12-4-23 Emerald Media Group - ODE by Emerald Media Group

Monday Edition

DECEMBER 4, 2023

Emerald Media

UO SPEAKS ON SCHOLZ UO President John Karl Scholz’s first full term is coming to a close. Labor and student organizations are sharing their perspectives. OPNION: How to lose a grandpa in 10 days PG 4 • A&C: Where to find holiday gifts in Eugene PG 5 • SPORTS: Men’s basketball sees injuries PG 10

M O N D AY, D E C E M B E R 4 , 2 0 2 3

EMERALD

PA G E 1

2023

Gifts Made by Hand Here in Oregon, International Cuisine, and Live Performances

Lane Events Center on 13th & Jefferson • Free Admission • Free Parking

The Most Festive Way to Shop for the Holidays! November 18, 19 • 24, 25, 26 December 2, 3 • 9, 10 • 16,17 • 22, 23, 24

Hours: 10am -6pm • For full details, Artisan Directory and more visit www.holidaymarket.org

Your BestMed Clinic is Practically on Campus. 13th & Patterson

Walk-in or check-in online. + 4 other Eugene-area clinics! 7 days a week

Campus Clinic: 598 East 13th Avenue

541-636-3473

EMERALD

M O N D AY, D E C E M B E R 4 , 2 0 2 3

NEWS

Daily Emerald VOL. 125, ISSUE NO. 18

GET IN TOUCH

EMERALD MEDIA GROUP 1395 UNIVERSITY ST., #302 EUGENE, OR 97403 541.346.5511

NEWSROOM EDITOR IN CHIEF

Evan Reynolds PRINT MANAGING EDITOR

Emma J Nelson

DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR

Romie Avivi Stuhl NEWS EDITOR

Tristin Hoffman A&C EDITOR

Evan Huntington SPORTS EDITORS

Nina-Grace Montes Brady Ruth OPINION EDITOR

Sophia Cossette PHOTO EDITORS

Molly McPherson Jonathan Suni DESIGN EDITOR

Liz Blodgett COPY CHIEF

Olivia Ellerbruch SENIOR COPY EDITOR

Alex Woodward VIDEO EDITOR

Anne Marie Armstrong PODCAST EDITOR

Mirandah Davis-Powell

UO IS “PROTECTING THE FLOCK” THROUGH SELFDEFENSE PROGRAMS Multiple workshops and sessions are available for UO students to build confidence and prepare them for dangerous situations BY YSABELLA SOSA DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART

SOCIALS EDITOR

Alicia Santiago VISUALS EDITOR

Stella Fetherston

BUSINESS PUBLISHER & PRESIDENT

Eric Henry X317 ehenry@dailyemerald.com VP OPERATIONS

Kathy Carbone X302

kcarbone@dailyemerald.com DIRECTOR OF SALES & DIGITAL MARKETING

Shelly Rondestvedt X303

srondestvedt@dailyemerald.com CREATIVE & TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Anna Smith X327 creative@dailyemerald.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Lola Tagwerker Cori Caplinger Cooper Gast Taylor Baumgardner

ON THE COVER

GTFF VP of Membership Lissie Connors, GTFF Bargaining Team member Ben Mannix, GTFF President Leslie Selcer and GTFF VP of Communications Rose Inocencio-Smith pose in front of the GTFF office on Nov. 29. (Alex Hernandez/Emerald)

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.

