2-26-24 Emerald Media Group - ODE

Following an influx of artificial intelligence use, students, faculty and staff at the Student Advocacy Program express their thoughts toward the effects of AI

HEARTH & TABLE: PROVIDNG FREE STUDENT MEALS, ACCESSIBLE COOKING EDUCATION

“When you move away from home and can still come to a space where the table is set for you and there’s hot food on the table, it means a lot to students.” - Chef Josef-Maier Claire and her husband began Hearth and Table in 2018 in response to the high level of food insecurity seen on the University of Oregon campus.

& TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Anna Smith X327 creative@dailyemerald.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Lola Tagwerker

Cori Caplinger

Cooper Gast Taylor Baumgardner

ON THE COVER Students snack and study in the EMU Fishbowl. The Student Advocacy Program picks up speed as finals near.

(Eddie Bruning/Emerald)

Hearth and Table provides both eat in and take out options. While the volunteers encourage students to come and eat in and meet each other, they understand that this might not be feasible for everyone. Take away boxes are available at 6:45 p.m. every Thursday at 1857 Potter Street.

Prior to the creation of Hearth and Table, the main food pantry available for students was located in a one car garage on 19th Ave. Claire believed that she could do more to provide food for the student body. With the help of Food for Lane County and Central Lutheran Church, Claire and her husband were able to set up the program. Inspired by her husband’s time as a chef in a community kitchen in Seattle, Claire decided that this new program would allow students to not only eat, but learn how to cook with limited resources.

Hearth and Table is an opportunity for students to recive a free, hot meal every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. to either eat at Central Lutheran Church or take away to eat at home.

IN OTHER NEWS

UO’s Interfraternity Council suspended all social events involving alcohol through April 15 after allegations of nonconsensual substance intake. Two fraternities, Delta Sigma Phi and Phi Delta Theta, have been placed on interim suspension.

UO Students for Justice in Palestine held a walkout and die-in on Feb. 21 to protest the killing of Palestinian civilians in the Israel-Hamas war.

We want to hear from you:

(Romie Avivi Stuhl/Emerald)

(Eric Becker/Emerald)

Photos by Lulu Devoulin/ Emerald

FAFSA ROLLOUT DELAY STRAINS STUDENTS APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID

A delay in financial aid information from the Department of Education to universities across the country has created a time crunch for universities putting together financial aid packages for prospective students

BY REILLY NORGREN • DESIGNED BY GABRIELA MARTINEZ

The University of Oregon is extending its confirmation deadline from May 1 to June 1 for students choosing their college this fall, and extending the priority Free Application for Federal Student Aid filing date from March 1 to April 1 for all students.

On Thursday the university announced the extension. Universities across the western United States, including the California State University System and the University of Idaho are also extending their deadlines to ease the decision process for students.

UO communications told the Emerald that there is no indication the university would be waiting on records from the Department of Education until the end of spring term — when grades are reviewed and packages are built for current students.

In January the United States Department of Education notified universities that it would be unable to forward students’ financial aid information until early March.

This delay is due in part to the calculations for the Student Aid Index, the formula from which aid amount is decided, needing to be adjusted for inflation. This made an additional $1.8 billion in federal aid available to students.

UO typically receives financial aid information from the FAFSA shortly after the form becomes available to students, typically on Oct. 1. In 2023, the form was delayed until Dec. 31.

Jim Brooks, UO director of student financial aid and scholarships, said the delay was due to an overhaul of the FAFSA form in order to make it simpler for students to complete.

In a typical year, the FAFSA

being available in October gives a university’s financial aid department time to process information, analyze data and help students who are having issues with their FAFSA form.

The timespan between the usual October rollout and decision day in May also allows the UO Financial Aid Department to prepare to start building financial aid packages shortly after the UO Board of Trustees sets tuition during their meetings on March 11 and 12.

“[The Department of Education] has said they will send the information by March 15,” Brooks

said. “So that slows us down.”

Brooks said that the largest concern is with current high school seniors who need to make a decision on which university they will attend in the fall. The high schoolers will get late information regarding financial aid offers they may receive, which could have an impact on the university they commit to.

