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OPINION
Kurihara: Student engagement — A New Year’s resolution worth keeping
This is family business: Oregon’s motocross dynasty Read story on page 12
By Catalina Kurihara
Opinion Columnist
As we begin the new year, many students scribble down their resolutions with the hope of self-improvement: better grades, better habits and better balance. But what if this year, our resolution could do more than improve our personal lives — but also help shape the future of our university? Student engagement in campus politics is more than just casting a vote in elections. In reality, participation takes many forms. From joining clubs and councils to organizing petitions in the quad, getting involved allows students to influence the policies that shape their daily lives. At the University of Oregon, opportunities for engagement are everywhere. With over 200 student organizations on campus, students have Continue story on page 11
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Wednesday, Jan. 7 2026
OPINION
Ehly: JCOM courses earn you more than just a grade By Rachel Ehly
Opinion Coumnist
Going into my required Writing as Practice course this fall term, I didn’t think there was much the class could teach me. I’ve been writing professionally since I was 16 and have a fair amount of writing experience as a sophomore. This class seemed easy for me — the assignments were things I’ve done dozens of times, sending emails and writing pitches.
While the class was often repetitive, I found that the repetition was exactly what helped me become a stronger writer. Yes, I’ve sent hundreds of emails and submitted tons of pitches, but I had never gotten helpful feedback on my pitching format or the tone of my emails. This real-world application of course content is what makes the UO School of Journalism and Communication great. Rather than build knowledge about a particular subject, students studying Continue story on page 14
SPORTS
State of the Big Ten: baseball By Joe Krasnowski
Senior Sports Writer
Oregon baseball’s head coach is staying in Eugene. The Ducks will return key players to some of baseball’s premier positions, and a program-led organization dedicated to creating NIL opportunities for its athletes is thriving. What’s more, the Ducks continue to be one of the school’s rare programs that benefited from the move to the Big
Ten. Oregon is on the coast, near the baseball hotspots of Arizona and California; however, it plays in a midwestern-leaning conference while in season. Things could be a whole lot worse in the Oregon baseball stratosphere right now. And while replacing two weekend starters and over half of his lineup is easier said than done, head coach Mark Wasikowski has emerged as one of the country's premier talent evaluaContinue story on page 14
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NEWS
DAILY EMERALD
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026
page 4
Community-centered journalism class teaches students about serving Oregon news deserts Students will study how Newport and Lincoln County residents get their news amid closing newsrooms and shifting access. By Sasha Love
Senior News Reporter
Andrew DeVigal has been connecting journalism students to Oregon towns with shrinking local media since 2018. His course works in partnership with UO’s Sustainable City Year Program which aims to help students across majors address real-world issues in Oregon. DeVigal teaches classes that analyze the information ecosystems of smaller Oregon towns, and this year, due to the recent reductions at the Lincoln County Leader and the growth of new media filling the county’s information gaps, he decided to focus his class on the Central Oregon Coast. The class will partner with Oregon Public Broadcasting and the Lincoln Chronicle to survey community members' interest about public affairs and find out where the media falls short of community expectations. “(Students) who really embrace it really get a better understanding of how journalism could be launched in a different way and to really ask community members what their information needs are. So I think that's a new mindset for journalists,” DeVigal said. The Lincoln Chronicle is an online publication produced
and reported for by retired Oregon journalist Quinton Smith who aims to fill the “news desert” in which only a few reporters serve the entire county. Smith thinks the community meetings and surveys that DeVigal and the students will facilitate in Lincoln County will be mutually beneficial for the class and the publication. “They come to Lincoln County and study the news environment and I think that will be helpful for everyone to know where people get their news and what form do they want it in,” Smith said. Research that DeVigal and UO School of Journalism and Communications Interim Dean Regina Lawrence have conducted through the Agora Journalism Center showed that “engaged” or “community-centered” journalism serves as a push against growing polarization. Gallup reported this year that only around a quarter of Americans have a “great deal or fair amount” of trust in the media. “News has become really polarized at a national level but in local news, it is different,” Lawrence said. “People are more inclined to say they trust their local news environment, which makes these outlets more sustainable, but what research has also shown is that when people lose their local newspaper, what fills that gap is usually national news and
social media and these things are more polarizing.” Lawrence said local journalism doesn’t just mean news produced for a community, but news produced by members of that community. National conglomerates like Gannett and Carpenter Media Group are buying up struggling newspapers around the state and, according to Lawrence, the acquisitions often have the effect of decreasing the quality of reporting in individual communities. “The tendency is for the depth of local coverage to decline and there is more content that’s just generic and national,” Lawrence said. “If local news could be more healthy, that’s a place where there is a force that can decrease polarization that we have in society.” DeVigal said looking at bias in the media is also a focus of the class, and another important component of regaining trust lost in the media. “The media industry's history of misrepresentation and exclusion needs to be acknowledged. So we need to take it from that framework and really consider that those who have been harmed historically must have a reparative role in shaping the future of local news,” DeVigal said.
