MAR. 8, 2021
Monday Edition
Emerald Media
Through COVID-19,
UO Alpine skiers turn away from competition, and toward one another
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NEW MODERATES CLUB PG 3
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HOW TO SAVE ON TUITION PG 8
VACCINE PROGRAM FLEXIBILITY PG 10
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NEWS
UO College Moderates offers safe space for civil political discussion The newly formed political group meets once a week and provides an open platform for politically moderate students to discuss current issues free from partisan attacks. VOL. 122, ISSUE NO. 37
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ON THE COVER
(Eleanor Klock/Emerald)
Though it’s been barely a full year since the start of the new decade, the 2020s have already seen their fair share of political drama: impeachments, insurrection, a contested election — it’s left some UO students wondering where they fit into it all. Sophomores Eric Yan and Conall Anderson, the co-founders of the UO College Moderates, say they may have found an answer. UO College Moderates is a new group on campus open to students from all sides of the political spectrum who share a skepticism for extremism, they said. The group has only had four meetings, but Yan and Anderson said that the group’s discussions have already led them to take a second look at their own beliefs. “We have disagreements, but they’re always polite,” Yan said. “I think that this club has given me some insight into why people may think or say certain things that I previously thought were unreasonable.” The UO College Moderates currently has 11 members, Yan said, though average meeting attendance hovers around five or six. Anderson said the majority of the group’s members identify as either moderate Democrats or Libertarians, but he encourages students from all political backgrounds to join, as long as they are openminded and willing to discuss and defend their beliefs. “That’s one of the reasons why we named the group college moderates,” Anderson said. “A lot of people can fit under that umbrella, and it’s really just kind of a shortcut to open discussion.” At the start of the meetings, which the group holds once a week over Zoom, Yan initiates a discussion about a recent news headline. Then, the group launches into an in-depth discussion on a hypothetical bill meant to address a current issue, such as COVID-19 relief, Yan said. They call this “mock legislation,” and the goal is to reach an agreement with approval from at least 60% of the group’s members. Both Yan and Anderson — who were friends before the group’s formation — consider themselves to be moderate Democrats. The club was Yan’s idea, and Anderson said that he decided to get on board after attending meetings for the UO College Democrats and becoming disappointed by the lack of diversity in its members’ political leanings. “It’s not that they didn’t allow open discussion,” Anderson said, “it was just more of a homogenous group.” Yan and Anderson agree that the term “moderate” has some misconceptions, especially in a place as polarized as Eugene. Yan said that while the term is vague, he defines it as anyone who tries to avoid extremist ideologies. He also sees the ability to compromise with those who have different beliefs as integral to moderate politics, and said that in a successful compromise, both sides of the debate get closer to achieving their goals. Anderson stressed that people who identify as politically moderate are no less passionate
about their beliefs than someone on the extreme right or left. He said that from his perspective, moderates are more willing to adjust their stance on certain issues not because they don’t feel strongly about them, but because they understand that every piece of legislation can have unintended consequences that may affect others negatively. UO Political Science professor Gerald Berk said the meaning of the term moderate can vary widely depending on where in the country you are. He said that a moderate politician from Wyoming or Montana will likely have very different beliefs than a self-described moderate from the South. However, because Oregon is a predominantly left-leaning state, Berk said that historically, moderate politicians in Oregon tend to be fiscally conservative and socially liberal, balancing concerns for civil rights and environmental issues with policies that promote the interests of big business. He said that he supports the introduction of any political group on campus, as long as they are willing to provide a focused initiative to engage in politics from every angle. “There are so many pressing problems right now, it’s important for us to know why a moderate position is a better approach to dealing with problems like the pandemic, or inequality,” Berk said. Yan said a highly polarized political environment can lead to certain voices being heard louder than others, with partisan viewpoints drowning out those from a more centered line of thinking. “I think the best way to counter extremism, especially if you’re a college student with very little power, is to try and lift up more moderate voices,” Yan said. “By simply staying silent, the extremists will only get louder.”