The University of Oregon supplies various self-defense resources to UO students through the UO Police Department, the Physical Education department and the UO Student Recreation Center. UOPD sponsors a self-defense course for women only as a service through the National R.A.D System of Self Defense. Certified instructor Sergeant Jared Davis holds the R.A.D. SelfDefense for Women course. This 12-hour extensive course educates women on basic defense training and risk prevention. “We seek to give women empowerment through learning these different [self-defense] techniques,” Davis said. “We want to increase the level of awareness of surroundings and how to respond to certain situations.” According to Davis, the techniques of the class are designed for the body structure of women. “One technique for a man may not be as effective for a woman just based on their built in their body structure and their muscle structure,” Davis said. “So, the different techniques that we present to women are going to be more effective to them.” Additionally, UOPD sponsors a 90-minute self-defense co-ed class and an hour-long pepper spray co-ed class. The self-defense course consists of mindfulness discussions and essential selfprevention strategies. The pepper spray class consisted of hands-on training with the substance and tips regarding the usage and types of pepper

spray. “When people go out and just get a product, and then use it [pepper spray] without any training, they’re… putting themselves at a disadvantage,” Davis said. “The training that we provide gives people a lot of insight into what this product actually does.” According to previous attendees, their confidence spiked in regards to self-protecting and in utilizing the substance. “I have never gone into detail on how to use it [pepper spray], so I feel more confident now, “ attendee and UO student Adam Lurvey said. “It feels less perfunctory now.” Similarly, the Rec offers a variety of selfdefense workshops to UO community members. The Empowerment Self-Defense Workshop is available to any self-identified woman and nonbinary individuals. Participants are educated on self-defense tactics and clear boundaries to help reduce the risk of sexual assault. “It is very important that we have safe spaces where we can come together and just feel seen, feel comfortable, feel like the activities we’re doing are adhering to our physical experiences that only we really have,” UO student Jasmine Sinclair said. “Self-defense is something that not only gives you tools to protect yourself in a patriarchal society, but also it gives you confidence,” Sinclair said. Coed Self-Defense Workshops are available to UO student groups. The content of the workshop includes non-violent physical techniques and verbal strategies. The PE department offers the self-defense workshops as an establishment to the 10-week PE courses. PEMA 116 Women’s Self-Defence class is a two-credit class where students are taught a comprehensive approach to self-defense. “Being on campus is already scary enough,” former PEMA 116 learner and UO student Ella Peake said. “We’re already a target, so I think it’s really important to lock these skills down. So, we can feel more safe.” PEMA 115 Self-Defense is also offered as a PE credit. The workshops and courses provided by UOPD and PE and Rec are designed to equip UO students during a possible sexual assault. Many female students emphasize the importance of self-defense skills. One in five women will become survivors of sexual assault throughout their four years in college. “Not all universities give you the option to take a self-defense class, but we do address those things in the class, so the class is making us aware of those statistics,” PEMA 116 learner and UO student Lily Barnes said. Barnes said that the PEMA 116 class acknowledges the statistics on sexual assault. “Self-defense is an easy thing to think that you’ll never need until you do need it, so I think there’s no harm in spending an hour or two or one day to achieve a much bigger benefit,” Lurvey said.

LOOK ONLINE IN OTHER NEWS

(Sarah Northrop/Emerald)

Thirty-two athletes from the women’s beach volleyball and club rowing teams filed a sex discrimination lawsuit against UO on Dec. 1.

(Alyssa Garcia/Emerald)

Canines across the Willamette Valley have begun exhibiting symptoms of an unknown respiratory illness, with over 200 confirmed reports in Oregon since August.

We want to hear from you: Email editor@ dailyemerald.com to submit a tip or a letter to the editor. The ideal length for a letter is 200-500 words, but we publish letters of various lengths online.

