APRIL 19, 2021
Monday Edition
Emerald Media
Aaron Zavala
tearing it up for Oregon Outfielder’s breakout pushes team to new heights
NEWS
UO WILL NOT REQUIRE VACCINE PG 2
A&C ‘PEA BABY’ EXHIBIT PG 8
OPINION IRONY IS SCHILL’S NEW JOB PG 9
SPORTS
MESTLER NO. 3 IN NCAA PG 11 M O N D AY, A P R I L 1 9 , 2 0 2 1
|
EMERALD
|
PA G E 1
NEWS
UO WON’T REQUIRE VACCINE FOR FALL STUDENTS BY JOANNA MANN • TWITTER @JOANNA_MANN_ While UO strongly recommends getting vaccinated, students will not need to show proof of vaccination to return to in-person activities for the 2021-22 school year. VOL. 122, ISSUE NO. 47
REGIONAL AND STATE NEWS
GET IN TOUCH
EMERALD MEDIA GROUP 1395 UNIVERSITY ST., #302 EUGENE, OR 97403 541.346.5511
NEWSROOM EDITOR IN CHIEF
Ryan Nguyen MANAGING EDITOR
Francis O’Leary ENGAGEMENT EDITOR
Ashley Ng
NEWS EDITORS
Jack Forrest Duncan Baumgarten Ardeshir Tabrizian
The site outside of Autzen Stadium where students and faculty will soon be able to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations. University of Oregon begins to roll out vaccines to students and faculty beginning the week of April 19. (Maddie Stellingwerf/Emerald)
A&C EDITORS
Sarah-Mae McCullough Grace Murray SPORTS EDITORS
Shane Hoffmann Mojo Hill Charlie Gearing PHOTO EDITOR
Maddie Knight DESIGN EDITOR
Kira Chan COPY CHIEF
Sophia Edelblute Capps MULTIMEDIA EDITORS
Meaghan FitzPatrick Sarah Miller DIGITAL EDITOR
Jordan McMinn
BUSINESS PUBLISHER & PRESIDENT
Bill Kunerth X317
bkunerth@dailyemerald.com VP OPERATIONS
Kathy Carbone X302
kcarbone@dailyemerald.com DIRECTOR OF SALES & DIGITAL MARKETING
Shelly Rondestvedt X303
srondestvedt@dailyemerald.com CREATIVE & TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Sam Rudkin X327
creative@dailyemerald.com STUDENT SALES MANAGER
Stella Kalomiris
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Patrick McCumber Keaton Roberts Amy Menendez
THE DAILY EMERALD
The Daily Emerald is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit media company at the University of Oregon. Formerly the Oregon Daily Emerald, the news organization was founded in 1900.
ON THE COVER
Oregon Ducks outfielder Aaron Zavala (13) heads to first base after hitting the ball. Oregon Ducks baseball takes on the Oregon State Beavers at PK Park in Eugene, Ore., on April 11, 2021. (Ian Enger/Emerald)
PA G E 2
|
EMERALD
|
Around OR
Students and faculty will not need a COVID-19 vaccine in order to resume in-person activities in the fall, said University of Oregon spokesperson Saul Hubbard, but that decision is still subject to change. He said there are “complex legal, logistical and equity challenges to adopting a vaccine requirement for everyone engaging in face-toface activities at the UO.” There is a growing list of universities that will require their students to receive a COVID-19 vaccine by the fall, including Rutgers University, Duke University, Cornell University, Brown, Northeastern, Cleveland State University, Fort Lewis College, Nova Southeastern University and University of Notre Dame. It is expected that more universities will join this list after April 19, when all U.S. states will begin vaccinating everyone age 16 and up. “The university continues to closely follow public health requirements, best practices and other factors in determining whether vaccinations will be required in the future for those engaging in face-to-face activities at the UO,” the university said in an email statement. UO students, faculty and graduate employees are split on the university’s decision to make vaccination optional. UO Senior Becca Lechtman said she believes getting the vaccine is the right way to go, but people should be able to do what they feel is best for themselves. “I feel as though I can encourage people to get the vaccine, but ultimately I don’t have the right to feel upset if they don’t,” she said. UO senior Marissa McDaniel said that because the university requires other vaccines, it makes sense to also require the COVID-19 vaccine, suggesting that people fill out an exemption form if they have a reason to not receive it. “I know this vaccine is way newer and a lot of people are still hesitant about its safety and effectiveness, but I’m worried the lack of requirement will lead to a lot of people who would otherwise be fine getting it, just holding off for longer or never getting it,” she said. UO requires students to get vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella, meningococcal, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis and chicken pox. However, students can request an exemption from any of these immunizations for medical or
M O N D AY, A P R I L 1 9 , 2 0 2 1
religious reasons. UO Global Health Director Dr. Kristin Yarris said that before the pandemic, the state of Oregon had some of the highest rates of parental opt-out for mandatory childhood vaccinations. But when the Oregon Health Authority made it a little harder for parents to opt out of vaccine requirements by requiring them to talk to a doctor first, opt-out rates went from nearly 15% to under 5%. “We have empirical data to show that when you talk to people about the benefits of vaccination, the real risks and benefits, they tend to opt in,” said Yarris, who also serves on the Latinx advisory board for Lane County Public Health. “We could imagine a requirement for vaccines that allowed a medical exemption. But if you wanted to opt out, you had to at least consider the potential risk to the community.” She said she is not sure whether the university is considering the impact of a vaccine requirement on Lane County as a community. While mandating the vaccine is a lot to consider, she said the best idea for right now is to make it accessible for everyone, and then maybe we will reach the