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FEB. 15, 2021

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THE FUTURE OF SPORTS IS FEMALE From equal pay to breaking glass ceilings, women are changing the narrative of sport. NEWS

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OPINION

SPORTS

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UO AND LANE COUNTY WORK TO ROLL OUT VACCINES VOL. 122, ISSUE NO. 33

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THE GENERAL PUBLIC MAY NOT RECEIVE COVID-19 VACCINES UNTIL FALL 2021 DESPITE PRE-REGISTRATION OPENING IN EARLY FEBRUARY.

REGIONAL AND STATE NEWS

BY ERYN MCGUIRE • TWITTER @ERYNMCGUIRE_ Lane County Public Health doesn’t expect to fully vaccinate the public until fall at its current speed, spokesman Jason Davis said. The county opened pre-registration for COVID-19 vaccines to the general public on Feb. 4. “Local government is at the bottom of the food chain in terms of making decisions about when folks get vaccinated,” Davis said. “It could be a while before we get through all of the higher risk groups.” Each week, the Oregon Health Authority allocates a certain number of Pfizer and Moderna doses to each county and assigns them to specific prioritized groups. Lane County typically receives around 6,000 doses each week, Davis said. As of Feb. 2, just over 3% of residents have received the first and second doses. However, vaccination rates could pick up in the future. Davis said OHA would prioritize sending a steady supply of vaccines to counties with mass vaccination clinics up and running. Lane County falls into this category, Davis said, so Lane County Public Health may start receiving more doses in the coming weeks. Lane County and the University of Oregon are also planning on teaming up to facilitate mass vaccination clinics on campus in the future. “The university has the facilities to hold vaccination clinics if needed, and that might be something we see next fall,” Davis said. All UO students will be able to get the vaccine through Lane County, even if they are from outside Oregon, since students are considered residents, Davis said.

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Residents 65 years and older will not become eligible until March 1, but the next group will be people ages 16 to 65 with pre-existing conditions. Some UO students may fall into this category and could receive vaccines as soon as mid-March. Davis said that all students should pre-register so that they can get appointments as soon as their group becomes eligible. Many UO students have already filled out the form in hopes that they can receive their vaccine as soon as possible. “I’m just hoping that by next year, things will be better, and I can have a normal senior year,” said Julianna Harney, a UO junior who pre-registered to be vaccinated through Lane County. Davis said that vaccines will be free for all Lane County residents and health insurance is not required. The pre-registration form, located on the LCPH website, is meant to collect the data of those who wish to receive the vaccine and share it with the county’s health partners. The county will contact residents once they become eligible. The form received nearly 80,000 submissions in the first week, Davis said. Lane County held a mass vaccination clinic on Feb. 14, where they planned to give 1,500 people who currently qualify for the first dose. Davis said every appointment made for this event was done using the pre-registration form. “We’re encouraging everyone to pre-register, especially students, so the process can go smoothly and we can get a vaccine into the arm of everyone who wants one,” he said.

PRISONER VOTING BILLS: Oregon Legislature is considering two bills, HB 2366 and SB 571, which would restore voting rights to 12,600 prisoners in custody across the state. This would make Oregon the third state to grant prisoners voting rights behind Vermont, Maine and the District of Columbia. The bills would allow prisoners to vote in their last place of residence before being incarcerated. Both proposals are sponsored by 15 Democratic lawmakers. – ERYN MCGUIRE SOFTBALL OFF TO 5-0 START: The Oregon softball team has started its season a perfect 5-0 after a historic 22-2 start last season. The Ducks spent the weekend in Phoenix, Arizona, competing in the GCU Kickoff Classic. The Ducks played a double header on Friday against Weber State and Montana, winning 9-0 and 8-0 respectively. On Saturday they took on Weber State again, winning 8-0 before a grind-out win against Grand Canyon, 5-3. On Sunday the Ducks finished their perfect weekend with a 9-1 win over Montana. – SHANE HOFFMANN

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“We’re encouraging everyone to pre-register, especially students, so the process can go smoothly and we can get a vaccine into the arm of everyone who wants one.”

