One group of SOU students find a way to continue class despite threat

Ashland, Ore.– While all classes were cancelled at Southern Oregon University Wednesday, One teacher and her group of students decided to make the best of it. “It’s an inspiration really,” said sophomore, Jay Hoppe.
The students who write for Southern Oregon University’s news paper, The Siskiyou, voluntarily met at Ashland’s Lithia Park because classes were cancelled due to a false threat.

“I was a little scared when we initially got the threat just because everyone’s been on high alert,” said senior, Eli Stillman.

But most students who write for the paper showed up Wednesday to write down ideas and share thoughts. They’ve been covering the tragic shooting in Roseburg and are now finding themselves having to come up with a way to report about their own campus and it’s safety.

“Its makes me angry that colleges and universities that teachers and students who are working through a better future are threatened,” said their professor, Julie Akins.
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Stillman said, “We wanted to comply with the school’s request for no one to go on campus but we knew we needed to meet so when she said ..’Plaza 6 o’clock, get as many people as you can.’ I was really happy.”
Akins said she couldn’t stand for a threat to hinder her students’ education.
“My point in having class today was to let our students know that we can’t be restrained by fear that we have to continue doing the work of reporting verifiable truth.”

Normally Akins and her 15 students meet from 6-9PM at Britt Hall to go over story ideas and what’s next for the school newspaper.
Akins hopes her students will be inspired and motivated to continue working hard. And fight for an end to terrifying distractions.
“Enough is enough…I need it to end, you need it to end, and we need to help each other do that.”