point of herd immunity before it becomes necessary to require it. “The response to COVID, vaccines, masks and everything is so politicized in this country, it’s toxic. Other countries have to deal with outbreaks and the challenges of COVID and variants, but they don’t have to deal with this toxic stew of Republican versus Democrat,” Yarris said. “So I think that makes this all the more complicated, like we’re acting in an environment where a mandate may be viewed as a Democratic donor influence.” The UO Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation President Rajeev Ravinsankar said the union’s main concern about the lack of vaccine proof is that they will not know the percentage of students that have been vaccinated, so it makes the risk level unclear. “UO’s tendency has been to posture toward having more in-person activities without ensuring even basic compliance with safety protocols on campus,” Ravinsankar said. “So what fall looks like should be contingent on what level of vaccination we have attained for the campus community.”
HOT, DRY WEATHER BRINGS EARLY WILDFIRE RISK: A number of burn bans are in effect throughout Northwest Oregon due to the hot, dry weather and lack of rain this month. Tom Fields of the Oregon Department of Forestry said there have been four times as many fires as normal this year. On April 16, a rapidly spreading brush fire consumed 40 acres of land in Oregon City, prompting the evacuation of more than a dozen homes. Nobody was hurt, but officials advise against any outdoor debris burning. – JOANNA MANN OVERTIME WIN GIVES OREGON SOCCER A HISTORIC SEASON: After defeating their in-state rival Oregon State on Friday, Oregon earned its first winning record in 14 years, finishing 6-5-5. With the win, The Ducks could potentially expect to make a berth in the NCAA tournament, though the tournament reduced from 64 teams down to 48, which could affect their chances. Oregon will have to wait until Monday morning for the announcement. – DANIEL VIGIL
(Maddie Stellingwerf/Emerald)
ASHLAND INDEPENDENT FILM FEST: For the 20th annual festival, there are around 100 films including 35 feature films. The films are accompanied by Q&As with the filmmakers, virtual parties and panel discussion. Streaming for the film festival started April 15 and runs through April 29. In late June, there will also be a series of outdoor festival events in Ashland and Medford. Most films cost $10 and some are free. – NIKA BARTOO-SMITH
NEWS
UO RECRUITS STUDENTS FOR VACCINATION TEAM With vaccination clinics opening next week, UO is hiring students to set up, clean up and register patients. BY ERIN McGUIRE • TWITTER @ERYNMCGUIRE On April 12, all UO students and employees became eligible to register for the COVID-19 vaccine through university-run clinics. The university will hold the clinics at Autzen Stadium starting April 21 to administer the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, with second doses beginning May 12. Over 4,000 students and employees have signed up for appointments thus far. Logistics for these clinics will look similar to those of Lane County Public Health, with one key difference — student employees. The university has hired a team of students to help vaccination patients throughout spring term. “The university is choosing to use student employees because these events have significant staffing needs that cannot be met by existing staff,” UO spokesperson Saul Hubbard said. UO recruited student team members and team leaders to help set up clinics, check in vaccine recipients and enforce safety policies. UO will pay them between $12 and $14 per hour for shift leaders, according to the posting on Handshake. “This is an opportunity to provide paid work to our students, as we have done with our MAP COVID-19 testing program,” Hubbard said. Over 350 people have applied for the position since the deadline passed last week. “I think this is a great opportunity for us to help heal the community,” said Emma Brenner, a UO junior applying for the position. “I’m glad they’re giving students the chance to play a role in this.” Through the Federal Vaccine Program, Albertsons pharmacy technicians will ultimately be the ones administering the doses, while
UO students will provide general assistance. “Student employees will also have opportunities to staff and support upcoming Lane County vaccine clinics, which have been primarily staffed for the last three months by volunteers,” Hubbard said. Vaccination appointments through the university filled up less than a week after registration opened. Students and staff who missed out on registering can put their names on a waitlist to be notified when additional appointments open up and when end-of-day doses become available. For now, only students and staff with appointments can get vaccinated through UO’s clinics, but all Lane County residents will be eligible for the vaccine through LCPH starting April 19. “If you have not been eligible before that date, it’s important to understand how you can get a vaccine in Lane County, and the opportunities are many, thankfully,” said Lane County Public Health spokesperson Jason Davis. Students and staff can still make an appointment through the LCPH website. LCPH encouraged students who could not get slots in the UO clinic to use this resource. UO’s dose allocation comes from the Federal Pharmacy Program, so these clinics will not take away from Lane County’s state allocation, Davis said. Other than the source of the doses and the UO’s independent staffing, the university has taken many elements of these clinics from the ones already up and running. Lane County will continue to run clinics on the weekend at Autzen Stadium, with UO clinics taking place during the week.
