A Splash of Spring
to Support Forest Service Staff
Special Sections Editor
Bailey Meyers
Cover Photo
Alyssa Garcia
Special Sections Writers
Annie Bostwick
Autumn Straus
Ellie Johnson
Georgia Tucker
Sylvia Davidow
Will Decker
Special Sections Photographers
Sophia Greene
Alyssa Garcia
Arianna Rinaldi
Rachel Kesich
Lead Designer
Eva Andrews
Student Designers
Abigail Raike
Ava Klooser
Bella Lyon
Dew Mirihana
Eva Kuo
Gabriela Martinez Contreras
Letter from the Editor
Summer is right around the corner and campus if buzzing with life. Whether you want to get out of Eugene and head to the beach or enjoy a fun night of spring cocktails with friends, we have you covered! Take a break from the essays and homework and head to a local park. Check out our tips on how to support forestry workers and take care of our treasured parks. Looking for some local nightlife? We have some recommendations for some of the best bars in town. The end of the term is almost here, keep pushing forward and remember to enjoy the sun!
Bailey Meyers
Special Sections Editor
Publisher & President
Eric Henry
ehenry@dailyemerald.com
VP Operations
Kathy Carbone kcarbone@dailyemerald.
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Student Sales Manager
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Account Managers
Cooper Gast
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Emerald Media Group, Inc. 395 University St., #302 Eugene, OR, 97403 541.346.5511 x327 dailyemerald.com
Duck Living is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit media company at the University of Oregon. Formerly the Oregon Daily Emerald; the new organization was founded in 1900.
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Creative & Technical Dir.
Anna CK Smith
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There’s something so special about wandering around a city alone. No one to wait on and no schedule to follow, just free to explore a city your way. When alone, you notice more. You aren’t distracted by other people and are free to take in all the new stimuli. Everything is more intriguing when your headphones are off and your phone stays in your pocket, allowing your senses to be free.
Just a few weeks ago, I had the chance to explore Amsterdam this way. Amsterdam proved to be the perfect city for this kind of immersion, with its scenic canals and row houses. This city invites you to slow down, follow your curiosity and let yourself get lost.
I had only eight hours in Amsterdam— one day carved out of a weeklong
Written by Ellie Johnson
Designed by Abigail Raike
journalism conference in Brussels, Belgium. I had fallen in love with solo travel the summer before, with a trip to Mexico City. I knew this one free day was the perfect opportunity for me to roam somewhere new on my own again.
I took a two and a half hour FlixBus ride from Brussels to Amsterdam. I did just enough research to feel confident getting
Photo Courtesy of Fabrice Gueho on Unsplash
around the city, but not too much to feel stuck to a rigid plan. My goal was to wander around and stay open to wherever the day took me.
I started with coffee and pastries in De Pijp, Amsterdam’s bohemian neighborhood. I found a Portuguese bakery called Mister NATA, where I treated myself to a cappuccino and one of my favorite treats, a pastel de nata.
After feeling fueled for the day, I strolled through the quiet streets and ducked into several shops. I eventually stumbled upon Spiegel, a cozy boutique selling Dutch-made gifts. Here, I picked out a set of handmade ceramic row houses as a birthday gift for my roommate.
After strolling for a while, I headed to the Rijksmuseum, the Netherlands’ national gallery and largest art museum
in Amsterdam. I booked a timed entry in advance, knowing this was one place I had to visit. This museum holds work from some of the best artists in the Netherlands fand some of my personal favorites. Once inside, I hurried over to stare in awe at the work from Van Gogh, Vermeer and Rembrandt — hundreds of other people had the same idea. I made my way through the crowd and lingered in front of Vermeer’s “The Milkmaid” for the longest. I was awestruck by the composition that I had only seen online.
After spending many hours in the museum, and not even making my way through the entirety of it, it was time to get back to wandering— this time in search of food. I went to Calf & Bloom, where I ate pomme frites with mayo and sipped a Hugo spritz while watching people pass along the canals and tulip markets.
With just a few hours left, I knew I needed to venture over to the city center to see iconic sights such as the Amsterdam Central Station and the red light district. I did some more exploring, then I had the perfect idea of how to end my solo day in Amsterdam — I needed to visit one of the infamous “coffee shops.” I ended my day at Green House Namaste, recommended by a friend, with another cappuccino and some Super Lemon Haze.
Now that I was feeling endless happiness, it was time to head back to the bus station. On the ride back to Brussels, I daydreamed about how perfect my day was. Wandering alone didn’t just show me Amsterdam, it brought me closer to myself.
