Tuesday Edition
JANUARY 16, 2024
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FIRST-YEARS’ HECTIC FALL TERM From new routines to campus protests, UO’s newest students have seen it all
NEWS: ASUO’s busy fall term PG 4 • OPINION: Why some people avoid political discussions PG 5 • A&C: 2024’s most anticipated films PG 8
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EDITORIAL CARTOONS The Case of the Missing Comic Strip
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VOL. 125, ISSUE NO. 23
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The Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation hosted a rally on the EMU Green during its final bargaining session on Jan. 11. The union has authorized a strike for Jan. 17 pending negotiations with UO.
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“Selkie”
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Despite media speculation that Oregon football head coach Dan Lanning would leave for the University of Alabama, Lanning announced that he would remain a Duck in a Jan. 11 social media post.
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“Selkie” is part of an anthology of stories dedicated to queering the supernatural. Each story is a love letter to cryptids, monsters, and all creatures who have been cast out of society, human and inhuman alike.
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NEWS
ASUO CHECK IN: HOW THINGS ARE GOING SO FAR
ASUO just wrapped up its first term of the 2023-24 academic year. Here’s how it went.
BY TYLER ORTIZ • DESIGNED BY GABRIELA MARTINEZ
With the end of the fall 2023 term at UO, the Associated Students of the University of Oregon enters the winter term with a strong sense of community and plenty of excitement for upcoming initiatives. ASUO started the 2023-24 academic year off prioritizing engagement, support and elevation, as ASUO President Chloé Webster shared with the Emerald in November 2023. “We commit to engaging with students and taking the necessary steps to actively improve our campus experience and make it the best it can be,” Webster said. In its first term, ASUO worked towards these goals by holding events such as its two collaborations with local vintage store the Eugene Nest, the Men’s Health Fair and the biannual Street Faire. Combined, these events bring in thousands of UO students, according to ASUO Vice President Finn Jacobson. Meeting these goals wouldn’t be possible without ASUO learning how to function as a new administration for itself and the student body. “You have to start from the inside and build up a strong, connected internal organization in order for progress and projects to be completed in the future,” Webster said. As president of ASUO, Webster spent much of the fall term creating an efficient work environment under her administration. “An organization is only as good as the energy and internal connections there. Everything works from the inside out,” she said. To achieve this effect, Webster made an effort to be present in the ASUO office and create a stronger sense of community. “There’s something to be said about visibility, and connecting with your team and being present,” she said. Xcaret Bello, director of student organizations at ASUO, confirmed that Webster’s administration has fostered an environment of collaboration, allowing for a smooth exchange of information and ideas among coworkers. Bello emphasized her appreciation for this year’s work environment, saying, “It just kind of warms my heart talking about it, because everybody’s so welcoming, and everybody is so passionate about what they’re specifically working on.” In addition to putting on events and establishing a well-coordinated workforce, ASUO completed several significant financial tasks in its fall term. These include benchmarks and budget hearings for the organizations, departments and contracts that PA G E 4
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ASUO’s financial departments manage. These financial tasks involve money coming from the I-Fee. The I-Fee is a required fee on students’ tuition that is managed by ASUO, which decides how to allocate the funds to different programs, departments and contracts that impact the student experience. The completion of these financial processes provided “a really good rough estimate of how much money we should project for and where we have money to give,” Finn O’Donnell, ASUO executive director of finance, said. O’Donnell noted that benchmarks went well during the fall term, but it wasn’t a completely smooth process. “There’s a lot of discussion and discourse that needs to happen, and very long senate meetings,” Jacobson said. “I think that was the time where we experienced the most tension.” Apart from making difficult financial decisions, ASUO as an organization is faced with the task of translating complicated information and processes to the student body. Because of this, they are constantly working on the issue of transparency by making sure the information they present is clear and concise. “I think I could confidently say that transparency has always been an issue, maybe not super big, but not super small,” Bello said. “Fixing transparency for us can start really small. For example, there’s a lot of jargon that gets thrown around in ASUO.” Webster agreed, adding that “helping students understand and take that jargon and turn it into something that’s digestible is always a bump in the road.” Bello further noted that ASUO is working on making sure the student organizations they work with are educated in all the processes that they must fulfill. “When a student organization comes in with an issue, whether it’s a finance issue
or they’re having trouble booking or scheduling something, that we’re not just solving it for them, that we’re actually walking them through that process,” she said. Looking ahead, 2024’s winter and spring terms have much in store for ASUO. Some events include sending the final budget recommendation to President John Karl Scholz in February, a Battle of the Bands event in March to prepare for the Spring Concert and the second Street Faire of the year in early spring. To keep updated on these events, Webster recommends referring to ASUO’s Instagram. Jacobson and Webster note that ASUO’s coffee hours will change to Tuesdays from 2 to 4 p.m., during which the ASUO office, in room 004 of the EMU, will be open for engaging events. Further, the executive duo announced that they will be walking around the EMU every Thursday from 2 to 3 p.m. to visit students and student organizations, supporting ASUO’s visible presence within the university.
