OCT. 4, 2021
Monday Edition
Emerald Media
CREATIVITY IN ISOLATION The pandemic shifted the creative process for many artists, but never made them stop creating.
A&C MEN'S RESOURCE CENTER PG 3
SPORTS
DUCKS DEFLATED IN LOSS TO STANFORD PG 6
OPINION
UNTHANK HALL FURTHERS THE CLASS DIVIDE PG 7
NEWS
CLASSES ARE CHANGING WITH THE TIMES PG 13 M O N D AY, O C T O B E R 4 , 2 0 2 1
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The Men’s Resource Center has been around for over 17 years, but it is now undergoing changes with new management. The rebirth of this organization lends to new visions and goals for the people who work there. BY AISHA GHORASHIAN • TWITTER @AGHORASHIAN19
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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
Kalli Bechtold, an artist at the University of Oregon, poses on the steps of Johnson Hall with her painting, entitled "Going Away". Eugene, and the University of Oregon, are home to a thriving art scene. (Will Geschke/Emerald)
Men’s Center Coordinator Arian Mobasser works in the Men’s Resource Center at the EMU on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene, Ore. on Sept. 30, 2021. “The center started 17 years ago but has ben dormant for at least a year and we are relaunching,” Mobasser said. “The priority of that vision is to invite students help recreate that vision.” The Men’s Resource Center offers a space for students to relax, foster conversation, learn to support oneself and offer support to peers. (Isaac Wasserman/ Emerald)
When scrolling through Twitter or Instagram, there may be a lot of posts about women’s sexual empowerment or queer mental health. These topics are very important, but a large group that is missing in this discussion is people who identify as men. There has been a lot of progress made around discussing men’s mental health, but there is still a culture in male-dominated groups that excludes vulnerability and open conversation. The university has re-established their Men's Resource Center under a new mission and new leadership. Arian Mobasser, who acquired his doctorate in psychology from UO, is the new center coordinator. He took on his position this spring and has a new vision for the Men’s Resource Center. “I want the new Men’s Resource Center to be a place where people can hang out, but also to be a space where there is an intersection of health, wellbeing and identity,” Mobasser said. A big mission of this center is to create a space where people can relax, hang out and have a safe space to talk. Mobasser went on to explain that many male-dominated spaces do not even talk about relationships or sex. “While locker talk is the stereotype, many male groups actually do not engage in deep discussions around healthy sex lives and sexuality,” Mobasser said. A large goal of his is to make the Men’s Resource Center a safe community for male-identified people to have these conversations. He hopes to put on programs, like focus groups, that prompt conversations around sex, relationships and masculinity. Along with Mobasser, student coordinator Nathaniel Leof said, “I have had life experience that have to do with men’s health,” which spurred his interest in working in the new space. “I had heard of the men’s center before, but never really was involved in it,” Leof said.
Leof said he got involved in the Men’s Resource Center to find or create a community on campus where he felt comfortable having real conversations. He said he hopes the Men’s Resource Center becomes a place that is welcoming and encourages students to be their best selves. When it comes to men’s sexual health, Leof said he wants men to feel comfortable talking about topics like consent, STI and STD testing and self-worth around male sex lives. He added that there seems to be a very small campus culture when it comes to men’s sexual health. Throughout the last few years, there has been a limited amount of events that are tailored to encouraging men's sexual health and well-being. While Get Explicit discusses consent, self-worth and boundaries, most organizations do not focus on men’s sexual health. The conversation does not continue. Because of this, Leof said he wants to create trust and community within the Men’s Resource Center to learn more about the needs of students. Once that has been established, the programming that the Men’s Resource Center puts on can reflect the actual needs of students, he said. The Men’s Resource Center is rebranding its image and striving to become a comfortable place for people to take a load off and recollect themselves. While “men” is in the name, it’s a space for everyone to come and enjoy. “I want to help the Men’s Resource become a place where all students can come and get support and help create a community that is welcoming and encouraging to students,” Leof said. The Men’s Center can be found on the top floor of the Erb Memorial Union in room 211 and can be accessed by anyone Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. M O N D AY, O C T O B E R 4 , 2 0 2 1
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A&C
IT'S THE TIME (TO READ AOOK) B D O O G OF THE SEASON
From classics to horror, here are eight killer book recommendations from UO students and staff.