Students already attending a university will not be affected by the delay unless their financial data is not sent by March 15, according to Brooks. Current students may experience a lag in receiving financial aid offers if they had problems filing their FAFSA, or if information on their form needs to be verified.

“If the department meets their deadline our hope is that by early April we are pushing [financial aid packages] out,” Brooks said.

Destanie Olson, a UO freshman, said that receiving a financial aid offer from UO with plenty of time to spare before decision day helped her decide to attend the university.

“The thought of having to wait any longer because the information is delayed is stressful,” Olson said. “I can’t imagine being a senior in high school and having to wait even longer for my financial aid package.”

Olson is a Pathway Oregon scholarship student, who receives fully funded tuition and fees. She said that if the delay were to postpone her receiving a financial aid package for the 2024-2025 academic year, she’d be concerned about her financial stability.

Brooks said it is important that students continue to fill out their FAFSA. Despite the delay in receiving FAFSA information, Brooks said UO’s financial aid department has heard from students that the change in the form has made it easier and faster for them to complete.

(Stella Fetherston/Emerald)

(Noa Schwartz/Emerald)

As an athletic powerhouse, it’s no surprise that athleisure is everywhere at UO. It’s ideal for a visit to the Rec or hungover coffee trips, but deep down, I can’t help but feel frustrated when I see 80% of my classmates solely wearing sweatpants in lectures.

After a brief exploration of clothing’s role in the classroom, I’ve cemented my belief that we should “dress up” for class and the day in general. Our dependence on leisure wear perpetuates a passive approach to life and academics, one that deprives academics of the level of respect that we deserve.

In wearing semi-professional clothing, students contribute to an academic environment that takes itself seriously and pays respect to the people and level of thinking exhibited.

UO’s first-year French supervisor Connie Dickey elaborated on this concept.

“Clothing affects how people perceive you and how they treat you. That’s why I think it’s important to dress professionally as a teacher,” Dickey said. “I believe that I am owed respect as a professor and that I owe my students respect. People who don’t dress appropriately make it difficult for other students and their teacher to interact with them.”

Hope Williams, a UO first-year student, shared her perspective on the sweats debate.

“If I’m wearing pajamas to class, I either have to do laundry or just want to be extra comfy that day. It has nothing to do with respect,” Williams said.

At the same time, dressing casually

STOP WEARING SWEATS TO CLASS

BY GRACIE COX • DESIGNED BY ADALEAH CARMAN

OPINION: ATHLEISURE HAS NO PLACE IN ACADEMIA

contributes to an overall passive approach to education. If you don’t care enough about your classes to put on real clothes, it’s debatable whether you truly value your access to higher education.

“When I see students dressing professionally, the level of discussion and interaction amongst peers and between teachers and students is at a higher level. Students are better able to discuss serious topics and find it enriching compared to a casual atmosphere,” Dickey said.

There’s a psychological basis behind this association. As described in their paper titled “The Impact of Student Outfit Choice on Class Participation,” North Carolina State University students Emily Law and Cynthia Istook conducted an experiment in which students were instructed to dress either casually or professionally and subsequently observed their behavior. The study found that “there was a noticeable difference in participation depending on what students wore during class. On the day students were directed to wear leisurewear, participation was extremely lacking.”

Beyond the classroom, clothing serves as an essential form of self-expression. By defaulting to the same sweatsuit and tennis shoes, we miss out on the opportunity to further develop our sense of style and identity.

This brings me to another irking aspect of athleisure: In all of its boring glory, it overshadows its culturally relevant counterpart in streetwear. As described by Medium, streetwear is “a style born in the heart of urban

landscapes … It’s a blend of hip-hop fashion, punk and sportswear elements, evolving with each subculture it touches.”

In contrast, athleisure blends athletic wear with the comfort of everyday sweats. In my eyes, it serves as a gentrification of streetwear, watering it down to unoriginal patterns with an emphasis on branding. It lacks the attention to detail and expressiveness of streetwear but has overtaken it in popularity as our culture becomes more and more health-obsessed.

I understand the convenience of being able to leave class and work out immediately after, but in reality, how often does this truly happen? Additionally, is it worth sacrificing academic seriousness and individualism all for the sake of comfort?