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OREGON SYMPHONY PICKS NEW MUSIC DIRECTOR: The Oregon Symphony announced its new director, David Dansmayr, in early February. Dansmayr, who will hold the position at least for the 2021-22 season, is only the third music director since 1980; he follows Carlos Kalmar, who’s led the symphony orchestra since 2003 and James DePriest, who was the music director for 23 years. Dansmayr has directed orchestras throughout Europe and the United States. – SARAH-MAE MCCULLOUGH

JASON DAVIS

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NEWS

VINTAGE CLOTHING ENTHUSIASTS SHOW THERE’S ‘MORE THAN JUST THE DUCK STORE’ UO student Eduardo Olivares and alum Harrison Stevens have joined forces to sell secondhand clothing and Duck gear on 13th Avenue. BY CLAIRE WARNER • TWITTER @CLAIRENWARNER University of Oregon advertising student Eduardo Olivares and recent UO alum Harrison Stevens performed what they described as “emergency surgery” on a 10-foot clothing rack after learning it would not fit through the door of their new vintage clothing store. “A couple weeks before we even opened, this place was a mess,” Olivares said. “We were just doing a bunch of stuff that I never thought I’d have to do when I opened up a store.” Despite the challenges, Olivares said their hard work paid off in early January when he and Stevens opened The Neighborhood Eugene Sustainability Team to the public. Customers lined the sidewalk on 13th Avenue for their grand opening, some waiting two or three hours in the rain to see what The N.E.S.T. had to offer. “It’s been a fun experience,” Stevens said. “Our biggest challenge is just keeping the level of excitement high, keeping the gear fresh and continuing to offer a product that a lot of people want.” Olivares and Stevens initially sold vintage T-shirts, crewnecks and hoodies, as well as Duck gear through their respective Instagram pages, BounceBack Thrifts and Stanley Thrifts. But after Olivares saw Stevens sell his products at the ASUO Street Faire in spring 2019, the two became close friends and business partners, collaborating with Eugene brands Public Street Wear and Article Won to sell clothing at their stores. Their experiences making inperson sales showed them which items were popular and how to choose appropriate price points. Interacting with customers face to face further motivated them to open a store of their own. Secondhand duck gear, vintage T-shirts and letterman jackets are just some of the items that can be found at The N.E.S.T. “Everything that’s on the floor is already washed, which gives my mind ease, but also distinguishes us from being a thrift store,” Stevens said. While a thrift store’s products consist of donated materials, The N.E.S.T. is curated, only featuring clothing that Olivares and Stevens choose to make available. “Eduardo PA G E 4

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and I know every single T-shirt and every single sweatshirt that’s here right now, which I think is unique.” Olivares said that while some of their customers are experienced secondhand shoppers, others have never bought vintage clothing before. “You get students from all over the world that come to Eugene and most of them have never experienced or been in the vintage culture,” Olivares said. “It’s something new that we brought to Eugene and really just have shown people that there’s more than just The Duck Store.” To give customers a safe shopping experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, Olivares and Stevens require clients to schedule 30-minute appointments, which ensures the shop never exceeds its maximum capacity of seven people at a time. They also offer hand sanitizer, wipes and masks. Although opening a business during a pandemic can be risky, Olivares said the timing was essential to their start. “He was about to graduate,” Olivares said about Stevens. “He had other opportunities popping up, and I felt like if we didn’t do it now, he might have taken another opportunity.” Indeed, Stevens did accept a job in Seattle, which ultimately fell through. “It ended up being a blessing in disguise,” Stevens said. “I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to be here and dedicate my time fully to this, and I think it ended up working out for the best.” Now, working at the shop and sourcing products is Stevens’ fulltime job, while Olivares is a full-time student trying to balance work, school and his fraternity. “When I was a junior, I was just doing the street faire for the very first time,” Stevens said. “Now Eduardo’s in his junior year, and he’s got this on his hands and I think that’s really motivating and really impressive. I know other students look up to him as a person they aspire to be like and a model student to chase what you’re passionate about and make it happen.” Eugene N.E.S.T. is located at 870 E 13th Ave.. More information can be found at www.eugenenest.com.

