Emerald
Oregon volleyball soars into conference play after red-hot start under new head coach
By Jack Lazarus Sports Editor
Through the first eight games of non-conference play, Oregon volleyball (7-1) has only conceded eight sets. Letting up one set per game is an easy route to victory in most cases.
This season had one central narrative before it got started: this is an inexperienced roster with no experience playing together under a coach in his first year with the program. In other words, the Ducks were not expected to make much of a splash this season.
10 out of the 16 players on the roster have had no experience playing volleyball at the Division I level, which created a hurdle for newly-appointed head coach Trent Kersten. The six that
Ferguson: The normalization of a drug
By Zaida Ferguson Opinion Columnist
Caffeine in all forms has been normalized in academic and professional spaces, especially on college campuses. Despite being a stimulant drug, coffee is treated more like a staple than a substance with side effects. With coffee’s normalization in the modern-day workforce, the side effects caffeine provides are often overlooked. Workplaces tend to provide free coffee or sell it for cheap since it’s considered a necessity to work.
At the University of Oregon, there are so many places to purchase caffeine: every dining hall, corner market, Starbucks in the Erb Memorial Union and vending machines. From a casual meet-up drink to late-night cramming sessions, caffeine is there.
When you’re in line at a coffee stand, you can see the demographic: young, cool and more importantly, trendy. To coincide with the trendy persona, the drinks tend to be aesthetically pleasing with cute names, like “Lavender Oatmilk Latte” or the “Cocomo”. The closer you get to campus, the more options for caffeine you’re faced with a different stad” to “for caffeine you’re faced with, at a different stand in every building.
Yes, caffeine can help students stay awake to meet deadlines, but it also disrupts sleep cycles, increases anxiety and can make the exam you’re studying for feel notably more stressful. It’s a cycle of stimulation and exhaustion that’s rarely questioned because it’s so deeply embedded in campus culture.
For students like Alex Gross – a product de-
Sabrina Carpenter’s Newest Heartbreak Anthem: “Man’s Best Friend”
BACK TO BOOKS
Eugene’s dual housing crisis:
So
hard to build, only giants can
Opinion: Eugene’s barriers to building housing are so burdensome only the deepest pockets can clear them. What are these barriers, and what are we to do with them?
By David Mitrovčan Morgan Opinion Columnist
In my last column, I argued that Eugene now possesses two distinct rental markets: a starved traditional market limping at 3.4% vacancy, and a glutted student housing market with 8.25% vacancy. The divergence was a predictable outcome of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Private Equity (PE) development patterns. As Christina Bollo, associate professor in UO’s School of Architecture & Environment, explains, “REITs want maximum return while the private landowner… has a ‘return’ of doing the right thing for a community and maybe leaving something for their grandchildren.”
In this installment, I’ll shift focus to examine how we became overdependent on REITs and PE to build homes, what Bollo called the “financialization of housing.” I’ll follow the path of a construction project, examining how obstacles mount at each step, filtering out the contractors we rely on to build the homes Eugene lacks. To begin, I must first choose where to build. Already, the first barrier emerges: a unique Oregonian wrinkle known as the urban growth boundary. Conceived in the 1970s, the UGB is a “cornerstone of land use planning in Oregon. It is the line that separates urban uses from rural uses with the aim of protecting our farm and forest lands.” I adore the UGB. One trip to LA,
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The Daily Emerald is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit media company at the University of Oregon. Formerly the Oregon Daily Emerald, the news organization was founded in 1900. Emerald Media Group 1395 University St.,#302 Eugene, Or 97403 (541)-346-5511
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UO to layoff 117 faculty, no tenured positions to be cut
The university says no tenured faculty or academic programs will be cut, but 60 faculty and administrators will be notified of layoffs beginning Sept. 8.
By Tarek Anthony and Sasha Love Editor-in-Chief & News Reporter
The University of Oregon has begun notifying 60 faculty and administrators across the university that they will be laid off as the university looks to amend a $25 million to $30 million projected budget deficit.
The latest round brings total job cuts this year to 117 after 57 were laid off earlier this spring. The cuts will also include the elimination of an additional 59 vacant positions.
UO leaders discuss budget cut impacts, consider larger class sizes at Board of Trustees meeting
Over two days the board discussed hiring fewer graduate employment roles, eliminating community safety officers and more.
By Sasha Love News Reporter
After three months of layoffs and confusion following a projected $25–30 million budget deficit, the UO Board of Trustees met Sept. 15 and 16 to hear public comment and authorize approximately $1.5 billion in spending during fiscal year 2026. Allocated annually, this money covers the operating costs of the university — including faculty and staff salaries, equipment, services and student aid.
The Education and General fund budget is now projected to fall into a smaller $4 million deficit.
