OCT. 18, 2021
Monday Edition
Emerald Media
'Anything's Possible'
BIPOC student artists discuss their career aspirations, influences and experiences as minorities throughout their education.
NEWS A NEW WAY TO EAT OFF CAMPUS PG 4
A&C
'SQUID GAME' SHOOK THE WORLD PG 5
OPINION
ACADEMIC COST OF A SPORTS FOCUSED SCHOOL PG 8
SPORTS
DUCKS STAND TALL IN WIN OVER CAL PG 9 M O N D AY, O C T O B E R 1 8 , 2 0 2 1
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It's good that the University is trying to bring the best parts of online education forward, according to "UO classes are changing with the times" by Gavin Gamez on Oct. 6 in the Daily Emerald. But, as a computer science major at the UO and offensive certified security professional, I'm concerned about the role of Zoom at our university. Zoom simply has a terrible track record on security and academic freedom. Instead, the University should support alternatives like Jitsi. First, just this August, Ars Technica reported that Zoom is going to settle an 85 million dollar classaction lawsuit because it lied about the strength of its encryption and sent user data to Facebook and Google without consent. Zoom's falsehood meant that calls, even those labeled as "end to end encrypted," could have been read by a malicious Zoom employee or hacker in the Zoom network. This is simply unacceptable for a service that is currently being used by UO students to access mental health support. Even if Zoom has fixed some of its problems, a company misrepresenting the security of your data should immediately disqualify them from handling your information again. By the way, if you used Zoom during 2020, you could be eligible for a $15 payment later this year. Second, as the Intercept reported in November of 2020, Zoom shut down a seminar on gender and resistance narratives hosted by San Francisco State University because one of the speakers was the controversial Palestinian activist Leila Khaled. Andrew Ross, a professor at NYU, noted in that article that: "It’s very dangerous for a third-party private vendor to be in the position of deciding what is legitimate academic speech and what is not." Later, Zoom ended seminars by other universities that criticized Zoom and expressed solidarity with SFSU. Furthermore, in December of 2020, the Washington Post reported the prosecution of a security executive at Zoom who worked with the Chinese government to
Student Rachael Grant attends online classes via Zoom. (Maddie Stellingwerf/Emerald)
cancel meetings about the Tiananmen Square massacre. This illustrates the power of one rogue employee and demonstrates the dangers of putting our freedom of speech in the hands of a private company. Neither of these problems are unique to Zoom though. It's impossible to know if Microsoft engages in similar censorship, nor how secure Teams, Microsoft's Zoom competitor, actually is. This is a problem that's inherent with putting a large technology company in between students and their university. Luckily, there are other options. Jitsi is an opensource alternative to Zoom that the University itself can host. Because the code is available to all, researchers can independently audit it. And, because it runs on the University's servers, the decisions about who can speak on our virtual campus stay where they belong: between us and our institution. The University of Oregon's mission statement explicitly states that "We value academic freedom, creative expression, and intellectual discourse." The University should put its money where its mouth is and support alternatives like Jitsi, which promote and guarantee academic freedom and student privacy.
AROUND CAMPUS KATE BROWN VISITS UO CAMPUS: Oregon Gov. Kate Brown visited the University of Oregon on Sept. 15 to recognize UO’s efforts against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Brown toured UO’s Monitoring and Assessment Program, which provides free COVID-19 testing to UO students and the surrounding community. According to Around the O, she also recognized UO’s partnership with the Oregon Health Authority to provide free testing for K-12 schools during the 2021-22 school year. – LEO BAUDHUIN NO. 13 DUCKS FALL TO NO. 10 WASHINGTON: In a battle of ranked foes, the Ducks dropped their second game of conference play to their rivals the Washington Huskies. The Ducks (14-3, 5-2 Pac12) fell 17-25, 23-25, 25-18, 25-21, 15-8 to lose at home for just the second time this fall. – SHANE HOFFMANN
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The Daily Emerald is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit media company at the University of Oregon. Formerly the Oregon Daily Emerald, the news organization was founded in 1900.
