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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us February 8, 2005 Former SOU president honored By Jennifer Squires Ashland Daily Tidings She had probably walked past his portrait on the top floor of the Stevenson Union a thousand times, but it took the good words of a stranger to introduce the former Southern Oregon University president Dr. James K. Sours to Alicia-Lynne Ryland-Nation. Ryland-Nation, a current SOU student and the director of administration and finance for the Associated Students of Southern Oregon University, was attending the Northwest Student Leadership Conference in Portland when two university alumni shared their memories of Sours with her. Ryland-Nation researched Sours, who was president of the school from 1969 to 1979 and passed away at his home outside of Medford on Dec. 4, in the archives of the student newspaper when she returned to Ashland. Impressed by the legacy Sours left at the school - as the fourth president of the school, he initiated the university's partnership with Mexico's Universidad de Guanajuato in 1969 and the relationship with Dankook University in Seoul, Korea, in 1970, supported the growth of Jefferson Public Radio and established the university's computer center, in addition to overseeing the construction of three major campus buildings - Ryland-Nation wanted other students to learn about Sours' contributions. She took the idea of dedicating a new student leadership center to the former president back to the student renovation committee, a group charged with planning the renewal and expansion of the student union. At the same time, university President Elisabeth Zinser had approached Sours' wife, Alice, and his children to ask if the school could dedicate an addition planned for the Stevenson Union to the late president. "He always came back to helping students," Zinser said, explaining the university was looking for a way to share Sours' contributions with current students. "We wanted to work with the family and they just thought it was a perfect way to remember him." On Monday afternoon, Zinser concluded the Celebration of the Life and Work of James K. Sours by dedicating the new student leadership center to Sours. "It was one of those things where all the stars came together," Zinser said, struck that she and Ryland-Nation had similar desires to honor Sours' memory. "The timing was fortuitous in terms of the schedule of the project." Expansion and renewal The James K. Sours Student Leadership Center will be the dominant piece of the $7 million student union renovation project that will begin at the end of the month. The center, which will extend over the top of the Redford Lounge, will give student groups, including the student government, a central location where academic study, leadership development and civic engagement will combine. University officials hope the increased visibility and consolidation of student leadership activities will help the programs grow and push students to become more involved with the community, both at the university level and in the greater Ashland area. Other changes within the student union will include a revamped food-service area and a cyber cafe. The layout of the main floor of the building will also be opened up, making space for events such as dances and fairs. The whole project should be completed by January, according to Diane Brimmer, the vice president of academic affairs and the SU project manager. "It's a very quick and aggressive schedule, but it's important," Brimmer said. "I really think everything should be done on time." The Stevenson Union has not undergone major renovations since it was commissioned in 1969. The project will also include infrastructure updates such as new bathrooms, a sprinkler system, new lighting, a new elevator and enhanced heating, ventilation, air and cooling systems. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Slippers Women's & Men's Slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks heloc libor rate Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weightloss Products Memory Foam Mattress afsa studentloans home equity loans teleconferencing W2 Forms fasa student loans Matchmaking & Dating Scripts African Safari Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation wholesale diamonds Currancy Exchange web conferencing Online Casinos Community Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams