Building SOU

Informing people of the changes happening with the facilities on the campus of Southern Oregon University

[buildingsou]

SOU Looks to Build A Brighter Future

By: Jake Coburn, Miranda Duggan

ASHLAND - As Southern Oregon University has been hit with the heavy hand of retrenchment, an ongoing effort has been made to continuously improve the appearance and functioning of the institution.

With retrenchment came budget cuts, faculty loss and program elimination and yet through the wreckage, the university has still managed to progress with building and structural renovations.

Continuing to take pride not only in the institution itself but also the Ashland community, Sothern Oregon University seems to be dedicated to offering their students the best facilities when it comes to athletics and academics.

Currently, there are three main areas of campus renovations, which include the track and field project, updated dormitories, and the new science building.

Evenly used by all demographics attending SOU, these renovations are sure to increase appeal on the University. Athletics and student life will be boosted due to these campus updates.

Athletics will receive more attention and popularity due to the new and improved track and field.

Along with that, new dormitories are always an appealing aspect to SOU due to the large amount of on-campus housing and the students desire to live on-campus. Lastly, the science department is not only an asset to the programs at SOU but it is also a large and widespread area of study in the student population.

Over the summer SOU will be tearing up the field and track at Raider stadium and adding a turf field that will give a better look for football and  allow for track and field events to be held at home.

When it was determined that the new science building was in need of serious improvements, this opened the doors to various other projects that would allow the completion of the overall project.

This is when the old soul of Cascade residence halls came into play, and soon enough, it was receiving some work of its own. Quickly and efficiently, Cascade has received inside renovations to accommodate science classes, complete with labs, lecture halls, and faculty offices.

While some may feel that renovating campus facilities in the midst of retrenchment is a double edged sword, it is safe to say that facilities and infrastructure of the university adds appeal for incoming and current students, which in turn will boost admissions and graduation rates.

Needless to say, the happening news of construction and facilities is a pretty important aspect to the overall picture of what Southern Oregon University is today. 

[buildingsou]

By: Robert Wilkins

Donald Kay is one of the longest remaining professors on the campus of Southern Oregon University, having been here on campus for 37 years now. Donald currently teaches in the Art department but after this year he will be retiring and will not be replaced (for the time being). Because he has been at SOU for so long, I thought whom better to ask about how the campus facilities have changed over the years.  I asked Donald if the conditions of the facilities and the overall campus have improved or worsened since he has been here, he responded very positively by saying, “I think the campus has greatly improved since I have been here, there is more of a sense of unity, for example the art department classes used to be taught all over campus instead of in two centralized buildings as they are now”.  I asked Donald what has been the biggest improvement to the campus since he has been here and without pause he said, “The Marion Ady and the Art Building for me have been the most important addition to the facilities because it gave a permanent home for the art students to be able to create more efficiently”. Lastly I asked Donald What building in particular needs priority for improvement, Donald having sat on the board when this was up for primary discussion said, “I know the science building has needed improvement for years now, the science programs have all expanded to bring in more students and many of the classrooms are inadequate to hold enough students, I was part of the board that talked about expanding and improving the science building, but they have decided to put the money elsewhere”. Donald raised an important point here, the science building is currently in the process of being moved to the old Cascade residence hall and nothing is being done currently to truly improve the facility. 

[buildingsou]

The New Home of SOU Athletics

By: Jake Coburn

ASHLAND – Southern Oregon University has fallen on some hard times in regards to its current state of retrenchment, but projects to improve the physical aspects of SOU and restore its luster as one of the premier liberal arts colleges in the west are well underway.

One project in particular will bring an entirely new look to some of the various varsity and club sports teams at SOU.

Beginning this summer, SOU will be constructing a new turf field and track that will replace the current grass field that currently sits in Raider Stadium.

Earlier this spring, the university received four bids from companies to complete the project.

“A committee will review the bids, then select a company to begin the work.  Construction is scheduled to begin the day after commencement” said Athletic Director Matt Sayre.