ON THE COVER
Leah Jacobo Gonzalez is a senior at the University of Oregon pursuing a degree in music education. BIPOC students discuss their experiences while enrolled at the University of Oregon. (Ian Enger/Emerald)
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TV RECOMMENDATION: “GILMORE GIRLS” Summary: Set in a quaint and picturesque small town in rural Connecticut, “Gilmore Girls” follows Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, a mother and daughter duo, through their crazy lives. Lorelai, a single mother, ran away from her strict household when she became pregnant at 16. With an unbreakable bond and lots of witty humor, the two navigate through the emotional rollercoaster of life as Rory chases her dreams of attending Harvard and Lorelai works hard to achieve her goal of owning an inn. Genre: Comedy, drama Recommended by: Helen Balawejder, UO junior studying global studies “For fall I really enjoy watching ‘Gilmore Girls’ because I think it really captures the essence of fall in a small town,” Balawejder said. “I like that it’s very community oriented and based in a small town. I’m not from a small town so it’s nice to see it.”
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(Ian Enger/Emerald)
OREGON CELEBRATES ITS FIRST INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY: Oregon officially recognized its first Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the place of Columbus Day on Oct. 11. In recognition of the holiday, the University of Oregon’s Native American Student Union hosted a flag raising ceremony to honor Oregon’s nine federallyrecognized tribes in the EMU amphitheater. This ceremony has occurred each October since 2014, when a group of students initially installed the nine flagpoles with the goal to increase the presence of Indigenous people on campus. – HANNAROSE MCGUINNESS
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NEWS
O S T U Y P A M W A C W F F O A NE EAT Two UO juniors developed the Waddle Meal Plan, a tech-savvy, money saving way for students to eat off campus. BY JANE GLAZER In 2019, Alden Schatz started his freshman year at the University of Oregon and quickly became "so sick and tired" of eating the same Hamilton breakfast sandwich most mornings. He thought it would be cool if his parents could give him food money to spend off campus, he said, but that was the end of his thought. Then, as quarantine was starting in the spring of 2020, one of his closest friends, Mia Lopez, sent him a text explaining how her dad uploads money to her Green signs are displayed on the entrances of stores and restaurants that accept the Waddle meal plan. The meal plan allows students to explore restaurants and grocery stores off campus. (Ali Watson/Emerald)
Sweet Basil Express is a student favorite when it comes to eating off campus. The Waddle meal plan allows students to explore restaurants and grocery stores off campus. (Ali Watson/Emerald)
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brother’s school account at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Her brother can spend that money at off campus restaurants. Lopez asked Schatz if he would be interested in doing something similar in Eugene. Schatz said he responded immediately: “call me.” “To this day, I think it’s the luckiest phone call or text that I’ve ever received," Schatz said. Over the next year, Schatz and Lopez turned this idea into Waddle, a student-founded app that UO students can download this academic year to begin an off-campus meal plan. Described as “the meal plan parents and students can agree on,” Waddle allows parents to upload money to their student’s account. Students can spend this money at 21 restaurants — and counting — off campus. At the beginning of the venture, Schatz said they didn’t know much about building a business, meal plans or creating an app. After posing as incoming freshmen and current students at over 150 universities to learn more about other schools’ dining options, they came across two similar programs that allow for off campus dining and reached out. They
ended up licensing the same software and app as those two programs at CU Boulder and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. “It’s been the craziest roller coaster ever,” Schatz said. “When you take two 19 year olds, and none of you know how to code or anything about software or credit cards, you just have this idea, it creates a lot of learning moments.” Schatz said since Waddle is a three-way market — with students, parents and restaurants — it can be difficult to manage. Their priority right now is brand awareness, especially getting parents to hear about the app. The team put out a survey to parents and students asking almost identical questions and found that when students receive $100 for food from their parents, about $52 of it is spent on food. However, parents reported they thought their student was spending just above $90 on food. “What's in it for the parent is this ensurity that the money you're giving your student for food is being used as intended,” Schatz said. “There was this discrepancy over where this money was going. We are trying to help parents feel that sense of comfort.” Waddle also features budgeting restrictions for students. The app is free to download, and students receive coupons immediately upon downloading. Using the app has no additional costs to students and parents — other than the money they’d already be spending on the food, Schatz said. Restaurants only have to pay a $20 insurance fee to protect the technology Waddle provides them with. “Unless we bring a restaurant a sale, they don't pay us anything,” Schatz said. “We’ve generated the whole business model around the idea that unless we do our jobs, which is to bring more people into your restaurant, then we’ll take our little commission fee. If we don’t do that, it really doesn’t hurt you to accept Waddle at your store.” Olivia Klumbo, a UO senior who works at ShakeSmart, said she’s noticed a lot of people coming in using Waddle, which she was “pleasantly surprised” by. Klumbo said Waddle is something she wishes she would’ve had earlier. “I think my mom would’ve really liked it my sophomore year or freshman year,” Klumbo said. Schatz said asking businesses to include Waddle was not the easiest sell at first. “I’ve never gone into a place as a 20 year old and tried to convince someone who does this for their life to trust me with their money,” Schatz said. However, as the model starts to prove itself, he said he is confident more restaurants will get on board. Schatz said Waddle is not currently a profitdriven business, but he and Lopez hope to inspire other students to create their own venture. He also encourages students to support the app. “At the end of the day, if you don't need Waddle, being able to support your UO students by doing the free download and sign up is something incredible,” Schatz said.