M O N D AY, D E C E M B E R 4 , 2 0 2 3

EMERALD

PA G E 3

OPINION

TRESNIT: HOW TO LOSE A GRANDPA IN 10 DAYS OPINION: Finding support while dealing with grief as an adult shouldn’t be so hard BY SADIE TRESNIT • DESIGNED BY GABRIELA MARTINEZ Two days before I pitched this article, my parents called to tell me that my grandpa was beginning hospice care following a week in the hospital. I was one minute away from starting a two-hour shift at work, standing in the rain outside the EMU and surrounded by people. In other words, not an opportune time for a breakdown. He passed away just over two days later. The first time I lost a family member, I was in fourth grade. My grandma passed away, and my parents waited to tell me until I was home from school and we were all together. They sat me down on the couch with a Heath bar and a mug of hot chocolate, and I was able to talk my feelings out with them. I felt the support of a family unit. This time was the complete opposite. College can be an isolating time in general as you live independently for the first time, but the time between the start of his hospital stay and his death was the most isolated I’ve ever felt from my family. I couldn’t talk to my grandpa, my parents were busy supporting him and updating people on the situation, and I was left trying to handle my feelings and stay out of everyone’s way. It was like a weird combination of feeling like an unfeeling adult and a helpless baby. That Thursday, I woke up early for my radio show and rolled over in bed to see a missed call from my parents at 2:37 a.m.. Never a sign of good news. My stomach dropped, but when I was on the phone with my parents confirming that he had passed, I held it together. An hour later, I was live on air, talking through my feelings and trying not to cry in the studio while maintaining professionalism. Suffice to say, it wasn’t my favorite time. Since then, the theme of trying to hold it together has continued in my life. I’m lucky that my professors were relatively forgiving, and my extracurriculars were even more so. Unfortunately, UO’s academic structure (see my colleague’s article on the attendance policy) and work demands left little room for recovery. I was able to get extensions on some assignments, but now that we’re nearing the end of term, that just means my work is piling up. Temporarily delaying responsibility doesn’t get rid of it. There’s no good time for a family member to die, but anywhere near finals week is rough. Since I still have a little crumb of self-preservation even in tough times, I scoured the internet for help. The UO Health Center offers group and individual therapy services, but hours are limited. This late in the term, I’m just too busy for it. With projects all over the place, finals looming, work, classes, clubs and chores, I have no time. Even their grief-focused group therapy,which isn’t my style to begin with, meets when I’m in class. I’m glad UO offers some level of support, especially since it could be easy for the university to just ignore the issue, but there aren’t many options when you tend to be busy Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. One existing answer to this problem is the counseling center’s coping strategies page, which enables students to access helpful mental health tips from a computer. This works well for personal struggles outside of the center’s hours of operation, but it doesn’t serve as a replacement for therapy or being present with family. When you need help and companionship the most in college, it vanishes, and you’re left staring at a computer screen. I’ve learned over the past few weeks that I’m both weaker and stronger than PA G E 4

EMERALD

M O N D AY, D E C E M B E R 4 , 2 0 2 3

(Stella Fetherston/Emerald)

I expected. I can listen to my grandpa’s favorite songs now without crying and wear his old varsity jacket as a symbol of remembrance without bringing down my mood for the day. Still, I have a problem thinking I can handle everything myself. When you’re learning to be an adult for the first time, no one tells you exactly what to do. There’s no guidebook for dealing with grief while maintaining your grades and independently caring for your basic needs. Suddenly, you have to figure out how to handle your problems. It’s not an easy process, and students (and all people, really) deserve some grace while figuring it out.

A&C

EUGENE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE SHOP LOCAL THIS HOLIDAY SEASON AT SOME OF EUGENE’S FINEST SMALL BUSINESSES AND GIFT SHOPS BY HARPER MAHOOD • DESIGNED BY EVA ANDREWS

As classes wind down and transition into winter break, check out some of Eugene’s local businesses to get a head start on this year’s holiday shopping. Local, handmade gifts can not only be more exciting to receive but also help support artists and small businesses in the community.

MOON ROCK RECORDS For music-loving friends, stop by Moon Rock Records located on West 11th Avenue. Nothing says thoughtful like handpicking an album for a close friend, family member or significant other. From nostalgic ‘70s classics to funky world music, Moon Rock Records boasts an eclectic selection of vinyl, cassettes, reading material and merchandise. For the more literary inclined friend, grab a book on music from the stacks. The curated selection includes works by Lester Bangs, Michael Azerrad and many others. Lastly, for the fashion forward friend, help them add to their graphic tee collection with a custom Moon Rock Records baseball tee.

