In between seams: balancing the difficulties of smallscale clothesmaking
By Cass Morrison Arts & Culture Writer
Growing up surrounded by the Los Angeles fashion scene, Niko Freedman was exposed to the challenges and opportunities of the modern clothing industry long before he started making clothes. Now, as a student at the University of Oregon, he creates unique pieces on a small scale, designing clothing for himself and friends.
Freedman was raised by a single mother who worked in the creative industry for a media production company, and he was brought along to showrooms and factories while she worked. “I would get dragged after school to my mom’s work to these huge warehouses where they’re making clothes,” Freedman said.
Exposed to such a potent fashion environ-
What’s flowing into the Willamette?
By Ceci Cronin City News Reporter
At first glance, the Willamette River flows smoothly through Eugene, a scenic stretch of water often seen as the city’s natural heart. But to Michelle Emmons, co-executive director of Willamette Riverkeeper, what lies beneath the surface tells a very different story.
“The biggest issue the Eugene area is dealing with is urban stormwater,” Emmons said. “And that’s not just runoff from the streets—it carries oil, heavy metals, microplastics, and other debris into the river.”
Stormwater runoff—essentially everything that flows off roofs, roads, and lawns when it rains—picks up harmful substances along the way. And when that runoff isn’t filtered or managed properly, it goes straight into the Willamette and its tributaries.
Eugene may not have a designated Superfund site (a designation given by the Environmental
Jennifer Reynolds named dean of UO School of Law
No. 2 Oregon acrobatics and tumbling set for familiar NCATA Championship run
CAHOOTS SHUTDOWN
LOOKING AHEAD TO WHAT’S NEXT FOR CAHOOTS
The sudden departure of Eugene’s most utilized crisis response program, CAHOOTS, has posed more questions than answers. For some, it’s “hard to say” what the community’s future will look like without the program.
By Joseph Chiu City News Associate Editor
With the exit of CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Streets) on April 7 from the city of Eugene after 35 years of operations, questions and uncertainties are being raised throughout the community. Clients, workers and former employees are searching for answers as to what the next steps are.
CAHOOTS’ impact was widespread
By Aishiki Nag Opinion Columnist
Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Streets, or CAHOOTS, was abruptly halted on Monday, April 7, cancelling essential services and laying off staff. The abrupt closure not only is negatively im-
CAHOOTS, a mobile crisis intervention program, is operated by White Bird Clinic, which is a federally qualified health center that provides primary care services in the communities it serves.
CAHOOTS saw drastic reductions from its operator, White Bird, that resulted in over 20 employees being laid off and its service hours reduced to one shift a week. The city of Eugene, seeing that CA-
pacting our community, but also services that emergency responders can tend to.
This service provided essential healthcare and on-site assistance, taking on significant responsibilities that would have gone to the Eugene Police Department. In 2024 alone, there were 16,800 recorded requests for service, averaging 46 calls a day through the program.
Currently, CAHOOTS is still operating in Springfield and the Helping Out Our Teens in Schools (HOOTS) program and the White Bird local crisis line are still operating, but no vans are operational in Eugene.
On April 10, CAHOOTS hosted a town hall to discuss the program’s financial challenges and research that showed
HOOTS could no longer fulfill its contractual obligations, came to an agreement with White Bird to terminate its contract with CAHOOTS effective April 7.
Research and discussions about CAHOOTS’ overall impact on the community and the challenges they’re currently facing were introduced during a pre-planned town hall meeting on April 10 at the University of Oregon, three days
some of the notable successes; however, they did not anticipate the program would abruptly stop beforehand. Nonetheless, the town hall shed light on the program’s importance in our community.
Nathan Burton, a recent University of Oregon graduate studying data science, presented research on diversion rates and predictive models, highlighting the major milestones the program has reached.
Burton started his presentation with, “I believe this is a terrible mistake, because it means walking away from one of the most effective and passionate methods in our country.”
Diversion rates measure the redirec-
(Courtesy of Robert Scherle) Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson listens to public comment about CAHOOTS at an April 14 City Council meeting.
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Eugene City Council hits pause on fire fee referendum vote as $11.5 million budget gap looms
Caught between a looming $11.5 million budget gap and rising public opposition, the Eugene City Council hit pause on a high-stakes decision about the fire fee referendum
By Lucas Hellberg City News Reporter
On April 9, the Eugene City Council delayed potential action on the referendum to bring the fire service fee to a public vote, opting to revisit the issue for further discussion at a work session on April 21.
The council’s decision follows City Recorder Katie LaSala’s certification of the referendum petition on March 24. Prior to LaSala’s certification, Lane County Elections verified that petitioners, who submitted more than 8,400 signatures, met the 5,817 required for the ballot. As established in Eugene’s city code, LaSala’s certification triggered a mandatory presentation to the City Council outlining the council’s potential options under the code.
“A lot is unknown”: the UO community responds to rescinded executive order pausing federal grants
President Trump executive order raise concerns about funding for research
By Angelina Handris Campus News Reporter
Emerald Media Group 1395 University St.,#302 Eugene, Or 97403 (541)-346-5511
On Jan. 29, the White House’s Office of Management and Budget rescinded Memorandum M-25-13, which ordered a pause on federal grants, including billions of dollars in federal funding to colleges and universities across the country.
The order was blocked by U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan, which has prevented its implementation.
According to University of Oregon spokesperson Eric Howald, 91% of UO’s $178 million budget for research between 2023 and 2024 was financed by federal funds.