Conall Anderson is the Vice President of College Moderates at the University of Oregon. The club is created for students to discuss politics and current events. (Kevin Wang/ Daily Emerald)
Around OR REGIONAL AND STATE NEWS OREGON CHEESE FEST-TOGO: The traditionally in-person festival will be virtual, with visitors receiving tasting kits to have virtual tastings held over Facebook Live. The 5-pound tasting kits have 14 different types of Oregon cheeses, along with preserves, crackers and chocolate. Currently, tasting kits are only available for in-person pick-up in Grants Pass or Central point March 11-12, with the virtual event held on Facebook Live at 5 p.m. – EM CHAN OREGON WOMEN’S BASKETBALL FALLS IN PAC-12 QUARTERFINALS: After losing 88-77 to Oregon State on senior night, the Oregon women’s basketball program fell again to the Beavers in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 Tournament, 71-64. Without standout freshman point guard Te-Hina Paopao, the Ducks struggled to score as just two players scored over eight points in the March 4 loss. The Ducks now await the NCAA Tournament bracket reveal. – SHANE HOFFMANN
(Maddie Knight/Emerald)
BROWN: ‘THANK YOU, OREGON’: One year after Oregon saw its first COVID-19 case, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown thanked workers and citizens “who have kept us all going” in a statement. Brown also acknowledged the disproportionate impact COVID-19 has had on Oregon’s minority populations. “With our vaccine efforts ramping up, the light at the end of the tunnel grows closer each day,” she said, reminding Oregonians to stay safe amidst new COVID-19 variants. – DUNCAN BAUMGARTEN
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NEWS
PLEDGED INTO HARM
UO STUDY FINDS HIGHER RISK OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE ASSOCIATED WITH GREEK LIFE BY JOANNA MANN • TWITTER @JOANNA_MANN_ Five researchers, including a University of Oregon professor and two UO doctoral students published a manuscript that examines the risk of sexual exploitation associated with Greek life on college campuses. The paper, drawing on data conducted through a 2014 survey from nearly one thousand UO students, concludes that students in Greek life experience nonconsensual sexual contact at over three times the rate as traditional students in some cases. The manuscript, “Pledged into Harm: Sorority and Fraternity Members Face Increased Risk of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harrassment,” was written by UO psychology professor Jennifer Freyd, UO doctoral students Melissa Barnes and Alexis Adams Clark, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota assistant professor Marina Rosenthal and clinical psychologist Carly Smith. The 2014 online survey asked participants to provide information about their Greek life membership, experiences with sexual violence and alcohol use. The study found that Greekaffiliated students experienced a higher rate of sexual assault and sexual harrassment than students not enrolled in a sorority or fraternity, and that “alcohol-related problems predicted unique variance in women’s exposure to nonconsensual sexual contact, attempted/ completed rape and unwanted sexual attention.” “There are quite a few studies about sexual harassment on college campuses. But with Greek life specifically, there were maybe one or two,” Barnes said. “This is one of the first studies to really focus on sexual harassment in Greek life.” The study found that women in Greek life were almost 2 times more likely to have experienced any form of nonconsensual sexual contact than non Greek-affiliated women. Men in Greek life were more than 3 times more likely to have experienced these forms of nonconsensual sexual contact than non Greek-affiliated men. Sorority women were over three times more likely to have experienced attempted or completed rape than non Greekaffiliated women. No men in Greek life reported experiencing an attempted or completed rape. One type of sexual harassment experience associated with sorority and fraternity students was unwanted sexual attention. Women in sororities were about two times more likely to have experienced this than non Greek-affiliated women, and men in fraternities were more than three times more likely than non Greekaffiliated men. While the study was conducted in 2014, Adams-Clark said she thinks a current study would yield similar results. “Our data suggests that the rates of sexual assault in general haven’t diminished on the university campus,” she said. “It takes a long time for some of these rates to go down.” University spokesperson Saul Hubbard said a similar study conducted by the Association
