4-2-24 Emerald Media Group - Week of Welcome

FIGHTING NEWS

in rural Lane County

40 miles southeast of Eugene, rural journalists are fighting against corporate interests and for their community

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VITA HELPS LANE COUNTY WITH TAXES VITA HELPS LANE COUNTY WITH TAXES

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program at UO assists Lane County residents with free tax assistance by UO students

BY JASMINE SABOORIAN • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program offers Lane County residents and UO students assistance with completing their tax returns.

Developed by Beta Alpha Psi, which is UO’s honor organization for finance, accounting and information services, VITA operates on behalf of the Internal Revenue Service and is free to those who are able to receive the program.

“We’re really trying to demystify what taxes are,” Christian Tinoco, Beta Alpha Psi’s vice president of marketing, said. “It’s not that complicated but there’s a connotation surrounding taxes that people think the big, scary IRS comes to audit you.”

Jeremy Brands, the vice president of VITA, said that the program helps walk people through the process of filing taxes and aims to make taxes easier to learn and more accessible.

“While our volunteers are doing the taxes, we’ll try and talk [people] through it to help them understand exactly what we’re doing,” Brands said. “The different income types and what we’re putting in to get them their refund and then just walk them through different deductions and credits they could possibly get.”

VITA holds its information and tax services for UO students and Eugene and Springfield residents every Saturday until April 15, surrounding tax season.

Lane County resident Cory Little has been using VITA’s resources for four years now and feels confident in its ability to do the best job possible.

“We were paying $200 plus for H&R Block,” Little said. “That was something that I really didn’t want to have to pay because we were having money garnished so we weren’t even getting our tax refund.”

According to Little, he discovered VITA through a broadcast by KEZI and praised it for its professionalism and work ethic.

“They’re the best professionals,” Little said. “They’re equal to any other resource out there in my book and I would recommend them to anyone who doesn’t want to have to go through paying a lot of money to have your taxes done. In today’s economy, it’s vital.”

VITA has become a reliable source for information and assistance in taxes and financial questions around the community, Brands said.

“I’ve seen people come in and say, ‘We use this service every year and this is what we rely on to get our taxes done,’” Brands said. “It was really good to get that feedback and know that we’ve become a staple for a lot of people in the community.”

(Carter Killin/Emerald)

(Alyssa

ASUO EXTENDS VOTING PERIOD FOR SPRING ELECTIONS

The ASUO election board has issued a one-day extension to the voting period, as well as an update for submitting ballot measures

On Feb. 26, ASUO’s election board proposed a schedule change for the 2024 ASUO spring election.

The election board received feedback from students who had concerns that the voting period of the election was too short, although in the past, the most votes were received within the first two days. The election board ended up adding an extra day for voting, which will now take place from April 3 to 8.

The board also filed for an extension to the deadline for submitting the language for a ballot measure. Although the date to file a measure had passed, the election board submitted this request to the constitutional court, which was approved.

Before a proposed ballot measure is sent to the student senate, it must be approved by the constitutional court. The constitutional court is primarily made up of law students. Their position during the spring election is to review ballot measures to verify that none of the language within the measure conflicts with ASUO’s existing constitution.

If the senate approves a ballot measure, it is then added to the voting ballot for the upcoming election.

The election board knew to make these changes to the schedule because of student feedback.

Election Board Chair Grigorii Malakhov stressed the importance of students sharing their feedback about ASUO with ASUO members.

According to Malakhov, the best way for students to inform ASUO of feedback is by emailing the elections board directly at asuoelectionchair@uoregon.edu.

Many students were not aware of an election happening during winter term, nor did they know there was an upcoming election in April.

Freshman Isaiah Diaz said he would have voted in the winter special election if he had known about it.

“[ASUO] do a good job with emails, maybe if they put posters in the dorms and elevators to relay information to students,” Diaz said.

Sophomore Lauren Bresnahan said she had no idea there was an election going on last term.

“Information should be more accessible to students, whether that is more emails or more posters in areas like the EMU,” Bresnahan said.

In email correspondence with the Daily Emerald, Malakhov shared how students can join the elections board’s mailing list so that they can stay up to date on election updates.

