5-3-21 Emerald Media - Monday Edition

MAY 3, 2021

Monday Edition

Emerald Media

DUCKS RETURN TO A SILENT AUTZEN Offensive pieces show out in Oregon’s fan-less spring game NEWS

DUCK RIDES' UOPD AFFILIATION PG 5

SPORTS SPRING GAME TAKEAWAYS PG 7

A&C

OPINION

DUCK NEST WELLNESS CHATS PG 10

TAKE A BREAK FROM BREAKING NEWS PG 12 M O N D AY, M AY 3 , 2 0 2 1

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NEWS

'THE PATRIARCHY WILL NOT KEEP ME SILENT' The UO Women’s Center held its annual Take Back the Night rally against sexual and domestic violence virtually for the second year in a row.

BY NIKA BARTOO-SMITH AND ERYN McGUIRE

VOL. 122, ISSUE NO. 49

Around OR REGIONAL AND STATE NEWS

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PORTLAND MAYOR’S PROPOSED BUDGET: Mayor Ted Wheeler unveiled a $5.7 billion proposed budget focused on economic recovery and city cleanup. The city’s police bureau would face a $3 million cut, the largest of any department. The bureau proposed cutting already vacant positions, not layoffs. The proposed budget also assigns $4 million to a police oversight board and $1 million to Portland Street Response, a program similar to Eugene’s CAHOOTS, OPB reported.

– ERYN McGUIRE

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ON THE COVER

Ducks running back Aaron Smith (34) rushes through Green teams' defense towards the goal line. Oregon Ducks football host annual spring game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on May 1, 2021.

(Maddie Stellingwerf/Emerald)

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“We deserve to be loved. We deserve to be cared for. And we deserve to be listened to,” Kati Rodriguez Perez, the Women’s Center Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Coordinator said, at this year’s Take Back the Night.

The UO Women’s Center hosted the 43rd annual Take Back the Night march virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Every night of last week, organizers uploaded videos of speakers sharing information and their experiences of sexual violence.

The march concluded Thursday with a slideshow of people across all races, ages and genders holding signs with messages such as “Consent is mandatory” and “I stand with survivors.” Somber music played in the background of the slideshow.

Activists around the world hold Take Back the Night each year to raise awareness about the realities of domestic and sexual violence in marginalized communities and the impact these issues have on them. Survivors and supporters attend each year to listen to speakers and participate in what is now a virtual march.

Before the pandemic, the event took place for only one night, with a rally, march and an opportunity for participants to share their stories with the crowd. It would begin at the EMU amphitheater where up to 500 people would attend to watch powerful testimonies from speakers. They would then march down 13th Avenue, ending up downtown, where Sexual Assault Support Services would host a rally with an open mic for survivors to tell their stories.

When crafting the plan for a virtual event last year, the Women’s Center worked hard to keep some elements the same. Despite losing some physical aspects of the event, the outcome remains impactful, Women Center’s Director Fatima Roohi Pervaiz said.

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“We do this to show people that, even though we are at a distance, they are still supported,” she said. “Even if they are alone, there still is a community in support of them.”

Speakers addressed a range of topics — from their own personal experiences to greater societal problems including racism, colonialism and sexism. UO sophomore Johana Amani spoke about her experience learning to forgive herself.

She also talked about the lack of protections for refugees, as a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo herself.

“Today, I am 21 years old and I finally give myself permission to heal,” Amani said. “The patriarchy will not keep me silent.”

Princess Mason discussed the intersections of sexual violence, hesitancy to report to the police and Indigenous experiences. Mason shared her own story of assault and how she silenced herself out of shame. She questioned who feels safe to report assault — highlighting how many people do not see the police as a safe option to turn to.

Many of the speakers expressed being taught silence from a young age. Lidija Sovulj discussed her experiences of racism, sexualization and fetisization as a Vietnamese and Croatian woman. She reflected back on her ancestors and the violence of the Vietnam War. “I wonder how often my ancestors are with me in times of need and danger,” Sovulj said. “I often wonder if their ancestors were with them, too.”

After a tumultuous year, Pervaiz said the Women’s Center recognizes the importance of connecting and lifting up each other’s voices. If just one person feels empowered by the event, they’ve done their job, she said.

“What we know for sure is that after speaking, there is healing. Even if your voice shakes,” Sovulj said, tears streaming down her face. “And that’s how we take back our power. And that’s how we take back the night.”

