MONDAY, FEB. 24, 2025
Money Talks. Should the university listen?
By Maddox Brewer Knight Opinion Columnist
Anyone who has ventured onto the University of Oregon campus has undoubtedly noticed one name adorning various buildings: Knight.
From the Matthew Knight Arena to the Knight Campus, the specter of Nike co-founder and multi-billionaire Phil Knight looms large over the school, thanks to his donations totaling over $1 billion — but how much power do donors like him really wield over the university?
UO receives less state funding per student than any other Oregon public university, receiving only $5,647 per fundable student compared to Oregon State University’s $11,580. As a result, the school relies more heavily on student tuition and “gift money” — otherwise known as private donations.
From 2010-2021, the university raked in $3.2 billion worth of donations from 147,081 donors, only 70 of whom donated over $5 million. This small group of large-sum donors decides what to fund, helping to shape the UO’s budget for academics, athletics and infrastructure.
Notably, donors can choose where their gift money goes.
‘If It’s Not Broken, Don’t Fix It’: RAs push back against contract update
By Stephanie Jersey Campus News Reporter
On Aug. 12, 2024, the University of Oregon initially proposed a restructure of the Resident Assistant role, splitting it into two positions: a “Community Builder” and “On-Call RA” role.
Since then, UO solidified the proposal that they put forth two additional times, on Sept. 25, 2024, and Feb. 12, 2025. Current RAs have pushed back on this change, citing concerns for their financial and personal well-being.
“If it’s not broken, don’t fix it,” Cuauh Samano-Chavez, a first-year RA, said on the sentiment of other student workers.
The Community Builder roles would focus on resident engagement, event planning and fostering community. 50% of their housing will be covered by the university, leaving them to cover the remaining portion.
REI Eugene to relocate to Oakway Center in 2026
THE SCIENCE OF COFFEE
Unpacking the growth and future of coffee chemistry with Dr. Coffee
The origin story of Chris Hendon, a UO scientist and specialist in the chemical optimization of the world’s favorite beverage (ABOVE) Chris Hendon demonstrates to a student worker how to brew a coffee at Hendon Coffee Lab at the University of Oregon campus. (AlyssaGarcia/Emerald)
For budding STEM students, the Coffee Lab is an enigma. At the core of the cold concrete interior of Willamette Hall, undergraduate and graduate scientists can be seen brewing coffee at all hours of the day. While onlookers are granted the pleasure of viewing the student side of experiments on the cutting edge of coffee science, there are whispers of a mysterious leader, Willamette’s local coffee maestro. While he’s not quite as ominous as rumors imply, the tales ring true in regards to his commit-
Chris Hendon, a professor and researcher, has been the driving force of coffee science at University of Oregon since 2020. Hendon, whose mother was a chef, said he had been interested in food for most of his life, but the artisan coffee shop Colonna and Small’s changed the course of his scientific career forever.
In the midst of a PhD program in Theoretical Chemistry at University of Bath, Hendon frequented Colonna and Small’s as a patron and eventually caught the eye of one of the founders, Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood. Colonna-Dashwood had an inter-
By Mark Munson Arts & Culture Writer
ment to both students and coffee.
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Netflix is Lowering Comedic Standards for Profit
Netflix comedy specials continue to platform controversial people
By Lexi Smith Opinion Columnist
I routinely watch a Netflix comedy special while doing cardio at the gym. Typically, I choose one of John Mulaney’s specials, which I know by heart. However, while scrolling through the comedy section, I noticed some other comedians who seemed a bit out of place.
I saw that Joe Rogan, who is known for spreading misinformation on his right-wing podcast, has not one, but three comedy specials on Netflix.
“Joe Rogan: Burn the Boats” was his most recent Netflix comedy special released in 2o24.
A viewer and fan of Rogan, user, bergy-97063 wrote, “I feel like Joe Rogan doesn’t actually do stand up, he just yells at the top of his lungs about all the subjects he discusses on his podcasts.”
UO MEChA holds walkout and protest to support immigrant community
UO Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán rallied at Erb Memorial Union Amphitheater today in support of immigrants and their families following Trump immigration policies
By Angelina Handris Campus News
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On the afternoon of Feb. 19, approximately 300 demonstrators rallied outside the Erb Memorial Union Amphitheater in support of the immigrant community who “fear retaliation, for the families at risk, for the dignity we all deserve.” The demonstration was organized by the University of Oregon Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán.
The demonstration began at 2:15 p.m. Several community members spoke, including both UO students, faculty and members from several organizations, including the Black Male Alliance Club and Native American Student Union.
‘If It’s Not Broken, Don’t Fix It’:
RAs push back against contract update
UO administration has proposed a role split for Resident Assistants, prompting concerns around financial strain as well as RA and resident welfare
On-Call RAs would handle security, lockouts and conduct enforcement during nights, receiving 75% housing coverage.
This change is akin to “paying to work,” Ryan Campbell, third-year RA and UO Student Workers bargaining team member, said.