According to Malakhov, the ASUO Elections Board uses Listserv, an electronic mailing list, to make announcements regarding an election. Students can email an empty message — no text in the subject line or body of the email — to asuoelectiondecision-join@ lists.uoregon.edu to receive updates.

BY HANNA KALAN • DESIGNED BY GABRIELA MARTINEZ

The ASUO offices are located on the first floor of the Erb Memorial Union. (Eric Becker/Emerald)

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KHAN: NOT TO THROW SHADE, BUT WHERE ARE YOUR SHADES?

OPINION: If you wear contacts, the world may not know you have bad eyesight, but I sure do

blind as a bat, chances are you own a pair of glasses — whether you wear them or not. If you are a twenty-something but you have perfect vision, it isn’t too late to be a pilot.

This opinion, however, will open every eye in more than just a punny way. But it may be different for those who can’t see clearly.

Last week, I was at the optometrist for my annual eye exam. An eye exam is when you visit a doctor and sit in a dark room. You are then prompted to look through an owl-eyed looking lens contraption called a phoropter.

Soon after, a soft-spoken optometrist whispers the question, “Is one…or two better?” in your ear as they flip through the phoropter, and follow with, “How about three… or four?”

I, for one, think this is just a little game.

Think about it. The optometrist tries to fool you into thinking your vision is bad and getting worse. You, on the other hand, try to defy all odds by proving that your vision hasn’t gotten worse and, if anything, has only gotten better.

I mean one is the same lens as three and two is always the same as four every time, isn’t it?

But that rationale is probably too hostile. Maybe optometrists truly have the best interest of our eyes at heart.

After the eyesight charades, my optometrist turned the lights back on and asked me an interesting question.

“Do you wear contacts?” he asked, to which I replied, “Yes.” Then he asked me, “Why?”

I flashed back to the third grade.

When I was 8 years old, I had my eye exam and, like many, was told I needed glasses. At first, it makes you feel all grown up. My thought was that glasses would help in making me look older and more mature.

I didn’t think about how nightmarish my future in sports and physical activity was about to be.

Back then, wearing glasses was met with stereotypical lines like “four-eyes” or “geek” all the time, and it sometimes got even meaner on the basketball court. Most of the time, I’d be the only player with frames on, but it was also just so impractical to wear glasses and play basketball. For some odd reason, wearing glasses made me try and catch a ball with my face more often. I learned that this was, in fact, impossible, and instead just painful.

BY FAHEEM KHAN DESIGNED BY EVA ANDREWS

It wasn’t until middle school that I got to wear contacts and, for the most part, I never went back to glasses.

I looked back up at my optometrist who was waiting for me to reply to his question.

“I don’t know,” I said.

But of course, I did. I couldn’t tell this random man that the reason I wore contacts was because I got roasted in third grade on a basketball court. But, after I left, it made me think. Why do I still wear contacts so often? Are my glasses really that awful? After all, wearing glasses promotes eye health, as contacts increase the risk of an eye infection and dryness.

Also, the stigma around glasses is not the same as it was back then. Today, wearing glasses can be fashionable and cool. It’s even associated with being sophisticated, I’m told.

Still, around 45 million Americans opt for the alternative. Though a more expensive option, contact lenses are the only way we vision-impaired people can avoid wearing glasses without missing out on clear eyesight.

At the same time, there are anomalies like me that juggle to find a balance between wearing glasses or contacts.

Most people, however, are quick to choose a side. Either you buckled down with the glasses gang for life and that has become your look, or you choose the path of duplicity, as contact lenses give you the ultimate ability to hide the truth about your eyes from the world.

Let’s face it. If you are an avid contact lens wearer, chances are you have those big, bulky, horrid-looking frames for emergencies sitting somewhere deep in your possession. Every once in a while you have to bust them out, put a hoodie on, check your peripherals and hope to God nobody you know sees you in public.

I conducted a recent survey and found that the majority of contact wearers only wear them because it makes them feel more attractive and ends up boosting their confidence. Others who took the survey also added that contact lenses were simply more convenient to wear, and activities, like exercising, were impractical without them.

