bernstein,
the Four Seasons, and Billy Joel.
The Oregon Fringe Festival is hosting
a menagerie of other events, which can
be found either on the official Fringe site
or Facebook. The greatest show on earth
is coming back this spring. Come and
join us in the celebration of the arts and
entertainment! Are you ready for Fringe?
Helfrich to deliver commencement address
BY NATHAN TORRES-WALKER
S
outhern Oregon alumni and current
head coach of the Oregon Ducks football
team, Mark Helfrich, will be the featured
speaker during the commencement
ceremony on June 13th. In a letter to
President Saigo, Helfrich wrote, “It is with
great humility and pleasure that the offer
to deliver the commencement address
at this year’s graduation ceremony is
officially accepted. Thank you very much
for this distinguished honor.” Helfrich
played quarterback here at SOU from
1992-1995 and earned honorable mention
All-America honors in 1993. During his
time as a raider, he set a variety of records
including pass attempts in a season, passing
yards in a season, passing touchdowns in a
season, and total offense. In the classroom,
Helfrich received the honors such as an
NAIA scholar athlete and FA Academic
All-Star while obtaining a bachelor’s in
Biology. Initially, he wanted to learn to
become an orthopedic surgeon, but after
a couple years of coaching at Boise State,
Helfrich’s path became set in stone. In 2012
he was inducted into the SOU hall of fame
for being one of the greatest quarterback’s
the university has seen.
This will be the first commencement
speech for Helfrich, who has gained major
notoriety after leading the Ducks to the
National Championship Game in January.
JUNE 8, 2015
The commencement speech will take place
at 9 a.m. in Raider Stadium, June 13th.
Oregon Ducks offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich
looks on before the 2013 Fiesta Bowl against the
Kansas State Wildcats at University of Phoenix
Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of
Sport-USA TODAY Sports
3
Festival Season, are you ready? Ashland
gets crafty,
stays local
BY ASHLEY WINKLER
BY NATHAN TORRES-WALKER
E
T
he smell of patchouli oil, burning incense, pot, and perspiration filled the
air this weekend behind the Provolt Store,
summoning hundreds of hippies both
young and old to the grounds for the 7th
Annual Apple Jam from Friday to Sunday.
“It’s like a big family,” said one festival
goer, “the music is fun and brings such a
great vibe.”
The field was transformed into a colorful
sea of Volkswagen bugs, tents, and tapestries, with crowds wearing tie dye t-shirts
and maxi skirts filtering through the main
gates to enjoy the music and the unique
selection of vendors and food. Even the
Provolt Store seemed transformed, with
bikes, strollers, and flags strewn out front,
as festival goers and locals brought their
business thru the squeaking front door.
The party started for the early birds on
Friday afternoon, gaining momentum
on Saturday with local musical favorites
including Ras Cricket and The Cultivators
and Frankie Hernandez with The Old Soul
Parade playing in The Moon Barn, along
with live glass blowing and kids activities.
The music continued into the night with
the sounds of 100 Watt Mind and the Polyrhythmics, echoing off the surrounding
landscape until after 2a.m.
As campers woke to the final day of
the festival early Sunday afternoon, the
4
grounds began to transform back into their
original state. Tents and tapestries were
folded and bagged, along with stray beer
bottles and trash. Trailers, trucks, and cars
packed to various degrees filed out and onto
Williams Highway while the festival came to
a close.
For anyone who hasn’t had a chance to
enjoy this year’s festival season yet, there
are plenty up and coming within driving
distance!
Reggae in the Hills – Angel’s Camp, CA.
June 12th-14th with Ky-Mani Marley, Don
Carlos, and local favorite, Indubious!
Sierra Nevada World Music Festival –
Booneville, CA. June 19th-21st with Thievery Corporation and Steel Pulse.
Oroville Rock Reggae Jamfest– Oroville,
CA. July 17th-9th with Stephen Marley,
Capelton, Luciano, and Jo Mersa Marley.
Northwest World Reggae Festival – Scio,
Oregon. July 24th – 26th
31st Annual Reggae on the River – Humboldt County, French’s Camp, CA. July 30th
– August 2nd with Stick Figure, Stephen
Marley, Alborosie, and Fortunate Youth.
More info on www.regaefestivalguide.com
ven with rain in the forecast, the sun
managed to squeeze through the
clouds and bring out the locals to mingle
on Oak Street. The Growers and Crafters
Market comes to Ashland every Tuesday
and Saturday from 8:30am to 1:30pm.
The market goes to Medford on Thursday
and Saturday during the same hours.
The Rogue Valley Growers and Crafters
Market has come to the streets of Ashland
every spring to sell a variety of different
crafts and produce to the general public.
Many farms and small businesses take the
opportunity of being vendors at this event
as a way to place their name out into the
community. The variety of vendors who
come to the Saturday Market include Wild
Bee Honey Farm, Pennington Farms, B&B
Gardens, and Alkahest Moccasins and
Leathercrafts. Each vendor is unique in
its own way through the items they sell or
through how they display themselves.