At times, this exchange is worth it, but I wholeheartedly believe that the majority of people would benefit from altering their perspective on clothing. I, for one, have made an effort to consistently “dress for class” this quarter, and I’ve only missed my sweats a handful of times.

Sweats are beloved for a good reason, and I don’t expect or want anybody to give them up entirely. However, when you have the time and energy, try to make an effort in your choice of clothing. When you look good, you feel good, and I sincerely believe that what you wear changes your outlook on life. And for the sake of us all, give that White Fox hoodie a break.

STUDENT ADVOCACY PROGRAM ADDRESSES ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT

The Student Advocacy Program has seen UO students seeking guidance on academic misconduct disputes for plagiarism due to AI

BY YSABELLA SOSA • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART

UO faculty and students are navigating through the challenges of the “current technology” of campus — artificial intelligence. Many UO faculty and students believe that AI can be “beneficial,” while the Student Advocacy Program has seen an influx of false academic misconduct reports due to AI.

The Student Advocacy Program assists UO students on issues with the university and guides students through UO’s processes. The SAP provides navigation through two branches of services: peer-to-peer advocacy and attorney services.

“It’s really confusing being a college student,” SAP Coordinator Savannah Olsen said. “We are the place to go anytime you get snagged.”

SAP peer advocates are intended to provide a clear understanding of UO’s procedures. Peer advocates also use their expertise to help locate a variety of resources for students.

“Our peer advocates are kind of our resource navigation hub,” Olsen said. “They are campus experts for higher level concerns where students are either really upset or are going to face longer term issues with higher with more major implications.”

SAP attorney Kristi Patrickus equips students

with a variety of assistance including legal counsel and direct support to students involved in UO’s processes.

“Kristi helps with longer term issues that can look like really serious conduct cases,” Olsen said. “They can also look like the kind of issues where you’ve just hit a wall and you can’t do it by yourself anymore.”

Students utilize SAP for a variety of reasons including getting an understanding on how to handle conduct violations, grading issues and housing disputes.

According to Olsen, plagiarism is amongst the most popular issues that SAP assists students on, ever since the Student Conduct Code was updated on Sept. 22, 2023. The modification removed the faculty resolution option of allowing the opportunity to resolve academic misconduct concerns without the need of consulting the Student Conduct and Community Standards for resolution options beforehand.

“Plagiarism is a big one that we see here is one of the biggest issues we’re seeing on campus right now because the academic misconduct process just changed,” Olsen said. Olsen also said that instructors would handle the former process in an “informal way,” including pressuring students

to accept responsibility and offering inconsistent consequences.

“They’re accusing students but they aren’t following the rules that they’re supposed to follow,” Olsen said.

The current SCC requires the direct involvement of the SCCS where a grade penalty may be a result of a violation. Faculty are to retain the ability to informally resolve any misconduct concerns and are encouraged to discuss resolution options with the SCCS.

Following the change of policy, SAP has continued to see “instructors still handling things in that informal way and still leaving that level of inconsistency,” Olsen said.

According to Olsen, the usage of AI is a factor in related academic misconduct reports, since error detections tools aren’t a reliable source.

“We’re absolutely seeing AI-related misconduct and we’re absolutely seeing accusations that aren’t AI academic misconduct, but students are being accused,” Olsen said. “AI detection tools aren’t very good and they don’t give you good information about whether a student is using AI.”

The current SCC advised faculty to not use AI detection tools, including TurnItIn or GPTZero, due to concerns that they may not be effective and

UO students compare answers. The Student Advocacy Program picks up ahead of finals in Eugene, Ore., on Feb. 21, 2024. (Eddie Bruning/Emerald)

can result in false positives.

“It’s really difficult to tell if the student did do the work or didn’t do the work. It’s really difficult to tell to what extent they’re using [AI],” Olsen said. “The error detection tools cannot really tell if you’re using them or not.”

Olsen highlights how it’s important for professionals to educate themselves on how to use AI since AI is now part of the current technology.

“It’s important you understand how to use them [AI] well and how to use them in ways that are generating products that are unique and are valuable to the thing that you’re being asked to create,” Olsen said. “Academia would be making a mistake if we [professionals] tried to ignore that that is now a part of our lexicon of technology.”

