9-30-20 Emerald Media - Week of Welcome

SEPT. 30, 2020

Week of Welcome

Emerald Media

THROUGH THE

SCREEN

HELP FOR MENTAL HEALTH ONLINE A&C: LOCAL RESTAURANTS ON STUDENTS RETURNING P. 6

OPINION: SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER P. 8

NEWS: BEING AN RA DURING COVID-19 P. 9

SPORTS: MATTHEWS PREPARES FOR BASEBALL P. 11

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WELCOME BACK STUDENTS!

We have great items at low prices!

PLUMBING HOUSEWARES ELECTRICAL HARDWARE LAWN & GARDEN TOOLS PAINT

4 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU! 199 Q St. Springfield

541-746-7784 (lots of clothes, furniture, housewares)

705 S. Seneca

345-8036

(lots of clothes, misc. household items)

201 Division Ave.

762-7837

(clothes, furniture, books, beds, appliances & housewares) 1175 Hwy 99 N

607-4541

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We provide the full range of birth control along with information and education to help you make informed decisions about which birth control method is best for you.

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treet Eugene,EVERYDAY Oregon 97401 • (541) -345-8904 10:00AM 9:00PM• KeepEugeneGreen.org O ASU L @TheGreenerSide CALL@thegreenersideeug FOR DELIVERY OR CURB-SIDE PICK-UP GA twenty-one years of age and older. Keep out of the reach of children.

Know your birth control options.

10 min from campus on Emx bus line

Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. For use only by adults twenty-one years of age and older. Keep out of the reach of children.

EUGENE STORE ONLY Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. For use only by adults

BIRTH CONTROL IS NOT ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL.

LE CES I SERV

FREE

STUDENT LEGAL SERVICES

• Legal Services handles a wide range of legal problems from divorces

3 Oak Street Eugene, Oregon 97401 • (541) 345-8904 • KeepEugeneGreen.org to landlord tenant disputes.

• There is never a consultation or settlement fee. @thegreenersideeug @TheGreenerSide Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. For use only by adults twenty-one years of age and older. Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. For use only by adults twenty-one years of age and older. Keep out of the reach of children.

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• Legal Services staff members are experienced, qualified professionals.

• Legal Services are FREE to current fee-paying UO students.

To contact Legal Services and schedule an appointment please call 346-4273. www.asuolegal.org

OPINION

AN UPDATE TO THE VOL. 122, ISSUE NO. 10

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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.

ON THE COVER

Before the pandemic, this is a typical office where therapy sessions would be held.

Because of the restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ways in which mental health services are provided have changed signifigantly.

(Will Geschke/Emerald)

REGIONAL AND STATE NEWS

BY SOPHIA EDELBLUTE CAPPS

Ryan Nguyen

The Daily Emerald, like many newspapers, has an in-house style guide, which is our homebrewed attempt to create a more perfect system of language. The style guide deals with topics from the mundane ─ it’s “toward,” not “towards” ─ to the profound, like how we write about racial and gender disparities. In recognition that inclusivity and equality should be at the heart of everything we produce, members of the Emerald newsroom recently met to review our style guide line by line to see where we could improve.

All members of the Emerald newsroom were invited to take part in the style guide review. The panel ultimately consisted of Duncan Baumgarten, James Croxton, Sophia Edleblute Capps, Melanie Henshaw, Sarah-Mae McCullough, Ryan Nguyen and C. Francis O’Leary. These seven represented members of the Emerald’s management team, news, arts and culture, podcast and copy editing desks. They also represented a range of cultures, ethnicities and genders. However, it’s impossible to include every conceivable identity, and we recognize that there will have been topics we overlooked.

Reflecting the Emerald’s commitment to transparency, the following are a few of the major changes the panel agreed to, and how we came to those decisions.

Gender Inclusivity It is now standard practice for the Emerald to always ask subjects for their pronouns and to never assume gender identity. All pronouns are to be used the same way without explanation. For example, we would write “Alex loves ice cream. Their favorite flavor is chocolate,” instead

of “Alex, who uses they/ them pronouns, likes ice cream. Their favorite flavor is chocolate.”

We made this decision in consultation with the Trans Journalist Association’s style guide, and because it’s inherently othering to treat one person’s pronouns as deviant and another’s as the norm. All are gender identifying and all are valid.

