Eugene extends homeless shelter program without guarantee that the city can pay for it
By Lucas Hellberg City News Reporter
With funding potentially expiring soon, the long-term future of Eugene’s city-supported shelter sites — formerly known as safe sleep sites — is uncertain, even as demand for sanctioned shelter options continues to outpace supply.
A 2021 city ordinance allowing for the temporary establishment of safe parking and safe tent sites has enabled these sites to provide unhoused residents a legal place to rest for nearly four years. St. Vincent de Paul, the largest operator of the sites, said it currently has a waitlist of roughly 300 people.
Despite the demand, the city has made no commitment to fund the sites beyond next year.
City officials say the city has secured funding to allow the program to continue through at least June 30, 2025. City spokesperson Amber Allan said a combination of current state funding, limited one-time grant funds and operational efficiencies, such as reduced staffing, will allow the city to extend funding into the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The 2025-2026 fiscal year begins on July 1, 2025, and ends on June 30, 2026.
What the sites offer
City officials say the city-supported shelter sites program aims to “provide safe, legal places for people experiencing homelessness to sleep and connect to services as well as reduce the impacts of unsanctioned camping across the city.” The program currently has three different sites.
MOTHER’S DAY POWWOW
Two city-supported shelter sites near the TrainWe
here.
Indigenous.
The Native American Student Union hosts its 57th annual Mother’s Day Powwow
By Elise Alvira Arts & Culture Writer
Grass dancers chanted their way through McArthur Court, dressed from head to toe in vibrant colors of magenta, pink and blue; feathers lined their dresses, and bells jingled around their ankles as they danced. This is a reminder of our country’s history.
“We are here, we are Indigenous and we’re going to celebrate our cultures,” Yudith Araiza-Flores, one of the co-directors of the Native American Student Union and an Indigenous student from Michoacán, Mexico, said.
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Sabrina Ionescu and Nyara Sabally return to Eugene with a New York Liberty
Sabrina lonescu address the stands before the game begins. Jaylyn Sherrod (0) gets pushed and fouled by Riko Furuki (1) as she dribbles the ball up the floor.
Sabrina lonescu (20) smiles and hugs the Duck after the game.
The Duck and Ellie the Elephant pose together during a time-out.
Sabrina lonsecu (20) and Nyara Sabally (8) smile and embrace after the game.
The New York Liberty take on the Toyota Antelopes at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene on May 12, 2025.
Photographed by Molly McPherson (Emerald)
CAMPUS NEWS
Former football coach sued by UO for breach of contract
By Angelina Handris Campus News Reporter
Former University of Oregon football running backs coach Carlos Locklyn is being sued by the university for breach of contract.
The two-year contract contained details of Locklyn’s expected responsibilities, contract timeframe, fringe benefits and potential consequences of a breach of contract.
On April 1, 2024, Locklyn notified UO that he would be departing from the team, effective that day. Locklyn’s contract stated that he must pay UO 50% of his salary in the event of his premature departure.
Former UO running backs coach Carlos Locklyn is being sued by the university for breach of contract
The university claims Locklyn owes a $400,000 buyout, half of his two-year salary of $800,000. Locklyn is currently employed at The Ohio State University, where he also serves as a running backs coach.
According to the complaint filed by UO, on May 24, 2024, Locklyn mailed a check to the UO in the amount of $200,000. The university returned the check to Locklyn, citing his failure to pay the full amount owed.
John Berg, Locklyn’s attorney, gave a statement regarding the lawsuit.
“Coach Locklyn lawfully terminated his employment agreement with the University of Oregon and promptly delivered a check fully satisfying any possible obligation under
the buy-out provision,” Berg said. “The University declined the check, and now asserts an untenable interpretation of the agreement. We welcome the opportunity to present the facts to a judge and are confident the litigation will be resolved to Coach Locklyn’s satisfaction.”
Carl Bjerre, a business law professor at UO specializing in contracts, said an employer might make an employee sign a contract for various reasons.
“Contracts are such a basic tool for all kinds of people in society. Landowners get a contract for a building to be built, manufacturers get a contract for supplies to be furnished, any kind of situation where one person really needs to depend on another,” Bjerre said.