Associate Vice Provost for Teaching Engagement Lee Rumbarger is the director of UO’s Teaching Engagement Program, and assists with leading a group of faculty known as the AI Community Accelerating the Impact of Teaching to discuss the multitude of approaches that faculty can adopt to address AI in their classrooms.

“[What] I’m doing is trying to create opportunities for faculty to engage with these [AI] tools and see what their [AI tools] capacities are, and to talk to each other,” Rumbarger said.

According to Rumbarger, it would not make sense to have a “one size fits all” policy on AI that each professor has to abide by, since each faculty has different goals for their classes. Therefore, it is “important for every member of the faculty to be clear with students about what the policies are in their own class.”

The Office of the Provost Teaching Support and Innovation provides a variety of resources that help faculty members navigate AI into their syllabus and class discussions, including AI prompts for teaching.

Rumbarger acknowledges the challenges that students may face when navigating the different kinds of regulations that each professor has on AI.

“The hardest for students is to go from one class where it’s like, ‘it’s a hard no’ to another class where it’s ‘absolutely part of our field,’ now to a third class that’s ‘somewhere in the middle,’” Rumbarger said.

Therefore, Rumbarger hopes that the university will establish a clear understanding of how AI should be used in the classrooms to help prevent confusion and challenges amongst students.

“It’s good that people have different perspectives [on AI], and it’s good if those perspectives are grounded and what people are trying to teach, but it’s really unfortunate if we’re not understanding of what it’s like for students to navigate those different kinds of spaces.” Rumbarger said.

Rumbarger is optimistic about the future of AI since faculty members have found “remarkably creative-ways to think about it [AI] and to bring it [AI] into the classroom.”

SOJC instructor Justin Francese allows the usage of AI for preliminary research and upholds the academic misconduct ruling on plagiarism. Francese has not permitted students to cite AI as a source for past assignments and will continue to follow through with its regulation.

Francese said that departments need to be more

educated on AI for the better interest of students.

“The more that we can incorporate those [education] into our own teacher training, the better, [and] more effective we can be at teaching the tools,” Francese said. “I think that to do what we do best, which is serve students’ career goals and learning goals, we can’t ignore [AI].”

Francese also said that

“it’s a good idea to assign the use of the tools in certain contexts because not only can students learn the tools [and] techniques of the technology, [but] how to use it [AI] for what the best practices are.” for research, for professional writing, or for grammar checking. Teaching those uses is, of course, important as long as a faculty member know[s] what the best practices are.”

Good thing we still have Ramaswamy!...I mean...good thing we have Pence!...wait... (Griffin Bailey/Emerald)

COVER EDITORIAL CARTOON BY GRIFFIN BAILEY

help us generate ideas or reorganize something. It was interesting,” McArthur said.

Francese and his team of graduate assistants first use their personal instincts as a strategy to help detect plagiarism.

“We can double check our intuition by using the freely available AI checkers that are there and copy and paste students’ work into those and just to see,” Francese said.

However, Francese said that he would not use the results of the error detections tools as a definitive answer.

“I’m not going to assume that students are using or cheating first, just because the tool is there, while at the same time recognizing that this is a new tool to cheat and along with all the others that are there,” Francese said. “That’s why we always reach out right first and then talk to them.”

Additionally, Francese said that AI tools like ChatGPT have not caused an influx of academic misconduct in his classes.

Many UO students have said that their professors have encouraged students to use AI for academic reasons.

In UO student Jack McArthur’s J462 Reporting II class, SOJC instructor Mark Furman allowed the usage of an AI tool to help generate ideas for a class assignment.

“He had us use some sort of other AI. It was to

McArthur believes that professors are allowing the use of AI because “in general, teachers were just as curious as students about it and they’re still trying to learn how to use it and they’re trying to learn how to limit it.”

However, McArthur said that professors may be increasing the amount of claims against students using AI because “they’re so sick of students not doing their work.” Therefore, professors should “limit it or not let it get out of control.”

Similarly, UO students Josef Pellegrini, Emilie Mendoza and Ethan Cupper said that they all think it’s a good idea to allow students to use AI.

“I think it’s a great tool,” Pellegrini said. “As long as you’re really turning in your own work and not turn in your work that AI did for you, then there’s no issue and using AI in your work.”

