1-17-23 Emerald Media Group - ODE

Brief Readership Survey

BY MIRANDAH DAVIS-POWELL

ON THE COVER

THE DAILY EMERALD

The Daily Emerald is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit media company at the University of Oregon. Formerly the Oregon Daily Emerald, the news organization was founded in 1900.

Summary: Learning to crochet is a reasonably priced hobby that can add variety to anyone’s wardrobe. Once you learn the basics of crochet, it’s super easy to put together a beanie or tote bag. Some crocheters even make stuffed animals or shirts. The possibilities are endless! Crocheting can be a great way to reintroduce creativity into one’s life. Pick up some yarn and a hook, and get crocheting!

Recommended by: Taylen Hall - a freshman in Cinema Studies. “I feel like a little grandma, crocheting for hours while it snows outside.”

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WINTER WEATHER BRINGS A HOST OF NEW CONCERNS TO THE EUGENE COMMUNITY

From a campus closure to the opening of community resources, winter weather is here in Eugene.

BY ALICIA SANTIAGO

With freezing temperatures in Eugene throughout December, people living on the streets were particularly vulnerable.

A week earlier, St. Vincent de Paul opened up its Egan Warming Centers to give unsheltered people a warm place to sleep on nights below 30 degrees.

The program provides meals and assistance to unsheltered individuals who are welcome to come and go.

“The work of volunteers is absolutely critical,” Terry McDonald, the executive director of St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County, said. “If we did not have that base, these programs would not exist and people would be dying on the streets.”

Egan Warming Centers are primarily volunteer-based, but there has been a lack of trained volunteers, McDonald said. Despite this, the warming centers still opened.

“Protecting the unhoused when it’s really cold is what’s happening. We had to draw the line somewhere…We don’t have people dying on the streets,” he said.

For youth who needed shelter from the cold, the non-profit Looking Glass also known as New Roads, provided showers, lockers, laundry and meals at its drop-in center in addition to providing a warm place for youth to stay, Looking

Glass Marketing and Development Director Tyler Mack said. These services are even more vital during the winter months, he said.

“During the winter months, our team goes out proactively and hands out water and socks to try and get them to come into New Roads,” Mack said.

Lane County Public Information Officer Jason Davis said the colder months are a life or death situation for those who are unsheltered. The county is facing an increase in needs for services during cold weather but people may not know where to find them, he said.

“Oftentimes, what happens with the unhoused during the winter is that there are resources that are available that go unused,” Davis said.

Davis said many who are unsheltered do not have social media and rely on word of mouth to find these resources.

Throughout the winter season, Davis said Lane County receives money from the state to provide people tents, warm socks and gear to help survive the weather.

“We want to be the backbone to help,” Davis said.

Central Lutheran Church will open as one of Eugene’s nine Egan Warming Centers in November. This caption was updated on Oct. 21 to correct the name of the church. (Robin FitzClemen/For the Emerald)

BOWMAN: WE CANNOT PRIORITIZE THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

Opinion: Most people are working way too hard. It would be better if they stopped.

BY SHELTON BOWMAN

Shelton Bowman is an opinion columnist for the Daily Emerald. She is a fourth-year psychology student who enjoys reading and crocheting in her free time.

Jobs! Growth! The economy! Despite a divided political landscape, it is a relief to know that there is something, anything, that everyone can agree on. We need better jobs, more jobs, higher paying jobs and jobs with better benefits. While the two parties may disagree on how to achieve this goal, the desire for growth is a uniting force. “We need to stimulate the economy” is one of the only political statements that can be safely uttered at Thanksgiving without starting an argument between Mom, Grandma and Uncle Steve.

However, I choose to go against the grain. I argue that the economy needs to stop growing; in fact, I think it should shrink. The future of our environment depends on all of us consuming and working a lot less.

