Join us for an alumni gathering.  Eastern Oregon premiere of ‘Oregon State University’ documentary to be shown Sept. 12

The Eastern Oregon premiere screening of a one-hour OPB “Oregon Experience” documentary that explores the 150-year history of Oregon State University will be shown at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12, at Four Rivers Cultural Center in Ontario.

The documentary takes an in-depth look at Oregon State’s legacy as a school for the people of Oregon and its continued impact today with research around the world—in technology, natural resources, marine sciences and more.

A gathering for OSU alumni and friends will be held before the screening beginning at 6 p.m. in the Japanese Garden. Food and refreshments will be provided, and a cash bar with beer and wine will be available.

A panel discussion featuring Lawrence A. Landis, an archivist at OSU since 1991, will follow the screening. Landis, who is featured in the documentary, has been director of the OSU’s Special Collections & Archives Research Center since 2011.

The screening of “Oregon State University” is part of OSU150, the university’s 15-month celebration of its 150th anniversary. Events continue through October, including a museum exhibit on display through Sept. 9 at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland.

A traveling version of the exhibit, “Oregon State University: A Legacy of Transformation” is on display in the Harano Gallery at the Four Rivers Cultural Center Aug. 10 through Sept. 26, and can be seen during the screening event as well.  In addition to the traveling exhibit, a banner showing OSU’s progress over time and a series of panels highlighting local OSU programs will also be on display.

The event is free, but individuals interested in attending should register in advance to secure a seat. To register, visit: https://www.osualum.com/nightatthemuseum.

OSU was created thanks to federal legislation adopted in the midst of the Civil War establishing land-grant schools that would provide a liberal and practical education for the masses. The mission of land-grant schools would be to provide a low-cost instruction in agriculture, military science, and engineering.

The federal government provided states with federal land to fund the new institutions. In 1868, the Oregon Legislature chose Corvallis College as its land-grant school. Over the years, the school would have many names, including the Oregon Agricultural College (OAC), and finally, in 1961, Oregon State University.

Today, Oregon State is one of only two institutions in the country with land, sea, space grant, and sun grant designations. Those federal designations provide opportunities to conduct and share research on a range of issues related to natural resources. It’s also the largest university in Oregon.

OPB’s documentary uses hundreds of rare images, historic film, and oral histories with alumni. The program features interviews with:

• John Byrne, Oregon State’s president from 1984 to 1995 and a former NOAA administrator
• Jonathan Hurst, an associate professor of engineering and co-founder of Agility Robotics
• Jane Lubchenco, a  distinguished professor, environmental scientist and former NOAA administrator
• Sylvia Moore, a professor emeritus of women’s athletics
• Michael Oriard, a former professional football player and emeritus distinguished professor of American literature and culture
• Edward Ray, Oregon State’s current president
• William Robbins, an emeritus distinguished professor of history

“Oregon State University” is written and produced by Horton and edited by Bruce Barrow. For more information, visit: http://bit.ly/2OStoqH.