“Right now, RAs get a stipend every month, but it’s not enough to actually buy groceries or cover other expenses,” Campbell said. “If this change goes through, RAs would actually pay out of pocket for part of their housing instead of receiving a stipend. They would receive no additional monetary compensation.”
Taliah Johnson, a third-year RA, not only loves their job but said they are also motivated by the financial benefit.
“A lot of RAs do this job because we like it, but also because having free room and board and the meal plan is a big cost saver for us,” Johnson said. “Having that potentially be eliminated would be disastrous for RAs who need this job to be able to afford going to school.”
According to all three RAs, the change would also assign RAs roommates. From Campbell’s three years of experience as an RA, he predicted that this would be a “major problem in their model.”
On the topic of the Community Builders position, Campbell raised concerns about confidentiality.
“As a Community Builder, you’d have to kick your roommate out every time you had a confidential conversation
with a resident or go somewhere else,” Campbell said. “If a resident knocks on your door in (a) crisis, you can’t just say, ‘Hold on, let me get my roommate to leave.’ That would hurt the role.”
According to Campbell, for On-Call RAs, the late-hour requirements of the job make cohabitation a challenge.
“If On-Call RAs had roommates, imagine getting woken up at 3 a.m. because your roommate is handling a lockout. That’s not sustainable,” Campbell said.
While RAs feel that the restructuring would hurt their jobs, Samano-Chavez has concerns for the residents, as well.
“It’s like a bad cop, good cop situation,” Samano-Chavez said. “People in the dorms are still going to be living with the On-Call RAs, and to know specifically which RA is the ‘On-Call’ one, they’re obviously going to treat that person differently.”
RAs have also “pushed for fair contract negotiations,” but Campbell says the university has “refused to discuss RA pay as part of the broader student worker contract.”
“They’ve proposed this separate RA article three times, and we’ve (UOSW) denied it three times because it fundamentally changes the role beyond just wages,” Campbell said.
UOSW has been a direct line of communication for student workers, according to Samano-Chavez, who feels as though he has not “been informed directly by the administration.”
“Most of the information I’ve gotten has been from union meetings or emails,” Samano-Chavez said.
According to Eric Howald, assistant director of issues management, the university does not have a comment at this time.
“The concerns you asked about are part of the active bargaining/mediation efforts and the university is not commenting on the matters outside of those efforts,” Howald said. Campbell, as bargaining team member for UOSW, hopes to reach a middle ground with the university.
“I don’t expect to get everything proposed, and I know they won’t get everything they want,” Campbell said.
BSU, BCC and Office of Equity and Inclusion celebrate Black History Month
UO’s Black student clubs and centers offer resources and perspective on the importance of Black History Month in 2025
By Sasha Love Campus News Reporter
Founded by Carter G. Woodson in 1976, Black History Month is a month-long celebration in February that aims to spread pride through the Black community.
This year’s celebration comes as laws to reverse diversity, equity and inclusion practices are being enacted in the United States, resulting in several University of Oregon Black leaders speaking out about education, connection and support.
“Especially at a time where diversity, equity (and) inclusion (are) a prominent discussion topic in our politics as well as in everyday life, Black History Month is important (for) recogni(zing) … how much impact Black folks and Black culture has on the United States specifically, but also globally,” Aris Hall, inaugural director for Lyllye Reynolds-Parker Black Cultural Center, said.
According to Aris Hall, this theme of recognizing Black people’s contributions in all aspects of
life inspired the BCC’s 2025 Black History Month mantra, “Black Mosaic: The impact of Black culture on America.”
Throughout the month, BCC is hosting several events and speakers to support this theme, including keynote speaker Bimma Williams, a marketing educator who worked for Nike.
UO’s Black Student Union is also hosting events, including a movie screening of “The Lost Tapes: Malcolm X.”
Liyah Hall, the outreach coordinator for the Black Student Union, said educating people on the role of the Black community in American and world history can help people understand and shift current political narratives.
“I think it is so important for us, not just as BSU but for the whole campus to celebrate (Black History Month) especially because of everything that is happening in the world (with) all the erasure that is going on. It is a good time for us to learn about history and spread awareness,” Liyah Hall said.
Meera Bowman-Johnson, the communications manager for the Office of the Vice President for Equality and Inclusion, said it is important to look to past Black inspirations to move forward.
“By choosing to reflect on and acknowledge the ways Black Americans have impacted history as a campus community, we are afforded the opportunity to take pride in our collective strength,” Bowman-Johnson said.
The BCC is named after an influential local Black woman, Lyllye Reynolds-Parker, one of the first Black people in the Eugene area and an acclaimed academic advisor for UO students. The center honors her legacy by hosting events and resources to support UO’s Black community.
“(Black History Month) is all about learning from what they (famous Black figures) did and I think that shows in our naming of who we are, our space of Lyllye Reynolds-Parker, and what she did for the community (and), what her family,” Liyah Hall said.
(Molly McPherson/Emerald)
Cuauh Samano-Chavez, a sophomore Resident Assistant, poses for a portrait on Feb. 17, 2025 in the New Resident Hall at the University of Oregon.
