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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Man killed by fallen tree Saturday Southeast Village Center inches closer to reality Reintroduction of McCloud River salmon inspires film, tribe Developers lining up for expansion Kids Unlimited Academy awarded $450,000 grant Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services 'Constant state of paranoia' Medford police arrest 7 in domestic violence sweep Community blog: Domestic Violence- "No More Silence" Emergency services Politics and Elections Fire chief has sheriff's back Phoenix council races draw a crowd — and debate Winters worn down by criticism Eagle Point might get on the bus Richardson accuses Kitzhaber of 'corruption' in final debate Education Kids Unlimited Academy awarded $450,000 grant County helps fund RCC job training SOU student says free speech issue overblown SOU interim president leads in a different direction Medford school officials consider costs of full-day kindergarten Environment Reintroduction of McCloud River salmon inspires film, tribe Rite Aid bear cub may be released into the wild in spring Rite Aid cub well, could come back to southern Oregon Neighbors smell trouble in proposal to spread waste on Sams Valley farmland Bear cub captured in Ashland pharmacy State news Nation - World Obituaries Marsha Robinson Flores Anne Johnson Gayle Myrna Glover Ronald J. Hupp Death Notices Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Victory puts Raider netters atop standings Banged-up Packers defense faces Brees Bucs' McCoy inks big contract Ace helps MacKenzie take share of the lead Beavers fall flat Varsity 541 College Sports Victory puts Raider netters atop standings Beavers fall flat OSU’s pass defense gets failing grade Dodge has big game as Raiders rout C of I Slow start by defense doesn’t foil Ducks Pro Sports Banged-up Packers defense faces Brees Bucs' McCoy inks big contract Ace helps MacKenzie take share of the lead Lillard leads Trail Blazers past Clippers 99-89 Hudson's long-awaited Series debut ends in loss Community Sports LOCAL EVENTS LOCAL RESULTS Business Latest Stories Southeast Village Center inches closer to reality Winco to build Grants Pass store Business briefs Blog: Let's Celebrate! Old-fashioned hat maker Real Estate News New I-5 interchange puts south Medford on fast lane to fast food Lithia buys Clovis dealership Rental vacancies increase Jackson County real estate sales, prices continue rebound Pallet Wine Co. expands in downtown Medford People In Business People in Business Transportation Frontier Airlines to end Eugene-Denver service Business Resource Fair has answers Erickson's Navy contract extended Lithia buys Clovis dealership Agriculture Hundreds look for work at Harry & David hiring fair Umpqua Holdings more than doubles net earnings Harry & David will hold hiring fair Thursday Ranchers offer livestock exchange 1-800-Flowers CEO: Labor shortage an issue for Harry & David Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, Oct. 25 Don't bet on pot windfall for schools Granlund cartoon: New York Ebola Jim Brock: Should government legalize gay marriage? Letters to the Editor, Oct. 24 Editorials Don't bet on pot windfall for schools Our View: SOU's 'free speech zone' constitutionally questionable Our View: Kitzhaber is still the best choice Our view: Merkley-Wehby race leaves us unconvinced; Walden seems destined for permanent position Our View: Falls for sheriff, our picks for state House Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Oct. 25 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 24 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 23 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 22 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 21 Guest Opinions Don't overlook importance of Jackson County commissioners race Measure 92 misleads rather than enlightens Oregonians have a right to know what's in their food Infill is the answer to growth issues Guest Opinion: Who’s really to blame for 2014 wildfires? Lifestyle Latest stories Community blog: Finding My Roots Frank Talk: A little Halloween humor circa 1970 Barry Lewis: The idiot light Dr. Jeff Hersh: Controversy over breast cancer screening Dr. Murray Feingold: Choose a diet best for you Food Community blog: Quick breads take well to gluten-free ingredients Community blog: Barrel Aged and Sour Beers Ledger David Cellars has a new winemaker and big plans Community blog: There's a method to mix, match alternative grains Ashland resident's cookbook showcases gluten-free creativity Home and Garden How to live and work in a tiny home Dear Monty: Rent-back clause prevents financial disaster​ Recycle plastic at The Expo Friday and Saturday How to know when trees and shrubs need to go Dear Monty: Is your real estate agent a secret agent? Health Community blog: Finding My Roots Dr. Jeff Hersh: Controversy over breast cancer screening Dr. Murray Feingold: Choose a diet best for you Community blog: The Crowd And The Win - Better Health Joan Endyke: The importance of a healthy diet when pregnant Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements Southeast Village Center inches closer to reality Healing Arts New arrivals Southern Oregon Pride parade celebrates gay marriage ruling New Arrivals Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Puss 'N' Boots Costume Ball and Auction Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present harmonious voices, dissonant notes Beekeepers Ball is one sweet soiree Scottish music duo plays highland magic Dean Angermeier rediscovers his 'roots' Theater Review: Funny 'Lion in Winter' roars to life at Camelot Theatre Camelot presents 'The Lion in Winter' 'Carnage' is short, smart, darkly funny Music Live Music in Local Clubs Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present harmonious voices, dissonant notes Beekeepers Ball is one sweet soiree Scottish music duo plays highland magic Dean Angermeier