Nag: The degree that saved lives
Opinion: With the drastic cuts of USAID in Southeast Asia, refugee students pursuing higher education from Myanmar are left wondering what their future might hold.
By Aishiki Nag Opinion Columnist
“It was either this scholarship for college or being forced to serve in the military back in Myanmar,” one of the students explained. “Now I don’t have other options for furthering my future.”
These testimonies from Burmese refugee students serve as a direct contradiction to those given by the president, Elon Musk, DOGE personnel and leaders of the Department of State.
By Uriah Barozla Photographer
Environmental lawsuit against Eugene Water and Electric Board dismissed
A lawsuit filed under the Endangered Species Act was dismissed by a district judge.
Billie Coresetti News Reporter
A district judge dismissed a lawsuit against Eugene Water and Electric Board from environmental groups that claimed the utility has been violating the Endangered Species Act for 16 years.
The lawsuit was filed by Cascadia Wildlands, the Willamette Riverkeeper, Oregon Wild and the Native Fish Society as a response to the delayed construction of a fish passage at the Trail Bridge Dam by EWEB. The environmental groups claimed that the utility has been dodging multiple federal laws that require fish passages to compensate for blocked bodies of water, like dams.
Bethany Cotton, conservation director at Cascadia Wildlands, said that EWEB initially made an agreement with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to build a fish ladder during the Trail Bridge Dam’s relicensing process in 2008, but backtracked several years later and decided to do trap-and-haul operations instead.
“The fish agencies said to EWEB that (trapand-haul operations) weren’t as good, but if they can build it and have it running within three years, then we’ll agree,” Cotton said. “That was in 2016, and now it’s 2025, and EWEB still hasn’t built a trap-and-haul facility or otherwise provided fish passage at the dam.”
Trap-and-haul operations are considered significantly inferior to the fish ladder, more so recently due to increased wildfires. The system involves fish being attracted to the flow of a climb ladder, where they will then be trapped and transported by a fish hauling vehicle to be released elsewhere.
“The trap-and-haul system needs to have humans there 24/7 to move and access the fish. This area of the river is prone to wildfires. The road has been closed multiple times in the past five years. So even if there are fish, there is no one to get the fish,” Lindsey Hutchinson, staff attorney at the
Willamette Riverkeeper, said.
Cascadia Wildlands moved to file a lawsuit alongside environmental groups such as the Willamette Riverkeeper after years of these delays.
“We proceeded with a notice letter under the Endangered Species Act, and other than acknowledging that they’ve received it, they did not reach out,” Cotton said. “There’s a process where you send a 60-day notice letter, and the idea is that the parties could potentially reach an agreement. EWEB didn’t make any effort to do that during these couple of months, and so ultimately we filed the lawsuit.”
The lawsuit was officially filed in March 2025. In EWEB’s public response, they claimed delays were due to experiencing “one obstacle after another,” and that FERC postponed construction due to safety issues.
EWEB motioned to dismiss the case due to a lack of jurisdiction from the district court. District Judge Mustafa T. Kasubhai granted the motion to dismiss, concluding that all issues with FERC licenses must be resolved exclusively through the Court of Appeals, as stated in the Federal Power Act.
Since the decision, EWEB has announced a plan to build a permanent trap-and-haul system by 2032.
Despite this, Cotton is not expecting her fight to end anytime soon. “We are reviewing the opinion and are discussing next steps as a coalition. Rest assured, this is not the end of our efforts to ensure adequate fish passage for bull trout and Chinook salmon at Trail Bridge Dam as soon as possible.”
UO finalizes settlement with Kalapuya contractors, complaint dismissed
Following a $7 million settlement, the complaint against Kalapuya contractors was dismissed.
By Reilly Norgren News Editor
Kalapuya Ilihi, the dormitory that had previously been closed due to structural damages, is reopening this fall following a $7 million settlement between the university and the residence hall’s contractors.
The issues were discovered by the university’s lawyers in 2021 and were identified as posing a risk during an seismic event such as an earthquake.
Kalapuya has been closed since July of 2023 to repair cracks in many of the walls that had been discovered during “regular maintenance.”
The hall was originally intended to reopen during the 2024-25 academic year, but the extensive repairs delayed it until this fall. Because of this delay, Hamilton Hall remained open to provide space for incoming students that year. Now that Kalapuya is reopening, Hamilton’s demolition can occur as the second-
to-last phase of the Hamilton Walton Transformation Project.
In September 2023, two months after the damage was discovered, the University of Oregon filed a lawsuit against the various construction companies for negligence and to recover costs associated with the repairs that were needed.
According to the university, this will cover the “additional work” it took to repair the dormitory, as well as help with the Hamilton Walton Transformation Project.
After the $7.5 million was paid, the lawsuit was settled and the complaint against the contractors was dismissed by the court.