University
Health Services
Visit the Duck Nest Wellness Center in the EMU! and Remotely at https://health.uoregon.edu/ducknest
OUR SERVICES Primary Care Acupuncture Allergy/Asthma Birth Control Colds/Flu Dental Diabetes Management Energy Healing
Massage Therapy Medical Lab Tests Medical Records Meditation Nutrition Pharmacy Physical Therapy Psychiatry
Sexual Health Sports Medicine STI Screening Clinic Stress Management Tobacco Cessation Travel Clinic Vaccinations X-ray
Follow us: @healthyUO (Facebook and Instagram) and @HealthCenterUO (Twitter) University Health Services
health@uoregon.edu • 541-346-2770 EO/AA/ADA institution committed to cultural diversity
houseofrecords.wixsite.com/store
15 Largineg 15 Large pp
$
Single To Single Topping Mention this coupon to receive offer. Not valid with any other offers or promotions. Valid for walk-in or deliveries. Expires 6/30/21
IVERY FREE DEL rs over $10) (on orde
Order online TrackTownPizza.com | 1809 Franklin Blvd. | 541-284-8484 MO MNODNAY, D A Y,A PMRAI L R C1 H 9 ,9 2, 0 2 02 21 0 | | EEMMEERRAALLDD || PA P A GGEE 3
PHOTO
STUDENT LIFE ON CAMPUS BY EMERALD PHOTO STAFF
JULY 2020
PA G E 4
|
APRIL 2021
Throughout the school year, the outdoor basketball court is a place where students can play a game. The University of Oregon’s campus operations had new regulations due to the circumstances of COVID-19. (Kevin Wang/Emerald)
The outdoor basketball courts located next to the Walton Complex are an alternative to the indoor courts at the Student Recreation Center. After a year of adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic, students are back to spending time on the University of Oregon campus and enjoying the spring weather. (Ian Enger/Emerald)
The Erb Memorial Union, the center for student activities, is empty during the summer. The EMU lawn is often populated by students during the school year. The University of Oregon’s campus operations had new regulations due to the circumstances of COVID-19. (Kevin Wang/Emerald)
The lawn out front of the Erb Memorial Union, a very popular place for students to enjoy the outdoor scenery on campus, now has an option for outdoor dining during the COVID-19 pandemic. After a year of adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic, students are back to spending time on the University of Oregon campus and enjoying the spring weather. (Ian Enger/Emerald)
The path entrance to Allen Hall, Columbia Hall and Pacific Hall is empty during the summer due to classes being taught remotely. The University of Oregon’s campus operations had new regulations due to the circumstances of COVID-19. (Kevin Wang/Emerald)
Students once again cross the intersection beside Allen Hall. After a year of adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic, students are back to spending time on the University of Oregon campus and enjoying the spring weather. (Maddie Stellingwerf/Emerald)
The newly renovated historic Hayward Field came with a new cemented walking path for the public. Previous to the construction of Hayward Field, the walking path used to be a parking lot for the public, faculty and staff. The University of Oregon’s campus operations had new regulations due to the circumstances of COVID-19. (Kevin Wang/Emerald)
Campus traffic is busy as students head to meet friends or get dinner. After a year of adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic, students are back to spending time on campus and enjoying the spring weather. (Madi Mather/Emerald)
EMERALD
|
M O N D AY, A P R I L 1 9 , 2 0 2 1
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
2021 | 9th ANNUAL
SOUTHERN
OREGON
Make an appointment by calling 541.344.9411 today! p p s wo re g o n . o rg
Now offering door dash and Grub Hub LUNCH COVID-SAFE SPECIALS
Take out/ Delivery
Campus Location Temporarily Closed DINE IN NOW AVAILABLE
pegasuspizza.net 2 locations Oakway South Eugene
Coupon For
3 OFF
$
Large or Giant exp 4/1/2021
LIMITED Y T QUANTI LE! B A L I AVA
Do you know an exceptional student worthy of an award? Help celebrate the ninth annual 25 Ducks and nominate a deserving student. Taking nominations until Wednesday, April 28th.