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of American Universities, which collected data from UO students in 2015 and 2019, showed a reduction in the percentage of nonconsensual sexual contact reported by students and an increase in knowledge of how to seek help from 2015 to 2019. “While the latest survey showed improvement, no amount of sexual violence and assault is acceptable, and the UO remains committed to ensuring our students’ safety,” Hubbard said. “We have been actively working to provide students access to the resources and support they need if faced with an incident of sexual violence and to ensure they feel comfortable using those services.” While Greek-affiliated women reported higher alcohol-related scores than their nonGreek counterparts, the study found that women’s alcohol consumption, whether in a sorority or not, was linked to increased odds of nonconsensual sexual contact. There was no significant difference in alcoholrelated scores for Greek versus non-Greek men, and both group’s alcohol-related scores were not associated with increased odds of nonconsensual sexual contact. “Fraternities are supposed to be dry systems, and they’re not. How many students are still going to fraternity parties in the pandemic? The alcohol is still there,” Barnes said. “So unless they’ve been doing some really solid work around sexual violence prevention, the environment is still there and they haven’t addressed the historical issues of fraternities and sororities.” Institutional betrayal is when survivors of sexual violence are further harmed by the perception that their institutions “condoned or facilitated their assault in some way,” given that Greek organizations are university-approved social groups, according to the study. “For example, some universities may require fraternity chapters to have insurance policies that cover sexual misconduct and sexual assault litigation against both the chapter and the university,” the study read. “This suggests that university administrators are aware of the sexual violence risk related to this environment, and yet, are willing to support the organizations as long as there is liability protection.” Adams-Clark and Barnes agreed that the university should start taking the idea of institutional courage seriously by thinking about the historical roots of Greek life and reevaluating its presence on campus. “How do we change that if we do want Greek life to remain on our campus?” Barnes said. “I looked on the website that had the list of fraternities who had been suspended and a number of them were coming up on their return date. I would be curious to see what the process is around the guidelines of them being reinstated. A lot more transparency would be really helpful.”
Melissa Barnes, a doctoral candidate in the psychology department, partnered with UO psychology professors on a written manuscript about sorority and fraternity members facing an increased risk of sexual assault. (Kimberly Harris/Emerald)
Alexis Adams-Clark, a doctoral candidate in the psychology department, partnered with UO psychology professors on a written manuscript about sorority and fraternity members facing an increased risk of sexual assault. (Kimberly Harris/Emerald)
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A&C
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From the Emerald Arts & Culture Desk
“JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH”
MADISON BEER’S DEBUT ALBUM
ADDIS ETHIOPIAN CLOSED
While this movie isn’t the cheeriest film out there, its no-punches-held telling of the civil rights movement sets it apart from many other movies in its genre. An incredible story told from the Black Panthers’ point of view.
Lana Del Ray copycat Madison Beer released her album “Life Support,” and while there are some bangers, “BOYSHIT” and “Blue” among them, a large chunk of the album is a bit of a snooze fest. Listen while angsty in gloomy weather.
Say goodbye to beef tibs, wot (a seasoned stew) and Ethiopian spiced tea. After three years of providing the only Ethiopian food in Springfield, this well-loved eatery served its last meals on Feb. 27. Dang it, COVID-19.
VIRTUAL DRAG SHOW
TRYING TO STAY CONNECTED
BRITNEY SPEARS’ CONSERVATORSHIP
The LGBTQA3’s remote drag show on Saturday did not disappoint. From dancing and singing performances to professionallevel music video productions, the drag performers proved that the virtual element only improves their creativity.
It’s been a year too long of Zoom, but the EMU’s Weekly Walking Group, free craft kits and self-guided adventures create limited ways to stay engaged. Not an “Animal House” experience, but it’s safe and it’s something.
For 12 years, the pop star’s father has controlled her finances and personal life, but court documents indicate that Spears doesn’t want him to continue as her conservator. We stand with Spears’ fans: #FreeBritney!