Chloe Webster, the ASUO president, and FInn Jacobson, the ASUO vice president stand in the ASUO office in the EMU. (Molly McPherson/Emerald)
OPINION
MOORE:
WHAT KEEPS US QUIET? OPINION: Stepping back from political issues and discussions can be due to more than the privilege of turning a blind eye
BY MADDY MOORE DESIGNED BY EVA ANDREWS
At first, distancing yourself from a difficult political issue seems like the easy and comfortable solution. But in the long run, you may negatively affect your relationships with people around you. Being upfront about political opinions, even if they oppose someone else’s, is usually a better way to handle uncomfortable discussions. In other cases, people may remain quiet about issues due to political burnout. Burnout is quite common among Americans and across party lines. The amount of sensationalized news media and frustration with the government wears people down. Sometimes, With this in mind, I remaining vocal about an have started thinking issue, especially if it affects about how I and many you, can lead to burnout if others tend to sidestep there is continual, upsetting uncomfortable political media coverage and a lack issues. It is easier to of action or change. ignore situations that Burnout is a common affect anyone but us, experience outside of such as conflicts far away politics, as we have things or legislative battles in daily life that wear us that won’t impact our out over time. But most autonomy. The more people who feel burned distant the issue is from out politically may not our day-to-day life, the realize that is why they more comfortable we are have grown quiet about in ignorance. This is the certain issues. The choice most discussed reason to remain neutral on an for ignoring politics event or topic could be that I come across, but I someone’s decision to believe that people can take care of themselves also tune out politics rather than to push due to how draining the forward after burnout. issue is for them to face When people are not continually. A man talks with one of the protestors. Anti-abortion protestors were met with counter-protestors outside the Erb Memorial Union eager to contribute to When others take on May 5, 2023. (Molly McPherson/Emerald) political discussions, neutral stances on politics negative assumptions or disconnect from issues may be made without considering that the person has been proven by a recent political study by altogether, it is natural to be skeptical of their may need to sit out on one conversation before University of California, Berkeley, to backfire, as motivations and consider they have opinions they jumping back into it. Some people are simply people distrust those who hide their opinions prefer to keep to themselves. Political neutrality comfortable in their lives and don’t have the urge behind neutrality. The study, done by Ike Silver and often does not contribute to social movements to disrupt that by speaking up. Neutrality can often Alex Shaw, found that participants disliked people or create active change, which makes it seem like seem like a negative trait, but depending on the with neutral stances more than those who openly neutral individuals are simply bystanders. Being issue, there can be a more personal reason. disagreed with them. a bystander is criticized, usually in small-scale Compared to the last two election cycles in the United States, the 2024 cycle has seemed muted. Conversations about candidates have felt hidden and hushed during the last several months. People in my life are reluctant to talk about the chances of Donald Trump reentering the White House and shut down attempts to discuss the 2024 election. The election cycle feels like an ever-looming storm cloud, and people refuse to check the weather forecast.
situations such as interpersonal disputes, but it applies to larger social and political conflicts just as adequately. Staying out of issues that can be divisive or sensitive for people to discuss may seem like a sufficient way to avoid discomfort or conflict with others. However, being avoidant or neutral
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COVER
FRESHMEN REFLECT The Class of 2027 share their opinions on UO, President Scholz, workload and campus culture BY MEGAN SNYDER, YSABELLA SOSA • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART Following their first few months of college and their first finals week, UO freshmen have gotten a glimpse of life on campus during their first term. With 5,057 students, UO’s class of 2027 is the second-largest class in the history of the university. The Daily Emerald asked first-year students their opinions on topics including their favorite and least favorite aspects of UO, academics, campus rallies and President Scholz.