ONLY $ 39.95
ORDER TODAY! at dailyemerald.com/haywardbook New coffee table book celebrates Hayward Field’s Legends and Legacy Wonderfully written • Image rich • 140 pages, hardcover
Sponsored by
For more information, call the Emerald at 541-346-5511, ext. 302, or email kcarbone@dailyemerald.com.
1395 University St. #302, Eugene, OR 97403 P A G E 6 | E M E R A L D | M O N D A Y, M A R C H 9 , 2 0 2 0
M O N D AY, A P R I L 1 9 , 2 0 2 1
|
EMERALD
|
PA G E 5
COVER
AARON ZAVALA LEADING OREGON BASEBALL TEAM WITH MONSTER HITTING CAMPAIGN After nearly a year off, Aaron Zavala has helped Oregon baseball surge into the national rankings while tearing the cover off the ball and solidifying his role on the team. BY MOJO HILL • TWITTER @MOJOHILL22
Ducks outfielder/third base Aaron Zavala (13) runs onto first base after swinging for a single. Oregon Ducks baseball takes on Portland Pilots at PK Park in Eugene, Ore., on April 6, 2021. (Kevin Wang/Daily Emerald)
PA G E 6
|
EMERALD
|
M O N D AY, A P R I L 1 9 , 2 0 2 1
Aaron Zavala was enjoying a widely successful 2020 season before the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the world. Through 15 games, he was batting .418 with 22 RBIs. Simply put, he was a hit machine. That season would never be fully realized though, as he had to go nearly a year without playing. “Personally, this is the longest I’ve gone without playing a baseball game,” he said during a press conference as the impending 2021 season dawned upon him. Despite the long layoff and essentially a forced restart, Zavala showed an incredible amount of mental toughness by not changing anything about his approach and continuing to work toward the big picture. “It’s kind of the whole ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ type of deal,” he said. “If I see fit that I need to go and make some adjustments, then I’ll make some adjustments, but it’s going to be on an as-needed basis.” As the Oregon baseball team has shocked the country and climbed into the national rankings, Zavala has returned to the scene and not just replicated his 2020 success but has actually improved upon it. His performance has been one of the driving factors of the Ducks’ ascent, and it all stems from his interest in baseball as a child. Zavala’s baseball aspirations started when he was in T-ball, when his father David noticed that his son was remarkably mature at a young age, and it’s this maturity that has helped Zavala become such a strong offensive force for the Ducks. “Even as a kid when he was 5, 6 years old playing T-ball, he was very focused on what he was doing,” David said. “And he still has that.” Zavala also served as the bat boy for his older brother Daniel’s team. David, who was the coach of the team, recalled that sometimes, when there was an extra spot, they’d throw Aaron in for a couple at-bats against kids who were four years older than him. As Aaron gained more experience, bigger things began to seem attainable for him, and he saw no reason to look back. “He’s played tournament ball, he’s played for the Portland Baseball Club, [he] was able to participate in the Baseball Northwest Select team and travel along the West Coast,” David said. “I think that’s when he realized, ‘Hey, there’s a chance for me to play at the next level.’” Aaron, a local kid from Keizer, Oregon, showed his potential at South Salem High School. As a senior, he hit a remarkable .561/.656/.939. The University of Oregon was Aaron’s dream school, David said. He worked hard and made the team, and as a freshman in 2019, hit .273/.356/.338 in 43 games. “We like the fact that we’re local and we’re able to go watch him, but it’s been a good fit for him,” David said. “He was able to play his freshman year. There’s not a lot of players who get to do that.” Aaron began the 2020 season on a tear. In the 15 games the Ducks played before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he hit .418/.493/.491, slapping singles around the yard like it was nobody’s business, albeit without much power. His dreams of a monster 2020 season were crushed when the pandemic hit. David said that Aaron stayed in Eugene to hit and lift weights with teammate Gabe Matthews during quarantine. “He just kept grinding it out, waiting for the opportunity to start playing again,” David said. Now the baseball team is back, and Aaron has outperformed even the wildest expectations. He’s raised his average to .435 (No. 10 in the NCAA), his OBP to .563 (which leads the entire NCAA), and his slugging percentage has taken the biggest jump, up to .641. He also leads
COVER
An aeriel view of the game play at PK Park. Oregon Ducks baseball take on the New Mexico State Aggies at PK Park in Eugene, Ore., on April 3, 2021. (Maddie Stellingwerf/Emerald)