The fight continues for medicated abortions at University Health Services After a failed 2024 effort, student organizations hope to convince university administration to offer medicated abortion on campus. By Elle Kubiaczyk
News Reporter
The implementation of on-campus medicated abortions has been a prolonged effort at the University of Oregon. Now, UO’s chapter of Young Democratic Socialists of America, along with ASUO and 10 other student organizations are charging forward with the effort. So far, 1100 students have signed petitions to support medicated abortion access on campus. Several student organizations have also published letters of support. ASUO President Prissila Moreno is eager to rally more student signatures before meetings with administration in winter term. Quantifying student engagement is key in having valuable conversations with administrators — “It’s always a question of, do you guys want this, or do students want this?” Moreno said. YDSA hopes to continue canvassing efforts and hold a larger demonstration during winter term to show the extent of student participation. Additionally, YDSA plans to meet with new UHS director Margaret Trout and gauge her interest in supporting campaign efforts. Students for Choice President Karlie Windle said administrators have had concerns in the past due to the controversial nature of the campaign, and the inability to financially support the service at UHS. Specifically, UHS noted they did not have a full-time staff member on call 24/7 to aid students undergoing side effects. Key players in the coalition point to House Bill 2002, a broad reproductive health care bill passed by Oregon legislators in 2023. However, the House Republicans walked out, refusing to sign, and as a result “the abortion care part
of the legislation did not get passed,” Windle said. Moreno said the university points to HB 2002, a state decision, as an incentive to not implement medicated abortions at UO. Medicated abortions on college campuses are a relatively new concept, primarily implemented at universities in California. Under Senate Bill 24, all University of California and California State campuses were required to provide abortion medication at student health care clinics by Jan. 1, 2023. Despite the disappointment of HB 2002 for coalition leaders, Oregon continues to provide legal protections for abortions. Oregon allows abortions at any point during the pregnancy, offering access to medication and procedural abortions. Medication abortion is an option, depending on the medical facility, for those in week 10 or 12 of the pregnancy. Oregon additionally requires that most health insurance plans provide abortion coverage at no extra cost. In Eugene there are two Planned Parenthood locations, ranging from a 10 to 20-minute drive. At the Eugene-Springfield Health Center, the abortion pill can be prescribed up to 11 weeks, while an in-clinic procedural abortion caps at 13 weeks and six days. A medicated abortion can cost up to around $800, with Planned Parenthood reporting a national average cost landing at roughly $580. The effort for a closer option at UO is extremely time sensitive, Windle said. “ASUO members only hold their positions for a year and a lot of us (Students for Choice) are graduating.” Amid a campus-wide budget crisis and constant student leadership turnaround, Elinor Christensen, member of YDSA, remains optimistic. “It’s something that a large amount of the student body wants, and as long as we are able to quantify that support, I think our success rate will be high.”
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DAILY EMERALD
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026
Cozy up this winter with these book recommendations
page 8
Recommended titles
I Capture the Castle
Books that will help you get through the winter season. By Everette Cogswell
Arts & Culture Writer
When winter hits, and it’s dark by 5 p.m., sometimes the best thing to get you through is to cozy up with a book to help the time pass. Reading can feel intimidating sometimes, but this chilly season is the perfect time to adopt a new hobby, and with these books, they’ll surely help you along the way. “I Capture the Castle” by Dodie Smith tells the story of 17-year-old Cassandra and her family, who live in an old English castle. She dreams of being a writer and writes in journals, telling her stories of living in the castle and her first experiences with love. “It’s a coming-of-age story about a girl living in rural England in the early 1900s,” Sasha West, a first-year graduate student studying educational policy and leadership, said. “It’s kind of her coming of age as a teenager. I love the book; I highly recommend it.” Written by the same author as “The Hundred and One Dalmations,” Smith’s “I Capture the Castle” is a timeless read perfect for a cozy winter novel.
The best type of books to read in the wintertime are the kinds that you cannot bring yourself to stop reading once you start. Oftentimes, these types of books fall into the mystery category. “Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead” by Olga Tokarczuk is the perfect winter murder mystery that you won’t be able to set down. The story follows a girl named Janina who resides in a small Polish village. Here, she spends her winters studying astrology, translating poetry and taking care of the summer homes of wealthy residents. That’s when a neighbor nicknamed Big Foot is found dead. Soon, other bodies are discovered, sending Janina into a full-force investigation of what’s happening in her quaint village. “I just read ‘Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead,’ and it was so good. Just like a psychological murder mystery vibe,” Gianna Leider, a sophomore psychology student, said. “Table for Two” by Amor Towles is a collection of six short stories that all have some sort of connection to New York City, as well as a novella set in Los Angeles. The New York stories address themes of the male ego, fateful consequences of brief encounters and the inner workings of compromise within modern marriages. This collection of short stories is ideal for the wintertime. Each story leaves you wanting more, and the format of the novel makes it perfect for on-the-go reading.
by Dodie Smith
Table for Two
by Amor Towles
Drive Your Plow Over Many Savage Moons the Bones of the Dead by Ben Spencer by Olga Tokarczuk
“Many Savage Moons” by Ben Spencer is a standalone fantasy book that is a great place to start for this genre. This story follows Nathaniel, who quickly falls in love with Winter York, a woman he meets at a book shop. Winter is avoiding a man, who is later revealed to have magic powers that allow him to write people into dreams after he touches them. Nathaniel tried to protect Winter, risking his life in return. “I really like it because it’s just one book, so you’re not getting wrapped up in a long and tedious series, but its ideas are original and the characters are convincing,” Donovan Selfridge, a junior linguistics and communication disorder sciences major, said. Fantasy is a great genre to explore for all the cozy energy you want in a winter read. “Many Savage Moons” is a unique story with many literary references, sure to keep you invested.
Build a budget backpack
Choosing hiking gear can be tedious and expensive. Let us help with this introductory guide. By Gigi Roddick
Arts & Culture Writer
If your New Year’s resolution involves getting outside more, now is the perfect time to start thinking about gear. On a budget, rentals are your best friend. The Outdoor Program Barn rents backpacks, tents, clothes and more. Plan in advance and reserve gear to avoid purchasing expensive items you may only use a few times a year. For those intent on owning their own gear, GearLab is a great resource for unbiased reviews. They feature well-researched comparisons in almost every area of backpacking gear. If you are of an organized inclination, LighterPack allows hikers to track the cumulative weight of their pack. See what areas of your pack are heaviest, and how potential gear could impact your baseweight (the weight of your pack without food, fuel or water).