HOW HAVE YOU ADJUSTED FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE LIFE? A common experience shared by UO freshmen is that college is more academically challenging than high school, with some saying college requires a greater degree of time management skills. Micah Atkerson, majoring in business, found that it takes more preparation to keep up with college than high school. “I can’t just sit down and dedicate 45 minutes to homework anymore,” he said. On top of schoolwork, building a new social life away from home has also increased the need for effective balance in students’ lives. “Balancing social life and time management for school has been pretty hard,” Evan Rice, a freshman majoring in product design, said. “I didn’t expect my [general education] classes, my non-major classes, to be as hard as they were.” Majoring in journalism, Moriah Allen has experienced a similar struggle. “I have a hard time with time management,” she said. “I have a job, I’m in a lot more clubs and school has a lot more homework than it used to.” However, other students expressed their gratitude that certain UO resources have made the adjustment process easier – including UO Counseling and Academic Advising. “I think if you’re struggling, it’s not hard to find help,” Johanna Thebert said. Riley Silvyn found that professors are much more open to talking with and helping students than she initially expected. “There’s kind of this perception that in college, you’re on your own, and the teachers are very separate from you in comparison to high school,” she said. “I don’t think that it’s really the case. You can reach out to your professors.” Willow Tobin has noticed that UO’s environment holds a different sense of unity than her previous school due to a shared goal among students to succeed academically. “In high school I feel like [there were] a lot of people who didn’t exactly know what they were doing,” she said. “But I think here, even if people don’t know what they’re PA G E 6
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doing, they know they want to pursue higher education.”
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ASPECT OF UO? The geographic diversity within the student body is something that some UO freshmen particularly appreciate. “I’ve met so many amazing people,” Thebert said. “[With people] coming from different places and different demographics it’s been really cool to interact.” Similarly, Tobin views her move to Oregon as a way to branch out from the home she is used to. “I come from a school where everyone comes from the same background, but here, everyone comes from a different place and has different stories,” she said. Atkerson’s favorite part of UO involves the social culture on campus. “All the professors and all the other students are welcoming,” he said. “It makes it feel like I have been here for more than three months.” Micah Atkerson, Evan Rice, Moriah Allen, Jackson St. Denis and Cole Klapprott stand outside of Unthank Hall on campus. (Megan Snyder/Emerald)
While she plans to leave the university to be closer to family, Lexie Devaul’s favorite part about UO so far has been the access to student resources and personal assistance. “I am moving back home, and being able to talk to my counselor about it, being able to talk to housing about it, and making appointments — they’re all willing to work around my schedule for that,” she said. Several other students noted that Oregon’s seasons and the surroundings of Eugene made them feel more comfortable at UO. “Seeing the leaves change and all the green is very nice,” Silvyn said. Some freshmen also appreciate their newfound independence, which gives them more time for extracurriculars. “I have a lot more time throughout my day to do what I want to do,” Atkerson said. Some freshmen experienced their first college sporting event in the fall term. “The football games are probably the most memorable,” Jackson St. Denis said. Cole Klapprott also agreed that his favorite
COVER
ON FIRST TERM AT UO part about UO has been the athletics, especially “the basketball games. I’ve been to a few, and the football games for sure,” he said. “Those are really fun.”
WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE ASPECT OF UO? Some of the students interviewed agreed that the university is lacking transparency and communication. Mya Schnader experienced issues with UO Housing. Schnader lived in a triple bed and had a conflict with one of her roommates. “We [Schnader and a roommate] had to go through RA [residence assistant] mediation to get our request prioritized, but apparently it’s not getting prioritized,” she said. “There’s a lot of miscommunication that happens in the housing department, and it’s frustrating.” Schnader also said that the miscommunication came up because there’s “this long chain of telephone” between the housing department and the residential life community directors. Ava Coppola had an unfortunate experience with advising. Coppola said that due to miscommunication between departments, she lost $1,000 for dropping a class. “I only knew to schedule my academic advising because I had asked the girl at IntroDucktion,” Coppola said. Additionally, Coppola said that IntroDucktion, the mandatory orientation program for UO freshmen, “acted like it was this mandatory thing that it was going to really help you out, but it doesn’t really help you out with much.” Coppola also said UO did not inform freshmen about the deduction of meal points during the weeks of Thanksgiving and finals. “That bothers me to high hell. I still need to eat the same amount,” she said. Allen’s least favorite experience has been the smell of freshmen smoking in the dorms. “Every morning, Justice Bean [Hall] has a funny smell,” Allen said.
