UO professor removed from Native American and Indigenous Studies program
Master's is the new Bachelor's
Zaida Ferguson Opinion Columnist
Until recently, earning a bachelor’s degree felt like crossing a major milestone — a oneway ticket to an equitable future. But that finish line has been moved. Over the years, it seems that a bachelor’s degree isn’t enough anymore — not for the job market, nor for students who wake up wondering if they’ll need a master’s degree just to secure an entry-level job. So I find myself asking: Are students pursuing graduate education out of a desire for knowledge, or is it out of a sense of survival to set themselves apart from bachelor’s students in an act of desperation to feel “qualified enough?”
Media Day provides preview of 2025 season
By Max Koebel Sports Reporter
“What’s the best version of us?” is the question that head coach Dan Lanning has brought to every season, and that will never change.
Oregon’s record has improved each season under Lanning, the last of which contained a perfect regular season and a Big Ten championship before losing in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals. While the results may have improved, Lanning’s approach has stayed the same entering his fourth season in Eugene.
Hamilton Hall is (finally) being demolished
By Reilly Norgren News Editor
Hamilton Hall will be completely demolished by the end of this year, completing the final phase of the Hamilton Walton Transformation Project.
Maya McLeroy is an ocean: self-publishing at 20 years old
For Oregon volleyball, almost everyone is new to Eugene
FILLING THE GAP
Debt and cost cutting to guide Regina Lawrence’s interim SOJC deanship
By Elle Kubiaczyk News Reporter
Regina Lawrence was announced as the interim dean of the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication on Aug. 1.
Lawrence steps into the role amid a multi-million dollar budget deficit left behind by former Dean Juan-Carlos Molleda, who resigned following scrutiny over his travel expenses and financial management of the school.
Lawrence received a master’s degree in political science from the University of Colorado-Boulder, and earned her Ph.D. in political science at the University of Washington. Her research concentrates on the role media plays in conversations and coverage of politics and policy. She has taken a particular interest in gender politics, the competitive nature of political news coverage and the influence of social media strategies in campaigns. Her research has been published in Political Communication, Political Research Quarterly and Journalism Studies.
She has also written a number of books including “Hillary Clinton’s Race for the White House: Gender Politics and the Media on the Campaign Trail,” “When the Press Fails: Political Power and the News Media from Iraq to Katrina” and “The Politics of Force: Media and the Construction of Police Brutality.”
In 2011 she began her role as director of the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life, a program in which students and faculty work collaboratively to research civic participation statewide, at the University of Texas, Austin. In 2015, Lawrence was hired as the executive director for the SOJC at UO’s Portland Campus and shortly after transitioned to associate dean.
Photo courtesy of the University of Oregon
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Community concern surrounds “Flock camera” installation
New license plate readers installed throughout Eugene caused public outcry at a recent police commission meeting.
Billie Corsetti News Reporter
The Eugene Police Department signed a contract with safety network company Flock Safety to install 57 license plate reading cameras in Eugene to “combat rising crime rates” according to Captain Jake Burke, manager of EPD’s Investigation’s Division.
Outdoor school, how we love you so
Opinion: Outdoor school is a pivotal experience for almost every Oregonian, and should be protected at all costs.
Rachel Ehly Opinion Columnist
When I was 11 years old, I was forced to live in the woods for an entire week with no contact with the outside world.
In fact, almost every Oregonian for the last 60 years has done the same.
How Blue Root soap is keeping Eugene clean
Emerald Media Group 1395 University St.,#302 Eugene, Or 97403 (541)-346-5511
Art and science merge as local soapmaker Jenny Coyne handcrafts deliciously scented bars of soap.
Mark Munson-Warnken
Arts & Culture Writer
As the dead heat of summer approaches, the verdant fields and lawns of Eugene wither under the watch of an ever hotter sun. Ready to cut through the grime of dusty outdoor adventures of a summer break well spent is Jenny Coyne, a 47-year-old Eugene nurse and soapmaker, who has been handcrafting soap in Eugene for the last two decades.
Former five-star Jurrion Dickey suspended from Oregon football team
After multiple accounts of starting fights with teammates and staff, Dickey has been suspended from Oregon’s roster for the foreseeable future.
Jack Lazarus Sports Editor
Sources close to the team have told The Daily Emerald that wide receiver and former five-star recruit Jurrion Dickey is no longer with the team, but according to Max Torres of On3, this is only intended to be a temporary measure.