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COVER
WITH COMPETITION CANCELLED, CAMARADERIE TAKES PRECEDENT FOR UO ALPINE Without the opportunity to compete, UO Alpine Club sustains the program with a long list of memories, friendships and their common love for the sport. BY CHARLES GEARING • TWITTER @GEARINGCHARLIE
Through both varsity and club levels, the COVID-19 pandemic has sidelined college athletes across the country in a way unseen in recent times. This year, the bulk of varsity athletes have returned to play, while club and intramural teams still wait. The Alpine Ski Club at the University of Oregon has been no different. COVID-19 has forced a back-to-basics approach for the sport, utilizing small-group activities, limited — if any — practices and socially distanced team get-togethers. But while the team has stepped away from competing, many of its members have taken a wider scope to examine what the sport of skiing means to them, not only through a competitive lens, but also as a way of life. In competition or away from it, the skiers have embraced the fond memories, experiences and long-lasting friendships as reminders that skiing, to them, is more than just a sport. As they stand away from the starting gate for now, they lean on each other to fill the void. “We get to travel all those weekends, do long drives in the vans together,” team
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president Mia Giacobazzi said, remembering fondly the times before COVID-19. “Those long, 12-hour drives together really bring that team bonding.” Under normal circumstances, the team of 20 would travel, competing with other club teams from all around the western United States. Four weeks out of every winter term, the team took to the slopes in a series of races across several states. This year, things have been different. The season ended abruptly last year, and the team looked forward to a return to competition this year. But things didn’t go as planned. “Two weeks before our first race, our region was cancelled,” Giacobazzi said. “We’ve just been doing ski weekends since then, trying to keep in touch, trying to do hikes together, doing Zoom activities to get to know the freshman. We just want to keep it going for next year, because hopefully things will be different.” With the lack of competition, some of the skiers relish the opportunity for pressure-free, care-free skiing. “It’s great in a sense where it’s not as nerve-wracking, since we [don’t] have to put
(Courtesy of Makena Hervey)
COVER
(Courtesy of Makena Hervey)
on our bibs, and be at the start gate at a certain time, and have the pressure of racing,” said senior Annie Storrs. “At least for myself, it’s more like ‘hey, show up at the mountain and just free ski all day.’” While this year has presented a series of challenges for teams and clubs like UO Alpine all around the world, the skiers have met the hurdles head on, leaning on one another and their common love for the sport to get through these strange times. In a year full of changes, the friendships and camaraderie have remained a constant. “What’s really kept me on [the team] is just having a small enough
(Courtesy of Makena Hervey)
team where we truly know every single person on the team really well,” Storrs said. “If I had the option to be a Division I skier, I would not take it. I would stay with this club team any day.” To them, it’s simple. Anytime they can be with their team, whether it be on the chairlift, at the gate, in the vans, or this year, in Zoom meetings and limited small-group events, it’s a blessing. It’s an opportunity none of them would trade away. “It’s the best thing that happened to a lot of us on the team through college,” Giacobazzi said. “And it’s still a little light through the dark term of winter.”