A nation’s gross domestic product is the monetary value of all the goods and services produced in a given year. It’s a measure of production, but also one of consumption. In the United States, GDP grows at an average rate of 3% per year. If this growth slows or stagnates, a recession ensues, causing businesses to fail, rates of unemployment to rise and poverty rates to increase.

A growth rate of 3% per year may not sound like a lot. However, this means doubling our gross domestic product every 25 years. This is unsustainable, especially when we consider the fact that the average American lifestyle is putting great strain on the planet. We cannot afford to double the amount we produce and consume. We will eventually run out of resources. Instead, we need to radically reshape our relationship to work, consumption and production.

It may be a relief to know that the solution to the world’s problems means producing, and therefore working, less. How often is it that we have a problem that can be solved by working less hard, not more? Less work means more time spent with

family, friends and pursuing hobbies.

However, we cannot radically change our consumption patterns without creating a society that can accommodate it. In its current form, the American economy relies on growth. If consumption were to significantly slow and GDP were to shrink, millions would lose their jobs and their ability to support themselves. Resource extraction might be killing the planet, but there are still very few people who don’t rely on the production of goods and services to put food on the table.

This is why individual action, while crucial, will not be enough to create the country we need. We can’t expect individuals to consume less without creating an economic system that can adjust to this change. We must advocate for a new system, one that prioritizes individual flourishing over economic growth. While this may seem like an abstract concept, there are real policy suggestions that could push us in the right direction.

Universal basic income, for instance, would allow individuals to work less or not at all without compromising their ability to provide for themselves. Providing everyone with food, healthcare and housing is also a crucial step. This will move us away from a system that prioritizes near constant growth and towards one that will benefit both individuals and the environment.

To some this idea is horrifying. Why would people work if they could survive without doing so? Wouldn’t society collapse? Americans have an aversion to giving money, food and housing to people who “haven’t earned it.” However, we have reached a point where advancements in

technology mean that not everyone needs to work. In fact, it would be better for the planet if the majority of us worked less.

There’s also no reason to believe that everyone would suddenly stop working entirely. Many people enjoy their jobs and the sense of purpose they get from them. There are a lot of people who want to make more money than the bare minimum that they need to survive.

We can create a future that encourages both human and ecological flourishing. In order to do so we must look toward policy changes that would allow for us all to work and consume less. Rather than prioritizing economic growth, we must slow production if we wish to avoid an ecological catastrophe. It will be hard to realize all the changes that must be made. However, I believe it is possible to create a better, kinder world for both humans and the environment.

Stella Fetherston/Daily Emerald

LANE COUNTY MOUNTAIN WITH CONTROVERSIAL NAME MAY BE CHANGED

BY JACE ANDREWS

In Oregon’s Umpqua National Forest, nearly 60 miles south of Eugene, a mountain has had a controversial name since the 1900s. Swastika Mountain stands at an elevation of 4,180 feet and people have recently pushed to rename it.

Dec. 6, 2022, the Oregon Geographic Names Board voted for an alternative name, “Mount Halo,” to be submitted to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.

Kerry Tymchuk, the OGNB Executive Secretary, said the final vote to submit the new name passed 19 members to three.

The mountain’s name was brought into question by Joyce McClain, who saw the name while reading about two hikers who got lost near the mountain. McClain went to The Oregon Historical Society and filled out the paperwork to request a name change.

“It just flew under the radar,” Tymchuk said. “I’ve lived in Oregon all my life and never knew there was a Swastika Mountain.” He said that since the mountain is difficult to get to and is in the middle of a national forest, not many people knew about it because no one could see it.

Tymchuk said the OGNB voting process consists of having a discussion after being presented everything and hearing from the public about the new and old names. During the

discussion, the board also heard from David G. Lewis, an assistant professor of Native Studies at Oregon State University.

Lewis is the person who submitted the proposal of the new name of “Mount Halo.” The name comes from Chief Halito of the Yoncalla Kalapuya Tribe, who lived in the area.