2021 NFL DRAFT: Seven Oregon Ducks were selected in the NFL Draft this past weekend. Penei Sewell was drafted No. 7 overall by the Detroit Lions, the highestdrafted offensive lineman in program history. Safety Jevon Holland was drafted by the Miami Dolphins at No. 36. Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir was selected by the San Francisco 49ers, followed by safety Brady Breeze to the Tennessee Titans, cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. to the Chicago Bears, Hunter Kampmoyer to the L.A. Chargers, Austin Faoliu to the Dallas Cowboys and Jordon Scott to the Minnesota Vikings.

– CARLY EBISUYA

(Maddie Knight/Emerald)

‘JOURNEYS TO JUSTICE’: Portland Opera is streaming “Journeys to Justice,” a combination of six art songs and chamber operas based on the Black American experience, through May 31. The production explores resilience and race-related trauma.

It mixes recent pieces composed in the past three years with longtime opera classics like “Your Daddy’s Child” from Broadway’s “Ragtime.”

Tickets can be purchased through a “pay what you will option” for as little as $5.

– SARAH-MAE McCULLOUGH

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health@uoregon.edu • 541-346-2770 EO/AA/ADA institution committed to cultural diversity

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OSPIRG Students is the state’s oldest student-directed and funded nonprofit started in 1971. We train students to be effective activists and win a greener, healthier future for us all. Since our start, we’ve done everything from passing Oregon’s Coal to Clean bill, to protecting $2.6 billion of the Pell Grant. Last year we put Wildlife Over Waste by winning a ban on foam cups and takeout containers in Eugene. Last fall, we made hundreds of class announcements to help students register to vote in the 2020 elections. In the winter we delivered 1000 petitions for 100% clean electricity and met with dozens of lawmakers.

The thing that makes us effective is that we’re funded by all of you! Every two years students at UO vote to reaffirm our funding. We’re funded by students chipping-in $1.75 per term, and two years ago over 80% of Ducks voted yes for OPSIRG —so thanks! We pool this money statewide and hire professional staff to work for students. Expert staff give students the skills and resources to make a difference here on campus, and also in Salem and Washington D.C. where decision are made. You’ll get a chance to vote to reaffirm our funding next spring.

We will refund any UO student who does not wish to fund OSPIRG, please go to ospirgstudents.org/refund to request one.

From the latest in Oregon Ducks apparel, to art and school supplies, to books and technology accessories, to gifts perfect for any Duck fan, it’s all available for safe, quick and convenient pickup in-store!

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NEWS

DUCK RIDES' UOPD AFFILIATION CONCERNS SOME IN ASUO ASUO’s executive and legislative bodies have both made statements against the UO Police Department this year, although it works with UOPD to provide Duck Rides services to students.

BY LEO BAUDHUIN • TWITTER @NOTALEOBUTLEO Ahead of the 2017-18 fiscal year, ASUO moved its Safe Ride and Designated Driver Shuttle services — now combined under the Duck Rides umbrella — to the supervision of the University of Oregon Police Department. Now, with both an executive memorandum and senate resolution against the UOPD, ASUO is evaluating how the partnership fits into its values.

“Safe Ride and DDS are essential to campus,” ASUO Senator Nick Keough said, “especially when it comes to reducing drinking and driving and sexual assault and harassment.”

Keough said they see Duck Rides’ services as a prime example of a way to keep UO’s campus safe without a police presence, which they said makes its association with UOPD disappointing.

Echoing a central theme of both the ASUO executive’s memorandum to disarm UOPD in October 2020 and the senate’s March 10 resolution, Keough pointed to the history of distrust between police officers and students of color. They said that distrust extends to Duck Rides, too.

Duck Rides program manager

Ashley Dougherty said ASUO’s statements against the UOPD and last summer’s protests against police brutality and systemic racism haven’t really changed the way the service operates. “It hasn't changed the way that we're operating in the sense that we're trying to be expansive and diverse and inclusive across the university,” she said. Dougherty said Duck Rides is specifically working with UO’s Accessible Education Center to ensure it is meeting student needs.

“I would implore anybody to reach out with their suggestions,” she said, “and we could see how we could meet the needs of the students better if that's something we're not meeting.

That's a priority. You’ve got to hear from the students to be able to serve the students.”