A&C
‘SQUID GAME’
UO STUDENTS REFLECT ON NETFLIX’S NEWEST SMASH HIT, A THRILLING JOURNEY OF SURVIVAL, REVENGE AND REDEMPTION. BY EVAN HUNTINGTON • TWITTER @EVANHUNTINGTON
Netflix’s newest smash hit is a thrilling journey of survival, revenge and redemption.
(Grace Turchetto/Daily Emerald)
Netflix’s unique ability to captivate the world with addictive new shows has allowed them to take pop culture by storm with each new release, but none of the streamer’s past successes can quite compare to their newest masterpiece. “Squid Game” is a brutal, jaw-dropping global sensation that broke records just days after its premiere. Coming from the visionary mind of director Hwang Dong-hyuk, this South Korean dystopian thriller is a true rollercoaster of emotions, brimming with pure horror, tear-jerking heartache, vengeance, betrayal and a whole lot of blood. If unforgiving violence and Quentin Tarantino-esque gore isn’t your cup of tea, I would suggest you steer clear of this one. “Squid Game” centers around a group of severely indebted people who don’t have much left to lose. After receiving a mysterious invitation to partake in a tournament of games for the chance to win an unfathomable amount of money, many saw no other option; they had run out of chances in the real world. Society has already given up on them, and this is their last chance to make something from their desperate, impoverished lives. The players arrive at the peculiar venue with no recollection of how they got there or what exactly they got themselves into. Soon enough, they find themselves competing in a series of seemingly
innocent children’s games that can become deadly at any point along the way. The first game, the children’s classic “Red Light, Green Light,” sets the tone for an all-out bloodbath at the failure of any unfortunate player. Be warned that Dong-hyuk doesn’t spare you any of the horrid details. The extreme intensity and suspense of the games themselves, with the ultimate price on the line, is what truly makes this show so gripping from the start. With each new game, viewers feel like they’re playing right alongside the characters with the knowledge and fear that death is just around the corner. The show also develops heartwarming relationships between the collective group of main characters. You slowly get to know and develop a true fondness for the main group of players, and it becomes a great emotional burden knowing the harsh reality that many of them will not survive. UO student Michael Cabral was struck by the impressive acting. “My first impression of the show was that the actors play their characters incredibly,” Cabral said. “I don’t think there was a single second where I didn’t believe what the characters were feeling.” Lee Jung-jae in particular, who plays the lead role as Gi-hun, displays an incredibly seamless performance in such an emotionally taxing role.
Constantly dealing with incessant death and relentless fear, his depiction of a man on the edge of his life in such a scarring place keeps the audience hypnotized and itching for what comes next. UO student Sean Blaney believes in a deeper meaning behind the series. “I think the show is entertaining and also touches on some important social issues, such as the importance of family and that money can’t buy happiness,” Blaney said. A show that keeps you guessing and never fails to keep you on the edge of your seat — quite literally — “Squid Game” is one of the most exhilarating experiences you’ll get from TV or streaming right now. Its enthralling series of games and competition, deep emotional attachments to many characters and beautiful acting performances make it no surprise that this was Netflix’s biggest series launch in history, according to co-CEO Ted Sarandos. “I would 100% recommend the show to others,” Cabral said. “I think everyone could not only enjoy the show, but learn something from it. From its twists to its dark reality, there’s a reason ‘Squid Game’ is the most popular show right now.” It’s the perfect binge-worthy series to add to your list and is guaranteed to glue your eyes to the screen — that is if you can keep your hands off your eyes. M O N D AY, O C T O B E R 1 8 , 2 0 2 1
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COVER Leah Jacobo Gonzalez is a senior at the University of Oregon pursuing a degree in music education. BIPOC students discuss their experiences while enrolled at the University of Oregon. (Ian Enger/Emerald)
BREAKING THE GLASS CEILING ONE CREATIVE MOVE AT A TIME BY JOANNA GARCIA • TWITTER @JOSCRABSHACK
BIPOC students reflect on their artistic journeys and the impact they want to make in their career.