“Jurrion’s indefinitely suspended with us right now,” Oregon head coach Dan Lanning said at his Monday evening press conference. “We got two team rules: be respectful and be on time. There’s some pieces of that where I felt like he needed a break from us and we needed a break from that, so we could focus on what’s in front of us right now. Wishing him nothing but the best as far as success and want to see him get back.” Continue story online
(Uriah Barzola/Emerald)
(Rachel Ehly/Emerald)
(Uriah Barzola/Emerald)
(Jonathan Suni/Emerald)
UO professor removed from Native American and Indigenous Studies program following disputed claim of Native ancestry
UO professor Brian Klopotek was removed from Native American and Indigenous Studies program after a report questioned his ancestry.
By Ana Narayan Investigations Editor
A University of Oregon associate professor has been removed from the Native American and Indigenous Studies program after a report by an external watchdog group raised questions about his Native American ancestry, the university confirmed to The Daily Emerald on July 29. For the past two decades, Brian Klopotek, who works in the department of Indigenous, Race and Ethnic Studies, has professionally identified as a member of the Choctaw Native American tribe.
In March, a report by the Tribal Alliance Against Frauds published a report alleging Klopotek has no verifiable Native American ancestry. The allecations were based on its review of Klopotek’s genealogy. The organization is a nonprofit group committed to “exposing” individuals and orga-
nizations that “fraudulently claim to be American Indian people or Tribes,” according to its website.
When asked by The Daily Emerald about the legitimacy of the findings from the TAAF report, Klopotek said, “I’ve been taught, and I believe, that people can articulate their Native identity with imperfect evidence, which I have, especially when they’re claimed as Native family by other Natives, which I am, and when they’re transparent about (it) which I have been.”
He said he has retained “precious evidence” of his heritage and has “elements of insider cultural knowledge.”
Klopotek said he learned early in his career as a professor that the “paper trail doesn’t always do justice to the broad story of Native survival in Louisiana,” because of the neglect of Native and Indigenous people by the federal government.
“People know who I am in Louisiana,” he said. “They know where my family’s from, what my story is and I’ve always been as straightforward as possible about saying who I am.”
He has been at the university since 2003 and his identity as a Native American has allowed him access to many achievements and opportunities nationwide.
The TAAF report alleged he received “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in resources in recognition of his Native American heritage, which the organization alleges is fraudulent. He has previously been named the “Disadvantaged Minority Fellow” to the MacArthur Interdisciplinary Program for International Peace and Cooperation, received the Native American Visiting Student Award from Smithsonian Institute, UC Berkeley President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship for women and minorities, and many other opportunities which are reserved for Native American individuals.
TAAF’s investigation into Klopotek alleged he had fully European ancestry which they discovered through their internal genealogy team, who conducted reviews of his relatives. The organization said Cherokee Scholars, a community from the Cherokee tribe who engage in scholarly research and teachings, accused Klopotek of “academic dishonesty and falsification of a material fact” in a published statement.
UO has also recognized Klopotek’s ancestry in the past, awarding him with the Proudly Recognizing Indigenous Devotion to Education Award from the university’s Center for Multicultural Academic Excellence.
Over the years, many Native Americans have raised concerns about Klopotek’s legitimacy as an Indigenous American, according to TAAF.
When the issue was brought to the organization, TAAF said it conducted research by evaluating “hundreds” of Klopotek’s family lineage and past genealogy records through the help of the Mississippi Historical Society and the Oklahoma Historical Society, according to their website.
The NAIS program is “working collectively” to address the impacts of the situation and uphold the “values and commitments” of the community and its students, the uni-
“They know where my family’s from, what my story is and I’ve always been as straightforward as possible about saying who I am.
Brian Klopotek UO Professor “
versity said in a statement to The Emerald.
The university declined to say whether it was investigating Klopotek further based on the TAAF’s report. They also declined to comment further on Klopotek’s departure from the program.
Klopotek said he would return to teaching in the fall. When asked whether he will still continue his work with the NAIS program, he said, “I don’t have an answer for that.”
(Photo Courtesy of the University of Oregon)
Oregon housing budget defunds local tenant support non-profit by 70%
A budget bill passed by the Oregon House limits resources available for the Springfield Eugene Tenant Association.
By Billie Corsetti News Reporter
The approved 2025-2027 budget for the Oregon Housing and Community Services will reduce funding for eviction prevention and long-term rent assistance, creating limitations for tenant support organizations across the state, including the Springfield Eugene Tenant Association.
SETA is a nonprofit organization that provides information and assistance to renters in the Eugene and Springfield area. Their main program is their 24/7 hotline, where renters can call to ask questions and receive answers within 48 hours. They recently announced on their website that they would be facing an over 70% reduction in their operating budget.
The Oregon State Legislature passed budget bill 5011 in the recent legislative session, which reduced funding for housing stabilization, eviction prevention and rent-assistance programs. In Gov. Tina Kotek’s signing letter for the bill, she noted that rehousing services and eviction prevention was severely underfunded compared to her recommended budget, cutting over half of its funding.