Dougherty said Duck Rides operates relatively autonomously from the UOPD. Most of the employees are UO students, and Dougherty serves as a bridge between them and the larger department. Although the program runs out of the UOPD Station, Dougherty said most of the direct communication between student

workers and UOPD is limited to emergencies.

Dougherty said the initial partnership between UOPD and ASUO allowed Duck Rides’ services to grow from student-run programs to a more formalized structure. Since UOPD has taken over Duck Rides programs, its ridership has increased to an average of over 40,000 students in a nonCOVID-19 year, Dougherty said. This number is an 18% increase from its pre-UOPD form. She said the number of students Duck Rides has had to turn away due to vehicles being at capacity has dropped by 66% and driving infractions have gone down by 80%.

Keough emailed ASUO’s Department Finance Committee — the group that determines Duck Rides’ funding, as well as groups like the Holden Leadership Center, the Mills International Center and the Women’s Center — and asked it to withhold budget increases until ASUO can find another group to house Duck Ride services. “It was going to be a topic this year,” Noah Savage, an ASUO senator and the DFC member assigned to work with Duck Rides, said. “And

then it kind of got put on the back burner when we started focusing on our giant athletics redistribution.”

Savage said Duck Rides is generally transparent about how it spends money, with roughly 90% of its overall budget coming out of DFC incidental fee funding — the mandatory fee for UO students that pays for a number of on-campus services like parts of the EMU and student organizations.

The remaining 10% comes from the UOPD’s budget and goes primarily to the salaries of its full-time staff, including Dougherty.

Still, Savage said he wouldn’t be surprised if UOPD’s connection to Duck Rides is a central focus of next year’s ASUO and he’s open to potentially reconsidering the partnership.

The senate started a safer transportation committee during winter term in direct response to the UOPD’s involvement in the program, and its Black Lives Matter committee’s resolution against the UOPD and prison labor specifically called for ASUO to end the relationship between the UOPD and Duck Rides.

Duck Rides uses a variety of vehicles to carry out nighttime transportation across the UO for students, faculty, members and staff. Duck Rides is the new transportation service at the University of Oregon. (Ian Enger/ Emerald)

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SPORTS

OFFENSE PREVAILS IN OREGON’S SPRING GAME A QUARTET OF YOUNG QUARTERBACKS AND OREGON’S DEEP RECEIVER ROOM IMPRESSED IN OREGON’S FINAL PRACTICE UNTIL FALL CAMP.

BY KAI KANZER • TWITTER @RIVERKAIKANZ

Ducks quarterback Anthony Brown (13) searches for an open member of offense to make a pass to. Oregon Ducks football host annual spring game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on May 1, 2021. (Maddie Stellingwerf/Emerald)

The Oregon Ducks’ annual spring game marked the start of what will be a long offseason before Fresno State comes to Eugene on Sept. 4. Team Yellow (first-team offense) squared off against Team Green (first-team defense).

Team Yellow won, 35-34, in dramatic fashion.

On the final drive, dual-sport athlete Robby Ashford completed a 44-yard touchdown pass to freshman Dont'e Thurston, closing the gap 34-33.

On the next play Ashford ended the game, scoring a two-point conversion by diving for the pylon: a play that would make Autzen roar if fans had been in attendance.

The 2021 spring game was played Saturday at Autzen Stadium without spectators, which completely contradicted what fans, family and the players were told back in April.

The news that Lane County will be moving to “extreme risk” came last week on April 27.

“It was pretty brutal to hear that news,” head coach Mario Cristobal said. “We haven’t seen [our fans] in PA G E 6

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a while and you know how much we love our fans and they love us. We wanted to put on a great show, live, in person. So the news was rough. It was hard to take. But like everything else in the pandemic year, you roll with it.”

The lack of fans has been the new normal over the past year, so the team was able to adapt well. Loudspeakers pumped in crowd noise and the national anthem performance ended with a flyover.

For the first few drives, Team Yellow took charge, scoring two touchdowns in as many possessions.

Quarterback Anthony Brown was able to move the ball well all day, both in the air and on the ground. Brown, as suspected, took the bulk of the first-team reps, passing for 230 yards and a touchdown. Brown was efficient, completing 20 of his 29 attempts.