Eduardo Olivares and Harrison Stevens stand inside their store, The N.E.S.T., which opened its doors in January 2021. The store has been open for a month for the public to shop their clothing. It is located on 13th Avenue near the University of Oregon’s campus store. (Kevin Wang/Daily Emerald)

When Eduardo Olivares graduates from the University of Oregon, he will be wearing these custom Air Force 1’s created by @JD_Thepainter. (Kevin Wang/Daily Emerald)

OSPIRG CONTINUES LOBBYING Student interest group lobbies virtually to Oregon legislators on renewable energy, low-cost textbooks and hunger BY JOANNA MANN • TWITTER @JOANNA_MANN_ Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group, a University of Oregon student-run lobbying organization, met with 18 state representatives and senators to secure their support for issues such as 100% renewable energy, hunger and homelessness and textbook affordability. But instead of piling into a car and driving up to Salem or Portland to meet with legislators in person, the students of OSPIRG lobbied from home over Zoom. OSPIRG is a nonpartisan studentrun organization that works on campaigns in the public’s interest. UO freshman Emma Ruby coordinates its 100% renewable energy campaign, and she said lobbying virtually has been just as effective as going in person. “It’s definitely still a great experience for our campaigns to even get the opportunity to talk to these elected officials over Zoom, which is kind of a crazy concept,” Ruby said. “But it’s super cool that we still get the opportunity to kind of make a legislative change, even just from our dorm room or living room.” OSPIRG has been lobbying around climate change, textbook affordability, hunger and homelessness since the group formed, but these specific campaign goals were launched this term. Ruby said one of OSPIRG’s main priorities over lobby week is to hear how the legislators’ priorities tie into what the student group is advocating for regarding student interest in Oregon. On Feb. 9, OSPIRG met with Oregon Sen. James Manning, a Democrat who represents Eugene and Junction City, to discuss renewable energy, hunger and homelessness, textbook affordability, single-use plastics and student debt. Manning said renewable energy is something he looks at not for his generation, but for five or six generations to come. It is an issue he cares about and has worked on for a long time; he said he was glad to see OSPIRG involved in it. “I’m not looking for something that’s going to make me feel good that I got something done,” Manning said to

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DUCKS HOUSING the simple search for UO students (Courtesy of Elizabeth Radcliffe)

OSPIRG. “I’m looking for something that’s sustainable over ages. And I think that that’s the direction that we all want to travel in.” He also supported OSPIRG’s stance on the student debt crisis, plastic pollution, textbook affordability, hunger and homelessness. “I’ve seen people that are living from day to day, and that’s not living, that’s called surviving. And it’s all because of lack of food, the lack of medical care, the lack of opportunities,” Manning said. “And we call ourselves the beacon of hope, the light of the world.” The students only get about 15 to 20 minutes to meet with legislators or their legislative aides, so they must prioritize which issues to focus on in a short amount of time. Ruby said the group broke it down into five legislative priorities, with a primary focus on the 100% renewable energy campaign, as it is the lead campaign for the term. They can also bring up past campaigns that did not go through the first time, but may advance in the future. OSPIRG prioritizes meeting with legislators who represent the areas with Oregon campuses, as well as those on the environment and higher education committees who are the first to vote on bills the student group advocates for. “We want to show our elected officials that students on campus, whether it be UO or one of our other branches across the state or even across the United States, what we care about, why it’s important to us and why they should also care about it,” Ruby said. “So I hope that we continue to keep lobbying.”

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COVER

How level is the playing field?

