2-5-24 Emerald Media Group - ODE by Emerald Media Group

Monday Edition

FEBRUARY 5, 2024

Emerald Media

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A GRADUATE EMPLOYEE

What it’s like to be a graduate employee at the University of Oregon NEWS: Meet mayoral candidate Kaarin Knudson PG 3 • OPINION: Put off grad school PG 5 • A&C: Outrage over ‘Barbie’ snubs is misplaced PG 8

EO/AA/ADA institution committed to cultural diversity

)

Follow us: @healthyUO (Facebook and Instagram) and @HealthCenterUO (Twitter) GREAT STRESS UniversityREDUCTION Health Services • 541-346-2770 Cat Rescue and health@uoregon.edu Adoption Network (CRAN) EO/AA/ADA institution committed to cultural diversity

GREAT STRESS REDUCTION Cat Rescue and Adoption Network (CRAN)

We are looking for volunteers to to hang out with our kitties in the PetSmart Catteries. Theres nothing more relaxing than a purring cat in your lap.

er.

ek!

Minimum 2 hours per weekchoose from 3 shifts per day/7 days a week!

We are looking for volunteers to to hang out with our kitties in the PetSmart Catteries. Theres nothing more relaxing than a purring cat in your lap.

sSG

r. KET

ek!

Eugene’s

The Daily Emerald Presents NEWS SPORTS

Minimum 2 hours per weekchoose from 3 shifts per day/7 days a week!

r Eugene’s a Friend

EENER The Daily Emerald Presents

AM S33

BY ALEXIS WEISEND • TWITTER @WEISEND_ALEXIS

ogram that would require homeowners to Smes are. Order online

KET $30 ON

Asking for EENER

NEWS SPORTS

or for best selection call us.

Flower Home Asking for a Friend is the DailySyrett Emerald’s sex and relationship 50 change,” said. “Allowing a potential buyer to according AM oefficiency upgrades, We Deliver

OUNT understand the energy cost of a particular home they column. EveryBY other week, Aisha Ghorashian answers anonymous ALEXIS WEISEND • TWITTER @WEISEND_ALEXIS sthey 33 CKET are considering allows them to make a wiser choice roposed by Councilor Jennifer 541-485-3655 ice questions anythingand from how to up date, tothe sex, tothey how to heal ENT understand front cost might face.”a anager Sarah Medary toabout ”a ID. that 1193 Harlow Rd. SMO33. ogram would require homeowners toClark said Syrett’s comment about savings made ity engagement process, as well broken heart. Scan the QR code to submit a question! de Springfield OR. 97477

a Friend

Order online

mes are.to share feedback from ession $30 the framework of a draft velop

sense to him.

The council unanimously passed two other or for best selectionmotions: call us. one to direct the city manager to bring back on passed unanimously, but

back Asking for a Friend is the DailySyrett Emerald’s sex and relationship 50 change,” said.plan “Allowing a potential buyer to efficiency upgrades, according oup We Deliver an implementation including potential funding concerns. ing

OUNT

understand the REDUCTION energy cost of a particular home they hey said renters column. EveryGREAT other week, Aisha answers anonymous sources forGhorashian the mandatory home energy score are noticeably STRESS sating CKET are considering allows directing them to make a wiser choice roposed by supports Councilor Jenniferthe 541-485-3655 ce and he program, and another the city manager ion, applying questions about anything from how to up date, tothe sex, tothey how to heal a ENT ID. a units and understand front cost might face.” anager Sarah Medary to Cat Rescue and Adoption Network (CRAN) ” to develop additional home energy score program al as well as single-family 1193 Harlow Rd. SMO33. m ONLINE TICKET Clark said Syrett’s comment about savings made ity engagement process, as well broken heart. Scan the QR code to submit a question! e options for renters. The program for renters must be andy Groves said he also supports Springfield OR. 97477 t be