Going to this weekend’s market, I noticed
that many stands were selling vegetable
plants and flowers. This was because “if
people want to grow a garden, they can buy
plants now before the sun will really hit,”
according to a local who had an interest
in starting a garden. Many other stands
contained arts and crafts, from wood
spoons and glass art, to herbs and poultry.
Hot items in the market were the jellies and
jams that some vendors placed out. Some
had a large variety that ranged from marion
berry to raspberry. There were even some
jellies you can’t find on the shelf of your
local grocery store. The location of the
farmer’s market is great; for some residents
“you can grab some coffee, walk around
for a bit, and finish by grabbing something
to eat from somewhere in town.” Ruby’s,
which is located one block away from the
market site, is always loaded with people
MARKET 5
Siskiyou Newspaper
Football
receives
prestigious
honors in
Salem
mysubconscious
isoverlysentimental
f#ckyoubrain
BY KATE BURKHARDT
L
ast night i dreamed my first
love was my last love
BY NATHAN TORRES-WALKER
and i didn’t feel the way it felt at 19
with the bitter used up emotions
“Be It Resolved by the Legislative
and the public stairs at 7 am
Assembly of the State of Oregon: That
maybe there was something purposeful
we, the members of the Seventy-eighth
in our hands and mouths then
Legislative Assembly, honor the Southern or the way we moved down the stairs and
Oregon University Raiders football team talked in a hollow way about the past
for their victory at the 2014 National
i bowed my head into your arm and
Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
talked about an empty sketch of my
Football National Championship.”
life and you did the same and your
skin looked sallow in the grey sky
hese were the words of House
and you were rubbing sleep from our eyes
Concurrent Resolution 17 that
when we were in a parking lot after i fell
honored the Southern Oregon Raider
asleep last night i didn’t feel anything but
football team as they took the Oregon
some weird rush of holding someone’s
Capital building in Salem on April
hand that wasn’t just somebody
21st. Representatives Peter Buckley,
it was visceral in some dusk kinda
Sal Esquivel, Wayne Krieger, Duane
way i climbed back inside
Stark, and Senators Alan Bates and Jeff
i forgot the feeling til i climbed inside
Kruse represented Resolution 17 as it
there is this grabbing at the water
passed into legislation that Tuesday. The
kind of thing going on
Raiders were recognized by the Oregon
any moment you’re not inside, you are
Senate as members applauded and rose
grabbing at water for the recollection
to the players and coaches who entered
i wanted to stay comatose in that
the Capital dressed in formal attire.
conditionally obtainable youth
Receiving Resolution 17 is the highest
’cause i was covered in it
honor the state can bestow for the Raider ’cause i was covered in the ‘you’
football team. “It was a great experience”, i was given this; i gave it to myself
said freshman receiver Chase Cole,
i’m not talking about love;
“it’s also great that we get recognized
i’m talking about this:
for all of our accomplishments”.
i was shrouded by the haze with
Earlier that morning, at five-thirty AM, vague thoughts of an intense
The Raider football team left Ashland
transcendence of preservation
by bus and was accompanied by other
making out was like when it meant
student athletes in the school’s program.
something, more than anything else
The sleepy raiders also traveled with
like that song about stopping the
some students that represent entire
world and melting with you
whole student body as well as President
like, the simplicity of just lips and hands
Roy Saigo and three Trustees. Everyone
like how it almost meant something
who made the trip to the capital also
in my basement last year
like how it didn’t really
like how you can’t really discern the
HONOR 16 meaning that lurks weakly in things
T
June 8, 2015
people say things about being in
love with the idea of a person
but there’s this layer of subconscious i consider
there’s this firing off of random
particles that somehow pertains
to something i’ve already got
like exact blueprints
we have everything in our heads of everything
we know in an arsenal for uncontrollable use
and i would rather not assign importance
i will abstract the abstract
i am not talking about love
back in there i was something like forever
and forever isn’t really anything but an
encapsulated feeling with unreachable
proximity to the other side of the veil
lots of things can be personified as death
like the unobtainable past
like our brains waking out of the expanse
of surreal solitary projections – human
voices and visions, trajectories – obliterated
into dim broad assumptions
like how they’re generally not
recyclable blueprints
like how we aren’t either
like how when i think about your personality
i think of an insecure hollowed out shadow
and how there are spaces of dusk and
warmth and things i crawled back into
and how there is that person
and i am this person
and it’s all just something i’ve been
given; i gave it to myself
in the parking lot
there is something about dusk and holding
someone’s hand that’s just somebody
just somebody
at the close i saw an old man with his
green eyes and arched eyebrows; he
was sitting on a swing hanging from
a willow tree older than him
his body sagged and he was ugly the way all
LOVE 15
13
Ashland’s own to race for America
FIFA scandal shakes soccer world
BY CONNOR CUSHMAN
“Bribery and FIFA go together like peanut butter and jelly” - Dave Zirin, an American political sportswriter said last year.