“IN THE END, IT’S THE WRITER’S DUTY TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THE SUBJECT’S IDENTITY AND NOT THE SUBJECT’S DUTY TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THE WRITER’S ABILITY” We also concluded that the general grammatical criticism of using they/them pronouns is an insufficient argument and that if a sentence gets confusing, we will rephrase it to use the person’s name instead of their pronouns.

In the end, it’s the writer’s duty to accommodate for the subject’s identity and not the subject’s duty to accommodate for the writer’s ability.

Race and Ethnicity The Daily Emerald has made the decision to diverge from AP style and capitalize all terms that refer to an individual’s ethnic or cultural identity, including the terms “People of Color/Person of Color” and “White.”

Capitalizing “White” in reference to racial identity was a difficult and long-

Around OR

discussed decision.

After our first meeting, we were at loggerheads.

We recognized arguments both for and against the capitalization of White, but we realized our group would benefit from the inclusion of Black voices. Panel members agreed to reconvene in a week and to pass the interceding days reaching out to on-campus individuals and groups and researching the topic. Resources panel members tapped to make the decision included the National Association of Black Journalists’ style guide, the Columbia Journalism Review and more.

After much deliberation, the majority of panelists voted to capitalize “White” in cases wherein a writer is referring to an individual’s identity, but not to capitalize when writing about concepts like white supremacy and white nationalism.

Regardless of racial identity we will not mention a person’s race unless it is relevant to the story and, whenever possible, ask a subject how they choose to identify. Identifying ethnicity based on a subject’s appearance can lead to harmful misidentification and stereotyping, which is unacceptable at the Daily Emerald.

The words we use shape how we view the world around us and language is ever evolving. As such, Daily Emerald staff will continue to update the style guide as necessary, and will meet no less than once per year for a full review. With these updates we can ensure our coverage is respectful to every member of our audience and maintains consistency.

MULTIPLE DEAD AFTER MARION COUNTY HOSTAGE SITUATION: On Monday, the Marion County Sheriff’s office responded to a 911 call about a possible hostage situation.

According to a media release from the sheriff’s office, the incident resulted in ‘multiple fatalities’ including that of the suspect.

The Statesman Journal and CBS News reported that among the three dead, one of the victims was an 11-year-old boy. Police told reporters from CBS News that an officer had fired “a yet to be determined number of rounds” during the rescue.

– BRUNO CROLLA SOLE SUPPORT HOSTS EVENT TO SUPPORT PARKINSON’S DISEASE: Sole Support Eugene is hosting a 1k and 5k walking event in support of Parkinson’s disease on Oct. 4 at 9 a.m. The event lets you choose either a 1k or 5k adventure that is located near the Valley River Center, or you can walk your own personal path. The event is free, but registration is required.

– GABRIEL ORNELAS

(Emerald Archives)

PHOTOGRAPHY FROM AN OREGON ARTIST: If you’re looking for homegrown Oregon photographic talent, head to the Portland Art Museum. The show “Though There Be Fury on the Waves: Victor Jorgensen at Sea, 1943–1945” will be open until April 25, 2021. Jorgensen attended UO and worked at the Oregonian until enlisting in the Navy in 1942. This striking show presents Jorgensen’s work documenting United States warships in the Pacific during WWII. – AUDREY KALMAN

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COVER

THERAPY FROM HOME GETTING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC WITH VIRTUAL SUPPORT

Eric Garcia is a therapist at the University of Oregon’s Health Center, and is one of the many providing counseling to students through the Health Center’s teletherapy program. Because of the restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ways in which mental health services are provided have changed signifigantly. (Will Geschke/Emerald)

BY SARAH-MAE MCCULLOUGH

WITH COVID-19 STRAINING MENTAL HEALTH AND PREVENTING IN-PERSON INTERACTION, TELETHERAPY HAS BECOME THE NORM. Once a week, Ilse Stacklie-Vogt, a sophomore at UO, sits on her bed, opens her laptop or phone and talks to her therapist through the screen. Sometimes the video freezes or background noise gets in the way, but Stacklie-Vogt enjoys the casual feeling of chatting from her own room. “I feel so much more like I can say whatever,” she said. “It’s more like I’m calling a friend.”