OUR DOORS ARE OPEN. Sudoku 6-10PM

sense to him. with Climate Action Plan ession to share feedback from LINK IN BIO ON in alignment 2.0 Action B3, hich up 52% of Eugene’s B3, make The council unanimously passed two other elop the framework of a draft which requires the city to report to the city council cil JANUARY 29TH motions: onefunding to directstrategies the city manager to programs bring back on passed ack options and to support ark said heunanimously, is concernedbut that ms LANE EVENTS CENTER an implementation plan including potential funding up concerns. ng for low income Eugene Water and Electric Board or pense would fall back on the or sources for Natural the mandatory home energy score ating saidIN are noticeably THE WHEELER Northwest customers. r renting arenters home and worsen the program, and another the city manager ion, and he supports applying the The proposed energydirecting score program’s cost to the gene. he to develop additional home energy score the program l units as well as single-family m city as well as other actions that support Climate ommunities, obtaining a home mate ONLINE TICKET options forOrdinance The program renters be ndy also supports GAkitties $20 | VIP $30 be Groves Wehe are looking torenters. to hang out withfor our Recovery and Climate Action Planmust 2.0in is $150said and $300, city of for volunteers netween is LINK IN BIO ON in alignment with Climate Action Plan 2.0 Action B3, hich make up 52% ofClinton Eugene’s B3, estimated at $130,000, according to the agenda. y Manager Chelsea thewhich PetSmart Catteries. requires city to report to the city council PERFORMANCES BY is $125, il per score Although thethe proposed home energy score st in Portland JANUARY 29TH Theres nothing more relaxing than anot purring cat in STUDENT yourprograms lap. options and funding strategies to support ark said he is concerned that DISCOUNT ms requirement does apply to rental units yet, the nda. e LANE EVENTS CENTER for incomefunds Eugene Electric Board or pense would fall back on score the or said $5 OFF ANY TICKET citylow of Eugene theWater Scoreand Program with the yrett a home energy INa home THEfor WHEELER Northwest Natural customers. WITH offers CURRENT STUDENT ID. re,renting and worsen the University of Oregon and EWEB, which free, ain in savings buyers. ANY QUESTIONS @FTSMO33. Minimum 2ofhours per weekchoose from energy 3 shifts per program’s day/7 days a DM week! k! The proposed score cost to the ene. he voluntary home energy scores to both renters and sidered in the context all the d houseofrecords.wixsite.com/store city as well as other actions that support the Climate ommunities, obtaining aofSign home ateall bearing property owners. are because climate upAggies here: men’s the UC onRecovery Dec.catrescues.org/volunteer 1, 2021 at Knight Arena. (SereiAction Hendrie/Emerald) GAkitties $20 $30 Wetakes areonlooking volunteers toMatthew to hang out with our Ordinance and Climate Plan| VIP 2.0in is etween $150 team and $300, city ofDavisfor nis Basketball estimated at $130,000, according to the agenda. y Manager Chelsea Clinton the PetSmart Catteries. PERFORMANCES BY is $125, Although the proposed home energy score st per score in Portland Theres nothing more relaxing than purring in STUDENT youryet, lap. DISCOUNT requirement doesanot apply tocat rental units the nda. e $5 OFF ANY TICKET city of Eugene funds the Score Program with the yrett said a home energy score WITH offers CURRENT STUDENT ID. University of Oregon and EWEB, which free, ain for buyers. e, in savings QUESTIONS @FTSMO33. Minimum 2 hours per weekchoose from 3 shifts per day/7 ANY days a DM week! k! voluntary home energy scores to both renters and dsidered in the context of all the property owners. re all bearing because ofSign climate upAggies here: en’s Basketball team takes on the UC Davis on Dec.catrescues.org/volunteer 1, 2021 at Matthew Knight Arena. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald)

INSTAGRAM @FTSMO33

GREAT STRESS REDUCTION Cat Rescue and Adoption Network (CRAN) PAVILLON

6-10PM

M&G $50 INSTAGRAM @FTSMO33

Xanman,

TeeJay3k

PAVILLON AND MORE!

M&G $50

Xanman,

TeeJay3k

AND MORE!

Sudoku PA G E 2

EMERALD |

M O N D AY, F E B R UA R Y 5 , 2 0 2 4

Make an appointment online, or walk in to our Health Center on Franklin today!

NEWS

LOOK ONLINE

FORMER UO STAR ATHLETE RUNS FOR MAYOR OF EUGENE

VOL. 125, ISSUE NO. 26

Mayoral candidate Kaarin Knudson, a community advocate and architect, is also an accomplished former UO student athlete

GET IN TOUCH

BY TAREK ANTHONY • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART

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

NEWSROOM EDITOR IN CHIEF

Evan Reynolds PRINT MANAGING EDITOR

Emma J Nelson

DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR

Romie Avivi Stuhl NEWS EDITOR

Tristin Hoffman A&C EDITOR

Evan Huntington SPORTS EDITORS

Nina-Grace Montes Brady Ruth OPINION EDITOR

Sophia Cossette PHOTO EDITOR

Molly McPherson DESIGN EDITOR

Liz Blodgett COPY CHIEF

Olivia Ellerbruch SENIOR COPY EDITOR

Alex Woodward VIDEO EDITOR

Anne Marie Armstrong PODCAST EDITOR

Mirandah Davis-Powell SOCIALS EDITOR

Alicia Santiago Stella Fetherston

BUSINESS PUBLISHER & PRESIDENT

Eric Henry X317 ehenry@dailyemerald.com VP OPERATIONS

Kathy Carbone X302 kcarbone@dailyemerald.com DIRECTOR OF SALES & DIGITAL MARKETING