Women in sports have to fight for equality BY CARLY EBISUYA In 2019, Anne Peterson, a journalist for the Associated Press, was covering the U.S. Women’s World Cup final in France. When the buzzer sounded, an everflowing spew of blue and gold confetti spread onto the field and across the ceremony stage. As the U.S. Women’s National Team raised their World Cup trophy, a booming 60,000-plus audience in the stadium chanted, “Equal pay! Equal pay! Equal pay!” “It was like chills,” Peterson said. “As a woman, that was chills.” Later that year, all 28 members of the national team filed an equal pay lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation for discrimination. Between 2016 and 2018, women’s games generated $1.9 million more in revenue than men’s games — $50.8 million compared to $49.9 million — according to financial statements obtained by The Wall Street Journal. The USWNT’s fight for equal pay has been an ongoing issue for years, acting as one of the catalysts

that triggered a new way to empower women athletes’ voices. Tailing off of athletic empowerment in recent years, the WNBA signed a collective bargaining agreement in 2020 that tripled earnings for top players and boosted salaries to six figures for the first time. Becky Hammon of the San Antonio Spurs then became the first woman to serve as an NBA head coach. Kim Ng of the Miami Marlins became the first to be hired as a general manager for a major league team, and Sarah Fuller of Vanderbilt University became the first woman to score in a Power-5 Conference football game. These select women have made their mark in sports history, but many are still fighting to earn a fraction of the coverage, money and resources allocated to men’s sports, which dominate the industry. From athlete activism, to executive positions, to coaching and more, women in sports are gaining a foothold in an industry where men have had a decades-long head start.

Impact of Title IX on Women’s Sports Passed in 1972, the original intent of Title IX — one of the Education Amendments Act that prohibited sex-based discrimination in any educational program — was to open the doors and bar discrimination for women in higher education. It wound up setting the foundation for equality for women in sports. In 2016, girls’ high school participation rate was 10 times greater than what it was when Title IX was passed, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Both women’s and men’s NCAA championship sports participation opportunities have increased every year since Title IX was passed. In 2015-16, a record number of men and women student-athletes participated in NCAA championship sports. Even though those numbers are still increasing, participation numbers among girls have never reached the same level as among boys. “In a perfect world, Title IX would’ve opened up spaces in the 1970s, ‘80s, ‘90s for more women to coach women’s and men’s sports at every level,” said Dr. Courtney Cox, an assistant professor at UO who specializes in women in sports. “To me, that kind of equity is what I fantasize, I dream about, and we’re

(Emerald Archives)

Oregon Ducks women’s Tennis faces Portland at the Oregon Student Tennis Center outdoor courts in Eugene, Ore. on April 17, 2019 for their last home game of the season. (Maddie Knight/Emerald)

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Oregon Ducks guard Jaz Shelley (4) drives the ball towards the basket. Oregon Ducks women’s basketball takes on the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore. on Feb 9, 2020. (Maddie Knight/Emerald)

COVER starting to see that.” The league took its first step in creating a space for women in professional football. The Arizona Cardinals hired Jennifer Walter as a linebackers coach in summer of 2015, and shortly after, the Buffalo Bills brought on Kathryn Smith as a full-time assistant coach. The list around the league goes on and on. Women’s sports also lag behind in media coverage. Unlike the NFL — well-known for dominating national television every weekend — women’s sports are much harder to find. Although women’s sporting events — in both collegiate and professional leagues — are common, coverage of those events in the mainstream media is not. Women’s sports only receive 4% of all sport media coverage, according to the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport at the University of Minnesota. Over 40 years since the introduction of Title IX and there is still a lopsided disparity in gender equality within sports. “There’s not been a time in the history of women’s sports where women were able to just play,” said former physical education director at UO and currently serves as the announcer for softball and women’s soccer games, Peg Rees. “We’ve always had to be our best advocates and fight for things we wanted. Media coverage both in live games and televised sports news is the catalyst for exposure and combating equity problems within sports, according to Cox. Last summer, major television networks began to cover professional women’s sports, such as the WNBA and the National Women’s Soccer League. This past 2020 season, the WNBA’s average viewership