Anshuman Razdan, vice president of innovation and research, emphasized the importance of a federally funded university for research.
“Millions of American schoolchildren use educational materials developed at the University of Oregon,” Razdan said in an email statement to The Daily Emerald.
To buy or not to buy, that is the question
In the wake of predatory protectionist tariffs launched by the Trump administration, there is widespread backlash from people across the United States, Canada and Mexico, with some students having strong opinions
By Aishiki Nag Opinion Columnist
On March 28, the mayors of Canada, Mexico and the United States issued a joint statement on the benefits of North American Free and Fair Trade, arguably to counter the Trump administration’s economic right-wing populist narrative. They cited influential statistics from 2022, arguing that the bilateral trade agreements had supported approximately 17 million jobs, causing the tariffs to hit local businesses the hardest.
The statement ended with a message of unity against the tariffs: “We urge national leaders to put our communities first, end the trade war and keep our countries strong with free and fair trade. Our families, businesses and workers depend on it.”
Jennifer Reynolds named dean of UO School of Law
Jennifer Reynolds assumed the position of dean of the University of Oregon School of Law on March 17
By Angelina Handris Campus News Reporter
On March 17, Jennifer Reynolds was named the dean of the University of Oregon School of Law after serving as associate dean beginning in 2020 and interim dean in 2024.
Reynolds has been an employee at UO since 2009 when she began working as a professor. Reynolds taught civil procedure, conflicts of law and negotiation at the law school, and is succeeding Marcilynn Burke, who served as dean from 2017 to 2024.
“What happens in a role like mine is they only want to have a permanent (dean) after they’ve done a search, and so we had a national search for my role… I think there were three other people brought in in addition to me,” Reynolds said.
According to Reynolds, there was a lengthy interview process beginning in January and going into February prior to becoming the permanent dean.
“I serve at the pleasure of the president, and I report to the provost. I’ve been doing a lot of these same things in my interim role but now because it’s official, I can engage with faculty and staff in more ways,” Reynolds said.
Reynolds attended the University of Chicago for her undergraduate degree where she majored in English language and literature before attending graduate school at the University of Texas at Austin and eventually graduating from law school at Harvard University.
“When I got there, I thought I was going to really focus on business law. I was very interested, and I still am very interested in business, but I did lots of different things and finally ended up graduating and started working at a firm where I was specializing
in First Amendment and then employment law,” Reynolds said. Reynolds said the position of dean includes multiple roles, including development and fundraising and alumni engagement.
“There’s this sort of external constituents role that includes fundraising and externship generation, and then there is a big internal role when you’re kind of the manager of the entire school,” Reynolds said.
According to Reynolds, her favorite part of her job is the students as well as the variety of her work.
“I have (students) at the center of my thinking all the time, trying to figure out what will make it easier for them to learn, easier for them to get jobs, easier for them to pass the bar (and) easier for them to find their purpose,” Reynolds said. “I really love the variety of the work I get to do. The law school does so many different kinds of things.”
Reynolds said her plans for the law school include raising UO Law School’s bar passage rate and employment rate as well as raising faculty profile.
“We have very well-regarded faculty nationally, and I think we could be even more well-regarded if we just had even more opportunities for them to show their work or share their work; and I’m always looking for chances to do that,” Reynolds said.
Reynolds also plans to expand UO’s legal studies minor program.
“We don’t advertise it; we don’t make a big fuss about it, and it’s one of the biggest minors on campus,” Reynolds said. “I would like us to continue growing the program so that it does lots of different extracurricular things in addition to the academic stuff… this is an area we haven’t traditionally focused on as much, but we want to.”
UO introduces changes to sound policy
University of Oregon Scheduling and Event Services is switching to a “more objective” decibel-measurebased sound policy for events
By Angelina Handris Campus News Reporter
On March 31, the University of Oregon Scheduling and Event Services enacted several changes to its sound policy, including the use of a decibel-based sound measurement system, removing terms such as “plainly audible” and lifting the prohibition of the use of devices designed for sound production.
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“The previous versions had in it that you could not use amplified sound, so we removed that element of the policy so folks can use amplified sound, or use tools to create sound, noises, horns (or) whatever,” Erb Memorial Union Director Eric Alexander said.
This differs from the previous policy, which barred the use of sound amplification devices without approval from the university.
Alexander said the new policy aims for a more objective noise measurement.
“Using a decibel level or decibel measure helps to get a more clear picture of what noise means or what a disruptive sound level might be at,” Alexander said. “Generally speaking, there is just a lot of feedback that folks didn’t quite understand what qualified as disruptive sound.”
The new policy states that outdoor sound cannot exceed 90 decibels for more than 10 cumulative minutes when measured 50 feet from the source of the sound. 90 decibels is roughly equivalent to the sound produced by a gas powered lawn mower or a subway.
According to the policy, these restrictions apply from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday through Friday.
This differs from the previous policy, which stated that “plainly audible” means that the listener clearly can hear the content of the sound produced by the noise source.
“Sounds which may be clearly audible include, but are not limited to: musical rhythms, spoken words and vocal sounds,” the previous policy says.
The scope of the new policy includes the EMU and surrounding spaces, general pool classrooms during nonclass instruction events and campus outdoor spaces excluding those scheduled by UO Departments of Athletics, University Housing and PE & Recreation, according to the EMU website.
Alexander said the policy would be enforced either by EMU staff members or members of the Demonstration
Education and Safety Team.