Shelly Rondestvedt X303 srondestvedt@dailyemerald.com CREATIVE & TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Anna Smith X327 creative@dailyemerald.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Lola Tagwerker Cori Caplinger Cooper Gast Taylor Baumgardner

ON THE COVER

Research GE Rocky Penick in their office at the Lewis Integrative Science Building on Jan. 31, 2024. (Colleen Bogdan/Emerald)

THE DAILY EMERALD

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

After graduating from UO, Knudson worked jobs in San Francisco and Portland. But when the time came for the mother of two to choose a place to earn her master’s degree and begin a family, Knudson decided that she wanted to move back to Eugene, citing her “wonderful experience” during her undergraduate years at UO. Upon Knudson finishing her master’s degree in architecture from UO in 2007, Knudson returned to the university in spring 2008 to teach design studio classes to architecture students — something Knudson still does ur te sy nearly 16 years later. of Ka a ri “I’m very fortunate to have had nK nuds on wonderful relationships with faculty and students on campus — I love the energy that goes with teaching [and] the type of creative inquiry when thinking about design and city building,” Knudson said. “I love seeing my students go out into the world and succeed in that exploration.” Simultaneously to her position at UO, Knudson worked as a project designer at local architecture company Rowell Brokaw. In 2017, Knudson left and co-started her own business — sustainable design consulting firm LARCO/KNUDSON — with fellow UO architecture professor Nico Larco. The same year Knudson started what she describes as a “public interest project” called Better Housing Together, an organization within her consulting firm that focuses on “increasing housing affordability, diversity and supply in Lane County.” Outside of her entrepreneurial pursuits, Knudson has also been deeply involved within the Eugene community for over 10 years. Knudson serves as a board member of Eugene’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund Committee and served as the president of the City Club of Eugene, a local non-profit organization, from 2022-2023. Knudson is endorsed by much of Eugene’s political establishment, including incumbent Mayor Lucy Vinis, who announced she would not seek a third term on Sept. 12, 2023. Knudson has also Co

VISUALS EDITOR

Before Kaarin Knudson, 47, could ever dream of becoming Eugene’s next mayor, she was already busy in Eugene, racking up awards both on and off the track at the University of Oregon. The UO track star won awards including 1999 Oregon NCAA Woman of the Year, a Two-time Academic All-American and All-American Runner. In the classroom, Knudson graduated at the top of her class with degrees in journalism and design.

IN OTHER NEWS

gained endorsements from former Mayor Kitty Piercy and five of eight city council members. “This is my first campaign for elected office, and so those endorsements come based on the fact that people know me from my work and community over the past couple of decades,” Knudson said. “I am very fortunate and grateful that so many different people [have] asked me to step up for public office after working with me for years.” With Knudson’s history of work surrounding affordable housing and sustainable design, her main focus if she were to become mayor would be finding solutions to a lack of affordable housing and Eugene’s pervasive homelessness crisis. Knudson wants to use her expertise in sustainable design to form policy reform around housing for Eugene. “Thinking about the beautiful place that is Eugene and what I love about this community, homelessness and sustainability are all areas that we’re going to need to continue to work on and be effective in — in our policy work,” Knudson said. “I think my background as an architect and in sustainable urban design is helpful to us in that so many of the issues that we need to address relate to sustainability in the built environment.” Knudson said that with climate change progressing and the recent ice storm in Eugene, the city needs to reexamine its emergency preparedness to prevent future weather events from closing the city down for so long. “We’re going to continue to be very challenged by the emergency of climate change, and the ways in which … extreme weather events in winter, extreme heat in summer and droughts and flooding are going to continue to be present events on our calendar every year,” Knudson said. Knudson went on to say that she would take a particular focus toward Eugene’s “built environment” to ensure access to support services such as heating and cooling shelters to the unhoused community and others at greater risk during an extreme weather event. Knudson is currently facing two opponents, Shanaè Joyce-Stringer and Douglas Barr. Eugene’s primary mayoral election will be held on May 21 to determine the ballot for the general election on Nov. 5.