T
D
he motorcycle riding Southern
Oregon alumnus left his mark in
Ashland when in 2010 he lead the cross
country team to their first national
championship in program history.
Now 26, his running has manifested
him into a ferocious global runner taking
on some of the toughest and longest trails
in the ultra-marathon community. The
Nike Trail Elite runner is gearing up to
represent the United States on May 30th
when he races the World Trail Championships in Annecy-le-vieux, France.
2015 is the inaugural year for the World
Trail Championships, and the course has
recently been set for 83 kilometers (51
miles) in the French countryside.
When asked how he feels about representing the United States in competition,
Laney whispers an ecstatic, “Oh, real
good.”
As of the 2014-2015 season Laney has
truly been “killin’ it,” qualifying for the US
Olympic trials at the California International Marathon, running a 2:17 and
finishing tenth in the field. As for the trail
scene, Laney has established himself as a
top dog, winning the Chuckanut 50k as
well as the Bandera 100k, which doubled
as the US trail championship.
“I like to think about all the dollar bills
I’m making when I’m running. It’s like
every step is a couple of smackaroos when
you’re killin’ it the way I am.”
Thinking about money is as close to
having it as he’s going to get right now.
Trail running is a sport that still is young
in its commercial sponsorship. Though
big names like Nike and Brooks have
joined the scene, their team athletes make
considerably less than most others like
LeBron James who signed a 7 year 90 million dollar contract with Nike. It’s hardly
enough to even keep the lights on. David
is trying to live on race winnings to deal
with the reality of not making rent if he
doesn’t collect the prize purse which can
range from 1,000 to 10,ooo dollars.
Because of logging so many hours a week
training, it’s near-impossible for Laney
12
BY MICHAEL BROCK
to work full time. To make ends meet, he
is a valet in Medford. Also, he has begun
his own business of hand-burning custom
wood medals for trail races he’s not competing in. His notoriety and connections
in the running world have made this work
for him but not so much that he can afford
much luxury in fact he sleeps four people
in an apartment to stay up on bills.
medals
Still, David Laney’s a great runner. The
man was made to run on trails, and it
wouldn’t take another trail runner to figure
that out. His slender frame can often be
seen moving up and down Siskiyou boulevard smiling at passerby’s, but one has to
wonder why he cheerfully does it?
The pay isn’t great, he’s often sore as hell,
and then there’s the whole running 100
miles per week thing. The dedication and
love of running have transformed from a
hobby to a way of life for David.
“When I was 16 I decided I wanted to
run fast and now that’s what I’m doing…
It’s weird how what you set your mind to
when you’re younger dictates what you’re
going to do later.”
The opportunity to represent America
is a huge honor to David. In his latest blog
post, the racer says that as a Central Catholic ram he was inspired when he received a
Team USA jacket from former teammate
and American olympian, Galen Rupp. Da-
siskiyou.sou.edu
vid’s own path to becoming a representative
athlete of America would be full of injuries
and setbacks, but as Laney says, “The ups
will excite you, but coming back from the
downs is what inspires others.”
espite decades of this known
corruption, Federation Internationale
de Football Association (FIFA) officials
have generally dodged significant
prosecution. This all changed early
Wednesday morning when fourteen
high ranking FIFA officials were arrested
in Switzerland, following a sweeping
FBI investigation. As a result of this
investigation, the US government is
accusing FIFA officials of soliciting $150
million in bribes, wire fraud, kickbacks,
and money laundering.
Of the fourteen officials arrested,
though, FIFA President Sepp Blatter
was not one of them. Blatter has been
the President for seventeen years, and
remarkably, two days after the arrests,
he was re-elected for his fifth term.
Amid global reaction to the controversy,
however, Blatter resigned Tuesday
morning, stating, “I cherish FIFA more
than anything and I want to do only what
is best for FIFA and for football. I felt
compelled to stand for re-election, as I
believed that this was the best thing for
the organization. That election is over but
FIFA’s challenges are not. FIFA needs a
profound overhaul.”
Blatter and the other FIFA officials
are not the only problem here. Along
with the above corruption, FIFA treats
its women players poorly. The 2015
FIFA Women’s World Cup, which is set
to begin next month, will be played on
artificial turf for the first time, which has
US team members livid over potential
injuries. One US woman player said, “It is
a gender equality issue. No chance would
the men ever play a World Cup on turf.”
In addition, in the past when Blatter was
asked how women’s soccer could improve,
he stated, “They could, for example, have
tighter shorts. Female players are pretty.”
FIFA’s treatment of World Cup host
countries and decisions to host at certain
countries has also been brought to
question. The 2022 World Cup host was
voted on and FIFA decided (reportedly
bribed) to have it in Qatar, which has
temperatures reaching 120 degrees
Fahrenheit.