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED ON CAMPUS AS A FRESHMAN? The university provides a variety of ways for freshmen to get involved on campus. During Week of Welcome, UO’s Student Orientation team welcomed the incoming class of 2027 and new transfer students by hosting a variety of activities. UO’s Student Orientation hosted a Flock Party on Sept 22 at the EMU Green where freshmen were introduced to more than 300 student clubs and organizations. Some freshmen agreed that the Flock Party was a gateway to getting involved on campus.
“The club fair was super helpful,” Allen said. “I signed up for three things that day.” Silvyn and Thebert both joined the UO’s PrePhysical & Occupational Therapy Club in hopes of gaining experience in their future work field. Additionally, Silvyn joined the Running club and the Pre-Med club. Schnader is a human physiology major. She works for the Human Resources department as part of the recruitment and hiring unit. Schnader said that her job allows her to work with the football team. Some freshmen also said that IntroDucktion helped them build friendships, including Allen, who said that her friends met their closest companions at orientation. In October, freshmen had their first experience with the fraternity and sorority recruitment or member intake process. 919 freshmen joined a sorority or fraternity.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH PROTESTS ON UO’S CAMPUS? Members of the Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation have been in contract negotiations with UO administration since March 2023. GTFF rallied multiple times throughout the fall term, and voted in approval of a potential strike. Allen said she believes that it’s a good idea for GEs to be rallying for better pay. “I think it’s good that they’re protesting.” However, some students the Emerald interviewed also said that they’re not educated enough to have an opinion on the GTFF rallies. “I honestly haven’t heard enough about it to have an opinion,” Rice said.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH UO PRESIDENT SCHOLZ? UO President John Karl Scholz took office in July 2023. Some freshmen shared their opinions with the Emerald on their lack of interactions with the president. “I’ve seen him in his emails,” Schnader said. On Oct. 13, 2023, President Scholz sent out a statement via email to students regarding the war in Israel and Gaza. Several students voiced their opinions on the lack of stance toward the war that the president voiced in the statement. Salem Younes, a member of UO Students for Justice in Palestine, called the statement “painfully neutral.” “He [Scholz] typed a bunch of nothing and then sent it out,” Younes said. Silvyn believed that Scholz’s statement was
worded in a way to keep the peace on campus. “I thought he worded it pretty well, but he definitely did not make his stance clear,” Silvyn said. “Which, in this case, [is] kind of a good thing.” Most students interviewed agreed that University Convocation during the Week of Welcome was the only instance where students saw Scholz. Allen works for University Catering and has had a few interactions with Scholz. “I heard his favorite drink is Squirt, so we [UO Catering] always keep it supplied.” Some students weren’t bothered at the lack of interaction with Scholz, with most agreeing that the president has other responsibilities than engaging with students. “It would be nice to have a connection with him, but it’s not super necessary,” St. Denis said. “There’s also so many students here, so it will take a lot of time, and I bet he already has a ton to begin with,” Atkerson said. Allen disagreed and said “I don’t think it’s too many people because Puddles [UO’s mascot] sees everybody.” “But [Puddles] is a mascot, and that’s his whole job,” Rice said in disagreement. “The president is deciding how our school is run.”