(Alex Hernandez/Emerald)

GTFF ratified its new contract with UO on Jan. 26, marking an end to 10 months of negotiations with the university.

(Eric Becker/Emerald)

UO is tightening enforcement of its ban on indoor e-transportation following a dorm fire started by an electric skateboard over winter break.

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

M O N D AY, F E B R UA R Y 5 , 2 0 2 4

| EMERALD

PA G E 3

HERBIVORE

CARNIVORE

LOCAVORE

New Haven inspired apizza, pub brewed beer

390 Lincoln St. @4th

541.735.3860 530 BLAIR BLVD EUGENE (541) 735-3520 PA G E 4

EMERALD |

M O N D AY, F E B R UA R Y 5 , 2 0 2 4

TACOVOREPNW.COM

LUNCH & DINNER EVERYDAY

DINE IN | CARRY OUT thewheelapizzapub.com

OPINION

MOORE: PUT SCHOOL ON PAUSE BY MADDY MOORE • DESIGNED BY GABRIELA MARTINEZ

OPINION: Putting off graduate school for a year or more is a good way to get experience and learn about yourself before jumping back in

Before beginning my undergraduate career, I’d already planned on getting my master’s degree. I wanted to go straight from my first college degree to my second with no time off. That was my plan, until the fall term of senior year when my workload rarely allowed me a day off to rot in bed. My schedule stressed me out and occupied my life from waking hours to 10 p.m. After consulting professors, peers and advisors, I finally made the choice to put graduate school off a year.

After almost 18 years straight of school, you deserve a break. In many cases, it is possible to pause your education after undergraduate and come back to it when you feel ready. Some majors or career paths might be different, such as medical school, but even future doctors can take a rest year. Stepping away from school also gives you something I hadn’t thought possible: a chance to miss it. “When you’re out of school for a while, it makes you appreciate school more,” Baugh said. Taking a little or a lot of time before a master’s or doctorate can make the return to school more meaningful.

A gap year, or multiple years, can be the best way to prepare for more education. I thought I needed to rush into a master’s program or else I would lose motivation and never follow through. But in Baugh’s life, he found that the time to himself in his 20s helped him become confident, resilient and mature. “Give yourself the opportunity to change,” Baugh said. A break, whether one year or several, does not have to revolve around work experiences. Time to yourself can expose you to opportunities and interests you hadn’t planned on.

Although the decision was originally due to my lack of time to complete applications, I started to realize that the time between degrees would be useful to get hands-on experience outside of a classroom. Many graduate schools require professional experience, which I have little of. Taking one year — or many — to work, learn and relax has started sounding like the wiser option. Pierce Baugh, a student in the University of Oregon’s journalism master’s program, spent four years working and traveling after he completed his undergraduate degree before starting at UO. “When I graduated undergraduate, I just didn’t really know what I wanted to do,” Baugh said. “It was good for me to have that time to figure it out.” Between 2018 and March 2022, Baugh racked up a list of wide-ranging experiences, including a year in AmeriCorps, a job at a car part factory and nearly two years of teaching English in South Korea and Taiwan. The variety in his experience gave him the perspectives and memories he would never have had if he went straight into a master’s program. The advice Baugh gave aligns with the typical reasons people give for delaying graduate school. It can be more cost-effective while working and saving money or spending less on living by staying in hostels while traveling. I have heard dozens of stories of people backpacking through Europe after graduation and thought it impossible or too expensive. But it seems more realistic with a job, cheap food and housing. “Even if it means living at home with your parents, I just think that taking time off to travel the world is one of the best things you can do for yourself,” Baugh said. “You get a lot of stories, which, I think, is one of the best things in life.” (Stella Fetherston/Emerald) M O N D AY, F E B R UA R Y 5 , 2 0 2 4

| EMERALD

PA G E 5

COVER Amala Someshwar, one of the GTFF stewards for the psychology department at UO, works in her office at the Lewis Integrative Science Building on Jan. 31, 2024. (Colleen Bogdan/Emerald)

INSTRUCTOR, EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT How GEs balance two different sides of academics BY REILLY NORGREN • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART

Graduate employees are students employed by the UO as instructors, researchers or administrators. They grade assignments and are available for academic support and questions throughout the term. Above all, they are students — on top of the work they do for the university. Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation is a labor union representing graduate employees with more than 1,500 members. GTFF had been bargaining with the university regarding issues including living wages and improved access to housing and childcare since February 2023. On Jan. 15, a tentative agreement was reached between the union and the university, which the union ratified on Jan. 26. This tentative agreement allowed GTFF to obtain their final bargaining demand, a minimum salary raise. According to GTFF’s statement on the tentative agreement, level one GEs are receiving a 31.81% raise to their minimum salaries, level two GEs a 16.68% raise and level three GEs a 10.5% raise. Over the last 10 months of bargaining, GTFF has negotiated a number of other victories for employees, including better childcare support, support for international GEs and an additional four weeks of medical/family leave.