As for the rest of the quarterbacks, there wasn’t a distinct number two, although Jay Butterfield impressed. On his first drive, Butterfield was backed up on his own 17-yard line. On firstand-10, he showed off his arm strength,

completing a 41-yard pass to freshman receiver Troy Franklin. Later in the drive, Butterfield displayed his ability to throw on the run as he threw a perfectly placed ball to Kris Hutson for a touchdown to put Team Yellow up 14-0.

“I feel like competition is huge,” Brown said of the quarterback room. “It is important for the progression of the team, and we have a lot of competition.”

Ty Thompson was the odd man out in terms of touchdowns thrown, as Ashford and Butterfield both threw for one.

The passing offense was rolling thanks to Hutson, Franklin and the rest of Oregon’s young receiving corps. Franklin had four catches to go with 93 receiving yards, which was 31 more yards than Isaah Crocker who had the same amount of catches. The receivers were making good plays all day. Midway through the second quarter, Dont’e Thornton’s speed gave way to a 39-yard reception that set up an Oregon touchdown.

With Oregon down four of their scholarship running backs, it was the walk-on freshman Aaron Smith who

stole the show. Smith led all running backs with 15 carries for 56 yards and a touchdown. Junior CJ Verdell, who is just one of seven returning players to rush for 1,000 yards in each of the last two seasons, had just 15 yards on six carries and played sparingly.

Both defenses had their moments, and a multitude of players saw significant snaps. Safety Marko Vidackovic led all in total tackles with seven.

Coach Cristobal was impressed with Justin Flowe, who posted five tackles and a sack. The second-year player is looking for a strong bounceback after he suffered a torn meniscus last season.

“We have been increasing his reps over the last six practices,” Cristobal said. “It is awesome to see him out there. That guy is explosive, brings a lot of energy and makes a ton of plays.”

As spring football comes to an end, players and coaches enter the summer with their minds on getting better each day as they transition into the regular season. Fresno State comes to Eugene on Sept. 4 and will be the Ducks’ first opponents of 2021.

5 TAKEAWAYS

SPORTS Ducks green team successfully intercept a ball during an offensive play by yellow.

Oregon Ducks football host annual spring game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on May 1, 2021. (Maddie Stellingwerf/Emerald)

FROM THE

DUCKS SPRING

FOOTBALL GAME

BY AARON HEISEN • TWITTER @AARON_HEISEN

The Oregon Ducks football team made its return to Autzen Stadium for the spring game on Saturday, May 1. After 15 practices it was time for the players to show out on national television. The game was exciting and gave Ducks fans a glimpse of what to expect for this upcoming season.

1.

Jay Butterfield looked confident as the second-string Quarterback Second-year freshman quarterback Jay Butterfield earned the spot as No. 2 quarterback in the game. He took a lead in the three-way race between Butterfield, Ty Thompson and Robby Ashford that flooded headlines during spring camp.

On Saturday, Butterfield made a statement performance. On his first throw of the afternoon, he found freshman Troy Franklin streaking down the right side of the field for a 41-yard completion.

Butterfield capped off the drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Kris Hutson five plays later.

“I love Butterfield,” Hutson said.

“All our quarterbacks can sling it but his arm is terrific.”

The quarterback competition will continue into the fall, and senior Anthony Brown is still the likely frontrunner, but it seems that Butterfield may be gaining an upper-hand as the backup.

He completed six of nine pass attempts for 118 yards and a touchdown.

2.

Justin Flowe didn’t miss a beat in his return After missing the 2020 season due to a torn meniscus, Justin Flowe was in danger of plummeting down the depth chart. Saturday, Flowe showed up early and often, recording four tackles and a sack.

“It’s great to see [Flowe] out there.

He’s a freak,” Spencer Webb said.

“He’s more motivated than ever,

and he’s gonna make some plays for us and I can’t wait to see that.”

Defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter used Flowe in three and four linebacker sets.

The freshman displayed range as a pass-rusher, run stuffer and coverage linebacker primarily out of the strong side linebacker position.

He came up and stuffed C.J. Verdell after using a swim move to dismantle Alex Forsythe, adding his second tackle for loss of the ball game.

His performance speaks volumes to the time he put into recovering from his injury and improving during spring camp.

Flowe will likely be integral in the middle for the Ducks, bringing another physical presence alongside Noah Sewell.

3.

Defensive schemes tailored to versatile personnel groupings Defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter used a 3-4 defensive scheme with Cal, but he has talked about retooling his scheme because of the versatility of Oregon’s defensive personnel.