What’s really kept me on [the team] is just having a small enough team where we truly know every single person on the team really well.” (Samantha Howard/Emerald)
ANNIE STORRS Senior
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A&C Students at the University of Oregon should implement a 4 year plan of their classes in order to make sure they graduate on time. Planning your class schedules in advance can help you graduate on time, make your scholarships last longer, and save money in the long run. (Will Geschke/Emerald)
5 REAL WAYS TO SAVE ON TUITION AT UO ACADEMIC PLANNING TIPS AND TRICKS TO SAVE YOU THOUSANDS BY SAMUEL ANTHONY Looking over my degree guide at the start of my senior year was a painful experience. While I had the majority of the credits needed to graduate, I realized I was still going to end up having to take 20 extra credits — $5,000 extra dollars that I didn’t need to spend — to finish out the classes I needed for my major. Here’s what I’ve learned about academic planning during my time at UO that I wish I had known when I started college. 1) Schedule out your credits over 4 years While this might seem obvious, it’s both harder and more important than you probably think. If you came into college with credits from high school, took community college classes or loaded your freshman year up heavily with credits, taking the “recommended” 16 credits per term may actually end up costing you thousands of dollars. Students need 180 credits to graduate, but there’s no requirement as to how many credits you must take per term. Instead of just registering for four classes every term, create a calendar with 12 sections over four years, and plan out how many credits per term you need. One thing to keep in mind is that you may not be considered a full-time student while taking under PA G E 8
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12 credits (which could affect financial aid and scholarships). You might be surprised to find that you can cut back heavily on classes starting as early as sophomore year, depending on how many credits you came into college with, saving you thousands while reducing your workload. 2) If you’re receiving scholarships or loans that are disbursed every term, take as many terms as possible — if you can afford the living expenses and want to make college last The most common scholarships that fall under this category are likely the general 4-year scholarships, including the Apex, Summit and Excellence awards, among others that UO awards to incoming freshmen, but financial aid and other scholarships may also hold true to this rule. For example, an in-state student who receives the Summit Scholarship and graduates in three years will spend $43,012 on tuition, minus the $12,000 from the Summit Scholarship, totaling $31,012. In comparison, if the same student took four years to graduate, they’d spend the same $43,012 on tuition, but receive $16,000 from the scholarship, saving them $4,000 more in tuition than a threeyear plan. While this difference may not ultimately be worth putting off
graduating early for, it’s certainly a consideration. 3) Make sure your classes are going toward something (especially if you’re unsure of your major) It seems simple, but it’s undoubtedly the number one mistake that I’ve seen among college students. Students get to their junior year, decide to switch majors and now have to complete the credits for their new major as well as the general education courses they’ve been putting off. Meanwhile, the credits from their previous major all become general credits that aren’t used toward any particular graduation requirements. Students end up having to take over 180 credits to finish their new major, and end up wasting thousands of dollars. When you’re registering for courses early in your college years, make sure you take classes that will go toward completing a category on your degree guide that your major won’t hit. For liberal arts majors, get your science classes out of the way. For STEM majors, take that English class you’ve been putting off. 4) Double Dip Double dipping means taking classes that will fill multiple requirements at once. Use UO’s Course and Degree Information webpage to find
classes that fulfill general education requirements and major courses, or talk to your major-specific advisors for advice on which classes work the best for double dipping. Double dipping works especially well with majors and minors, and can be a great way to double major or minor while staying within 180 credits. Be aware, however, that not all categories on your degree guide can be double dipped. 5) Check your degree guide on DuckWeb The biggest mistake someone can make is not understanding the DuckWeb degree guide, as it’s the key to finishing college on time and efficiently. Your degree guide is a comprehensive list of every class you have completed and have yet to complete for your major and general education requirements and is essential to making sure you graduate on time. To find the degree guide, log into DuckWeb, select the student menu tab and find the “View Degree Guide PDF” option. While it can be intimidating at first, knowing which classes and categories you still need to hit, as well as where you can double dip, will allow you to schedule out your college credits and take tons of electives without overpaying on tuition or graduating late.
A&C
‘MOODY, MOODY’
IS AN INTIMATE VIEW OF VULNERABILITY AND EMOTION University of Oregon student Isa Ramos’ debut photography exhibition explores emotions and identity through colorful portraits.
