Day: August 7, 2011

August 3, 2011 – Departing early morning from Ashland, we drive through splendid and occasionally startling mountain territory to Klamath Falls, to begin discussions with academic advisers and tours at the Oregon Institute of Technology campus.

Our tour happened to be led by a graduating senior in computer science, so we gained insights into the CSET (computer science, engineering, technology) program as well from a student perspective.  The school seems to be very focused and rigorous but is so small that students and instructors alike are all on a first name basis, with the largest classes often approaching the size of the smallest at OSU.

Klamath Falls itself is a rather small town, perhaps most distinguished for its access to and exploitation of geothermal resources (powering 85% of the campus).  OIT is also a national leader in green technology and renewable systems engineering programs.

Score Klamath Falls for the friendliest waitress of the trip so far.

 

August 2, 2011 – The sign of The Bard is everywhere.  We were utterly charmed by this little town, despite how quickly you can spend your money there.  We left our freeway-close motel early in the morning and sought out the downtown area and the OSF (Oregon Shakespeare Festival) grounds.  First stop was a tour, starting at the New Theatre.  Later, we explored downtown.  While the women went their way, Nik and I stopped in at the “To CD or Not to CD” record shop.  Discovered a treasure trove of vintage vinyl LPs as well as a good selection of recent audiophile 180g vinyl pressings, all of which inspired stories of music and adventures past.  Nik humored me quite nicely.  We barely escaped before a spending frenzy set in.  Lunch, more exploration on foot, finally returning to the motel for a bit of rest before returning to OSF for a pre-performance (preface, they called it) talk and powerpoint on our later-scheduled target, “Love’s Labor’s Lost”.  Next was a retreat to the Green where we found a picnic spot while we experienced the Green Show, tonight featuring Kites & Crows, a very decent indie banjo-cello-guitar trio.

At 8pm we assembled in the outdoor main theatre, the Elizabethan Stage, for a terrific and somewhat silly production of “Love’s Labor’s Lost” (see The Oregonian’s review).  We were thoroughly entertained for the next three hours.  Sorry, no cameras allowed.

 

August 1, 2011 – Arising early we see the morning view of Reser Stadium from our hotel. Then it is on to the admin building where a life-size cardboard cutout of Michelle Obama’s basketball coach brother (apparently being menaced by a standing beaver) greets us at the Visitor Center. We are (luckily) split off from the main tour group of thirty or so to get our own special, private wheelchair-accessible tour led by the sparkling Katlyn, who has published two scientific papers and conducted research abroad as an undergrad. Early up is the LEED-Certified (the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design national standard for green building), state-of-the-art engineering building. Then on to student affairs and student union areas, the main campus quad and much more. Then we were handed off to Courtney for the housing/dorm tour. After that we met with economics and computer science advisors. We got lost more than once, but were struck with the friendliness and helpfulness of everybody we encountered. Following more self-guided exploration, we finally hooked up with Rachel and Ivi so we could begin our late afternoon sprint to Ashland.

Leaving Portland, we drive to Corvallis. Landing at the Hilton Garden Inn, we find ourselves on the OSU campus at sunset, immediately across the street from the OSU football stadium (Go Beavers?).