“The defense is definitely different,” Jackson LaDuke said. “We play faster and [coach DeRuyter] has simplified things but we’re still adapting to our new roles.”

On Saturday, the Ducks’ first-team defense primarily rushed two down lineman and two edge rushers, while the three linebackers dropped into coverage.

Additionally, DeRuyter used freshman cornerback Donte Manning in a multitude of positions. Manning lined up in man on the outside and came inside on third downs to man the nickel back position.

4.

Walk-on Aaron Smith impressed in high-volume game The Oregon Ducks’ backfield, led by juniors Travis Dye and

Verdell, is one of the nation’s best and most experienced. However, walk-on freshman Aaron Smith made the best of his high-volume opportunity on Saturday. Smith carried the ball 15 times, tallying 56 yards and a touchdown.

“Aaron’s been a blessing to the running back room,” Verdell said.

“He’s picked up the offense right away and pays attention to detail.

I was very proud of what he did today.”

Smith scored a four-yard touchdown after an impressive 70-yard drive to start the second quarter. On that drive alone, he carried the ball five times for 29 yards.

The freshman from San Jose, California, took snaps behind Anthony Brown and Oregon’s starters. While Smith didn’t receive a carry in his three snaps with the starters, it shows that head coach Mario Cristobal has instilled trust in him and Smith might have the chance to come in relief of the starting running backs this season.

The atmosphere at the Ducks’ Saturday game was competitive as the offense and defense went head-to-head, culminating with Robby Ashford diving for the pylon on a two-point conversion on the final play of the game.

5.

Henry Katleman adds to impressive kicking resume After consecutive years of struggles in the kicking game, things are trending upwards for the Ducks. Henry Katleman boomed a 52-yarder through the uprights at the end of the first half on Saturday, building off his impressive late-season surge in 2020. He also knocked in a 37yard field goal earlier in the day.

Katleman and Camden Lewis took turns on kickoff duty. Each kicked one out of the back of the endzone for touchbacks, a potentially important sign for a Ducks team that regressed in both punt return and kick return defense last season.

Teams live and die by the efficiency of their kicking game and today Katleman showed that the Ducks can rely on his steady leg to be a complimentary part of their offense.

Ducks wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. (0) rushes the ball to the goal line. Oregon Ducks football host annual spring game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on May 1, 2021. (Maddie Stellingwerf/ Emerald) M O N D AY, M AY 3 , 2 0 2 1

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A&C

BRUCE PAVITT AND THE

BIRTH OF GRUNGE Seattle's music man shares his point of view on the Pacific Northwest scene, the start of Sub Pop and his upcoming project, Modify.

BY MALENA SAADEH

(Courtesy of Bruce Pavitt)

Even 30 years past its heyday, the noise up north stays synonymous with a stripped sound that translates on record just as it was made — raw, unpolished and packed full of punch. This infectious energy that became known as grunge first exploded in Seattle and sent out major shockwaves with its initial blast. But, believe it or not, this wasn’t always the case. It took Bruce Pavitt, a music fanatic from Chicago with an insatiable appetite for the underground music scene, to put the Pacific Northwest on the map. Building the record label Sub Pop from the ground up and taking his seat at the table as the guru of grunge, Pavitt’s mark on music knows no bounds both in the past and in the present.

Responsible for kickstarting the careers of greats like Mudhoney, Soundgarden and Nirvana, Sub Pop’s influence on the whole of pop culture is immeasurable. Before the Seattle label defined grunge and grunge defined not just a decade, but a lifestyle, the Northwest scene in the early eighties was wide open and its potential was ready to be pounced upon.

“People really had no idea what was going on in Seattle at that time, so we were able to create an almost mythical status for the city,” Pavitt said about the roots of Sub Pop. This whole journey started when Pavitt was a student at Evergreen State College, a liberal arts school in Washington, in 1979 and found himself a job as a DJ for local radio station KAOS. He had PA G E 8

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(Courtesy of Bruce Pavitt)

discovered his love for all things local back in Chicago, while shopping for vinyl at Wax Trax, and became hooked when he saw the DIY selection the Washington radio station had to offer.

“It became apparent to me that some of the most interesting music in the country was coming out on indie labels,” Pavitt said. “I realized that every city in the country had an art scene and that's where all the creative juice was going to be found.”