The Big Three: Tent, Sleeping Bag and Pack Let’s start with your most important (and likely most expensive) items. For a tent, your two main considerations are season and purpose. Do you want a three-season tent, or something capable of snow camping? Are you shooting for lightweight packing for high-mileage trips, or can you afford a heavier base weight? A tent that balances price, weight and durability nicely is Paria Outdoor Products’ Bryce Backpacking Tent. Its trail weight of 3 pounds 1 ounce and price tag of $179.99 means you’re only paying $3.67/ounce. Top-market tents often go for $15-20/ounce, making the Bryce a solid three-season entry tent. Another option is the Featherstone Backbone 1P, a $179.99 tent weighing only 27 ounces (22 ounces less than the Bryce). It’s freestanding, meaning trekking poles are required to support the structure. Sleeping bags will either be down or synthetic, or some combination thereof. Down is lighter, typically more expensive, packs down smaller and is useless if wet. Synthetic is
cheaper, heavier and will keep you warmer even when damp. Temperature ratings indicate at what outdoor temperature survival is possible — comfort ratings are typically warmer and suggest the outdoor temperature at which you can expect a pleasant sleeping experience. If you’re hiking in the PNW during summer, fall or spring, 30 degrees fahrenheit is often a solid baseline. Keep in mind that gender and bodyweight impact an individual’s temperature needs. The Coleman Brazos 30 degrees fahrenheit is synthetic, heavy (83.2 ounces) and bulky, but it’s only $53.99. For $119, lose two pounds with the REI Co-op Trailmade 20 Sleeping Bag. To improve the temperature range of your sleep system, consider a silk or fleece liner like the COCOON Microfiber MummyLiner ($38.95) or JCWTO Fleece Liner ($19.99). Sleeping pads are also integral to comfort and warmth. R-value refers to the insulation strength of pads, much like temperature ratings for bags. The higher the number, the more warmth they provide. The Exped FlexMat offers 1.5 R-value for $39.95, but it is miles better than sleeping on the ground. The Klymit Static V2 ($69.99) boasts a measly 1.3 R-value, but is more comfortable on account of its inflatability. Aim for a 55 to 70 litre pack like REI’s Trailmade 60L ($179 and 54 ounces) or Naturehike’s Rock 60L ($107.90 and 40.9 ounces).
Stock the Kitchen! The MSR PocketRocket Stove ($49.95) is a hallmark name for beginner backpackers on a budget. Skip on expensive, freeze-dried meals. Top Ramen and trail mix will get the job done for far less. To cut costs, consider cold soaking your food and forgoing stoves entirely. Pair your cooking with a water filtration system that suits your needs. While many hikers prefer filters like the LifeStraw Peak Squeeze ($37.95), purifying additives like Aquamira drops can be cheaper ($14.99). Note that drops take longer to purify, and can leave behind chemical aftertastes.
Et cetera Regarding clothes, a rain jacket is always your friend. Warm insulators like a fleece or puffer won’t keep you warm once they’re wet — they must be protected by a waterproof layer. Eugene Gear Traders stocks camping clothing at second-hand prices. Consider light base layers to supplement your closet too. Check out REI’s deals (year-round selections), or plan for their anniversary and member sales in March. Also watch for the OP’s used gear sales, usually announced on their Instagram. Whether you’re a gear nerd or a hater of this sometimes odious process, remember that a budget bag is about compromise. Maybe you pack out a few more pounds to save a few hundred dollars. At the end of the day, getting outside is what’s important — not how tiny your pack is. Safe travels and have fun out there!
(ABOVE) The University of Oregon Outdoor Program helps students get outside and safely explore the state of Oregon. (Molly McPherson/Emerald)
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A&C AND OPINION
DAILY EMERALD
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026
page 11
ARTS & CULTURE
‘IT: Welcome to Derry’ is proof that prequels can pack a punch The series’ first season, which released its last episode on Dec. 14, is full of Stephen King classics: bulging body parts, clairvoyance and terrorized children. But does the show live up to its cinematic predecessors? By Amelia Fiore
Arts & Culture Writer
Born as the third installment to Andrés Muschietti’s “IT” universe, “IT: Welcome to Derry” has solidified itself as the eager, rebellious youngest child of the franchise. It’s unlike any other Stephen King product, and “Stranger Things” may have competition for the best ‘group of kids fighting an evil child-hungry alien’ show of the season. In this HBO Max show, we are taken back to Derry in the 60s and learn a bit more about how the classic clown killer Pennywise made his mark — this time on a whole new, but not random, batch of kids. Muschietti, who directed the 2017 and 2019 “IT” films, created the eight-episode series alongside his sister Barbara Muschietti and writer Jason Fuchs. This series, although shaped by the same director, takes a staunch turn from the films. The characters are given more time to flesh out over the span of eight hour-long episodes, and the intensity seldom dies down. Having more time to spend with these characters might be what makes some of their brutal demises so… brutal. The main concept of the series (and entire franchise) boils down to the gruesome murder of children, which isn’t
exactly easy to swallow. What makes their distress so poignant, though, is the outstanding acting skills of the cast, especially the child actors. The show almost entirely follows a group of five kids investigating a classmate’s mysterious disappearance, followed by the disappearances of three other children. Not only do these actors perfectly portray the depths of the horrors they face, like hauntings from deceased parents, but their chemistry doesn’t feel cliché. It’s a ragtag group of kids that don’t seem to go together at first, but as their friendship solidifies, so do the stakes. The use of both practical and special effects is a key factor in shaping the horror of Pennywise (played by Bill Skarsgård). Several horrifying hallucinations can be attributed to the work of both SFX and VFX teams, which blended CGI and practical effects makeup. In the first climactic scene of the series, artists married prosthetics, fake goo and a digitally-made demon baby into something terrifyingly absurd enough to capture what “IT” is all about. It comes across as eerie and paranormal, but not artificial. The series takes place in Derry, Maine, in 1962, right in the middle of the Civil Rights Movement. Themes of racism, bigotry, militarization, Cold War paranoia and in-
fringement on Indigenous property amplify the horrors of Derry and anchor the plights of its residents. In one scene, a fire is set at a Black-owned club, which is a reference to real tragedies that shook Black communities during the time period. It’s a necessary addition to the story, and avoiding such would have been a disservice to both history and proper storytelling. What makes “IT: Welcome to Derry” so special isn’t solely a result of its gruesome nature (although that definitely plays a role), but the characters that spark enough sympathy to have you pace around your living room, praying that they make it out alright. It’s definitely much wilder than the “IT” films, but it also has a bit more heart. The story also serves as a perfect display of how the only thing more horrifying than an alien clown is human beings. A second season of “IT: Welcome to Derry” has not been officially confirmed by HBO, but the creators have a set three-season timeline in the works. The series definitely isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you’re craving creative horror and underdogs to root for, you’ll feel right at home in Derry.