BY AMY MARIE MILLER
Fall is finally here! The weather is no longer sweltering, the leaves are turning gold and orange and the rain has at last returned. It’s time to stay in, make a cup of tea and read a good book. Don’t know where to start? No need to worry. Here are eight excellent recommendations for fall reading from the students and staff of UO. “People We Meet on Vacation” by Emily Henry Summary: Despite having everything, Poppy feels stuck. The last time she was really happy was on the last trip she took with her best friend Alex, even though its ending was less than great. Trying to find the same joy she had then, she convinces Alex to go on just one more trip with her. Genre: Romance Recommended by: Maria Fast (Freshman, journalism major) “I just read it last month. It turned me from gloomy fall town into tropical vacation. It was so sweet and cute, the sweet little love story,” Fast said. “It made me want to be in love in December. It’s good reading because it uplifts you out of the gloom and into a little love story.” “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” by Jesse Andrews Summary: Greg is a high school senior and social loner who makes a point not to get too close to anyone — besides his only friend Earl. His system is foiled when his mother insists that he spend time with Rachel, who he kind of dated in Hebrew school, and who has just been diagnosed with leukemia. Genre: Humor Recommended by: Aislyn Morrill (Junior, public management major)
“I recommend it because it’s pretty easy and a pretty fast read,” Morrill said. “If you haven’t been reading in a while or you feel like you don’t know where to start, 'Me and Earl and the Dying Girl' is a good book to jump back in with.” “A Song of Ice and Fire” series by George R.R. Martin Summary: This fantasy epic follows three stories in the world of Westeros: a growing war between the most powerful families in the land, a threat to the northern wall protecting the Seven Kingdoms and a woman’s rise to power and independence. Genre: Fantasy Recommended by: Darius Ghorbani (Junior, prebusiness major) “I think it’s a good book for anyone who's into fantasy and for anyone who's seen [Game of Thrones]. I watched it and thought it was a really interesting and fun show,” Ghorbani said. “I know the books have more information and stories that the show might not, so I think it would be more interesting to delve into the books.” “The Pretty Little Liars” series by Sara Shepard Summary: After the body of Alison DiLaurentis is found three years after she vanished, her friends Spencer, Hanna, Aria and Emily find their darkest secrets are in danger when a stalker named “A” threatens to expose them in the name of their former clique leader. Genre: Teen drama, mystery Recommended by: Hanna LaPointe (Junior, Chinese and linguistics majors) “A classic — I’m reading the third one right now. It’s an easy read. It’s really something I started because
I’m trying to get back into reading,” LaPointe said. “It’s not hard, and it’s easy to follow. You don’t have to think about it. It’s a nice teen classic — something I can read before bed and not have to worry about the meaning of it.” “We Have Always Lived in the Castle” by Shirley Jackson Summary: Merricat and Constance Blackwood are two sisters who earned a witchy reputation after the majority of their family died from poison a year earlier. After living a secluded life with their uncle, their isolated world is threatened by the arrival of their cousin. Genre: Mystery, thriller Recommended by: Owen Shannon (Senior, history major) “I liked it because it’s fairly short. I think it was probably 200 or 300 pages. It just created a really good atmosphere,” Shannon said. “It’s about these two girls who live in this old, abandoned house. And you slowly, over the course of the book, realize more and more about the family’s past. It’s really interesting.” “Power vs. Force” by David R. Hawkins Summary: Psychiatrist Sir David R. Hawkins analyzes the nature of human thought and consciousness to decipher how to instantly tell if a statement is true or false. Genre: Self-help, non-fiction Recommended by: KJ Tinsley (Freshman, prebusiness major) “I think it’s good for fall reading No. 1 because everyone is trying to get back into the groove of school,” Tinsley said. “And it really talks about how, oftentimes, the right decision or the correct decision is the simplest one.” “East of Eden” by John Steinbeck Summary: In 1917 Salinas Valley, Cal Trask competes for his father’s love against his much more favored brother Aron. He then finds out his mother, who he long thought dead, is alive and running a brothel. Genre: Drama Recommended by: Nicole Ceeland (Sophomore, Earth science major) “‘East of Eden’ is by a classic author John Steinbeck,” Ceeland said. “It’s a bit bulky, but it has a lot of life lessons in the form of a beautiful story. It’s kind of a retelling of the Book of Genesis but in a less crowded, Christian way. It’s pretty cool.” “Gods of Jade and Shadow” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Summary: Casiopea Tun is spending the Jazz Age scrubbing the floors of her rich grandfather’s house. Well, she is until the Mayan god of death decides to send her on a journey. Genre: Folklore Recommended by: Katherine Donaldson (UO education librarian) “It has a lot of Mayan folklore and kind of the Underworld,” Donaldson said. “You know, when things are getting darker outside, it just feels timely.”
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A&C
'DEATHLOOP'
HOW FAR ARE YOU WILLING TO GO TO BREAK THE LOOP? (REVIEWED ON PLAYSTATION5)
BY CORVO ROHWER • TWITTER @CORVUSCORAX115 Image courtesy of Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash.
Waking up on the cold shores of Black Reef island, players take control of Colt Vahn, an amnesiac stuck in a time loop. The curators of the time loop, eight “Visionaries” and their eternalists, have transformed the island into a blend of time manipulation research and a never-ending party. The only path to freedom is to take out all eight Visionaries before midnight and break the loop. The newest game from Arkane Studios, “Deathloop,” manages to craft an intricate single player experience while integrating a unique multiplayer experience unlike anything I’ve played before. The island is split into four different sections which can be explored at different times of the day — morning, noon, afternoon and evening. Depending on the time, things change as the island slowly descends into discord and debauchery. Colt’s main objective is to craft a plan to corral the Visionaries into the same areas at the same time of day to take them out, and this takes the forefront of the gameplay. Traversing the calm, colorful housing district of Updaam in the morning is much different than in the evening. As the streets fill with debris and graffiti throughout the day, it leads into the evening and climaxes in a lupine-themed soiree at Dorsey Mansion. Discovering secrets and finding clever ways to use the shifting environment to my advantage is one of the ways “Deathloop” drew me in — as well as the scenic explorations and rewards for revisiting areas at different times of day. Most objectives and story beats come through the use of environmental storytelling, requiring the collection of notes and audio logs scattered throughout all the locales of the island. These are all tabulated into an investigation board, allowing for easy tracking of both side quests and main objectives. It feels great to follow clues down the rabbit hole in search of upgrades or special gear. Black Reef’s inhabitants are quite resistant against the breaking of the loop and will attack Colt on sight. Thankfully, both combat and gunplay feel smooth and familiar after playing previous entries in Arkane Studios lineups, such as “Dishonored.” There is a large arsenal of weapons at the player’s disposal, ranging from silent nail guns all the way up to hefty machine guns. On top of conventional weapons, “Deathloop” also introduces “slabs,” which grant various powers and abilities. These are earned from Visionaries and can be acquired in any order which allows players to choose their playstyle. If you are into a stealth approach, you might track down Egor Sterling to swipe his