“At certain events that are related to freedom of expression or our large-scale events, those team members can be on-site to monitor the sound as well, and we measure and document those violations,” Alexander said.
According to the UO Division of Safety and Risk Services website, “the Demonstration Education Safety Team (DEST) provides education around the guidelines for freedom of expression activities on campus. DEST is also committed to ensuring that campus events are protected and allowed to flourish within our established university policies.”
The sound policy page says university officials will use an app called Decibel X to measure sound levels.
When revising the sound policy, Alexander said several factors were taken into consideration.
“(University of Oregon Scheduling and Event Services) used environmental health and safety levels as kind of an initial starting point, and then looked at other universities who use decibel levels, and the rating that we have here is actually a higher level, meaning more lenient than other universities that we’ve compared to,” Alexander said.
Robin Bailey, an organizer for the UO chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America, described the sound policy as “absurd.”
“It’s strange, and an obvious escalation and restriction of speech that (UO) find unruly,” Bailey said. “In the past, UO has utilized its sound policy discriminately toward activists and organizers, and I imagine this is a continuation of that same sort of (discriminatory) usage of the sound policy.”
Bailey, who recently organized a rally for UOYDSA’s “Sanctuary Campus” campaign, said their members are not going to stop organizing demonstrations because of sound policies.
“We’re not going to stop. We’re loud for a reason: because the university needs to acknowledge the issues that we’re raising; because these are students’ issues,” Bailey said.
(JR Quint/Emerald)
The new law school dean, Jennifer Reynolds, sits for a portrait.
Schwartz/Emerald)
Looking ahead to what’s next for CAHOOTS
after the announcement that its services would end in Eugene. CAHOOTS will continue to operate in Springfield.
How CAHOOTS impacted Eugene
According to Alese Colehour, a master’s student in social work at Portland State University who presented at the April 10 town hall, CAHOOTS handled over 16,800 requests for service in 2024, an average of 46 calls per day.
CAHOOTS responded to calls that included de-escalation or mental health emergencies in addition to other situations, often serving as an alternative to police intervention.
To highlight its value in the community, a community survey showed 94% of survey respondents agree or strongly agree that CAHOOTS is an essential part of public safety and good use of tax dollars, while 90% agree the program aligns with their values.
Additionally, 98% of respondents from the Eugene and Springfield Police Departments agree that CAHOOTS is effective in preventing suicide.
Natalie Cheechov, a former medic with CAHOOTS, explained that there are two branches of clients. The direct clients are the most vulnerable members who may or may not know how to access other services. The other type of clients are those who aren’t usual users of CAHOOTS and will be impacted by the additional strain placed on emergency services.
“It’s atrocious that CAHOOTS has been defunded, so I think it becomes important for us as scholars and academics to share our research findings, especially at this moment,” Rori Rohlfs, an associate professor in data science at UO who spoke at the town hall, said.
Rohlfs and Nathan Burton, a graduate of the University of Oregon data science program, researched the impact of CAHOOTS and shared their findings on the diversion it redirects away from police responses, essentially the reduction of calls police receive.
They notably found that CAHOOTS directly diverts about 17% of dispatched calls.
According to the CAHOOTS Call Volume Report, the most common types of calls over the
last three years have been for public assistance, welfare checks, transportation to services and suicidal subjects that include prevention, assessment and intervention.
CAHOOTS responded to 3,217 incidents in the final three months before its exit and 13,929 incidents in 2024.
“I think that there’s going to be really quick repercussions and really large gaps that show up quickly that CAHOOTS has just been filling for 36 years, and all of a sudden, we’re going to see those holes in the infrastructure,” Michelle Perin, a former employee at White Bird Clinic who spoke at the town hall, said.
After Perin presented the challenges CAHOOTS is facing from recent uncertainties surrounding its future, she said that the challenge now “is finding an exit ramp so that CAHOOTS’ future is no longer tied to White Bird’s future.”
“We have been in contact with our national allies, advisors who are explaining what the steps are to be able to create an organization, and currently just looking for a fiscal sponsor who would be able to move us forward and also getting legal advice on what that would look like,” Perin said.
A lasting effect on the community
Cheechov said she got her EMT certification when she was 18 and waited five years to work for CAHOOTS. She was hired last summer as soon as she turned 23 and then was laid off on April 7.
“My initial thoughts were, of course, for our community and the clients that we serve, and just a lot of unknowns about what showing up for them will look like, who will show up for them if anyone will show up for them now,” Cheechov said.
Cheechov said her team’s commitment to showing up for their clients quickly instilled in her, changing her as a medic and a person. She hopes the community continues staying together and was encouraged to see the number of people supporting CAHOOTS and its future.
“It was really devastating to see the people I love and care about the most lose their jobs,” Cheechov said. “But also to watch them grieve this program that’s so near and dear to them, that’s so revolutionary (and) so important in this
94% of respondents agree or strongly agree that CAHOOTS is essential for public safety and a good use of tax dollars.
90% of respondents believe CAHOOTS align with their values.
98% of respondents from the Eugene and Springfield Police Departments agree that CAHOOTS is effective in preventing suicide.
Information taken from Alese “Dandy” Colehour, Portland State University Master’s student.
moment in history now more than ever. It’s a huge symbolic loss for not just Eugene but for the whole country.”