Bjerre said there are many factors someone may take into consideration when making the decision to breach an employment contract.
“(Better pay is) one common reason why somebody might breach, they get a better opportunity, and they can’t do both. So maybe the pay is better, or maybe the team is stronger, or maybe their promotion opportunities are stronger. There are going to be all kinds of reasons why one coaching job is better than another,and it’s in the person’s self-interest to take the best opportunity,” Bjerre said.
UO spokesperson Eric Howald stated that UO did not wish to comment on the situation due to pending litigation.
According to Buckeye Sports Bulletin, Locklyn’s current salary at Ohio State is $650,000 for the 2025 season.
UO surplus store opens in Springfield
The University of Oregon Office of Sustainability and NextStep Recycling partner to offer low-cost, repurposed items in new retail store
By Stephanie Jersey Campus News Reporter
On April 30, Next Step Recycling and the University of Oregon Office of Sustainability held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the Surplus Store. Located in Eugene’s neighboring city, Springfield, the retail store is stocked with low-cost furniture, electronics and household items.
The store’s launch follows the closure of the Romania Warehouse, the previous home of UO’s surplus inventory, which was managed by the UO Office of Sustainability.
In preparation for the relocation of surplus items, Steve Mital, director of the Office of Sustainability, expressed interest in a partnership with the Eugene-based non-profit, NextStep Recycling.
“We’ve known about (NextStep), worked with them and admired them for a long time,” Mital said. “We were looking for a partner. So I knocked on their door and said, ‘Hey, what do you think about this?’”
Jessica Ahrenholtz, executive director of NextStep Recycling, spoke about the collaboration.
“I just think it’s an amazing partnership,” Ahrenholtz said. “The biggest goal that we’ve had in our meetings is (offering) things that can be useful and affordable.”
The store’s layout has two sections that
are stocked by UO Sustainability and Next Step Recycling, respectively.
Ahrenholtz explained that Next Step “survives solely on donations of electronics.” Their inventory includes used items ranging from kitchen supplies to computers.
“We sell Apple products where we do a 90-day warranty,” Ahrenholtz said. “We’re registered refurbishers, so we don’t put things in the computer or in the store that’s not supported.”
According to Ahrenholtz, the focus on refurbished devices is a part of Next Step’s broader purpose.
“Our mission is…providing the technology and training to children and adults with barriers to education and employment,” Ahrenholtz said. “When you give a computer to someone, you realize that you’ve just opened up a whole new world of possibilities.”
Mital spoke about the UO Office of Sustainability’s desire to prioritize serving the campus community.
“Faculty and staff have exclusive access to everything that comes through the store for the first two weeks. But after two weeks, it’s opened up to everybody and anybody,” Mital said.
According to Mital, affordability is central to the store’s approach.
“We purposely priced things, especially initially, way down,” Mital said.
“You can find some incredible deals.”
Ahrenholtz said additional discounts are offered to ensure greater accessibility.
“(NextStep) always give discounts to students and veterans and seniors,” Ahr enholtz said “We also include teachers in the student discount, because we feel that there’s a lot of teachers, and especially in the high schools, that are having to pay for a lot of their own things that they need for their classrooms.”
According to Ahrenholtz, the “round-down” approach to pricing items has drawn a large customer base.
“The challenge for me is, and it’s a good challenge, is keep ing the shelves full. Things have been selling pretty quick,” Ahrenholtzsaid.
The inventory is listed on the surplus website, which includes features that al low customers to reserve items ahead of time for in-store pickup.
With the store in full operation, Ahrenholtz reflected positively on NextStep’s previous accomplishments.
“We’ve kept over 30 million pounds of electronics out of the landfill... To me, that’s pretty amazing,” Ahrenholtz said.
(BELOW) TThe University of Oregon Surplus Store offers used goods including furniture, electronics, and other office supplies, which are on sale to the public. This store is located at 547 Q Street in Springfield. (Anna Liv Myklebust/ Emerald)
(LEFT) Autzen Stadium is the home of Ducks football.
(Maddie Knight/ Emerald)
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Wildfire smoke threatens Eugene’s most vulnerable
As climate change intensifies Oregon’s fire seasons and heatwaves, Eugene scrambles to protect its most vulnerable residents. But for those living on the streets, access to relief often depends on more than just availability—it depends on being seen.