Cinema, music, theatre and dance all have one thing in common: storytelling. Whether it's through a heart-felt performance on screen or a mesmerizing dance routine on stage, it is art forms like these that allow the audience and the creators themselves to be deeply impacted by the stories told. But for these four UO students, art is much more than that. For them, it's about creating a space to express themselves freely, and taking what they have learned from their personal experiences to make positive changes in their creative industries and pave the way for future generations. Lights, camera, action! Growing up in Los Angeles for most of her life, UO junior Ayah LeBrane was surrounded by and drawn to the magic of film. However, it wasn't until she moved to Las Vegas during her senior year of high school that she realized she wanted to pursue a career in screenwriting. "I didn't know anyone over the
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summer, and the only thing I did was just a whole bunch of writing," she said. "It kept coming out as scripts, ideas and movie treatments. That's when I started to realize this is what I wanted to do." Since then, LeBrane has been working on a few projects of her own such as writing two coming-of-age story treatments — detailed documents presenting the story idea — with lead roles for women. When it comes to her creative process and overall passion for film, she said filmmakers such as Ava DuVernay and Spike Lee have an influence on her. "[DuVernay] was just starting to come out with her films and to see a Black woman in a field that is dominated by White males was a big deal," she said. "With Spike Lee, all of his movies are pretty unconventional, especially for the time they came out. So to see that in the mainstream is also huge." More importantly, LeBrane said her main goal as a screenwriter is to have younger people in the BIPOC
community see themselves on screen in ways they usually aren't represented. She wants to stray away from writing struggle stories and create "characters that actually look like us," she said. Representation, both in front of and behind the camera, is important, LeBrane said. For instance, she said stories surrounding other marginalized groups such as the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities and individuals struggling with their mental health should also be in the spotlight. "I feel like people should see it so much that it's not taboo anymore, and that it becomes the norm," she said. "There's still so much room for other faces." However, it wasn't easy for LeBrane to put herself out there, especially at UO. During her freshman year, she said she dealt with imposter syndrome and was the only Black student in most of her Cinema Studies classes, which made her question her career. Nonetheless, she said she found a
sense of community by joining UO Black Student Union and attending UO Film meetings where she's learned more about the film process. She also said she encourages others who might feel the same way to seek out these resources. "I was doubting myself when I started, but I stayed with it and I'm really glad I did," she said. "It's what I want to do, and I want to create spaces for other people who feel like that." ¡Musica, maestro! UO senior Leah Jacobo's schedule is the epitome of "Sorry, I have rehearsal." As a music education major, her days start at 8 a.m. with class lectures and last until the evening when she practices with the UO Symphony Orchestra or campus orchestra. Music has always been a profound part of her life, Jacobo said. She grew up playing the violin in a worship group with her father, who is a selftaught musician and plays the bass, guitar and piano. Jacobo said she was
COVER fascinated with how her father was able to play any note by ear, and it influenced her love for music. However, she said she wanted to become a violinist after watching the film "Barbie of Swan Lake" at 8 years old. "There was a special features section in the movie that talked about how the creators had the London Symphony Orchestra play music for the movie," she said. "They showed people playing the violin or cello, and I was like 'I want to do that!'" Since then, she's pursued her passion and she hopes to become a music teacher for children in lowincome communities while playing music professionally on the side, she said. She also wants to introduce classical music to Latinx students and be a support system for them — something her educators didn't do when she was starting out. "I was always ostracized and isolated from the group, even though there were other students who were struggling with the same problems as I was," she said. "I want to let my students know, specifically Latinx students, that anything's possible and to know their worth." Moreover, Jacobo said she hopes that music departments in schools, including UO, branch out and incorporate classical music composed by BIPOC musicians into the academic curriculum. "There's always big names like Bach, Beethoven or Tchaikovsky, which is cool," she said. "But they don't add anybody else because there's no space being made for them. I want to hear more from them, but it seems like an extracurricular for some professors." As she finishes her last year, Jacobo said she's looking forward to watching the kids she teaches grow as musicians and include both BIPOC and women composers in her teaching. "That's one of the exciting things, I can finally have a part in changing that," she said. "No hard feelings to Bach or Beethoven — I just want something else too."