“It’s a good tool to help you,” Cupper said. “It helps you find the research that you need.”

“I think if you use it wisely… to give you a little sense of writing outlines and helping you in areas like that, then yeah,” Mendoza said.

Cupper said that his professor allowed students the opportunity to use AI if they cited AI as a source.

McArthur and Mendoza agreed that they’re not worried of being accused of plagiarism since they’re assignments have always been authentic.

“Overall, if students can utilize it properly, then it can be beneficial,” McArthur said.

A TALKING HEADS TRIBUTE ALBUM? BUCKLE UP, FOLKS

BY CADEN TRAW DESIGNED BY EVA ANDREWS

What to (and what not to) look forward to on the upcoming A24 tribute album, “Everyone’s Getting Involved.”

Talking Heads is a band that has left a generational legacy. Dating back to the late 1970s with its debut album “Talking Heads: 77,” the instantly infectious and unorthodox grooves led by vocalist David Byrne’s eccentric scatting make for a listen you won’t find anywhere else. The rerelease of its 1984 concert film “Stop Making Sense” into theaters in the summer of 2023 was a smash hit, receiving consensus critical acclaim. A24 has decided to take it up a notch, announcing its tribute album “Everyone’s Getting Involved,” containing sixteen songs from sixteen different artists. This should be interesting.

The lineup includes the following: Miley Cyrus, Lorde, Paramore, girl in red, The National, Teezo Touchdown, Kevin Abstract, BADBADNOTGOOD, Toro y Moi, Blondshell, DJ Tunez, Jean Dawson, Chicano Batman, The Linda Lindas, El Mató and The Cavemen. If your first reaction was to close your eyes, shake your head and reread the list, that is completely normal. I did the exact same thing.

There is so much to digest here. I think incorporating a wide variety of artists, not just in terms of genre but popularity, is a stroke of genius. With A24 being the media conglomerate it is, producing an album full of household names as well as up-and-comers feels like a perfect recipe for success. Ranging from Miley Cyrus’ power-pop to Teezo Touchdown’s offcenter hip-hop to DJ Tunez’s easygoing Afropop, this project is destined to zigzag back and forth between soundscapes. Byrne and Co. wouldn’t have it any other way.

The first single for the album was released in late January, which was Paramore’s rendition of “Burning Down the House.” The remix finds Paramore seamlessly incorporating elements of the original with sprinkles of their own punk-based touch. The buoyant 80s-style synths as well as the echoey and punchy yet subdued drum beats are still at the forefront, and lead vocalist Hayley Williams makes her best attempt at replicating the grimy scat that Byrne mastered. While it is catchy and is a valiant effort at recreating the magic of this song, it just doesn’t strike the same chord with me that the original does. However, this release left me feeling relatively hopeful for what’s to come with the rest of the album.

Let’s get into some of the artists I’m most certainly looking forward to hearing on this. The first artist that came to mind immediately was BADBADNOTGOOD. Something that both Talking Heads and BADBADNOTGOOD do exceptionally well is assimilate polyrhythmic textures into their music. One example of this polyrhythmic expertise

can be found in their collaboration with KAYTRANADA called “Lavender.” Although the track is merely an instrumental, it showcases the band’s ability to incorporate an interesting array of sounds and still make it palatable. While they approach these polyrhythms quite differently, I believe BADBADNOTGOOD’s tenured experience in this repertoire makes them a prime candidate to put something out of high quality.

Another artist that I have high hopes for is Chicano Batman. I was both genuinely shocked and unequivocally thrilled to see them on the feature list, as I think they are undoubtedly one of the most underrated bands on the scene right now. They incorporate elements of funk, R&B and classic rock with overtly political lyrics. Like BADBADNOTGOOD, they also excel at polyrhythmic soundscapes, but the element of theirs that I’m most excited to hear in a Talking Heads format is lead singer Bardo Martinez’s voice. Martinez offers a balanced mix of baritone croons and a silky-smooth falsetto, a blend that I think will fit in uniquely well with the Talking Heads-style soundscapes I’d assume we’ll hear. Consider this a ringing endorsement of Chicano Batman as a whole.