According to SETA’s monthly reports, the hotline has averaged over 200 calls a month since the beginning of the year. For July 2025, the majority of these calls were related to issues of late rent, financial assistance, termination notices and repairs, SETA Executive Director Timothy Morris said. He says the hotline has been extremely successful in preventing the eviction of tenants.
“Our main mission is to provide clear information and resources to tenants who are in need, while also doing it at
“Our main mission is to provide clear information and resources to tenants who are in need, while also doing it at extremely low cost.
Timothy Morris SETA Executive Director “
extremely low cost to prevent significant legal fees or unnecessary move-outs or harmful evictions,” Morris said. “Our team (members) are considered experts in not only landlord tenant law, but also fair housing laws and other resources.”
Oregon had record-high rates of eviction filings in 2024 with a total of 27,290 according to the Oregon Law Center. Kotek stressed in her signing letter the importance of stabilized housing through rent assistance and eviction prevention, saying that eviction prevention is essential to stopping homelessness.
Morris agrees with Kotek. “It is proven and known that house eviction prevention and homelessness prevention works, but also is significantly cheaper than providing re-
sources to the unhoused or providing shelters or temporary places to live.”
However, Morris doesn’t believe that the approved OHCS budget reflects this information.
“What we’re seeing is a consignment from the state of Oregon that they know people are going to be unhoused now, and that evictions that could be preventable are a lesser priority,” Morris said.
Cuts to the OHCS budget will detrimentally affect the availability of staff and resources of SETA, according to the announcement. The organization has already shut down their Free Education Program, laid off members of their staff and will have to reduce their hotline hours.
“Every single staff member working at SETA right now is working at half time. We are putting 100% of our programmatic funds right into the hotline in order to keep it working at the same operating level, so from an outside perspective we hope that it won’t look any different,” Morris said.
SETA also receives funding from the City of Eugene through the Community Development Block Grant CARES Act and its rental housing program, according to Lindsay Selser, a member of the city of Eugene’s Planning and Development Department. Selser said that the city will continue to fund SETA during the next fiscal year through these programs.
Despite these efforts, Morris is worried about the program’s long-term survival.
“We are burning through cash reserves, and we’re operating at a negative for this annual year and for future years. So it is not a sustainable approach long-term, but we are working as hard as we can to keep it alive.”
Now at reduced hours, SETA’s hotline is still open for tenants to call. In their announcement to the public about next steps, the organization said they were researching emergency grants and other alternative funding streams through the city and state. They hope to work with policymakers to restore their previous services and availability.
Hamilton Hall is (finally) being demolished
Hamilton Hall, known for its slow journey to demolition, is at last being removed.
The project first broke ground in 2021 with the construction of Unthank Hall, which houses a dining hall and dormitory space for 700 students. The second phase, completed in August 2023, was the construction of the two new residence halls — Yasui Hall and New Residence Hall.
The three new residence halls, combined, will offer 400-800 more bed spaces than were available in Hamilton.
The demolition of Hamilton will be followed by the development of a new green space. After renovation is completed, which is currently expected to be summer 2026, there will be 20% more green space in the area. This green space will replace Humpy Lumpy Lawn, the lawn on which Unthank was built, and will also include three beach volleyball courts.
The construction began in June with a salvage operation, or removing all the usable furniture and appliances from the building. Abatement, the containment and removal of hazardous material to minimize risk to health and the environment, will begin in August.
Hamilton, which was constructed in 1961, is known to contain asbestos. Asbestos exposure could happen if the material covering it, such as paint or drywall, is damaged. All students sign a disclaimer as
part of their housing contract when moving into the residence halls. Despite this, it was a point of concern for several freshman students who lived in Hamilton.
As per the housing contract, walls are regularly inspected for damage and ensured to lack asbestos exposure to students prior to their move-in date.
Asbestos abatement is a lengthy process in which the asbestos-containing materials are sealed prior to demolition. It seeks to minimize the release of asbestos fibers into the air through a series of inspections to identify materials and isolations of the work area.
Demolition of the building itself will not begin until November, beginning on the north side of the building. The final wing to be removed will be the one closest to Unthank. According to UO spokesperson Eric Howald, most of the project will occur during the winter break to minimize interruption to students.
Hamilton’s demolition and the development of new green space will cost approximately $10 million, according to Howald. University Housing is funded by room and board and dining fees and its projects are managed separately from the university’s primary academic budget.
Hamilton was originally intended to be demolished during September 2023, but was delayed following the two-year long
closure of the Kalapuya Ilihi residence hall. Hamilton remained open for incoming freshmen because of the number of rooms lost by the closure of Kalapuya.
Kalapuya will be reopened this fall, allowing for the second and third step of the Hamilton Walton project to be completed.