Breaking all the legs
find actors to fill those roles, because there's just not that many people." Ever since he landed the role of Although he appreciates the outreach, Dino Durkin in his middle school's Millan said he hopes the department production of Kurtz Gordon's "Fair will continue to recognize and advocate Exchange," UO theatre arts senior Diego for BIPOC actors and faculty to broaden Millan pursued his passion for acting the kinds of productions they can do in and never looked back. the near future. Throughout his education, Millan said For the time being, Millan said he he was fortunate is preparing for enough to have graduate school educators who auditions, while also supported and had being involved in an impact on him clubs like Absolute as an artist. He also Improv. He also credits actors such encourages other as Jimmy Smits, students interested Diego Luna and in acting to look Pedro Pascal as into The Pocket his acting heroes Playhouse or Duck and figures in the TV to start gaining industry who paved experience. the way for Latinx More importantly, actors. he said he hopes While he doesn't other BIPOC know what's in the artists will have cards for him after the courage to take he graduates, he matters into their said he's excited own hands and to hit the ground make the impact running and they want to create experience all there (Data from the University of Oregon, graphic design in their work. is to do as an actor. by Lynette Slape) "You can grab "I've been in a hammer and academia for so long, and I've been break the glass ceiling yourself," he a big fish in a small pond for many said. "Don't wait for anyone else's years," Millan said. "I just want to see permission." what I can do in a bigger space and start making connections. There's a Eat, sleep, dance real-life element to this profession, and I want to get to that." For UO sophomore Kelsi Carter, As a Latino, Millan said he also pursuing dance as a career wasn't recognizes the lack of BIPOC on her mind at first, she said. She representation in the industry, as well grew up participating in gymnastics, as in academic settings. Throughout specifically floor exercise, for around his education, especially at UO, he seven years. said he's been in situations where pre"People always told me I was casting, assigning an actor to a role entertaining to watch and 'Wow, you before auditions, was involved and just light up the floor!’" she said. "I that he often felt tokenized because of then realized dance was something his ethnicity. I always wanted to do and started "One thing I see a lot of from the developing a passion for it." theatre department is doing shows for Carter said she was also inspired POC actors, which is awesome," he by watching award shows, but not said. "But the other side of it is trying to because of the musical artists — it was
Ayah LeBrane is a junior at the University of Oregon studying cinema studies and is focusing on screenwriting. BIPOC students discuss their experiences while enrolled at the University of Oregon. (Mary Grosswendt/Emerald)
the background dancers. "I was amazed by how cool it is to be dancing behind celebrities and how they moved their bodies in such fastpaced ways," she said. "So I said to myself, 'I can do that!'" With the support of her parents, Carter quit gymnastics and has now been dancing for nine years, aspiring to become a background dancer and specializing in hip-hop and jazz. She said dancers such as Bailey Sok and Sienna Lalau — who she has trained under — inspire her to keep dancing. Carter admires their "sharp, intricate and complex" style of dancing, she said. While her schedule may be jam-packed with early classes and dance rehearsals, Carter said she's enjoyed learning about the history of different genres of dance and how it debunks preconceived notions about the roots of dance. "We all say ballet is the root to all dances, but it's not and it's always assumed," she said. "But it was actually African dance, and then all the other dance styles were being created. That was something I just never knew." She said she has noticed the lack of BIPOC dancers and while there is always room for improvement, she said she believes the industry “is going in the right direction” in implementing diversity. Although she's a few years away from graduating, Carter said she's looking forward to not only the dancing opportunities outside of the studio, but also spreading the importance of authenticity and positivity through her platform as a dancer and a YouTuber. "It's so easy to compare yourself to others," she said. "It may be intimidating, but the only person you're competing with is yourself. Just keep it real and do the best you can." All in all, making something out of yourself in any industry comes with its obstacles — whether it be having selfdoubts or being told to wait for your turn. But if there's anything to take away from these four students, it's that it's all about the drive and work you put into your craft to make something extraordinary happen.
Diego Millan is a senior at the University of Oregon majoring in theater arts. BIPOC students discuss their experiences while enrolled at the University of Oregon. (Mary Grosswendt/Emerald) M O N D AY, O C T O B E R 1 8 , 2 0 2 1
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OPINION
A FOCUS ON SPORTS HAS COST US ACADEMIC APPRECIATION Byrd: A focus shift from sports to academics would evolve UO into a more inclusive environment. BY BEATRICE BYRD • TWITTER @BEATRICEBYRD31 The Jaqua Academic Center (left) hosts tutoring for student athletes, while McKenzie Hall (right) includes various academic classrooms and laboratories.