rediscovers his 'roots' Community Events Puss 'N' Boots Costume Ball and Auction Theater's haunted house not for faint of heart Third Fridays in downtown Medford Works in progress Southern Oregon Pride Festival celebrates diversity Dining Back Porch Bar & Grill Yu's Yummy Yan's offers great take-out Agave offers tasty tacos Asian cuisine for all seasons at Misoya Bistro Spoons Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Rite Aid bear cub may be released into the wild in spring ... High winds expected Saturday ... Healing Arts ... Rite Aid bear cub may be released into the wild in spring ... High winds expected Saturday ... Healing Arts ... SOU interim president leads in a different direction At every stop of his career, Roy Saigo has jumped into the trenches — sometimes living in the dorm rooms weeks at a time — to enhance his perspective on what would make the particular campus more appealing to students. By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 20, 2014 @ 4:55 pm By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 20, 2014 @ 4:55 pm » Social News During his lengthy tenure on college campuses in the Midwest and South, Roy Saigo established himself as a change agent, and his role is no different now that he's leading Southern Oregon University as its interim president. The veteran academic shared his vision and leadership style during Monday's Chamber of Medford/Jackson County Forum at Rogue Valley Country Club. Whether it's making an on-the-spot fix for a locator map, ensuring campus benches suit their intended purpose or pursuing a new source of students, Saigo seizes the moment. At every stop of his career, Saigo has jumped into the trenches — sometimes living in the dorm rooms for weeks at a time — to enhance his perspective on what would make the particular campus more appealing to students. "Fresh eyes, folks, when you look at your business is extremely, extremely important," Saigo said, illustrating his point from the moment he arrived in Ashland. When he and his wife, Barbara, pulled into the campus visitors' parking lot in July, two cars with prospective students and their families arrived at the same time. They were all puzzled about where they were at the moment. His wife suggested they look at the campus map. "So she went over to the map, and there is no, 'You are here,' " he said. "We had received a phone number, and I said, 'We need a 'You are here.' " The voice on the other end of the line suggested buildings and grounds staff takes care of such matters. "I said, 'No, mam, we are losing students as I speak, they are leaving the parking lot,' " he said. "I need for you to come down with masking tape and a red marker to put it on the map; it was taken care of that afternoon." When he arrived, Saigo saw a campus needing to pull together as a team.  "I didn't feel that was happening," he said. He sat down with the Service Employees International Union, maintenance crew, residence hall staff, information technology and management leaders and coaches. "I said to all the coaches, I have one major guideline," said Saigo, a one-time chancellor for Auburn University's Montgomery campus. "They all sat up, maybe about 30 of them, and Athletic Director Matt Sayre — win every game." He called the custodians together for a meeting at 10 one evening. "They were wondering what was up, and I said, 'Folks, I'm so pleased that you are here with me tonight. You are invisible, working afternoons and graveyard shifts, and we don't see you. But we see your work. If you don't do your job, and the bathrooms are dirty and the hallways are dirty, it takes only about 15 seconds to decide whether you want to come to this institution or not.' " He asked the custodial staff to tell him about ways to make SOU better and more welcoming. "I would not know that, and I have no way of finding out," he said. "It helped to build more teamwork for the institution than we had before." During one of his first SOU cabinet meetings, Saigo recalled, double-digit enrollment declines were mentioned, and the conversation moved down the agenda. "I said, 'Wait a minute, let's come back to that,' " he said. "Why aren't we talking about the issue? The answer was that the admissions people take care of that. I spoke some French about there, I never realized that French has so many American words." He learned that some of the school's dorm rooms were unfilled. He suggested giving dormitory scholarships and not worry if some students had paid more than others. "Let's follow the airlines' motto that we don't fly with an empty seat," Saigo said. "We became a team that week." To that end, financial aid, admissions, honors college, housing, faculty, administrators, information technology and counseling staffs went to work. Calls went out to as many as 2,000 students, who weren't planning to return. "Everybody came together," he said. "When you see or feel that kind of spirit, you can get your arms around it. You have all had that at some time in your life or career. It's something basically priceless." He related a story from a single mom in Medford who said she couldn't afford to send her son back to SOU. "When you are poor, you don't have the energy or strength or even the audacity to ask for help," Saigo said. Ultimately, the student qualified for financial aid, received a dormitory scholarship and enrolled that afternoon. "She thanked us with tears in her eyes," Saigo said. "Every one of us — faculty and staff — are going to focus on helping, mentoring, advising and, yes, even wiping away tears. If we can do that, treating every student as if he or she are our child, we will be the most successful institution in the state. Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31, and read his blog at www.mailtribune.com/Economic Edge.       By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 20, 2014 @ 4:55 pm » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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