OPINION
Kurihara: Student engagement — A New Year’s resolution worth keeping Opinion: Student participation in university politics matters – here’s how to get started. Continued from page 1
countless ways to make their voice heard, supported and strengthened through collective action. This last year alone, student workers played a powerful role in university politics by winning the first-ever undergraduate student worker union contract at a public university in the United States. That achievement demonstrated the power of collective student organizing to effect real change. But, participation doesn’t always look like protest. It can be as simple as filling out a survey. Do you dislike the current football ticket system? Complete the ASUO survey that was sent out and make your voice heard. ASUO, UO’s student government body, President Prissila Moreno reminds us of the stakes, “We pay thousands and thousands of dollars to this institution. We have a say in where our money goes.” The same principle is driving the Young Democratic Socialists of America’s current campaign to bring medicated abortion access to campus health services. The YDSA-led initiative has already gathered support signatures from more than 1,500 students, demonstrating the importance of this issue to the student body. Yet, without continued student participation, that evidence alone is rarely enough to prompt institutional action. "We have control over our money; we have to utilize that and maximize it. If medicated abortion, which over 1,500 students have already said they want through the YDSA petition, we need to deliver on that interest," Moreno said.
Courtesy of Elinor Christensen
For Moreno, engagement is not about avoiding conflict, but about advocating for students' needs — even when it’s uncomfortable. "Here, I want to be an active student, and if that means causing problems for higher administration, it’s a problem worth causing,” Moreno said. “But of course, I need people to join me in that fight. And so do many other organizations. We need everyone." This call to action reflects trends on a range of college campuses. In a University of California, Davis study conducted by Maria Jaime, research shows that on college campuses, many students support expanded reproductive health services, yet often assume these services already exist, highlighting why student activism is crucial for translating student needs into institutional change. Elinor Christensen, a YDSA member, said, “You
don’t have to be perfect ever, actually. Just starting and being involved in whatever capacity you can is very beneficial — whether you know that or not.” A common barrier to action is doubt, and Christensen reminds us, “You know more than you think. Remember, you belong here, and your participation matters wherever you go and in whatever you decide to put effort towards. It’s important to care.” Our university is a place to understand community impacts, start easing into politics and create real-world skills that can create the leaders of tomorrow. This new year, skip the cliché resolutions that fade by February. Instead, consider one that leaves a lasting impact. Be engaged, stay informed and make your voice heard because the future of our university is shaped not just by administrators, but by the students who choose to participate.
Catalina Kurihara is a third-year political science and public relations double major with a minor in science communication. In her free time, Catalina loves deep diving into pop culture and spending time with her dogs.
ARTS & CULTURE
This is family business: Oregon’s motocross dynasty For the past 50 years, the Leach family has pioneered motocross in the Pacific Northwest. Now they look to new generations and new frontiers. By Gigi Roddick
Arts & Culture Writer
Arenacross is coming to Oregon in 2026. The series will kick off this January in Albany, Ore. at the Leach family operated track. Arenacross is a variation of motocross characterized by its faster, tighter indoor races. It is the latest advancement from a family that has already shaped motocross in the Pacific Northwest. Brothers Robert and Ryan Leach, who manage a total of three tracks in Oregon, developed the series for their Albany and Salem locations. Ryan operates the family’s local circuit based out of Junction City alongside his wife Michelle and their four sons. On race day, the Leach office headquarters sits amid chaos. No more than five feet from the building, racers tear through their laps and leap over jumps. Mud sprays high enough to catch flaggers who wave from the balcony above. Downstairs Michelle Leach sits in a one-room office furnished with handwritten charts and a heating lamp. She scores participants and readies prizes as spectators cheer
outside. Muddy riders knocking on the sliding glass window are answered by Ryan Leach. The constant roar of dirt bikes is like a second heartbeat for Ryan, who started riding at age 5 alongside his brother, Robert. Their success was both talent and genetics; they were carrying on tradition. The Leach legacy began with Ryan and Robert’s father, Bob Leach. An early interest in dirtbikes would eventually lead him to professional motocross racing and track management. But for that to happen, the sport first had to migrate to American soil. Modern motocross evolved from off-road time trials in the United Kingdom. “Scrambles,” as they were termed, were muddy endurance tests of both man and bike. In the late 60s, the sport was ushered across the pond with the help of Edison Dye, an Iowa motorcycle importer. To accommodate a growing urban fanbase and further heighten the sports spectacle, concert promoter Mike Goodwin organized the first supercross event in 1972. The Yamaha Superbowl of Motocross was held in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for an audience of 35,000. Rid-
ers competed on artificial jump and mud features, a departure from the cross-country terrain of their predecessors. The event brought all the action of motocross to fans in the comfort of a stadium seat. It was an instant success. As supercross expanded into an officially sanctioned American Motorcyclist Association series, motocross also saw tandem development in technology and commercial marketing. Four-stroke engines, improved suspension systems and increasing investments from big-name sponsors increased the sport’s momentum in America. Today, the premier series of modern motocross features 11 tracks hosting between the months of May and August. The tour’s eighth stop is held at Washougal MX Park in Washington, whose first national race in 1980 was funded by Ralph Huffman. Bob Leach was part of the team that designed the natural terrain track suited to the area’s hilly landscape. “It was their vision to put a motocross track up here on the hillside,” Huffman’s son Ryan Huffman, current track manager at Washougal, said. “The core of the track is still the base of what Bob built.”