the Pac-12 in average, OBP and walks. He’s hit four home runs in 27 games after hitting only one in his first 68. Part of that power growth is thanks to the work that hitting coach Jack Marder has done with the team, and with Aaron individually. “Coach Marder’s really spent a lot of time with Aaron, and helped him understand what’s happening in his swing to where they’ve been able to develop the power side of it,” head coach Mark Wasikowski said. Some of the team’s new technology and analytics may have also played a role in this sudden power surge. Oregon shortstop Josh Kasevich, who’s developed some power in his own right, said that the hitters have been using a piece of technology called BlastMotion, which he described as small sensors that they put on the end of their bats to measure angles, rotation to the ball and acceleration. “It was a lot of early connection — which is the angle of your bat before you launch into your swing — and getting that to right around where it needed to be helped a lot with attacking the ball,” Kasevich said. Despite the added power, David thinks that his son is still the same hitter he’s
always been, and his role for this Ducks squad is to set the table. “If he needs to power up a little bit, so to speak, then he can do that,” David said. “But I think his role is the guy hitting for average and getting on base, and then allowing the rest of the team to drive in runs.” Aaron has taken on two roles now, in the sense that he’s still hitting for average at a high clip, but also hitting for power and driving in runs. He’s been the regular cleanup hitter and right fielder for the Ducks, who have gotten off to a 20-7 start and find themselves ranked as high as No. 12 in the country by College Baseball Nation. “Aaron is really self-driven,” David said. “There’s times that I’ve probably told him, ‘Hey, maybe you should take a day off or two and just relax,’ and he’s been like, ‘Eh, I’ve gotta keep grinding, gotta be ready.’” With roughly half the season left to play, David and his wife Alisa will be cheering from the sidelines as Aaron looks to continue tearing it up and lead this Oregon team to Omaha. “He has worked hard over the years,” David said. “And so we as Mom and Dad, we’re very proud of him to see the success that he’s having out on the field.”
M O N D AY, A P R I L 1 9 , 2 0 2 1
|
EMERALD
|
PA G E 7
A&C
‘PEA BABY’
CHILDHOOD FAITH AND FEAR THROUGH COMICS In their art exhibit “Pea Baby,” UO fifth-year Cameron McCafferty revisits their childhood fear of pregnancy and doubts about their religious faith. BY DREW YORK
(Courtesy of Cameron McCafferty)
Six drawings by Cameron McCafferty line the EMU’s Aperture Gallery. One of them depicts a fullfrontal vaginal birth — an image McCafferty was initially concerned about including in the exhibit. “That was one thing I was worried about,” said McCafferty, a fifth-year art and technology major at UO. “My mom really hates that, but it’s drawn in such a childish way that I don’t think it’s super offensive.” The exhibit’s striking color scheme leaves one in shock of how bluntly concepts like pregnancy, virginity and religion are portrayed. As a child, McCafferty was actually very shy. Growing up in Grants Pass, Oregon, they didn’t want to participate in many social activities, so they relied on cartoons and comics instead. “I’ve always felt like it’s easier to explore different ideas, themes, feelings or experiences through cartoons and comics,” McCafferty said. “It just feels like a safe space where you can imagine different possibilities.” “Pea Baby” is the story of a child named Angela who swallows a pea and becomes pregnant, seemingly against her own will, with a pea baby. The series of images follow Angela’s distressing pregnancy, eventually leading to the moment she gives birth. PA G E 8
|
EMERALD
|
M O N D AY, A P R I L 1 9 , 2 0 2 1
Pea Baby is a series of illustrations telling the tale of Angela, who swallowed a holy pea. Pea Baby by Cameron McCafferty is on display in the Erb Memorial Union Aperture Gallery. (Ian Enger/Emerald)
McCafferty drew “Pea Baby” a couple of years ago as an assignment for their drawing class. The project centered around McCafferty’s childhood fear of pregnancy that they developed in Catholic school. Upon learning about the Virgin Mary’s acceptance of being chosen by God to give birth to Jesus, McCafferty began questioning their own faith. “I believed that my faith should be as strong as the Virgin Mary’s,” McCafferty said. “I would lie awake in bed thinking of different scenarios like, what if that happened to me? Would I be able to say yes?” McCafferty’s work explores themes around virginity’s equivalence to purity. The main subject in the work, Angela, was drawn as a childish cartoon to emphasize her youth, and by extension, the Virgin Mary’s youth. Angela was also drawn to look androgynous — McCafferty said they wanted to make the work more relatable and accessible to viewers. Reflecting on their own relationship to Angela, McCafferty recounts how they portrayed their childhood fears — pregnancy, morning sickness and the cold jelly used for ultrasounds — with their own artistic style. “I drew it in a way that was kind of funny-looking
