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Political burnout is coming soon to people near you
Sabai: A restaurant birthed from romance
The phrase “Sabai Sabai” in Thai expresses a happy, easygoing way of life. The family-owned restaurant that bears its name is no different.
By Andres Baisch
Arts & Culture Writer
At Sabai, family and community are central pillars for success. The restaurant celebrated its 14-year anniversary this January, and after over a decade of operations, Sabai continues to thrive as a lively hub for good food and a great atmosphere in Eugene.
“Sabai means to be well, to be happy. It’s like a greeting,” Tim Murff, part owner of Sabai, said. “So, there’s really this sense of healthiness at Sabai.”
Murff co-owns Sabai with his wife, Mon Sutthiwari, and the business blends Murff’s experience in media and design with Sutthiwari’s Thai heritage. Murff and Sutthiwari initially met through
Murff’s son, who frequently visited Eugene Thai restaurant Chao Pra Ya, where Sutthiwari worked.
Sutthiwari later began working at Ta Ra Rin, where Murff and his grandchildren would dine every Friday. Over the years that Murff visited Ta Ra Rin, he and Sutthiwari became closer, and three years after they met, the pair decided to open Sabai as co-owners.
Before entering the restaurant industry, Murff worked in media on documentary films. But after 35 years in the field, changes in the media landscape pushed Murff to make a career shift.
“I was spending so much time learning new editing software,” Murff said. “I just wasn’t getting to tell the stories that I really loved.”
Sutthiwari was also looking to transition to something new, and
UO community weighs in on CoOp Family Center budget cuts
Student-parents and community members rally
and speak in support of the Co-Op in response to a proposed budget cut
By Bella Bishop Campus News Reporter
In November 2024, the Co-Op Family Center found out about a potential budget cut from their annual funding from the Associated Students of the University of Oregon. The potential cut led to an outpouring of support from the Co-Op’s community.
Located in the Spencer View Apartments, –which houses UO graduate students, international students and families – the Co-Op is an affordable childcare program that operates yearround for ages eight weeks to 11 years old.
“(The Co-Op is) a hub for student families,” Rachel Jefferson, executive director of the CoOp, said.
The Co-Op primarily serves the UO community by offering reduced childcare rates for student families and faculty families. The way a Co-Op operates is through the support of both community members and the cooperative entity itself.
Jordan Ackemann, ASUO senator and chair of the CFC, said the original proposed budget “included the Co-Op at a lesser funding than it
(Julia Massa/Emerald) Executive Director, Rachel Jefferson, of the Co-Op Family Center off of Patterson St inEugene.
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Daily Emerald launches
The Daily Emerald has launched Waddle, a Duckthemed puzzle inspired by the Wordle
By Corey Hoffman Campus News Reporter
Today, the Daily Emerald launched Waddle, a duck-themed version of the popular The New York Times puzzle, Wordle.
The Waddle was created by Daily Emerald Puzzles Editor Nate Wong and Web Designer Alex Herbaugh.
“We were looking for an easy, but still kind of challenging word game to bring to the website. We looked at The New York Times Wordle, how successful that is, and wanted to bring that level of thought to the Daily Emerald,” Wong said.
Staff at the Emerald are hopeful the Waddle can recreate the same buzz on campus.
“I think the Waddle is going to be so much fun (to have) in our daily routines,” Henry said. “Nate and the Emerald staff have created something really fun.”
The New York Times purchased the Wordle in January 2022, according to a UO article. Wong thought it was “pretty cool” that Wardle was a UO alumnus.
In order to perfect the Waddle, Wong and Herbaugh ran several tests and gathered feedback from students.
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What students should know if UA votes to strike
UA and UO admin are in mediation. Should a new contract not result in salaries that cover inflation, the union may vote to strike.
By Corey Hoffman Campus News Reporter
As mediation continues between United Academics of University of Oregon and UO administration, the possibility of a strike has some faculty preparing students should a new contract not be struck.
The Daily Emerald has provided some answers for what a potential strike would mean for students.
What are UA and UO Administration in mediation for?
According to Chris Sinclair, associate professor of mathematics and UA secretary, there are two major “sticking points” in the negotiations for the contract that faculty work under. Continue story online
Daily Emerald Publisher Eric Henry, who initially proposed the idea of the Waddle, explained that several college newspapers are creating daily puzzles and that he was inspired by the University of Illinois newspaper’s version of the Wordle, the Illordle.