Aether slab, which allows for temporary invisibility. Or, if you like taking things right to the enemy, you could always confront Fia Zborowska for her Havoc slab, which buffs weapon damage and grants extra defense. Colt has a personal slab, Reprise, which allows him to cheat death twice – meaning, if I happened to die, I wouldn’t instantly loop and return back to the beginning. There is also an infusion system that allows for gear to be retained through death, which made for some fun decision-making on what was worth taking with me to the next day as I moved through the game. “Deathloop” is a game that takes place entirely in single player. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other players present. With the addition of an invasion system, you may run into another person controlling a rival assassin in your game world, attempting to impede your progress. After reaching a certain point in the story, a new mode is unlocked from the main menu which allows players to take control of the Visionary Julianna Blake, who hunts down Colt across Black Reef to ensure he is unable to break the loop. In my experience, this mode has a bit of a learning curve — but, when it works, it works well. Entering the world of another player and tracking them down is deeply satisfying and makes for some fun cat-and-mouse encounters. However, the progression system leaves a bit to be desired, with loot seemingly unlocking at random as I was gaining levels. This system would benefit from being able to choose what to unlock, as it can be frustrating having to play without the tools I use in the main game. Julianna also comes with her own unique slab called Masquerade, which allows her to swap appearances with any enemy in the level. On paper, this should allow Julianna to hide and disguise herself in the environment, but in practice, it almost never plays out that way. Colt isn’t easily deceived, and it’s quite obvious when someone has swapped appearances so I found her slab to be mostly a non-factor in her playstyle — which is a bit of a shame. The mystery of the time loop anomaly is oozing with secrets and discoveries begging to be unearthed — and the interesting cast of characters makes for a story well worth experiencing. With the vast options of how to tackle the day and the unique opportunity to play multiplayer in a single player game, I highly believe “Deathloop” to be one of the best releases this year. M O N D AY, O C T O B E R 4 , 2 0 2 1
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SPORTS
DUCKS DEFLATED BY INJURIES AND PENALTIES IN
31-24 LOSS TO STANFORD
Oregon player Noah Sewell (1) swifty changes directions during the Oregon’s game against Fresno State. The Oregon Ducks host Fresno State on Sept. 4, 2021, for game one of the 2021 season. (Ian Enger/Emerald)
BY AARON HEISEN • TWITTER @AARON_HEISEN
Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal has preached resilience throughout the season, and the undermanned Ducks were in need of that as they fell to the Stanford Cardinal 31-24 on Saturday afternoon. Offensive coordinator Joe Moorehead missed the game with a non-COVID related illness, defensive back Bennett Williams and center Alex Forsyth were also ruled out before kickoff and the injuries piled up throughout the game. “I’m proud of our guys for overcoming those absences even though we fell short,” head coach Mario Cristobal said. Penalties also hindered the Ducks throughout the game. On the opening kickoff, Oregon cornerback Trikweze Bridges was flagged for targeting on a thunderous hit against returner Bryce Ferrell. Bridges was ejected. The Cardinal marched down the field, and an 11play opening drive ended with a 25-yard field goal try, giving them a 3-0 lead. Oregon attempted to respond on the following drive, but was halted by a holding penalty on third-and-3. On Stanford’s subsequent possession, two passes from quarterback Tanner McKee dismantled the Ducks’ secondary. Wide receiver Brycen Tremayne hauled in the 18-yard touchdown pass, the ball soaring above cornerback Mykael Wright for the catch. Staring down a 10-point deficit was uncharted territory for the Ducks, who were able to find offensive momentum on the following drive. After starting 1-of-5, Brown completed all three of his passes and trotted into the endzone for a three-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to three. Oregon’s front seven struggled to contain the running game in the second quarter. The Cardinal attempted nine straight runs, gaining 39 yards and finishing off the string of plays with a two-yard touchdown to regain a 10-point lead. While they couldn’t power it past the goal line before the half, running back CJ Verdell found paydirt on the Ducks’ second drive of the third quarter, bringing the score to 17-14. Running backs Verdell and Travis Dye had three rushes a piece as the run game continued to decimate Stanford. The injuries continued to pile up as Verdell’s leg was PA G E 6
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rolled on by a slew of Cardinal defenders. Following the injury, the Ducks could not convert a long thirdand-goal, settling for a 22-yard field goal that tied the score at 17. The air attack was involved later, when wide receiver Mycah Pittman took a short crossing route into the red zone. While the pass only flew for three yards, Pittman used his legs to open up a 66-yard catch-and-run. Brown found the endzone two plays later with his second rushing touchdown to give Oregon its first lead, 24-17. The Ducks defense conceded 244 total yards in the first half, but held their own in the second. Clogging the middle of the field was the key to slowing down the Cardinal, who only gained 79 yards in the second half. “We were more aggressive in the run game, and I felt like we took away their passing attack with our coverage,” Cristobal said. “We came up with some big-time stops.” Stanford’s offense came through when it mattered most, however, benefitting from three penalties. Kayvon Thibodeaux laid a vicious hit on McKee and was flagged for targeting as the Cardinal crept into Ducks territory. A few plays later, Noah Sewell was called for roughing the passer, which sent Stanford into the red zone. The most costly penalty came on a play where Oregon had a chance to ice the game. On fourth-and-goal from the four, Wright was flagged for pass interference, setting up one untimed down where the Cardinal converted. Elijah Higgins out-jumped Donte Manning to grab the touchdown, and the point after sent the game to overtime. Stanford started with the ball in overtime and needed only six plays to gain a seven-point advantage. The Ducks had a chance to respond, but they couldn’t find an answer. On fourth-and-8, Brown rolled outright, looking for Pittman. The receiver came down with the ball but failed to drag his feet in bounds, ending the game. With the loss, the Ducks fall to 4-1 on the season and the once fruitful Playoff hopes are suddenly in jeopardy. They have a bye week before they host UC Berkeley on Friday, Oct. 15.