This realization led Pavitt to put together a zine called Subterranean Pop where he focused on fronting new wave, punk and experimental artists that weren’t yet in the public eye. In a time when being in the business meant being in a big city, local acts constantly flew under the radar of major labels, itching to be discovered, Pavitt said. With his finger on the pulse of the up and coming, Pavitt recognized the aesthetic similarities in music making across the board, and intended to tie like-minded musicians together.

The desire to connect music lovers to the music that they love continues to push Pavitt forward in the present, and he has been evolving his own work to appeal to the ever changing nature of the business.

Grunge ruled the world for a point in time — hell, its existence singlehandedly derailed the Sunset Strip — but keeping ahead of the curb allowed Pavitt to spot trends as they appear.

The Northwest, no doubt, has succumbed to a more indie energy since the end of grunge’s golden years,

and, although what's hot now may have changed, the roots stem from the same place.

“Indie culture is always going to primarily be resourceful. It’s going to work with smaller budgets, and it’s going to work creatively within those budgets,” Pavitt said. “That can take on any number of sounds.”

Bedroom pop acts like Rex Orange County and Clairo dominate the radio nowadays, Pavitt said, and while the theme might be a bit softer and more introspective, the foundational qualities are DIY through and through. Pavitt was always one to take a stab at a homespun sound, and that’s been on display since Nirvana’s 1989 Subpop debut “Bleach.” This album in particular was brought to life by producer Jack Endino in fewer than 30 hours for just over $600 and serves as a direct comparison to the climate of indie music making today. Now that anyone can master a recording in minutes with the technology available outside of a studio, the possibilities in music seem to be endless. Pavitt recognizes this phenomenon and is hoping to further pull out the producer in us all with his new project, Modify.

Working in collaboration with Sub Pop, Pavitt hints that Modify will change the way people see the limitations on music making. Though Modify is still in the works and there isn’t much out on it yet, one thing for sure is that Bruce Pavitt stays on the edge of innovation and continues to serve listeners the next step in music.

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A&C

UO STUDENTS CONNECT VIA DUCK NEST WELLNESS CHATS “It’s just a time for individuals to come in and talk about whatever’s on their mind,” peer wellness coordinator Georgia Greenblum said.

BY SAMMY PIEROTTI Starting school in the middle of a pandemic is hard. Social distancing is hard. Isolation is hard. The Duck Nest is here to provide students with resources, like Virtual Peer Wellness Chit Chats, to boost their mental health. Students can join via Zoom to talk about anything from roommate struggles to midterms with a Peer Wellness Advocate who is ready to help out in any way possible. In these times of isolation, sometimes it’s just nice to see a friendly face — even if it’s virtual.

Here’s how it works: students join a Zoom room and are paired with a Peer Wellness Advocate to talk about their problems.

Students can make reservations ahead of time or just show up and click the link.

“It’s just a time for individuals to come in and talk about whatever’s on their mind,” Georgia Greenblum said, a peer wellness coordinator at the Duck Nest and a UO junior.

Greenblum and her four colleagues, who are also students, run the Duck Nest and manage the 20 Peer Wellness Advocates that host the chit-chats.

“A Peer Wellness Advocate is an older, wiser person who has the knowledge and information to help you,” Greenblum explained.

The Duck Nest takes applications for Peer Wellness Advocates in winter, and it trains its new hires in spring. Future Peer Wellness Advocates take a two-credit class that prepares them for working in all facets of the Duck Nest.

“They know how to have tough conversations, how to listen, how to distract, how to have good conversations, which in today’s world can be really hard,” Greenblum said.

The chats are a fairly new program that the Duck Nest started this past year. “They’ve definitely been helpful with COVID and isolation,” Greenblum said. “People want and need to talk to somebody.”

UO also offers professional counseling services, but they might seem overly formal for students just looking

for a quick chat or resources. The wellness chit chats are much more palatable for some. A trained peer can be more approachable than a medical professional when it comes to talking about mental health.

“Sometimes people don’t feel like they need to see someone professionally like a therapist, but they don’t feel comfortable talking to their parents or friends about their issue,” Greenblum said.

Greenblum also said that most chats have been filled with a majority of first-years. “It’s honestly great — we want to be there for individuals who are on campus, and we want to be a resource to them,” she said.

Greenblum said that the Duck Nest considers the chats to be highly successful and that they’re looking to expand them as time goes on. “With the opening of some COVID restrictions, maybe we’ll be able to offer more times for people to come in,” she said.