Henry said that the Illordle is the Daily Illini’s most returned-to page and wanted to recreate that at the Emerald.
The New York Times Wordle was created during the COVID-19 pandemic by University of Oregon alumnus Josh Wardle, who graduated in 2011 with a Master of Fine Arts in digital arts. The name of the puzzle, which he created for his partner, is a play on his last name.
In an interview with The New York Times,
“I’ve been working on the code pretty much on and off for the last two months or so. We’re finishing up a lot of the bugs and (getting) a lot of feedback from the students who (were) testing it,” Wong said.
Wong and Herbaugh also worked on an accessible version of the puzzle, which launched at the same time as the Waddle.
“(We’ve) been working on a color-blind mode. For people who can’t see colors like green and yellow, it’ll be helpful,” Wong said.
The Waddle word of the day connects back to an article published by the Emerald that week with the hopes of having viewers click on the articles after completing the game.
According to Henry, the Waddle is being pro
UO community weighs in on CoOp Family Center budget cuts
was for this fiscal year.” He also said that “we (ASUO) wanted to fund it, but we just weren’t able to fund it in the full amount.”
According to Ackemann, the proposed budget cut is not a complete cut of funds, but simply a return to the pre-agreed upon and contracted amount.
“(The) adjusted proposed budget was about $65,000 less than our original proposed budget,” Jefferson said.
According to Jefferson, participation in the cooperative is not mandatory at the CoOp Family Center; it is one of the avenues open to families for reducing tuition.
Joanna and Max Hermida, who live in the apartment complex, highlighted their appreciation for its accessibility.
“It’s just a matter of, like, dropping her (their child) off and then going to class,” Joanna said. “It would be really hard to take the amount of classes and to be as involved in school as I am without the Co-Op.”
During the Jan. 8 ASUO senate meeting, community members gathered in support of the Co-Op and shared their opinions on the proposed budget cut.
“At first, we (the community) were like, there’s no way… but Rachel made it really clear to all of us it was a really serious situation and that a lot of families could be out of childcare,” Alyssa Hartzheim, a student-staff member at the Co-Op, said.
According to Jefferson, ASUO’s Contract Finance Committee has funded the Co-Op Family Center in some capacity for the entirety of its 45-year existence.
“At this point, ASUO funds about 50% of our (Co-Op) budget, and then the other 50% comes from parent tuition and then any sort of grant writing, fundraising and other things that we do,” Jefferson said.
Caitlin Bradley Dutterer, a single student-mother at UO who lost her husband,
shared some of the sentiment behind her decision to come to the university, noting that the Co-Op has a unique approach to learning that she values for her child.
“They have this Reggio Emilia philosophy behind (their curriculum) which is very child centered and it was a huge reason why we came to UO,” Bradley Dutterer said.
Jefferson said the Reggio Emilia approach is a “negotiated curriculum that works with the children to kind of observe and document their curiosities and their questions.”
Jefferson said the larger issue at hand is childcare deserts, which “are the worst at… the infant and toddler” ages.
“There’s one spot for every seven kids that are looking for care,” Jefferson said.
Jefferson also said that “we don’t want them (ASUO) to think that anytime we have increases in costs, it’s up to them to come up with more money for us,” and wants to work with them to contribute to the bigger concern.
According to Taliek Lopez-DuBoff, ASUO speaker of the legislature, the proposed budget cut will not be final until Feb. 1.
“I have full optimism that we’re going to get through this with a contract, but I needed to be transparent because the threat was real and when I did that (alerted the Co-Op community of the threat) the message was, ‘This is time to rally and showcase how awesome we are,’” Jefferson said.
LTD’s Climate Action Policy Drives Sustainability
With electric buses and regular assessments, LTD aims to eliminate fossil fuel use by 2035
By Ceci Cronin City News Reporter
Five years ago, in 2020, the Lane Transit District agency’s board of directors adopted a climate action policy. The policy aims to address strategies that will eliminate greenhouse gas emissions produced by LTD by 2035. The policy contains short and long-term goals that are aimed at improving Eugene’s air quality.
According to LTD’s Public Information Officer, Anni Katz, “The board-adopted policy pushes further to reduce all emissions. LTD is working on our LongRange Mobility Plan right now, which will address GHG (GreenHouse Gas) emissions at the policy level.”