Teletherapy has surged in popularity during the pandemic and brings its own mix of benefits and challenges. The virtual nature makes it more accessible for those who can’t attend in-person sessions, and, for some clients, opening up from their own home is easier than visiting an office. But talking through a computer can also limit communication and add to screen time.

“A really solid, deep relationship can be formed, just across a video screen, but it can take a little longer,” said Jessica Barnese, a somatic counselor who switched to teletherapy because of the pandemic.

At-home therapy is now the norm: Three-fourths of mental health clinicians are offering only teletherapy 一 primarily over the phone or telehealth video platforms like Doxy.me and Therea-Link 一 and 16% are providing a combination of in-person and online services, according to the American Psychological Association.

Teletherapy has become a staple in a COVID-19 world, where many need extra support. When the pandemic started, UO senior Amanda Kelly wanted to see her family but struggled to find a flight home to Annapolis, Maryland. “It’s really hard to not feel alone when you can barely see any of your friends or close relatives,” she said. “If I didn’t have my one good friend I’ve been quarantining with, I would lose my mind.”

In July, over half of adults reported COVID-19 negatively impacting their mental health, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The impact is linked to isolation, with more mental distress among those sheltering in place.

But trying to socialize also creates anxiety. Stacklie-Vogt and her roommates

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allow a limited list of guests into the house, but she worries that other people will take offense. “You’re stressed about hanging out with people and what’s safe and what isn’t,” she said. “It adds a whole other layer to friendship if people are gonna be offended that you have COVID rules.”

Data released by the Center for Collegiate Mental Health in September found increased distress among college students in just two of nine categories: academic and family distress.

After the pandemic started,

Ilse Stacklie-Vogt, a student at the University of Oregon, has been using the health center’s teletherapy program implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She says she’s felt more comfortable opening up to a therapist in her own space rather than a different environment.

Because of the restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ways in which mental health services are provided have changed signifigantly.

(Will Geschke/ Emerald)

COVER more students agreed with statements such as “It’s hard to stay motivated for my article. Timothy Withrow, a second-year political science student at UO, tried text classes” and “My family’s getting on my nerves.” therapy after struggling with feelings of isolation and self-doubt. It’s convenient, he Stacklie-Vogt, used to the autonomy of her college life, struggled more with her said, but “You just can’t connect over text like you can in person.” mental health when she had to move home spring term. “There’s a lot of things in At the UO Counseling Center, most sessions are now online, although in-person my family that are the reason why I go to therapy,” counseling is also available. There are no dropshe said. “I’m sure that I will need it less, being away in hours, but students can schedule same-day from home.” appointments, and the center encourages them to Research indicates that virtual therapy is as call in advance to help maintain social distance valuable as in-person therapy. A review published in the lobby. The center also has a room set up for in the Journal of Technology in Human Services students to do teletherapy from if they don’t have a analyzed 14 studies that compared internet and private space. face-to-face interventions, finding they were equally When the pandemic started, the counseling effective. The results “provide strong support for the center “ran into some struggles getting adoption of online psychological interventions,” the temporary licenses in multiple states,” Stadelman authors wrote. said. Individual states license mental health The experiences of clients and clinicians vary, professionals and have responded to COVID-19 usually bringing a mix of pros and cons. For Stackliedifferently. Some states, like Connecticut, Vogt, talking with her therapist from her own room suspended licensure requirements for approved rather than a foreign space where “I would have been telehealth providers, while others only grant outmore professional” feels more casual and makes it of-state providers temporary licenses during a easier to open up. She said she’s gotten to know her declared state of emergency or for a limited number therapist better, because they see each other in their of days. own homes. Whether it’s a different background or a “That puts particular students at a disadvantage family member making noise in another room, pieces to be able to access care, but I think it’s started a of personal life are sometimes caught on camera really interesting national conversation,” Stadelman and can lead to conversations that wouldn’t have said. “There’s lots of reasons why it could be really happened in an office, Stacklie-Vogt said. helpful to be able to practice across state lines For busy college students who might not own outside of a pandemic world.” cars — and who may travel home during breaks The UO Counseling Center can serve students in from school — teletherapy is more accessible. More 18 states, but all students, regardless of location, can students used the counseling center during summer access in-the-moment support through a phone 2020 than previous summers, said Suzie Stadelman, call. Case managers can also help students find the center’s outreach coordinator, likely because resources in their area, according to the center’s - Amanda Kelly, UO senior students could attend sessions from outside Eugene. website.

