Connections
What Lies Beneath: A New Mushroom
SOU faculty and staff have discovered gilled mushrooms (as in mushroom gills, not fish gills!) growing underwater in the clear, cold, flowing waters of the Rogue River. This has never before been documented. Anywhere! The initial discovery was made by Robert Coffan, Adjunct Professor of Hydrology in the Environmental Studies Department. However, it was the collaborative efforts of his colleagues in the Biology Department, Darlene Southworth and Jonathan Frank, that verified its uniqueness. The research team has submitted a manuscript, which is currently under editorial review, to a scientific journal called Mycologia. Here is the manuscript abstract...
Abstract: Psathyrella aquatica is a new species of Basidiomycota with true gills that has been observed fruiting underwater in the clear, cold, flowing waters of the upper Rogue River in Oregon. Fruiting bodies develop and mature in the main channel, constantly submerged, near aquatic vegetation, and where observed fruiting over 11 weeks. ITS sequence data place this fungus in the genus Psathyrella. These appear to be truly underwater mushrooms and not mushrooms fruiting on wood recently washed into the river. Substrates include water-logged wood, gravel, and silty river bed. Water constrains spore dispersal. Spores were observed as wedge-shaped rafts released into a gas pocket under the cap. Underwater gills and ballistospores indicate a recent adaptation to the stream environment. This particular river habitat combines the characteristics of spring-fed flows, clear, cold, aerated water with woody debris in shallow depths on a fine volcanic substrate. The presence of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria near fruiting body attachment sites suggests a source of nitrogen in an otherwise clear stream. This observations adds to the biodiversity of stream fungi that degrade woody substrates. This is a new habitat for gilled mushrooms.
Sociology Capstone Preparation
Sociology majors spend four years of study learning about the structure of society. As part of their senior capstone, they are required to take part in an activity which will test their knowledge and understanding on the subject. This activity is called SIMSOC (simulated society), the purpose of which is to model all the components of society in every way. Participants must deal with economics, politics, religion, bureaucracy, inequality, and working together. By having to deal with all of these aspects of society firsthand, students can get a close up glimpse of how structures and processes work.
SIMSOC begins by dividing a class into three separate regions. The first group becomes the green region and access to all resources. The second group becomes the yellow region and holds the power of the mass media. The third group becomes the red region and have, essentially, nothing except their religious movement. Once divided into these categories the mood of the game begins to change. The green region tends to be more laid back since they have the means necessary to keep their lives going, the yellow region feels a sense of power since they control the media, and the red region succumbs to a feeling of isolation since they have nothing to work with. In this red region some of the feelings projected included intense anxiety, struggle, and conflict.
BFA Graduate Erin Baird
"The world's mine oyster," wrote William Shakespeare over 400 years ago in "The Merry Wives of Windsor." In the modern world of Shakespearean studies, Southern Oregon University graduate Erin Baird will be joining its elite ranks when she arrives at Mary Baldwin College in September.
Baird completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Department of Theatre Arts in June, with an emphasis in performance and a minor in Shakespeare Studies. In the fall, she will start work on a three-year Master of Letters/Master of Fine Arts in Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature in Performance program at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Va. This is the only advanced degree in Shakespeare Studies in the United States. She also received a graduate assistantship from the college.
Departing Deans Transition to New Roles
Deans Dan Morris and Joe Graf say goodbye to their current positions and consider what opportunities their new ventures will bring with the merging of various departments into the new College of Arts and Sciences.
Interim Dean of the School of Arts and Letters and Professor of French Dan Morris has spent the last 25 years at Southern Oregon University with this last year concentrating on his position as interim dean. In his time as a dean, Morris has focused on the budget reduction process by working with different departments. In addition, he has helped to the bring the Schuman collection of music instruments to life by fundraising and coordinating events, while working with Arts and Humanities to create a more focused presence on campus.
SOU Goes To The Opera
by Bethany Hopman
The Rogue Opera was founded in 1977 by Dr. Ray Tumbleson, whose vision was to create a regional opera company that would utilize local talent to present high quality opera to regional audiences. Thirty years later, that vision has been realized. With over 750 Opera in the Schools and main stage productions, Rogue Opera has become a treasure in the arts community. 2007 marks the 30th anniversary of Rogue Opera.The highlight of the 2006-2007 Rogue Opera season is The Magic Flute by Mozart. This opera is described by critics as "the perfect fairy tale opera," and one of Mozart's greatest operas. Something that makes this opera near and dear to Southern Oregon University's heart is the number of professors and students who showcase their talents in it.
SOU's Dankook Award Winners Exemplify Scholarship
The Southern Oregon University (SOU) Dankook Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Students honors the thirty-year relationship that the university has with its sister school, Dankook University in Korea. SOU is one of 23 schools worldwide that have established an academic and cultural relationship with Dankook University.
The Dankook award is given to one woman and one man at the annual June commencement. "It recognizes outstanding scholarship, contributions to campus life by playing a leadership role, and evidence of citizenship and character over the course of the recipients college career," says Jonathan Eldridge, SOU's Vice President for Student Affairs.