Now, unfortunately, on to the artist that I could live without on a project like this. The first artist that I’m not looking forward to hearing on this is, sadly, The National. I’ve been on the record with the Daily Emerald before stating my unwavering love for them, but I just can’t imagine them producing a song that would fit into this style. Sure, they have (in my opinion) one of the greatest drummers of all time and a lead vocalist who could potentially match the shouted delivery of Byrne, but they’ve spent the past decade venturing deeper and deeper into lush, indie-pop territory. Many people call The National “sad dad” music, which couldn’t be more different than what Talking Heads is known for. It crushes my soul to say this, but I would be surprised if The National delivered a high-quality cover.

With all of this being said, nothing I said here is the universal truth. BADBADNOTGOOD and Chicano Batman could put out shameful duds, while The National could create the greatest cover in the history of mankind. You never know. But given my experience consuming all three of these bands at a higher rate than most, I feel reasonably confident that my predictions will come to light.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

This week’s picks...

MEN’S BASKETBALL VERSUS OREGON STATE (2/28)

The Ducks are up against the Beavers this Wednesday at 8 p.m. Head down to Matthew Knight Arena and see the rivals battle it out! Ticket prices start at $10.

TRIVIA IN THE EMU: SHREK (2/28)

Test out your knowledge about our favorite ogre this Wednesday! It’s all about Shrek and his enchanting swamp. Held in the EMU from 6:30 to 8 p.m., come solo or bring your friends. See you there!

CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 “Golly!”

5 Infuriated with 10 Light on one’s feet

14 “It’s __ you”: “You decide”

15 Justice Kagan of the Supreme Court

16 Metals from a mine

17 “Jeopardy!” creator Griffin

18 Piccata ingredient

19 Christmas song

20 “Focus on the future now”

23 Top-notch

24 “__ you listening?”

25 “Never in a million years!”

31 Barely lit

34 Makes cursed

35 Some clip-on accessories

36 Game with Skip and Reverse cards

37 “Need You Tonight” band

38 Cover story

40 Pakistani language

41 Theater sign on a busy night

42 Shortly

43 “Delta of Venus” author Nin

44 Family

45 Easy to set up, as a computer

48 Deg. for an exec

50 Went by bike

51 Equestrian transport vehicles, and what the last words of 20-, 25-, and 45-Across can be

57 Desert in southern Mongolia

58 Clueless gamers

59 Go first

61 Surrounded by 62 Connecticut Ivy Leaguer

63 Spanish “she”

64 Brazilian soccer legend

65 Book of maps

66 Like purple hair

DOWN

1 Bubble blower’s mouthful

2 Go first

3 Houston MLBer

4 Rush-hour traffic conveniences

5 Christopher of “Law & Order: SVU”

6 Pub barrel

7 “Cool for the Summer” singer Lovato

8 “We don’t know who wrote this” abbreviation

9 Cranberry juice quality

10 Sunken ship finder

11 Many a TV crime drama

12 Assault the nose

13 Fashion monogram

21 Unwelcome word from a barber

22 Large coastal inlets

25 Batter blender

26 “Three Bathers” painter Matisse

SUDOKU

27 S&P 100 company that’s a descendant of Standard Oil

28 On-the-job risk for a beekeeper

29 White lie

30 Sweet-smelling garland

32 Nepal neighbor

33 Hardly assertive

38 Email pioneer

39 Baseball Hall of Famer Gehrig

40 Still having a rind

42 Health resorts

43 Not incl.

46 Saudi __

47 Beeps and peeps

49 Wedding bouquet tosser

51 Base runner’s goal

52 Irish New Age singer

53 Precisely

54 Tootsie __

55 Depend (on)

56 Cyber Monday event

57 Generation __

60 Family guy

FORMER DUCKS MAKING A SPLASH IN INAUGURAL PRO VOLLEYBALL FEDERATION SEASON

Many former Oregon players have found their way onto rosters in the new league

BY JOE MOORE • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART

The Oregon Ducks volleyball team had an incredible season, earning a No. 2 seed in the 2023 NCAA volleyball tournament. Oregon’s season ended after making it to the final eight teams, losing to the Wisconsin Badgers 3-1. For a team that boasted six seniors, in past years that meant the end of the line for many of those players. However, with the new Pro Volleyball Federation, these seniors were able to enter their names in the first-ever draft for that league.