LUXE Located in the Oakway Center shopping mall, Luxe is “your one-stop gift shop.” Pick up a quirky board game such as or thought provoking card game such as the “How Am I Feeling? Conversation Cards.” Luxe also has a large collection of silver and gold jewelry for a low price. Pick up a pair of Lucky Horseshoe Earrings for your western-loving friends. Luxe also carries cards, books, candles, bacon bandages and more. There’s a little something for everyone.

shakers. Looking for an impractical gift? The bicycle pizza cutter is your best bet. Mosaic Fair Trade Collection carries a multitude of gift items, ranging from safe bets like coffee and tea to more personal gift options like jewelry, journals and knit winter wear. The Mosaic Fair Trade Collection is a hard place to leave empty handed.

TSUNAMI BOOKS Nothing says thoughtful like gifting a hand-picked book to your close friends. Not only is Tsunami Books affordable, but it has a huge selection of new, used and rare literature. From classics to biographies to science fiction, there is a little something for everyone. For avid readers, or loved ones who are a bit harder to shop for, you can opt for a gift certificate instead. Located on Willamette Street, Tsunami Books is a short distance from campus and a great place to kick off your holiday shopping. Treat yourself to a winter break read and grab a gift for your friend while you’re at it. Support Eugene’s small business owners and shop local this holiday season.

(Noa Schwartz/Daily Emerald)

PASSIONFLOWER Aside from its beautiful bouquets, Passionflower is an essential stop on the Eugene holiday gift hunt. Looking for a thoughtful, affordable present for your over-caffeinated roommate? Head to 128 East Broadway and pick up a bag of Farewell Coffee, which is roasted nearby in Bend. For your friends who have made it through college without a caffeine addiction, Passionflower has other gift options as well. To get into the holiday spirit grab a balsam and cedar candle or a cozy winter scarf. For those shopping on a budget this year, Passionflower stocks Pendleton socks, the perfect stocking stuffer or present for someone you don’t know very well. After all, everyone loves a good pair of socks.

MOSAIC FAIR TRADE COLLECTION At Mosaic Fair Trade Collection on 28 East Broadway you can find gifts for the whole family, even that one aunt who is notoriously hard to shop for. For the animal lover, grab a dog printed oven mitt or cat-shaped salt and pepper

M O N D AY, D E C E M B E R 4 , 2 0 2 3

EMERALD

PA G E 5

COVER

UO ORGANIZATIONS REFLECT ON PRESIDENT SCHOLZ’S FIRST TERM Multiple labor and student organizations around UO speak on President John Karl Scholz’s leadership after his first term at the school BY JASMINE SABOORIAN • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART

University of Oregon’s president John Karl Scholz was selected on March 13 after having previously served as provost at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He officially started his term on July 1, taking over from former UO president Michael Schill, who is now president of Northwestern University. On Oct. 26, UO Communications declined an interview with President Scholz. “Thank you for the request, but we’d like to hold off on this one for now. Right now there wouldn’t be much more to say than was covered in the interview a few weeks ago,” Director of Issues Management Angela Seydel said in an email to the Emerald. Student and labor organizations such as the Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation, UO Student Workers, Residence Hall Association, Students for Justice in Palestine and Oregon Hillel have had a busy start to the school year, hosting several rallies, sit-ins and protests since late September. All of the aforementioned organizations state Scholz has lacked communication with students and faculty throughout his first term.

PA G E 6

EMERALD

M O N D AY, D E C E M B E R 4 , 2 0 2 3

GRADUATE TEACHING FELLOWS FEDERATION GTFF Vice President of External Relations Emily Beatty said in an email to the Daily Emerald that GTFF has been undergoing an authorized strike in response to UO’s failure to provide graduate employees with a living wage. According to Emerald reporting, graduate employees are asking for approximately a 25 to 30% increase in wages by the beginning of next term as they are only allowed to work 19.5 to 20 hours per week. GTFF President Leslie Selcer said that the organization arranged a meeting with Scholz back in August to discuss their concerns and priorities for the upcoming year. “We saw this as potentially an opportunity for the university administration to shift some of their approaches,” Selcer said. “We wanted to sort of raise our concerns and things that we saw as being important to the future of the University of Oregon that we thought would be priorities for him.” According to Selcer, she and the GTFF appreciated that Scholz made time to speak