skyrocketed by 68% during a season in the “Wubble” focused on racial and social injustice. The nickname “Wubble” comes from the fact that it was the “women’s bubble” during the season. The power of women’s activism and empowerment The intersection of sports, politics and social justice is more prevalent than ever. The WNBA in particular, is one of the sports leagues at the forefront of it. Women athletes have the power to create awareness to audiences, act as role models in their communities, encourage others to educate themselves and stand for what’s right. “Athletes should be activists,” Peterson said. “Athletes should use their voice to advocate for social justice issues. That kind of activism influences the greater public.” The USWNT’s lawsuit sets the stage for women athletes to speak out against racial, political and economic inequalities. “For women, we have always had to beat our own drum,” Rees said. “We’ve always had to do more with less. We’ve always had to be knocking on doors for sponsorships, funding, coverage.” To combat that, women’s sports need more allies. “What we need right now are more allies who are willing to speak on our behalf,” Rees said. “That means men and women who have platforms who can lift female athletes at every opportunity.” Peterson said her daughter has no interest in sports or any knowledge of it, but she knows who Megan Rapinoe is. She might not know how well Rapinoe shields the ball or her remarkable way of crossing the ball, but Peterson said she realizes the impact she’s had off the field. For her and others in the younger generation, glass ceilings

Ducks defender Hannah Taylor (27) approaches the ball. Ducks Soccer take on the University of California Bruins at Papé Field in Eugene Ore. on Nov. 3, 2019. (Kimberly Harris/ Emerald)

are continually being shattered in every sport, every season and every league as they grow older. Shattering glass ceilings “Being able to find those people that value your opinion, you can get their perspectives and they are willing to open up and listen to you is super important,” Sara Goodrum said. “The number one thing is, though, you have to be an advocate for yourself.” Goodrum was recently promoted to minor league hitting coordinator for the Milwaukee Brewers, making her the first woman to have that role in a Major League Baseball organization. Goodrum said that she looks up to Kim Ng of the Miami Marlins who is incredibly motivating for her and that she wants to be an inspiration for the next generation. With every generation of women who want to win that World Cup, be that force for change in their community or whichever career path, society inches closer to normalizing powerful women in sports, Rees thinks. “I’m looking forward to the time when people don’t see that as the ultimate prize in sports,” Rees said. “We need to go through this era of normalizing women at the top of men’s sports.” As more top coaching jobs, front office and officiating positions are being filled, women are transforming sports by showing the next generation that women belong in sports. That they deserve to be listened to; to not be objectified; to have a seat at the table. “I think about the next generation of athletes, whether they’re women, whether they’re nonbinary athletes, how they will be received within the larger sporting landscape,” Cox said. “There is still a lot of work to do, but there are things that I’m really excited to see.” For every win in the sports industry, there are still challenges that need to be overcome. Overcoming these challenges prove that women in sports today aren’t just simply breaking through, they are soaring.

Ducks forward Arielle Wilson (10) passes the ball to a teammate. Oregon Ducks women’s basketball takes on the Utah Utes at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore., on Dec. 6, 2020. (Maddie Knight/ Emerald)

Ducks outside hitter Taylor Williams hits the ball. Oregon Ducks Volleyball takes on UCLA in Matthew Knight Arena on October 18, 2019. (Maddie Knight/ Emerald)

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A&C

(Eleanor Klock/Emerald)

INCLUSIVITY ON ZOOM WHAT ROLE DO PRONOUNS PLAY? Many students include their pronouns in their Zoom display name to combat misgendering and disclose their identities, but others aren’t comfortable with outing themselves to a class of strangers. BY DREW YORK During remote schooling, our social interactions are limited; all of us show up to class as just a floating head on a small screen or a voice through a microphone. For transgender and gender-nonconforming students, these virtual classes are yet another way for misgendering to occur. With fewer opportunities to make personal connections, it’s easier for professors to make assumptions about a student’s gender, leading them to use the wrong pronouns. And what student wants to correct their professor in a 200-person Zoom lecture? To combat this, many students, both cisgender and trans or gendernonconforming, have started including their pronouns in their Zoom display names. Similar to recent trends of including pronouns in your social media bio, having pronouns in Zoom display names helps to normalize sharing them. This way, there doesn’t have to be any awkward conversations PA G E 8