DAILY EMERALD
Track design was part of Bob’s shifting involvement in motocross. He retired from his professional racing days and stepped into management, helping to run the Washougal track before purchasing his own in Albany, Ore., in 1981. Three years later, Leach’s operations had expanded to the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem. “My dad was ultimately a pioneer of motocross in the Pacific Northwest,” Ryan Leach said. The growing business was supported by Bob’s wife, Linda Leach, and their children. For Ryan and Robert, that meant caution flagging, post-race clean-ups and general maintenance dominated the afternoons and weekends of their childhoods. “Most of the time that was spent at the track was working. And as a kid, that doesn’t necessarily translate to fun,” Ryan said. But looking back now, the memories are fond. In his early 20s, Ryan began working for his father full-time. Developing the track, purchasing equipment and the long highway drives together continued to feed Ryan into the churn of the family business. “As my dad got older, I felt like he could count on me and everything that I had learned from him,” Ryan said. “That was a good feeling for me, and a feeling I still cherish.” Bob and Linda died in a motor vehicle accident in February 2021. The loss was sudden and heavy, especially for a family that operated as closely as the Leach’s. “The last time I rode a motorcycle was the day my parents got in the car crash,” Ryan said. “Your whole world gets turned upside down, and riding my bike was really kind of the last thing I was thinking about.” Despite their grief, returning to the family business was
only natural for the Leach siblings. “I don’t think there was any question that was what we’d do too: continue on the family tradition,” Ryan said. Much like their father 40 years prior, Ryan and Robert invested their experience and passion in the commercial side of the sport. In September 2021, the brothers took over the Eugene track. A lifetime of learning from their parents quickly made the venture successful, and a generation later, the Leach story is much the same. On any given day, Ryan and Michelle’s four sons can be found counting laps, manning the concession stand or racing themselves. Their six-person family unit services all areas of the track and embellishes the motocross environment with warmth and familiarity. “Sometimes it’s stressful, but most of the time I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Ryan said. “I spent a lot of time with my mom and dad in Albany, and I really cherish those moments with my parents. I’m really blessed to have done that, and I’m really blessed to have kids that want to help me and want to see our business succeed.” The latest frontier of the Leach business is their upcoming Arenacross series. The Linn County Fairgrounds track in Albany will host the first event starting January 7. Riders in Eugene typically complete the course, created on the property’s 30-acre footprint, in one to two minutes. For Albany’s Arenacross, competitors race a circuit housed within 125 by 200 feet in only 24 seconds. The sound, speed and proximity of riders are all amplified by the echoings of an enclosed roof. “You’ve taken an outdoor track, and you’ve totally condensed it to fit into a tiny little arena, and it makes for some action-packed races,” Ryan said. The Leach’s latest adapta-
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026
page 13
tion is a continued history of dedication to fans, racers and the motocross community. When many riders faced track closures during COVID-19, the Leach’s found creative ways to continue supporting the passion of their community. Small groups were able to rent the track for shorter, individual practice slots. “Their influence in staying open and being available for all riders was huge,” Ryan Huffman said. The opportunity for connection helped the sport grow following the pandemic, as riders rediscovered the importance of the motocross community. “People park awning-in,” Huffman said, referencing the neighborhood of motorhomes and trailers parked at events where fans and riders socialize. “It’s a lot of families enjoying the weekends together.” Motocross is much more than a sporting getaway, though. The speed and toughness that make it so exciting also make it inherently risky and competitive — an environment that, for many, fosters camaraderie. “There’s people that will race you on the track — be as competitive as can be — and at the same time, if you need something, they might take a part off their bike to give it to you,” Ryan Leach said. “The community is just great.” The people are part of what has already sustained two generations of dedication and hard work. Ryan isn’t looking to retire anytime soon, but when he does consider the future of family operations, the situation looks familiar. “My hope is that I would continue to do and carry on the tradition that was passed on to me, and I will in turn pass on to my kids,” Ryan said. “And I’m hoping some day they’ll want to do exactly what I do.” (ON THE COVER) A rider clears a jump during a race at the Leach family motocross track on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Junction City, Ore. The Leach family has operated motocross tracks in Oregon for decades, helping build the sport across the Pacific Northwest. (FAR LEFT) ATV riders navigate a muddy section of the track during a race at the Leach family motocross facility on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Junction City, Ore. The Leach family hosts regular race days that draw riders and families from across the region. (LEFT) Ryan Leach waves a checkered flag from the officials' stand during a race at the Leach family motocross track on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Junction City, Ore. Leach grew up working at tracks founded by his parents and now helps lead the family business alongside his brother, continuing a motocross legacy spanning more than 50 years. (BELOW) An ATV rider rounds a muddy turn as a spectator cheers from the fence line during a race at the Leach family motocross facility on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Junction City, Ore. Spectators line the track throughout race days to watch riders compete in wet conditions. (Gigi Roddick/Emerald)
OPINION
DAILY EMERALD
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026
page 14
Ehly: JCOM courses earn you more than just a grade Opinion: The SOJC education lies more in experience than in grades. Continued from page 3
Rachel Ehly is an opinion columnist for The Daily Emerald and is studying journalism and political science. She could talk for hours about all things politics, pop culture and music.
journalism, media studies, advertising and public relations are building a skillset. JCOM courses are designed to give students experience and provide them with real feedback rather than test students on their grasp of content. This is done through classes that focus on pass or no pass grades rather than letter or number grades. The SOJC curriculum is also very structured in terms of class sequencing and required courses. “(Pass or no pass classes) help me better my skills, but they also don’t give me anxiety about how high or low of a score I have to get on certain assignments,” Meiani Wright-Devoux, a sophomore public relations student, said. The structured nature of the SOJC curriculum reduces stress for students in deciding what classes to take each term, but opens up other avenues of stress in providing limited spaces in courses that students need to advance in the curriculum sequence. Wright-Devoux noted how it has been difficult for her and underclassmen to register for specific courses early in the SOJC sequence, like Story Craft Audio and Story Craft Visual.