with them, but they also know he is not directly involved in the bargaining process. According to Selcer, what GTFF is hoping to see with the rest of the year under Scholz is a reversal of the corporatization that they feel has happened to UO in the last decade or so. “I really think President Scholz has an incredible opportunity here to have his legacy be the president who turns UO around from this increasing corporatization and towards education as a mission,” Selcer said. Selcer said that one of GTFF’s biggest concerns about Scholz’s leadership is his communication and future actions. “He has done a lot of meetings with various campus entities to try and get a sense of what their concerns are,” Selcer said. “And really now it just remains to be seen. Were you just talking or are you going to follow through?” GTFF said it would like to see actions behind the statements that Scholz has made rather than,

COVER according to Selcer, the “public PR role” that he is currently in. Selcer said that GTFF “really admire[s]” the fact that Scholz is publicly stating he supports workers on campus and supports a climate of respect toward workers and labor organizations on campus. “He has stated that publicly multiple times and he’s personally told me this as well,” Selcer said. “So I think that’s a huge pro.”

UO STUDENT WORKERS UOSW has had a productive term so far stabilizing its unionization, according to Global Scholars Hall resident assistant Taliah Johnson. UOSW’s certification for unionization was approved with a 97% acceptance rate with a 1,000-person turnout. Johnson said that while UOSW has not had many interactions with Scholz, she believes it does plan to bargain in good faith. “In my personal view, I don’t feel like he’s doing a great job with communicating on things,” Johnson said. “It’s like when there’s a crisis, there’s one email and that’s it. There’s nothing else to see.” According to Johnson, one of Scholz’s main goals – educational equity is seen as unattainable by her and the UOSW. “If student workers cannot afford the basic needs of putting food on the table and paying rent, then that goal is unachievable,” Johnson said.

RESIDENCE HALL ASSOCIATION On Nov. 15, the RHA held a UO Onward Feedback Session with university administration to allow students to reflect on the past term with

Scholz’s leadership. UO Onward is a program developed by President Scholz and his team as a way to gather feedback and ideas toward UO’s strategic action plan through input sessions and distributed online surveys. The UO Onward representative who spoke at the meeting expressed Scholz’s three main working goals and concerns for this upcoming year: “Student Learning and Achievement,” “Elevate our Outstanding Scholarship and Service” and “Campus Belonging.” RHA member Justin Cala gave his input in response to Scholz’s objective of “leveraging UO’s reputation for excellence and innovation in athletics to elevate the whole university.” “I’m curious with how that’s going to help people that aren’t working in athletics or are an athlete,” Cala said. “I feel like [UO] has been under pressure to move away from that in the past because they put so much money into athletics and have turned their backs on some of the scholar programs.” RHA member Emma Watanabe also had concerns regarding student-athletes as opposed to students who are not. “There is some sort of gap between our students in athletics versus our students within the university,” Watanabe said. “I feel like there is such a hierarchy between the two [groups], and I wish that there was some sort of way for these students who are not necessarily involved within athletics can get that same shine and attention that the students in athletics do.” One of RHA member Aixa Gutierrez’s biggest concerns is the attainability of education and scholarships for more students from underprivileged communities at UO.

“When I was applying and looking at scholarships, UO and the state of Oregon is one of the schools that is not a part of the Western Undergraduate Exchange,” Gutierrez said. “I think it’s interesting because a lot of California, Utah and Arizona schools are all a part of it.” The Western Undergraduate Exchange is an agreement in which 160+ public universities provide savings for tuition for students in the Western coast. RHA member Max Jaimes also said that his biggest concern is related to underprivileged and low-income students being able to afford UO tuition. “How will President Scholz help low-income students coming into the university? Especially those who deserve to go to university because of how smart they are, but they can’t afford it,” Jaimes said. RHA member Andrew Acevedo’s main concerns were in regard to Scholz and UO Onward’s “Campus Belonging” working goal. “In what ways does UO want to create that culture where members can feel like they flourish?” Acevedo said. “I’m trying to look for an expansion on that goal.” Look online for the full story, including comments from other student organizations on President Scholz’s fall term.