Despite our vision-corrective preferences, we don’t have perfect eyesight, and that’s completely OK.

For the longest time, I exclusively wore contacts myself. Many of us do. Avid contact wearers do this, not to look down upon our glasses-wearing companions, but to highlight that many of us just don’t like how we look and feel in glasses.

But just know that wearing glasses is still cool. If you are looking for a new identity, glasses could be your ticket. Next time you find yourself at the optometrist, don’t be shady. Try on some shades.

MOORE: THE VALID FEARS OF BEING A JOURNALISM STUDENT

WITH SHRINKING NEWSROOMS AND LAST-MINUTE SHUTDOWNS, THE JOURNALISM INDUSTRY IS A FEAR-INSPIRING JOB MARKET

In December 2023, Eugene Weekly announced it would not be in print for a while due to an embezzlement of thousands of dollars of its funding. Less than a month after the Weekly’s announcement, the Los Angeles Times stated it would lay off around 115 people, which was 20% of its newsroom. Within the same couple of days, Sports Illustrated laid off most of its employees by letting go of over 100 of the publication’s workers.

The journalism industry is notorious for its fluctuating workforce and instability — to the extent that the most common reaction I get to my journalism major is a confused look followed by, “Really?”

It’s not just judgmental family friends who see this and worry. Journalism students, as well, fear the likelihood of finding a secure job after graduation. My peers and I share breaking news of layoffs and fret that we won’t have a career like the ones our professors love to tell stories about.

radio stations,” Peter Laufer, a journalism professor at the University of Oregon, said. “When I got tired of a place, I quit, and I knew I could just go down the street to another radio station and get a job.”

Since the Federal Communications Commission handed control over to individual media organizations, industry stability has wavered more. The FCC’s deregulation contributed to journalism’s pre-existing flexibility and changed the industry’s financial model to be more prone to abrupt changes.

“The revenues and profits that used to be made are not made by many organizations now,” Damian Radcliffe, another UO journalism professor, said.

Financial models of newspapers tend to organize journalism around funding rather than prioritizing reporting. This change in the industry rippled out to how journalists begin their careers, according to Radcliffe.

“The career progression of starting small and working your way up, regionally and then

BY MADDY MOORE DESIGNED BY ADALEAH CARMAN

pose more ethical questions than reporters used to face. Some include the independence of a publication and if there becomes an allegiance or bias based on its owner and the loss of accessibility for the public due to paywalls.

The reliability of journalism as a career is a large question for student journalists, whose professors could comfortably rely on their publication’s salary. The decision to go into journalism weighs the financial and employment risks against the purpose of the job.

“Journalism has always been a vocational profession,” Radcliffe said. “People do it because they are passionate about telling stories, sharing information, holding public bodies accountable and providing useful, valuable material that communities can use. None of that has gone away.”

Despite the shifting models of newsrooms and a decreasing number of them, those entering the workforce have not lost their shot at a journalism career. Bagging a job requires professionalism,

HIGHWAY 58 HERALD AIMS TO BRING NEWS BACK TO OAKRIDGE

Due in part to Oakridge being in a rural area of Lane County, the newspaper struggles to keep afloat financially

BY MATHIAS LEHMAN-WINTERS

DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART

Along Highway 58 and 40 miles southeast of Eugene lies the small city of Oakridge. In 2020, Oakridge’s longtime local paper, the Dead Mountain Echo, went out of business, leaving Oakridge and the surrounding area with no source of local news.

That’s when community members banded together to form a new online news publication — the Highway 58 Herald.

Led by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Oakridge native and UO graduate Doug Bates, the Herald was up and running by February 2021, less than six months after the Dead Mountain Echo closed.

“They had shuttered their doors about six months prior. So there was a point of no newspaper in town,” Herald co-founder and interim editor George Custer said. “And a couple of the residents here said, ‘You know, there’s going to be some shady stuff in the city government here, and we need to do something about it.’”

Custer said that in the Herald’s first publication, they learned that Oakridge’s city council was

trying to push out then-city manager and retired rear admiral Bryan Cutchen with no just cause.