( BELOW ) Kalapuya Ilihi hall is home to the Native American and Indigienous Studies community. Academic and residential communities allow students with common interests and identities to live and learn together.
(Molly McPherson/Emerald)
Villard and University Hall reopen after two-year renovation
Significant upgrades are bringing the campus’s two oldest halls back to life while keeping their historic architecture intact.
By Elle Kubiaczyk News Reporter
Villard and University Hall, the first two buildings built at the University of Oregon, underwent a two-year, $68 million renovation and reopened Sept. 9.
Both buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places as National Historic Landmarks. Tim Allenbaugh has been a member of the UO Office of Design and Construction for 11 years and the representative of both projects. He had to take extensive care to preserve the historical integrity and uniqueness of Villard and University Hall.
University Hall, the first building on campus, began construction in 1873 and opened on Oct. 16, 1876. At the time of its creation, UO’s enrollment was only 177 students and five faculty.
“University Hall was really used as kind of everything from a chapel to commencement, to administration. So as it evolved, it did become a mathematics-specific building,” Allenbaugh said.
Beyond serving the Mathematics Department, the new six general pool classrooms are open to all students across a wide range of academic disciplines.
Villard Hall opened in 1886 and was inspired and heavily influenced by the New Louvre, a renowned art museum in Paris. Much later, in 1949, the University Theater opened and was attached to the historic building.
Finally, during its renovation in 2003, the theater was renamed to James F. Miller Theater Complex. The modern renovations have given cinema studies a home.
Another immense challenge was the lack of the original blueprints of both buildings, making it more complicated to understand the structure of the two buildings, Allenbaugh said.
Beyond initial adversities, the designers took great pride in preserving the historical exterior of the buildings, the project representative said. For instance, the original window glass was carefully removed off site and eventually re-
installed once the dilapidated window frames were renovated. In addition, a slip, which, Allenbaugh said acts “as a storm window to help keep the energy efficiency as high as possible when using very old windows,” was added to each window.
Another improvement made was the restoration of exterior decorative elements. The original corbel blocks were made out of wood and coated with paint to give the illusion of stone or concrete. As a result, many of these elements were in decay. The design team removed the blocks and created a mold in order to construct exact replicas in a longer-lasting material.
Both University Hall and Villard Hall had undergone vast interior renovations since their start in the late 1800s. Since the original historical layouts are nonexistent, Allenbaugh and the design team had free rein to modernize the interior.
More broadly, both buildings will be equipped with new HVAC, climate control, electrical and network capabilities, fire safety devices, accessibility considerations and elevators, according to OregonNews.
Additionally, Allenbaugh said Villard and University Hall are “much safer for those people who are in the building,” as designers added structural support in the event of an earthquake. The original unreinforced masonry buildings, entirely made of brick, are the building type at most risk to collapse during a national disaster, in accordance with the non-profit MRSC, Municipal Research and Service Center.
Allenbaugh and his team added new structural footings and steel, which extend up all three floors of each building and the exterior walls are built up with 10 inches of concrete. The project representative describes the buildings’ improved structural foundation as “a building within a building.”
The most significant renovation in University Hall was the removal of the mezzanine levels from 1914, creating a full-height hallway in between each of the three floors.
Villard Hall had three substantial changes: transforming the south entrance to the main entrance, the removal of the second staircase between Miller Theater and Villard
Hall, and the addition of spiral staircases. Although Villard was initially a two-level building, before the 1940s renovation, the design team agreed to maintain the building as a three-story building.
Allenbaugh shared his favorite feature of each of the buildings, with University Hall’s being the original skylights hidden by the 1940s renovation and Villard’s new spiral staircases that stretch across all three levels.
“It’s fun to have such historical, old buildings, just to be able to see that type of architecture,” he said “I think it’ll be just a really nice place to relax and enjoy seeing these great old buildings in their new upgraded state.”
(ABOVE) Extensive wood arches make up the roof structure of Villard Hall. University and Villard Hall, two of the oldest buildings on the grounds of the University of Oregon, undergo an extensive renovation in Eugene, Ore., on April 18, 2024.
(Eric Becker/Emerald)
(ABOVE)
Eugene’s dual housing crisis: So hard to build, only giants can
David is an opinion columnist for the Daily Emerald and a senior studying Data Science, Economics and Philosophy. In his writing, he enjoys finding the abstract relationships between systems and the decisions we make everyday, weaving them into a tangible story readers can easily digest.
Continued from page 1
where freeways snake between houses instead of rivers between trees, and you’ll appreciate the simple elegance of the anti-suburban sprawl clause in our social contract.