Oregon Ducks fans across the country clamor as football, America's most popular sport, continues its fall season. The once-vacant seats of Autzen Stadium are filled again with eager supporters, ready to summon victory with the sheer power of excitement. There’s no denying that the University of Oregon is a sports school. Home to many impressive athletes, UO is considered to have one of the most successful sports programs in the country, given the football team won the Rose Bowl in 2020 and brings in impressive revenue — with a net profit just under $40 million, according to College Factual. While Ducks football produces reliable athletic revenue, all the attention and resources poured into the sport have prevented other vital and equally developmental programs — specifically, academic programs like the Robert D. Clark Honors College — from receiving their fair share of recognition. According to the CHC website, “The Clark Honors College emphasizes creativity, interdisciplinary scholarship, and independent research.” The program relies on individuals who are self-motivated. Built on an environment of collaboration and creativity, students are encouraged to represent the university through their impressive academic achievements. The Clark Honors College has a mission of showcasing capable and imaginative individuals, which is commendable, and the grand overview of the program is vastly appealing. When the details are dissected, however, there is a disparity between the public perception and the inner workings of the CHC. The cost of attending the CHC is more than $1,000 per term above tuition and fees for the rest of UO. This additional cost erects a barrier to entry that otherwise brilliant students may suffer from, potentially preventing the “creative, interdisciplinary, independent research” the program prides itself on from being released to the public. Honors students are supposed to be the university’s academic achievers, but what “honor” is there in increased tuition? The goal of student independence now develops into student isolation. There is a forced independence for these scholars which, at its core, separates them from potentially helpful resources. When so much of the CHC relies on capability, it is accompanied by a sense of financial helplessness. This isolating factor explains the high dropout rates. According to previous Daily Emerald reporting, from 2011 to 2014, the average dropout rate was around 40%. The Honors College requires students to complete large amounts of challenging work and secure the finances to do so. The program is excessively student driven, which creates a sense of isolation when looking at options for support. All of this can be tied back to the UO’s prevailing focus on sports. One of UO’s most recognized donors, Nike co-founder Phil Knight, has made major
contributions toward UO sports, including $100 million for an athletic legacy fund and $41.7 million for a student-athlete academic tutoring center, according to The Oregonian. Hayward Field, one of the newest renovations on campus, is currently at an estimated cost of $270 million, according to the Wall Street Journal. Additionally, annual donations for the Duck Athletic Fund scholarships are $13.2 million. In stark contrast, first-year students at the CHC are not eligible for Honors College-specific financial aid. In order to qualify for CHC scholarships, you must complete one full year in the program. There is not as much recognition for the students in the Honors College as there is for Oregon’s athletes, which limits the amount of donations given specifically for scholarly appreciation. Students then struggle to find the finances for the program because of this underappreciation. Despite Knight’s considerable contributions to UO academics (made obvious through the many buildings in his name), UO remains, undeniably, a sports school. That focus on sports helps create inclusiveness and student involvement, objectives the UO preaches, but ones which can also occur by recognizing and encouraging highly creative and successful academics. The success of CHC students is not measurable like football profits. The way a society evolves is not calculable. It is not easy to map out the amount of attention and financial support CHC students will bring to the school. But we need to start paying more attention to the creative minds at UO as a means of placing faith in our future as an institution of learning, not just a sports program with a university attached. A linear, money-laden and sports-oriented path is not what will continue to successfully expand UO’s community. The money sports make for the university is necessary, and the donations and funding for sports needn’t be reduced. But UO should maintain its reputation as a first-class research institution by attracting and financially supporting students of brilliant minds who are willing and excited to contribute to a conversational, understanding future.
“A linear, money-laden and sports-oriented path is not what will continue to successfully expand UO's community.”
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Beatrice Byrd is an opinion columnist for the Daily Emerald. She is a first year student studying journalism at UO. She believes in the power of fair and educated opinions that come from a desire to help strengthen communities.