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE UNIVERSITY COULD IMPROVE UPON? An area that students pointed out the university could improve upon is technology, particularly involving engagement and communication with the student body. St. Denis believes that UO should adjust the Duo verification process. “The two-step verification is so annoying,” he said. Additionally, “they should improve the module system,” Rice said, referring to various modules like Get Explicit that first-year students are required to complete. “There’s so many required things to do and so many different sites that it’s spread across. It’s not super efficient.” Students also found issues in communicating with certain departments on campus, and feel like improvements should be made –– especially regarding timely responses. Schnader’s email involving her roommate conflict took over a week to get a response. Allen called for improvements regarding dining options. “I would like to see more gluten-free options,” Allen said. “I feel like they just do a two-in-one with the gluten free and vegan together.” From dorm lifestyle complaints and struggles with time management, to an appreciation of the campus’ beauty and community, these student perspectives offer a snapshot of the freshman experience at UO. T U E S D AY, J A N UA R Y 1 6 , 2 0 2 4
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A&C
THE 10 MOST ANTICIPATED FILMS OF 2024 BY SEAN AVERY •
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Although it’s impossible to predict what films will rise to the top of 2024’s best-in-show, various upcoming projects have cemented their names in the circle. Most selections on this list are of big-name or big-franchise appeal, garnering interest from sheer recognizability and familiarity. Though I wish my list featured a little more variety in the realm of indie and international cinema, I’m nevertheless excited to watch these 10 new releases this year.
10. “I Saw the TV Glow” — Jan. 18 (Sundance Film Festival) “I Saw the TV Glow” is an upcoming horror film from A24 and one of two resident indie selections on the list. It’s the second feature film from non-binary American filmmaker Jane Schoenbrun following their breakout turn in experimental horror, “We’re All Going to the World’s Fair.” I’m interested to see Schoenbrun play with an inflated budget. Their art-driven, unconventional style meshes nicely with A24’s ambitious and unpredictable horror catalog. The film follows teenager Owen (Justice Smith), who is introduced to a mysterious TV show exposing the supernatural world beneath our own.
9. “Gladiator 2” — Nov. 22 The upcoming sequel to Ridley Scott’s Oscarwinning action epic is set to release in November. The film stars Paul Mescal as Lucius — the son of Connie Nielsen’s Lucilla. The plot details are limited, but I expect a hero’s journey similar to its predecessor. I’m excited to see Mescal take over this role. He’s one of my favorite working actors after a heartbreakingly endearing performance in “Aftersun.” If it weren’t for Scott’s sputtering track record as of late with “House of Gucci” and “Napoleon,” it’d undoubtedly fall higher on the list.
8. “Deadpool 3” — Jul. 26 While middle school me would’ve been frothing at the mouth for any Deadpool content I could access, I’m slightly lukewarm on this one. Ryan Reynolds is great in this role, no doubt, but I’m worried the character may be stretched thin. The return of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine leaves a bad taste in my mouth, especially considering his perfectly bittersweet conclusion in “Logan.” Still, it’s the first time we’ll see X-Men characters PA G E 8
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• DESIGNED BY EVA ANDREWS
2023 has come to a close as we welcome a new year in cinema. 2024 already looks promising with a mix of popular franchise sequels and originals from acclaimed filmmakers.
brought to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. If there’s some life left in the franchise, I hope to see it realized here.
7. “Inside Out 2” — Jun. 14 “Inside Out 2” marks the third sequel on this list that I’m intrigued by, yet I have my reservations. I adore the original film and am excited to see our beloved emotions welcome anxiety and crew to Riley’s brain, but its inherent lack of novelty worries me. On top of that, legendary animation director Pete Docter is not returning to helm the project. Still, Riley’s teenage years should be interesting to explore. Despite some recent stinkers, Pixar can never be underestimated to produce something special. Trailer