(Noa Schwartz/Emerald)
REI Eugene to relocate to Oakway Center in 2026
The outdoor-wear staple said its new store will be 10,000 square feet larger than the current location
By Kellan Quinn City News Reporter
REI Co-op, the prominent Pacific Northwest-based outdoor retailer, will move its current Market District Eugene store to Oakway Center, on the north side of the Willamette river, in 2026.
The co-op, which has over 137,000 people holding membership in Eugene and just under one million in Oregon, cited the opportunity to have a larger space and a greater offering of outdoor items as reasons for making the move.
The new location, at 95 Oakway Center, formerly Bed Bath and Beyond, is touted by REI as the second-largest in the state behind its Beaverton store.
“(Our original location) today is one of the smallest in the country,” Regional Director Bob Cagle said in a press release announcing the move. “Our Oakway Center space will be one level and nearly 10,000 square feet larger than the current store, enabling larger product assortments, improved dressing rooms and ample warehouse space.”
Two major additions to the Oakway Center REI location are a ski and snowboard shop and a full-service bike shop.
Only Berg’s Ski Shop and Tactics, two homegrown Eugene-based shops, offer dedicated snowboard gear, with only Berg’s offering rentals to customers.
“I can definitely see myself shopping at the new location,” Owen Pyle, a junior at the University of Oregon and avid skier, said. “I’m sure that it’ll definitely have
some effect on Tactics and Bergs but I can’t really speak to the extent.”
Pyle, who is also a lift attendant at Willamette Pass Ski resort, added, “Tactics is always a sponsor of our events at Willamette and Berg’s has a lot of ties to the resort as well. I don’t know if a company like REI that isn’t snow-focused or local would be as committed about giving back to the community and that’s definitely worrying.”
REI also plans to feature a Re/Supply store in their new location, which allows customers to shop used gear at discounted prices. “I’m really excited about the secondhand store,” Pyle said.
REI added in its press release that it currently employs 41 workers at the Eugene branch. All will be welcome to continue their employment at the new store. No decisions concerning additional hiring have been made yet.
(BELOW) The planned site for the relocation of REl, replacing the former Bed Bath & Beyond at the Oakway Center in Eugene.
(Alyssa Garcia/Emerald)
Lane County Farmers Market is back for 2025
The Lane County Farmers Market is back, serving fresh produce and other farm goods from February to December
By Stephanie Hensley City News Reporter
The Lane County Farmers Market reopened for the 2025 season on Feb. 1 and will remain open until December.
The market closes during December and January due to colder weather and a decrease in crop availability. Now that winter is almost over, vendors and customers alike have returned to the market on East 8th Avenue to take advantage of locally-sourced goods.
Orion Lawrenz, the program and marketing manager for LCFM, has worked with the market for over three years. Lawrenz started as a cashier before eventually taking on their current role.
“There’s so much variety in what I do, and I feel like that’s a big part of it,” Lawrenz said. “I never know, going into one week, what’s going to be happening. And I love that.”
Lawrenz’s position largely focuses on community outreach, scheduling advertisements with local companies, social media management and program coordination. According to Lawrenz, LCFM will see new vendors and community engagement programs come in during 2025. New vendors will include a boba booth, an oyster vendor and local farmers looking to sell.
Bob Rudel, owner of Rainforest Mushrooms, has been selling his produce at LCFM for almost a decade now.
“We always hope for a good year, and there’s always ups and downs,” Ruhdel said. “It’s been pretty good the last few years, so it’s promising.”
Lawrenz added that since the end of the pandemic, farmer’s markets have become “more commonplace” especially in Eugene, as LCFM has over 70 vendors.
“I would love to see us continuing to make (the) farmers market as equitable as possible for people,” Lawrenz said. “If
you’re making local food more accessible to people, then there’s more people shopping at the market, more people getting higher quality nutrition and then our vendors are having better sales. And then, by proxy, the word about the market is getting out.”
Jenny Jonak, the owner of Dragon Song Farm, has been selling at LCFM for almost two years now. Dragon Song Farm offers locally-grown flowers to Lane County.
“I love the professionalism of the market and also the other vendors,” Jonak said. “It’s a great group of people to be with.”
With a growing number of vendors, LCFM continues to provide a space for local businesses to connect with the Eugene community.
(ABOVE) A mother and their child stop by the Horai stand to pick up some fresh-baked goods and pastries. The Lane County Farmers Market is held from Feb. 1 to March 29, 2025, every Saturday from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. at the Farmers Market Pavilion on 8th and Oak Street.
(BELOW) A man makes brightly colored balloon animals and creatures at The Lane Country Farmers Market for children stopping by.
(Saj Sundaram/Emerald)
(Alyssa Garcia/Emerald)
REI is a retail store that carries an assortment of outdoor gear and clothing. The REl store is located in the Eugene Planing Mill Building, but the store plans to relocate to the Oakway Center in Eugene.
Unpacking the growth
coffee chemistry with
est in chemistry, so Hendon spent his weekends teaching him chemistry and learning the ins-and-outs of brewing high quality coffee.