Two chairs in the GTFF office are decorated with GTFF stickers on the backs. (Alex Hernandez/ Emerald)

M O N D AY, D E C E M B E R 4 , 2 0 2 3

EMERALD

PA G E 7

guide to gifts Sponsored Content Written by Isabella Albin

FOR YOUR BOOKWORM • This women-owned and Oregon-based Landmark Fine

Goods candle is a must have for any bookworm in your life. The warm earthy blend of oakmoss, amber, orange and tonka bean will help create a cozy environment to be transported into a literary world. • Any warm beverage will taste better in this Oregon Ducks mug. The beautiful unglazed bottom creates a unique mug that will soon become your favorite. • This stylish notebook is the perfect place to keep track and review all the books someone reads in the year. This vintage National Parks cover from Cavallini & Co. will look great on your bookshelf!

FOR YOUR ARTIST • Painting Oregon’s iconic Haystack rock is the perfect way to spend an afternoon. This landscape uses 8 neutral blues, greens, and browns and it is estimated to take about five hours. For any skill level, this paint by numbers kit will be a great gift to receive this Holiday Season.

• Pomegranate Coloring Books is an Oregon-based business. This book highlights Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry Murals, a series of frescoes that depicts industry, technology, and indigenous culture. • Any artist needs a reliable and good looking way to bring their supplies on the go. The Reversible Arched Oregon and O Wings tote is perfect, with dimensions that are sure to fit all essential materials. 15”H x 18”W x 6”D great on your bookshelf!

PA G E 2

PA G E 8

EMERALD

M O N D A Y , N O V E M B E R 2 7, 2 0 2 3

M O N D AY, D E C E M B E R 4 , 2 0 2 3

FOR YOUR ADVENTURER

• No matter where you go, this all weather blanket will be there

with you. The plush inside will keep you warm, as the outside shell will protect you from the elements. This 60”x50” features the Fighting Duck and strap so you bring it on the go. • In the classroom or on the beach, this tumbler can keep you hydrated. The tumbler is 40 oz, double walled, and has a carry handle! •A hydrating backpack is the best thing any hiker can have. The backpack houses a 1.5L water pouch which will come in handy. The backpack sports a Yellow O with Wings.

FOR YOUR HOMEBODY

• These Julia Gash illustrated playing cards are a wonderful addition

for any homebody. The illustrations offer icon scenes from “The Home of the Ducks” while providing the classic fun of playing cards. • The best way to cozy-up on a cold day is with your favorite blanket. This Julia Gash blanket is 48”x60”. • This 1000 Piece Cavallini Puzzle will reveal ocean flora. This is a perfect gift for any homebody, as it offers hours of fun and a beautiful end result!

FOR YOUR FASHIONISTA

• This pouch is 100% natural cotton with a leather zipper and dark

navy cotton lining. Perfect for storing makeup products, pens, and any on-the-go essentials your fashionista might have. • This black and white University of Oregon tote is a timeless staple that will be fashionable for years to come. This tote features the classic “O” logo and University of Oregon design. The tote is 18”x6”x18”. • This tie features the iconic Fighting Duck marching through the “O” in a repeating pattern. This tie can be worn by your great uncle or little sis! M O N D A Y , N O V E M B E R 2 7, 2 0 2 3

