For many incoming students, the multitude of resource centers, student clubs, and student advocacy groups at Southern Oregon University can be a little confusing.
We here at the Siskiyou recognize that, and have prepared a handy dandy “who’s who” of the major student organizations and resource centers on campus:
The Associated Students of Southern Oregon University is the university’s official student government. Located primarily in the SOURS Leadership Center on the second floor of the Stevenson Union, ASSOU represents student interests and collaborates with other organizations, such as the Oregon Student Association, to ensure that students have a voice in state as well as national politics.
The organization is divided into three branches: legislative, judicial, and executive, as well as a number of different task forces and committees that manage everything from sustainability initiatives to the ASSOU budget. The ASSOU Student Fee Committee is also responsible for distributing funding to the various student groups and organizations on campus.
For more information or to get involved in student government, visit their website at assou.net or email assou@sou.edu.
The Commuter Resource Center provides assistance to non-traditional or commuter students. Located on the ground floor of the Stevenson Union, the CRC is equipped with a lounge, a computer lab, kitchenette, nap area, group study areas, and free lockers.
CRC staff provide technical assistance with MySOU and Moodle. They also provide term-paper delivery services, a special commuter meal plan for on-campus meals, rideshare services, and will even wake you up to catch the bus. The center is kid-friendly and has a small baby-changing and breast-feeding area as well.
The CRC is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.
The Ecology Center of the Siskiyous, or ECOS, is dedicated to raising awareness about environmental issues and educating the student body on the ecological impact the university has on the local ecosystem. Started in 1995 as the Environmental Resource Center, ECOS works to lessen the school’s environmental footprint and create a more sustainable campus community.
ECOS manages the SOU Bike Program, providing affordable bicycle repair services to students, faculty and staff. With professional student mechanics, free labor and low cost parts, the SOUBP can fix your flat, offer fit advice, help you with a project bike, or get your old clunker rolling again. The program also leads a number of casual, social bike rides aimed at getting SOU students out and about their local valley. For more information on the bike program specifically, contact soubikes@gmail.com
The organization also offers a community garden with plots available to students, a campus-wide recycling program, a library of environmental literature, and hosts a variety of workshops and events, including the annual Earth Day celebration and winter film series.
ECOS is located in the basement of the Stevenson Union in Room 105. The organization can be reached at ecos@sou.edu or 541-552-8512.
The Multicultural Resource Center is the home of the Multicultural Coalition, a collection of seven different student groups and organizations that bring the university’s student body together to foster a feeling of community support on campus. The Black Student Union, Gender And Sexuality Union, Ho’Opa’a Hawaii Student Union, International Student Association, Latino Student Union, Native American Student Union, and Pan-Asian Student Union are all part of the Multicultural Coalition.
Located on the second floor of the Stevenson Union in Room 301, the MRC offers a couch and recliner-equipped “Chill Out Room” and a small computer lab with free printing. MRC staff coordinate lectures and programs throughout the academic year on subjects ranging from Anatomy and Physiology to Interracial Dating, and assist other multicultural organizations on campus with events, leadership development, and navigating the student budget process.
The MRC front desk can be reached at 541-552-8793. For more information, visit their website at http://www.sou.edu/su/mrc/ or look them up on Facebook.
The Queer Resource Center supports the needs of queer students on campus while seeking to raising awareness about gender issues both on and off campus. Located in the basement of the Stevenson Union, the QRC puts on a number of campus-wide events throughout the school year, and provides a safe and supportive environment to discuss, advise, counsel, study, meet new people, and just hang out. The center also has a library of queer literature for public perusal.
The QRC staff are sensitive to the privacy needs of those who use the center, and all visitors and correspondences are treated with a certain amount of confidentiality.
The QRC is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and can be reached at 541-552-8329, qrc@sou.edu, or visit their website at http://www.sou.edu/su/qrc/.
The Women’s Resource Center is dedicated to supporting and empowering women both on and off campus, as well as wiping out sexism, abuse, and hate for people of all genders. Located in the basement of the Stevenson Union, the WRC is a child-friendly space with comfy sofas, free tea, free condoms, and a computer available to the public.
WRC staff coordinate several different events during the school year, including the Vagina Monologues, Athena in Velvet, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and much more. The center also maintains a library of feminist literature available to the public.
The WRC is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 541-552-6216 or visit their website at http://www.sou.edu/wrc/index.html.
There are dozens of other student organizations and clubs at SOU, each catering towards a particular interest or specific part of SOU’s diverse student body. From the Business Club to the Tango Club to the Paranormal Club to Sea Kayaking, SOU has something for everyone. To see the full list of clubs on campus, plus contact information, visit http://www.sou.edu/studentlife/clubs/directory.html.