“At some point we realized maybe there’s something more to this,” Hendon said. “It’s a widely consumed product and people care about it, so why not use that in two ways to do a little bit of good for science communication and try to build trust of the general public in science?”
- Chris Hendon UO Professor and Researcher “ “
At some point we realized maybe there’s something more to this
The pair’s endeavor to brew shots of espresso would leave its mark on coffee history, with their work in chemistry providing the foundation for their partnership.
“We started really working on water chemistry together,” Hendon said. “That’s when it became clear that there was a lot of room for improvement and Maxwell and I teamed up.”
The competitive result: two fifth place finishes in the World Barista Championship, where the top baristas of each country battle for the world title, in 2014 and 2015.
The wins validated the application of chemistry in the field of coffee and provided Hendon recognition within the coffee community. Using his momentum, he published “Water for Coffee” (2015), a guide to water chemistry and its relation to coffee, and the 2016 paper, “The effect of bean origin and temperature on grinding roasted coffee.” The globally recognized study concluded that keeping coffee beans cold prior to grinding allowed baristas to extract more coffee from the beans while speeding up extraction, reducing waste and improving the standard of quality across the board.
Early on, Hendon’s work affected cafes globally. When attending a conference in Sendai, Japan, he noticed a barista implementing his 2016 study. After he asked the barista about his technique, Hendon said, “He pulled out all of my papers which he laminated.”
The research he conducted in coffee continued through post-doctoral work at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and eventually at UO.
“At UO they knew I was an expert in coffee,” Hendon said. “But their work in the area didn’t really crank up until 2020.”
While Hendon joined UO staff in 2017, it wasn’t until 2020 when breakthrough study “Systematically Improving Espresso: Insights from Mathematical
growth and future of
with Dr. Coffee
Modeling and Experiment” was published. The study found a coarse grind size, instead of the fine one used at that time, was optimal for preventing waste and providing homogeneity from shot to shot. The study saved millions of dollars yearly in cafes across the world.
“I pick problems that I think are big and important that no one else is working on,” Hendon said. “That way we can take our time with it and make sure that we get it right.”
For the last four years, Hendon and the students in his lab have been working with electrochemistry — a study of chemical processes involved with electron movement — and its role in coffee. Specifically, the lab aims to understand coffee’s response to electrical stimulation. In January 2024, the lab published a study which explained that a spritz of water on coffee after grinding will provide a better tasting brew since it removes static electricity buildup on the ground coffee.
In a study recently conducted and currently in review, the group sought to understand how electricity affects the flavor profile of a cup of coffee. “We basically connect the battery to coffee and we can measure how strong the cup of coffee is,” Hendon said. “In addition to that, we can measure how dark tasting it is.”
The measurement of a coffee’s roast profile is a widely contested topic among the coffee community. Hendon, comparing the roast profile to its meaty counterpart, said, “the outside of your steak could be black but the inside could be completely raw.”
At this point, the only way to be completely objective is by obtaining a temperature curve for the roast, which Hendon pointed out is to “ask a chef the temperature at which they cook the steak.” Without forcing coffee roasters around the world to give away their secret sauce, these scientists found another way to quantify flavor.
Should the study pass the peer review process and find itself in an esteemed scientific journal, it would push the boundaries of coffee science forward in a major way. “It’s a pretty big deal because the state of the art in the industry right now can only measure strength and can’t do strength and flavor,” Hendon said. “So this is kind of a big step forward.”
At this point in his career, Hendon is globally recognized in the coffee industry, but he admitted that while he likes coffee, funding and student interest are the biggest factors of the lab’s research direction.
“This job is not about my interests. It’s about what we need to do to learn new things about the universe,” Hendon said. “So, if the students are interested in doing computational chemistry, that’s what we’re going to do. Half the group’s funding comes from coffee research, so we’re going to continue to do it for now.”
While some sectors of scientific research have been steeped in uncertainty given the rise of AI technologies and the threat to NIH lab funding, Hendon said coffee science is
thriving and the AI induced dream of a standardized flavor metric doesn’t have ground to stand on. “I actually think it’s a baseless dream,” Hendon said. “I think it’s a naive dream. Because why would you want AI to tell you flavor if people can’t tell you flavors?”
While flavor preference has slight differences between people, in the Coffee Lab, all the scientists, like the judges in professional barista competitions, are calibrated. While actually “liking” a brew is subjective, Hendon says all the testers can attest they taste the same flavor notes in the sample.
“Humans are always allowed the right of preference,” Hendon said. “In other words, you’re allowed to taste what you taste and enjoy it, but in my lab you’re not allowed to like it and not be able to describe why.”
Hendon enjoys working with coffee, but the food is just a medium through which to cultivate a deeper understanding of chemical phenomena. “I work on coffee so we can learn broadly new things about the universe to apply to other foods and other chemical problems,” Hendon said.