In addition to the demolition being put off, Hamilton’s delays pushed back the possibility of an on-campus beach volleyball facility for UO’s women’s beach volleyball team. The team had previously sued the
university for Title IX violations. A facility for their team was part of the lawsuit’s demands from the university.
Currently, the green space, including the volleyball courts, is anticipated to be completed by summer 2026.
(Summer Surgent-Gough/Emerald)
Photo courtesy of the University of Oregon
Interim dean Regina Lawrence to seek financial stability for SOJC
Lawrence was chosen to lead SOJC following Molleda resignation amid financial uncertainty.
In her temporary position at the Eugene campus, Lawrence clarified she is not completely relocating her home and will continue to stay connected to the Portland community, in part due to her family.
Her husband runs a rapidly growing business called Wildwood Chocolate, based in Portland. Their daughter is earning her master’s of social work at Portland State University, and their son, who has recently graduated from Grant High School, will be playing soccer at an international soccer academy.
The search for a permanent dean is still ongoing and the position is anticipated to be filled by July 2026.
Amid financial uncertainty and expected layoffs throughout the entire university, all colleges must make an effort to cut costs. Lawrence confirms it’s “definitely a year for action. It’s not a year for kind of caretaking or sitting passively.”
She adds that many decisions are already underway: “The things I’ve started working on now were really already in progress, which is trying to come up with a plan for how can we cut some costs, also, hopefully, how can we generate more revenues.”
Lawrence’s time at UO’s Portland Campus as the associate dean ensures a smooth transition as she navigates the challenges posed in her new position. Her responsibilities included facilitating and supervising the three professional masters programs: Multimedia Storytelling, Immersive Media Communication and Strategic Communication. Lawrence assures that “as much as possible, trains run on time for all our graduate students.”
UO Portland’s unique master’s degree, Immersive Media Communication, is fully online and launched under Lawerence’s administration in 2023, providing students a flexible higher education experience. She notes, “We were only the second or third online only program at the University.”
Lawrence was the associate dean as the Portland Campus changed locations from downtown to the former Concordia University campus. She was tasked in overseeing its construction and exploring potential housing options for students. Planned facilities include an advanced production studio equipped with a nine by 20 foot LED wall and an audio booth.
Beyond her contribution as associate dean, she had immense influence at the broader Portland campus community. Lawrence held leadership positions at the Oregon
Reality Lab, which conducts research and creative content building, and at the Agora Journalism Center, grounded in community-focused journalism. Across the Portland campus, she chaired an academic committee that addressed the academic needs of all students, not limited to the SOJC.
From afar she continued to stay involved at the SOJC at the Eugene campus as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the co-chair of the Graduate Council and contributed to Ph.D. admission decisions.
As the interim dean, many of the required re-
“ It’s a particularly crucial moment for schools like ours to be articulating the value of what we do, but also not just defending traditional ways of doing things.
Regina Lawrence SOJC Interim Dean “
sponsibilities are familiar to Lawrence, including the “wearing of a lot of different hats” and “the management of a lot of different projects and processes.” In addition, she will continue to have a direct relationship with the Provost, the campus at large and external SOJC benefactors.
The magnitude of student enrollment at the Eugene campus, which has over 20,000 SOJC students compared to Portland’s at around 3,000, poses a unique undertaking for Lawrence:
“I think the interim dean’s job, is that same multifaceted job, but at a much higher and bigger level, right? There’s so much more at the SOJC overall, of course –– so many more programs, so many more students and so many more faculty,” she said.
Lawrence believes the key to her adjustment and success is learning, listening and consulting with Eugene faculty and students. In the fall, with the arrival of more students and colleagues, she will have ample opportunity to “reach out to the people that I can and just hear what their ideas are, what their concerns are, and kind of put all of that together.”
Additionally, the interim dean’s admiration for the SOJC community is a driving force behind her willingness to take on this new opportunity during a critical time for UO. Lawrence said, “I remember when I interviewed here. It was over 10 years ago now, and I was just so drawn in by the creativity and smarts of this group of people, the faculty and the students here.”
Lawrence said she is dedicated to securing the unique character of the SOJC in fostering the collaboration of academics, professionals, creatives and practitioners: “I told the provost that I would be willing to step up because we’re in an important moment for the school. A lot has happened, and we need to get ourselves ready for a successful search for the next dean”
Broadly, Lawrence articulates concern about the threat journalism faces under the current presidential administration, and the role the SOJC plays in moving the profession forward. The technological advancements of AI has caused the field of journalism to adapt in this new landscape, Lawrence adds.
She continues to emphasize the importance of innovation and ethics in the midst of uncertainty. “It’s a particularly crucial moment for schools like ours to be articulating the value of what we do, but also sort of not just defending traditional ways of doing things,” Lawrence said.
OPINION
Master's is the new Bachelor's
More people are going to get their master’s degrees, but is it out of the drive for an education, or because having a master's degree is the new bachelor's degree?