because it takes away a lot of the fear surrounding [pregnancy],” McCafferty said. “So it could be simultaneously expressing my disgust, worry or fear, but also turning it into something that I like to look at.” The childish absurdity of “Pea Baby” transforms initial shock into humor. McCafferty’s childhood vision of swallowing a pea and becoming pregnant is meant to be something to chuckle about. “I think the situation is actually kind of horrifying. You’re eating dinner, then all of a sudden you have to give birth to a pea baby,” McCafferty said. “But at the same time, it’s funny and cute. It makes [pregnancy] softer to talk about.” McCafferty wants audiences to find her work funny and weird. A more light-hearted take on serious themes might cause viewers to reflect on their own childhood. “I hope people can think of things with a more childlike perspective,” McCafferty said. “It helps you to not take things so seriously and dismantle a lot of notions you’ve had because you’ve grown up.” “Pea Baby” by Cameron McCafferty will be on display at the EMU’s Aperture Gallery through April 24. Check out more of their work on Instagram, @camccaff, or on their website: lynliane.com.
OPINION
IRONY IS SCHILL’S
NEW TEACHING JOB CALLOWAY: PRESIDENT SCHILL SHOULD NOT TEACH THE HONORS COURSE ON WHAT’S WRONG WITH HIGHER EDUCATION. SCHILL’S POSITION OF POWER WILL AFFECT THE CLASS’ OUTCOME — BUT NOT FOR THE BETTER. BY JAEL CALLOWAY • TWITTER @JAEL_CALLOWAY (Emerald Archives)
When the University of Oregon published this term’s course list, I was excited to see a class titled “Higher Education in the United States: An Introduction to Key Issues and Challenges.” That excitement faded when I saw who was to instruct the course — UO President Michael Schill. If I had ever seen convincing evidence of his interest in putting student well-being above the capitalist profit motive, maybe I wouldn’t have been so discouraged. But looking at his track record, I remain unconvinced. The course’s description says it “will survey a number of different forces and issues facing the higher education sector.” The class is divided up into seven weeks, each week focusing on a new topic. They bounce from the purposes of higher education, to different critiques and common issues that stem from higher education, to the First Amendment and free speech on campus. I would’ve taken this class in a heartbeat. It’s a topic I feel all students should explore no matter how many years they’ve been at their university. However, I didn’t register because Schill is teaching it. The class topic isn’t the issue here; in fact, it would benefit us to prioritize courses that promote thinking critically about the institutions in which we participate. It’s a smart class to offer to students who face issues stemming from their university. Students stand to gain quite a lot from understanding the values and calculations that go into the decisionmaking process at the administrative level. Surely these insights will make the outcome of those decisions seem less random and more coherent. Students and faculty members who seek institutional change are particularly well positioned to benefit from a class like this, since understanding the fundamentals of a problem helps pinpoint which area needs reform the most. It’s valuable content. It’s a valuable lesson. But I fear Schill isn’t the right person to teach those lessons. I spoke with Schill to learn what his views are on the key issues and challenges. He emphasized three main issues: correlations between in-state assistance and increase in tuition and fees, a lack of inclusion and the avoidance of controversial subjects among students and faculty — all great subjects to focus on. But while it seemed Schill was hopeful for the future, he has repeatedly shown a lack of growth or effort to improve these exact topics. The UO community can pull evidence from the past couple years alone. In 2019, the Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation, the union that represents graduate employees at UO, had to fight tooth and nail in its contract negotiations with the university administration. The administration resisted the
workers so much that GEs nearly had to strike to prevent the university from gutting their health insurance. UO’s initial offer was “way under any kind of reasonable expectation of inflation,” then-GTFF President Ellen Gillooly-Kress told the Daily Emerald. In June 2020, anti-racist activists tore down the Pioneer and Pioneer Mother statues on the UO campus, statues that many students said celebrated the history of colonization and the subjugation of Indigenous people the U.S. has committed. That view is substantiated by an article from the UO Humanities Center that says the Pioneer statue was created by an artist who saw “Indian killing” as a necessary aspect of frontier life. Despite the history and emotion surrounding the toppling of the statues, Schill condemned the “acts of destruction” the activists had engaged in. Rather than offering empathy and an understanding of the frustration felt by Indigenous students, Schill penned comments like, “What happened Saturday evening was unacceptable,” and, “Nevertheless, we need to move forward as a community.” No empathy, just damage and image control.