Another issue with the system: host
country governments are spending
billions of dollars to prepare for the
World Cup and multi-million dollars
building a stadium that will be home to a
handful of soccer games, and then have
no use. In the past, countries jumped at
the opportunity to host the World Cup
for the chance to make money for their
country, but few countries put their name
on the ballot, because FIFA is the one that
actually collects the majority of the money.
Although people care about FIFA’s
issues, this controversy likely won’t cause
soccer’s viewership to diminish. Southern
Oregon University student and avid soccer
fan, Jacob Potts, says, “It’s bad and all, and
it sucks to hear about, but I would watch
the World Cup no matter what. It’s the
biggest sporting event in the world and
only happens every 4 years!”
The truth is, Americans don’t really
care about soccer, but in reality it wouldn’t
really matter if they did. Viewership
wouldn’t diminish, because those who
are going to watch will do so regardless.
Evidence of this is shown in popular
American sports such as football. The
past year in National Football League
was terribly tumultuous, with domestic
violence, drug offenses, and even an
allegation of quarterback Tom Brady
“deflating” footballs so his teammates
could easier catch them. Despite all of
this, the 2015 NFL Super Bowl was the
most watched broadcast in television
history, boasting an average audience of
June 8, 2015
114.4 million viewers. Potts continued,
stating, “Look at Tom Brady and Deflate
Gate. People knew about it but everyone
still watched the Super Bowl.”
In reality, FIFA’s corruption may not
matter as far as viewership is concerned,
but a renovation is necessary for further
growth of the brand. As Brian Phillips,
a writer for Grantland, stated Tuesday
via Twitter, “It’s tremendous that Blatter
is out. But Blatter isn’t the end of FIFA’s
problems. Change won’t happen unless
people keep paying attention.”
Market
CONTINUED FROM 4
who were once admiring local produce.
What makes the farmer’s market so
great is the “local farms and community
businesses that come out to put their
produce out for people to buy. It’s fresh
and good for the community,” according
to a resident enjoying the market.
Going to the farmer’s market is a great
way to get introduced to local produce
that comes straight out of the Rogue
Valley. Supporting the local farms will
help gain revenue here in Ashland.
5
Fate of Schneider Children’s
Center remains uncertain
Survival Guide
to Summer Term
BY WILLIAM BABISHOFF
BY KEITH PROCTOR
S
aturday morning in Lithia Park, the
surreal sounds of a hurdy-gurdy lured
people to a small table, where a few students were cheerfully handing out homemade cookies in an effort to find supporters for the Schneider Children’s Center,
“Today, we are putting on an event
with various acts to try to help save the
Schneider Children’s Center,” said ASSOU
Arts and Performance Senator Hayley
Thirwell. “We need residents in Ashland
to understand what’s been going on with
the center, because it’s being hidden away
from a majority of the people in town. We
are looking to get 300 signatures by the
end of the day, and Mark Denny will be
bringing these to the cabinet.”
As Thirwell and others were gathering
signatures, concerned parents, teachers
and student employees of the center
spoke to passersby in an effort to spread
the word. Alexis Hidalgo, a student at
SOU and a student aide at Schneider says,
“In the last two years, I’ve worked in all
the classrooms, and I work in the infant/
toddler program now. This will have a
personal impact more than anything, as I
have had such a great two years there and
I’ve gotten to see so many kids grow and
change and I’ve seen the important work
Schneider Children’s Center does, and
how big of an impact we have on kids.”
As the deadline of June 12 approaches,
the scramble to keep Schneider open
for the next school year is reaching its
apex. Nikki Huen, one of the teachers
at Schneider Children’s Center said,
“There’s a lot of different people doing a
lot of things and a lot has to happen in a
very short period of time.” On what may
happen next year, “Nobody has talked
to us about it. There is this gap year that
there’s nothing for us. Everyone’s got to
figure out how to survive on their own.
I’ve applied for two other jobs, but it’s not
what I want, I want to stay there, I’ve been
there 24 years.”
Tara Roberts, who has two children
at the center, found out in April that the
6
S
center will close. “I was so excited to get my
kids in, I thought they would be in there my
entire career of going to school.” But now
she is left searching for other childcare services, which for her, is not an easy task. “For
my eldest, who is three, I am looking into
the head start program locally, and also the
community preschool. My daughter is 1 ½
and she is much harder to place. I probably
won’t find as good of care, I know I won’t.
It’s a great place.”
Unless a funding solution or compromise
is revealed in the next two weeks, the fate of
the center is inevitable. Ryan Brown, Head
of Community and Media Relations for
Southern Oregon University stated, “Effective June 12, 2015, the Schneider Childcare
Center will close due to lack of funding. The
University will continue to seek alternative
funding sources for the 2015/16 school year,
and if necessary, through the summer to try
and keep on-campus childcare for SOU students. If alternate funding sources are not
found by June 12, the current staff has been
notified that they will not be retained, and
the Schneider Child Care Center will close.