BY GRACE MURRAY • TWITTER @GRACIEE_MURRAYY
“Moody, Moody” is University of Oregon student Isa Ramos’ debut photography exhibit. “Moody, Moody” is currently on display in the Aperture Gallery in the Erb Memorial Union on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene, Ore., (Ian Enger/Emerald)
Dramatic eyes look to the viewer with an intoxicating stare; the photographic portraits in “Moody, Moody” light up the stark white walls in electric technicolor. University of Oregon senior art student Isa Ramos’ debut solo photography exhibit is on display in the Aperture Gallery of the Erb Memorial Union. The seven portraits depict an array of feelings and emotions in a creative and artistic way. Ramos participated in their firstever exhibition, a group exhibit at the LaVerne Krause Gallery earlier this year, but this show focuses entirely on their personal style. Many of the pieces are self-portraits showing Ramos in an incredibly up close and intimate way. Possibly the most interesting detail of this exhibit is the fact that these photos originate from different projects but have come together to create an incredibly cohesive exhibit with fluid colors and ideologies. “A lot of my work kind of stems from how I perceive myself as a person, and how I would like to be perceived. So a lot of it is just kind of like self portraiture,” Ramos said.
“I ultimately enjoy examining and exploring myself and representations of myself.” The first image shows Ramos in a self-portrait that is wildly colored shades of purple, red and yellow and features a geometric line cutting through the image creating a separation effect. Through the use of long exposure techniques, the image appears to be two images fused together but is actually one image showing Ramos twice. The first image and the last image within the exhibit are from the same project; they capture and isolate an up-close image of Ramos’ face, highlighting small details of their expressions. “I feel like as far as art and color, the exhibit really explores a full range and identity; I think it gets us thinking about identity and person,” Suzanne Hanlon, advisor of the UO Visual Arts Committee, said. “They say the eyes are the window to the soul, and there’s a lot of eyes in this exhibit, so you can kind of think about who you’re seeing and what they’re thinking, what you’re thinking as you see the art.” In the very center of the exhibit is a tall breathtaking image of Ramos’
partner in beautiful colors and detail. The subject gazes outward with flowers falling across their face as shadows and bright hues of electric blue, pink and pale yellow add a dramatic intensity to the image. “There’s a certain intimacy about it. A lot of them are self portraits obviously but it has this sort of closeness and texture to it that it feels intimate and personal in a really cool way,” Lily James, the social media coordinator for the UO Visual Arts Committee, said. “All those bright colors look so good in that space. Your eye is drawn right to it, and it really brightens up that whole wall.” Another image is cast in dramatic red shades meant to have a sort of horror film effect. Ramos stands with imposing power looking downward angrily as the red lighting illuminates their face with an eerie glow. The inspiration behind the image comes from a discussion in UO School of Journalism and Communication professor Dayna Chatman’s class, which covered the concept of queer villians in the media. Ramos, who is queer, hoped to illuminate this messaging through a dramatic self
portrait. Each photograph in ‘Moody, Moody’ takes the viewer along a rollercoaster of emotions through the use of powerful imagery and themes. The feelings conveyed throughout the exhibit are shockingly personal and enliven Ramos’ unique artistic style along with their identity. Ramos wanted to explore themes surrounding mental illness and representation, they said, “because of my background being a queer, Mexican American with a disability — with a mood disorder. That’s something really personal to me, that’s very important to me, not necessarily just representations of myself but representations of other people of marginalized backgrounds, marginalized communities and underrepresented communities.” The exhibit is viewable in person with a UO ID through March 20. Images will be on display online through photos of the exhibit, along with an upcoming artist talk video that will be uploaded to the UO Visual Arts teams Facebook and Instagram and on Ramos’ online portfolio.