“This job is not about my interests. It’s about what we need to do to learn new things about the universe
“
- Chris Hendon UO Professor and Researcher
Though understanding the secrets of the universe is Hendons mantra, at the current stage of his career, he’s in a position to give back to the next generation of scientists. Through his lab, he provides a staging ground for student ideas to grow.
“What brings me joy is the process, not the destination,” Hendon said. “So seeing the students learn is the most important thing.”
For curious coffee scientists, connoisseurs and hobbyists, the best place to connect with Hendon and other knowledgeable staff of the coffee lab is in Willamette Atrium during their weekly coffee hour, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11-12 p.m.
Hendon also co-hosts the podcast “Coffee Literature Review,” which dissects recent highly caffeinated studies.
(AlyssaGarcia/Emerald)
(LEFT) Chris Hendon, associate professor of chemistry at the University of Oregon.
(TOP RIGHT) Hendon Coffee Lab is located at
Oregon in Willamette Hall.
D is an Opinion Columnist for the Daily Emerald.
Originally from Las Vegas, D is a third year student and loves to write about topics that matter to her and the wider University of Oregon community.
Do the downsides of Eugene’s college town status outweigh the upsides?
Eugene is known for its college-town charm and being the home of the Ducks. However, some downsides erode the illusion of college-town beauty.
By D Ortega Opinion Columnist
I’ve always admired Eugene’s simplicity and college town familiarity. Everything feels close and the area has been one of the easiest to get accustomed to. One of the things that has greatly impacted my happiness in attending the University of Oregon is the strong sense of community.
Every place you go in Eugene will certainly have some Duck decor lingering around, leading to a close feeling of community for UO students and fans alike. UO senior Cole Phillips has also experienced this deep sense of community.
“Because the town is relatively small, you get to know everyone around you while you’re here and you see people you know all around,” Phillips said.
Phillips also brought up a downside of living in Eugene.
“There’s a lack of new things to do. After a few years living here you can check off pretty much anything there is to do in the city,” Phillips said.
Although there is little to do once everything is checked off your Eugene bucket list, one important upside to the town is its large amount of resources that are provided, such as the Student Food Pantry, vast networking opportunities among alumni and plenty of Eugene events listed under the website.
Payton Peters, UO junior, is aware of the community’s resources for the general public.
“There’s a lot of resources even if you’re a non-student. I think of the EmX and the fact that students can ride for free until Springfield all the way to the end of Eugene. It’s really impressive for a country that doesn’t have a lot of public transportation,” Peters said. Peters also brought up one particular downside.
“The lack of law enforcement here kind of sucks. I don’t think they do a lot in terms of poverty reduction. Someone might be having issues and the police will ask if they are okay and if they need water, but then will just drive away,” Peters said.
If you or anyone you know is experiencing poverty or is in crisis, resources like New Roads and White Bird Clinic can help provide services. CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Streets) is available in Eugene and Springfield if immediate assistance is needed.
This happens more often in college towns than we expect. The neglect of the safety of others, especially those in poverty, is undermined, and this issue goes beyond the environment of a college town.
Living in a college town with a poverty rate
exceeding both the state and national average is something I never considered when I talked to Peters.
The desensitization of these environments causes me to unknowingly become unaware of the safety in the greater Eugene community.
Eugene’s beauty only extends to the charm of college town essence, though I’m not completely cynical about living in this town. Eugene’s close community and Duck culture help elevate a sense of belonging that many college students aspire to feel.
Resources:
Eugene CAHOOTS: 541-682-5111
Springfield CAHOOTS: 541-726-3714
White Bird Clinic: www.whitebirdclinic.org
New Roads: www.lookingglass.us/new-roads
Money Talks. Should the university listen?
Increased reliance on donors is leading the UO down the slippery slope towards privatization
While they can’t control precise expenditures or the output created from their gift, UO donors can designate their donation to a specific program or area of study.
As a result, the university’s priorities rely increasingly on the whims of donors. It can be difficult to find funding for the issues that don’t attract philanthropists’ interest, such as building upkeep or worker’s wages.
“Passively, through more negligence than mal-
ice, faculty have fallen multiple rungs down the school’s list of priorities,” Mike Urbancic, a senior instructor II of economics and the president of the United Academics union, said.
Currently, Urbancic is leading unionized UO faculty in negotiations with the administration for fairer pay, an issue rarely addressed by donors.
“Maintaining things just isn’t as flashy as building something new and shiny,” Urbancic said. “It doesn’t burnish the resume of the upper administrators, who want something impressive to highlight to donors — it’s difficult to convince donors that what we really need is to maintain existing operations.”
The need to justify improvements to donors leads to increasing privatization, as more money is funneled into lucrative or flashy endeavors that reflect the donor’s personal interests.
This systemic neglect of mundane maintenance is visible in instances like the delayed demolition of dorms containing asbestos or the closure of the useful but unprofitable American English Institute.
This privatization also impacts instructors, and, as a result, the curricula of students’ classes, “Everything boils down to fees,” Jon Jaramillo, a career instructor of Spanish, said.