But the UGB carries a price. By drawing a hard line against sprawl (otherwise known as greenfield development), it makes land inside the boundary scarce and costly. It forces what planners call infill: slipping new homes into the seams of the existing city. Infill often means demolition before construction, as well as lots that are small, irregular and resistant to standardized designs, further increasing cost.
Once I’ve picked a lot, the next question is what to build. I’ll choose middle housing, the gentle density between single-family homes and high-rises; what Emma Singleton, a fourth year studying political science and PPPM sees as “endless possibility.” Putting middle housing on land once reserved for single-family houses adds supply without upending neighborhood character.
That logic drove Oregon’s landmark HB 2001, the first law in the nation to end exclusive single-family zoning in larger cities. The State believed “too many Oregonians face high housing costs because their options are limited… [and] to address these needs… middle housing plays an important role.” Bollo agreed, stating that “these reforms have the greatest potential to impact infill.”
The proportion of construction qualifying as middle housing has increased from 4% to 11% since HB 2001, so there are early results, but Eugene is still failing to hit its middle housing goal. Bollo wasn’t too surprised, since “the current construction climate… means the impact will be more gradual than the politicians believe.”
Interning for Sen. Merkley, Singleton also saw the federal government step up through the ROAD to Housing Act. “It’s clear we’re trying to give cities the tools they need to build more housing by helping them streamline reviews and create pre-approved designs,” she said.
Other zoning hurdles still remain though. When a builder wants to put, say, a triplex on one plot and sell them individually, they must first divide it into three separate parcels. The subdivision is called the land-use process, and Eugene has only approved 41% of middle housing proposals in 2025.
The city also mandates parking, another source of friction which Bollo (like myself) disagrees with: “Parking should react to the
market, not be regulated with minimums… it is a very poor use of precious land” Singleton said.
By contrast, high-density zones often have hurdles already cleared, which makes it faster and cheaper to produce student towers.
Suppose I clear the zoning maze; next comes the permit gauntlet. The mission of permits is real and necessary. No one wants a faulty foundation or wiring, but we’ve built a system with great administrative hazard.
The process generally takes around two or three months but often drags on, and fees can quickly climb into the thousands, many tied to hourly inspector rates. The resulting unpredictability of cost and time harms all contractors, especially the smaller ones.
Now, assuming I acquired a permit, I must now assemble a construction crew. Oregon’s construction sector has been deeply mired in a labor shortage, so this will be no easy feat. The 2008 crash gutted the trades, and only recently has the workforce clawed its way back to pre-recession levels.
Despite the rebound, 92% of construction firms still struggle to find qualified workers. Recent shifts in immigration policy will further compound the shortage considering immigrants make up 32.5% of the trades.
Even with a crew, I still face the exuberant cost, what Bollo found to be the “biggest barrier.” Across the country, “construction costs have risen 30 to 50 percent since 2020,” far outpacing inflation. Bollo explained this is felt even more profoundly in Eugene, since “the greenfield developer, working at scale, can get much better prices and can fix those prices. The infill developer cannot.”
As a direct result, towers of student housing with high rents per square foot become the only financially viable choices while middle housing projects die before they even have a chance to start. New federal policies on tariffs make the picture even worse, raising the cost by an additional $7,000-10,000 per house.
Pause for a moment. Follow the project through. The conclusion is inescapable: every step bends the process in favor of the giants. UGB, zoning, permitting, labor shortages and cost inflation all combine into a system where only REITs and PE can absorb the risk, float the costs and wait out the process.
Glossary
Urban Growth Boundary:
Oregon was the first state to adopt a state-wide Urban Growth Boundary in 1973 with Senate Bill 100. The law aimed to help growth be intentionally managed and publicly planned with a unified, long-term horizon.
Middle Housing:
Middle housing includes housing types like duplexes, triplexes, townhouses, and cottage clusters. It is distinctive for blending higher unit counts with a familiar suburban neighborhood feel, making construction more flexible and affordable by creating a wider mix of housing options for residents.
Construction Labor Force:
Oregon’s construction workforce lost nearly 40% of jobs in the wake of the 2008 recession, falling from a high of 104,000 (6% of workers) to a low of around 68,000 (4.2%). The rebound took a decade, but we now see record highs above 118,000 and a restoring of construction’s 6% share of statewide employment.
That doesn’t mean we’re powerless to rebalance the scales. Local agency is limited, but there are levers we can pull.
For zoning, we must make the land-use process easier and eliminate parking minimums. For permitting, an easy solution is providing preapproved designs that can reduce wait times and drastically cut down on fees.
Push for reform on these fronts is underway: “Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson… [is] in talks about… tweaks to middle housing rules that could make the projects easier to build, as well as financial incentives for developers.” Bollo is supportive, hoping “politicians will keep incrementally reducing barriers.” So is Singleton, who “took a class with Mayor Knudson on affordable housing, and is encouraged to see that she understands the barriers our city faces and is ready to push for new ways to build.”