When these lower-division courses fill up quickly, it leaves students with gaps in their sequence and makes it more difficult to register for classes with prerequisites. As a sophomore, I still haven’t been able to take courses early in the journalism sequence. This isn’t exclusive to the UO SOJC either. World-renowned schools like Boston University also struggle with underclassmen having the classes they need to develop their skillset, BU junior Ellen Dong said. “You don’t really become a good writer until the end of your sophomore year,” Dong said. “Which causes issues for things like the student newspaper… because they have a bunch of underclassmen who are eager to write… but they don’t have the skills to back it up.” While BU’s curriculum isn’t as structured as UO’s, with students able to take any communications classes they want after completing prerequisites, they follow similar classroom practices. Both schools place an emphasis on real-world application of skillsets developed in the classroom. “A lot of professors stress that they try to run their classes like an actual newsroom… there’s not a lot of raising hands, you just talk and give feedback,” Dong said. This is what a communications education is all about. I don’t go into my journalism classes and expect to memorize the history of the print news in-
dustry or every rule in the AP style guide. I take these classes because I want to learn how to be a better communicator, however that may be. Being able to take communications classes anywhere is a unique experience that can apply to so many different professions. It’s important to make the most of it.
(Noa Schwartz/Emerald)
Nag: 120 days in the hole (part one) Opinion: Prolonged solitary confinement is deeply problematic, and Oregon is not an exception in regard to the human rights abuses associated with the practice. Adopting the Mandela Rules would alleviate the glaring problems within a flawed system. By Aishiki Nag
Opinion Columnist
Basim Floro was 19 when he first entered the Oregon prison system, and was sent to the “disciplinary segregation unit” due to structural code infractions. A code infraction had occurred due to his untreated and undiagnosed high-functioning schizophrenia. “This section felt more like a zoo, you were a caged animal, and everybody was watching you,” Floro said. Solitary confinement conditions vary from prison to prison in Oregon, but in general, solitary confinement has been used as a punitive measure rather than a mechanism of rehabilitation. Solitary confinement is used in relation to institutional violations, rather than to the severity of one’s initial crime. Institutional violations are violations of prison rules by incarcerated individuals that go against established norms. Violations can range from physical harm to a correctional officer to not following orders fast enough. Floro was charged with an initial 180 days in solitary confinement due to the minor assault of a staff person, but this initial charge was dropped due to insufficient evidence; he was later moved to a different facility, which charged him with 120 days in solitary confinement for the same infraction. The most deplorable conditions were reported at the Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution,
according to Floro. “They would treat us inhumanely, like animals… you can see some of these (inmates) were hopeless, you could see their souls literally being damaged day by day.” Floro mentioned that this particular institution had walls that constantly leaked, the place would smell disgusting and many had to sleep on the floor by the door to get fresh air through the night. Floro recounted that the guards had thrown their food into the cells, and if they couldn’t grab it quickly enough, they wouldn’t be able to eat for the day. In Oregon, inmates within solitary confinement are kept in small cells for 23 – 24 hours a day, with the total time spent in a singular restrictive housing facility being restricted to 90 days; however, inmates can be moved to other restrictive units, extending the total time. In 2015, the United Nations adopted the Mandela Rules, which were based on Nelson Mandela’s six years in solitary confinement and revised to align with global human rights standards. They defined solitary confinement as 22-plus-hour days with no meaningful human contact and prohibited prolonged solitary confinement over 15 days as torture. Prolonged solitary confinement has been documented to worsen mental health. In 1993, Dr. Stuart Grassian found that solitary confinement induced hypersensitivity to external stimuli, panic attacks, cognitive deficits, obsessive thinking and
other physical and psychological problems. Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Raymond Patterson reported that those people kept in California’s Security Housing Unit had a 33 times greater chance of committing suicide, with studies in New York and Texas citing similarly high results. Human rights advocates are pushing for domestic pressure to end prolonged solitary confinement and adhere to the Mandela Rules. Meaningful human contact is often overlooked, and advocates emphasize its importance in solitary confinement. In an interview with Sara Vogel, the editorial and project manager at Solitary Watch, she expanded on the current organizing work surrounding solitary confinement Solitary Watch is sponsoring an initiative for individuals in solitary confinement to report on prison conditions, and their team publishes these testimonial accounts online; another initiative to improve human contact is the prison penpal program, called Lifelines to Solitary. “There’s a very serious connection between solitary confinement and the impact on people’s mental health, especially people with pre-existing conditions,” Vogel said. “It creates this cycle of internal recidivism, where a person who might have bipolar disorder might be experiencing psychosis and lashes out, and then gets sent to solitary confinement for a disciplinary infraction.”
Aishiki Nag is a senior studying political science and global studies. She likes to cover state and national politics, and international peace-building efforts. When she’s not writing for The Emerald, she likes to read, hike and travel to new places.