And for clients with mental health conditions that Many providers in the Eugene community make it difficult to leave the house, like agoraphobia have also switched to remote counseling. Jessica or depressive states, teletherapy “can really reduce barriers,” Stadelman said.

Barnese, who started providing teletherapy when the pandemic hit, experienced “a Despite the benefits of online counseling, Stacklie-Vogt wants to return to inmassive spike” in clients from the end of April to June. She’s found that she can still person services once it’s safe. “There are so many pros,” she said. “The only con develop deep relationships with clients she’s never met in person, although it can — which would still stop me from continuing telehealth — is I just don’t like virtual take more time. meetings.” Exiting out of video calls and returning to the physical world leaves her “Most of the way we get comfortable with each other is just feeling what it feels feeling disoriented, especially on days with back-to-back virtual meetings. like to be in a room with someone,” she said. “Just getting to feel your nervous Talking through a screen can also hinder communication. “It’s harder to make a system relax in the presence of someone else.” guess about how someone’s feeling Because Barnese’s counseling incorporates body awareness, movement and Suzie Stadleman, the based on their body language,” touch, the way she supports clients looks outreach coordinator Eric Garcia is a Stacklie-Vogt said. You might different in a remote format. For for the University therapist at the miss the subtle clues, like example, rather than placing her hand of Oregon Health University of someone starting to tear on a client to help them explore Center, anticipates Oregon’s Health that the center will up or fidgeting with their physical sensation, she’ll guide the Center and is one of return to primarily in hands. Technical issues client to do so themselves. “I’ve the many providing person therapy after and background noises found it still works,” she said. counseling to the pandemic but students through can also interfere.

While teletherapy has its pros will continue to use the health center’s Sabrina Schimscheimer, and cons, many studies support teletherapy because of teletherapy a sophomore studying its effectiveness, and Stadelman the advantages it offers program. Because economics, said that and Barnese encourage anyone students. Because of of the restrictions in her experience struggling with their mental the restrictions in place in place due to with teletherapy, poor health to seek help — likely due to the COVID-19 the COVID-19 pandemic, the ways communication made through online services. pandemic, the ways in which mental her feel misunderstood.

“Although it’s different, it’s still in which mental health services are “In traditional very effective,” Barnese said. health services provided have changed are provided therapy, I was able UO student Amanda Kelly signifigantly. (Will have changed to communicate agrees. “A lot of times, people Geschke/Emerald) significantly. (Will properly,” she said. feel so alone,” she said. “Those Geschke/Emerald) In addition to who feel alone have no video therapy idea there are millions expanding, of people who feel texting the exact same way, apps like and thousands BetterHelp of licensed and therapists Talkspace who truly have grown want to in users, help.” according to a New York Times

“THOSE WHO FEEL ALONE HAVE NO IDEA THERE ARE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO FEEL THE EXACT SAME WAY, AND THOUSANDS OF LICENSED THERAPISTS WHO TRULY WANT TO HELP.”

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A&C

LOCAL RESTAURANTS TALK ABOUT STUDENTS RETURNING, COVID-19 & THE FUTURE

BY EM CHAN • TWITTER @CATCHUPTOEMILY A sign in Agate Alley Bistro reads, “Face coverings required...stop the spread.” Signs are set up around lobbies in the hopes of encouraging customers to wear face masks. Restaurants on the campus of the University of Oregon are preparing for the return of students, adapting to new safety precautions in the face of COVID-19 in Eugene, Ore., Sept. 26, 2020. (Madi Mather/Emerald)

A little over six months have passed since Gov. Kate Brown mandated restaurants close their dining rooms to customers due to COVID-19. September wildfires shrouded the state in smoke, and hazardous air quality also forced many restaurants to close once again.

The Daily Emerald decided to check-in with some eateries closest to campus to see how they’ve fared in the last few tumultuous months, and ask about their predictions of what fall will look like with the return of students. The one point of consensus that these restaurants’ staff agree on is that, although they are glad for the return of students, fall will be absolutely unpredictable.

“There’s been an uptick in business as [new students and their] families are coming in, which is something we’re used to every year, but it also comes with it a whole new territory, I think,” Lauren Deegan, Agate Alley Bistro manager, said. “In a weird way, we’ve been living in our little bubble through the spring and summer so we’re excited to see students back, but it’s also unnerving to see all these new people move in the area again.”