“It falls back to this: the head of the institution should not teach a class on what’s wrong with that very same institution.” Another example is Schill’s defence of the former Deady Hall. The hall was named in honor of Matthew Deady, a pro-slavery federal judge and first president of the UO board of regents who once wrote, “If we are compelled to have the colored race amongst us, they should be slaves.” In 2015, when the Black Student Task Force called for the university to dename Deady Hall, Schill recommended against it. And while he did vote to rename it in 2020 amid the Black Lives Matter demonstrations, he sees this tension between monuments to the university’s racist past and the creation of a welcoming learning environment for its current students as part of a university’s climate. “Just because we disagree with each other doesn’t mean that we’re either bad or ignorant people,” Schill said. “It means that we disagree with each other, and that’s what the university is all about.” While I agree that university students should engage with ideas that challenge their worldview, Deady supported slavery. He was a bad person. Schill protecting Deady’s legacy while preaching inclusion is
intellectually dishonest. “Obviously the fact that I’m president of the university has an impact on the class,” Schill said when asked about how his position would affect how he teaches. “I don’t think it’s so much power. I think I have a set of experiences that are different from maybe some other folks that teach classes — and they have experiences that are different than mine.” But the fact is, Schill isn’t just another professor with a unique teaching background. His decisions affect students and faculty more than theirs affect him. He occupies a position of power whether he sees it that way or not. These factors will influence the way he instructs the class. His students will learn only about the “issues and challenges” the president faces, not those of research assistants that make 5% as much as his base salary, nor those of students who are juggling raising children with online classes, nor any of the other myriad identities that make up the university. It falls back to this: the head of the institution should not teach a class on what’s wrong with that very same institution. That’s not an educated decision; it’s dangerous irony. I understand that people make mistakes. But, after making those mistakes, students and faculty will be waiting to see some acknowledgment of growth. Nonetheless, Schill continues to repeat the same mistakes while preaching that he wants — needs — to be better. Until actions follow his words, he needs to focus less on teaching about the challenges of higher education and more on learning how to not create them.
Jael Calloway is a junior at the University of Oregon. She is an opinion columnist at the Daily Emerald and writes to help make students feel less alone. Follow her Twitter @jael_calloway. M O N D AY, A P R I L 1 9 , 2 0 2 1
|
EMERALD
|
PA G E 9
Find your own home, over 100 listings to choose from.
AlumnI TAKE FLIGHT
UO Alumni share career lessons they’ve learned
Max Green
Job Title: Financial Analyst Major: Finance & Entrepreneurship Graduated: 2020
Why did you choose to attend the UO? I chose to go to UO because of the business school. I’m also a huge sports fan, and they had basketball, football… Overall it was a great college experience. I had a close friend of my sister who graduated when I was coming in and loved it. I’m from California and the UC schools didn’t offer a business program, and the state schools were very packed and competitive so it was tough to get classes. I knew when I went to Oregon that I was able to switch my major without a lot of restrictions so it allowed me to have a roadmap of multiple different majors. I tried a lot of different classes within my first two years which was amazing and what I recommend to other students now. What led you to seek a career in finance? I knew I wanted a career where I could interact with people but also be able to do my own work and be in a team setting. I’ve always liked the strategy of an organization and it usually goes back to the cost of something and the numbers behind it. I worked at Dreamworks Animation my freshman year in corporate finance and I loved the team environment and seeing the background side to everything. I then interned at a startup in Israel, where I was involved with business development and working in a small team. I thought finance was the best marriage of the two and involved the skill sets I enjoyed.
Read the full interview at uoalumni.com/careerprofiles
dailyemerald.com/duckshousing PA P A G E 1 0 || EEM MEERRAALLDD | | MMOONNDDAAY, Y, MAAPRRCI H L 9 1 9, ,2 02 2002 1
Alumni Spotlight is a collaboration between UOAA and Emerald Media Group.