SOU’s commencement ceremony will be held on Saturday June 14 at Raider Stadium.

The project is estimated to cost between $1.6 million and $1.7 million. According to associate athletic director Bobby Heiken, the funding for the project came from a student tax.

“Students taxed themselves two years ago as part of the rec center project,” said Heiken

The Raider football team will get a major upgrade from its current grass field allowing for the already high scoring offense to move that much faster on synthetic turf. 

“We’re really excited for the new field. I think it is a great addition to this university as well as our football team” said head football coach Craig Howard, “It will be an exciting season and we can’t wait for everyone to come out and see us play.”

The field is scheduled to be completed sometime in September or October which could force the first home football game against conference rival Carroll College to be relocated to Ashland High School.

Football is not the only sport to benefit from the new construction. The men’s and women’s track and field teams will also be receiving a new track which will allow SOU to host its first home track meet since 2010.

SOU has not been able to hold a track meet at home due to the poor conditions of the current track.

The construction includes a brand new eight lane track and sand pits, while the throwing area will be just on the other side of the track.

“Being able to have an event at SOU will help bring more awareness to the program,” said head coach Grier Gatlin, “It will be nice to finally not have a travel day for a meet.”

The women’s soccer team could also see a move after the completion of the field. The team currently plays at University Field right outside of the stadium but the new turf will have the dimensions and lines required for an official soccer field. The soccer team will have the opportunity to play on a much nicer field than the current grass field.

Along with soccer, the field will also be set up for lacrosse matches allowing the successful men’s club lacrosse team to play within the stadium.

SOU will also be looking to implement major structural upgrades to McNeal Pavilion.

McNeal is currently home to the men’s and women’s basketball, wrestling and volleyball teams. McNeal also hold the athletic offices, classrooms, team locker rooms and a pool.

The proposed cost of this project is roughly $21.8 million with a majority of the costs being paid by the state. It is estimated that the project will only cost SOU around $575,000.

SOU is currently in the planning stage and will continue the process throughout this next year before accepting bids from the community some time next spring.

The university is invested in making SOU a top school in the west and the sports teams will have facilities that match those aspirations with the addition of the new track and field and the upgrades to McNeal. 

[buildingsou]

Science Teachers Confirm Again, Move to Cascade is in Best Interest of the Science Department

As the big move to Cascade quickly approaches, reality sets in for the science department. Unpacked boxes, missing materials, and frenzied faculty members are ever prevalent yet there is still an atmosphere of productivity. With all that is unfinished, a huge amount of effort and work has already been underway, easing this process significantly. When checking back with the science faculty, the consensus remains the same. The move to Cascade is embraced and welcomed with hopes geared towards the brighter future of a new science building.

Dr. Roger Christenson, biology professor and department director, briefly spoke about his role in the move and his progress. Being about seventy-five percent of the way done, Christenson is confident that everything will be complete by the moving date.

“There will surely be a few interesting hiccups along the way,” says Christenson, speaking in general for the biology aspect of things. “And by the time we sort all of these hiccups out, it will be time to move again.” Though all of this, the faculty members who have been interviewed have kept a humorous and positive outlook on the situation.

Walking up and down the halls of the three floors in the old science building, offices and classrooms are vacant, with dust and cardboard remnants being all that’s left behind. When it came to hunting down additional faculty members to shed light on the situation, there were few and far in between. Then came Greg Muller, energetic and willing to talk about anything and everything. 

Muller, photographed above, is a biochemistry professor of the science department and also directly affected by this move. Being a huge part of the chemistry department, Muller expresses his gratitude and relief to have Dave Marshall by his side. Marshall, the chemistry storeroom manager, has been a huge asset to the department in the organization and planning of this move. Interviewed earlier in this process, Marshalls role has been significant. According to Muller, chemistry is ahead in the ranks of all departments when it comes to the move.