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SPORTS
DAILY EMERALD
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026
page 19
Football recruiting class adds defensive backs, restocks trenches with 2026 group The Ducks signed the nation’s third-best class for the second year in a row, and filled it with blue-chip talent at key positions. By Owen Murray
Associate Sports Editor
In the midst of its season, Oregon football turned to recruiting on National Early Signing Day in December 2025. The Ducks emerged with one of the nation’s best classes, stocked with defensive backs that will continue the program’s reinvention at the position and offensive skill players that should raise the ceiling on the 2026 season. In total, head coach Dan Lanning signed 21 commits — by 247Sports’ rankings, that split into three five-star recruits, 13 four-stars and five three-stars — in addition to five-star wideout Gatlin Bair, who returned from a two-year mission to join the program. It’s Oregon’s fourth consecutive top-10 ranked class, and the second straight top-three group.
Defensive backfield restocks with talent after 2025 reset In 2025, Oregon completely turned over its secondary with five new starters and allowed the third-fewest regular season passing yards in the nation. That was in part due to true freshman Brandon Finney Jr. and redshirt freshman Ify Obidegwu’s emergence at cornerback — and the 2026 class looks ready to build on their success. The Ducks added six defensive backs in the 2026 class, including five-star safety Jett Washington (6-5, 205 pounds) and four-star cornerback Davon Benjamin (5-11.5, 180 pounds). Washington was the nation’s best recruit at the position and will add size and talent to an already-stacked room that includes four former blue-chips, while Benjamin should front another wave of depth — Finney and Obidegwu are both expected to return. None of the corners have the size to match the two 2025 starters, but watch for how the Ducks integrate them early.
to the room with the class, but it could also be a position group that the Ducks address through the transfer portal. Last season, Oregon added three of its 2025 starters (Pregnon, World, tackle Alex Harkey) there. Multiple key players could be gone on the defensive side of the trenches, too; EDGE Matayo Uiagalelei is a top talent, and defensive tackle A’Mauri Washington made huge strides in 2025. EDGE Teitum Tuioti is eligible, too, but could follow Uiagalelei’s trajectory and return in 2026. Either way, the Ducks added five-star Anthony “Tank” Jones (the top recruit in Alabama) and three-star Dutch Horisk at his position alongside four-star Willamette High School defensive lineman Tony Cumberland and four-star Price Tavizon.
(BELOW) Oregon Ducks linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei (10) sprints towards Southern California Trojans offensive lineman Tobias Raymond (73) as the play starts. The No. 7 University of Oregon Ducks defeated West Coast rivals the No. 15 USC Trojans 42-27 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Nov. 22, 2025. (Saj Sundaram/ Emerald)
OREGON 2026 RECRUITING CLASS, BY POSITION QB
Bryson Beaver
RB
Tradarian Ball
WR
Gatlin Bair Jalen Lott Messiah Hampton Hudson Lewis
TE
Kendre Harrison
OL
Immanuel Iheanacho Tommy Tofi Koloi Keli
EDGE
Anthony “Tank” Jones Dutch Horisk
DL
Tony Cumberland Prince Tavizon
LB
Braylon Hodge Tristan Phillips
CB
Davon Benjamin Azel Banag Trevon Watson
Skill rooms add upside Autzen Stadium is used to freakish athletic talent — Kenyon Sadiq has made that a regular occurrence — and the Ducks have more coming. Dual football and basketball recruit Kendre Harrison (6-7, 243 pounds) joins as a tight end, while four-star running back Tradarian Ball enters as the nation’s fourth-best recruit at the position with Oregon expected to return true freshmen Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. Bair, who clocked a 10.15-second 100-meter time as a high school junior, will add another five-star talent to the receiver room alongside four-star Jalen Lott (fourth-nationally at the position), four-star Messiah Hampton and three-star Hudson Lewis. The Ducks shouldn’t face as much turnover on the field as they did following the 2024 season, but Sadiq is expected to head to the draft, Whittington is out of eligibility and quarterback Dante Moore’s future is draft-eligible for the first time. Oregon will have a new offensive coordinator, too, after Will Stein took the head coach job at the University of Kentucky, and they’ll have depth at nearly every position to play with.
Trenches add recruits amid change The place Oregon should expect change is the offensive line, where all of its starters could leave following the season. Left guard Emmanuel Pregnon is one of the best in the 2026 draft class, left tackle Isaiah World projects as a strong option for franchises at a vital position and center Iapani Laloulu has stepped up in 2026. Defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi is gone, too, as he becomes the head coach at Cal. Oregon added five-star Immanuel Iheanacho (66.5, 345 pounds), four-star Tommy Tofi (6-6, 330 pounds) and three-star Koloi Keli (6-3, 290 pounds)
(2024 recruit)
(Junior college signing, College of San Mateo)
S
Jett Washington Devin Jackson Xavier Lherisse
SPORTS
DAILY EMERALD
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026
page 20
Las Vegas sweep, Oregon club hockey is well positioned for a late season run The Ducks were on a run of success against Division I opponents before a meeting with No. 4 UNLV, but they have a chance to regain early-season momentum down the stretch. By Henry Light
Sports Writer
The Oregon club hockey team ended 2025 with a disastrous road series against the fourth-ranked University of Nevada, Las Vegas, but the Ducks enter the new year well-positioned to achieve their best record at the ACHA Division I level. Oregon currently sits 8-9 with 11 games remaining on its schedule. The Ducks came into the series against UNLV on their most sustained run of success against Division I opponents this season, going 2-1 at the ACHA Chicago Classic tournament and splitting an away series against Waldorf University. Losing 9-1 and 10-1 to the defending national champions placed the Ducks in the lower end of the division, but they will face opponents in that tier the rest of the way. The Chicago Classic began with a change of pace for the Ducks from an easy home sweep of Division II Washington the week before to a matchup with No. 14 Purdue University Northwest. The Pride took care of business, coasting to a 5-0 win and dropping Oregon to 2-3 against Division I opponents. Oregon’s next two games against 8-11 Illinois State University and 5-10 Roosevelt University presented an opportunity to separate itself from the basement of Division I. The Ducks took a step in the right direction with a 5-4 overtime win over Illinois State. Leading scorer Noah Easterson quickly answered Redbirds goals twice off assists from freshman Bobby Anselmo, and Oregon eventually built a 4-2 lead early in the third period. Late-game issues that have plagued the Ducks this season came back, as Illinois State quickly cut the lead to one goal then tied the game with 1:36 remaining, sending it to overtime. Redbirds defenseman Declan Mcdermott put the Ducks on a power play with a holding penalty eight seconds into overtime, and 11 seconds later Oregon was celebrating its best Division I win so far and an Easterson hat trick. Oregon finished the tournament with a 2-1 win over Roosevelt University, mostly thanks to sophomore goalie George Serbin. The Ducks were outshot 39-26 by the Lakers and once again had to stave off a comeback bid after Roosevelt cut the lead to one goal with 5:21 to play. Serbin’s heroics and a goal and an assist from freshman scoring leader Inde Abresch, who sits third on the team with 12 points, were enough to come away with the win. The Ducks moved into December with an away series against 10-8-1 Waldorf.