Ducks players Noah Sewell (1) and Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) prepare for action. The Oregon Ducks host Fresno State on Sept. 4, 2021, for game one of the 2021 season. (Ian Enger/Emerald)
Ducks running back Travis Dye (26) charges down the field with the ball as players from Arizona follow close behind. The Oregon Ducks crush the Arizona Wildcats 41-19 in game four of the 2021 season. (Ian Enger/ Emerald)
OPINION
UNTHANK HALL FURTHERS
THE CLASS DIVIDE
Wheeler: UO’s newest dorm is more than a shiny new building, but a change emblematic of the growing inaccessibility of college as an institution that grants social mobility. BY PORTER WHEELER • TWITTER @DOCBATTINGTON Unthank Hall is more than a shiny new building on campus, it is emblematic of the University of Oregon’s increasing cost to its students and the systemic growth of college inaccessibility. This is an issue because it runs contrary to conception that college is meant to be an institution of class mobility. Class is not just the place you show up to, but also a system of categorization based on perceived economic and social standing. To move up the class ladder has long been the drive of American society, primarily achieved by going to college and receiving education for a lifelong career. Though popular culture touts this American Dream as the birthright of all those willing to work for it, the facts simply don’t bear that out. Since 1980, the cost of higher education has doubled while wages have grown 0.3% annually, according a report in Forbes, despite 65% of U.S. jobs requiring a postsecondary education. Paradoxically, university is both necessary to acquire a career and ineffective in guaranteeing a stable middle-class future – as 60% of the most recent graduates, the millennial generation, live paycheck to paycheck. Unthank is a $87 million stepping stone in the process of transforming campus’ residence halls with lavish prices as Unthank rooms cost between $14,488 and $19,692 annually. This is occurring while Walton is in the process of being knocked down, with Hamilton’s demolition coming next, and two Unthank-like halls are set to take their place. Dwindling are the affordable
options that allowed a student a few years ago to live on campus for under $10,000. This grand transformation of campus is a response to the constantly declining enrollment numbers UO has experienced for the past decade. The unspoken truth is that these measures will attract a certain type of student: those who can afford it. Discussions on the growing cost of college are nothing new, but the rhetoric rarely goes beyond debt and to the more systemic ramifications of class divide. College plays a different role today than it did for our parents. For those before us, it was an additional step to solidify themselves in the middle class. It was not uncommon for an accountant and a garbage collector to live on the same block. Widening the class divide will be the death of social mobility. The majority of Americans will be trapped in the lower class with ascension becoming an endeavor either unavailable or unfeasible without accruing mass amounts of debt. It is clear college will soon not be for the working class, and it is rare for a white and blue collar worker to live in even the same zip code. All the while, college still holds a cultural significance in American hearts as a romanticized institution with whose sports teams and colors we decorate our lives. The consequences of this institutional change are twofold: Those who graduate will do so with debt, yet they will still have a cultural fondness for college; those who do not attend a university will be trapped as lower-class workers,
stuck in generational immobility. This will become the norm as those in so-called “higher society” will not change their beloved institutions, and the lower classes will be unable to access journalistic, financial or political positions to enact change. As such, university will become a restricted ceremony that will separate different socioeconomic classes by manifesting itself as a natural, necessary institution culturally baked into American society. I do not question the importance of college’s training and humbling exposure to the vast wealth of human knowledge, but instead resent the growing inaccessibility for the majority of the population to access those. If college is our culturally beloved institution that grants mobility it must be available to all that wish to use it. If that is not true, then the promise of the American dream with its opportunities is nothing but a ruse. Unthank Hall is not the final falling bastion that makes university wholly inaccessible, but a local example of the continuing trend that will lock the majority out of class mobility.
Porter Wheeler is an opinion columnist at the Daily Emerald. As a student of global studies and cultural anthropology, he writes passionately about politics and culture through an intersectional lens.
University of Oregon students and their families stand in lengthy lines to enter Unthank hall on move in day, Sept. 23, 2021. University of Oregon students are preparing to resume in person activities across campus during fall term. (Will Geschke/Emerald) M O N D AY, O C T O B E R 4 , 2 0 2 1
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COVER
A PANDEMIC CAN’T STOP A CREATIVE MIND BY NIKA BARTOO-SMITH • TWITTER @BARTOONIKA
Over the past year and a half, artists have adapted to the pandemic, often focusing on self-reflection and finding new places to do art. In March 2020, when the pandemic first hit, Malik Lovette found himself without a studio space to create his art. He began sleeping on his friend’s couch in order to use their garage to continue creating, he said. With the shutdowns, Lovette found that he had to get creative with the materials he used — he found woodblocks by a dumpster that he used to make furniture and started getting commission requests from his parent’s friends. “I was doing anything that I could and [my friend’s place] had the space to provide that,” Lovette said. “It was challenging, but I was just focused on what I could control.”