But, thanks to the student referendum, the
center will re-open in some capacity for the
2016/17 school year.”
As for now, Nikki Huen remarks, “We’ve
been advising our parents to come up with
plan B. We hope that if we stay open, they
will come back, but that is very hard on
kids, and that is a personal decision they
have to make.”
Community Radio F M
Community-Powered Radio
The
330 East Hersey St. #2
www.kskq.org
People’s Voice in the Rogue Valley
Southern Oregon University
pring term is winding down. Many
students are looking forward to summer break. The likes of vacation, visiting
family and friends, catching up on sleep,
favorite TV shows and working a summer
job are on the near horizon. Freedom from
classes, textbooks, papers, and tests before
classes resume in the fall are all coming
into focus. Gazing lazily into this upcoming summer is gaining momentum with
each passing spring day.
Some students, however, are signed up
for summer classes, at their own school,
or at an institution more near home.
Summer classes are something quite
different. The same Math Stats class from
winter term offered within the duration
of, anywhere from, 10 to 15 weeks may
be condensed into the parameters of 4 to
8 weeks during summertime…enough to
crush many otherwise successful students.
Numerous higher education students
who achieved academic victory during
the Fall, Winter and Spring terms struggle
within summer curriculums. Often this is
due to how they study; recycling the same
ole same ole study skills from the regular
school year just doesn’t cut it during the
rapid pace of a summer semester. Summer
classes operate within “squeezed time”.
So, why would a student want to take
summer classes, asked parents through
an online website devoted to determining
successful preparation and completion of
summer term. College Parental Central
says some of the most common reasons
are:
Some students take a summer class or
two to gain an advantage and perhaps
finish their degree early – graduating in
three years or in December rather than
May.
Some students need to take a course or
two to make up for a course that they
failed or in which they received a poor
grade or from which they withdrew during
the traditional semester. Some of these
students may be using the summer class to
improve their GPA.
Some students may want to complete a
pre-requisite so that they can take another
course in the fall, or may want to take a
course that wasn’t available another semester.
Some students use summer as an opportunity to sample a subject that they want
to explore – at a time when they have more
focus.
According to a U.S. News post, the number one disadvantage to taking summer
classes is, “it’s too intensive.” Summer school
classes are very compressed: They almost
always meet an hour or two a day, five days
a week. For some people, having class and
homework every day as well as tests and
papers due at more frequent intervals is just
more than they can happily swallow.
Applying distinct strategies and developing goals for summer coursework can be
helpful in achieving summer college success; this will aid in effective learning. The
most critical component of setting goals…
is actually setting them. Don’t just think and
talk about it, do it. Online research suggest
that being positive about your learning is
the best gift you can give yourself.
Begin summer term organized—and stay
organized. Creating an orderly learning
space to do schoolwork will put you ahead
of the game. Further data reveals successful
summer school student’s start on track and
stay on track. It’s healthier to be ahead, or
on time, verses struggling at the last minute,
especially within a condensed timeline.
Don’t drag your feet—make yourself do
things on time, and you’ll be better off in
the long run.
Beginning the session by establishing
a routine and asking good questions will
make a world of difference. Having good
time management and communication
skills is essential, and; setting timelines
with checkpoints concerning your goals
has proven ideal for succeeding summer
session.
Siskiyou Newspaper
Canadian
CONTINUED FROM 10
arrive at some complete awkwardness
and speak at colleges as some awkward
Dalai Lama, also I would want to put a
shotgun in my mouth and have Courtney
Love pull the trigger or I mean pull the
trigger with my toes either way I’m sure
I’ve painted an accurate picture for you of
how Kurt Cobain actually died (the former
method) and I’m sure the conspiracy is
true because if Courtney Love did it, then
jet fuel probably can’t melt steel beams,
there was at least one dude on that grassy
knoll, and my bologna’s full name isn’t
Oscar Meyer which is some shit in the
highest degree I grew up on that song and
if the truthiness of it cannot hold I’ll be
forced to bring our little predicament up
with a certain Michelle Hussein Obama
in what I’m sure will get you removed
from your position at the FDA, the only
FDA you’ll be a part of after that is the
“Fucking Dicks Administration” who I
hear has good benefits but y’know you
get some, you give some, you lie to your
wife, your kids disown you, you get high
on some McInsulin, rob a convenience
store in Westminsterfield Iowa, and eat
a can of Copenhagen for dinner in what
is more formally known as “the Toby
Kieth Triple Crown” but enough about
what I picture a post Duck Dynasty
dystopia being like the original question
was about Canadian existentialism and
whether Mounty’s uniforms should be
jean jackets accompanied by jeans of
the same wash and whether they should
be required to bathe in the blood of a
maple syrup tree before riding their
moose equal to the curling match
where they bravely watch over their
sons, their heritage, and their future.