LTD’s Long-Range Mobility Plan is a series of steps that are being planned out and implemented over the course of the next 20 years in order to achieve “sustainable, equitable and accessible mobility solutions that meet the evolving needs of the community,” LTD’s website said.
The biggest point of the long-term goal was to have the complete eradication of fossil fuel use and fully utilize electric buses. Part of the short-term goal was to have 25 electric buses to replace 25 aging 40foot fossil fuel and hybrid buses by 2023.
Every three years, LTD performs an assessment of how their climate action policy is working and increasing sustainability in Eugene. The previous assessment occurred in 2022 so this year there will be a new assessment that will be released to the public.
The assessment in 2022 indicates that greenhouse gas emissions from LTD decreased by 52% between 2018 to 2022 making significant progress towards their goal of a 75% reduction by 2030.
Katz said that LTD is continuing to work toward their goal by utilizing an “independent third party.” Katz said. The use of Good Company (a division of Parametrix) has helped LTD maintain a truthful and unbiased report available to the public by conducting their GHG studies and assessments.
Additionally, the establishment of the Ad Hoc Sustainability Committee has helped LTD stick to accountability and progress toward its goals within its climate action policy.
The committee determined that the biggest factor in decreasing greenhouse gas emissions was increased ridership, which was reflected by their most recent assessment and emissions report.
“There is a ‘transit rider emission offset,’ which refers to the reduction in GHG emissions achieved by an individual when they choose to ride public transportation instead of driving their own car,” Katz said.
This “transit rider emission effect” has been the biggest influence on air quality from transportation in Eugene.
“The best opportunities for LTD to reduce GHG emissions is to focus on increasing ridership and reducing emissions from its fleet vehicles,” LTD’s climate action policy states.
University of Oregon student Ruby Knott highlighted the environmental benefits of using Eugene’s established bus system, emphasizing its role in promoting sustainability and reducing emissions.
“I am reducing my carbon footprint as well as reducing air pollution. With the amount of short distance trips I take, I am cutting back on an extraordinary amount of carbon emissions, as short distance car rides use more gas and therefore pollute more,” Knott said.
EmX bus arrives at the Walnut Station in Eugene.
(Alyssa Garcia/Emerald)
(BELOW) Eric Sutton, a Pre-K/K lead teacher at the Co-Op, begins reading a story to his class prior to snack time.
(Julia Massa/Emerald)
CAMPUS NEWS CITY NEWS
Sabai: A restaurant birthed from romance
Murff’s experience in design and media helped them find a location to open Sabai.
“I put together her whole business plan and everything, and she asked if I wanted to do it with her,” Murff said.
Murff was drawn to the restaurant industry by his love of cooking, inspired by his mother and late wife, who he said were both incredible cooks. Sabai has allowed Murff to combine his passions of storytelling and cooking. Today, he continues to seek out stories from within the restaurant.
“Each table is a story. Each table has a background,” Murff said. “It’s a stage in which we’re able to accommodate; there’s so many subplots going on.”
For Murff and Sutthiwari, their business partnership is part of their love story. Murff oversees the business’s logistics, from hiring servers to ingredients purchased at Sabai. Murff, being a soccer coach for While Murff brings the team together and acts as a “coach” for the restaurant, Sutthiwari ensures accuracy in every small detail, from presentation to the number of spices in a dish.
“We’re not trying to be the greatest restaurant in the world, our concentration is always being really good at what we do.
- Tim Murff Co-Owner of Sabai
“
Murff said a mutual love of food, teamwork, and hospitality is a big part of his and Sutthiwari’s working relationship.
“It’s really a very uncomplicated marriage,” Murff said. “When you throw in the fact that I’m a lot older than she is and she’s from Thailand, there’s all of that complication, but surprisingly, we’re on the same page a lot.”
Sabai’s dishes are influenced by countries along the Pacific Ocean, primarily Asia and the islands in that region. Sutthiwari’s Thai heritage from the
Isaan Valley in Northeastern Thailand also influences the cuisine.
“Food is really a bridge. Sometimes it’s your first experience of another culture,” Murff said.
Brooke Thalacker, a student at the University of Oregon, celebrated a friend’s birthday at Sabai. Thalacker said the menu included many quality dishes.
“The menu item you can’t stay away from is the pockets of love,” Thalacker said. “They’re some of the best crab rangoons I’ve ever had.”