“Moving a half a million pieces of glassware is no easy feat,” expresses Muller. “Thanks to Dave, we’re getting it done in record time, with few casualties.” Again, keeping it light and humorous, Muller is confident the glassware and equipment is in good hands.

Although the move has been slowly underway over the past couple of months, the action really starts when spring term is over. As students and faculty head out to enjoy their summers, a new adventure awaits them in the fall. Hiccups and all, the functions and quirks of Cascade will have to be figured out along the way. At this point, there is no turning back. Luckily, the science department is fortunate to have bright eyed and positive faculty members committed to ‘getting things done.’  

[buildingsou]

A “More-Smarter-Faster” Approach to Building Southern Oregon University.

As the significant changes within the Oregon University System have gone underway, Southern Oregon University is in the mix of establishments that will be greatly be affected when it comes to finances, future plans, and educating. 

According to documentation of the preliminary funding request to the higher education coordinating commission, in the years between 2015 and 2017, Southern Oregon University has a foreseen plan to reach success for the establishment as well as all students. While the strategic goals of improving the higher education of Southern Oregon University includes degree focuses, certificate planning, graduation encouragement, and an overall “more-smarter-faster” business model, it really comes down to funding and what SOU can receive from the state.

Within this funding request, there are proposed numbers for the biennium of 2015 to 2017. It is a cost analysis of the breakdown of funding and where it is coming from within the state. The state allotted money that is distributed to SOU can then be compared to other sources of funding such as general funding and private funding, if those sources exist.

Currently, SOU has four building projects underway which have already received funding. These include the track and field project, McNeal Pavilion, Cascade building and the new Science building. The future four building projects include improvements to Britt Hall, Suzanne Homes, Cogeneration Biomass and general repairs.

The following chart provides a cost comparison of the current four building projects and how they amount to the future four building projects.

It is important to point out that while some of the departments, for example science, have funding set aside through the SOU general fund, others rely solely on state funding. The current four building projects have received a total of $34.5 million. Comparing this to the requested amount of $38.6 million for the next two years displays an approximate $4 million increase in state funding. This is a 12% increase in funding requests.

The request for funding submitted to the higher education coordinating commission provides a snapshot at upcoming projects and cost projections. Documentation such as this puts into perspective the financial situation the University faces and hopefully will receive aid to make necessary improvements.

Lastly, the bar graph provides a visual display of just how important state capital funding is to completing these building projects. As shown, state capital funding is the major funding source for all building projects, those currently underway as well as those in the upcoming two years of 2015 to 2017.

[buildingsou]

Science Teachers Shed Positive Light on the Move to Cascade

Boxes piled high and antsy science teachers await the upcoming move to Cascade. As summer approaches, it’s goodbye to the 45 year old science building that is held dear to many students and faculty.

As Laura Hughes, photographed above, packs up her office of books, cellular models, and scientific experiments, she does it with a smile on her face. Laura Hughes, science professor at Southern Oregon University and Department Chair of Chemistry, Physics, Material Science, and Engineering welcomes the move to Cascade. 

Hughes has been teaching science at SOU for 18 years, so the science building is a second home to her. However, all good things must come to an end, which is the general consensus of the science faculty.

Dave Marshall, chemistry storeroom manager and on the building committee of both the science building and Cascade renovations, elaborates on just how functioning and developed Cascade is.

"We are prepared to teach our full program," states Marshall.

With 17 functioning lab spaces and classrooms and approximately 60 scheduled classes per week, Cascade will be a buzzing facility. Furthermore, faculty offices and storage rooms will be operating on the first floor in dorm rooms.

Hughes reminisces, “It will be sort of fun. Many of us professors were in dorms way long ago.”

Hiding behind the doors of Cascade awaits laboratories full of sinks, vents, gas hook ups, and equipment drawers. ”Although the transition is difficult, we are making it work,” assures Marshall.  