By Ceci Cronin City News Reporter
Each summer in Oregon seems to bring hotter days and smokier skies. In Eugene, the reality of climate change isn’t a distant threat — it’s right outside our windows. In 2020, the Holiday Farm Fire burned to just 50 miles outside of Eugene, shrouding the city in smoke.
Wildfires creep closer, heatwaves arrive earlier and for many residents, especially those living without shelter, these conditions can be deadly.
Theresa Boudreau sees this firsthand. As the program manager at White Bird Clinic, she works with some of the city’s most vulnerable populations — people who often live outdoors and have few options when the weather turns hostile.
“Community wise, there’s always a focus on cold weather,” Boudreau said. “We’re not always quick to think about preparedness for smoke events or heat events.”
The shift in climate patterns has forced local leaders to think differently. “Something that’s changed a lot in the past couple years is our county and city leaders recognizing that it’s better to be prepared for that and not need it, than to be willfully unprepared, which in the past we have been,” she said.
The city has made strides — setting up cooling shelters during extreme heat and clean air centers during wildfire smoke. But for people without transportation or safe storage for their belongings, these resources can feel out of reach. “The biggest barrier is always accessibility due to being able to travel,” Boudreau explained. “One of the things that I was really grateful for this past summer was LTD real-
Eugene extends
ly stepping up to provide transportation for folks that were needing to go to those respites.”
Even with transportation, other concerns linger. “A lot of our clientele have pets, and you’re not going to leave them behind,” Boudreau said.
She added that some people fear leaving their campsites unattended. “People worry about looting. That happens quite frequently for folks who are on the street and have to have everything they own in a tent.”
The unpredictability of wildfires makes planning difficult. Unlike cold snaps, which tend to be seasonal and rather predictable, wildfires can ignite with little warning. “You never know when a wildfire’s going to hit,” Boudreau said. “Being ready to make those collaborative decisions is what’s really important.”
Still, she sees promise in how local governments are coordinating behind the scenes. “Lane County does very well with their emergency response. Even when there’s no emergency happening, they’re meeting regularly and preparing for the what-ifs,” she said.
That preparation isn’t limited to officials. Boudreau believes that community involvement plays a vital role in protecting the most vulnerable.
“Volunteers are an essential part of service provision in this community,” she said. “That’s how you stave off some of the ‘not in my backyard’ mentality — through empathy and understanding.”
Boudreau encourages everyone to get involved, whether it’s helping during an emergency or supporting long-term initiatives. “Anytime you get the opportunity to volunteer for Egan, do it. Or for a heat respite. Or for the county
homeless shelter
COAD (Lane County Community Organizations in Active Disaster). When you see those opportunities pop up, take them,” she said.
For Boudreau, the urgency of this work is clear, recalling the apocalyptic skies during the 2020 and 2021 fire seasons.
“Waking up every day to a sky that looked post-apocalyptic was terrifying. I live indoors. I can only fathom what it looked like outdoors,” she said.
Moments like that underscore what’s at stake. “When you’re in crisis, how we treat our most vulnerable — that’s the test of the mettle. That is the measurement of a society,” Boudreau said. “Can we always do better? For sure. And when you know better, you do better.”
program without guarantee that the city can pay for it
Eugene’s city-supported shelter sites face an uncertain future as state funding runs dry. Despite high demand, the program’s long-term survival largely depends on upcoming budget decisions by state lawmakers.
song neighborhood run by St. Vincent de Paul offer 55 RV spaces, additional smaller vehicle spaces, 86 indoor tents and six outdoor Conestoga huts for pet owners. Another site operated by Carry it Forward in the Harlow neighborhood near Autzen Stadium operates 20 pallet shelters only for individuals with special medical needs.
In addition to providing shelter, the sites offer amenities and services that vary by site, including communal restrooms, showers, case management and shared kitchens.
Funding Challenges
On Feb. 24, the Eugene City Council voted seven to one to extend the ordinance, allowing the sites to continue until June 30, 2028.
City Councilor Mike Clark, the only councilor who voted against extending the ordinance to 2028, expressed concern about extending the ordinance without guaranteed funding.