Thai dishes combine lots of ingredients, so Sutthiwari thrives on being detail-oriented. The curries at Sabai use around 15 spices, and there are three chefs working entirely on prep work in the kitchen every day. Sabai’s red, green, and yellow curries can use up to 20 different dried chilies. On average, Sabai prepares 800 items daily.
Sabai channels attention to detail into every dish they prepare. Murff and Sutthiwari love their Vietnamese wings, but Murff explains that they are fabulous because they are done with the right technique.
“If they’re done too much, then the caramelization is kind of burnt,” Murff said. “There’s a very narrow window there.” The attention to detail allows guests to praise the bartenders and servers who provide warm service within Sabai. The owners harp on having tough love with their staff, saying that to be consistent, it takes being tough sometimes.
The owners harp on their commitment to consistency as what makes them unique.
‘Process and Projects’: The craft center’s newest exhibition
Showcasing emotional pieces and a variety of mediums, this one-month-long exhibition displayed everything the craft center has to offer
By Claire Coit Arts & Culture Writer
On the bottom floor of the Erb Memorial Union, sandwiched between study areas, lives a place chock full of creativity, passionate artists and free resources. Carrying the tagline “Immerse, Innovate, Inspire,” the Craft Center aims to provide students and community members with resources to create whatever they please, using a wide variety of mediums.
This January, the Craft Center released a new month-long exhibition on the third floor of the EMU. Entitled “Process and Projects,” the exhibition aimed to share artist’s creative processes along with their finished pieces. From glassblowing to embroidered mixed media pieces, the exhibition showcased many of the different mediums available at the craft center.
Within the center, there are multiple studios for different mediums, including darkroom photography, woodworking, glassworking, paper arts, printmaking, fiber arts, jewelry and metalsmithing, painting and drawing and ceramics.
Pflanz put together a large embroidery piece inspired by barn quilts. Barn quilts are large quilts that are customized to showcase a family’s history and displayed on the side of a barn.
Pflanz’s piece is all about family and natural landscapes. She started the piece right after her stepfather was diagnosed with brain cancer and worked on the piece for six months, finishing it the day after he passed away.
“When we came up with the idea for ‘Process and Projects,’ it really hit home for me because, throughout the process of making this piece, I was really processing what it means to be at home and to be with family,” Pflanz said. “It was a really important piece.”
The two family-inspired pieces by Salzman and Pflanz illustrate the craft center’s importance as a place of emotional expression, personal process and creation of meaningful products.
Murff says that the care they provide in service allows guests to focus on who they came to share their experience with.
“We’re trying to make all those transitions from the time you come in, to the time you go seamless,” Murff said. “So you can talk to your friend or partner, and you’re not thinking about it.”
Murff says that he and the entire team take a holistic approach to service by being consistent and offering affordable dishes. Sabai’s servers considering the whole restaurant system is what Murff says has guests admire the staff along with feeling satisfied with their meal.
While Sutthiwari focuses on perfecting the dishes, Murff’s design and film experience help to create a warm atmosphere at Sabai. The dining space is open, and the lights don’t crowd on top of each other. Murff’s favorite feature is the individual wood boards at the bar, which he says he framed like a picture. Murff’s passion for interior design led them to do a majority of the renovations themselves.
“We’re not trying to be the greatest restaurant in the world,” Murff said. “Our concentration is always being really good at what we do.”
By creating an environment where health and well-being thrive, Murff and Sutthiwari have kept Sabai successful for 14 years.
“It is a place to belong,” Jennifer Salzman, director of the craft center, said. “You don’t have to be good at anything in particular or defined by a major. You don’t have to be part of a team. You can simply come and be yourself and find where you want to be.”
Salzman created a piece for the exhibition herself, entitled “Peggy’s Life.” The embroidery and photography mixed media piece weaves common threads of the life of her recently deceased mother, Peggy, and her own. “Peggy’s Life” incorporates an embroidered poem and printed photography. Salzman created the piece to celebrate the life of her mother and to illustrate the connection they continue to have in their hearts.
“I don’t really look at it as a piece about grieving,” Salzman said. “I look at it as a piece about remembrance and love and continuing that connection even though she’s gone.”
Noelle Pflanz, administrative programming assistant in the craft center, created a similarly themed piece for the exhibition.