“Our department has to pay the university to use a classroom, and then there’s facility fees and
parking. There are so many little things that are designed to suck money out of people,” Jaramillo said. “We also have administrators managing this educational institution who come directly from the corporate world. All they know is how to improve the bottom line, so they apply those same techniques of operating a business to the university, which stifles innovation and creativity.”
Of course, the donor system has its benefits. As a lifelong Oregon resident, I acknowledge that donations from rich and powerful philanthropists have given me access to a higher caliber of education than I would otherwise receive — however, I am only granted access to the education they decide to sponsor. If my interests don’t align with the subjects that donors deem fit to fund, I will struggle to pursue my passions as budget cuts may decimate my discipline’s programs, faculty and opportunities.
This issue of privatization is more pressing now than ever, as private interests increasingly intertwine with the function of public institutions. President Trump has assembled the richest administration in American history, appointing 13 billionaires to positions of power in his cabinet. We live in an era where magnates control our government — do we want them controlling our universities as well?
is a second-year CHC student pursuing a double major in English and Spanish and a minor in linguistics.
Maddox Brewer Knight is an opinion columnist at the Daily Emerald. She
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(Stephanie Yang/Emerald)
ARTS & CULTURE
Tiger Mama: A bold taste of Korea in every plate
This Korean hub for drinking and gathering in the Whiteaker neighborhood invites you to connect with others over Korean traditions like Soju and Kimchi
By Andres Baisch Arts & Culture Writer
In Korean culture, tigers represent strength and protection. In Eugene, owners Preston Shin and Sunny Moon created Tiger Mama, a restaurant that is strong in their discipline of food quality and resembles the care of a mother’s cooking.
Sunny Moon met her husband and business partner at University of Oregon, where Shin majored in entrepreneurship and Moon in finance. Shin also received her Masters in business administration from UO. The couple opened Sushi Pure together, where Moon was a bartender for over five years.
Now, at Tiger Mama, Moon is stepping into a role as head chef, crafting dishes out of love.
The couple’s working relationship began at Sushi Pure, where they worked together for 17 years. Shin said they both bring strengths to Tiger Mama. Shin, having a contractor’s license, takes pride in his work on the restaurant’s concepts, designing the interior. Moon is skilled in creating recipes for the bar and kitchen.
“Everything we do, we do together,” Shin said. “We look at the same goals. She’s my wife, best friend and the best mother.”
The couple always joked about the idea of opening up a Korean restaurant in Eugene because of Moon’s expertise and care as a chef. Tiger Mama provides meals that taste amazing and incorporate natural ingredients that are healthy to eat.
“It makes a huge difference. A lot of restaurants taste good, but after eating you’ll feel tired or thirsty,” Shin said. “Sunny uses everything from scratch using natural ingredients.”
The presence of “Mama’s touch” was in-
spired by both Shin and Moon’s families. Moon’s mother inspired Tiger Mama’s kimchi recipe, but Sunny has perfected it over time.
Tiger Mama’s kimchi is slightly modified so that all diets, including vegans, can enjoy it. Moon adds a mushroom powder instead of salted shrimp or fish sauce. Moon also adds ground fruits like Asian pear or apple, which Shin says brings out more brightness in their kimchi.
Tiger Mama’s dining area reflects multiple elements of a Korean soju bar. All of their specialty cocktails are made with imported liquors from Korea, like soju or ginseng-infused whiskey.
“People enjoy cocktails in America, so I learned that soju is a great element to make great cocktails,” Moon said.
Shin said that customers trying Korean food for the first time should indulge in bibimbap, which is a rice dish topped with vegetables and a choice of mushroom, beef bulgogi or spicy pork, all with a fried egg on top. The dish is traditional in Korea and it is cooked in a hot stone pot to meld the flavors.
Tiger Mama is more than just a restaurant. In Korea, the word “Pocha” is a term for a culture. Similar to a pub in the States, Tiger Mama’s full name includes “Pocha and Brew.”
Shin and Moon focused on creating a restaurant that emulates what a Pocha in Korea represents. Drinking soju in the early hours of the morning is one of the most common social habits in Korea.
“In Korea, we order alcohol by the bottle,” Shin said. “So it’s more like a friendship-building drink. You never pour yourself a shot –– it’s bad luck.”
The owners say that their focus at the restaurant has remained throughout their years in the business. They do not just sell the food, but rather they sell an experience and culture.
“When you come to the restaurant, we want you to feel like you’re in a small restaurant in some alley in Korea,” Shin said. Moving forward, Shin and Moon have signed a lease agreement at Willamette Plaza, where they are expanding into a stop and go restaurant — dishes will be available to go in a cup.
If you visit Tiger Mama, you are sure to be welcomed with “eoseo oseyo” in Korean, meaning welcome, and to hurry in. Share a bottle of soju with friends, order something new and be sure to toast in Korean by saying “Geonbae.”
The magazine epidemic: Two new publications to satiate your thirst for culture
With cultural mags on the rise, here are some fresh written and digital picks involving UO students to populate your coffee table
By Mark Munson Arts & Culture Writer
2025 has seen an influx of written publications, yet it may be another fleeting trend. Complex relaunched its magazine in late 2024 following an eight year hiatus, and independent influencers spent the last five months attempting to break into tangible mediums.