SPORTS
DUCKS STAND TALL ON GOAL LINE IN
24-17 WIN OVER CAL
Despite boos raining from the fans, Oregon held up in the game’s waning moments. BY ERIC BERNIKER
Noah Sewell (1) pumps his fist after making a tackle. The Oregon Ducks take on the California Golden Bears at Autzen Stadium in Eugene on Oct. 15, 2021. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald)
The Duck leads the football team out of the tunnel moments before kickoff. The Oregon Ducks take on the California Golden Bears at Autzen Stadium in Eugene on Oct. 15, 2021. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald)
The game was decided on the goal line. Tim DeRuyter’s defense made three goal line stands – on the last of which he brought a blitz, leaving Chase Garbers’ receivers no time to get open as the Bears' last chance at an upset bounced in the end zone. The battered Oregon Ducks narrowly survived the California Golden Bears, 24-17, Friday night at Autzen Stadium. Though imperfect, Oregon improved to 5-1 and kept its fading playoff hopes alive. Travis Dye’s Swiss Army knife skill set was crucial for the Ducks’ success as he shouldered all but two of the Ducks’ carries, tallying 149 yards of offense on 19 carries. Dye was also the Ducks primary receiving target, finding space out of the backfield on screen and check-down passes where he created first downs using his feet. He finished the night with 73 yards on seven receptions. The Ducks “bend don’t break” defense allowed the Bears to move the ball up and down the field, allowing 409 yards of total offense which materialized into just 17 points. “Teams are gonna work for everything they get,” Oregon safety Verone McKinley III said. “We do a
Travis Dye (26) dives into the endzone for a touchdown. The Oregon Ducks take on the California Golden Bears at Autzen Stadium in Eugene on Oct. 15, 2021. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald)
good job of buckling down, especially when we get down in the red-zone.” The crowd, especially the swaths of students, were critical of starting quarterback Anthony Brown. Coming off a loss at Stanford where Brown struggled, many clamored for the Ducks’ five-star freshman phenom Ty Thompson to take over. “It really motivated us,” Oregon offensive lineman Ryan Walk said. “You want to say that you didn’t notice it, but we all noticed it.” Brown finished 20-of-28 with 244 passing yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 44 yards including an 11 yard, go-ahead touchdown. But, despite two strong fourth-quarter drives, he again failed to look downfield on several crucial downs, instead opting to dump the ball off or check down. The Oregon offense had no trouble driving the field, converting 23 first downs, the same amount as Cal, but failed to score on a handful of possessions as nine penalties for 82 free yards and two fumbles stalled drives. On third-and-6, in Golden Bear territory, Brown ran for no gain. The Ducks then lined up for fourth down in which Brown dumped a screen pass to Dye, who was covered and only able to pick up two yards,
resulting in a turnover on downs. The crowd booed as the Ducks swapped personnel on the field. Oregon’s failure to create any separation between themselves and their seemingly inferior opponent created immense tension which could be felt all throughout the stadium. “It’s always gonna be about turning up the volume on what we do,” Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal said after the game, regarding how his quarterback dealt with the crowd. The Ducks escaped with a 24-17 win, but still lacked an identity. Many of the Ducks’ problems can be attributed to injuries on both sides of the football, but the quarterback position is a different story. Brown has now made numerous game winning drives against Fresno State, Ohio State and now California. He is the team’s emotional nucleus, but he has yet to show the ability to throw downfield to exploit matchups caused by Oregon’s talented receiver core. Brown will remain Oregon's quarterback, but a change at the helm could be coming. Oregon travels to Los Angeles next weekend where they’ll face an explosive UCLA team headed by a man who changed Oregon’s trajectory: Chip Kelly.
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A&C
OPINION
NONTRADITIONAL STUDENTS BELONG ON CAMPUS, TOO
SHIFTING GEAR:
BACK TO SCHOOL ESSENTIALS Shifting Gear is the Daily Emerald’s local gear review column. Audrey Kalman recommends everything you could ever need on a biweekly basis.
Leone: Don’t let an age difference prevent you from having the best college experience you can.