According to the Report on the Condition of Education 2024, master’s degree rates rose by 16% between 2021-22. In the United States, we’re seeing a new high in master’s degrees, now reaching 880,200 new master’s degrees annually. For undergrads, there is a sense of fear that even though they’ve pursued a bachelor’s, they didn’t obtain a master’s and therefore, it amounts to nothing. This growing pressure to pursue a higher degree has left many undergraduates questioning if the education is worth it.
Emma Kahl is an opinion columnist for The Daily Emerald. She is currently a junior, majoring in written journalism and minoring in global studies. Her writing focuses on social commentary, culture and politics.
The line between underqualified and overqualified has blurred as job listings continue to demand advanced credentials; jobs that once required a bachelor’s degree now often require a master’s or even a doctorate. Students tend to feel caught in a system of education that tells them to either take on more debt for additional schooling or risk being overlooked in the workforce — this is intentional, to set apart people by class.
I asked Caleb McDonnell, a recent graduate with a bachelor’s in business, how he felt about the rise in students obtaining their master’s.
“I’m not able to get my master’s because of financial and life constraints, along with the need to start my working career,” McDonnell said.
“I do feel like I’m more likely to lose a job to someone with a master’s; people with a bachelor’s are competing for the same jobs that master’s graduates are applying to nowadays, but it also depends on prior experience.”
Not only is this an expensive competition of being able to afford a graduate program, but it’s also an emotionally exhausting one. Students are made to feel unprepared by the very system designed to support them — a system pushing for more and more education, not because they aren’t ready or qualified, but because they’re told they’re not ready and need to pursue more education.
When asking Sam Davis, a University of Oregon business student why he’s pursuing his mas-
ter’s, he stated, “with my undergraduate degree, there’s still a great window of opportunity, but with a master’s, it also allows you to focus more on a specific subject, and that’ll help me narrow down a job I love. Undergrad doesn’t guarantee a job you’ll enjoy.”
Many graduate degrees promise a higher level of expertise, but they don’t always guarantee better jobs. As a result of students seeking higher education, employers value experience, certifications and soft skills over academic credentials. This creates a disconnect; students pursue higher education hoping to stand out, while hiring managers require qualities and real work experience, things a classroom can’t teach.
There’s been such an emphasis on the need for education, but the value of real work experience has been long forgotten. We’ve missed the point of gaining an education. It’s not just about sitting in a classroom for hours passing tests, and collecting all the degrees you can; it’s about experience.
Pursuing a master’s degree should be motivated by passion, not by panic or the need to stand out. The line between genuine skill-building and survival has been blurred by the emphasis placed on higher education. At some point, we need to question whether higher education is helping students develop their skills, or if it’s adding to the cycle of credential inflation, leaving students chasing degrees instead of dreams.
Zaida is an Advertising major with a minor in Philosophy and Business at the University of Oregon. She’s passionate about storytelling that amplifies underrepresented voices and critiques systemic issues. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring pop culture, listening to music, and catching up on social trends over coffee with friends.
Handmade to massmade: The infiltration of cheap goods in local markets
Emma Kahl Opinion Columnist
If I see one more AliExpress ring that I know will turn my finger green, I might scream. I go to markets to buy the spoon bracelet that a woman is shaping right in front of me, not for something I know will tarnish as soon as I hand over my cash.
It’s disheartening to see more and more resold cheap items take up space at local markets. As the purpose of local markets is to uplift vendors and small businesses, cheap goods weaken what local markets are really about.
Holli Hebl is the owner of Stone Bird Art and has been selling at the Eugene Saturday Market since moving to the area about six months ago. She said that the market was a big draw for moving to Eugene because there’s an automatic venue for artists to sell their work.
“As for the community, I can’t emphasize enough how deep and far-reaching the impact is. It’s a Saturday meeting place, a chance to see new interesting things, a place to bring out-oftown guests and everyone in the community comes together in this small space. You never know who you’re going to meet or what you’re going to see; It’s magical,” Hebl said.
When asked about the infiltration of massmade goods in local markets, Hebl said that it “lessens the uniqueness and integrity” as well as the “wholesomeness” of the market.
Reselling cheap plastic items that will soon end up in the landfill undermines the purpose of local markets.
“Mass-produced items can be sold at a lower price and are often disposable. When you purchase something from a vendor who has grown or made it themselves, there is an intrinsic increase in the value placed on an item. You treasure it more and you are more cognizant of making sure it’s well used or loved.”
Hebl also mentioned that the market has strict rules for what can be sold and that items must be deemed handmade.
Even with rules in place, it seems that some goods don’t align with the market’s original purpose.