LIFE AS A STUDENT

PA G E 6

EMERALD |

M O N D AY, F E B R UA R Y 5 , 2 0 2 4

Rocky Penick, a GE researcher and instructor of biology, said that researchers can become overworked because there can be a fine line between their education and their research work. “We work about 49% of a full work week, and then taking anywhere between 12 and 14 credits of research,” Penick said. “That ends up being somewhere around 30 hours of research a week, which means we’re pretty much always on the clock.” Penick is taking 11 credits of research and three dissertation credits this term while also mentoring first-year rotation PhD students. They said that they typically arrive on campus in the morning and spend the day doing research and mentoring the rotation students. In the evening, they said there are often talks or seminars by people in the biology department that they attend. Penick said they are fortunate to have an understanding supervisor, so their work hours are flexible. “My principal investigator is very understanding,” Penick said. “[My PI] understood that I also need to be a person in addition to being a graduate employee or graduate student.” Penick said that sometimes work and research can result in long days, but they are able to still enjoy other parts of their life. “I know that’s not everybody’s experience, but luckily it’s been mine,” Penick said.

Steven Turrill is a GE instructor of record for a college composition course and a master of fine arts candidate in the fiction program. Turrill said that the key to balancing being a student and an instructor is having a boundary between the two. “Instructor of record is a very structured job,” Turrill said. “And then the courses that we take, the creative work [and] the things that we’re here to do are completely unstructured. The difficulty is finding that balance, making sure everything else in your life has a proper boundary.” After teaching, Turrill said that he is attending three-hour classes and seminars where students discuss their own writing and things they’ve read. Currently, Turrill is also working on his thesis for his writing program, which is a collection of short stories. Turrill said he enjoys exploring literature outside of his studies, and is encouraged by his program to broaden his horizons.

LIFE AS AN INSTRUCTOR OR RESEARCHER Penick said that they teach for two terms during the year. Their teaching duties typically include grading, administering assignments and running labs or discussion sections. Part of Penick’s time as a researcher includes mentoring a first-year PhD student who is cycling

COVER Matt McIntosh, Vice President for Organizing in GTFF, designs posters inside the office on Jan. 30, 2024. (Colleen Bogdan/ Emerald)

through different labs to find out what kind of research they’re interested in. “We’re working on a very similar project,” Penick said. “So a lot of the time, it’s just shadowing what I do, but other times [I’m] helping out with logistical things like course requirements or helping to navigate what he wants to get out of this rotation.” Turrill became a GE in September 2022. Last year he taught creative writing, and he now teaches college composition. A typical day for Turrill includes arriving on campus to hold his office hours and prepare for class in Prince Lucien Campbell Hall, and then he goes to McKenzie Hall to hold class. “Today I taught and we did some mock outlines for argumentative papers that we’re working on,” Turrill said. “But it’s a short class, 50 minutes. Before you know it, it’s over. And I’m back to being a student.” Turrill said that something that makes GEs different when teaching is that they always have something in common with undergraduates — that they’re both students. “I think it takes me back to what it was like for me being an undergraduate,” he said. “It is a unique position to be in where we are a bridge between the student body and the pool of faculty labor.” For Amala Someshwar, a psychology student, teaching is her favorite position as a GE because she enjoys teaching undergraduates about lab and research methods. “I really like teaching [psychology],” Someshwar said. “I’m interested in teaching postgrad, so I have really been trying to get as much teaching experience as possible.” Someshwar found that dedicating entire days to being either a “teaching” or a “research” day helps her keep student and instructor work

organized. Also, she creates time in her schedule to be “nothing” times to be able to take a break from working because “being a grad student — that’s kind of a neverending feeling.”