Connor Cushman, the sophomore financial
mathematics major, lives to laugh, run, and
slap the bass. You might find him at Taco Bell
or storming shirtless through Lithia Park.
11
How to KILL finals stress Canadian
Existentialism
BY ASHLEY WINKLER
is just a matter of finding out what
works for you as an individual.
“Music and art really help me settle
into work mode,” said Tori Versteeg, “It
helps me get what I need to get done
in a relaxing and timely manner.”
But what if you haven’t found what works
for you? We’ve got a few suggestions!
I
t’s 11p.m. on the last Sunday before
finals week. You’ve armed yourself
with all the tools necessary for the
long road ahead: the textbook, the
laptop, the class notes, and the essay
prompt are neatly arranged in front
of you, but you have yet to embark
on that seemingly endless journey.
Why? Because Netflix just added
two more seasons of that one show
from the 90’s, you already popped
three bags of popcorn, and it’d
be a shame to waste it. Duh.
In your heart of hearts, you know
you’re procrastinating. But there’s
no need to worry: It’s not your fault!
Blame stress. For some, the stress starts
coming on strong during week ten.
”I think there is a certain amount of
stress that comes during dead week,”
says Sally Borowczak, “when you start to
think about if you have done your best.”
But who can blame us for feeling a
bit overwhelmed? With group projects,
papers, and presentations piling up on
top of various personal obligations, it’s
easy to fall victim to some unhealthy,
often counterproductive behaviors.
“The most stressful part of finals
week is realizing that everything about
the term is about to end,” Borowczak
said, “I feel like no matter what, there
is never going to be enough time.”
Often times, fighting off stress
10
•
The first is the most obvious. Start your
morning with a healthy breakfast –
Ok, any Even something as simple as an
apple and a granola bar can give your
brain a much needed boost of energy to
help you make the grade on that math
final
•
Find the humor in any situation –
Quit being so serious! When you’re
stressed, your mental fuse seems to
burn up a lot quicker than usual,
making something as simple as a flat
tire trigger an explosive cursing fit.
Instead of getting mad, find the humor
in it. Just think: if it was happening
to your best friend, wouldn’t you be
laughing it off already?
•
Think “big picture.” – Instead of
cursing your flat tire to the underworld
for making you late to class, realize how
lucky you are to have a valid excuse
for walking in late! It sounds simple,
because it is.
•
Prioritize – Make a list. Again, if it
sounds too easy, that’s only because it
is. Take five minutes and a post-it note
to draft a list of your final projects and
papers, in the order in which their due.
This way, you can cross things off and
see the progress as you go.
•
Snuggle your pet – Yes, this really
works. Spending time with your
pets has been proven to reduce
stress and anxiety, giving you
an excuse to get some exercise
and take your dog for a walk!
BY CONNOR CUSHMAN
S
o there I was on Amazon looking
up what Russian propaganda I was
gonna hang in my room not for any
particular reason but because I’m sure
people would stumble into my room
and wonder what kind of man I was
“Connor isn’t even Russian, I’m not sure
he knows what his ancestry is” and I
don’t all I know is I’m white in a world of
white people even though my preferred
instrument is the electric bass, and I
am a decent basketball player turned
decent distance runner which on paper
would prompt questions like “is he also
good at dancing” and “How’s Grambling
State treating you” which are questions
I’ll never get to answer because they’re
also questions that were never asked,
because I refused to put a question
mark at the end of them because I don’t
have a firm grasp on how punctuation
works and pointing out the obvious
aside I’m scared of question marks
because I think they’ll end sentences
and ending sentences is what I do best
as I toil through a life of undeserved
handshakes and uncomfortable silences
in a quest to receive the handshake
least deserved and the silence most
uncomfortable and if I can think it just
right it goes “something something this
gypsy jew was beaten to protocol, you’re
quite the voracious passenger” that was
the handshake situation, and it was
given to me by some wax bearded train
conductor who was sober as a gofer and
mysterious, the silence is the easier one
to think about “something something
this Applebee’s fiancé needs your help,
also the union is on the phone” I’m sure
it would be a distant family member
telling me and at most I would respond
by existing, maybe giving them a blank
stare, checking my phone to find my
girlfriend from middle school wrote on
my MySpace wall in what truly would
be an awkward nirvana, which has a
cool double meaning because if that
situation actually happened I would
When it goes wrong, Ready for
who you going to call? summer?
Not so fast!
BY RYAN J. DEGAN
BY JAY HOPPE
H
aving a good time drinking
and smoking in the dorms
causing a little ruckus, three underage
freshmen hear three firm raps from
the other side of the door, one knock
for each of them. “Campus Public
Safety open up.” Initial panic sets in
and one student bolts under the bed,
another in the closet, leaving one
confused freshmen wondering if he
could hide underneath the mound
of dirty laundry in the corner of his
friends room. The students eventually
come out of hiding to be greeted by
two CPS officers accompanied by
two members of the Ashland Police
Department, citations in hand. This
according to an SOU student present
who wished to remain anonymous.