Since these locations are so close to campus, their main customer base is students of UO and Bushnell University, Sandwich League manager Levi Sellars said. Customer turnout has been coming in waves, increasing due to new and returning students coming back for fall term, he added.

Despite fewer students, several of those interviewed said these eateries have still been able to get by with the support of the community.

Bobahead owner Shuang Han recalled customers calling Bobahead to ask when the campus location would reopen, which ultimately contributed to her

Elhaam Yazdi, a manager at Caspian, prepares for students to return to the University of Oregon. Caspian is located on 13th St. on the UO campus. Restaurants on the UO campus are preparing for the return of students, adapting to new safety precautions in the face of COVID-19 in Eugene, Ore., Sept. 26, 2020. (Madi Mather/Emerald) PA G E 6

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decision to reopen in May. Agate Alley Bistro has been dependent on regulars, since the restaurant has “always had a very strong support locally with a lot of regulars,” Deegan said.

For Glenwood, making changes to accommodate for the pandemic meant closing for four and a half months. As the weather gets cooler and outdoor seating becomes less feasible, staff are considering potential interior changes, like putting in booths.

Jahsalyn Palmer, Glenwood campus location manager, described how owner Jacqui Lester initially made the decision to close out of fear.

health mandates. Lance Schendel, Prince Puckler’s manager, said managing this change has been “kind of tough dealing with the people because they wanna just barge right in, so it’s a lot of traffic.”

Lance Schendel, a manager at Prince Puckler’s, speaks about the effects of COVID-19: “It took some time to get used to, but I think people are starting to figure it out...[business] might be a little slower because you can’t come in with your family on a rainy night and eat ice cream.” Restaurants on University of Oregon campus are preparing for the return of students, adapting to new safety precautions in the face of COVID-19 in Eugene, Ore., Sept. 26, 2020.

(Madi Mather/Emerald) Restaurants like Prince Puckler’s design custom signs to encourage customers to wear masks. Restaurants on the campus of the University of Oregon are preparing for the return of students, adapting to new safety precautions in the face of COVID-19 in Eugene, Ore., Sept. 26, 2020. (Madi Mather/Emerald)

“She closed to see what would happen, but you can’t stay closed forever. So it just got to the point where she had to open to stay open, and all us employees needed a job,” Palmer said.

Not all community interaction has been positive for eateries.

“What I’ve noticed is that the further into COVID we get, people stop tipping and they’re not being nice anymore,” Gabi Utze, Sweet Life Petite shift supervisor, said. “Because right when we reopened people were tipping us a lot and were so nice, it was amazing and super fun, and just slowly people have been getting ruthless, honestly.”

Across campus, Prince Puckler’s also had some difficulties rearranging the parlour to meet the new

Many restaurants around Eugene reopened in May, when Lane County was approved for Phase One reopening. Phase One permitted customers to come inside to dine -in or at least to order takeout in person.

“We’re still being on the conservative side for the duration of COVID by not opening our cafe to people,” Oolong Tea Bar manager Jeni Tinkle said. “That’s been working out pretty well for us, but we also want to get the word out that we’re here and open in that capacity.”

Sandwich League and Caspian Mediterranean Café were some of the few restaurants that were able to stay open throughout the pandemic, with both restaurants’ staff citing quick adaptation to new health protocols for staying open to continue take out.

“Since we’re so close to campus, we feel a jump [in business] and it’s a jump we need,” Elhaam Yazdi said, the owner of Caspian, said. “We always appreciate the support of faculty, staff and students, and hope to continue trucking along.”

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OPINION

Seasonal affective disorder is common,

yet not talked about enough

BY JAEL CALLOWAY

(Benjamin Irish/Emerald) As school starts back up, Oregon’s weather is transitioning back to gloomy, dark days. This change in weather is the reason behind seasonal affective disorder – or SAD. And although 5% of adults in the US suffer from the disorder, with symptoms typically lasting 40% of the year, we don’t talk about it nearly as much as we should. With fall and winter quickly approaching, students and teachers need to know more about the disorder and its effects.