“We are relying on state funding that we don’t certainly have lined up,” Clark said at the time. “To an extent, I believe it obligates us by policy, so I’m not in favor of us shifting that funding to the city at a time when it’s most difficult to do.”
City officials, though, said extending the ordinance to that date does not obligate the city to continue funding the program.
Initially, the American Rescue Plan and a state grant for shelter operations provided funding for Eugene’s city-supported shelter sites. Now, two sites are funded by the “All In” state funding. A one-time existing grant funds another site because it is currently not eligible for “All In” funding.
In 2024, city officials estimated that operating the three sites cost roughly $3.6 million per year.
Officials say they cannot speculate about future funding because state lawmakers are considering extending the financing as part of the state’s 2025-2027 biennial budget, which begins on July 1. Allan said that without continued state funding, the city would need to work with operators to find other potential revenue sources and possible reductions in either beds or services.
“The City continues to advocate for additional and ongoing All In state shelter funds to supplement limited one-time grant funds,” Allan said in an email.
Program’s future
Despite city officials advocating for more state funding and the City Council’s decision to extend the ordinance until 2028, the future of Eugene’s city-supported shelter sites is in limbo.
Whether the sites can continue to operate largely hinges on the state’s next biennial budget, which begins in July. Oregon
Governor Tina Kotek’s proposed 2025-2027 budget calls for a nearly 43% increase in general fund allocation for housing stabilization programs, which include homelessness services, housing retention and energy services.
However, until state lawmakers finalize the budget and Eugene knows its funding allocation, the program’s longterm future remains unclear.
Lawmakers will likely approve the final budget sometime in June. In 2023, lawmakers approved the 2023-2025 budget on June 25.
(Julia Massa/Emerald)
Theresa Boudreau is White Bird Clinic’s Navigation Empowerment Services Team interim coordinator. White Bird Clinic serves in crisis and health responses with a priority to serve people who are unserved, underinsured, disabled and/or homeless.
(Molly McPherson/Emerald)
Continued from page 1
(Molly McPherson/Emerald)
RVs fill a grass lot at the 310 Garfield Street Safe Sleep Site in Eugene.
(Molly McPherson/Emerald) Furniture from St. Vincent de Paul stores fill the communal area of the Garfield Street site.
We are here. We are Indigenous.
Continued from page 1
It’s been 57 years since the first University of Oregon Powwow was hosted by NASU. It is the longest-running, student-led Powwow in Oregon.
The event started May 9 at 7 p.m. and concluded the following night at 11 p.m. Each day began with a grand entry of grass dancers to bless the grounds and a flag song followed by traditional dances such as the jingle dance and the fancy dance while the drum group Bad Soul hollered and banged their drums with pride.
Since 2019, NASU has created the UO Indigenous Royalty Cohort, which has three positions for students to run as Ms. UO, Mr. UO and the culture ambassador position which was added later on for more inclusivity. During each annual Powwow, the new cohort for the following school year is introduced Saturday night with a proper farewell to the old cohort.
These positions give students an opportunity to represent the Indigenous population at UO by attending conferences, events and other Powwows throughout Oregon and gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be Indigenous.
“Being Indigenous is being close to people that don’t necessarily share the same language or customs, but they share the same values and respect of the land, the water and all the creatures,” Araiza-Flores said.
Powwow has withstood generations, with the first one that took place in Oklahoma in 1879; it consisted of multiple tribes from Canada down to Texas, celebrating the differences, traditions and customs of tribes whose culture and pride were gradually being diminished. Powwow invites people of all nations to honor the preservation of Indigenous people with traditional dances, songs and overall “good medicine.”
“Powwow traveled through Central and now Western Oregon through boarding schools. When Indigenous people were taken to another part of the country, they still took their cultures and traditions, and then they would share with other Indigenous people from different communities,” Araiza-Flores said. “Now, Powwow is a way of reclaiming that culture and those identities that were intended to be erased through boarding schools.”
This year’s Powwow brought in tribes from all over the Pacific Northwest and beyond, including the Confederated Tribe of Grand Ronde, Siletz tribe, Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation and Yakama Nation, according to Dinorah Ortiz, the program director of the Multicultural Center, said.