Just as urgently, we must rebuild the pipeline into construction. We can’t build homes if we won’t build the trades. Current apprenticeship mandates on public projects are a
start, but we ought to go further by offering financial incentives to encourage contractors to expand apprenticeship programs and workers to enroll in them. Similarly, community colleges and vocational schools deserve greater investment. Eugene doesn’t need to cede the future of its housing to the giants. The opportunity is here, if we choose to lower the barriers for the small contractor. Only then can middle housing consistently rise alongside student towers; when the work of building homes becomes shared across many hands instead of concentrated in the deepest pockets.
(City of Eugene)
(ON THE COVER, ABOVE, BELOW ) Construction at the corner of 13th and Alder in Eugene, Ore.
(Uriah Barzola/Emerald)
OPINION
Kahl:
College isn’t one-size-fits-all, and our General Education shouldn't be either
Opinion: While General Education courses offer important insight into new subjects, making them mandatory prolongs degrees and increases student costs.
By Emma Kahl Opinion Columnist
Last week I was on FaceTime with my best friend, who is currently planning her transfer from community college to a four-year university. Stressed about fitting in all her credits before transferring, I thought about the fact that all students take such different paths through college, yet all students are required to complete the same long list of required general education courses.
As someone who entered UO with IB credits, I was able to skip all of the Gen Ed courses that are typically required. IB credits are earned by participating in the IB diploma program or taking IB exams for certain courses in high school. Most colleges will give you credits based on the exam scores that you receive.
I don’t feel that I missed out because of the courses I skipped; in fact, I felt more motivated than ever. I was able to start the classes for my major right off the bat, and I feel that many students would prefer to begin college this way as well.
The reality is that Gen Eds can take up a large amount of both time and money. At UO, the 16 required general education courses mean paying for more than a full year of tuition to finish just these classes.
For many students, this is a serious financial burden, and it can slow down their progress – especially when everyone comes into college with a different level of preparedness and vastly different goals.
Zaida is 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.
Now I understand that not everyone goes into college knowing what they want to study, which is where general education courses can come in handy for students to discover new areas of interest. Gen Ed courses absolutely have their place in college and can be very valuable.
Lauren Sprinkle came into UO with an undeclared major as a freshman. She appreciated being able to try out a variety of classes without having to “jump straight in” and commit to that major.
Sprinkle said that some of the Gen Ed courses she took were interesting, and she’s glad she was able to take them. Despite that, she also said that it feels like there are too many Gen Ed credits required.
“I feel like maybe we have to take too many generals because it gets to a point where you’re just taking random classes that you’re not interested in to fill the credits,” Sprinkle said.
Sprinkle is now an incoming junior majoring in environmental design and minoring in Spanish.
Her advice for incoming freshmen is to take a history or ethnic studies class. “I feel like, especially in the United States, high schools don’t really teach the full picture of our history,” Sprinkle said.
As of 2024, over 48% of UO students are non-residents. With UO students receiving their high school educations from a wide range of educational systems around the world, the university cannot assume that everyone comes in at the same entry point.
Bella Chen, for example, is an international UO Ph.D. student studying music education who received her undergraduate education in China.
She explained how different the education system is in China and that in college, you generally focus on the classes for your major, but have a small amount of choice in extra classes you can take optionally. She said that she enjoyed taking psychology and physical education courses alongside her core classes.
As an international student, Chen is no stranger to the high cost of tuition and “life stress,” so she said she understands how having a large amount of required gen eds might feel excessive and financially difficult.
By giving students more freedom in their educational path, they can fill the gaps in knowledge that they see fit. Some students might benefit from exploring, while others already know what path they’re taking.
Emma is an opinion columnist for the Daily Emerald. She is currently a senior, majoring in written journalism and minoring in global studies. Her writing focuses on social commentary, culture and politics.
Ferguson: The normalization of a drug
Opinion: Coffee consumption is marketed as self-care, all the while being the main culprit of sleep deprivation, stress and anxiety; so why do we treat some drugs as harmless and others as moral failures when they provide the same symptoms?
Continued from page 1
sign major who experiences chronic insomnia – caffeine isn’t just a sweet treat; it’s a lifeline to succeed in the academic climate.
“Caffeine can make it harder to go to sleep, affecting my insomnia. Sometimes it feels like I
(Sofia Campbell/Emerald)
need it. A lot of times when I drink it, it doesn’t help me feel less groggy, it doesn’t really help me get out of the negative headspace (and) it gives me more anxiety,” Gross said.
When asked if caffeine is overused or normalized on campus, Gross said, “Yeah, definitely, a lot of people use it as a coping mechanism for stress, with stress turning into a need for more coffee.”