Science students will have all of the resources necessary to get the most out of their education during their time in Cascade. When asked if there would be any teaching adjustments that would need to be made, Laura Hughes was confident there would only be a few. Board space and glassware were a few components that were compromised in the transition.

The budget for this transition provided a secure move for the science building, however all of the funds spent on Cascade means less funds for the renovations to the existing science building. Marshall admits, “We are operating as lean as possible.”

Any budgeting that happens during this time will greatly benefit the future of the new science building. Students and faculty are all excited about the move because it brings them one step closer to their new building.

"The new science building will be a fabulous addition to SOU. It will provide great opportunities for current and incoming students," ensures Marshall.

Come summer, the move to Cascade will be a collaborative effort of students, faculty, and professional movers. The process will be done by Fall and the building will be ready for use when classes start.

[buildingsou]

Cascade Building Renovations Nearing Completion

Cascade Residence Hall- the aging soul on campus, located up on Indiana St. above the Health Center currently has renovations that are nearing completion and gearing up for academic use. The unappealing building, desperately in need of a face lift, will have to settle for inside renovations without improvements to the outer appearance of the building.

Drew Gilliland, supervisor of Facilities Management Planning at Southern Oregon University, projects that the inside building renovations for Cascade will be finished by next week. The larger dining area has been transformed into classrooms and labs that will be temporarily used for science classes while the new science building is under construction.

Cascade has been vacant for this past year due to the aging structure as well as the new and improved dorms that were built to create more student housing. Only two dormitory wings in Cascade are currently in use by the Saint Mary’s School Chinese exchange students, while the rest of the building is empty.

The initial problem of Cascade is the old building structure. As safety concerns have determined parts of the building unlivable and others a visual eye sore, the plans for Cascade are in motion. Renovations are only being performed in one sector of the building while the rest will be closed off until it is no longer used for science classes.

Cascade will only be used temporarily. Building renovations as specific as science classrooms are difficult to make versatile for future plans. On the other side of the spectrum, a science classroom needs advanced technology, work spaces, and ventilation. Can Cascade really accommodate these needs?

Gilliland says yes. He states, “These renovations began back in January and are transforming into suitable labs and classrooms.” Looking at the building from the outside, one cannot tell any work has been done, so the quickly-approaching completion of the inside renovations came as a surprise.   

The use of Cascade has been determined as only temporary, which leads to the question, what will happen to the building once it is no longer used for science classes?

“Cascade will be demolished,” says Gilliland. Plans for the building after it is taken down have yet to be determined. It will act as temporary extra space on campus until the next building project is determined by the university.   

Cascade lives to see another day. While it continues to be lacking in visual appeal, the inside acts as a useful and suitable work environment for students to excel.  

[hutchingd-deactivated20150718]

Why do we need a Student Union? 

  The Stevenson Union is the Student Union of our campus. Our student union has four resource centers, an affordable food court, our student government, a student lawyer, and much more available for students. I asked Taylor Shahbazian a student of SOU and and employee at the information booth in the Stevenson Union how she feels a student union contributes to community at Southern Oregon University. 

[robsjournalism]

The new dorms at Southern Oregon University are quite a treat to both freshman students and upperclassmen alike. The construction of McLaughlin and Shasta dorms are the first step in many of the improvements taking place all over the campus of Southern Oregon University within the next few years. Whitney Graham and Chelsea Carroll pictured here love living in Shasta hall and they were quoted saying “it is a fun and safe community we love being a part of”.

[thenewjournalist]

ASHLAND –Southern Oregon University received four competing bids from companies to complete the purposed track and field renovations at Raider Stadium on Thursday.

The next step will fall to the committee which will look over reach proposal and decide which company will begin the work on the...

[thenewjournalist]

ASHLAND – Athletics at Southern Oregon University will have a brand new look next year after the completion of major upgrades to Raider Stadium, which include an artificial turf field and eight-lane track.

The project is estimated to cost between $1.6 million and $1.7 million. According to...