Lewis sent his proposal in July and included a history of Chief Halito’s life for context. Chief Halo stayed in his native land all his life, despite attempts to exterminate tribes in the area, the proposal said. He was a prominent figure in the community of Yoncalla until he died in 1894. People estimate he was at least 70 when he died.

“We are trying to raise up the original tribes of this land and put some place names back on the land that recalls them,” Lewis said.

Swastika Mountain has had its name long before the symbol has been associated with fascism and hate. The name comes from an extinct post office that neighbored the mountain and was founded in 1909, named Swastika.

There has been a belief that there was a cattle farm near the mountain where the farmer branded the cattle with the swastika symbol for religious reasons, since the swastika is used in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. However, according to Lewis, the ranch was around 200 miles away from

the mountain.

Currently, the closest town to the mountain is Oakridge, according to Lewis.

“This is a citizen process. It is one person who saw this and got the ball rolling,” Tymchuk said. He said anyone is able to submit a request on the Oregon Geographic Names website.

Aside from the name Mount Halo, the only other proposed name was “Umpqua Mountain.”

“Swastika Mountain” has had its name for almost a century and in a few months, the mountain may have a new name.

NKERYY TYMCHUK OBGN Executive Secretary

According to Lewis, that name was withdrawn in favor of Mount Halo.

“It is a great name and Umpqua is a tribal name,” Lewis said. “There are a lot of other Umpqua named things in the area.”

Lewis said he has also gotten some pushback on the new name from people who are in favor of keeping the name Swastika Mountain. The Swastika has been a part of religions before the Nazis changed the public view on the symbol.

Lewis said he has also gotten some calls from people who don’t see anything wrong with the symbol.

Tymchuk said that during the voting process on the new name, they heard from someone representing the Hindu-American association to understand the symbol beyond its negative connotation.

Mat McDermott, the senior director of communications for the Hindu American Foundation, said he doesn’t mind the name change, especially since it is a tribute to local

natives. But he hopes this can be used to educate people on what the original symbol of the swastika means in religion.

“We were never going to object to [Mount Halo] at all,” McDermott said. “But we wanted to make sure it’s being changed not out of ignorance about the Hindu/Buddhist use of the swastika being mistaken for the Nazis’ use.”

The swastika symbol is used as a symbol of good luck in religions dating back 7,000 years and even today can be seen in people’s homes on walls or doors as a religious symbol, according to McDermott.

The Hindu American Foundation released a statement about the name change and background about the swastika symbol, with the purpose of bringing knowledge to the original meaning.

McDermott also did not know this mountain existed until it made news and understands why the public is pushing to change it. “If you don’t know the history of all this, you’re naturally going

to go ‘Swastika, Nazis, Oh my god, we got to do something,’” McDermott said.

The new name of Mount Halo will not be officially recognized until the U.S. Board on Geographic Names approves of the change.

Google Maps and Google Earth will both still have Swastika Mountain as the location name until then.

The U.S. Board of National Names will likely meet sometime in March to make a final decision on the name change.

Swastika Mountain lays deep in the Umpqua National Forest Southeast of Eugene, Oregon. The remote and hard to location of the mountain is the reason the name has remained the same since the 1900s. Swastika Mountain is currently awaiting its new name on January 13, 2023 (Kai Kanzer/Emerald)

SPORTS OREGON BASKETBALL POSTER

TIES

WITH

IN UNUSUAL BUT BEAUTIFUL WAYS

BY BRADY RUTH • TWITTER @BRADYRUTH10

Artist Izzy Shilakes shows off the poster she created to support the Ducks’ men’s basketball team during the game versus Washington State on Dec. 4, 2022.

Will Patterson and the University of Oregon design school brought unity between athletics and art to Matthew Knight Arena for the 2022-23 Oregon men’s basketball season.

The idea for a poster series – started by Patterson – has allowed student artists like Izzy Shilakes, Bella Molyneux and others to share and express their artistic talents. These students create a poster unique to each home conference game over the season and are given a platform to share their work and display a similarity between basketball and art.