Perin said it’s hard to say what the future holds for CAHOOTS, the community reliant on its services and all the workers who were laid off. She hopes to continue supporting those dealing with a difficult time and regroup, staying in solidarity with each other and their mission.
For Rohlfs, she hopes the public has a better understanding of CAHOOTS’ services, its impact in Eugene and the steps they can take to support its restoration efforts.
“I hope the community feels called to action to call their city representatives, to tell their friends to be in community with one another and look after each other while we’re away,” Cheechov said. “But in the hopes that we can return to the streets as soon as possible and keep doing what we love to do and what we’re really good at.”
- Michelle Perin, former White Bird Clinic employee
I think that there’s going to be really quick repercussions and really large gaps that show up quickly that CAHOOTS has just been filling for 36 years, and all of a sudden, we’re going to see those holes in the infrastructure. “ “
Crossword
for cooking, perhaps
Another name for the Roman god Cupid
Haphazard, haphazardly
Mascara smudger, maybe
“I Can’t Let Go” singer Sands
Mined resource
Olympians’ predecessors
Far side of a zeroentry pool 26 B in chemistry class? 27 Casual, casually
Homo sapiens
Earth orbiter
Actress Thurman in a Fall Out Boy hit
Bosun’s greeting
Irks 44 Nonsensical, nonsensically 47 Turn from green to yellow, as a banana 48 Round figures
52 Meat counter tool 54 DOJ branch 55 Nonsharp part of a sword 56 Shade 57 Mushy, mushily 60 Possesses
61 When ties are broken, briefly 62 Lemonade ingredient
63 Start of a quiet sentence 64 “Have I got __ for you!” 65 Spotify Wrapped figures
1 Used a toothed blade on lumber, say 2 __ branch: peace symbol
3 “Kate & __”: 1980s sitcom
“Dope!” 38 Like an etiquette coach, perhaps 39 Turn from yellow to brown, as a banana 40 Springtime Hindu festival
4 Participate in a D&D campaign 5 Pigpen 6 Some musical intervals
7 One of 18, in golf 8 Reply __ 9 “You did great!” 10 Permanent art 11 “Not thrilled, but that’s fine” 12 Give temporarily 13 __ on the side of caution
18 Things to avoid 23 Nutrient in spinach
25 Ages and ages 26 “We’re not providing alcohol,” initially
28 Slack alternative 29 Emanate
30 Orange root vegetables
31 Logo on a pint of Guinness
32 “Shoot”
33 Road trip stops 37 Custardy dessert
38 Intimidate with mind games
40 Go on about 41 Ohio college whose mascot is an albino squirrel 42 Bring together 43 Each
Sudoku
45 Most upscale 46 Eight-member ensembles
49 Wife of Augustus 50 Choose to lead 51 Eye sores
52 “Do not proceed!” 53 Highs and __
Swear
58 Denominator of a whole number 59 FM radio hosts
Community urges City Council to “do something” about CAHOOTS
By Mathias Lehman-Winters City News Editor
During an April 14 Eugene City Council meeting that ran past its initial allotted time of 10 p.m., community members came to express disappointment, anger and fear about what the future of Eugene looks like without Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Streets, commonly known as CAHOOTS.
The council meeting included a public comment section in which dozens of community members spoke in support of the now-defunct CAHOOTS in Eugene. Before the public comment section began, Eugene May-
At an April 14 City Council meeting, community members turned out to share their frustrations about the termination of CAHOOTS with councilors
or Kaarin Knudson laid out a timeline of the conclusion of CAHOOTS in Eugene. Knudson did so to “clarify that the city of Eugene did not initiate the discontinuation of CAHOOTS service within Eugene.”
According to Knudson, on March 25 the City of Eugene received a notification from White Bird that they would be reducing services and laying off staff effective April 7. As such, White Bird would be unable to fulfill their contractual obligation with the city to provide 24/7 mobile crisis services within city limits. Following this, the city agreed to a mutual contract termination on April 7, the same date layoffs would take effect, as White Bird would no longer be able to fulfill their end of the contract.
Knudson emphasized that “mobile crisis response, mobile crisis services do still exist in the city of Eugene” through the provision of Lane County’s mobile crisis services.
One of the community members that spoke that evening was 18-year-old Victoria Acosta, who shared her experience with CAHOOTS.
Acosta said that in her sophomore year of high school, she fled her home after an altercation with her father, and as she sat barefoot on her neighbors couch, a police officer told her that she should “go to church more.”
“It was only while at school I had and received proper crisis assistance from CAHOOTS and accurate emergency housing,” Acosta said. “I am truly disappointed in this city for not advocating and fighting more, and even more heartbroken for future little girls like me who will not have access to the help they so rightly deserve.”
Councilor Mike Clark, after the first 90 minutes of public comment, said the city is not at fault for CAHOOTS
termination of operations in Eugene.
“Nobody at this table (gesturing to councilors) has voted to defund CAHOOTS. Nobody, none of us think it’s a good idea,” Clark said. “All of us voted to fund them fully in our last budget. We didn’t fire the White Bird; they quit.”
Another speaker that evening, Casey Spore, said she has heard that the council supports CAHOOTS, but “I think what people are asking is to do something. We are here hurting, scared, sad for our community and we are saying ‘do something.’”
Councilor Matt Keating said that he shares “a deep mourning for the loss of CAHOOTS,” and is “deeply saddened” by White Bird’s “dismal” retention rate of 20%. This means that 80% of White Bird’s workforce is leaving annually, playing a role in White Bird being unable to fulfill their contractual obligations with the city according to Keating.