“Process and Projects” featured a variety of other pieces with differing ideas and mediums. A glass blown abstract lamp entitled “Fire Box” by Samuel Decker, prostaff member, stood out among the pieces featured. A colorful acrylic painting of a young woman sitting beneath the moon also caught eyes among the collection. Painted by Emerald Sky, a student staff member, the piece is entitled “A Love Letter to the Moon.”
The exhibition also included photos highlighting technical processes within the craft center, hence the name. Closeup photos of welding, embroidery, glass blowing and ceramics littered the walls in between the various art pieces.
The exhibition was intended to inspire students and community members to explore art in any way possible, whether through emotional expression or by trying out a skills workshop. Students of any major can visit the craft center during open hours and see what it has to offer.
A bartender at Sabai at work mixing drinks.
(Spencer So/Emerald)
(BELOW) Attendees gather to see the displayed art and enjoy free smoothies and sushi at the Process and Projects Exhibition in the Erb Memorial Union.
(Miles Cull/Emerald)
ARTS & CULTURE
Claire is an opinion columnist for the Daily Emerald. She is in her final year at UO, majoring in political science and comparative literature. Her work focuses on government, philosophy, and literature.
Political burnout is coming soon to people near you
I’m burnt out from politics, and many students are too, but what keeps me engaged is knowing that whether or not we pay attention, it affects us all in ways big and small
By Claire Nowicki Opinion Columnist
Political burnout is an inevitability in politics.
Just as presidential approval falls after an election as the hype and bulk of media coverage fades with every passing month, burnout is a common feeling and I sure feel it already.
Burnout stems from “us vs. them” media and fear-based news, which probably rings a bell, regardless of your political affiliation.
Psychology Today reports, “Fear drives us to consume political news, but too much fear leads to exhaustion and learned helplessness.”
Those words have never felt more true.
Part of this exhaustion comes from being in “information bubbles” where “it can feel like Fox News and MSNBC commentators are talking about Americas from two different planets.”
A 2022 Pew survey highlights how partisan animosity now clearly extends to judgments about character with 72% of Republicans and 63% of Democrats saying they believe members of the opposing party are more “immoral” than other Americans. People are frustrated by social media and the hostile environment created by partisan divides is wearing us down.
Riley Lynch, University of Oregon class of
2025, said, “Given the current state of the country I am truly so burnt out.”
She noted that in the day following the inauguration “the amount of devastating, scary and outright insane news that I have seen has been enough for a lifetime.”
“It’s hard to keep up on the news when it all just makes me feel so disheartened and like I don’t have a future. That combined with the constant political content around the election has me so tired of reading the news,” Lynch said.
Alex Freeman, a student at St. John’s University New York in the class of 2026, said, “I have political burnout since I was able to understand politics. Continuously watching and seeing misinformation, improper reporting and overall repetition of the same information for weeks on end can leave one feeling as if they have no bright side or future in sight.”
Freeman said that, “Whether Democrat or Re publican, our nation is built on a system that tells us to work together, but is set up to divide us.”
Grace Bambabate, a student at the University of Utah, class of 2027 said, “It wasn’t until my sophomore year of high school that I really got into politics and educated myself on the ins and outs of politics. So it hasn’t been that long that I’ve been into politics but I already feel burnt out.”
“It just feels like unless you are a part of the 1% your opinion doesn’t really matter. It doesn’t feel like the government has our best interest (in mind),” Bambabte said.
This is a common thread among students all over America. Elections are tiring and draining, and this is coming from a political science student.
Whether you are happy about the election or not, a weariness about politics will set in for most Americans after this wild, chaotic and emotion-fueled election comes to a close.
We can cope with and handle politics to the best of our ability, but ignoring it is not a remedy.
I’m not saying you must be hyperactive and constantly check the news. I don’t. However, being aware of the systematic changes happening in our democracy is still important.
Whether you agree or disagree with the changes to our democracy is not my point. Regardless of how you feel, it is undeniable that norms are being broken.
Even though we’re all tired of politics, politics will continue to affect you whether or not you pay attention.
Light therapy? Isn’t that a hoax?
I wrote off light therapy as a fad, but considering there is a clinic in Eugene, I felt it was my duty to confirm if it works or not. I must say after trying it, I’m a fan.
By Milly Gamlen Opinion Columnist
I’ve heard a lot about light therapy but wrote it off as a fad. I thought of it as a placebo, and an expensive one at that.