EMERALD

PA G E 3

M O N D AY, D E C E M B E R 4 , 2 0 2 3

EMERALD

PA G E 9

SPORTS

OREGON MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAGUED BY INJURIES. AGAIN. Early season injuries aren’t a one time deal for the Ducks Injuries happen to every team at every level and they always will. Strains, sprains and surgeries occur regardless of the work put in to avoid them. The true mettle of teams will always be tried because injuries always occur. Oregon men’s basketball has found that out the hard way in recent memory. Four games into the new season and two of Oregon’s most important players were announced as out for a month or longer. In center N’Faly Dante’s case, his injury proved to be an ongoing issue. In his lone game this season, Dante dominated, propelling a fully healthy Oregon team with a school record of 21 rebounds. However, in the following days, Dante’s health remained a concern. “[He] tweaked a hamstring a little bit,” head coach Dana Altman said in a practice following the Georgia game. “He didn’t practice yesterday, moved around a little bit today, so we’ll see how he feels tomorrow.” In Nate Bittle’s case his injury was a freak incident, taking an awkward fall in Oregon’s win over Tennessee State. Bittle did not return to the game. Later that week, it was announced that both Bittle and Dante had undergone surgery and would be reevaluated in four and eight weeks, respectively. The Ducks’ season was three games in and Altman’s squad was already impacted by injury. Whether by curse or just bad luck, injuries have plagued this Oregon’s team and squads past. Last year, it was junior Brennan Rigsby who missed significant time with an ankle injury. The year before, it was Bittle again. The list goes on and on. Although questions have been asked regarding the Ducks training regiment, Altman has persisted that his team has just had bad luck. “We haven’t changed much,” Altman said. “We’ve evaluated everything we’ve done as far as length of practices and amount of practices, nothing has been increased.” For Altman’s squad, Bittle’s injury couldn’t come at a worse time as he was enjoying a quality start to his season — scoring on both the interior and from long range. Bittle’s injury leaves junior college transfer Mahamadou Diawara as the Ducks’ lone center. As for Dante’s impact on the team? It’s rather simple: the Ducks’ NCAA tournament hopes lie with their 6-foot-11 center. In Oregon’s first game post Dante’s absence, the Ducks let a lowly Montana team hang around for most of the game. Without Dante, Oregon has struggled on the interior, being outrebounded 40 to 28 in the Ducks’ loss to Alabama. Oregon’s guard play will be essential for the Ducks to remain competitive in Dante’s absence. Junior college transfer Jadrian “Bam” Tracey and true freshman Jackson Shelstad’s emergence as stout defenders will continue to be key for Oregon. “His coach raved about his defensive effort,” Altman said of Tracey after Oregon’s win over Montana. “We hoped he’d give us a big lift on the defensive end.” On the interior, the Ducks will look to freshman Kwame Evans Jr. to play key minutes in Bittle and Dante’s absence. In Oregon’s loss to Santa Clara, Evans Jr. added 16 points while starting as an undersized center. “I try to play every position,” Evans Jr. said before the season. “I’ll just try to do whatever I can to help this team win.” Although scrappy enough to hang with most teams, the Ducks are clearly missing Dante’s superstar presence on both sides of the ball. In Oregon’s recent loss to No. 17 Alabama, the Crimson Tides’ Mark Sears dropped 27 points on

PA G E 1 0

EMERALD

M O N D AY, D E C E M B E R 4 , 2 0 2 3

BY JOE KRASNOWSKI • DESIGNED BY MAX WEINER

8-13 shooting. Oregon answered with more intensity as well as a star performance of its own, but Jermaine Couisnard’s 24 points weren’t enough for Oregon to overcome. Altman’s squad will look to have Dante back before Pac-12 play resumes. With Dante, Oregon can soar to an NCAA tournament berth. Without him, the Ducks will continue to limp along. Jadrian Tracey makes a contested three-pointer during the second half of play. The Oregon Ducks men’s basketball team defeated the Tennessee State Tigers 92-67 at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore. on Nov. 17, 2023. (Kemper Flood/Emerald)