As the trend begins to take hold of Eugene and its surrounding areas, there are two local magazines involving University of Oregon students that are impressive in their commitment to the subcultures they represent and the media they publish.
The Racks Magazine: Snatched
A new favorite magazine of your iPod-nano-loving, iMac-G3-posting and fashion friend has emerged.
The new second hand store on the corner of East 6th Avenue and Oak Street continues to make waves with the release of their new mag titled, “Snatched.” Released on Feb. 15, the magazine features a visual rendition of the fresh NYC inspired take on the Y2K styling.
According to founder Allyssa Corpuz, “the goal of the mag is to bring back that Y2K nostalgia with teen magazines, similar to the little catalogs that brands used to do in the early 2000s. We wanted to bring that back as well as get together like the fashion community of UO and Eugene in general.”
The group of mostly UO students certainly accomplished their goal, with shoots reminiscent of the grungy tumblr aesthetic that seems to be at the forefront of the collective consciousness.
The magazine also contains a series of tongue and cheek infographics pertaining to dating culture, buzzfeed-esque quizzes and styling tips. The magazine is a perfect gift for your swag-less friend and can be picked up for $10. It’s currently only available in print and isn’t re-releasing, so get down to 6th and Oak and tap in.
Mother Nature vs. Mother Culture
Spawned from Jack Whayland’s senior year Align project gone awry, this magazine expands upon the dichotomy
of nature and culture.
A recent UO graduate inspired by the Daniel Quinn novel “Ishmael,” the magazine occupies the niche of a philosophical twist on “Outside Magazine,” covering topics from the ephemeral beauty of the wild to modern ski culture, opting for a heady approach without straying into the avant-garde. Whayland said, “It’s about humans and their relationship with nature, and there’s a lot of nuance and complexity to that.” For those who care, intense strain on the American human psyche is apparent.
“
It’s about humans and their relationship with nature, and there’s a lot of nuance and complexity to that.
- Jack Whayland UO Alumnus “
“I knew that especially given the political landscape and so many things going on in the world,” Whayland said, “the one thing I can count on anyone being interested in, is the outdoors, like climate, nature and our relationship with nature.”
While masterminding the task of assembling both a team and a magazine from his home in Wisconsin was a strenuous task, Whayland enjoyed the process. He said, “I love leadership in the creative space, leading the photo shoots, guiding the writers, establishing themes and just overseeing everything and connecting.”
Whayland and his media group, Jetty Media, plan to release more creative nature oriented media in the future. For now he hopes that the latest issue’s articles and visuals incite dialogue about the relationship between humanity and nature.
The magazine can be found on Issuu or ordered on the Jetty Media website.
Crossword
been
*Song that’s been modified to be family-friendly
Yosemite rock formation, familiarly
Ruffles rival
*Song that’s been modified to have a dance beat
Yogurt condiment
Objective
Unreturned serve
Regular
Milky birthstone 63 Adopted a new attitude, or what music producers did to create the answers to the starred clues? 66 Squeaky critters
Posted
Invaders such as 58-Down and 66-Across
Repeat
Uno y uno
Bonfire residue
Accomplishment
Tortoise-and-hare affair
Inventor Sikorsky
Many university donors 5 Low-__: fuzzy, as computer graphics
“__ we there yet?” 48 Maguire who played Spider-Man
Rebellion
Thrift shop caution 7 Rash symptom
Muscles worked by bicycle crunches 10 Liqueur made by Baileys 11 Teams of two 12 Sicily’s highest peak
15 Country whose national dish is ceviche
18 Coming to a point 19 Actress Zellweger
24 NYC rep who was once a bartender
26 Lobster’s grabber
27 Skewer
28 Pepper in pozole
29 Result of some cyberattacks
30 Software engineer, for short
31 Volunteer’s phrase
33 Video game pioneer
34 Brand of glass measuring cups
37 Small agricultural organization?
39 Thought 41 Greek letter that resembles a “T”
44 Looking at 46 __ Lanka
Sudoku
49 Asked for identification 50 Gushes on stage 52 “Just keeping you on your __” 54 High point
Colony insects
61 Penny-__ 62 “Tastes great, __ filling”: Miller Lite slogan 64 Opposite of paleo65 Place for a hot stone massage
Ludvig Aberg climbs up the leaderboard to win the Genesis Invitational
Oregon women’s basketball NCAA Tournament resume review
Where does the Ducks’ postseason likelihood lie?
By Joe Krasnowski Sports Reporter
With three games left in the regular season, Oregon women’s basketball (18-8, 9-6 Big Ten) sits in eighth place in the Big Ten, having already punched its ticket as one of the 12 teams that will play for the conference Championship in Indianapolis.
Despite leveling out with some strong play of late, it’s been a season of ups and downs for head coach Kelly Graves’ squad.