The reason why it’s so accessible is that it’s turned into something greater than a quick pickme-up. This drug has been branded as an accessory – a trendy drink to bring class and a conversation starter to talk about the latest seasonal drink and which flavors to try.
When asking English major Henry Beck if they felt a sense of pressure to drink caffeine on campus, Beck said, “Yeah, but I’d associate more with the general concept of the college student. The image of late-night studying with caffeine lingers in my mind and seems to be the model. I would not be surprised if its abundance on campus plays a part, though.”
According to a statistical report by Corner Coffee Store , 92% of students consume caffeine. If nearly all college students need caffeine to get through the day, it’s no longer a personal choice – it’s a part of the culture. As you can imagine, with only 8% of students not drinking caffeine, it was hard to find a student who used alternative methods.
If we strip away the branding, caffeine is a psychoactive substance that alters mood, cognition and physical performance. Yet unlike other stimulants, it’s rarely framed as a drug. Why? Because it’s legal, profitable and socially useful. It keeps workers alert, students engaged and best yet, it is a billion-dollar industry.
Caffeine gets a free pass because it’s seen as normal. It fits into what society wants: faster results. But drugs that do similar things are treated like a threat. So really, what counts as a “bad” drug isn’t about science, it’s about productivity. Substances are judged not just by their effects, but by who uses them and how they fit into the system. If a drug boosts productivity and profits, it’s praised. But this raises a larger question: how do we decide which drugs are acceptable and which are stigmatized? And who benefits from those distinctions?
Consuming caffeine day in and day out like clockwork can cause withdrawal just like any other drug. When your body misses its usual dose, you feel the symptoms through headaches, fatigue, irritability or anxiety. If our workforce relies on this single drug to get people up, moving and working – what does that say about our social environment when the most socially acceptable drug is the one that keeps us working?
(Leah Siefke/Emerald)
ARTS & CULTURE
Sabrina Carpenter’s Newest Heartbreak
Anthem: “Man’s Best Friend”
A review and analysis of pop star Sabrina Carpenter’s seventh studio album, “Man’s Best Friend.”
By Everette Cogswell Arts & Culture Writer
Sabrina Carpenter has never shied away from her raw, vulnerable and often vulgar songwriting and storytelling. Almost exactly a year after the release of Sabrina Carpenter’s sixth studio album, “Short n’ Sweet,” the pop sensation released her seventh studio album, “Man’s Best Friend” on Aug. 29.
Right off the bat, “Man’s Best Friend” fell into a wave of controversy when Carpenter shared the cover. It showed Carpenter on her hands and knees with a man grabbing her hair. Many fans found this image to be somewhat disturbing, some even saying it felt dehumanizing toward women. Carpenter responded to these comments by releasing alternate album covers and seemingly not caring what other people had to say.
For this record, Carpenter once again found herself working with producers Jack Antonoff and John Ryan, as well as songwriter Amy Allen. This collaboration is quite obvious since “Man’s Best Friend” is very similar in sound and nature to “Short n’ Sweet.” Carpenter is pushing boundaries – and making some uncomfortable as she does it.
The album begins with the first single release of the album “Manchild.” This song is catchy and bubbly, like most of Carpenter’s music. This song makes sense to be placed at the beginning of the album because the adlib at the start, “Oh boy,” is the perfect intro to the whole record. Once again singing about how men can disappoint, a song of this nature is very expected from Carpenter.
The three most popular tracks follow the opening track and definitely fit into the provocative spirit of her music. The launch of the album was immediately followed by the release of the “Tears” music video, one of the most popular tracks. In a Billboard article written by Jason Lipshutz, “Tears” is the number one-ranked track. He said, “The dizzying disco production and breathy ad-libs combine for another no-brainer smash, but parsing the lyrics for Carpenter’s sardonic take on modern chivalry makes the experience all the more satisfying.” However, I think this song sounds too similar to what we’ve seen from Carpenter before; it would be nice to hear something new.
My personal favorite off this record is “Nobody’s Son.” While it is very similar to the others, I find that the lyrics in this song are far more relatable than some of the other tracks. The production on this song stands out despite the fact that it uses synths much like the rest. “Nobody’s Son” speaks on topics that don’t necessarily revolve around the sexual lyricism we usually see from Carpenter. It’s a refreshing track in the midst of her seductive songwriting.
Ethan Coen’s “Honey Don’t! film”
is a beautiful, lackluster
mess
Throughout this record, it can be hard to differentiate the songs from one another. From the use of dreamlike synths and drums, a lot of these tracks get repetitive when the record is played all the way through. Vocally and aesthetically, Carpenter has staked her claim as a pop princess and she has certainly gotten her anti-man mantra across.