CROSSWORD ACROSS

1 Court sport, for short 6 Pen tip 9 Building manager, casually 13 Nest on a crest 14 Ostrichlike bird 15 Country between Togo and Nigeria 16 TikTok posts by some pet owners 18 Went astray 19 __ upon a time ... 20 College URL part 21 Actor Danny in Jersey Mike’s ads 22 Neither’s partner 23 Tart sprinkle for fish and chips 25 Words of compassion 27 Say confidently

28 Indian lute 30 Singer Yoko 31 Autumn 35 Appraiser’s determination 39 Like most software, once 40 Mass. MLB team 41 Ziff who’s infatuated with Marge Simpson 42 Tequila order 44 Beyond compare 46 Ability to see in low light 50 To and __ 53 Flattened at the poles, as Earth 54 Knee injury initials 55 Sty fare 56 Seize illegally 57 Inflatable river float, or what the answers to 16-, 23-, 35-, and 46-Across have 59 Looks for 60 Shar-__: wrinkly dog 61 Dine at home 62 Fades to black 63 Curved piece 64 Small songbirds

DOWN

1 Turkey__: breakfast meat that’s both halal and kosher 2 Game of chance similar to bingo 3 Writer who visits a lot of galleries 4 Word in many concert album names 5 Floral wreath 6 Pine leaf 7 “See ya” 8 Mass transit option 9 Facility with a supercomputer array 10 Strip of gear, as a ship 11 Michelangelo sculpture in St. Peter’s 12 Ewoks’ home 15 Fashion designer Geoffrey 17 Sweetheart 21 Hunk of turf 23 Quaint suffix with school 24 Barn topper 26 Players who have mastered the art of the

deal? 28 NorCal airport 29 Suffix with Dickens or Orwell 30 Signs off on 32 Wind instrument that might have a curved head 33 French pronoun 34 Director Ang 36 Over 37 Naan relative 38 Narcissistic 43 Encrypted URL starter 44 Dine outside 45 Part in a film 46 “It’s pointless” 47 Playwright Henrik 48 Used Elmer’s 49 More levelheaded 51 “Good Morning America” co-anchor Roberts 52 Unseals 55 Celebrity 57 Hoppy beverage with New England and West Coast varieties 58 “Go back” button: Abbr.

SUDOKU

M O N D AY, D E C E M B E R 4 , 2 0 2 3

EMERALD

PA G E 1 1

300 x 600 300 x 600

600 x 600 600 x 600

A POLICY PROGRAM A POLICY PROGRAM THAT SAYS THE WORDS THAT SAYS THEJUSTICE WORDS EQUITY AND In recovery? EQUITY JUSTICE OUTAND LOUD. Curious about OUT LOUD.

getting sober? Is your substance use affecting school or relationships?

970 970

M A IN URBAN AND P UBLI C AFFAI RS M A IN URBAN AND P UBLI C AFFAI RS

A POLICY PROGRAM THAT ASAYS POLICY THAT THEPROGRAM WORDS EQUITY SAYS WORDS AND THE JUSTICE OUTEQUITY LOUD. AND JUSTICE OUT LOUD.

970 970

The Collegiate Recovery Center: • Supports students pursuing recovery • Provides individual consultations • Hosts recovery support groups • Offers a cannabis-specific group Follow the QR code to view our schedule or book an appointment.

Meetings and appointments

728 728

E AR N YO U R MA IN

URBANEAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS AR N YO U R MA IN URBAN AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS EMU Room 331

recovery.uoregon.edu

recovery@uoregon.edu

uoregoncrc

541-346-6079

1920 x 600 1920 x 600

OUR DOORS ARE OPEN.

M A IN UR BAN AND MPUBLIC A IN URAFFAIR BAN AND S PUBLIC AFFAIR S

A POLICY PROGRAM A POLICY PROGRAM THAT SAYS THE THAT SAYS THE WORDS EQUITY AND WORDS EQUITY AND JUSTICE OUT LOUD. JUSTICE OUT LOUD.

Make an appointment online, or walk in to our Health Center on Franklin today! PA G E 1 2

EMERALD

M O N D AY, D E C E M B E R 4 , 2 0 2 3