Keating also said that White Bird is “apparently unwilling” to collect data that will allow it to obtain federal funding in the form of matching Medicaid dollars.
Nick Austin, a community member who works full-time at a Eugene homeless shelter, shared impassioned words with councilors about what he perceived as their inability to show leadership.
“Repeatedly in the most harrowing moments of my professional life, these outstanding, exemplary front-line workers we call CAHOOTS were there for me when no one else was,” Austin said. “And we are watching you stand here in front of the town you serve and pass the buck.”
What’s flowing into the Willamette?
Local
groups confront stormwater, pollution, and a growing crisis in
Protection Agency to mark polluted areas), but that doesn’t mean the river is completely clean. Emmons explained that aging stormwater infrastructure can leak untreated waste into the water. Add in point-source pollution from wastewater treatment facilities and surrounding agricultural areas, and the cocktail gets more complex.
“Coast and Middle Forks (rivers) of the Willamette contribute a lot of agricultural runoff—especially fertilizers and pesticides,” she said. “That nitrogen pollution leads to harmful algae blooms and depletes oxygen in the water, which obviously harms aquatic life.”
Human impacts aren’t limited to chemicals. Emmons said solid waste is a major issue—especially from illegal dumping and homeless encampments near the river.
“There’s an excess of homeless camping along the river, and unfortunately that leads to bacterial and human waste entering the water,” she said. “Some tributaries are even worse—construction materials, heavy debris, plastics. It all carries pollutants.”
Although Eugene passed a ban on camping along the riv-
the Willamette
erbanks a few years ago, Emmons said there’s little enforcement and limited safe alternatives.
“It’s pretty astounding how much garbage and debris gets into the water from river bank camping,” she said. “One of the strategies could be to enforce the law more consistently, but we also need to offer better alternatives—safe places for people to camp, maybe waste disposal stations or portable toilets in high-impact areas.”
Her team has even considered forming a Willamette River Encampment Response Team—people who would visit camps to offer waste bags, outreach, and assistance with trash removal.
While much of the pollution problem feels overwhelming, some local strategies are already helping. Bioswales and rain gardens—planted areas that naturally filter stormwater—are showing up more in some of Eugene’s new developments. Emmons pointed to the city’s riverfront project as a good example.
“It would be great to see more permeable pavement in urban areas too,” she added. “That helps water soak into the
ground instead of rushing straight to the storm drains.”
Even small household habits can make a difference.
Street sweeping, for instance, is an important way to keep debris out of the water. Emmons said homeowners should also consider where their leaves and lawn clippings end up.
“When you’re removing leaves from your roof, there are chemicals from roofing materials and gutters that come with them,” she said. “That all ends up in seasonal debris—and if it isn’t managed properly, it flows right into the stormwater system.”
Despite the challenges, Emmons is optimistic about the power of community action. Willamette Riverkeeper organizes cleanups in Eugene, Springfield, as well as up and down the valley from Corvallis to Portland.
“We usually see a pretty good turnout,” she said. “We do concentrated cleanup events in the spring after the water recedes, and again later in the year.”
The organization also hopes to launch a program where volunteers “adopt” stretches of the river—walking the banks regularly, cleaning up trash, and keeping an eye on conditions.
On the restoration side, Emmons praised the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission for planting native trees and stabilizing riverbanks with deep-rooted vegetation.
“Roots do a good job of holding the soil in during high water events,” she said. “We also work with landowners, case by case, to help them improve their riverbanks where vegetation is lacking.”
Still, human error can set things back. Emmons recalled one instance where an entire stretch of riverbank was mowed over by an excavator. Her team had to meet with the railroad and other stakeholders to push for change.
“There’s a lot of education and communication that has to happen,” she said. “But that’s what we do.”
( LEFT ) Community members attend the Eugene City Council meeting on April 14, 2025.
(Courtesy of Robert Scherle)
(LEFT) The Willamette River runs through the Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path System and several routes lead directly to the rushing water.
(Mary Grosswendt/Emerald)
OPINION
Unified Sports deserve more attention
Unified Sports at the University of Oregon is an incredible opportunity to meet people and get involved with our community, and everyone should try at least once
By Claire Nowicki Opinion Columnist
I did not know what Unified Sports was when I first came to University of Oregon four years ago, but I knew of it. I had a friend encourage me to play last year, but during the craziness of my schedule, I decided against it, and I wish I had chosen otherwise.
Special Olympics defines Unified sports as a program which “joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.”
Special Olympics led the way for Unified Sports, and now there are more than 10,800 Unified Champion Schools across the country.
Here at UO, students, faculty and staff compete on intramural teams with Special Olympic athletes from the Eugene and Springfield communities for flag football, basketball and soccer.
In the program, individuals with intellectual disabilities are known as the athletes, and students without, are called partners.
I participated in Unified basketball this winter and loved the experience so much that I decided to play Unified soccer this spring term, despite not playing organized soccer since I was eight.
I spoke with Sean Graninger, assistant director for intramural sports and youth camps who forged the path for Unified Sports here at UO.
“Across the country, there are approximately 100 schools that are running some kind of unified programming on their campus, but it can look different on different campuses. A lot of them are doing what we’re doing, where it’s run through the intramural program,” Graninger said. “Some are running them as a student-run organization, more like a club. Some are doing one-day tournaments, one-day events, partnering with local special Olympic programs, so
Claire is an opinion columnist for the Daily Emerald. She is in her final year at UO, majoring in political science and comparative literature. Her work focuses on government, philosophy, and literature.
it is different across the country.”