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with professors or peers in breakout rooms, and misgendering is likely to decrease. Torrye Torrance, a first-year student at UO, said that they disclose their pronouns in their Zoom display name because they want others to understand them right away, especially those who haven’t met a nonbinary person before. “Everyone has pronouns, not just trans folk,” Torrance said. “So normalizing the display of them is one step closer to moving past the stigma around being genderqueer and trans.” Torrance also brought up that if a person’s pronouns are already being displayed, they can be understood right away. This eliminates some people’s discomfort about introducing themselves with their pronouns vocally; it also serves as a reminder to others, avoiding situations of accidental misgendering and discomfort.

While these benefits can hold true, disclosing your pronouns in your Zoom display name as a trans or gender-nonconforming student can, for some, run the risk of being outed. Not everyone is comfortable with displaying their pronouns to a bunch of black squares on a screen that represent individual students with their own opinions about gender identity and pronouns. Personally, I choose to not disclose my pronouns (which are they/them) in my Zoom display name. Although I am out as trans/nonbinary, that doesn’t mean I want to be outed to a class of over 200 strangers, the majority of which don’t turn on their cameras. Since most of my interactions with professors and GEs are one-on-one, I feel more comfortable with privately disclosing my pronouns to them since they are visible and, in my experience so far, respectful. Not disclosing my pronouns on

Zoom is a way for me to avoid possible ridicule or someone making it a bigger deal than it needs to be. Torrance also acknowledges this risk as a reason why some might be hesitant to display their pronouns. “It’s always unclear if someone in the Zoom call will be transphobic, and whether they’ll be vocal about it,” Torrance said. “Since it is over Zoom, it may not be as dangerous, but it is never an easy thing to deal with.” In the end, comfort levels are the biggest factor. Not all trans or gendernonconforming individuals are ready to disclose something that causes others to make assumptions about their gender identity. But as we get through a period of time where remote learning is the norm, maybe we can use it to eliminate the stigma. Those who are comfortable with disclosing their pronouns on Zoom can continue doing so, creating a safe space for others and taking steps toward a more inclusive future.

OPINION

IF YOU CAN, GET VACCINATED! BY EMILY BORCHARDT • TWITTER @EMILYFBORCHA

THE COVID-19 VACCINE: WHAT TO KNOW - As of Feb. 12, more than 3% of Lane County has been vaccinated. - The Pfizer vaccine has an effectiveness rate of over 94%, and the second dose needs to be administered 21 days later. - The Moderna vaccine has a 94.1% effectiveness rate, and the second dose needs to be administered 28 days later. - After receiving the first dose, you will receive reminders that will give you information on how to register for your next appointment. - Make sure to preregister for your vaccine if you’re currently not eligible.

SOURE: CDC AND LCPH

(Unsplash/Steven Cornfield)

As someone who has been vaccinated, I am here to tell you that it’s not as scary as you think. I was eligible for vaccination because I’m a lifeguard at the Student Rec Center, which means I’m considered a first responder. I was conflicted about getting the vaccine at first. Not because I was against the vaccine, but because I felt like I was taking the place of someone who might need it more. The guilt weighed on me, especially because it was optional for lifeguards to receive the vaccine. However, I realized it’s important because my job is to keep people safe. With that in mind, I made an appointment and got vaccinated Feb. 2. My vaccine experience — like that of most people I know — was fairly positive and had no major complications. Only a few folks I know have had negative reactions, and no reactions were as serious as a case of the disease the vaccine prevents. Lane County Public Health currently administers the Moderna vaccine, which is 94.1% effective at protecting against COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The most common side effects are fatigue, headaches, chills and a very sore arm. Reading this eased my anxiety around the vaccine and how my body would react to it. Also, the LCPH staff were very informative and helped guide me through the process by answering any questions I had. I admit I was extremely nervous before my vaccination appointment, but the nurse made me