This story is well known among
many students at SOU who have
stories of their own about seeing police
on campus or at their dorm room
while committing an infraction.
According to Campus Public Safety
(CPS) at SOU, their main task is
ensuring the safety of students, faculty
and guests on campus, while also
enforcing University policy. While CPS
officials say they strive to maintain these
tasks on their own often times they must
involve the Ashland Police Department
(APD) in extreme situations such
as when a crime is committed on
campus. The cooperation of these two
departments has a significant impact on
SOU’s campus community. So how does
CPS and APD interact with one another
and how deep does this relationship go?
“APD and CPS’s relationship is
extremely valuable,” said CPS officer
Brian Nordahl. Nordahl continues to
explain that CPS generally handles most
calls themselves and only involves APD
with criminal behavior or incidents
involving student safety such as drug
or alcohol abuse which transpire on
campus. Violations to campus policy
S
are usually handled exclusively by CPS
the exception being when the violator,
whether they are a student or not, is
“highly uncooperative.”
It should be noted that APD usually
only comes onto campus when
requested by CPS or the school itself, but
occasionally will venture onto University
grounds when their own investigations
require. Nordahl explains “When these
instances happen APD is good about
coordinating with CPS and having us
assist them though it is not required,
should they say, be investigating a more
sensitive case.”
When CPS and APD are both involved
in on campus situations Nordahl
explains that the question of whose
in charge is rarely an issue. Officially
APD is in charge of a scene just as the
Ashland Fire Department would be if
called. However APD almost always
defers to CPS’s request of how an on
campus situation is handled.
So what are the most common things
that students are likely to see APD and
CPS on campus?
According to CPS’s 2014 Campus
Public Safety Report, at 80% the most
prevalent violations committed on
campus involve drug and alcohol related
incidences. These don’t necessarily
require APD’s presence, however they
are often present, particularly when
a minor is involved. Other than this
officers are most likely to be seen on
campus for public disturbances or
reported burglaries which are rare.
CANADIAN 11
Siskiyou Newespaper
Southern Oregon University
pring Term is nearing its end, and
summer is fast-approaching. In
addition to all those finals, projects and
that dreaded move-out day – students
have a few items on their to-do list to
consider checking off before Housing boots
them out at the end of the term. While
some will look for work or internships,
others will return home until the coming
Fall Term, fewer still remain on campus
for a combinations of summer classes
and work. May 23 was the lasunnamedt
day to register for summer classes.
Some important dates to keep in mind
are June 1, which is prioritized for those to
make their deposit for fall term. It is also
the day when instructors begin entering
spring term grades, which students will
be able to view on their MySOU June 17th
after 12:00pm. From June 8th to the 12th
is when final examinations will be held
and it’s the last day to return or sell any
textbooks to the SOU Bookstore. Spring
term also officially ends that Friday.
Check the Academic Calendar for
important dates and the Registration
Timetables for when your grade is
scheduled to register for next term.
Another thing to keep in mind about
June 12th is that at 4:00pm Spring
Housing officially closes and Summer
Housing opens. Residents are required
to go through a checking-out process
with their floor’s RA (Resident Advisor).
This includes packing all of their
belongings, checking to make sure all
furniture and appliances are undamaged,
beds are “unbunked” and setting
beside one another, and that students
fill out a check-out sheet notifying
Housing that this process has been
completed and with the RA’s approval.
Students are required to move out
within an hour of their last final. Students
who fail to complete the checking-out
process or leave their room damaged or
in poor condition are liable to be fined
up to $100. Therefore, it is highly
7
One on One: Dr. Roy Saigo, President of SOU
BY ALEXANDER MESADIEU
T
his week I sat down with the most
influential person at Southern
Oregon University (SOU), SOU president
Roy Saigo. The Siskiyou has reached out
to Dr. Saigo for months for interviews
on various stories, but with the help of
Raider News producer Darius Kila, I
was given the opportunity to discuss,
face to face with him the issues affecting
SOU. Here are the questions and answers
followed by a link to watch the interview
in its entirety.
As the president of SOU and a member
of the Board of Trustees, what is your
position on the recent decision to
increase tuition 5 percent?
Well it seemed like this was done way
before, and the students apparently were
consulted. They had a choice between 3
and 5 percent and the students requested
that we go with five.
So in your opinion that was the right
decision to make?
Well there’s a lot of unusual
circumstances right now Alex. Because
we have a lot of union decisions to be
made, costs continue to go up, we have
to negotiate salaries. So I think the
students were wise in recommending 5
percent. Although we want to keep the
cost of tuition down, the cost of living,
the cost of new contracts, cost of health
care continually goes up, so the students
had rather than going for 3 percent,
recommended the board go with 5.
And you agreed with that
recommendation?
Yeah because it was brought forward
by students and had a lot of study done
behind it.