Graninger went to graduate school at Central Michigan University, which also happened to be where the Special Olympics Michigan office was located and which had its own Unified Champion Schools program.
Then, Graninger came to work at UO in 2016, and it only took him two years to begin a Unified program in 2018. Graninger wants to ensure that people with intellectual disabilities know they can still play sports and stay active through programs such as these. UO has a program for them, even if they aren’t students.
“Give it a try at least once while you’re here at the U of O,” Graninger said. “It is a fun, encouraging environment. No one is going to belittle you, and everyone is out there to have a good time. It is competitive, but we welcome all skill levels. Not only do you get to meet a lot of Special Olympic athletes, but you also get to meet other students. You get on a team, and you build connections.”
He also added that if people want to work in social work or special education, this is an ideal opportunity to get real-world experience with those populations.
When I eventually decided to play Unified Sports, I was
The loss of CAHOOTS
on a team with strangers, but we soon became fast friends. Everyone I met was so welcoming; the athletes were eager to meet us and the students were equally excited as well. It was a balance of making connections, meeting each other’s needs and supporting a competitive atmosphere while also ensuring people had equal playing time, an opportunity to score and got to experience those buzzer-beater moments.
I bonded quickly with my teammates, and we eventually went on to win the Unified IM championship. Recently, our Unified basketball team took on nationals in Madison, Wisconsin to defend their championship title from the 2024 season. They fell short this year, but we’re proud of them and eager to see them come back next year. I will be playing unified soccer this term, and I urge anyone who is interested to play. If you have doubts, just try it once. The only regret I have is not doing it sooner. anyone who is interested to play. If you have doubts, just try it once. The only regret I have is not doing it sooner.
After the closing of CAHOOTS in Eugene, many community members gathered to evaluate the importance of the program in our community, and the implications of the abrupt closure
tion of a call that would have gone to the police; Burton mentions that CAHOOTS responds to mental health crises, homelessness, drug use, found syringes, emergency transportation calls,
ing response times for emergencies, and preventing future calls – making our community safer.
CAHOOTS and the EPD have a 46% diversion of overlapping mandates according to Burton’s presentation, showing that with sufficient funding, the program can successfully cover welfare checks, suicidal subjects, traffic hazards, intoxicated subjects and disoriented subjects.
Burton concluded, “Some people ask, ‘How can we afford CAHOOTS?’ But I think we should ask ‘How can we afford to lose CAHOOTS?’”
Alese “Dandy” Colehour, a Portland State University graduate student pursuing a master’s of social work, completed an extensive community survey, examining public perceptions of CAHOOTS.
“When I worked for ESF, CAHOOTS had a willing attitude to do things we and the EPD couldn’t,” Colehour said. Colehour also shared important testimonies through the presentation.
“Everyone who calls 911 doesn’t need a fire truck, ambulance and five firefighters and paramedics. Sometimes they need a ride or connection to a service. Sometimes they
just need someone to talk to.”
Michelle Perin-Callahan, an EMT and licensed clinical social worker, reflected on her service to the CAHOOTS program, which had ended earlier that week.
“We do preventative (care), but we are also losing a low-barrier critical medical service within the community,” Perin stressed. The loss of the integrated healthcare model would mean losing resources used to treat both mental and physical health needs, something which you can’t separate in moments of emergency.
She reflected on the 36-year relationship between the program and the City of Eugene. She mentioned the importance of transparency, accountability, community and relationship building within the model, which had made it successful.
“Trust is not given, it’s earned,” Perin closed, “And CAHOOTS has earned that trust.”
From the experience and research presented by the different community members, there is a clear need for CAHOOTS within the community, and the community is receptive to the services provided. The abrupt closure will have devastating impacts on our community, and to our emergency response system.
(ABOVE) The winning Unified Intramural Flag Football team poses with their winner's t-shirts.
(Photo courtesy of Sean Graninger)
Aishiki Nag is a sophomore, double majoring in Political Science
ARTS & CULTURE
D.E.A.R. month is every month at Chávez Elementary
At César E. Chávez Elementary in West Eugene, librarian Martha Dyer has transformed a part of the school into a vibrant hub for curiosity, learning and the joy of reading
By Bella Graham Arts & Culture Writer
The library at César E. Chávez Elementary School in West Eugene is a carefully curated oasis for students — the stories lining the walls permeate the space and make you feel as though a thousand different worlds are at your fingertips, and the classical music playing overhead makes it easy to disappear into them.
The bookshelves that act as walls stand at waist height and the library sits right past the main office — so abruptly that you won’t notice there’s a library there until you’re standing in it. But librarian Martha Dyer makes it easy to forget those details as she maintains the library as a haven for learning and reading.
April is D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything And Read) Month in honor of “Beezus and Ramona” author Beverly Cleary’s birthday on April 12. Throughout the month, the holiday inspires people of all ages to make reading a priority in their lives.
Chávez Elementary just celebrated Read Across America in March — for Dr. Seuss’ birthday — and also had their book fair.
“Practically every parent comes with their kids, and it was three straight hours of constant checking out, selling books with three registers and huge excitement,” Dyer said.
Along with fun events like those, the values of D.E.A.R. are baked into the curriculum of 4J, as they use a reading assessment called Walk to Read. This way of teaching is designed to meet kids where they are based on reading level and interest level. Where does Dyer come in? With reading encouragement and information literacy, despite a lack of widespread recognition.