Over the course of the past 16 months since COVID-19 first hit, most people faced some sort of struggle. For many artists, this meant having to be extra creative with their work and also channeling their emotions into their creations. Lovette, a UO undergraduate alum and current UO architecture grad student, first came to the UO as a football player for the Ducks, majoring in fine arts. While Lovette enjoyed playing football, it was always more of a pathway to do what he really wanted: creating art. “I had this personal goal of mine where I wanted to be respected for my artistic integrity rather than my jersey
number,” Lovette said. In July 2021, that dream became a reality. Lovette exhibited his first piece in a museum at the “JSMA Black Lives Matter Artist Grant Program Exhibition.” His piece, “Unchained,” highlights the correlation between sports and slavery of Black men. The piece displays an image of Lovette in the center of a black background. Chains are shackled to his hands, ankles and neck and Lovette is bent over trying to break the chains around his ankles. He is surrounded by sports equipment — a football by his left leg sitting atop an American flag, a basketball by his right and a myriad of other equipment
around him. A Wheaties box sits to the side of him, a cereal well known for featuring prominent athletes. All around the central image of Lovette are images of 14 famous Black athletes with looks of pride and accomplishment on their faces. “There’s this correlation between sports and slavery,” Lovette said. “But then [this piece] offers an internal versus external perspective of being able to show the bad in it — and how it’s been disguised in different forms, how People of Color have had to use this pathway of sports to gain liberation as a U.S. citizen.” Although COVID-19 provided its own challenges, Lovette used this
Image courtesy of Malik Lovette.
Image courtesy of Malik Lovette.
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COVER Kalli Bechtold, an artist at the University of Oregon, poses with her painting, entitled "Institute". Eugene, and the University of Oregon, are home to a thriving art scene. (Will Geschke/Emerald)
(Courtesy of Noelle Herceg)
"Bernard", anthotype with avocado emulsion, 2020, by Noelle Herceg. (Courtesy of Noelle Herceg)
time to further his work. Lovette is not the only artist who spent this time focusing on self-reflection and expanding their creation. While the JSMA experienced a number of closures and reopenings throughout the course of the pandemic, it maximized the closures’ opportunities to work on construction and explore new modes of technology, according to JSMA communications manager Debbie Williamson-Smith. The biggest technological change was the creation of virtual tours through Matterport technology, a 3D platform that allows online viewers to see a space such as a museum. This provides an opportunity for people to explore an exhibit virtually — from the comfort of their own home or in a classroom setting all together. According to Williamson-Smith, the virtual tours are one piece from the pandemic that the museum plans to keep. The “JSMA Black Lives Matter Artist Grant Program Exhibition” is currently available as a virtual tour and in person until Nov. 21. For former UO student Kalli Bechtold the pandemic offered a “blessing in disguise.” In the winter of 2020, Bechtold was enrolled at UO as a fine arts major. Once the pandemic hit and classes went online, she took a hiatus from school. Now, she is
discovering that she does not want to return at all. “When I would work on art pieces for class, I would feel like it wasn’t really doing me much,” Bechtold said. “I would always want to shift it to what I wanted to do anyway.” Bechtold works mostly with oil paints on canvas. A lot of her work is a form of self-reflection, and the pandemic offered her plenty of time to spend alone reflecting on herself and creating art. Bechtold started her first website where she sells hoodies, t-shirts, tote bags and oil paintings in the early months of 2020; she also has a spot to send her a commission request. All of the images Bechtold creates feature trippy, colorful and “genderless” faces. The piece “How To Lose Your Mind” shows a serious, yellow face staring out at the viewer while its head begins to dissolve into a chaos of curvy lines. Third-year graduate student and introduction to printmaking professor Noelle Herceg had to find new ways to be creative with the materials she used both for her students and her own artwork. She taught her students to be creative with the materials they had access to around them. Embodying her teaching, Herceg began to use her kitchen space as her art studio as well. She started brewing
kombucha and used the SCOBY, the bacteria and yeast that form during the fermentation process of the kombucha, to create a sculptural piece. She dried it out until it took on a leather-like quality and then put it atop a mold of her belly button. “For me, the SCOBY pieces are a reminder of intergenerational correspondence and connections to the mother,” Herceg wrote. “The new SCOBY growth from the kombucha brewing process has been peeled away from its mother culture, and now holds an impression of my own navel, the point of contact I once joined to my mother as well.” While many artists used this time alone during the pandemic to work on self-reflection, other artists had to be creative in figuring out how to work in a group. The rock band EWEB, Eugene Water and Electric Band, formed in March 2021. They play a mix of covers and original music. At this point, they mostly play house shows at their friend’s house, nicknamed “The Sandlot,” and a few bars around Eugene. For most of the band members, the beginning of COVID-19 provided a time to focus on their music. Drummer Jack Carek got excited about electronic music as a way to
create music without having a full band. After a while, guitarist and vocalist Ben Sickler and Carek grew tired of playing music by themselves. Soon after, EWEB was formed. Sickler said he reminded himself, “I don’t know when else we will be able to do music all the time,” when he was feeling frustrated with COVID-19, quoting the other guitarist and vocalist Sam Mondros. On Oct. 2, EWEB played at a friend’s house. The backyard was full of people — dancing to the music and socializing with friends. The band played a mix of original songs and covers, debuting its latest song, “Spider.” EWEB’s music is perfect for jumping around, swaying your hips and screaming along to the lyrics. For EWEB members, they used the beginning of the pandemic to hone their own skills and have since transitioned to playing shows for live audiences, with their favorite being jam sessions. If you want to catch their music in person, they play a 21+ show at Max’s Bar on Oct. 8, according to Carek. While the past 16 months have been wrought with hardships and uncertainties for so many, it has also been a time of growth and selfreflection. These artists prove that art will always be created and adapted, no matter the circumstances.