“It was total cronyism,” Custer said.

In part due to an outpouring of public support following the Herald’s article, Cutchen got his contract as city manager extended and now serves as the city’s mayor.

Custer said that one of the biggest challenges for the Herald is finding and retaining good journalistic talent. Many of the Herald’s writers are not trained journalists, but rather community members who choose to write for the Herald as volunteers.

This trend of community-based volunteer journalism is not unique to Oakridge, either.

Regina Lawrence is the associate Dean of the UO School of Journalism in Portland, and research director of the Agora Journalism Center — a group focused on community-centered journalism and blistering local news.

“Quite often, there’s a growing number of folks who are retirees, you know, they’re retired journalists, and they’re volunteering or doing this local journalism for very little pay,” Lawrence said.

Lawrence said that there is a crisis in local news coverage across the country at the moment, and that as a result of economic pressures many local newspapers have been forced to either reduce their staff size or go out of business entirely.

This creates a situation where “news deserts” emerge, and news that is important to a community goes uncovered or is covered inaccurately.

“Places like this, [larger media outlets] will want to come out here if somebody dies a tragic death or, you know, a bank burns down. It’s only just the ambulance-chasing type news,” Custer said.

Custer is far from the only Oakridge resident who feels that if it weren’t for the Herald, issues that matter in Oakridge would not be getting reported on.

Jacqui Lomont owns the Mane Street Coffee House in downtown Oakridge and has lived in the city for almost 20 years.

“It’s a bit of a news desert here, for sure,” Lomont said. “The Register-Guard is worthless these days. So getting that as a paper anymore

Highway 58 Herald logo on the office building in Oakridge. (Mathias Lehman-Winters/Emerald)

doesn’t do anybody any good. And they never really covered much in Oakridge anyway, except if it was something tragic. Never good news. Always the worst news.”

Lomont is appreciative of the Herald’s coverage of local topics, particularly ones that haven’t gotten much coverage outside of Oakridge, like the plans by Oregon entrepreneur and winery operator Ed King to turn the historic TV Butte, which sits next to Oakridge, into a quarry.

King is the owner of King Estate Winery and a financial backer of Old Hazeldell Quarry, a company that seeks to develop a portion of TV Butte into a gravel mine and crushing site. TV Butte itself comprises 183 acres owned by Crown Properties, a trust of the King family. Old Hazeldell has, since as far back as 2015, been petitioning the Lane County to rezone 107 acres of the property from “forest” land to “natural resource” land, which would permit the mining operation.

moment, that is just not financially feasible.

However, the proposed quarry, which would be expected to operate for 35-50 years, has for years faced backlash from the community over concerns about noise, decreased air quality, contaminated groundwater and the destruction of an elk calving habitat. The native Molalla people have also expressed pushback over the quarry plans, as TV Butte is reportedly the site of an ancient Molalla tribal village.

In 2021, the Lane County Board of Commissioners voted in a 3-2 decision to deny King’s application for a zoning change that would permit the quarry. However, many residents in Oakridge, including Lomont, believe that the battle to save TV Butte is far from over.

Since King’s defeat in 2021, he has contributed $12,000 and $10,000 to the campaigns of county commissioners Ryan Ceniga and Pat Farr respectively. Lomont worries that this means that when King tries to get the land rezoned again, he’ll have enough commissioners “in his pocket” to get his way.

Lomont believes that if it weren’t for the Herald, the affair surrounding TV Butte would go widely unreported by the media.

“For the most part, you won’t hear about it anywhere except in Oakridge,” Lomont said.

Despite the Herald’s comprehensive coverage of the local area, it still faces daunting challenges.

Deretta Huey is a volunteer at the Oakridge Public Library and sits on the city council in Westfir, Oakridge’s neighboring city of just 259 residents.

Huey said that she reads the Herald and that it is “nice to have a local paper.” But the digital format of the Herald presents a learning curve for her and many other older residents.

“One thing that’s bad about [the Herald] being online is that, especially for older people, it’s not as accessible to them,” Huey said. “My husband doesn’t even carry a cell phone.”