BY AUDREY KALMAN
BY LAUREN LEONE • TWITTER @OH_SHES_ARTSY
Kelly DeLor is a fourth-year at the University of Oregon studying interior architecture. (Mary Grosswendt/Emerald)
College campuses are a melting pot of diversity filled with students from all walks of life, each with the same goal of graduating. However, nontraditional students may have trouble connecting with their campus community because of the age difference between them and their peers. There are endless opportunities and activities designed for students to connect. Freshmen orientation, rushing sororities and fraternities and living in the dorms are memorable ways to meet lifelong friends from college. As a nontraditional student, however, I never got to experience those college icebreaker activities. Coming from my own experience, many students who transfer from community college take a year or two off or work before attending college can find it hard to integrate themselves socially when they didn’t get the opportunity to participate in freshman activities. During my first term at UO, I was lucky enough to meet two other nontraditional students my age — something I thought would be a lot harder to find. I asked them about their college experience so far and if there were any areas they felt like they missed out on. Leilani Kane, a nontraditional student from Portland, talked about her choice to live in the dorms her first year at UO despite the age difference between her and her peers. “I don’t regret going into the dorms because otherwise I wouldn’t have
met my current roommate,” she said. Rather than having the traditional college experience at 18, Kane said she believes she is right where she is supposed to be. “If I had been here as a traditional student, I don’t know how much I would have enjoyed it because I was so introverted and to myself that I would have been uncomfortable,” Kane said. Kelly Delour, an architecture major living off campus, spoke about her desire — and hesitation — to get involved and participate in UO activities. “There are some areas in school where I feel I do not belong or are hard to get involved with,” Delour said. “Many of the school sports, campus events and Greek life seem out of reach for me.” Additionally, some nontraditional students may not feel the desire to get involved in their school outside of attending classes and turning in assignments, finding they struggle to relate with the younger students they are surrounded by. This is something I personally contemplated when preparing for UO. I debated between pursuing a college experience where I involved myself as much as possible versus a few years at a college where I only participated academically. Ultimately, I made the decision to put myself out there and make the most of my two years at UO, not wanting to graduate with any regrets. There is no age cap on the college experience, and nontraditional students should pursue the activities they are attracted to freely without worrying about whether they “belong” or not. I encourage all college students to get involved in their schools socially and make the most of their time. College is only a few short years. Whether you are a traditional or nontraditional college student, my advice to you is the same: experience college without any regrets. Lauren Leone is an opinion columnist for the Daily Emerald. She is a third-year advertising student at UO and a Bay Area native with a strong passion for healthy food, digital art and creative writing.
(Eleanor Klock/Daily Emerald)
Attending class in person again is quite a change. Having to remember everything from cables to calculators to coffee feels like an additional task for many students who are struggling to reinstate a routine.With the right essentials in your bag, this adjustment can feel a whole lot easier. Bags themselves are a good place to start. A solid, reliable backpack is of course the standard choice. But, as one UO senior tweeted, “freshman move-in got it looking like the international canvas tote bag convention out here.” The San-Francisco-turned-NewYork brand BAGGU has come into vogue recently. Their Standard Baggu ($12) holds significantly more than a standard brown paper grocery bag, comes in 50 plus colorways and holds up to 50 pounds. If you’re looking to purchase a new daily reusable bag, a BAGGU is a great option. Whether you are in the market for a fresh one or going with your old faithful, a tote bag is a great thing to have with you as you are back on campus day in and day out. Any bag can benefit from being internally organized. Taking a packing-cube-style approach can ensure that you are able to access the contents of your bag efficiently. Stasher bags, sturdier and more stylish than a typical bag organizer, are a great substitute for plastic, Ziploc-style bags, and are reliably sealable and waterproof. They come in sizes from “pocket” to half-gallon and can be bought at a number of places around town, including Down to Earth Home & Garden and Market of Choice. Target makes a more affordable — and still reliable — option, in snack, sandwich and gallon sizes, all priced under $10. Little pouches can also be great for
holding daily necessities like cords, keys and cards. The San Franciscobased brand DSPTCH makes a variety of high quality and very sleek, options. Their Accessory Pouch ($26 for two) is a personal favorite. What you actually keep inside these various storage options can make or break any school day. To make sure your phone and other devices stay alive, a spare cable or two is a must. The Target brand Heyday makes impressively dependable cords, especially given that most of their options are around $10. In addition to keeping your phone charged, you may also need to keep yourself energized. Portland’s Stumptown Coffee makes a few insulated MiiR travel mugs with different colorful patterns on them. It can also be fun to represent your own personal favorite coffee or tea shop, whether that be here in Oregon or elsewhere. Poking around on stores’ websites can often yield a hip and unique coffee tumbler, and you’ll be supporting a small business. After all your essential bases are covered, you also want to be sure to have fun and come prepared, of course. Throwing a bespoke or personally meaningful item into your bag can be a good practice to get into. This could be a disposable camera, a favorite hat, a magazine you enjoy, a special pen or even a basketball — just to give you a few ideas. Having a well-stocked everyday carry can really help smooth out a long week, month or term. Instead of fumbling around looking in your bag for the one crayon you have to take notes, take a few minutes to think about what tools you need to succeed daily. It will serve you well in the long run — and might just put an extra spring in your step, too. M O N D AY, O C T O B E R 1 8 , 2 0 2 1
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