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OPINION
STEP UP YOUR FOOD GAME AT
EUGENE'S FARMERS MARKETS
Stop eating out of your freezer and buy from your local farmers market When I think about the average college meal, a microwave and a freezer is almost always involved. I understand college students are more likely than not buying their groceries on a budget, and shopping at the farmers market doesn’t sound like it’s cost effective. But it, in fact, can be! People often end up paying more money at a grocery store for lower quality and quantity food when they could be shopping at the farmers markets and buying the healthiest food they can. It may sound expensive, but it’s actually quite affordable! Just this past weekend, I purchased six large carrots for only $1, a price I definitely wouldn’t
Various baked goods are on desplay at the Lady Bread Bakery farmers market stall. The Lane County Farmers Market takes place every Saturday on E 5th Ave, Eugene, Ore. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald)
be able to find anywhere else. It’s farmers markets that have larger bundles of vegetables for a cheaper price — and much higher quality. Farmers markets are great ways to shop on a budget and get locally-grown produce you won’t find anywhere else. Shopping at a farmers market can be a source of inspiration and a great way to buy unique items. One of my favorite things about the farmers market is seeing all the different fruits and vegetables on display, as well as the stalls offering sauces, baked goods and other obscure items. The offerings range from nutritious fruits and vegetables, like wild foraged mushrooms, to honeycombs straight from the hive and sunflower heads ready for oven roasting. You never know what you may find! Another amazing quality of shopping at farmers markets is the in-season produce. Nothing beats the taste of freshly harvested and in-season food. While Oregon has a shorter growing season than other states, the shorter season can often mean a higher quality of food and intensity of flavor, according to The Spruce Eats. The Spruce Eats is a reference for would-be chefs when searching for in-season Gannon Shuttleworth, one of the three bakers at Lady Bread Bakery, holds up a loaf of kalamata olive, fetta and dill flat bread. The Lane County Farmers Market takes place every Saturday on E 5th Ave, Eugene, Ore. (Serei Hendrie/ Emerald)
Colorful local produce provided by Crossroads Farm is on out display for shoppers to buy. The Lane County Farmers Market takes place every Saturday on E 5th Ave, Eugene, Ore. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald)
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BY LAUREN LEONE • TWITTER @OH_SHES_ARTSY produce. In-season crops are picked at their peak ripeness and are often grown locally, whereas out-ofseason produce is often picked early and transported long distances before reaching your plate. While there isn’t anything wrong with that, nothing beats the taste of perfectly ripe fruits and vegetables. Some fruits in season right now are a variety of berries, melons and grapes, as well as vegetables like carrots, green beans, corn and tomatoes. If you’re like me and have made an effort to learn to cook while in college, the farmers market is an amazing place to decide where to start. I recommend picking vegetables in season and dedicating the season to experimenting with different recipes. You wouldn’t go shopping for bathing suits in the winter, so why buy food any differently? After walking up and down the market and buying all my fresh fruits and in-season vegetables, I always leave some room in my reusable bag for Lady Bread Bakery. Coming all the way from Coos Bay, Oregon, these outrageously delicious recipes are by Jen Harvey, who calls herself a true Irish Italian “Bakester” (which, according to Lady Bread’s website, is the feminine pronoun for a baker from the 1950’s). This bread is inspiring. Just one bite of her turmeric bread had me planning a charcuterie board. Her stall includes breads with loaves ranging from her Captain’s Crust Sourdough bread to artichoke and garlic. My personal favorite is the Tuscan loaf, composed of tomatoes, garlic and basil. This bread is truly one-of-akind, and there is always a line of people waiting to buy Harvey’s bread. On top of her delicious bread, she has quite the variety of baked goods, like cookies, muffins and a “Cinna-Monster.” And, if you’re wondering, yes, I did purchase the “Cinna-Monster” and, yes, it is as big as it sounds. I encourage you to experience all Eugene’s farmers markets have to offer. Either stop by the Saturday Market on East Fifth Avenue from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, or head to the Park Blocks on Eighth Avenue and Oak Street on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There are many benefits to shopping from your local market like saving money, eating healthy and so many more!
Lauren Leone is an opinion columnist for the Daily Emerald. She is a thirdyear advertising student at UO. She is a Bay Area native with a strong passion for healthy food, digital art and creative writing.