Custer recognizes that a lot of residents would prefer a paper version of the Herald, but at the

“We’re an older community here, and they say, ‘I just miss my newspaper.’ And yeah, I understand that. I do too,” Custer said.“Wanting it and us being able to pay for it, you know, paying for it is another thing.”

Starting in June 2023, the Herald ran three bimonthly print editions before returning to its online- only format.

Kingsbury said that the Herald has been doing everything it can to stay in operation, but it is an increasingly difficult task to manage.

Joy Kingsbury is a Herald co-founder, board member and contributor. It was at her behest that, back in 2021, Bates agreed to help found the paper.

“We board members have been contributing a lot of money, or as much as we possibly can, to the paper, so we’ve been able to stay afloat. But it was pretty rickety right now,” Kingsbury said. “We’re not in good financial condition. And so we’re all really, really looking for donations.” We have what we call a paywall now, and we’re hopeful that

that’s going to bring in donors and subscribers.”

Kingsbury said that she believes the role the Herald plays is absolutely vital, because every community needs to have a base of trustworthy information in order to know what is happening in their city and their community.

“We all just do the best we can, you know, with the time that we have to spare,” Kingsbury said. “There are just a handful of us.”

Custer and Kingsbury say that those interested in helping the Herald can donate, subscribe or write for them. Their entire staff of journalists is made up of community volunteers, and they aim to cover the whole Highway 58 corridor from Lowell to Crescent.

Highway 58 Herald interim editor George Custer works at his desk, editing articles. (Mathias Lehman-Winters/Emerald)

Highway 58 Herald interim editor George Custer stands in front of his newspaper collection in Oakridge. (Mathias Lehman-Winters/Emerald)

‘ON CINEMA’ IS THE BEST COMEDY SHOW YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF

“On Cinema at the Cinema” is a satirical web show hosted by comedians Tim Heidecker and Gregg Turkington

The entertainment industry is so densely packed with choices, so saturated with selections, that it can feel overwhelming to find new content. We all know and love the movies and shows that capture the zeitgeist of their era. But sometimes, the brightest gems lie beneath the mainstream. “On Cinema at the Cinema” is the best comedy show you’ve never heard of — an absurd, ever-expanding comedic universe with a tight-knit following.

In 2012, comedians Tim Heidecker and Gregg Turkington joined forces to form a web show for the ages. Each inhabiting an exaggerated version of themselves, the two sat down in red movie theater seats to discuss the latest films. The first season represents the series at its simplest: a satirical review show with dry, niche humor.

The first couple of seasons are relatively tame compared to the show’s grandscale zaniness today. Turkington provides his trademark film expertise while Heidecker strays off-track in wildly unpredictable directions. At its core, the series is about their rivalry: Heidecker, a belligerent, often impaired, narcissistic sociopath; and Turkington, a lonely, socially inept, film-obsessed loser.

As we dive deeper into the series, more characters, segments, spinoffs and plot lines are introduced. Heidecker forms a band called Dekkar, featuring Italian sweethearts Axiom and Manuel. Turkington presents the beloved Victorville Film Archive. An action spin-off series called “Decker,” framed as an in-universe creation, ran alongside the main show for six seasons. Wives, babies, deaths, fires, criminal trials, you name it, it probably happened. Despite its movie-centric origins, films are hardly the focus for much of the

BY SEAN AVERY • DESIGNED BY GABRIELA MARTINEZ

show. That being said, if you consider yourself a film buff like Turkington, you’re going to enjoy it even more.

At the end of every season, the On Cinema team broadcasts a live Oscar Special, airing simultaneously with the Academy Awards. These three-hour extravaganzas are the culmination of each season’s storylines, typically devolving into unbridled chaos as the night goes on. Building on a boatload of lore and years of running jokes, the Oscar Special has grown considerably bigger, better and more insane over the years.

The 11th Oscar Special, which aired earlier this year, is perhaps their best yet. It’s increasingly apparent that the entire crew is just as madly passionate about this universe and these characters as its faithful fanbase. Despite over a decade of commitment to this project, Heidecker and Turkington show no signs of slowing down any time soon.