6. “Civil War” — Apr. 26 “Civil War” is the latest feature film from “Ex Machina” and “Annihilation” writer/director Alex Garland. Known for blending science-fiction, horror and action, Garland is the main draw for the film. The interesting premise studies a group of war journalists attempting to survive while reporting the truth as the United States stands on the brink of civil war. I think the film succeeds only if it doesn’t take its conflict too seriously. I’m not looking for a hyper-realistic look into the bleak future of the country but rather a fun, twisted thriller that touches on political themes. Trailer
5. “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” — May. 24 “Furiosa” is George Miller’s follow-up and prequel to the award-winning technical beast “Mad Max: Fury Road.” The film follows the trials and tribulations of a young Furiosa, played by Anya Taylor-Joy. I expect flooring visuals, incredible action sequences and a fierce lead performance. While I doubt it will live up to its predecessor, Miller certainly knows what he’s doing with this franchise. Trailer
4. “Challengers” — Apr. 26 “Challengers” has been on my radar for a while now. Originally expected to be released last year, Luca Guadagnino’s latest was pushed back due to the Hollywood strikes. The story follows a tennis-player-turned-coach (Zendaya) who encourages her husband (Mike Faist) to compete
in a low-level tournament to improve his morale. When he encounters his former best friend and wife’s former boyfriend in a match, a complicated triangle of relationships is put to the test. Guadagnino, creator of “Call Me By Your Name” and “Bones and All,” is known for portraying bold, complex relationships. I expect wicked twists, steamy encounters and a whole lot of drama. Trailer
3. “Dune: Part Two” — Mar. 1 Denis Villeneuve’s long-awaited sequel needs no introduction. “Dune” blew audiences away in 2021 with its larger-than-life visual atmosphere and breathtaking technical production. One of the primary complaints about the film was a feeling of incompleteness, which is sure to be remedied with a grander, action-packed and more climactic second entry. Now that the world and characters are fully established, the film should demand less time for set-up and fully dive into the meat of what makes this franchise so special — giant sandworms, large-scale battle sequences, space romance and interplanetary dispute. Trailer
2. “Nosferatu” — Dec. 25 Robert Eggers is at the helm to reimagine one of the most influential horror flicks ever. Sign me up. The original “Nosferatu” was a monumental German classic released in 1922. Its unique take on Dracula is the perfect candidate for a modern remake. Bill Skarsgård, who has made a name for himself playing creepy weirdos, is back for more. Eggers has become a prolific storyteller, exploring the dark side of cinema with “The Witch” and “The Lighthouse.” His technical prowess and layered character-building are sure to be on full display.
1. “Mickey 17” — Delayed indefinitely (previously Mar. 29) “Mickey 17” lands the top spot and quite easily. A science-fiction film from Bong Joon-ho starring Robert Pattinson, simply put, sounds like the greatest thing ever. It’s Bong’s first film since taking over the world with “Parasite” in 2019. Though unfortunately delayed indefinitely, I still expect a 2024 release and am beyond excited to witness it in theaters. For the rest of his life, Bong has earned the right to toy with any genre at any scale. How lucky are we?
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CROSSWORD 41 “Blue Banisters” 44 “Star Wars” ACROSS DOWN singerheroine 1 Ballplayer’s hat 1 Call one’s own songwriter Del 45 Sing the praises 2 “All kidding __ 4 Bygone Persian Rey of rulers ... ” 42 Ancestral 46 Snapchat 9 Under 3 End a project stories, e.g. snicker 14 Baton Rouge due to lack of 43 Settled on a 47 Court game sch. funding, say branch, as a bird 15 Certain Tuscan 50 “Knives Out” 4 Place to take it 48 “Darn tootin’!” filmmaker 16 Suspect’s easy Johnson excuse 5 He/__ pronouns 49 Rotisserie rod 51 __-blond: 52 Bowlful of letter- 6 Yoga posture 17 Feel ill grayish shade shaped pasta 18 South American 7 Witch __: 58 Grampa home of many astringent lotion 53 Recovers Simpson pink dolphins 8 Like some winter 54 Share an opinion 20 At one’s leisure 61 Feudal lord nights 55 Pick to win at 62 Fire truck item 22 More current 9 Wooden wine the track 63 New venture 23 Potato spot container 56 Regular’s order, that may 24 Scientific studies 10 Yale student with “the” collaborate with 11 Reside (in) of pooled data 57 Marshmallow Y Combinator, 28 “Don’t believe 12 Follow orders treats shaped and what 18-, the __” 13 Undercover like baby birds 24-, 40-, and 29 Make a mistake agent’s device 52-Across each 19 Loch __ monster 58 Cash dispensers 33 Very small 59 Score more literally has? 35 Healing 21 “Great news!” points than 67 “With all __ ointment 25 Altar area respect ... ” 39 Top of the line 26 Half-moon tide 60 Beige shade 68 “West Side 40 Diner dessert 27 Former name of 64 Camouflaged 65 Game in which Story” role for topped with a Thailand a player may get Rachel Zegler scoop 30 Simple flotation a red or a yellow 69 Sierra __, Africa device card 70 Place for a 31 Reverse 66 According to napkin or a cat 32 Kumquat coat 71 Hit the books 33 Poet Whitman 72 Spanish mister 34 Fencer’s blade 73 Above-the36 Untruth street rumblers 37 Irk 38 Gulp down