Loïc Matlosz, a woodworker who moved to Eugene from France, is a frequent visitor to the Saturday Market. He typically goes for the ambiance and to learn from vendors about the skills that it takes to make their goods.
He said that he can see the value in more affordable goods being sold as the market brings in a lot of students on a budget.“Not everyone has the capacity to buy these products; not all people can afford a $700 wooden table,” he said.
“What I noticed at first was the 3D printed plastic toys. That’s still a skill to make, but I don’t really like the cheap plastic results. I’m also starting to notice all the stuff that isn’t made by people, like reselling stuff. I think that’s maybe even worse,” Matlosz said.
As much as affordability matters, it shouldn’t come at the cost of authenticity and sustainable local creativity.
Our World in Data, the online scientific publication, says that “plastic production has more than doubled in the last two decades.”
Continuing to sell plastic goods in markets not only creates more waste but also commodifies community spaces that are meant to share authentic, handmade items created to be cherished. Prioritize localism by buying from creators of sustainable goods. This means you’ll not only be valuing sales but also the stories of local artisans.
(Noa Shwartz/Emerald)
(Maddie Knight/Emerald)
Event goers relax on a lawn next to the Eugene Saturday Market.
The outdoor Market offers hundreds of vendors every Saturday from April to November in Downtown Eugene, Ore.
Continued from page 1
ARTS & CULTURE
By Sadie Mordan Arts & Culture Writer
Maya McLeroy is an ocean: self-publishing at 20 years old
Rising senior Maya McLeroy created a time capsule of her grief, love and
strength in the form of a self-published poetry book with writings from UO’s Kidd Creative Workshop.
In the mini free libraries of Eugene, you may find a bluespined book with two girls hand-in-hand on its cover, walking into an ocean. The book? “A Girl Is An Ocean,” left on respective shelves by its author, Maya McLeroy, in hopes of sharing her labor of love.
McLeroy grew up on a vineyard in Newberg, Oregon alongside two parents, two grandparents, a younger brother and various farm dogs. A student of UO’s Clark Honors College, she studies journalism and creative writing.
McLeroy has published her writing online since middle school, when she started a blog titled “La Vie en Maya” — a nod to the French saying “La vie en rose” (“life in pink”) — but it’s long been a dream of hers to hold her writing in her hands. A virtual writing workshop class she took during the COVID-19 pandemic played a key role in her realizing this dream could become a reality.
A few years later, when McLeroy was a sophomore in college, she took UO’s Kidd Creative Writing Workshop, a year-long workshop that facilitates the writing of poetry or fiction. It was on the poetry track that McLeroy explored her grief, falling in love and what it means to be strong, producing many of the poems that would make up “A Girl Is An Ocean.”
“As corny as it sounds, it was through the Kidd Work-
This summer’s hottest new music releases
A review of new music released this summer and a peak into upcoming albums and artists.
By Everette Cogswell Arts & Culture Writer
This summer has been quite the season for new music. Music fans of all genres have gotten plenty of releases from both old and new artists. From bluegrass, to indie-rock, to pop, this summer’s releases hit across the board.
“Virgin” - Lorde
After Charli xcx hinted during her 2025 Coachella set that many artists would be releasing new music this summer, fans were excited to hear about Lorde’s new album “Virgin.” Following the release of her 2021 album, “Solar Power,” “Virgin” was highly anticipated and did not disappoint. Following the solo release of the track “What Was That,” fans eagerly awaited the rest of the record. In an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, Lorde said this album is “Kind of like a photo of yourself that you don’t love but captures something true about you.” Honest and vulnerable as ever, Lorde has created a relatable album for many.
shop — coming back to poetry and expressing myself — it was kind of a way of me coming back to life in a way,” McLeroy said.
It was McLeroy’s mother who encouraged her to consider publishing the poems she’d written, highlighting that self-publishing was immediately less daunting when the writing portion was already complete. Convinced, McLeroy spent the following summer revising poems, sourcing potential covers from her grandmother’s painting portfolio and researching self-publishing platforms.
“I didn’t really know anyone who had ever put together a chapbook and distributed it,” McLeroy said. “But a quick Google search showed me a lot of different resources that are out there and made the process a little less scary.”
According to Blurb, chapbooks are books of about 20 to 40 pages, often used to showcase poetry collections and experimental writing. Chapbooks prove favorable to self-publishers as they are relatively inexpensive.
McLeroy settled on using Blurb’s BookWright software to fulfill her formatting and printing needs. After some copying and pasting, she ordered a mock copy to survey the final product. With few revisions, “A Girl Is An Ocean” was completed and published in October 2024, shortly before McLeroy’s 21st birthday. McLeroy ordered 100 copies. She gifted copies to professors and mailed others to those who expressed interest around the United States, noting that she’s “not a good salesperson” and may have been bet-
“SWAG” - Justin Bieber
A day before the secret release of Justin Bieber’s new album, “SWAG,” various billboards popped up alluding to the album. Since the debut of his previous album, “Justice,” a lot has changed for Bieber. Receiving a 7.3 from Pitchfork, “SWAG” is described by author Rawiya Kameir as “warm, blissful, and a little out of touch.”