“The skills of our basketball players are artistic in a way,” Patterson said. “[These posters] are more of a mental art crossover.”

Patterson said he brought the idea for the poster series with him from the Portland Trailblazers – who he spent time with before being hired as the Student Information Director for the men’s basketball team last year.

“I was [with] the NBA for the last seven years before I came here,” Patterson said. “I was more tuned in to what they did for promotions. I thought it was cool. Last year I thought of it but it was too

late to do it. But the more I sat with it, the more I thought it would be a good idea.”

The idea struck Oregon students as a tremendous opportunity.

“It was a great creative process,’’ artist Izzy Shilakes said. “It was fun to try and distill what I appreciate about the men’s basketball team and turn it into a poster.”

Shilakes – a junior at UO – created the first poster for the new series. Her poster for Oregon’s game against Washington State kicked off the initiative and caught the eye of students and Duck fans in attendance.

“It was great to have that recognition but also support the team in the way I could do it best,” Shilakes said.

Shilakes has been creating her entire life. Diagnosed with dyslexia as a young child, she relied on painting, drawing and colors to express herself. Now, she uses her talents to bring sports and art together.

Shilakes said she gains a lot of inspiration from her peers within the art school — camaraderie, she says, that is not unlike sports. Just as teammates

learn from and push each other to get better, artists often do the same to bring out the best in each piece and each artist.

She wants her art to be relatable and approachable. Her basketball poster put an emphasis on the sun. Living in such a rainy climate, Oregonians long and yearn for the sun. Shilakes said she saw the tie between Oregonians strive for sunlight just as the Ducks strive for greatness.

Shilakes really leaned into art as a hobby in high school. On her Instagram page, @itiz.art, she shares her creations and drive to make art inclusive for all.

Patterson wanted to bring a tie between art and athletics to UO. He said every student has a gift and this is a fun and engaging way to bring students of all talents together.

In a recent win over Oregon State on New Year’s Eve, junior Bella Molyneux’s creative talents were on full display.

Her poster also featured a replacement for the basketball. This time, it was a disco ball. As 2022 wound down, Molyneux displayed the excitement of a rivalry game and holiday with her creative ideas.

Molyneux is a product design major, but she’s always possessed a love for art. When she signed up to design two posters, she “wanted to remember what it was like to do art for the fun of it.”

She grew up in Oregon, so her Beaver State roots run deep. She said she was thrilled to get the chance to create art for a team she grew up cheering for.

“I would hope that my poster taps in the love for Oregon,” she said.

Her poster for the OSU game – as each poster in the series is – was framed and presented to her as well as shown on the jumbotron and available virtually to fans that didn’t get a chance to receive a hard copy. She also boosts her work on her @ neuxdesign Instagram page.

The connection between her art and the men’s basketball team wasn’t difficult for Molyneux to grasp.

“I think art and sports are both passions,” Molyneux said. “They both allow you to work out your energies, whether it’s creative or otherwise.”

This is the debut season of the poster series, but it’s a movement that Patterson believes to have legs and he hopes it sticks around.

“I hope [the series] continues for a while,” Patterson said. “The student section and those guys always seem excited and when we promote them; online people are pretty excited about that too.”

Regardless of future seasons, the poster series will continue for the remainder of this current season. Molyneux will create the poster for Oregon’s game against UCLA on Feb. 11, and Shilakes is responsible for designing the Feb. 9 game against USC.

The Oregon Duck joins fans in performing “Shout”. The Oregon Ducks Women’s Basketball team faces the Stanford Cardinal, on February 20th, 2022, at Matthew Knight Arena. (Liam Sherry/Emerald)

EXPERIENCING ISRAEL THROUGH BIRTHRIGHT

Students

question their relationship to Israel and Judaism.

Jewish people aged 18-26 are given the opportunity to go on a free 10 day trip to Israel through Birthright Israel. At Ben Gurion Airport, participants are joined by eight Israelis their age — most of whom are still serving in the army — an armed medic and a knowledgeable tour guide. For the majority of participants, this is their first time visiting Israel.