“For me, as someone who is Indigenous to Mexico, Powwow is a way of honoring all of those that came before us and that made Powwow something that we were able to be a part of and celebrate every year together,” Araiza-Flores said.
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Powwow is a way of reclaiming that culture and those identities that were intended to be erased through boarding schools
Yudith Araiza-Flores Co-director of the Native American Student Union and an Indigenous student from Michoacán, Mexico
“ “
Every Powwow has a different intention. “For instance, at UO, we do the Mother’s Day Powwow, and so our Powwow is meant to celebrate mothers, those matriarchs in our community,” Araiza-Flores said. Every year, NASU hosts its powwow on Mother’s Day weekend, one out of the 20 Powwows hosted every year in the state.
To end the weekend, NASU and Many Nations Longhouse hosted a salmon bake on Mother’s Day, a common tradition held by natives in the Pacific Northwest according to an article written by Katrine Barber from the Oregon History Project. Tribes ranging from the Columbia Plateau to the coast considered salmon to be a “much more than simply food or economic resource”. Hence, the First Salmon Ceremony came into practice every spring to welcome in the new season and mark the return of salmon.
The Wishram Indians who are a part of the Chinookan people, believed “Salmon sacrificed their lives to human beings to ensure the survival of human communities. In return, humans were obligated to care for and honor salmon and adhere to various regulations that governed the fishery,” according to Barber.
Powwow is an acknowledgment of the land and recognition of Indigenous people. On campus, we acknowledge Kalapuya people because this is historically, Kalapuya land. “When people say this is Kalapuya land, people are saying ‘this is an acknowledgement of that forced relocation and displacement that happened with the government,’” Araiza-Flores said. “People are here as guests and people are only here because of the American government.”
With 20 Powwows held year-round in Oregon, ranging from Portland to Ashland, the history and culture of Indigenous communities is far from forgotten. The land we walk on is shared with Indigenous communities who have been here long before America was truly established and in that, Powwow recognizes communities that have been ripped from their origins yet remain intact.
“We are Indigenous. We are here. This is our culture, and we’re going to celebrate our cultures,” Araiza-Flores said.
(ABOVE) A dancer outstretches her arm and rests a hand on her hip while performing during the Women’s Traditional dance.
(LEFT CORNER ) Two dancers in traditional attire perform during the Head Man Special dance.
(LEFT) Powwow attendees of all ages take the floor of McArthur Court for an Intertribal dance.
(Alex Hernandez/Emerald)
OPINION
Say ‘gesundheit’ to the grass seed industry
Pollen allergies plague many of us in the Willamette Valley. Is our suffering worth the economic boost?
By Leo Heffron Opinion Columnist
“You’re breathing like Darth Vader,” my mom said as she drove me to the emergency room.
I did not know it yet, but I was having an allergy-induced asthma attack. My eyes were red and puffy, and snot was dripping from my little six-year-old nose.
Ever since then, spring has been spoiled for me. Pollen causes my eyes to swell shut, and near-constant sneezing accompanies it, making it extremely difficult to enjoy the warm weather.
I grew up in Portland and thought I lived in the worst place for pollen allergies ever. That is, until I moved to Eugene.
My seasonal allergies in Eugene are insane.
I’m not alone. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, about a quarter of adults and a fifth of children in the United States suffer from seasonal pollen allergies.
This widespread health issue is felt across the Willamette Valley and the country.
Unfortunately for University of Oregon students affected by pollen allergies, Linn County,
which neighbors Lane County, is known as “the grass seed capital of the world.” UO’s proximity to Linn County causes the grass pollen count to be significantly higher in spring.
According to the Oregon Allergy Associates, “Rain early in the grass season can cause grass pollen to fragment into small pieces, which can cause increased allergy and asthma symptoms.”
This means that the grass pollen count in Lane County can get into the high and very high range because of our late rains.
Charles Martindale is a Spanish and journalism double major at UO who suffers from seasonal pollen allergies. He explained his symptoms to me.
“I opened my window last night, and when I woke up, my face was super puffy and my nose was running like crazy,” Martindale said. “I used a ton of tissues.”