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SPORTS
A HEALTHY OREGON IS A PROBLEM — LOOK OUT, PAC-12 The Ducks are surging and N’Faly Dante is soon to return BY JOE KRASNOWSKI • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART Oregon men’s basketball (12-3, 4-0 Pac12) has found many ways to win. Take the Ducks’ 82-74 win over USC, for example. Freshmen Jackson Shelstad and Kwame Evans Jr. had breakout performances that were enough for head coach Dana Altman’s squad to outlast a talented Trojans roster. Or Oregon’s 76-74 victory over Washington. Oregon struggled to gain rhythm offensively throughout, but relied on veteran guard Jermaine Couisnard’s clutch layup to propel it to victory. Altman’s squad has proved time and again to be able to outlast and adjust to the unforeseen. With numerous injuries plaguing the Ducks, Evans Jr. and Shelstad’s emergence, coupled with Brennan Rigsby and Couisnard’s veteran leadership has propelled Oregon to a hot start to the season. With the Ducks victorious in eight of their last nine games, men’s basketball is back on the rise in Eugene. And pre-season All-Pac-12 nominee N’Faly Dante has only played one game. Get excited Ducks fans, because a nearly 100% N’Faly Dante (1) celebrates a big play on the bench. The Oregon Ducks men’s basketball team took on the Michigan Wolverines on Dec. 2, 2023, in Eugene, Ore. (Molly McPherson/Emerald)
healthy squad is returning soon to Eugene. While awaiting Dante’s return, Oregon got another piece of its long-term puzzle back with the return of McDonald AllAmerican Mookie Cook, who made his season debut against Washington tallying four points in limited action. Cook is likely to appear in shorter stints as he adjusts to game speed and conditioning, having been sidelined with an ankle injury keeping him out of practices and games for months. “I’m 100% healthy,” Cook said to Matt Prehm after his first game of the season. “Conditioning, we can see, I haven’t played for eight months, there’s been nothing relating to game action.” Adding athleticism and length to Oregon’s depth, Cook will likely be looked upon off the bench alongside forwards Jadrian Tracey and Keeshawn Barthelemy. With the emergence of Shelstad, who has led Oregon to the second-lowest turnover pergame percentage in the Pac-12, Cook won’t be looked upon to change much for the Ducks going forward. “I just want him to play hard right now,”
Altman said of Cook after the Washington game. “He doesn’t have to worry about anything else … maybe a month down the line or something. We’ll expect something else, I don’t expect anything, I don’t expect him to make any plays, just play hard and try to get a feel going.” For Dante, Oregon can only imagine the possibilities in his return. Although undefeated in Pac-12 play, the Ducks have missed his consistent scoring and interior defense. In Dante’s stead, fellow countryman Mahamadou Diawara has started most games for Oregon but has averaged just 3.7 points per game. Last year, Dante averaged 13.4. “We’ve known each other for 11 years, we played on the national team together,” Diawara said of his friend Dante. “To go to the NCAA tournament, that’s my goal.” The Ducks’ tournament odds have certainly increased of late. With Oregon’s hot start to conference play, the Duck’s NET rating — a commonly used system to determine team’s ranking and likelihood to make the NCAA tournament — increased to No. 51 nationally. Both the eye test and statistics back up Oregon’s surge, and Dante’s interior presence returning to a team that ranks No. 247 nationally in total rebounding will only make the Ducks more potent. Altman’s squad will certainly have an adjustment period in Dante’s return as the Malian center was projected to be the Duck’s focal point offensively. Oregon has pivoted from a half-court post style with Dante to more of a perimeter attack. In the Ducks 89-84 win over Washington State, Oregon’s offense looked to be in full attack as, led by Rigsby, the Ducks shot a ludicrous 14-26 from 3-point land. “It’s a good win, road win,” Altman said postgame to 247Sports. “We haven’t played well here. We haven’t shot it like this here in a long time. It was good to get some buckets to go down.” Now with Dante’s return looming, Oregon looks to be a problem for opposing teams as the Ducks continue to make their NCAA tournament bid. “We just have to handle business,” Couisnard said after the Washington game to Matt Prehm. “The more and more that we have added to the team is a plus.” T U E S D AY, J A N UA R Y 1 6 , 2 0 2 4
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