The effects of SAD come from a biochemical imbalance in the brain caused by the drastic decrease of sunlight during winter and fall. This absence of sunlight tampers with our circadian rhythm as well as levels of essential chemicals, such as melatonin, serotonin and vitamin D. Memory, attentiveness and motivation are negatively impacted as extreme levels of depression and anxiety begin to take over. It’s yet another roadblock students will have to face while navigating their academic and social life amid a pandemic.

SAD can be especially punishing for first-time college students. First-years

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are being handed an enormous sense of independence and responsibility.

And for students who are coming to Oregon from a sunny state, such as Arizona or California, the severe weather difference can come as a shock, increasing the chances of feeling symptoms associated with SAD. High school allowed students to get comfortable with a routine, whereas college — now with online classes and asynchronous learning — doesn’t require a daily routine. Waking up later and staying inside for the majority of the day decreases your exposure to sunlight, amplifying the struggles that come with SAD. Lily Wheeler, a fourth-year student

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at the University of Oregon, and JoJamba Matthews, a third-year graduate student at the University of North Dakota, both have SAD. Wheeler said SAD is a “difficult thing to work through and can prevent students like me who are normally very hard workers from living up to their academic potential, since we just don’t have the motivation to function normally.”

Matthews explained how seasonal depression forces her to work extra hard during the summer. “[I] had to work through this past summer, when I had energy, to actually get to the point of being set up to finish by December,” she said. “Chasing daylight like that makes work and school just harder.”

SAD is a “difficult thing to work through and can prevent students like me who are normally very hard workers from living up to their academic potential.”

Both agreed that instructors need to be aware and understanding about mental illnesses, especially during the fall and winter seasons. Being aware of the symptoms of SAD, along with other mental illnesses, allows teachers to be both an advocate and a support system for their students.

If you feel like you suffer from symptoms of SAD, don’t be afraid to seek help. I encourage you to create a schedule you can follow every day, exercise frequently — even if it’s in your dorm room — and look into investing in a sun light. Having a bad day every now and then is normal, but feeling an overwhelming sense of hopelessness and depression is not.

We need to work towards destigmatizing mental illness and seeking help. We strive to show others around us our independence and strength, and asking for help has morphed into a sign of weakness.

But we can’t keep our strength up if unhappiness overwhelms us. The sun might be hiding behind clouds, but the world would get so much darker without you in it.

NEWS

Being an RA

During

BY BRUNO CROLLA

Covid-19

Editor’s note: For this story, two RAs who currently work in the dorms were anonymously interviewed. The reason for this is because the RA manual instructs RAs not to respond to requests from the media.

With dorms opening across campus for fall term, mixed feelings fill the rooms of the Residential Assistants. This year brings with it new rules and regulations surrounding dorm etiquette in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Physical distancing, mask requirements and other COVID19-related policies have become commonplace around the University of Oregon’s living areas.

RAs are a part of the system in place to ensure that residents follow the rules around the dorms.

Making sure residents wear masks when appropriate, no one oversteps physical distancing guidelines and people adhere to the new guest policy are just a few of an RA’s tasks.

“The role of an RA is a very challenging one,” Anna SchmidtMackenzie, Director of Residential Life and Educational Initiatives, said. “Holding folks accountable or asking people to comply by the rules is a hard part of the job.”

RAs mentioned the university’s guest policy as a particularly

challenging rule. At this time, dorm rooms and common areas, other than the lobby, are off limits to anyone who does not live in the

Schmidt-Mackenzie said the university has the benefit of learning from schools with a semester schedule that opened sooner for

“MOST RAS BECOME RAS BECAUSE THEY CANT AFFORD FOOD OR HOUSING.” - Anonymous RA same dorm. For example, a student living in Carson Hall cannot enter the rooms or common areas of the Hamilton dorms. The RAs residing in each dorm hall are expected to enforce these rules.

“It’s going to be hard to enforce,” said one RA, who asked to remain anonymous. “We can’t always know exactly what is happening behind closed doors if someone decides to bring guests to their room.”

According to the interviewed RAs, the possibility of the residence halls shutting down in the event of an outbreak among residents is another circulating concern. Many worry how this may affect their living situation.

“If you’re an RA, and I am speaking very [broadly], but most RAs become RAs because they can’t afford housing or food. So a lot of us don’t really have a choice. It was either our health or coming back for the housing because we can’t afford it otherwise,” a second anonymous RA said.

fall. By seeing how they handle infections, parties and outbreak responses, the university can prepare with stricter guidelines and rules.