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OPINION
APPREHENSIONS ACCOMPANY THE RETURN TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION Byrd: We should all be exercising caution during this term so we can continue to be a society that cares for one another. BY BEATRICE BYRD • TWITTER @BEATRICEBYRD31
Students are seen at Lillis Hall on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene, Ore. on Sept. 30, 2021. Students, staff and faculty at the University of Oregon navigate what in-person classes and events look like in the time of COVID-19 and the new dangers of navigating the delta variant. (Isaac Wasserman/ Emerald)
Students are seen at Lillis Hall on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene, Ore. on Sept. 30, 2021. Students, staff, and faculty at the University of Oregon navigate what in person classes and events look like in the time of COVID-19 and the new dangers of navigating the Delta Variant. (Isaac Wasserman/ Emerald)
Students are seen in the EMU on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene, Ore. on Sept. 30, 2021. Students, staff, and faculty at the University of Oregon navigate what in person classes and events look like in the time of COVID-19 and the new dangers of navigating the Delta Variant. (Isaac Wasserman/ Emerald)
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A collective buzz of excitement accompanies the fall of autumn leaves as the University of Oregon reopens this term. The return to in-person classes means an influx of students. And, although the excitement of community is a much-needed tonic after many months in isolation, a frightening and slightly fabricated version of normalcy fills the air. With the threat of the delta variant increasing each day, the easing of pandemic restrictions is the last thing that should be happening. While vaccines offer increased levels of protection against COVID-19 and its variants, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have indicated the delta variant has caused more infections and can spread faster than the original virus. In Lane County, current community transmission rates maintain high levels. While the statistics provided by the CDC seem daunting, a campus-wide mask mandate offers some hope for the continuation of inperson classes. However, the sheer number of students returning to campus for fall term complicates the matter. Much of the world is experiencing a misplaced sense of relief as mandates begin to loosen and a return to pre-pandemic life appears closer to being realized. But, although much of society wants to trust this silver lining, research suggests an increase in volatile and unknown variants of the virus. Without the appropriate safeguards, the pandemic will continue to weigh down the foundation of civilization. Out of 21,800 UO students, 96.1% of them are reported as fully vaccinated as of Sept. 27, according to UO’s vaccination dashboard. The dashboard also states that 95.2% of staff are immunized. This data only includes those who have reported their status. There are still over 900 individuals at the university who have not submitted their status. While these numbers reflect a highly vaccinated community, both the density of the group and the lack of common-sense regulations in place for students open a possibly disastrous door. Given how many students attend the university, it is naive to believe that rules and
regulations will be consistently followed by every community member. Highly trafficked areas, such as Straub Hall or the Recreation Center, are potential locations for viral spread because it’s unrealistic to assume that all students will follow the health and safety guidelines. Other universities that have similar population sizes and guidelines to UO, such as Michigan State University, are experiencing increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases. As of Oct. 2, testing and reporting services for MSU have detected 454 cases of the virus since Aug. 2, despite MSU having high vaccination rates and a mask mandate similar to UO’s. Without further care for these policies, UO’s infection rate will continue to rise similar to other schools of its type. In the past year, many people’s refusal to adapt to the pandemic has displayed their outright selfishness. Not wearing a mask has become an uninformed political statement, one that values personal comfort over protecting the group. The idea that a “new normal” includes masks is widely rejected, and public impatience for a supposed end to the pandemic continues to grow. Most frightening of all is the growing sense of the unknown. The dangers of COVID-19 are continuously evolving. Breakthrough infections for those who are vaccinated, as charted by the Oregon Health Authority, prove this solemn point. Simply stated, a semi-normal school experience this term should be celebrated, but a greater victory lies ahead: a collective and responsible approach to the common good, and one which will help all of us face the challenges we have faced over the past 18 months.
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.
NEWS
UO CLASSES ARE
CHANGING WITH THE TIMES Though fall term is primarily in person, some students and professors want to maintain the best parts of Zoom university. BY GAVIN GAMEZ
(Maddie Stellingwerf/Emerald)
In-person classes have finally made their longawaited return. University of Oregon professors and students said they are both anxious and eager to be on campus once again. While the return to campus is met mostly with excitement, some are wondering how the hiatus from in-person instruction will affect future classes. Throughout the struggles of virtual learning, however, students and professors found ways to make the best out of their new situations. Sophomore Joey Le spent his freshman year at UO completely online and is happy to finally be on campus. During the year online, Le enjoyed some aspects of remote learning, like having recorded lectures. “I’d say recorded lectures are pretty handy, and you can go at your own pace with the time,” Le said. “That is one of the features that made online more flexible than in-person.” As classes became remote, professors offered online office hours to accommodate students. Economics professor Ben Hansen said having certain classes over Zoom made them more interactive by including live
quizzes and randomized breakout groups. “Something I didn’t directly experience, but heard from some other faculty, was that when they were teaching a really large lecture class, there were some parts that helped the Zoom instruction be more engaging,” he said. For certain classes, virtual office hours allowed professors to share information with students without struggle. “When it came to sharing computer code, especially in office hours… that actually made sharing code and sharing results often a lot easier,” Hansen said. Coming into the fall, Hansen plans to implement new features in his classes. He wants to offer both in-person and online office hours and continue to record his lectures. Hansen also said he enjoyed how easy it was to create breakout rooms in Zoom during class. “I don’t know how to randomize discussion groups in an in-person class in any way that doesn’t take like 20 minutes of coordination,” he said. Seth Harrington, a student in the UOTeach program, said having classes over Zoom led to some unique interactions with professors that he wouldn’t
find in person. “I know that sometimes office hours are at incompatible times,” he said. “If it’s online, it's easier to work with the professor because it’s just clicking a button instead of arranging two people’s schedules to meet on campus.” Harrington said he likes when professors post lecture slides on Canvas to make them more accessible. Andrew Hendrickson, a UO transfer student who is taking his first in-person classes at UO this fall, said he liked online classes because they worked around his personal schedule. While professors are working to make their classes more accommodating for students with COVID-19 concerns, Hansen said he thinks a return to in-person classes is much needed. “We’re all in the same boat together trying to figure out how to balance the fact that people need flexibility, but also with organization and deadlines. That is just a preview of what your life holds after college,” Hansen said. “View all of this as a chance to learn and practice and adjust to how the world is continually changing as well.” M O N D AY, O C T O B E R 4 , 2 0 2 1
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Welcome back celebration for all UO students
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NEWS
RESTAURANTS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT BUSINESS INCREASING WITH MORE STUDENTS ON CAMPUS
Restaurant owners said they have already seen business grow as students return to in-person classes. BY ALEXIS WEISEND Mandy's Family Restaurant is a 24-hour diner located on Fifteenth Avenue at Willamette Street in Eugene, Ore. (Sarah Northrop/Emerald)
Many restaurants near the University of Oregon campus lost business because of the pandemic and temporary closures. Fewer students on campus exacerbated the issue. However, business owners said they feel optimistic about business increasing with students back for in-person classes. Jacqui Willey, owner of Glenwood Restaurant, said UO students are very important to her business, making up approximately half of her customer base. Willey has owned Glenwood Restaurant for almost 43 years. She said 2020 was the first year the restaurant has ever lost money. The restaurant temporarily closed several times throughout March, April, May and June last year, she said. When mandates required six feet of distance between parties, the restaurant reduced its number of tables downstairs from 14 to four, Willey said. However, Willey said Glenwood Restaurant is already experiencing more business from students returning to campus. “This last week, we’ve been so much busier than we’ve been in a few months,” Willey said. “They’ve helped pay our rent and keep our utilities going.”