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OPINION
THE VACCINE ROLLOUT PROGRAM NEEDS TO BECOME FLEXIBLE BY PARSA AGHEL
(Unsplash/Steven Cornfield)
Months ago, the nation faced a moral dilemma as vaccines began showing promising results: Should we vaccinate the elderly or the youth first? In Oregon, Gov. Kate Brown followed the rest of the nation — protecting the elderly. With the information available at the time, it was the right decision to save the most lives. New research, though, presents a new potential direction, one that saves lives and our institutional future. It’s essential to understand why Brown decided to protect the elderly. The virus bifurcated the threat: the elderly are the most vulnerable, but younger generations were responsible for its spread. Indeed, when college campuses reopened last fall, there were clear spikes in infection rates throughout the nation. When the first vaccine came out, though, researchers did not know its efficacy in preventing the spread. We knew it could prevent deaths, so the vaccine rollout began with the elderly. Over two weeks ago, an Israeli study revealed the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was capable of preventing transmission of the virus as well as infection. Not only does the vaccine prevent individuals from contracting the disease and experiencing symptoms, but it prevents individuals from passing the disease to others. While more results are to come, the implications are clear: vaccinating any group protects others. Of course, we could continue along this path. No one, at least no one with a backbone, believes that the elderly should move down the priority list for the vaccine. However, an alternative pathway might better protect the future of the nation alongside the lives of the elderly. Israel recently became the nation with the highest vaccination rate for Israelis (this statistic is under fire for excluding Palestenians, which is a separate issue). They’ve vaccinated at least 50% of their population with a first dose. Comparisons, of course, are not fruitful considering the population difference.
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However, despite its smaller size, Israel is struggling to jumpstart its institutions. Businesses, schools and other day-to-day processes are a shell of what they were despite a bewilderingly fast vaccine campaign. This should worry us. As a larger nation with programs, resources and more spread across 50 states and 300 million people, our return to normalcy will suffer even more than Israel’s. These institutions, particularly schools, require the presence of younger generations rather than the elderly. Perhaps, then, it is time to consider prioritizing vaccinating the youth alongside the elderly. Though I am no vaccine expert, promising results on transmission protection means that vaccinating the biggest spreaders of COVID-19, between the ages of 18 to 30, subsequently protects the elderly. The unveiling of a new pathway presents a new opportunity to protect future institutions. We must consider the ramifications of our education being delayed. Because, there is no denying it, online school is harming the overall quality of our education. Students are struggling more yet learning less. Education is the backbone of the nation; without it, the future of all professions and processes will suffer. If values of education don’t do it for you, just innovation born out of higher education graduates contributed to $591 billion of our nation’s GDP between 1996 and 2015. Without a fast return to proper education, our economy will be damaged for generations. Indeed, beyond education, students will continue to suffer without a return to normalcy. The pandemic, and the United States’ abysmal planning efforts, have positioned the nation for another recession. One of the demographics that will suffer most is those in universities. Research suggests that those entering the workforce from higher education — if they can even find work — during a recession start with pay about 10 to 15% lower than normal. These losses continue throughout their careers. Not only
do students suffer economically, but life outcomes are permanently damaged. Every unemployment increase of 1% causes a one death increase per 10,000 lives. In a paper written by authors at Duke, Harvard and Johns Hopkins, the economic shock of the pandemic will cause 1.37 million more people to die over the next 20 years. The opportunity cost of stalling a return to normally increases if we continue to ignore these new findings — future lives will suffer instead. If Brown decides to continue with the same order of vaccine distribution, then so be it. I merely suggest, as a young ignorant undergraduate student, that decisions based on our previous understanding may be outdated and we should consider new research as it becomes available. Protecting the youth is no longer mutually exclusive from protecting the elderly. For the sake of our future, perhaps the distribution needs to be more flexible. If Israel is struggling to return to normalcy, then we will, too — to a much greater extent. It is our duty to protect lives first. But, if a new program can do that and protect our future simultaneously then we should indeed “listen to the science.”