While the intro to this album is strong with the tracks “Manchild” and “Tears,” the final song “Goodbye” does not do this record as much justice as it should. The production on the song is strong and does a good job of individualizing it; however, the lyrics take this song right back into Carpenter’s safe zone. It’s not exactly out of the ordinary for what we typically hear from her.
Sabrina Carpenter has proven that she is nowhere near finished with her witty, sexual and vulnerable music. With two albums in a year, there is no doubt that she has been feeding her fans and working very hard in the studio. In the future, it would be nice to hear her step out of her comfort zone and try something new. Shocking all of her fans and surprising those who believe her stuff is too similar would certainly make a big difference.
In an attempt to revive the neo-noir genre, the Coen brother has created a film that knows its name, but can’t explain itself.
By Amelia Fiore Arts & Culture Writer
Wow, she’s a detective and she wears heels? That’s feminism. “Honey Don’t!,” a 1940s detective cliche with a queer femme fatale, hit theaters Aug. 22 to a mostly disappointed audience.
The story, written by Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke, follows Honey (Margaret Qualley), a private investigator in a small California town. Honey begins to search for answers after she finds some inconsistencies in an “accidental” death. Eventually, signs point toward Reverend Drew Devlin (Chris Evans) of a local church/drug ring/sex cult, the Four-Way Temple. Things get wildly confusing very quickly.
We follow Honey through the film as she tries to find the truth, first for the initial victim and then for her missing niece. Intermittently, she is entangled in a fling with police officer MG Falcone (Aubrey Plaza), who shares an equal distaste for the Temple.
The rustic visual style and soft southern twang (even though they’re in Bakersfield) create an endearing feel. The set is akin to Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City,” complete with warm grading and a rickety ghost town.
Something this film does right is Honey’s unapologetic attitude toward her
Sabrina Carpenter’s Billboard Top 10 Hits
Reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on June 21 2025
Reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on June 29 2024
Reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 on Sept. 7 2024
Reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 on Sept. 13 2025
“Manchild” “Please Please Please” “Taste” “Tears” “Espresso”
Reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 on June 22 2024
identity as a lesbian. Its ability to portray a casual sapphic relationship in the middle of a rural town is especially refreshing. There are some exciting cast appearances – Charlie Day, Billy Eichner and Kristen Connolly to name a few. Their minimal involvement is refreshing nonetheless, adding a breath of life to an otherwise jumbled narrative.
My main gripe with the film is that there is so much potential: maybe too much. Coen dangles interesting subplots in the audience’s face, and then the credits roll. Deaths are unexplained, motives are glossed over and it’s not even done in a naughty, figure-it-outyourself kind of way. Why open all the doors to these rooms if we’re never going to see the inside?
Incoherence excluded, the story creates a beautiful foundation for these characters to play on. Each is exceptionally multi-dimensional with differing personalities and relationships, whether it be a bumbling cop, a corrupt pastor or an old no-nonsense bartender. The dialogue is snappy and, at times, unrealistically witty.
The downfall of “Honey Don’t!” is largely due to the fact that its third act is practically nonexistent. By the time the lights come on an hour and 29 minutes later, it feels like being woken up from a bizarre dream.
With its fun style, strong cast and complex story, this film had the potential to become an instant modern classic. Instead, it’s likely to show up on Tubi in a few years. Maybe it’s time for the Coen brothers to get back together.
SPORTS
Oregon women’s soccer heads into Big Ten matchups
The Ducks looks to improve in their sophomore outing after a one-win Big Ten debut.
By Rowan Shea Sports Writer
The Oregon women’s soccer team began Big Ten play with a lackluster game, losing to UCLA 2-0. After an inaugural season that saw Oregon only win one Big Ten game, the Ducks are looking to show that they can be a better Big Ten contender this year.
Last season the Ducks went 5-11-2 in overall play and 1-8-2 in conference play.
Before the season, Oregon decided it needed to shake things up – first, on staff, head coach Graeme Abel and assistant coaches Rachael Doyle and Sean Mapson left in late October 2024. University of California, Davis head coach Tracy Joyner took the helm and brought with her assistant coach Chris King. Assistant coach Kat Benton-LaEzza joined from California State University, Chico.
Joyner took to the transfer portal almost immediately. A well-respected at UC Davis, Joyner flexed those relationships to bring in midfielder Abella Hunter, goalkeeper Gia Kiesling, defender Elise Picard and defender Jayde Holley.
More key additions to the Ducks defense are Boise State’s Jasmine Young, who helped the Broncos win the 2024 Mountain West Conference title, and Brooke Juncaj, a redshirt freshman from USC.
These transfers have been working well for the Ducks so far. Last season the Ducks only managed to net 15 total goals. Through seven games in 2025 they have managed to score eight already while also conceding eight goals.