Like many of us, he has to choose to stay inside to escape the pollen or live normally while enduring his symptoms. It sucks.
This year, my attitude changed a bit. I found out about the grass seed industry, which gives Linn County its nickname as the “grass seed capital of the world.”
The Willamette Valley is the perfect place for grass seed farming due to our wet and mild winters. With more than 420,000 acres devoted to grass seed farming in the Willamette Valley alone, it undoubtedly has a substantial impact on our local economy.
The grass seed industry in Oregon employs
about 10,000 people and generates about $1 billion in economic activity for the state.
While 10,000 jobs might not seem like a ton, Oregon had a 4.6% unemployment rate in March of this year. This gave Oregon the 12th-highest unemployment rate in the United States.
Reducing the amount of land available for the grass seed industry would only cause that number to rise.
For David White, a junior business major, the employment opportunities and economic activity don’t matter when it comes to his allergies.
“My allergies piss me off,” White said. “It’s a detriment to my everyday life.”
Believe me, it pains me to say our allergies are a necessary cost for other people to make money, but if it means jobs for 10,000 people, I’d say it’s justified.
I think that Martindale put it well.
“I don’t think I would personally choose to put the grass seed industry over my allergies, but if the wheels are already in motion, I won’t knock their hustle.”
As for remedies, I recommend finding an allergy medicine that suits you best. When I consistently take allergy medicine, both in pill form and nasal spray, my symptoms significantly decrease.
For me, Zyrtec and Flonase are my saving graces; they have allowed me to have a relatively symptom-free spring so far this year.
Grass seed is an integral part of this region, so instead of suffering through this pollen season, let’s find ways to cope.
Leo is an opinion columnist for the Daily Emerald. He is a third-year student studying journalism and Spanish. Leo enjoys writing about many topics, but fashion and social media are his favorites.
(BELOW) Flowers of different shapes, sizes, and colors bloom in the Willamette Valley, filling the spring air with fragrance as well as pollen.
(Roshni Ram/Emerald)
ARTS & CULTURE
President Trump threatens a 100% tariff on internationally produced movies, explained
In a May 4 Truth Social post, President Donald Trump threatened to extend his historical series of steep tariffs to the film industry, ordering a 100% tax on all foreign-made films. UO Professor Michael Aronson is here to explain.
By Sean Avery Arts & Culture Reporter
In the early months of his second term in the White House, United States President Donald Trump unleashed a sequence of tariffs on imported goods. Now, citing Hollywood turmoil in his May 4 Truth Social post, the 47th President argued movies ought to be “made in America, again.”
“The movie industry in America is dying a very fast death,” Trump said, claiming foreign nations are luring filmmakers and studios abroad via tax incentives. Thus, he authorized the Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to swiftly impose a 100% tariff on all films “coming into our country that are produced on foreign lands.”
This is not the first time Trump has focused his attention on the moviemaking industry. In January, he sanctioned three of show business’ most prominent right-wing voices, Jon Voight, Sylvester Stallone and Mel Gibson, to resuscitate the once-dominant American film industry. “They will serve as Special Envoys to me for the purpose of bringing back Hollywood … bigger, better and stronger than ever before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
With ongoing production efforts from major media companies taking place overseas more than ever before, Trump seeks to curtail the international dispersal of filmmaking. So what does this entail for studios — domestic and international? How might its ramifications trickle down to the consumer experience?
Given the complex nature of contemporary film production and distribution, especially in a post-COVID environment, it’s unclear how such tariffs would feasibly be instituted. The President’s “America First” motive has yet to receive an implementable explanation, with further details yet to surface.
University of Oregon Cinema Studies Professor Michael Aronson deemed the President’s order an unworkable idea — a proposal resulting in more questions than answers.
In the big 2025, the film industry cannot be bottled into broad and undefined labels. It’s challenging to understand which projects the President thinks warrant the descriptor “produced on foreign lands.”
“Are films shot abroad but financed in the U.S. internationally produced?” Aronson said. “Reverse that for U.S.-shot but foreign-financed.”
In all facets — economic, creative and logistical — film production is an intricate endeavor. The content audiences consume, whether in the theater or at home via streaming platforms, is not comparable to other imported goods.