All six Duck seniors were drafted in the seven-team, five-round draft. The first former Oregon player off the board was setter Hannah Pukis, who was selected third overall. The second round saw libero Georgia Murphy taken with the third pick of the round and 10th pick overall. Gabby Gonzales was taken with the fifth pick in the round and 12th pick overall. With the second pick in the third round, Morgan Lewis was taken. The fourth round saw Kara McGhee and Karson Bacon taken with the second and sixth picks of the penultimate round.

Since the draft, McGhee has been waived by the Atlanta Vibe before appearing in a game for them. So far Pukis has not appeared in a game for the Las Vegas Thrill as she is trying to earn playing time behind two other setters on her team. Bacon has also not made an appearance for the San Diego Mojo.

The inaugural season for the PVF has just begun, but some Ducks are already making big impacts for their teams. Gonzales and Murphy have both appeared in every game that their respective teams have played this season. Gonzales, who plays for the Thrill, has accumulated 35 points in her 15 sets so far this season, with an efficient .28 kill percentage. Murphy, who is a member of the Orlando

Valkyries, has appeared in 22 sets so far this season and has recorded 80 total receptions on the year, while totaling just four errors in her time on the court.

Lewis is the other recent Oregon graduate to appear in a game for her team, the San Diego Mojo. She has appeared in just four sets so far this season, but when she has been on the court she has excelled. In her four sets, she has already totaled 14 kills on an incredible .44 kill percentage.

Despite the success of some of the former Ducks, the Thrill, Valkyries and Mojo sit fourth, fifth and seventh in the standings of the seven-team league. Despite these teams not finding success so far this season, the PVF season is 24 games long, and the amount of games played for each team ranges from just two to six games. There are still plenty of games remaining in the season for Gonzales, Murphy, Lewis, Pukis and Bacon to help their teams move up the standings.

There are also a couple of other former Oregon players from the last decade that have made their way onto rosters in the PVF. Lindsey Vander Weide, who played for Oregon from 2015 to 2018, Ronika Stone, who was a Duck from 2016 to 2019 and August Raskie, who played in Eugene from 2015 to 2018, all joined Lewis on the San Diego Mojo. Brooke Nuneviller, who played for Oregon from 2018 to 2022, represents the Ducks as a member of the Omaha Supernovas.

Vander Weide and Raskie have been given somewhat limited roles so far in their PVF careers, but their teammate Stone has had a great start to her career. She has recorded 20 kills on a .49 kill percentage and added four blocks. The Mojo lost all nine of their sets so far this season, but Stone and Lewis have been excellent in their roles.

Nuneviller has appeared in six of the Supernovas’ seven games so far this season.

She has recorded 81 kills with a kill percentage of .33 so far this season. Omaha is the highest-ranked team to feature a former Duck on its roster, with the team currently boasting a 4-3 record and sitting third in the league.

The PVF is an important step for the sport of volleyball in the United States. There are only seven teams in the league in its first season, which leads to a lot of talented players being forced to watch from the bench, including Pukis. However, increased growth from the league and fanbase may lead to expansion in the future which could allow more players to get on the court.

from top to bottom:

• Georgia Murphy (10) celebrates after a point vs USC. Oregon volleyball take on University of Southern California at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore., on Nov. 21, 2023. (Eddie Bruning/Emerald)

• Gabby Gonzales (8) reaches out to pass the ball. The University of Oregon Ducks volleyball team defeated the Oregon State Beavers in a home match at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon, on Sept. 22, 2023. (Eric Becker/ Emerald)

• Gabby Gonzales (8) celebrates a point. Oregon volleyball take on the University of Hawaii at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore., on Dec. 1, 2023. (Eddie Bruning/Emerald)

RANKING THE JOB SECURITY OF OREGON’S HEAD COACHES

BY JOE KRASNOWSKI

Job security in college athletics can be fickle. The University of Oregon is no different with constant turnover and internal demand for success. With that in mind, the Daily Emerald has composed a list ranking the job security of the Ducks’ 14 head coaches by taking into account past and current successes.