Transfers Carys Hall and Savannah Holley (sister of Jayde Holley) were brought in to bolster the offense. Defensively, through the first seven
games last season, the Ducks had 10 goals, but gave up 11. To get that goal differential to go the Ducks way, Oregon brought in more back field transfers in Bryana Pizarro and Kate Cheldelin.
Although they’re on track to beat the lackluster scoring record of last season, the Ducks have started off in a less than ideal place. Going into conference play last season the Ducks sat just above .500 at 4-3-0. This season on the other hand, going into conference play the Ducks are 2-4-1.
The slow start to the season is not something the Ducks wanted to see; however, that does not mean they should be written off.
Joyner has shown in her history that she can put together a winning team. With a Big West Coach of the Year title, coaching UC Davis to the best school record in D1 NCAA history at 15-3-3 and having an overall record as a coach at 12777-27, Joyner no doubt has the background to get Oregon going. Assistant coach LaEzza also has a history in getting teams to where they want to go. LaEzza was 36-21-17 at Chico State, getting them into the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championships in 2021 and 2022.
Oregon did start off against a formidable opponent in No. 3 UCLA. The Bruins were 4-2 and on a three game win streak going into their matchup in Los Angeles against the Ducks. UCLA was also coming off a great win where they took down former No. 1 Stanford, while they themselves were ranked No. 18.
In Los Angeles, the Ducks lost the game 2-0. Overall on the night, the Ducks had only three shots on goal, gave up 12 penalties and were offside twice. Oregon did not have a good night offensively by any means. They seemingly were shut down by the UCLA midfield and defense almost every time they had an opportunity to create anything.
Despite the loss, Oregon’s defense was pretty solid. Goalkeeper Caeley Goldstein had a nice evening commanding the box; however, the Bruins were able to net two goals, not all Goldstein’s fault. The Oregon defense had an issue with costly second half penalties in the box which resulted in those two Bruins’ goals. With the loss, Oregon moved to 2-5-1 on the season and 0-1-0 in conference play.
Over the next couple of weeks, Oregon will go on a stretch of unranked play consisting of Illinois, Northwestern, Purdue and Indiana. The Ducks will not play another ranked Big Ten team until Oct. 3, when they take on the USC Trojans at Papé Field.
This upcoming set of games will be one Oregon will want to capitalize on. If the offense can get going quicker and stronger earlier in the game, and if the defense cleans up the penalties, the Ducks have the opportunity to take away a couple of wins from this stretch before they go back into ranked play.
Oregon’s next game will be at Purdue on Sept. 25, and their next home game will be against USC on Oct. 3.
Oregon volleyball soars into conference play after red-hot start under new head coach
The Ducks enter conference play with just one loss after subpar preseason expectations.
did have experience, however, have been important contributors to a successful beginning of the season for Oregon.
The main portion of the squad that the Ducks needed to replace this offseason was their stats on offense, mainly points and assists.
For scoring, Michigan transfer and junior opposite Valentina Vaulet is the strong-arm of the group. She leads the team in total points (135.5), points per set (4.37), kills (108) and kills per set (3.48). Vaulet’s ability to high-point the ball and send thunderbolts at the opposing defense is a crucial part of Kersten’s fast-paced offense.
Having players that have experience in that offense has also helped.
Kersten brought over graduate senior outside hitter Sophia Meyers from Loyola Marymount University, and she has shined in the opening stretch of games. Meyers started the season quiet, but rebounded with a strong showing during the most recent road trip to Long Beach.
Meyers was second in kills to Vaulet in the first two games of the weekend with 14 and 11 kills, respectively, but went on to lead the team with 16 in the final game, which was a four-set win over the University of California-Riverside Highlanders.
The other part of Kersten’s offense, assisting, came with Butler University transfer senior Cora Taylor, who is the Ducks’ new setter. Taking over the role of the team’s setter was always going to be done by someone with experience and Taylor has brought it in droves.
Her poise in facilitating the offense and getting the ball to her teammates in advantageous positions is what makes the whole thing work. Taylor leads the team in both assists (218) and assists per set (7.03). Behind her is freshman Corvallis native Kamden Mitchell, who also gets a considerable amount of time at the position due to Kersten’s affinity for two-setter lineups. Mitchell is second in assists (97) and assists per set (4.41). Even though she doesn’t quite reach the numbers of Taylor, Mitchell’s stats are a testament to the amount she does play and contribute to winning.
That all being said, Oregon is in the Big Ten, which is one of the toughest conferences in the country. The Ducks still have a lot of room to improve, according to Kersten, and entering conference play, which begins on Sept. 26, is no small task.
Wins are wins, however, and for an inexperienced team, a 7-1 start only conceding eight sets is pretty hard to beat. While it’s not what one would expect from a team as inexperienced as Oregon, the Ducks are soaring as they get into the real bulk of the season.