A SPLASH OF SPRING
Written by Georgia Tucker • Designed and Illustrated by Dew Mirihana
Spring has sprung, and that means it’s time for a beverage refresh. There is nothing I love more than spending time relaxing in the sunny weather and sipping on a fun beverage. In honor of that, here are a few delicious drink recipes that are quick and simple for you to try at home with your friends!
Blue Shark
(Non-Alcoholic)
Lemonade
1-2 tsp Blue Raspberry syrup
Gummy Sharks Ice
Start by filling your cup with ice, an 8-12 oz cup works perfectly. Then fill your cup with lemonade. Add 1-2 tablespoons of blue raspberry syrup to your lemonade and mix. Top your drink off with a couple of gummy sharks, and boom, you’re done!
Pina Colada (Alcoholic)
2 oz Rum
2 oz Pineapple Juice
1 oz Sweetened Coconut Cream
Handful of Ice
Shaker
Shot glass (1.5 oz)
Start by adding your ingredients to your shaker. You will need 2 oz rum, 2 oz pineapple juice, 1 oz sweetened coconut cream and a handful of ice. You can use a shot glass to measure. Put the lid on your shaker and lightly shake to form the adhesive seal, then start shaking the shaker at a quicker speed. Pour the mixture into a fun glass and enjoy!
Give it a punch (Non-Alcoholic)
Fruit Punch
Pineapple Juice Sprite Ice
Start by filling an 8-12 oz cup with ice. This is a three-part drink, meaning you will split the glass between the three ingredients. Pour 1/3 of the fruit punch into the glass, repeat the same step with the pineapple juice and Sprite. Mix with a spoon or straw and voilà!
Frozen Strawberry Magarita (Alcoholic)
2 oz Light Rum
1 oz Simple Syrup
1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
Frozen Strawberries Ice
Blender
Shot glass (1.5 oz)
Start by adding all your ingredients to your blender: 2 oz light rum, 1 oz simple syrup, 1 oz fresh lime juice, a handful of frozen strawberries and 1 cup of ice. You can use your shot glass to measure. Blend at a slow speed and then start blending at full speed. The drink should have the consistency of a slushy. You can add more ice if needed. Once you are done blending, pour it into a fun glass and you have a frozen strawberry margarita!
CASCADING EFFECTS: HOW TO SUPPORT FOREST SERVICE STAFF ON YOUR SUMMER EXCURSIONS
Written by Annie Bostwick
Designed by Bella Lyon
Photographed by Alyssa Garcia & Melinda Cramp
It’s no secret that the Pacific Northwest is home to awe-inspiring nature. Every summer, residents and tourists alike flood national forests and take to the trails, and every summer, Forest Service staff work tirelessly to keep nature accessible to the public.
Layoffs and hiring freezes throughout the last few years have created staffing issues for the department. About 35,000 Forest Service staff are the stewards of 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands across the country.
“With the defunding and the cutting of park personnel, it’s a cascading effect,” said Melinda Cramp, who spent the summer interning as a natural resource steward for the Forest Service. “These parks are really going to suffer, and it’s going to be hard for them to recover, especially if people continue to use them without being conscious of the effects of their actions.”
Cramp is graduating from Central Washington University with a degree in environmental studies and geography. Her position with the Forest Service was unpaid, but it was meant to be a segue into the field of conservation and restoration. “Instead of improving
national forests, making it more accessible and giving people pleasant experiences, we were cleaning up from irresponsible parties,” Cramp said.
Nature has a lot to offer thanks to the stewardship of those who keep public land accessible. Here’s how you can support Forest Service workers on your summer excursions:
Keep it clean!
“Pack out what you pack in” and “leave no trace” are popular phrases among outdoors people. If you pack a lunch to eat on your hike, don’t leave your leftovers on top of the mountain. While appreciating the beauty that many national forests provide, it’s important to leave the nature around you relatively untouched.
Stay on the trails!
Much of the work of Forest Service workers consists of keeping trails clear and accessible without disturbing the surrounding nature. Thus, stay on the marked trails. Maintained trails help prevent the public from getting lost in vast forests, and they protect the surrounding land from unwanted human interference.
Pay it forward!
At most trailheads and campgrounds on national forest land, you will find an information board indicating the permitted usage of the area — day use, overnight camping, boat ramp locations and more. Some sites and trails require a small fee in order to use them. Trailhead boxes can be found near information boards at sites that require fees to use, and these fees help directly fund the upkeep and improvement of these sites.