When I found out there was a place in Oregon that offers light therapy, I was hesitant. But after writing about Seasonal Affective Disorder and having Ashley Buonarroti, the owner of Nap Equity Meditation (NEM), reach out to me about her business’ approach to SAD, I was intrigued. Once I found out NEM was here in Eugene, I knew I had to try it out.
NEM uses a Somadome, a dome-shaped meditation pod which you sit in. Once inside, the dome is rather spacious. I was able to touch the top, but my arm was fully extended. After getting comfortable, you put on the headphones and
select which track you would like. Out of the four options available, I chose the motivate one and more specifically, the create track.
The machine utilizes sound and lights to transport you to a relaxed state. Despite my skepticism, I was pleasantly surprised. Not only was I incredibly tranquil the entire session, but so far afterwards, I feel more zen. I won’t say that I am a changed woman; I just feel more in tune with myself and what I need to get done.
NEM, which opened in June, is the only public Somadome in Oregon. When Buonarroti discovered there were no public Somadomes in Oregon, she decided, “I need to have this experience and living in the Pacific Northwest, everyone else does too.”
After having this experience, I think she’s right.
At NEM, the first session is free so you can test whether or not it is right for you. Sessions
are around 20 minutes and pricing ends up at around $25 per session with discounts available for students.
This is all great in theory, but do Somadomes actually have scientific standing?
While the combined practice of all the different aspects included in Somadomes have not yet recognition as a medical device, most of the individual components are scientifically proven; sound therapy has been proven to ease stress and anxiety, color therapy has been used throughout history to help soothe people and chakras have come up countless times throughout history as an important part of the body and mind.
In a land as cold and gloomy as Eugene, if there’s something that could make us feel better about the weather. Something that definitely won’t make us feel worse and it’s free to try, why not give it a shot?
Milly is a senior at UO majoring in Journalism with a minor in Sustainable
She has been writing for the opinion desk for three years and likes to write articles about drugs, politics, and societal issues.
Business.
(RIGHT) Protestors convine at the Wayne L. Morse U.S. Courthouse to be at the “We Fight Back” rally in Eugene. The protest started at 1 p.m. on Jan. 19, 2025. Many had signs displaying messages for their protests.
(FAR RIGHT) The Raging Grannies, a group of grandmothers from Eugene who sing to promote social and economic equality, attend the “We Fight Back” rally, adorned with signage and pins supporting their cause.
(Saj Sundaram/Emerald)
1 Prohibited by social custom
6 Collect over time 11 “WandaVision” actress Dennings 14 Hawaiian greeting 15 “It’s not just you” 16 Oral health org.
17 *Vintage spot for a bubble bath 19 Director Howard 20 London art gallery
21 Delta rival renamed in 1997
22 Picnic spot
23 “You really __ us down” 25 Channel changers
27 *Undertaking that could have a good or bad outcome
32 Festive night, often
33 Big name in sneakers
34 Tear conduits
37 Three __ salad: picnic staple with legumes
39 Works hard
42 “Pygmalion” playwright George Bernard __
43 “Star Wars” prequel series starring Diego Luna
45 Many a black-clad teen
47 __Clean: laundry brand
48 *House pet that oinks, familiarly
52 Expanse for clear sailing
54 Pt. of TGIF
55 Glass piece
56 Ruffle
59 Stately shade trees
63 List-shortening abbreviation
64 The “surf” of surf and turf, often, or what the first word of the answer to each starred clue can be
66 Outdoor gear co-op
67 With sincerity
68 Actress Davis with two Oscars
69 __-purpose flour
70 Passover meal
71 Money-grubber’s trait
1 Diplomatic skill
2 Penne __ vodka
3 Bathtub toy
4 “Can’t win ’em all”
5 Clumsy sort
6 Singer-songwriter Tori
7 Self-referential
8 Apparel
9 Turned bad, as milk 10 Weep audibly 11 Board-breaking move in a dojo
12 Be wild about 13 Sleeveless tops
18 Apparel
22 “Hocus __”: 1993 film featuring a trio of witches
24 Forever and a day
26 So-so, informally
27 Country star McEntire
28 Brick __ pizza
29 Writing instrument with an inapt name
30 Boxing ref’s ruling
31 “Firefly Lane” actress Katherine
35 Car for hire
36 Gulp from a bottle
38 “... said __ ever”