“Films are not products like a wheel of brie or a catalytic converter; they’re considered performances and qualify as an intangible service,” Aronson said. “You can place a tariff on a pair of scissors, but Trump can’t tariff a haircut.”
Moreover, Trump’s plan fails to consider the film industry’s co-pilot: television. Would proposed tariffs extend to TV production? How would tariffs apply to direct-to-streaming content with no box office revenue?
Whether calculations are based on production costs or box office returns, it remains unclear which party is responsible for paying the tariff. Studios, producers, distributors and consumers all play a role in the creation, circulation and profitability of works; Trump needs to define who is ultimately responsible.
If Trump’s orders come to fruition, detrimental consequences could significantly rattle foreign markets and domestic production. “It would kill some of them, but it would also seriously impact U.S. films distributed abroad,” Aronson said. “See Canada taking American whiskey off their shelves.”
If the tariff isn’t implemented, as it realistically cannot be in its current form, the President’s sentiments could still generate discussions surrounding tax incentives for U.S.-based productions, particularly those in Hollywood.
Trump will “continue to put pressure on California to increase its tax incentive program and potentially eliminate its annual cap,” Aronson said. “Los Angeles has been in a bit of a free fall in terms of local production since COVID and the strikes of 2023.”
Part of the exodus, however, stems from other U.S. states’ incentive and tax programs — it’s as much about “places like Georgia, Louisiana and a number of Southwest states, as it is about international productions stealing jobs,” Aronson said.
While Trump’s aggressive call to bring moviemaking back to America underscores a frustration with Hollywood’s shifting economic geography, his proposed solution reveals more political posturing than practical policy. What remains clear is that any meaningful reform must grapple with the globalized, hybrid nature of modern filmmaking — a reality far more complex than the rhetoric suggests.
Immerse yourself in the theater world on campus
University Theatre brings Spelling Bee, filled with brightness and welcomes the community to its Putnam County
By Seira Kitagawa Arts & Culture Writer
If you are confident in your spelling skills, perhaps you would like to bring yourself to the last theater production by University Theatre –“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”
Six spellers enter the spelling championship of a lifetime.
“Spelling Bee” brings you to the world of Putnam County where community members come and compete in spelling out the word with some crews. Every show, four audiences will have the opportunity to come on the stage and participate in the spelling competition.
“Community, sunny and welcoming” are three words that Guest Director Tara Wibrew described the show. She hopes that the show can be a space where audiences and performers can meet and communicate with each other.
The production will take place at the Hope Theatre in the Miller Theatre Complex, which is a smaller space so that the audience and actors are closer and feel more intimate.
Wibrew has been working at professional theaters such as Oregon Contemporary Theatre for over a decade. In winter term, she was invited to direct her first show at the University Theatre: “Antigone.” She recalled the experience as very positive and is excited to come back and work with both new and familiar faces.
Although the lead director is a professional artist, University Theatre is mostly run by students. They work as actors, designers, backstage technicians and beyond.
Annika McNair and Sara Smith, co-costume designer for the show, have been tracking their work hours of a couple hundred hours total, which are spent in meetings, research and tracking down clothing
items to use with countless fittings. The costume construction, the process of actually making the costume is done by a team of student workers and lab students.
Students have been working at the costume studio on the second floor of the Miller Theatre Complex since January on lighting designs, sounds designs, stage designs and more.
Wibrew said the academic space in theater has unique elements compared to professional theater. She said that student theater tends to have a greater sense of care that she feels “everyone cares.”
She said, “It’s really delightful to be in a room with a bunch of people who just want to get creative and try things and be as honest as possible on stage.”
Wibrew said students are willing to take risks to explore ways to take care of the audience, which professionals can lose sometimes over the course of their career.
University Theatre will run the show on May 23, 24, 30, 31, June 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8 at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and at 2:00 p.m. on Sundays at the Hope Theatre on the east side of campus inside the theater department.
You can find your tickets on the UO Ticket Office online or at the EMU ticket office in person. Student tickets are free with valid student ID at the door from one hour before the show until the seats run out.
If you haven’t brought yourself to the UO theater, this big-bright and heart-beating show may transform your theater experience. Live theater “lets us connect to other humans,” Wibrew said.