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Amanda Watts has owned Mandy’s Family Restaurant for almost three years. Since March 2020, she has limited the restaurant to takeout and lowered her staff. She said she added outdoor tables and an ice cream shop so the restaurant could become a destination point for people coming from outdoor activities. However, Watts said her business slowed down at the beginning of the pandemic. Her numbers have not returned to how they were her first year of opening, she said, but students returning to campus gave the restaurant a surge of business. “With this school year — like moving day — I have parents, and I have students,” she said. “I just think that people are coming back who knew about us as well as talking about us. So, freshmen were trying us.” Watts said the Waddle Meal Plan, an off-campus student meal plan that helps students budget while connecting them with local restaurants, has supported her business. She said she is excited for the large number of freshmen on campus and wants to build more of a relationship with the university. UO’s first day of classes brought in over 4,600 freshmen, making it the largest freshman class in the university’s history. Watts will open Mandy’s Family Restaurant for indoor seating mid-October, while also continuing her takeout window, she said. Catherine Reinhart, co-owner of Sweet Life Patisserie, said UO students contribute to approximately half of her business. Reinhart said the pandemic made her business significantly slower in 2020. However, business has been ramping up since January, she said. The patisserie is now up to pre-pandemic numbers. The patisserie created new systems in order to keep people safe, Reinhart said. People can pre-pay and have staff bring the order outside. Customers can also wait outside for their order to come through a window. Reinhart said business has already picked up now that more students are back. Jim Robertson, owner of Prince Puckler's Gourmet Ice Cream, closed his shop for a month-and-a-half in 2020, he said. The shop did curbside pick-up and eliminated its seating once it reopened. Robertson said the shop experienced a negative financial impact because of the closure. Summer is the busiest time of year for the shop — even with fewer students, Robertson said. Students balance out the business during the rest of the year. However, business was slower with less students during the pandemic, he said. Robertson said he has already had more students at his shop and is optimistic about business increasing. “We’re just very excited just to see — not just for ourselves, but for everybody — students back,” he said. M O N D AY, O C T O B E R 4 , 2 0 2 1
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NEWS
UNPACKING
UNPACK THE QUACK This year’s move in day caused a near-historic traffic jam along Franklin Boulevard. Students, staff and nearby businesses reflect on the backup and how it affected them. BY GAVIN GAMEZ
Liam Sack (center) walks with his parents while moving in on move in day, Sept. 23, 2021. University of Oregon students are preparing to resume in person activities across campus during fall term. (Will Geschke/Emerald.
The University of Oregon held its annual move in for incoming students — Unpack the Quack — on Sept. 23. The university implemented changes to the regular move-in protocol to combat the spread of COVID-19, but those measures caused a traffic backup along Franklin Boulevard, affecting community members and employees of local businesses as well as students. This year, students had to verify their vaccination status or provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test before they could move into the dorms, UO spokesperson Saul Hubbard said. As students and their families began to arrive in Eugene, traffic swarmed Franklin Boulevard. Students whose original check-in times were scheduled for 11 a.m. were caught in traffic and missed the time altogether. Sophomore Patrick Dolan said his check-in time was originally set for between 11:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., but he was caught in traffic on his way into Eugene. “I didn’t start moving in until 3:00, 3:30-ish because of all the traffic,” Dolan said. Despite the confusion, Dolan said the staff assisting students during the process were really helpful. Hubbard said the verification of students’ vaccination status along Riverfront Parkway caused most of the traffic on Franklin. “Some students and families arrived ahead of their scheduled check-in times, which contributed to the long line in the early morning,” he said. The University of Oregon Police Department helped with traffic as the day progressed. Hubbard said partner groups helped assist PA G E 1 6
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UOPD, along with staff who set up a second walk-up check-in area. “In the end, thanks to these efforts, our check-in process ended around an hour later than originally anticipated,” Hubbard said. Businesses on Franklin also found themselves affected by a stand-still of incoming traffic. Track Town Pizza was one of the businesses on the way to the student verification process. Tim Hill, one of Track Town Pizza’s owners, said deliveries were closed for a three-hour period that day due to the traffic. “Some of my day-shift people were about an hour, hour and a half late,” Hill said. While the traffic jam affected Track Town Pizza’s delivery schedule, Hill said people stuck in their cars walked in to get lunch.“We were still really busy,” he said. “People were still coming in to get pizza.” Judy Chen, an employee at Empire Buffet, said her coworkers were stuck in traffic carpooling to the restaurant. With the traffic not budging, a majority of her coworkers just walked to the restaurant. “The guy that stayed in the car was stuck in traffic for five hours,” Chen said. Due to the pandemic constantly changing UO’s standard regulations and protocol, Hubbard said it is difficult to predict how next year’s move-in will look. “Since new move-in protocols tied to COVID-19 were the key cause of the delays this year, and we don’t know yet what COVID-19 safety protocols for move-in might look like in fall 2022, we can’t yet plan or speculate on what might change or do so differently,” Hubbard said.
Students and family assist with moving into the University of Oregon's newest residence hall, Unthank. University of Oregon students are resuming in-person activities across campus during fall term. (Will Geschke/Emerakd)