40 Texter’s giggle
Sudoku
41 Suppress, as a yawn
44 Some NFL blockers: Abbr.
46 She/__ pronouns 49 “__ I forget ... ”
50 Tiny headphone
Weight watcher
Verdi composition
“Lion” Oscar nominee Dev
__ of Wight
58 Space travel meas.
60 After curfew
61 Tiny arachnid
62 Iditarod vehicle
64 Mil. officers
65 Biopic about a Supreme Court justice
No. 16 Oregon drops secondstraight 78-52 at UCLA
The Ducks’ offense stagnated for the majority of their blowout loss Thursday night in Los Angeles
Acrobatics and Tumbling: What you need to know from the first NCATA poll release
Athlete of the Week: TJ Bamba
As the No. 16 Ducks move into the last month of conference play, senior TJ Bamba has been a standout performer in Oregon’s most recent contests
By Jack Lazarus Sports Associate Editor
“I feel like I’m the best defensive player in the Big Ten,” Oregon men’s basketball senior guard TJ Bamba said after the No. 16 Ducks’ 82-71 win over Washington.
Bamba grabbed four steals in that game, and his 21 points proved key in Oregon’s win. Bamba faced struggles on the offensive end, and has averaged a relatively subpar 10.4 points per game through Oregon’s 20 games.
“I’m a confident person; I know who I am. I just needed to get back to that. My teammates and coaches have been encouraging me,” Bamba said.
Bamba continued dominating by adding 15 points in the Ducks’ close loss at Minnesota, and also added two steals.
“I just try to be that spark wherever I can. I haven’t been at my best offensively, so on defense I am trying to go above and beyond and be that for the team, whatever we need,” Bamba said.
The Washington game was Bamba’s
highest point total since Nov. 27 and has only scored more than 10 points once in that stretch. Bamba’s resurgence came as a sur prise, as the Ducks chose to rely on different scorers while he struggled.
But, as Oregon’s primary scorers failed to produce against the Huskies, Bamba found himself with chances to step up in their stead.
“I just seen the way (the defense) was guarding me from three; it was mad disre spectful. So I said ‘Yeah it’s over; I’m snap ping out of this.’ As a hooper it’s just com petitiveness,” Bamba said.
Over this last stretch of games, Bamba became the most important defender on the team, especially due to Oregon’s last three opponents all relying heavily on the 3-pointer for offense.
Bamba’s perimeter defense showed up all season long, but the senior finally demon strated enough offense to match, which can make him one of the Ducks’ most lethal weapons. As the season progresses into its most important stages, Bamba’s resurgence as an offensive force is coming at the perfect time for Oregon.
As the Ducks move into the last month of the regular season, they will relish the resur gence of one of their most experienced and dominant players.
WEDNESDAY
Feb. 5, 2025
Oregon vs. Michigan State
Softball — talented roster expected to propel Ducks forward
Oregon is relying on some faces new and old in 2025
By Joe Krasnowski Sports Reporter
By removing a key piece from its past puzzle this offseason, Oregon softball might have made its roster picture somewhat clearer.
Out is Stevie Hansen, the homegrown former ace who, after a turbulent year, transferred to Washington.
In her contribution, head coach Melyssa Lombardi dipped into the transfer portal to solidify her roster’s holes, adding three players from other schools to combat players leaving. Seven seniors from last season graduated, including both Raegan Breedlove and Morgan
talent. I’ve learned so much from Taylour, Elise, Staci and Rowan… we all just want to make each other better.”
Grein, who was a big contributor in a loaded Atlantic Coast Conference last season, is particularly expected to shine.
“I think we are really going to take on anything that’s thrown at us,” Grein said. “I’m really excited to travel to some new places and compete.”
( ABOVE) TJ Bamba (5) layups it up, The Oregon Ducks mens basketball team takes on the Oregon State Bea vers on Nov. 21, 2024 in Gill Coliseum in Corvallis.
(Darby Winter/Emerald)
( BELOW ) Taylour Spencer (19) waiting for the next inning to begin. The Oregon Softball team came out on top in their second game against Maryland 4-2 in the Jane Sanders Classic hosted in Eugene on March 2, 2024, at Jane Sanders Stadium.
(Alyssa Garcia/Emerald)
Read story at dailyemerald.com
Read story at dailyemerald.com