The Duck Nest is also offering other programs and activities to keep the UO community engaged while everything is virtual.

Greenblum’s favorite is the cooking classes that the Duck Nest now offers virtually. “It’s so exciting to see people come in to cook overnight oats, loaded sweet potatoes, and do it all online,” she said. The recipes are also posted on Instagram, so it’s easy to find them if attending the Zoom sessions isn’t an option.

The Duck Nest also has activities planned for mental health awareness month in May, and Greenblum urges students to just stop by for resources in general.

“People should just come in, we always have free stuff. We always have craft kits, sleeping kits, aromatherapy kits, tea and it’s all free!” she said.

Editor’s note: Greenblum previously worked as a news reporter for the Emerald. She was not involved in the editorial process of this article, including pitching, writing and editing.

The Duck Nest has a physical location in the EMU, but also offers virtual services to help students, like Virtual Peer Wellness Chit Chats. The University of Oregon Duck Nest, located in the EMU, is a program that works to help students with their mental and physical health. (Will Geschke/Emerald)

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OPINION

TAKE A BREAK FROM BREAKING NEWS

Calloway: It’s exhausting to keep up with the news. Even amid breaking stories and released videos, you deserve to take a mental break from all things news.

(Billy Lawson/Emerald)

Between March 16 and April 18, the U.S. saw at least 45 mass shootings with four or more victims each, according to CNN. In the first half of April, the press covered the trial of George Floyd’s murderer, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin — and supporters of racial justice were able to celebrate when the jury announced three guilty verdicts.

Celebrate, that is, until minutes after the verdict was announced, when news spread around the nation about Ma’Khia Bryant, a 16-year-old girl shot and killed by police in Columbus, Ohio, that same day. All of that, and the COVID-19 updates never stop. So, let’s be real, the news can be a depressing hellhole; you deserve to take a break from it.

News causes a range of emotional responses.

Anger, grief, guilt, sorrow and, yes, even happiness.

The constant barrage of negative emotions is bound to exhaust anyone. The feelings violent stories evoke can linger while we try to do our everyday tasks.

Images and videos can be replayed when we close our eyes. Sometimes I’m so caught up in the news, I find myself neglecting my personal relationships. With all the doom and gloom out there, it’s worth intentionally taking time to spend energy on people and activities that make you smile. By doing so, you’ll remember that not every day is doomsday.

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for a short period of time (like for family dinner or a movie) and choosing how you want to receive news.

I love reading Eugene Weekly; it’s local, informative and usually not as depressing as CNN. Sometimes I’ll read only Eugene Weekly for a day or two before heading back to mainstream media.

If news outlets like CNN or MSNBC are too draining, try watching shows like “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” or “Real Time with Bill Maher.”

Shows like these acknowledge the viewers emotions while still reporting on what happened — and it doesn’t hurt that the sprinkles of humor will allow you to take a breath before carrying on.

But taking a break should not be permanent.

Trusted, unbiased news outlets are here for a reason, and that’s to educate us on what’s happening in our country. We deserve to know that as much as we deserve a break. Unfortunately, there isn’t a la la land where we can escape reality for the rest of our lives. Whether we want it or not, gun violence, police brutality, hate crimes, domestic violence and so much more are all part of living in America. It becomes a choice to decide to never watch the news again, and willful ignorance is not a solution.

The news lets you know whose name needs to be shouted in grief or anger. The news informs us of the changes, even the small ones, that move us toward a brighter future. The news is an essential part of our society, and we have to treat it as such.

But when George Floyd was murdered, I watched

the video at least five times. It affected my social and academic life. My sleep schedule. My emotional state.

I learned that sometimes putting ourselves first in order to function isn’t selfish and doesn’t make you a bad person.

For the past eight months, my life has been consumed by news and media outlets. I go to work where CNN plays throughout the day. I come home and turn the TV on, which is still on MSNBC from the night before. I end my nights by checking Twitter.

I work at a newspaper. I’ve grieved for and with strangers. I’ve seen more than enough murders through the lens of a body cam to last a lifetime. I am tired, and I know you are too. So, tonight, I invite you to turn off all news outlets, pour yourself a glass of anything that makes you happy and watch your favorite movie or TV show. If this past year taught us anything, it’s that we deserve a mental break from breaking news every now and then.

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