“The library isn’t necessarily mentioned. We’re like the unicorns,” Dyer said. “We kind of don’t fit. And also our programs have been cut. So it’s almost like people don’t fit us in with how we’re part of reading skill building. We’re part of the reading programs, but it’s not as measurable.”
Dyer’s passion for teaching kids to read is palpable, but her job isn’t without setbacks. Perhaps the main struggle for any 4J librarian is the fact that elementary schools in the district didn’t have librarians just three years ago .
“When I came, we had to weed, I think it was about 40 boxes of books from the 1980s,” Dyer said. “Not only were they old and shabby, but culturally not appropriate either.”
Dyer was part of a pilot program for librarians in the 4J elementary schools. Prior to this, the responsibilities were done by a part time teacher, who spent just 30 minutes a day checking in books and shelving them. Now, there are librarians in all of the elementary schools to rebuild that program.
4J librarians like Dyer are teaching students to build reading into their lives. As a catchphrase fitting for a librarian, Dyer emphasized that “reading is everywhere.”
Dyer sat at a kid-sized wooden table spattered with picture books, and as she flipped through the pages she pointed out how much information a child can get by just looking at the illustrations.
“For me, the second graders and the third graders are the most curious, and they’re so excited to get books,” Dyer said.
What seems like a simple responsibility of a librarian — guiding kids toward the right book — can have effects that last a lifetime.
“I remember when I was a kid, my teacher did D.E.A.R. time, which at first, I wasn’t thrilled about,” Marcus Russell, a Eugene resident, said. “Then she suggested this really cool dinosaur book and it wasn’t so bad. If she hadn’t suggested that book, I definitely would not read as much as I do today.”
Through D.E.A.R. time and the work of dedicated educators like Dyer, the spark of curiosity in young readers is not only nurtured but celebrated — turning small moments like picking out a book or flipping through pictures into a foundation of lifelong habits. As Dyer says: reading is everywhere.
In between seams: balancing the difficulties of small-scale clothesmaking
Niko
Freedman searches for
a
middle ground between high and fast fashion by prioritizing craft and identity
ment from a young age, Freedman became well acquainted with the difficulties of the industry. “The social aspect is big,” Freedman said. “There’s a lot of nepotism in fashion, especially in LA.”
He said the incessant demand for credibility influences brand decisions on who to collaborate with. Some brands solely hire from established institutions like the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, which reinforces a high barrier of entry into the industry.
While the internet is making fashion increasingly accessible, Freedman said high price points preserve elitism in fashion. “When you’re paying that much money for high-end pieces, you are paying for the brand and for the social hierarchy,” he said.
Freedman, who primarily learned how to sew from YouTube, recognizes both the positive and negative aspects of online accessibility. “You can do it because everyone else is doing it, but at the same time, it’s scary because everyone else is doing it so well,” he said. “And you have to do it better than them to be successful.”
The abundance of fashion content on the internet can reinforce one’s style by creating a sense of community, but the competition that results from the same abundance can also be alienating.
An excessive amount of fashion content online drives the rapid cycle of trends, which fast fashion companies exploit at the cost of sustainable and ethical practices, which are concerns that guide Freedman’s work. “There’s a lot of child labor, and I don’t think I could sleep at night if I were making money off of other people’s misery,” he said.
Since both ends of the spectrum present separate issues — fast fashion’s exploitation of labor and the environment and its elitism and pretentiousness — Freedman envisions a middle ground. He describes his work as “slow fashion,” emphasizing details that resonate on a personal level and prioritizing genuineness over uniqueness.
“It’s really hard to be unique in today’s age,” Freedman said. “Especially with social media — how can you be different?” He said personal style comes from prioritizing the feeling of wearing clothes rather than
their appearance. “Whichever clothes you feel like yourself in — that should be your style.”
The incorporation of Chicano influences in LA street style introduced Freedman to how clothes can offer a way to explore cultural identity. “I think Chicano street fashion is so cool because it’s people staying true to themselves and their roots,” he said.
Born to an American mother and Thai father, Freedman references his own cultural background in his work, drawing inspiration from Thai style. “I felt alienated from my dad’s side, and felt more connected through the clothes I wear,” he said.
For example, Freedman described the experience of creating and wearing a skirt inspired by traditional Thai fisherman pants. “Drawing from Thai styles made me feel really comfortable with my own personal style,” he said. “It’s not American, it’s not Thai, it’s me. It’s who I am.”
(Julia Massa/Emerald)
Martha Dyer, the librarian at Cesar E. Chavez Elementary school in Eugene poses for a portrait with books about otters and trees. She read the book about otters to her group of kindergarteners on April 17, 2025.
Continued from page 1
Portland Basketball Weekend Recap
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(Jonathan Suni, Emerald)
Parsons’ Profiles: Dillon Gabriel
Will Gabriel’s transfer to the NFL prove as successful as his others?
Athlete of the week: Bri Carrasquillo
The transfer attacker has been a bright spot for Oregon lacrosse
By Lily Crane Sports Reporter
Oregon women’s lacrosse attacker Bri Carrasquillo has been a steady source of offense despite the adversity the program has faced in its first season in the Big Ten.
The graduate transfer made an instant impact this season. She leads the team in goals through 15 games with 40 and assisted eight times for a total of 48 points. Carrasquillo ranks sixth in the Big Ten in goals and is within the top-10 in points and goals per game.
