MONMOUTH – The state of Oregon has hit a large milestone of 150 years of statehood. Celebrations will take place all over the state, including Western Oregon University. WOU will host two events on Thursday, Feb. 12 and Friday, Feb. 13. All events are free and open to the public.

On Thursday, music professor Kevin Helppie has coordinated “Music Made in Oregon,” which will take place at 7:30 p.m. in room 121 of Smith Hall. This performance will feature songs by composer/academicians who have taught or are teaching in higher education in Oregon throughout the years.

On Friday, there will be an all-day symposium with the theme, “Belonging and Identity in Oregon,” which will take place from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. in room 107 of Hamersly Library. This interdisciplinary symposium features WOU faculty members analyzing Oregon’s history and culture with implications for the next 150 years and beyond. The schedule is listed below.

“The statewide commemoration of Oregon's Sesquicentennial is a time for us to reflect upon the state's history and culture and to address not only the accomplishments but also the conflicts and limits of the past so that we can create a better future for the state,” said Kimberly Jensen, history professor, Ph.D.. “This means that we analyze the complexities of the past 150 years in Oregon and consider the ways that race, ethnicity, gender, class, sexuality, religion, region and resources have divided Oregonians and the ways that Oregonians have built bridges across those lines. The commemoration includes history and also a wide range of disciplines from the social sciences, creative arts, humanities, the natural sciences and education.”

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Contact:

Stephen Scheck, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
503-838-8226 or schecks@wou.edu