WHAT THEY WISH STUDENTS KNEW

“We love teaching, we love researching,” they said. “We love mentoring, we love learning and contributing to putting more knowledge into the world.” Penick said that there is a misconception they are in it for the money, but says it is only because of the passion they have for their work and enjoyment for the things that they do. Turrill said that if students are learning a lot from a GE, it is because the university has drawn good graduate students to it. “If a student has a good experience in a class taught by a GE, or learns a lot in that class,” Turrill said, “they have done so because of the quality of graduate students that the university has accepted and attracted.” Turrill said that a strength GEs have is being able to connect with their students and not feel as if they’re out of touch or in an “ivory tower.” “And that’s because [I’m] constantly in the dynamic of teaching and teaching and teaching, and half of my time I’m also spending as a student,” Turrill said. Someshwar said it is exciting when she’s able to engage with students about research and studies. “Talking about research with the students is always very fun,” Someshwar said. “And feels a bit more personal when they realize that [GEs] are also students who are actively doing research.” She feels as if this allows GEs and their students to have a deeper connection and thoughtful conversations about the work area they share. Graduate employees are essential figures to many classes, but they’re students actively working toward their own academic goals, too.

Penick said that it is important for students to understand that GEs are in graduate school because they love what they do.

Graduate student Rocky Penick sets up a microscope used for Alzheimer’s disease research in one of the Lewis Integrative Science Building labs on Jan. 31, 2024. (Colleen Bogdan/Emerald) M O N D AY, F E B R UA R Y 5 , 2 0 2 4

| EMERALD

PA G E 7

A&C

WHY THE ‘BARBIE’ OSCAR OUTRAGE IS FRUSTRATING BY SEAN AVERY • DESIGNED BY ADALEAH CARMAN

(Stella Fetherston/Emerald)

The Oscar nominations were announced bright and early on Jan. 23, so naturally, Twitter/X is a hellscape, and TikTok is up in arms. The swirling melting pot of opinions has created a vapid discourse cycle. Unsurprisingly, much of these fiery reactions concern the biggest film of the year — Greta Gerwig’s monumental summer blockbuster, “Barbie.” Despite the film’s incredible nomination tally, amounting to eight total nominations including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design and Best Original Song (x2), many, including Hillary Clinton, took to social media to express their disdain for two notable omissions. Yes, Margot Robbie and Gerwig failed to achieve nominations for Best Actress and Best Director, respectively. So, if it’s considered prestigious enough for eight nods, including the top prize, where is the love for the leading ladies? Did they miss the point of the movie? Well, it’s not so simple. Reading and listening to an onslaught of think pieces and complaints, I can’t help but wince at their egregious dismissiveness of other deserving talent. As someone who keeps up with the film industry and awards races, I squirm when people spew out undercooked blanket statements about an industry they don’t pay much attention to unless their box office darlings are up for awards. Yes, the Academy has a shameful track record when it comes to honoring women and people of color. I don’t want to undersell the long history of terrible representation at the Oscars. The fact that the industry is still having firsts in many categories is a nasty reality. However, I can’t help but feel like the majority of online rage is dedicated to two extremely well-recognized white women — both of whom are nominated for awards this year. Despite what the headlines and quick typers say, Robbie and Gerwig are both recognized for their work on PA G E 8

EMERALD |

M O N D AY, F E B R UA R Y 5 , 2 0 2 4

THE 96TH ACADEMY AWARDS NOMINATIONS WERE ANNOUNCED ON JAN. 23, SPAWNING AN ONLINE DISCOURSE CONCERNING NOTABLE SNUBS “Barbie.” Robbie, who fought tooth and nail to get this production off the ground, received a well-deserved nomination for Best Picture as a producer — an award that distinctly honors the film’s existence as one of the 10 most outstanding movies of the year. Gerwig, alongside her husband Noah Baumbach, is among the nominees for Adapted Screenplay — a category that boasts an incredible line-up of essential films. What the outrage lacks is the consideration of intersectionality. Where we extend our concerns about gender equality, we must also extend our condolences and congratulations to the men and women of color who were overlooked or nominated. The fact of the matter, which the discourse has largely overshadowed, is that this slate of nominees is one of the most diverse bunches in Oscar history — and that extends to women. For one, with Celine Song’s “Past Lives,” Justine Triet’s “Anatomy of a Fall” and Gerwig’s “Barbie,” this is the first time in history three women-led films were all nominated for Best Picture in the same year —. aAll three of which are gorgeously crafted and thought-provoking in their own right. You might be thinking that Gerwig’s snub for Best Director still stings, especially considering the category’s infamous history of discounting women. So where’s this attention for the equally deserving Song or Triet? Despite its lack of general audience consumption, Triet’s French masterpiece, littered with feminist subtext, did receive a nod here — an impressive feat amongst an astonishingly stacked line-up of filmmakers. Lily Gladstone, nominated for her incredible work in “Killers of the Flower Moon,” is the first Native American ever recognized for Best Actress. The Best Supporting Actress line-up is a massive win for diversity, featuring three women of color, including Da’Vine Joy Randolph (“The Holdovers”), Danielle Brooks (“The Color Purple”) and America Ferrera (“Barbie”). Where’s all the love for Ferrera, who delivered the most