On the issue of creating transparency
for these boards, there has not
been radio broadcasts or television
broadcasts, on these stations. Is there, do
you plan on in the future doing anything
to make proceedings that happen in the
meetings more?
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Center for Sustainability
What does
share fruits of student labor sustainability
BY ASHLEY WINKLER
T
That can certainly be done Alex, and
we do announce previous to having any
meetings that public information goes
out before we have the meetings. And
people also have an opportunity to sign
up to make comments through the board,
even the sub committees, so absolutely it’s
going to be more transparent, it’s going
to be more accessible. I think the local
newspapers and the local TV stations will
certainly be interested in the decisions that
the boards make.
As I understand though, so far most of
the meetings have been pretty much in the
middle of the workday. Do you plan on
doing anything to make it easier for most
people to be able to attend?
Yeah and again we’re trying to do what
we can for the moment but they are not
seated and in power until July 1st.
What are you doing currently to help
increase student retention and graduation
rates for SOU students?
Well previously we were evaluated and
funded by enrollment, [also known as]
headcount, because of the new criteria
set forth by the Higher Education
Coordinating Commission that we were
going to be evaluated on retention and
graduation rates, so we have proposals
that are being funded now as we speak to
support student enhancement, student
success, and student graduation.
Siskiyou Newspaper
And we also know that, we met a
number of peak students here, that jobs
on campus is the number one criteria for
retention and graduation
The second of all things would be
athletics, and so these are issues that
starting to come up, and we also today
even had a report on a 30 person bridge
program that we’re evaluating as far
as costs and cost benefits for students
who are coming in as Freshman. So all
along from departments, to first year
experience, to support by advisers and
counseling service are being activated
to enhance the chance for students to be
successful. Absolutely.
For a video of the full interview click
the link below:
http://vp.telvue.com/
preview?id=T01550&video=238528
hree volunteers sat behind fold
out tables, topped with rows of
vegetable starts and greens. A butterfly
drifted among the fresh produce, as SOU
Center for Sustainability volunteer Kelly
Fujita showed a group of students the
bell peppers and strawberries. For some
students, no matter their field of study, this
is the life.
“I grew up outdoors, and have always
been drawn to working in nature,” says
senior volunteer and biology student
Jessica Harper, while straightening the
rows of chard and garlic, “Everything
about it is really empowering”
The Southern Oregon University Center
for Sustainability kicked off the first week
of its second season by setting up its
annual farm stand at the Stevenson Union
on Thursday at 11a.m. to share the fruits
of their labor with the student community.
All produce available at the stand came
from the SOU campus farm site, on
Walker Ave.
“I was really excited about the whole
idea,” said Johanna Boyd, a visual arts
student, “It’s been awesome to see the
property on Walker transform.”
Since breaking ground in December of
2014, the property by the softball fields has
yielded everything from annual veggies
and perennials, to the recent debut of it’s
very own vineyard.
“I’m really passionate about food and
the whole sustainable food system,” the
Harper says, “We really want to share the
experience with people, and the benefits of
the whole process.”
The farm hosts regular work parties, 2-3
times weekly on Monday’s from 2pm-5pm,
Tuesdays from 3:30-6:30pm, and Fridays
from 2-5pm. The farm stand will run
through July, according to volunteers, and
will host additional work parties over the
summer on Monday thru Thursday from
9a.m-noon, after short break in August.
“We encourage anyone and everyone to
come,” Boyd says, “especially if you’re into
farming!”
If you have any questions for the
SOU Center for Sustainability, email
[email protected]
Volunteer Fridays
Every Friday
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Stevenson Union
T
Send us your events,
announcements and
calls to action:
[email protected]
his term the Civic Engagement
Program and ECOS are teaming
up to host weekly environmental
service projects on the SOU campus.
The three site locations we will be
working at are the ECOS community
garden, the SOU farm at the Center for
Sustainability, and the SOU Arboretum.
This is a great opportunity to
get outside, beautify campus, and
rack up some volunteer hours.
The projects will take place EVERY
Friday (except finals week) from 1
- 3 pm. We are asking all volunteers
to meet us at the Stevenson Union
Courtyard at 1pm, where we’ll walk
to the project site together.
We’ll provide snacks and water, just
make sure to bring a water bottle.
siskiyou.sou.edu
mean at SOU?
Solar panels on roof of
Hannon Library
Southern Oregon University is
committed to sustainable practices,
environmental stewardship,
and research that advances our
understanding of local, regional, and
global environmental issues.
S
OU broadly defines sustainability
as achieving increased well-being
for humanity over time through an
equitable and sustained utilization
of critical natural capital. The SOU
definition includes sustainability
goals set forth by 1) the U.N. World
Commission on Environment and
Development (1987 Brundtland
Commission) which indicated that
sustainable development will “meet
the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs,”
and 2) the intertwined “economic,
social and environmental elements”
of sustainability, which AASHE
incorporates into its definition of
sustainability.
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