feel calm and safe from the outset. I went through the paperwork, read about possible side effects and confirmed my willingness and eligibility to receive the vaccine. The nurse walked me through the side effects again prior to getting my vaccine and answered my questions. She also asked me to confirm once more that I wanted the vaccine. The actual injection wasn’t painful whatsoever. After I received it, the nurse instructed me to sit for 30 minutes just in case I had an allergic reaction. Most people only have to wait for 15 minutes, but people with certain medical allergies, like me, are more prone to side effects and have to wait a little longer. Before I left, the health care workers asked me to call if any major side effects occurred. About nine days after the vaccine, I had a slight allergic reaction called “COVID arm,” or delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity. COVID arm is rare, but if it were to occur after your vaccine there is nothing to worry about. It shows up about five to nine days after your vaccination where it was administered. Doctors emphasize that it’s harmless and shouldn’t discourage you from receiving the vaccine. I hope that by sharing my experience I will encourage others to get the vaccine if they’re eligible. COVID-19 has taken so much from our lives, and I am willing to risk the side effects of the vaccine to prevent the disease from continuing to spread. Take the vaccine if it’s available to you. Always wash your hands. The mask goes over your nose.

Emily Borchardt is an opinion columnist at the Emerald. She primarily writes about racism, classism and sexism within the UO as well as providing solutions to these pressing issues. Follow her Twitter @emilyfborcha

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SPORTS

FROM IRELAND TO EUGENE, HURLING FINDS A NEW HOME “For me it’s tradition and history,” said Willamette Valley Nomads club chair Tim Lemke. “It’s bringing that bit of what’s lost from the family and history side. A lot of stuff is tied in.” BY CLAYTON FRANKE • TWITTER @CLAYFRANKE1

Members of a Eugene Hurling team warm up with passing at the start of their practice. (Maddie Stellingwerf/Emerald)

On a Saturday morning at Maurie Jacobs Park in Eugene, Seth Hoggard, 10, wields a hurley — a wooden tool about a yard in length that resembles a paddle, beginning with an axe-like handle and ending in a curved toe. Hoggard and his 12-year-old brother, Evan, take instruction from Killian Condon. Seth bends his knees and scoops a small leather ball into the air with his hurley. “That’s good!” Condon says. “Now try a running start.” The brothers are learning hurling, a sport that blends elements of lacrosse, hockey and baseball. Hurling is the national sport of Ireland but is often overlooked in the United States. Still, the game is taking hold in local communities. In Eugene, a group of passionate players from different backgrounds hope to grow the game and continue these cultural traditions while creating a few of their own. In 2013, Joshua Coon, the public relations officer for the club, was a member of the University of Oregon symphony. One day, another musician

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came in with a broken arm. Coon asked what had happened; he said it was a hurling injury. “I was like, ‘Oh, is that the one you play on ice and scratch it with a little broom?’ I came out the next day and I was hooked,” Coon said, mistakenly describing the winter sport curling. He soon joined the Eugene Trappers, the former Eugene hurling team. Tim Lemke, the club chair, was similarly oblivious when he stumbled across the sport in a bibliography of Michael Collins, an Irish revolutionary. “It was talking about him throwing in the ball at the finals, and I was like, ‘What the hell is this shit?’ because I had never heard of it,” Lemke said. “I then ran into somebody that day who saw my book and asked me to come out and play.” But Condon, club treasurer, was introduced to the game much differently. “I’ve been playing since I was told to play at 7 years old,” Condon said. Condon is a native of Cork, Ireland, where hurling dominates. Now in