This winter break several trips were conducted, one of which included 30 students from the University of Oregon, Oregon State University and Santa Cruz. As they disembarked from the plane, they were greeted by their Israeli peers and tour guide, Barak Berkovich. Berkovich was aware of the misconceptions people sometimes have about Birthright trips and therefore made sure to explain that he was not there to brainwash them into loving Israel or joining the army.

“My goal is to take exclamation marks and turn them into question marks,” he said.

Birthright Israel has received much criticism over the years. Some argue that the program glosses over Israel’s complicated history and spreads misinformation. While that may be true of some trips, students from Oregon and Santa Cruz did not feel this way. Berkovich talked about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the wall separating Israel from the West Bank and welcomed any questions the group had.

In explaining the Israeli Palestinian conflict Berkovich talked about the opposing perception Israelis and Palestinians have. One example he gave showcased the feelings a Palestinian child would have after an interaction with an Israeli soldier, and that of an Israeli child growing up surrounded by missiles. “He did a really good job explaining multiple different perspectives on the same issue,” Blake, an OSU student said. “He would give these examples that would make you think of the same issue with the exact opposite feeling

about it.”

Students began their trip in Jerusalem, a city viewed with much controversy around the world due to its significance to Jews, Muslims and Christians. While the group mostly visited sites of high importance to Jews, Berkovich explained the significance of the city to Muslims and Christians as well.

On the third day of the trip, students visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. In preparation for this often challenging experience, participants spoke about the various antisemitic incidents they have encountered in their personal lives. One student had a gun pointed at him by the Ku Klux Klan while working in Georgia. Others had jokes made at them while picking up pennies off the street, and some had swastikas drawn on their notebooks. Sadness, anger and frustration are among the emotions that arose from this activity, although some also felt validated to know that others understood the hate they experienced.

The Israeli peers who joined the trip were shocked to learn of the ever-prevalent antisemitism that still exists in America today. In Israel, due to the Jewish majority, antisemitism does not present itself in the same manner. “I got fears the minute that you told your stories about antisemitism over there,” Ilan Peleg, one of the Israelis, explained.

To many, talking about antisemitism is a reminder of the importance of Israel for the Jewish people today. “I know there’s a lot of controversy with their politics, and I understand why, but at the same time I feel like it’s a good thing a place like Israel exists,” UO student Hannah Wald said, “because I do think Jewish people need somewhere to go to in case worse comes to worst.”

After Jerusalem, students continued to the Golan Heights. While in the Golan they rode on Jeeps, overlooked Syria and discussed its borders and war. The previous night they also attended a

BY ROMIE AVIVI STUHL

geopolitical lecture.

During the last day of the trip students visited Sderot, bordering the Gaza Strip. It is known to be the most missile-targeted city in Israel. While in Sderot, they learned about the complicated IsraeliPalestinian conflict and saw dozens of bomb shelters spread throughout the city. Even still, students felt safe.

“I felt a lot safer as a Jew in Israel than I’ve ever felt as a Jew here,” Nora Loffredo, a UCSC student, said.

The trip included a variety of activities from visiting Israel’s national cemetery to experiencing Tel Aviv’s nightlife, floating in the Dead Sea and everything in between. Students tasted various foods such as falafel and shawarma, slept in Bedouin tents and learned about LGBTQ+ rights in Israel. Participants had the opportunity to enjoy the country while questioning what their relationship is to Israel and Judaism, whatever the answer may be.

“We’re not trying to sell you an image of perfect Israel,” Berkovich explained. “We’re trying to portray an image of complicated Israel, an interesting Israel, a fascinating Israel.”

Students ride camels in the Negev desert. (Courtesy of Kaya Rubinstein)

Max Schain, an OSU student, praying at the Western Wall. (Courtesy of Daylen Degelsmith)