Do your research before you go!
Being prepared for your summer adventures does Forest Service workers a huge service. When you show up with proper equipment and know what to expect, you stand a better chance of staying safe on your trip. Proper footwear, water, first aid, and even a small GPS can help your excursion go smoothly. The Forest Service website, fs.usda.gov, has a search engine accessible to the public with information about every national forest and grassland in the country. Here, you can find information on permits and fees, closures, weather advisories, directions and more.
LEAVE NO TRACE!
Essentials For The Oregon Coast
Written By Autumn Straus • Designed By Gabriela Martinez Contreras • Photos by Rachel Kesich
Eugene has a lot to offer, but the itch to get out of your college town comes around every few months. A day trip or a weekend getaway can be the perfect way to satisfy that feeling. The Oregon Coast is a great place to make a quick visit or stay a couple of nights.
There are plenty of options when it comes to beaches to visit. Less than an hour and a half drive away is Florence. The sand dunes at the Florence beaches are beautiful, and the street of shops and restaurants in town are always worth a visit. Some recommended options are BJ’s Ice Cream Parlor, for salt water taffy; Mo’s Seafood and Chowder, for clam chowder; and Homegrown Public House & Brewery, for a drink. I’d also recommend checking out some of the art galleries and gift shops on and near Bay St.
Heceta Beach is about a ten-minute drive from Florence. The scenic views of the lighthouse and the caves on the north side of the beach make for plenty to explore on this section of the coast. Lincoln City, Newport and Depoe Bay are a few other coastal towns that make for great options, especially if you’re planning a weekend stay.
Here’s a list of beach day essentials to help you prepare for your trip:
Sunscreen - Even on a cloudy day, it’s still a good idea to use SPF. If you’re outside all day, it’s always possible you’ll get burnt.
Towel - You might not get in the water, but it’s still nice to have a place to sit and read or have a picnic with a view of the ocean.
A change of clothes - We’ve all had a wave sneak up on us at some point. It’s better to be overly prepared than to walk around in damp clothes the rest of the day.
Extra layers - The weather can go from cold to hot quickly between the morning and afternoon. Even if it’s a warmer day, the wind can make it a little less enjoyable.
A camera - Either your phone camera or any other type will do, but you’ll want to be able to capture everything you see.
Money - A little spending money or a credit card is good for salt water taffy, clam chowder, or any souvenirs you might want to take home with you
Water and snacks - Even if you plan on buying food, it’s always nice to have extra snacks, and it’s smart to stay hydrated.
Most importantly, have fun and appreciate how beautiful the Oregon Coast is.
LIFE ON THE PICKET LINE
From the perspective of a striking
student worker
Written by Will Decker • Designed by Ava Klooster • Photos by Sophia Greene
“When I say student, you say power! Student–“Power! “Student–” “Power! “Worker–” “Power! “Worker–” “Power!
These chants cracked like bullets through campus at the May 5 UO Student Workers rally. Student workers have been out striking every day since April 28, gathered outside Johnson Hall, marching, sitting, chanting, chatting and basking.
This was the first real strike UO had seen in over a decade and the first wall-towall undergraduate student worker union strike the country has ever seen. The workers uprooted their lives and routines in the middle of the term and put their jobs on the line to fight hard to win a fair contract, which included: better wages, safe working conditions, a real role for RAs and respect from the school administration. But the energy on the
picket line was amazing, even beyond its practical applications.
On May 5, there was a rally, striking students created a boxing match between administration and workers representing their respective contracts.
An impromptu ring made with wooden posts and ropes stood in the middle of the crowd gathered across the lawn from Johnson Hall. In each corner lay a pair of giant inflatable boxing gloves. Red for the students and blue for the administration.
“Look, on the steps of Johnson Hall!” Someone pointed. The crowd turned in unison. The fighter for the admin stood there in a suit and tie, and ran defiantly into the booing crowd. The student fighter entered the ring in union red to cheers.
There were five rounds of “fighting,” each representing a step in the union’s bargaining efforts toward a contract. The fighters went back and forth quoting union and admin contracts and emails between rounds.
“Students love our jobs, but as much as we like the privilege of having them, so too is our labor!” The student worker fighter cried out.
“We believe that student workers are capable of representing themselves without a union because we believe unions are a direct threat to safety on campus,” said the admin fighter, followed by a series of boos from the crowd.
“If UO’s contract were in good faith, they’d know that students work to pay for education and to live!”
TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER!
The workers won with flying punches, which the admin side took arrogantly, and were presented with their trophy: a giant inflatable yellow duck. The crowd was then led in a rendition of the school fight song. The school spirit was palpable.
After the match, everyone swarmed the steps of Johnson Hall, chanting, cheering and generally trying to be as loud as possible. Mae Bracelyn, a union leader and striking Global Scholars Hall dining worker, got up and made an impromptu speech, then led chants and had us sing “Solidarity forever” as they stood above us with a proud smile.
It is truly a beautiful thing to be a part of a singing crowd. The low, somber tones rang out as one voice, standing solemnly in front of the administration building.
Behind us a band started playing, all brass. Another fight song, people crowded around them, clapping to the beat. They played a few songs. There was a trombone solo, and in the words of someone standing next to me, “he was shredding.” Some were dancing in the middle, the people were the percussion. More and more joined the crowd.
Finally, we marched around Johnson Hall, encircling it so that all inside could hear us. The flowering butterfly bushes around Johnson Hall were in bloom, the scent hung in the air like a good omen. The crowd was dense, powerful. Chants echoed each other around the building. People stayed marching and chanting into the night.
The picket line was the greatest place on campus at that time. Here was the
true spirit of campus: unpretentious, accepting, joyful. It was where everything was happening, where you met new people, saw your friends and were a part of something.
There were people there that you see around –- in class, in the dining halls, on the streets, people you may not pay attention to, and the picket line humanizes us. We are all students, we are all workers and we all want a fair contract.
Being a part of crowds like this, protests like this, fills your heart in ways that most things just can’t. They scratch that fundamental human itch of community, more than anything we can get online. They’re purposeful, communal, social and joyous.
Bar Activities
Written By Sylvia Davidow • Photographed By Arianna Rinaldi • Designed By Eva Kuo
Nightlife in Eugene is a lifestyle to be treasured, especially during the college years. The bars around Eugene welcome new opportunities to try real drinks made by a bartender, indulge in a variety of snacks and engage in various fun activities that make college nights worthwhile.
Rennie’s Landing
Located across the street from Lillis Hall at the edge of 13th Avenue, Rennies is a bar buzzing with campus activity. It makes for the perfect little getaway spot after a long day at school, with plenty to do depending on the day. Monday nights are for karaoke upstairs on the deck. Trivia Tuesdays are opportunities to get the gang together and enjoy a pint of IPA brewed locally in Oregon. Wednesdays are for catching up with friends over a game of bingo. But perhaps the most popular attraction of
Rennies is Drink Wheel on Thursdays. At 9 p.m., watch a pub-style sports bar transform into a local hot clubbing spot. With new $4 drinks every hour and a lively dance floor upstairs, it’s no surprise Ducks flock to Rennies to celebrate the end of the school week. There’s nothing like doing a Drop Shot or Shooter with the girls (ranging from $7 to $10) or sobering up with Cheesy Bacon Tots ($14). At Rennies the activities are endless and the menus are plentiful.
Max’s Tavern
With pool tables and complimentary popcorn, Max’s Tavern is a campus bar off Patterson and 13th Ave perfect for debriefs and drinks. It’s the hot spot for Duck students amidst weekend assignments as it’s most popular on Friday and Saturday nights. There are a variety of booths, back deck seating, nooks and crannies and even chess tables, which make plenty of spots for good conversations. Max’s Tavern also has memorable bartenders
Blairally
This local bar is gate-keeped for a reason. Blairally is not just a bar, it’s also a music hall, techno club and arcade! Venture downtown to 245 Blair Blvd for some vintage games like Pac Man and Star Trek. Stay for the dance floor to let loose on the popular 80s night every
and even more memorable drinks. Celebrate a 21er or acing an exam with Max’s special gummy bear shots — a concoction of fruity liquors with gummy bears at the bottom ($4.50). After some salty popcorn, treat your sweet tooth to a Max’s Lemonade or house-made Lemon Drop — made with freshly squeezed lemon juice and topped with a sugar rim ($6.50-75). Make sure to stop at the water stations located throughout the bar between drinks!
Friday for only $4! Enjoy some yummy snacks in between dances with a $7 basket of fries or supreme nachos. It’s guaranteed to be a fun time at Blairally.
Whether you need a nice study break near campus, are celebrating big news with the besties or want a chill date spot, these bars have something to offer everyone. Make the most of these college years by making wonderful memories at Rennie’s, Max’s and Blairally.