COMPLETELY SAFE

Dan Lanning — football

Recently doubling down on his commitment to the Ducks, Lanning has seen immense success, leading Oregon to a 12-win season and a Pac-12 championship berth in 2023. With an incoming top five recruiting class according to 247Sports, Lanning’s program looks to remain a national powerhouse for years to come.

Matt Ulmer — volleyball

With back-to-back runs to the Elite 8, Ulmer has cemented the Ducks as a nationally regarded volleyball school that looks to compete in the Big Ten and beyond.

Casey Martin — men’s golf

Now in his 18th season as a head coach in Eugene, Martin has led Oregon to 11 NCAA championship appearances, including the 2016 NCAA title.

Melyssa Lombardi — softball

With the Ducks ranked at No. 13 in USA Today’s top 25 softball rankings, Lombardi’s Ducks, which features nine seniors, are primed to perform in 2024. Last year’s run to the Super Regionals has cemented Lombardi’s status as a premier coach in college softball.

Mark Wasikowski — baseball

On the heels of a Pac-12 championship and Super Regional appearance, Wasikowski’s Ducks have emerged as a premier

How safe are Oregon’s bench bosses?

contender in a talented Pac-12. Although a youth infusion may hinder the Ducks’ success in 2024, Wasikowski will continue to lead the Ducks into the Big Ten and beyond.

Nils Schyllander — men’s tennis

Posting a 228-164 record, Schyllander is the second Ducks tennis coach to reach over 100 wins.

Jerry Schumacher — cross country/ track and field

Leading Oregon’s women’s cross country to back-to-back Pac-12 Championships, Schumacher has been instrumental in the Ducks being established as a mens and womens cross-country and trackand-field powerhouse recruiting the nations top athletes.

Taylor Susnara — acrobatics and tumbling

Named head coach after the 2021 season, Susnara guided Oregon back to the NCATA National Championship in 2023.

SAFE FOR NOW

Dana Altman — men’s basketball

Under contract through 2026, Altman has led Oregon to seven NCAA tournaments and one FinalFour appearance in his 16 years in charge. Although failing to make the tournament the past two years, a youth infusion and positive showing in 2023 will likely keep Altman in Eugene for as long as he desires.

Jessica Drummond — lacrosse

Recently named head coach in 2023, Drummond will be at the helm for the Ducks this season and beyond as the Ducks enter a highly competitive Big Ten conference in 2024.

Derek Radley — women’s golf

Recently extended through the 20242025 season, Radley led the Ducks to a Pac-12 championship in 2022.

TOO EARLY TO TELL

Jason Dillard — beach volleyball

After leading the Ducks to a program-record 14 wins in 2022, Dillard will look to continue the revitalization of a program that has struggled mightily against West Coast powerhouses, going just 1-11 in conference play during his tenure. The program has made news in recent months for its Title IX lawsuit against the university — which does not implicate Dillard — accusing UO of “depriving women of equal treatment and benefits.”

NEEDS TO PERFORM SOON

Kelly Graves — women’s basketball

Although past success will provide Graves with a longer leash than most, the longtenured coach’s program has faltered of late. With the Ducks on their way to another missed NCAA tournament, Graves has struggled to recruit at a high level and has lost major key starters to the transfer portal. Although 11-12 in 2024, Graves has reiterated his confidence to return a once-dominant Ducks team to prominence. “I’m confident we can return this program to a high level,” Graves said after the Ducks’ loss to rival Oregon State. Is his optimism valid? Only time will tell.

Courtney Nagle — women’s tennis

Now in her sixth season

DESIGNED BY EVA ANDREWS

at the helm, Nagle’s Ducks are a combined 54-49 in dual matches. On the heels of the program’s first NCAA tournament berth since 2018, Nagle’s Ducks went just 4-6 in Pac12 play in 2023.

DANGER ZONE

Graeme Abel — women’s soccer Abels’ Ducks went a winless 0-16-3 in the 2023 season, marketed as a rebuilding season. However, with numerous starters including Alice Barbieri and Anna Phillips entering the transfer portal, Abel will need results quickly, or his job will be at stake.

Oregon Softball head coach Melyssa Lombardi walks away from home plate after talking to the umpire. (Ben Green/Emerald)

2023 EVENT 2024 EDITION

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