“SWAG,” is a unique collection of songs that speaks to Bieber’s current place in life, and that comes across strongly in his lyricism.
“DON’T TAP THE GLASS” - Tyler, The Creator
Following the release of Tyler, the Creator’s 2024 album “CHROMAKOPIA,” fans were shocked by the semi-surprise release of his new album, “DON’T TAP THE GLASS.”
The record has a lot of fun playing with dream-like backtracks and production, tying into a lot of similar sounds from Tyler, the Creator in past albums. As his second album in less than a year, “DON’T TAP THE GLASS” is clearly less powerful than the previous record, “CHROMAKOPIA.” However, the album is a strong medley of music and clearly possesses high production quality.
“Snipe Hunter” - Tyler Childers
Tyler Childers’s new country album, “Snipe Hunter,” is nothing short of perfect for the summer season. The standout tracks being “Oneida,” “Eatin’ Big Time, “Bitin’ List” and “Nose on the Grindstone,” Childers sings about themes he’s never sung about before.
Millan Verma, a writer with Pitchfork, said “[Childers] may be the first person with a Kentucky drawl to sing about dharma, rolling ‘like the Pandavas’ with his brothers, and bringing his wife and mother to a nirvana-like oasis where they sing Hare Krishna and West Virginia fiddle standards alike.”
ter off taking advantage of BookWright’s partnership with Amazon intended to help authors sell books easily.
When asked what she’d say to someone reluctant but interested in self-publishing, McLeroy expressed her belief in one’s time to write without thinking of publishing, focusing instead on finding their voice. She does believe, however, that there’s also a time to just go for it.
“There’s a difference between feeling like your work isn’t ready to be shared and also just the natural kind of fear of putting yourself out there,” McLeroy said. “If you truly think that you’ve revised it enough and you feel like you want to put it out into the world, then just try and separate your ego from the work itself. … And just go for it.”
Because published writing, if nothing else, is a time capsule for its author. “A Girl Is An Ocean” is McLeroy’s sophomore year of college in prose, sestina and haibun form.
So if you are interested in self-publishing but don’t know where to begin, revisit old journal entries and class projects; you may be surprised to find that you’ve already begun the process. After some revision and tinkering with bookmaking resources, you may add a chapbook of your own to the mini, free libraries of Eugene. And finally, upon returning to those libraries, you may find that the copies you left on respective shelves have been taken to be read, as McLeroy found with “A Girl Is An Ocean.”
“Must have been popular,” McLeroy said with a smile.
“Precipice” - Indigo de Souza
Indigo de Souza’s new record, “Precipice,” is a great addition to the summer music scene. As her fourth album, “Precipice” uses unique percussion, synth and vocals to create a well-rounded indie rock album.
Receiving a lower score of 6.6 from Pitchfork, Grace Robins-Somerville said, “With a shift toward cleaned-up synth-pop, the singer-songwriter’s fourth studio album leaves her standout vocal performances feeling less distinct.” However, the shift away from a vocal concentration is a nice change of pace for De Souza and makes this record feel more cohesive and multifaceted.
“Bite Me” - Renee Rapp
Known for her authentic personality, Reneé Rapp does not hold back in her new album, “Bite Me.” This album follows her debut album “Snow Angel,” from 2023 and after her starring role as Regina George in the 2024 film “Mean Girls,” she has returned to the pop world.
Lyrics like “signed a hundred NDAs but I still say something,” from the track “Leave me Alone” really add to the spirit of the album. Choosing such a bold song as the opening track sets the theme of the album effectively. Rapp has never held back in the lyricism of her songs, and “Bite Me” is no deviation from her daring songwriting.
Upcoming Releases
Many albums and singles are set to release later this season with big names such as Sabrina Carpenter releasing her second studio album, “Man’s Best Friend,” on Aug. 29, 2025. Other upcoming album releases include Laufey’s “A Matter of Time,” Mac Demarco’s “Guitar,” Big Thief’s “Summer Infinity,” Deftones’s “private music,” Blood Orange’s “Essex Honey” and many more exciting for all types of music lovers.
(Ilka Sankari/University of Oregon)
SPORTS
Media Day provides preview of 2025 season
Here is what Dan Lanning sees in his young squad as the season kickoff approaches.
One thing that will be put to the test this year is Lanning’s ability to develop young players. The past couple seasons, he has brought in many players from the transfer portal who already had several years of experience on the field. This year, most of Oregon’s roster consists of athletes who sat back and watched most of last year, getting some reps in practice and at the end of blowout games. At the Big Ten Football Media Day in Las Vegas, Lanning and many of his players spoke on the team’s vision heading into the season.