ABOVE) Logainne,
Aaralyn
Crossword
Sudoku
No.5 Oregon opens weekend in Iowa with 10-0 run-rule win
Grayson Grinsell was stellar again as the Ducks gained ground in the Big Ten standings
Acrobatics and tumbling takes next step towards NCAA Championship status
PK Park unveils new meaningful identity
The Ducks’ home field don a new name moving forward
By Brady Ruth Sports Editor
Before Oregon got its sweep of Washington started, the Ducks hosted a naming ceremony at Pat Kilkenny (PK) Park as the field unveiled its new identity.
Moving forward, Oregon baseball will play its home games at Bob Kilkenny Field at PK Park, paying homage to former athletic director Pat Kilkenny’s father.
Bob was an intricate part of Oregon baseball’s return to the athletic program in 2008 after a 27-year hiatus from Division-1 play.
“He was our dad, and then he became our really good friend,” Pat said. “How many people actually get to have a parent that’s their friend? And we chose to hang out with him.”
Bob grew up in the farming town of Heppner, Oregon, but attended the University of Oregon in 1948. He was a Duck fan long before his son, Pat, was named the athletic director in 2007. Although Pat only served as the AD for two years, the Oregon baseball program was rejuvenated during his stint, giving PK Park its name.
Bob also played a key role in the return of baseball, breaking ground for PK Park on his John Deer in 2018. He passed away in 2016 at the age of 86. That day, he was named the “Mayor of PK Park”, and now his legacy will sit on the outfield wall forever.
The Bob Kilkenny Field logo features strands of wheat with five blades, one for each of his children, each of which attended the UO. It sits on both the left-field wall and behind home plate near the thirdbase dugout.
“It was just an extraordinary childhood that we had,” Pat said. “And we didn’t know that we didn’t have anything because we had everything. We had love.”
The Ducks wore stickers on their helmets with the logo during their three-game sweep of Washington. Oregon has the chance to host more games at Bob Kilkenny Field at PK Park if the Ducks are selected to host an NCAA Regional, but either way, they went 28-8 at home during the 2025 regular season.
Writing where legends run
A journalist’s experience covering the 2025 Oregon Twilight meet
By Beck Parsons Sports Reporter
Track meets at the hallowed ground of Hayward Field are an incredible experience for fans and athletes alike.
The newly-renovated track and field stadium represents the sparkling heart of TrackTown, USA, and provides a legendary atmosphere every time the starter pistol is fired.
When I arrived to cover the 2025 Oregon Twilight meet for The Daily Emerald, Hayward Field was almost entirely empty. However, when I arrived at the press box above the finish line, I was captivated by the scenery before me.
East, across the track, Hayward’s patterned green seats resemble the tree-lined hills of Hendricks’ Park, which themselves are visible through the stadium’s gray translucent shell and curving wooden support beams.
To the left, Hayward’s 10-story tower stretches into a blue sky sparsely dotted with clouds. As the afternoon’s first events begin, the occasional javelin cuts across the picturesque scene.
It’s not long until Norwegian Oregon transfer Daniel Thrana establishes himself as the strongest arm in attendance. After his final throw, Thrana turns, waves to the crowd, crosses the track and leaves the field.
Keen to catch him, everyone files out of the press box, across the mezzanine, and down a flight of stairs. Now outside the stadium, we stand beneath a concrete wall and watch athletes leave the stadium. We can no longer see inside the stadium, and we wait in the sun for Thrana.
Thrana arrives a few minutes later. After we shake hands and list our publishers, the interview begins. As the Twilight is the last home meet of the regular season, the questions are pretty simple.
After asking Thrana about his performance that day, we get into his hopes for the postseason and future, and then we’re done. We then scamper back up the stairs, update our articles and attempt to figure out what we’d missed.
That continued for the next few hours. By the event’s end, the track sat dark and empty. However, as I walked out of the stadium, I could still feel the energy which made Hayward Field famous and which earned Eugene its ‘TrackTown, USA’ moniker.
(RIGHT) The newly renamed, Bob Kilkenny Field. The Oregon Ducks take on the Washington Huskies at PK Park in their final regular season home game of the season on May 11, 2025.