his mid-thirties, Condon has been hurling for over two decades. Condon played on a competitive college team in Ireland and on a competitive team in Minnesota. In 2017, he and Lemke won the national championship as members of the Columbia Red Branch in Portland. The three work as the club officers for a team still in its inception. They held the first official board meeting Saturday, when they decided on “Willamette Valley Nomads” for a new team name. Currently, they don’t have enough players to register for the Northwest Region of the United States Gaelic Athletic Association, so their main focus is on recruiting new players, whether or not they have previous hurling experience. The team is currently practicing once every two weeks while trying to spread the word about the sport. Without enough people for a game, the Nomads are focusing on fundamentals. At practice, Condon and the other experienced players lead newcomers through a series of drills.

There’s batting, where a player strikes a ball over their head to a teammate; lifting — a player must use the hurley to pick the ball off the ground before touching it; and striking, where a player swings the hurley in a baseball motion to score or pass the ball. “There must be 300 different skills in this game,” Condon jokes. For many, interest in the sport stems from an interest in Irish heritage. Seamus King’s book on hurling dates the sport back to 1200 BCE, older than the recorded history of Ireland. The game was even outlawed in Ireland in the 12th century when the Normans invaded. But the game remained a staple of the culture, and today the hurling stadium in Dublin holds over 80,000 spectators, where fans gather and cheer for their favorite clubs in an environment similar to European soccer. Lemke’s family emigrated from Cork County at the turn of the 20th century, fueling his attraction to the sport. “For me it’s tradition and history,” Lemke said. “It’s bringing that bit of

SPORTS

A close up of the equipment used to play hurling. On the left are the hurley sticks and the right is a helmet needed to safely play. (Maddie Stellingwerf/Emerald)

what’s lost from the family and history side. A lot of stuff is tied in.” Despite the history, hurling isn’t played professionally, even in Ireland. Condon said this adds to the community aspect of the game. “Back home, with hurling, it’s the baker next door or the butcher down the road that’s playing for the highestlevel team in the country,” Condon said. “You play with your community; that’s who you represent. There’s no transferring going on unless you’re living in a specific area.” The camaraderie on the team shines even in a low-stakes setting. The players laugh and trade banter frequently, and after practice Coon shares a growler of his homemade beer. “You go to the pub with the team you just played, share beers and everybody has a great time,” Lemke said. As public relations officer, Coon is focused on community outreach and building a social media presence. The Nomads are also counting on team members to spread the word about hurling to their friends, family and coworkers. Coon is optimistic about finding interested players in the area. “People who like to hurl, they really like to hurl,” Coon said. “They’ll drive for quite a ways if we have a good established team.” Nolan Hoggard, the older brother of Seth and Evan, joined the team after his indoor soccer league was shut down. While the COVID-19 pandemic renders other indoor sports inaccessible,

hurling can be played almost anywhere while staying socially distant. He also enjoys having his family join in. “They really enjoy it,” Hoggard said of his brothers. “It wouldn’t surprise me if they come out and practice with us.” The Nomads are gaining traction having recruited several players in the last few weeks. Coon said when new players come in, it usually doesn’t take more than a few minutes of playing around with the hurley for them to want more of the action. The game’s similarities to so many other sports draws athletes looking for a new challenge, or people who want to switch it up from their normal sport. “It breaks that hypercompetitiveness that a lot of the American sports have, that you’re kind of trained in school to have,” Coon said. “In hurling, you play your game, you play well, and you’re all friendly and having a great time.” As walkers enjoy their Saturdays at the park, many glance at the fields to see a dozen people striking little balls with swinging clubs, slipping on the wet grass. The sport is totally foreign to some but presents an exciting new world filled with rich history and a bright future. “Anyone can play,” Condon said. “We’re not looking for anyone with a certain level of fitness, you just come and play if you’re interested. If you’re interested because of the heritage, that might be why you join, but it’s because of the sport is why you’ll stay.”

A new player learns to pass the sliotar to another. (Maddie Stellingwerf/Emerald)

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