After storming out of the gate with six straight wins, one of which came against then-No. 17 Baylor, Oregon has been a mostly average team for the remainder of the season. The Ducks’ clear peak of the season came on Jan. 30 with a win over then-No. 16 Michigan State, but the victory was soon met with three straight losses that damaged their NCAA Tournament hopes.
Still, with the Big Ten’s competitiveness and the pair of high-quality wins, Oregon’s tournament dreams are entirely in its own hands. Recent wins over Washington and Minnesota have surely helped the Ducks bolster their Big Ten Tournament seeding, improving the likelihood of a NCAA Tournament berth.
The Ducks are ranked No. 37 in NET, with 13 Big Ten teams in the top 50 and nine Big Ten teams ranked ahead of them. An away showdown with Nebraska is their
ington are effectively must-wins.
Helping the Ducks get hot at the right time has been a breakout performance from Deja Kelly, who scored back-to-back 20-point games for the first time since the second and third contests of the season. Kelly has scored 14, 21 and 20 points while playing 35 or more minutes over the Ducks’ last three games.
“That’s why we were blessed and excited to get Deja here,” Graves said after Kelly hit a pair of clutch free throws to beat the Huskies. “She’s made for these types of games.”
ESPN’s Charlie Creme slated the Ducks as the No.9 seed in the Birmingham regional, with a matchup against hypothetical No.8 Oklahoma State in the first round. In Creme’s model, the Big Ten has 13 teams in the tournament –– the most in the nation. Creme projected that all four of the Big Ten’s newcomers would earn berths.
The Ducks made the tournament in 2021 and 2022 but have missed each of the last two tournaments. The final seedings will be announced on Selection Sunday, March 16.
Ranking Oregon baseball’s uniforms
As the baseball season gets underway, here’s a look at all the threads the Ducks will don throughout the 2025 campaign
By Jack Lazarus Sports Associate Editor
There’s a specific narrative that accompanies each Oregon athletic squad.
The Ducks, without fail, take the court or field wearing the finest uniforms Nike has to offer. Whether that be the classic white and green, the new-era black and yellow or a wacky combination of all four, Oregon always finds a way to look cooler than its competitors.
No. 11 Oregon baseball started its season 3-1 on Opening Weekend, and three of those games featured different jerseys. Many teams cannot boast that ability to change wardrobe so easily, and that’s not all this team has to offer.
Here’s my comprehensive ranking of each of the uniforms the Ducks will wear this season:
5. Gray Jerseys
3. White Pinstripes
To say that these aren’t the best white jerseys speaks volumes to what will come next in this list. The jersey and pants match, white with green pinstripes throughout. Pinstripes, in my opinion, are the cleanest look that a baseball team can put out. Every team that does it, does it in their own unique way, and the Ducks are no exception. The green pinstripes aren’t matched by many others, and stand out in a way that Oregon is meant to.
2. Black Jerseys
It’s not an Oregon team without a neat black and yellow colorway. Baseball might be the squad that does it best. The black base provides the perfect background for the in-your-face yellow used by Oregon athletics. The yellow Oregon displayed across the chest along with the accents and bright yellow “O” on the black hat. Everything about this uniform screams flashiness and everything that Oregon’s most avid haters loathe: style.
Worn last year, but not yet so far this season, Oregon’s gray jerseys take the bottom spot on this list. These feature a charcoal gray jersey and pants with yellow accents and black lettering. These are last for one major reason: Oregon never needed a fifth color. Everything in the Ducks’ uniform arsenal works well enough that it shouldn’t warrant the use of a completely unrelated hue. Gray jerseys feature in many of Oregon’s sports, but never sit quite right with me.
4. Green Jerseys
Simple and classic, but doesn’t display the flashiness and pizzazz of an average Oregon fit. The greens are the primary home uniforms of the Ducks and generally include the use of white pants. However, these are the second-best home uniforms — we will talk about the others later. “Legacy Green” is the primary colorway for most of Oregon’s athletic teams, but again doesn’t display any modicum of flashiness. It feels wrong to knock something for being too generic even though it works, but throats get cut when jerseys are ranked.
1. White Throwbacks
Probably the simplest of the five recurring colors for the Ducks, the throwbacks are everything that works about each of the others. The soft green accents accompanied by the cream-colored base for the jerseys make for the perfect callback to baseball’s glory days. Oregon, in a rare move from the Ducks, look straight out of the 1950s, but in the best way. The thin green writing across the jersey works both as a creative way to display the brand and a throwback to some of the first uniforms used in the sport. While it is nothing that tends to characterize Oregon’s sports teams, these throwbacks make for a different, but refreshing look for the Ducks. In an era where many of Oregon’s teams wear the same, flashy uniforms, making a throwback work should be much more difficult than these Ducks make it.
( LEFT ) The Oregon Baseball team defeated Oral Roberts in game 1 of Super Regionals on June 9, 2024 at PK Park.
(Kai Kanzer/ Emerald)
( LEFT ) Bennett Thompson (16) ignites PK Park with a loud eighth inning pinch hit home run.
Kanzer/ Emerald)
