Letter from the Editor in Chief

I think we can all agree that we’ve grown to hate the word uncertainty. It’s uncertain when we’ll be back on campus. It’s uncertain the next time we’ll be able to shake hands with a stranger. It’s uncertain when we’ll return to normalcy. Of the countless pandemic platitudes we’ve heard all too much of over the past 18 months, the word “uncertainty” has usually been followed by bad news. And if not bad news, more prolonged uncertainty.

Yet, as this “age of uncertainty” — hopefully — begins to come to a close, I think we can change our interpretation of the word. To me, from here on out, uncertainty is not a negative. The world still turns despite the state it’s in, as people carry on in any way they can. Whether it be juggling fire, throwing a concert in the living room, playing Ultimate Frisbee or foraging for mushrooms, people continue to live their lives and pursue their passions — and tell their stories.

If anything, these times have proven how resilient we truly are.

For this year’s issue of Flux, we wanted to focus on stories of resilience in the face of uncertainty. And as people found ways to fight back against the cards they were dealt, it just so happened that stories like these were of the majority.

The following pages capture the essence of the people I worked with on this magazine. Creative collaboration in a world where everyone is so physically distant could have proved to be an impossible task; Zoom fatigue could have easily gotten the best of us. However, my amazing teammates thrived in the challenge, and worked even harder to achieve the seemingly impossible. In turn, we created a more eclectic and diverse magazine than we ever could have in person.

Grace, Isaac and Anna talked to at least 40 Oregonians affected by last fall’s fires. Malena scored a Zoom interview with Portugal. The Man. Julia blew us away with her photojournalism debut. This issue covers everything from how to raise a baby goat to how to be a more responsible activist. And our design team brought these stories to life.

As I sit with my fellow editors, advisors and a few eager staff members — masked up and a good distance apart — making last-minute copy edits, I am reminded of the resilience it takes to produce something that you’re proud of, despite all odds, and despite not knowing if the world is watching.

I for one rarely know what my next move is — even when not in the midst of a global pandemic. But this time has caused me to revel in the not knowing, and to not take for granted the everyday stories that life brings about.

It is my hope that these stories inspire you. Because no matter what you have endured during this pandemic, we should all be proud of ourselves. Making it through something like this is an act of resilience. And I know that whatever comes next, we can handle it.

Shannon Daehnke, Editor-in-Chief