empowering and compelling piece of text in the film? Surely these achievements are worthy of our collective attention in place of a misdirected fury. There is also a sum of people who contend that Ryan Gosling’s nomination as Ken in a movie about women goes against the film’s thesis. I understand these complaints — they conveniently support a narrative of industry voter inequality. The rhetoric fails to comprehend that Gosling did not get nominated over Robbie. His category is entirely different and arguably less competitive. Moreover, it’s not Ken who is nominated; it’s Gosling’s deeply outrageous yet fantastic comedic performance. It might seem silly as a traditional awards contender, but for the entire year, it’s been widely considered as such. I promise it is not a slight to the film when the villain role, written and directed by Gerwig no less, is nominated for an award. It by no means endorses Ken’s actions. Finally, there’s a strange pattern of people alleging that the film’s chart-topping financial success further indicates that Robbie and Gerwig were erroneously snubbed. Clinton offered her support to Robbie and Gerwig in her Tweet, stating, “While it can sting to win the box office but not take home the gold, your millions of fans love you.” I know this might be a cheeky callback to her 2016 popular vote win and election loss, but box office success has never been a reason to give out awards. If anything, it’s impressive enough that a blockbuster film scored so many nominations and a testament to its sheer creativity. If more people took the time to watch the other nominated movies despite their challenging themes and relative obscurity, we’d be one step closer to an improved Oscar discourse. 2023 was a fantastic year for cinema, and “Barbie” is one of the leading proprietors of getting people back into the theater. It’s justly nominated for several awards, including nods for Robbie and Gerwig. So many wonderful films and diverse performances were recognized. What’s not to celebrate?

In recovery? Curious about getting sober? Is your substance use affecting school or relationships? The Collegiate Recovery Center: • Supports students pursuing recovery • Provides individual consultations • Hosts recovery support groups • Offers a cannabis-specific group

Meetings and appointments

Follow the QR code to view our schedule or book an appointment.

EMU Room 331

recovery.uoregon.edu

recovery@uoregon.edu

uoregoncrc

541-346-6079

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

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

Campus Clinic: 598 East 13th Avenue

541-636-3473

| EMERALD

PA G E 9

CROSSWORD ACROSS

1 Reduce to a paste 5 Self-confident and then some 9 City in “Aeneid” and “Iliad” 13 Field of expertise 14 __ Grey tea 15 Philosopher Descartes 16 Elements of a PG-rated outburst 19 Computer capacity 20 __-purpose flour 21 Yoga pose 22 Groups of groupies 27 Oodles 29 Still contending 30 Vehicle for a large family, perhaps 33 Jazz legend Fitzgerald 34 __-toity

28 The NBA’s 35 Dessert served DOWN Cavs, on in a goblet 1 “__ Mia!”: Meryl scoreboards 38 Former Iranian Streep film with 30 Sojourn rulers ABBA music 31 “Bless you!” 39 Ferris wheel 2 Zodiac ram trigger locale 3 2014 civil rights 32 “Peachy keen!” 40 NBA drama set in 34 “Their Eyes tiebreakers, for Alabama Were Watching short 4 Was dressed in God” author 41 Speck 5 Hot Zora Neale __ 42 Covers for 6 Weather report 36 Goblets outdoor backdrop 37 Take a load off wedding 7 Cybersquatter’s receptions target, for short 42 Sport played on a variety of 43 Common 8 Gathers bit by bit surfaces accessory at a 9 Enormous 44 “Get off the construction site number stage!” 45 Larceny 10 Fire up, as an 46 Mead need 50 Charged engine 47 Many a Chopin particle 11 Dollar bill piece 51 Baby’s foot 12 “That’s correct” 48 Feel at home warmer 17 Whiteboard 49 Class challenges 52 Allergy wipers warning, and a 18 “90 Day Fiancé” 51 Tie 52 Deg. for a CFO description of channel or a CEO 16-, 22-, 35-, 22 Vegetarian pita 53 “Rumble in the and 43-Across? filler Jungle” boxer 57 Color 23 Insistent 54 “Tastes great!” associated 24 Reino __: 55 Early afternoon with the L.A. England’s 56 Feel poorly Dodgers country, in 58 “Checkmate!” Spanish 59 Adjust for space 25 Tried to chomp limitations, say on 60 Long-term goals 26 Eyelid woes 61 Addendum to a real estate sign 62 Strong urges © 2023 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

SUDOKU

PA G E 1 0

EMERALD |

M O N D AY, F E B R UA R Y 5 , 2 0 2 4

SPORTS

EMBRACING THE OREGON IDENTITY WITH UO CLUB HOCKEY

CALENDAR OF

EVENTS

This week’s picks...