An example of Carrasquillo’s stardom came against San Diego State University on March 6 when she scored a career-high six goals. During the come from behind 17-16 victory, Carrasquillo not only supplied much-needed offense but also found the back of the net in a timely manner. The attacker scored multiple times in the fourth quarter with the score tied to push Oregon in front.
Carrasquillo joined the Ducks after four seasons at Yale University. She came off a senior season with the Bulldogs where she netted nine goals. Carrasquillo has more than doubled her previous career high for goals in a season this year, which was previously 18 back in 2023.
Oregon has needed every bit of Carrasquillo’s offense this season, especially with the squad battling multiple injuries to key offensive players.
The Ducks broke a six-game skid on April 11 at Eastern Michigan University. Carrasquillo’s three-goal, two-assist stat line played a key part in the 13-11 road victory. She followed up on that performance with four goals and an assist in a loss against the then-ranked No. 3 Northwestern.
The adjustment to a new conference with three teams ranked in the top-10 nationally hasn’t been easy for Oregon lacrosse. Through the Northwestern game, the team hasn’t won a Big Ten game, but the program is building toward future success — something that Carrasquillo and the senior class have been the driving force behind.
“They got to spearhead our first year being in the Big Ten,” head coach Jessica Drummond said after the program’s senior day on April 6. “Just that fight from start to finish, being that grittier team on that field. They really set the precedent of what it is to be Oregon lacrosse going to the Big Ten.”
Editor’s Note: Carrasquillo is an opinion columnist at the Daily Emerald. In fairness to the Emerald’s weekly “Athlete of the Week” column, which highlights the best-performing athletes for a specific week, Carrasquillo was not involved with the pre- or post-production of this article. She, and each athlete highlighted, is chosen solely for their performances within the Oregon Ducks sport they play for.
No. 15 Oregon smashes two grand slams in 12-1 win over Georgetown
FRIDAY
April 25, 2025
Oregon vs. Indiana University
No. 2 Oregon acrobatics and tumbling set for familiar NCATA Championship run
The Ducks’ potential path to a title includes several recent opponents — and one ultimate villain
By Owen Murray Sports Reporter
The postseason is looming for No. 2 Oregon acrobatics and tumbling, and now, its path is set. The National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association announced its final championship rankings on April 13. For the Ducks, it’s a familiar road ahead.
The path to a potential title would see them face a flurry of opponents whom they’ve largely seen and conquered in 2025. It’s a fast-paced battle, but one they’ve fought before. The title bout would likely see Oregon face No. 1 Baylor in a battle of heavyweights that has mostly swung the Bears’ way. A win there would mean the Ducks’ first title in over a decade.
Oregon (5-2) finished its regular season over two weeks ago, with a second loss to Baylor in Waco. The Ducks, though, rolled through the rest of their opponents, including No. 7 Mary Hardin-Baylor — their quarterfinal opponents.
The Cru (7-3) came to Matthew Knight Arena earlier this season, on the Ducks’ senior night. They were trounced as Oregon bounced back from a shaky win over Gannon University to close its home schedule in style with a 19.175-point home win. Since then, UMHB won the Division III Tournament, but hasn’t beaten a ranked team and lost narrowly to No. 6 Iona University in its home finale.
Should they advance, the Ducks would face another well-known foe: No. 3 Quinnipiac University, which Oregon beat 272.380-271.165 on the road, and Iona, which the Ducks trounced 270.630-257.370 in New York, battle in the opposite quarterfinal.
Neither is a frightening matchup for Oregon, and although its win over Quinnipiac was its closest this year, a
loss to either would be a surprising upset for the Ducks.
The real goal lies in the final. No. 1 Baylor (8-0) has not failed to win the NCATA Championship since head coach Felecia Mulkey took over in 2015. The Bears will have to advance past No. 8 Limestone University (12-1) in the quarterfinal, then either No. 4 Augustana University (6-0) or No. 5 Fairmont State University (10-1). Despite impressive records, none have beaten a top-three team — and aren’t likely to prove more than a speed bump to the reigning champions.
This is the battle that Oregon has been waiting for, over and over again. In the last five years, it’s been the same result every time. The 2025 regular season proved no different, and the Ducks dropped a home-and-home series with the Bears despite laying down two of their best efforts of the season.
In the regular season-end loss, they came close with their best score of the season, a 283.305 mark that included a perfect-10 in the open pyramid heat. It just
The Ducks are the last team to beat the Bears at all, in a 2021 regular season meet. They’re perhaps the only one with the all-around ability and experience to even think of dethroning the queens. The excellence is there. The Ducks are among the NCATA’s best in every event they need to win in, and they’re peaking at the right time. Even so, in order to claim a first national title in over a decade, it’ll take an effort that harkens back to that meet in 2021. The ultimate win would mean everything to a program that hasn’t done so since 2014.
The 2025 NCATA Championships will be streamed live on ESPN+. Oregon’s quarterfinal meet, against UMHB, is scheduled for April 24, at 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time.
( ABOVE & LEFT ) The Oregon Ducks acrobatics and tumbling team takes on the Baylor Bears on Feb. 22, 2025 at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene. (Roshni Ram/Emerald)
( ABOVE) The Oregon Ducks women’s lacrosse team took on the Bulter Bulldogs in their home opener at Papé Field in Eugene on Feb. 7, 2025.