SPORTS
MESTLER’S WIN LANDS NO. 3 IN THE NCAA BY CARLY EBISUYA • TWITTER @CARLYEBISUYA
The Oregon senior stopped the clock at 8:44.84 in his home stadium Hayward Field on Saturday evening, recording the No. 3 time in the NCAA this season in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, just 0.12 off his personal best. Mestler sustained his narrow lead heading into the final lap and swiftly passed Stanford’s Ky Robinson who recorded a time of 8:45.32, one second behind Mestler. As Mestler approached the last 100 meters of his victory lap, he was met with applause and cheers from fans in attendance and fist bumped a fan in the first row. The Eugene native threw up the “O” with his hands as his teammates celebrated his victory in the green-colored seats at Hayward. “It’s a beautiful day with sunny weather,” Mestler said. “People travel around the country to get weather like this and we happened to have it here this weekend so I wanted to take advantage of it and just go. My technique has been solid. The buildup has been solid and I knew I was in shape.” Following Mestler’s victory, the lights along the 76 curved wooden beams surrounding the stadium lit up, glistening against the track and down on My technique has the athletes. The sun started to set as the been solid. The bright Hayward lights bright. building up has been shone The rest of Oregon’s team had to celebrate solid and I knew I Mestler’s victory from afar, however. The was in shape.” jumpers and sprinters traveled to Tucson, Jackson Mestler Arizona, for the other half of the West Coast Classic, while the distance runners and throwers competed in Eugene for a dual-host meet. Both the men’s and women’s teams swept the meet, scoring 138 and 134 points, respectively. Immediately following Mestler’s grand steeplechase performance, Oregon freshman Elliott Cook didn’t skip a beat in the men’s 800-meter run. The race was tight throughout with all runners clocking a time in Ducks runner Jackson Mestler leads during the first lap of the Mens 3,000 meter Steeplechase. The West Coast between 54 and 55 seconds at the Classic takes place at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., on April 17, 2021. (Maddie Stellingwerf/Emerald) halfway point. In third place heading
“
into the final lap, Cook kicked up the last leg and was neck-in-neck with four other runners. With the final 50 meters left, it was anyone’s race to grab. Stanford’s Miles Smith came from behind in seventh place and crept into fourth and Cal’s Moises Medrano fell back a few paces. In the final moments, both Cook and Cal freshman Garrett MacQuiddy were synchronous in their steps — their legs moving at the same exact pace, their arms frantically swaying back and forth, gnawing toward the finish line. A hair ended up separating the two in the end, with Cook finishing a heartbreaking one-hundredth of a second behind MacQuiddy to stand in second at 1:49.98. MacQuiddy finished first at 1:49.97, sticking out his neck by a hair further to secure the Cal victory. The crowd let out a simultaneous, loud gasp when the final displayed the amount of time separating the two runners. Even though Cook was within onehundredth of a second of a victory, the freshman clocked a personal best and became the fifth Oregon male to record under 1:50.00 in the event this season. Another personal best came from redshirt junior Jared Briere in the men’s hammer throw. Finishing in sixth, Briere added more than four feet to his personal best of 58.17m/190-10. His teammate Austin Tharp finished in front of him in fifth place. Senior Hannah Reinhardt surpassed her personal best in the 1500-meter race from May 19 with a time of 4:14.91. She finished 0.76 seconds behind Stanford’s Ella Donaghu. “I’ve definitely felt like I’ve built up my speed a lot in the last two weeks, and honestly, I just wanted to go for a PR,” Reinhardt said. “I haven’t run the [1,500 meters] in almost two years so it was time. I wanted to commit to a hard pace right off the rip and go for it to see what I could churn out.” Against a packed Pac-12 field of UCLA, Arizona, Stanford, Cal and Arizona State, Oregon held its own against some of the conference bests. The meet was Oregon’s fourth outdoor competition and second in the refurbished Hayward Field. Track and field will be back in action next week once again at home for a two-day Oregon Relays meet starting Friday, April 23. M O N D AY, A P R I L 1 9 , 2 0 2 1
|
EMERALD
|
PA G E 1 1
2 0 2 1
E D I T I O N
SHOW US YOUR BEST CAMPUS! In person Best of Campus Event
Thursday, April 29th 11am-3pm | EMU GREEN UO ID, social distancing and masks required
SCAN TO PRE
REGISTER
PA P A G E 1 2 | EEM MEERRAALLDD | | MMOONNDDAAY, Y, MAAPRRCI H L 199, ,2 02 2002 1