“This group looks a lot like you want it to look as far as size, speed (and) athleticism,” Lanning said. “It’s our job now to get them caught up to where they can go execute at a high level.”
Playing behind a roster with so much talent and success created a great learning environment for the players who now have the opportunity to step into bigger roles.
“We sent a lot of guys on to the NFL,” Lanning said. “A lot of opportunities. That doesn’t mean the guys behind them aren’t gonna be the same quality players. Every year we’ve had more get the opportunity to play in the league, so I think you’re gonna see some faces that are certainly capable of that. It starts with what they do at Oregon.”
Ten players were selected out of Oregon at
For Oregon volleyball, almost everyone is new to Eugene
After an offseason that included a major turnover of both coaching staff and players, Oregon volleyball aims to bounce back in 2025 with a roster that is almost completely new to Eugene.
By Jack Lazarus Sports Editor
Out goes the legendary head coach Matt Ulmer, in comes Trent Kersten. In December 2024, Oregon secured its third-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen and its fifth in Ulmer’s eight seasons in charge. The Ducks had a roster full of outgoing seniors, but the crop of young talent that saw little time on-court last season hoped to continue the positive momentum.
Then, sudden, forced change struck the program.
On Jan. 17, just over a month after the Ducks’ successful tournament run, Ulmer left Eugene for greener pastures (and a larger paycheck) in Lawrence, Kansas.
record and went 29-5 in West Coast Conference play. He led LMU to its first West Coast Conference title since 1996 and won the 2024 WCC Coach of the Year.
“(I) can’t wait to get rolling this year,” Kersten said at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago. “We’ve got 16 people that haven’t played together before, so what an opportunity for us to collaborate and figure out how we can discover our best volleyball.”
Kersten approaches an interesting challenge in his first season in Eugene, as 15 of the 16 players on the roster are new. Senior libero and defensive specialist Maya De Los Reyes is the only returnee from 2024’s roster.
this year’s NFL draft, breaking the school’s program record for total drafted players in one year. The number of players drafted in 2024 wasn’t much smaller and 35 players were new faces from the transfer portal. The team chemistry was not there at the start of last season and it showed in the first couple of games, especially on the offensive line.
Even though it wasn’t pretty, the Ducks still came out on top in those early season games, and Lanning was able to make adjustments to move the team in the right direction as the season progressed.
“You learn a lot of things about your team,” Lanning said regarding the early season games. “In most seasons, you are going to experience some form of adversity. It’s about how your team handles that, and I thought our guys handled it really well early in the season. There’s gonna be some growing pains. The key is, you hope you can grow through wins.”
Oregon will open the season at home against Montana State University, a top-two Football Championship Subdivision team that should bring a similar challenge to what the University of Idaho (also an FCS school) brought in last year’s opener. The Ducks will also visit four new Big Ten venues at Northwestern, Penn State, Rutgers and Iowa. One thing Lanning often preaches is that every game is an opportunity. This season presents an opportunity for a young team to defend the crown of one of college football’s toughest conferences under the brightest of lights.
Along with the renowned head coach, University of Kansas hired the technically savvy Erika Dillard (Ulmer’s associate head coach in Eugene) to the same role for the Jayhawks. KU also poached Oregon’s starting setter and 2024 leader in assists Cristin Cline for good measure.
Oregon wasted little time because it had found its replacement just weeks later – Kersten, who had served the last two seasons as the head coach at Loyola Marymount University.
During his time in Southern California, Kersten secured a 45-12 overall
Along with that, Kersten brought over two players from his LMU team; graduate senior outside hitter Sophia Meyers and senior opposite Marlee Arrington. Kersten brought in three other division-I transfers and one from Belgrade, Serbia.
Ten players on the roster are entering 2025 with no experience playing at the collegiate level, as Kersten welcomed nine true freshmen into the team this offseason. The lone redshirt-freshman, libero Orian Drore, transferred in from the University of Tennessee after not playing in 2024.
However, that’s also 10 of the 16 rostered players that have all four years of eligibility left, which creates an ideal situation for Kersten and the program going forward. Those positives might not show up immediately, which forces the Ducks to enter the 2025 season with a massive question mark as they aim to take on a powerful Big Ten.
Nonetheless, Oregon’s program has to find a way to continue without the guiding hand of Ulmer and become one of the powerhouses in the conference by discovering success with a different head coach.
The initial season under Kersten can be a tremendous opportunity for him and a plethora of new faces make their mark on an up and coming program. One of the nation’s brightest programs was shot into a tailspin in the offseason, and it’s up to the new crop of Ducks to make sure they are heading in the right direction.