Freshman goalie Thomas Cafarelli stole the opener for Oregon, stopping all 49 shots he faced while the Ducks found enough depth scoring for a 3-0 win. Anselmo opened the scoring with his first ACHA goal, followed by freshman defenseman Austin Kluksdahl scoring his first and sophomore Alex Ulyanov adding an insurance goal. Waldorf built another heavy shots on goal advantage in the second game, outshooting the Ducks 43-22 aided by six power play opportunities. This time it was enough for a 6-1 Warriors win off the back of four powerplay goals. Oregon went home with its first win over an above-.500 Division I team, but with a clear need to protect its goalies better. Oregon’s roadtrip to Las Vegas would not be an ideal opportunity to make that adjustment, as the Rebels entered the series 13-5 and undefeated against unranked opponents. The 9-1 and 10-1 losses did little to help the Ducks improve this season, but they did introduce the nine freshmen on Oregon’s roster to championship-level ACHA hockey. The freshman class’ ability to settle into the ACHA level will be key to Oregon finishing strong, and several of them were moving in the right direction before the UNLV series. Abresch has cemented himself as one of the Ducks’ best scorers, while Jackson Ebbott has provided depth scoring with eight points in 13 games and Anselmo recorded four points in four games starting against Illinois State. Defensemen Colin Gabriel and Austin Kluksdahl have emerged as key pieces for the future of the Ducks’ blue line, with Gabriel leading Oregon defensemen in points with six and Kluksdahl tied for second with five. Cafarelli leads Oregon’s goalies in save percentage, posting a .923, and has competed with the sophomore, Serbin, for the starting job. Oregon’s remaining schedule offers a prime opportunity to improve its win total for the fourth straight season since its move up from Division II. The only above-.500 team remaining is 13-5-1 North Carolina State University, which Oregon will face once on the road on Jan. 23, before a series at the University of North Carolina that weekend. The Ducks open the new year at home against 2-11-1 San Diego State University on Jan. 9 and 10.
State of the Big Ten: baseball How does the rest of the conference compare to the Ducks? Continued from page 3
tors and developers, the main cog in the engine that had Oregon in regional play each of the last four years. Perhaps the most important development for Oregon of late has been the expansion of its "Diamond Ducks” program, which helps greatly with revenue sharing and NIL. Dipping into that resource was likely a key factor in the Ducks landing Cal Scolari, a former WCC Pitcher of the Year from the University of San Diego. "We had a number of guys we were after to try to bolster the staff," Wasikowski said. "It’s really interesting now with the portal how that goes. It’s a lot.” Things, of course, aren’t so shiny for most of the Big Ten, a conference that hasn’t won a National Title since Ohio State in 1966 and hasn’t appeared in the final since Michigan in 2019. The strongest Big Ten teams on a yearto-year basis are the newcomers, with USC, UCLA, Washington and Oregon among the top programs prestige-wise in the program. In 2024, Indiana, Illinois and Nebraska were the top three teams in the conference. However, in 2025, Indiana was the highest-ranked of those three at No. 6 in the conference. The general apathy of Big Ten baseball has Wasikowski’s Ducks in an interesting spot, schedule-wise. Oregon will likely play significantly fewer teams with a high RPI — a commonly used ranking system that takes into account strength of schedule and quality of wins — meaning that Oregon will have fewer chances throughout a season to bolster its postseason resume than an SEC team with stronger opponents. That situation has Wasikowski and his decision-makers debating strategy on who to play. Losing games early in the season against tougher opponents certainly does the Ducks little good as well. “We’ve talked about that long and hard," Wasikowski said. “We’re going to have to
assess that on a year-to-year basis and see if it is. The off-balance schedule in the Big Ten is going to probably make that an interesting topic, depending on who you do and don’t play in the Big Ten every year.” Another issue is that scheduling quality out-of-conference games is not as easy as it would seem, mostly due to Oregon’s success as a program. “There are a lot of teams that also won’t play us right now which is unfortunate," Wasikowski said. "We’ve gone as far as to try to go on the road and not even ask for a return series against SEC teams to just go and show up and play them at their place without even a guarantee to come and we’ve been told no." Of course, the fix to such a baseball issue is simple — win. "Ultimately, you’ve got to win your games," Wasikowski said. "So we need to win our games.” (ABOVE) University of Oregon Ducks players in the dugout motion for the fans to stand up as the game comes down to the last three outs. The Oregon Ducks defeated the Oregon State Beavers at PK Park in Eugene, Ore., on April. 25, 2025. (Julia Massa/Emerald)
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