Parsa Aghel is a columnist at the Emerald’s opinion desk. He brings a critical lens to power structures and is an advocate for human rights. Follow his Twitter @parsalona1
SPORTS
3 TAKEAWAYS FROM OREGON’S PAC-12 TOURNAMENT PERFORMANCE AFTER OREGON’S LOSS IN THE QUARTERFINALS, ADJUSTMENTS NEED TO BE MADE BEFORE THE NCAA TOURNAMENT BY CARLY EBISUYA • TWITTER @CARLYEBISUYA
Ducks forward Nyara Sabally (1) dodges other players to bring the ball towards the other end of the court. Oregon Ducks women’s basketball take on Oregon State Beavers at the Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore., on February 28, 2021. (Maddie Knight/Emerald)
After three straight Pac-12 Tournament championships, Oregon was sent home after falling to rival Oregon State in Thursday’s quarterfinals. The No. 19 ranked Ducks lost five of their last six games, a first string of losses since a five-game losing streak in 2016. While there were some positives, it’s clear Oregon has serious room for improvement as they enter the March Madness tournament. Adjusting without Te-Hina Paopao Due to a foot injury, Oregon has been without freshman point guard Te-Hina Paopao for the past two games, and her absence on the court shows. Paopao is the Ducks’ playmaker, the one who controls the tempo and keeps everyone poised on offense. A Pac-12 All-Freshman player this year, she has provided the Ducks with immense leadership at the point guard position after the departure of Sabrina Ionescu last year. She is Oregon’s first true freshman in the starting lineup since Ionescu’s freshman year in 2016. “Paopao was first-team all-conference this year and she runs your point,” head coach Kelly Graves said. “And on a team that doesn’t have a lot of playmakers, she is one. She’s one of the players that just makes everybody else better. It hurts.” Before missing the last two games, Paopao was the only Oregon player to start all 19 games. In those games, she took command of the offense with a 2.4 assist-to-turnover ratio, a rate that ranks third amongst NCAA freshmen. She is also the Ducks’ third-leading scorer.
Oregon Ducks guard Taylor Mikesell (11) drives towards the basket. Oregon Ducks women’s basketball takes on the Utah Utes at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore., on Dec. 6, 2020. (Maddie Knight/Emerald)
In her absence, Oregon will have to somehow fill that void. To do so, one or multiple players must step up in the postseason. Two options could be Taylor Chavez or Jaz Shelley at point guard, or a combination of the two. As for Paopao’s return, it’s still unknown. Graves hasn’t ruled her out entirely, but hasn’t guaranteed her return, either. “If she does play, it would be later in the tournament. We better play a lot better or we won’t be playing later in the next tournament,” he said. “I’m one of those that hopes for the best and plans for the worst.” Lack of postseason experience With five new freshmen and two redshirt sophomores playing for the first time in their careers, the Ducks as a team don’t have much postseason experience. Alleviating some of that concern are returners Shelley, Chavez, Erin Boley, Lydia Giomi and transfer Taylor Mikesell, who all have experience in postseason play and know the intensity that comes with those games. Mikesell, who transferred from Maryland, has tournament experience under her belt in her two years as a Terrapin. Playoff experience can’t be taught, just how it’s impossible to replicate a playoff scenario in practice settings. This is something that has to be earned and played through, and even though it doesn’t guarantee success, it makes a huge impact in moments of adversity. Oregon only has one guaranteed game left in the
season — the Round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament. They have one more chance at keeping their postseason run alive after getting knocked out early of the Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday. “We are in the stretch,” Graves said. “We are guaranteed probably one more game. And now we’ve got to earn more. We’re good enough to. We’ve just got to get it done.” The shooting struggles continue At the beginning of the season, Graves described this year’s team as the best shooting team he’s ever had. The Ducks went into a shooting slump in those five losses. They shot 25% from beyond the arc with just three three-pointers against Oregon State in the final regular season game. Their first three-pointer of the game wasn’t until Mikesell’s in the third quarter. “Sure, we could have shot better,” Graves said. “Sure, we had some shots at the rim that we left on the floor tonight. And you can’t do that this time of year. But, again, how many of our players have a ton of experience to really kind of fall back on and know that? We just weren’t at our best.” Shelley and Maddie Scherr were both scoreless, and Chavez only scored three points in the Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinals. If those guards along with Sydney Parrish can contribute six or eight points a game, the Ducks will be hard to stop offensively. Oregon has two weeks until the tournament to make adjustments, otherwise it’ll be a one-and-done postseason for this roster.
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