University Housing has already outlined many contingencies regarding outbreaks in the dorms.

“We have protocol in place for an isolation space,” SchmidtMackenzie said. “There are dedicated floors in Barnhart residence hall, and we have a support system for the student while they’re living there.”

According to both anonymous RAs, UO Housing is doing everything it can, short of closing the halls, to prevent an outbreak amongst the residents. Both Schmidt-Mackenzie and the RAs agree that much of what can be done relies on the cooperation of residents within each community.

RAs have been met with understanding from many of the residents.

“For the most part, freshmen have been working with us,” the first RA said. “They understand that the situation isn’t ideal, but they have been working very well with us.”

Despite this, the first anonymous RA said that many dorms around campus have already experienced issues with residents crowding lounges and study rooms above their maximum occupancy. The second anonymous RA recalled a similar situation and expressed disappointment at the residents’ actions.

“On one of my rounds, one of the lounges was packed with 20 people when there should only be 10 people max,” the second RA said.

This isn’t very promising given that the school year hasn’t even started yet and stuff like this is already happening.”

The parking lot of the Erb Memorial Union (EMU) was designated for incoming first-year students on Sept. 25, 2020. First-year students and their parents unloaded their items and headed to their new dormitory for the academic year. The freshman class of 2024 officially moved into the dorms the last weekend of September at the University of Oregon.

The university requires first-year students to live in dorms their first year attending. The university follows the state’s protocols regarding COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the virus. (Kevin Wang/Daily Emerald) W E D N E S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 3 0 , 2 0 2 0

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GABE MATTHEWS AMPED UP FOR FIFTH SEASON OF DUCKS BASEBALL

BY MOJO HILL • TWITTER @MOJOHILL22 It has been quite the emotional roller coaster for senior first baseman Gabe Matthews. He began what he thought was going to be his final year of collegiate baseball with a bang, posting a .339/.500/.518 clip with more walks than strikeouts before the season was abruptly canceled.

“It kind of hit me,” he said. “I thought to myself deep down, is this my last game playing baseball forever?”

To Matthews’ relief, as well as that of spring athletes all over the country, the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to those whose seasons were cut short by the pandemic. With this new opportunity suddenly available, Matthews had quite a decision to make.

“It was kind of a crazy week,” he said. “I started weighing my options and was able to get my head in the right spot and understand what was best for me...I came back for my fifth year.”

Things are looking up for the Oregon baseball program, with Matthews’ return being just one of many contributing factors. The team is also excited for the returns of redshirt junior Kenyon Yovan and fellow senior Nico Tellache, as well as the addition of many new high school commits.

“I think the biggest thing is not slowing down from where we left off,” Matthews said. “A big thing for us as a team is staying in shape, making sure we’re still doing stuff.”

The 2021 spring season will also be the first full year for head coach Mark Wasikowski, who managed the Ducks to an 8-7 record before the 2020 season was canceled.

Wasikowski played collegiate ball himself from 1990 to 1993, graduating from Pepperdine University. He has previously served as an assistant coach for the Ducks and head coach for Purdue, and was named the Ducks’ new head coach prior to the 2020 season. Matthews said he and the rest of the team are excited to see what Wasikowski can do with this talented group over a full year.

“He just expects the best from us,” Matthews said of Wasikowski. “It’s just different...I don’t think there’s a better or worse way to go about it, and I think Waz has done a good job.”

With another chance at his final season, Matthews is hoping that his talents can take him beyond collegiate ball.

“It’s going to be different, it’s going to be weird,” he said of his pro ball situation. “Hopefully I can continue to play baseball for a long time, and that’s the goal.”

For now, he’s simply been trying to make the most of the quarantine in preparation for next year.

“I was able to move the stuff from my parents’ house into my garage here in Eugene,” Matthews said. “Started working out in my garage, and then set up a batting cage at my uncle’s house, so I was able to get stuff done that way...I took up some new hobbies like golf, which I’m not very good at, but pretty fun to do.”

After working through the grind of this long offseason and getting ready to go back to school for a master’s degree in marketing and brand management, he is now raring for the season to start.

“I’m excited to get back with everyone and see how everything takes off from there,” Matthews said.

(Emerald Archives)

“IT’S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT, IT’S GOING TO BE WEIRD.” GABE MATTHEWS

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