How the Ducks on ice are turning their club team BY OWEN MURRAY into the real deal DESIGNED BY EVA ANDREWS

Few groups at the university utilized the recent ice storm that swept through Eugene better than the Ducks’ hockey team. With campus shut down, classes canceled and basketball games held behind closed doors, life at the university was essentially put on hold. The hockey team, however, took a trip across the Willamette River to Autzen Stadium and created a photoshoot that went viral — and encapsulated how it’s embodied the Oregon Identity. Skating around a frozen Autzen Stadium in green hockey sweaters featuring the Duck’s caricature across the front, and the team’s photos found themselves on Bleacher Report and SportsCenter’s social media accounts, garnering millions of views ahead of their trip to the Bend Winter Classic hockey showcase against the University of Washington. Their Oregon jerseys were in high demand, and they went off to Bend in style. Despite its fame, this is not an NCAA Division team. It’s club hockey. The Ducks prevailed in Bend with back-to-back 5-1 victories over the Huskies. In the midst of the sweep, the team’s postgame caption on Instagram claimed, “Oregon is a hockey school!” Is it? The Oregon Identity permeates every aspect of sport throughout the university, from pickup soccer games to Saturday football. On every level there’s an understanding of that personality. It pops up in gameday presentation, in the school’s teams’ jerseys and across social media. Scrolling through @UOHockey on Instagram or X wouldn’t reveal that it’s a club team; the players, coaches, photographers and staff treat it like a professional opportunity.

On Jan. 12, the team hosted “Greek Night” where it invited Oregon fraternities and sororities to attend, and the house with the highest attendance won a free event at Rennie’s Landing. Team photographer Kai Brown said, “It’s been incredible to see this team play and the atmosphere around it. I’ve grown up watching hockey games for a long time now, and I’ve rarely seen the kind of atmosphere there was at Greek Night this year — especially for a club team.” Brown, a freshman at the U of O, has a front-row seat to the team’s season. He’s watched as they’ve drawn increasingly larger crowds, in the process building an environment in Eugene that mirrors some NCAA programs. “Our players came out through what was a tunnel of yelling and clapping guys which was quite a sight to see. Anytime a Colorado State player got anywhere close to the glass, people would start slamming on it. [It was a] great atmosphere and a great game to watch and photograph.”

Shortly after the Bend Classic, the team released a new jersey, accompanied by another photoshoot, this time alongside a bright yellow Jeep that matched the yellow sweaters. A short video, featuring four members of the team driving the Jeep into a nearby forest, was followed by three posts. The players walked across a forest service road, recreating the Beatles’ “Abbey Road” album cover. They posed in the car. But somehow, it’s still a club team. On Feb. 23, the team will travel to Boulder, Colo., to face the Colorado Buffaloes — the same school that drew in excess of 10 million viewers for its football duel with the Ducks. When they face off, the game won’t get the same national audience that the two garnered at a soldout Autzen Stadium last fall, but it’ll have the same feeling. It’s not because of the outsized funding they receive, or because they’ll play in a state-of-the-art rink — neither is true. It’ll be because Ducks hockey has become a team of Oregon in spite of all that; it’s part of the Oregon Identity.

MEN’S BASKETBALL VS UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON (2/8) The Ducks are playing the Huskies this Thursday at 7 p.m. Head down to Matthew Knight Arena and watch the rivalry matchup we’ve all been waiting for! Tickets start at $10 or free with a student sports pass.

TRIVIA IN THE EMU: TRASH TV (2/7)

Henry Bradford, Oregon hockey goalie, shows off the team’s new threads. (Kai Kanzer/Emerald)

Who doesn’t love a good ol’ night of trivia? This week, test your knowledge on guilty pleasures and trashy television. Bring a team up to five, or come solo and make some new friends! Trivia is free every Wednesday in the EMU from 6:30 to 8 p.m. (Image: Kemper Flood/Emerald) M O N D AY, F E B R UA R Y 5 , 2 0 2 4

| EMERALD

PA G E 1 1

PA G E 1 2

EMERALD |

M O N D AY, F E B R UA R Y 5 , 2 0 2 4