The On Cinema community might be small, but it’s a mighty bunch and an absolute privilege to be a part of. Everyone feels in on one massive, exclusive bit. Though rare to run into in the wild, the fandom has a strong, welcoming presence on social media.

It might seem daunting to start from the beginning, especially when there’s so much content to dig through. But if you need something fresh to watch, grab some friends and give “On Cinema at the Cinema” a try — you’re in for a treat.

(Carter Killin/Emerald)

IT JUST MAKES SCENTS

So often, fragrance is looked at as a way to get compliments or to simply smell “good.” But a scent can be so much more.

A few years ago, I had a conversation with a good friend of mine about art and the senses. We came to the conclusion that almost every sense hasd a form of human made art dedicated to it. The ears have music, the mouth has food, and the eyes have all sorts of visual art to consume. But what about the nose?

In a later conversation with the same friend, we realized we had been ignorant to the art form of the nose. The nose has perfumery. The reason we had both failed to realize this was because our understandings of what fragrance is and what it can be had been narrow.

I’d only ever heard perfume talked about as a cosmetic product — something you use to get compliments or, in the worst case, to cover up any unpleasant smells. But a fragrance can be so much more than a means to make a good impression or boost your confidence.

Remove perfumery from the cosmetics context and it becomes an art form. Treat a scent the same way you would treat an album, a movie or a tasting menu — don’t just think about what it smells like, think about how it makes you feel. Does it remind you of something? Do you picture a scene, or a person? Try to extend your thought past “this smells good” or “this smells bad.”

Mark Leibman, a self-described scent therapist at Portland’s Perfume House, said part of his love for fragrance is for its psychological abilities.

BY AIDAN ECKHARDT DESIGNED BY EVA ANDREWS

“It’s the fact that it can actually make you feel good,” Leibman said. “It’s a really strong emotional thing for people.”

If you compare the norms surrounding fragrance to the ways we treat clothing, it appears we are going about the use of fragrance all wrong. For example, on a hot day, you might wear shorts and a crop top, and on a cold day, you might wear a shearling coat and a scarf. You wouldn’t (or at least shouldn’t) wear the same clothes you go to class in to a wedding. And you wouldn’t wear your clubbing

outfit to a job interview. So why wear only one scent for all of these things? Or no scent at all? A fragrance is an accessory, just like jewelry or a bag. For example, on a cold morning, I might wear something with notes of rich vanilla and pipe tobacco, because sweet and dense scents can feel like a warm embrace on a cold day. Now let’s say it’s a bright and sunny afternoon at the river. Wearing something with citrus and cedarwood can give a light and refreshing aura that cools you down. The kind of self expression fragrance offers is unmatched. Whether you want to draw somebody in or push people away, the intimate invisible quality of a scent makes it captivating. On days you wake up hating everybody and the thought of talking to people makes your stomach churn, put on something dark and brooding, and you may start to enjoy the feeling. Smokes, leathers and birch tar are just some of the notes that invoke a somber and reserved sensation. For the days you wake up feeling the opposite, florals and ambers can make for an inviting and uplifting vibe.

Fragrance also has the uncanny ability to take you back in time through memory.

“It’s the most tied into memories of all the senses,” Liebman said.

The hippocampus and the amygdala are the parts of the brain responsible for memory creation and retrieval. The olfactory system, which processes scent signals, is right next to the hippocampus and amygdala, and their neurons are intertwined. As described in “The Proust Effect” by Cretien van Campen, the Proustian memory — the beautiful, involuntary recollection of a memory triggered by scent — is the result of this.. Its namesake comes from French writer Marcel Proust, who described the sensation after eating a madeleine cake.

“Go slow, take your time, there’s a million things out there,” Liebman said. “You have to go through on your own to determine what you like and what wears well on you.”

To me, fragrance is one of the most emotionally engaging, and abstract art forms. For those looking to explore the world of fragrance, Uncommon Scents at the Meridian, located on 1801 Willamette St., has a wide selection of scents in the form of perfumes, soaps, candles and other products. Customers can even blend scents to create custom fragrances that best suit their preferences. So don’t be afraid, sample before you buy and see what you like.

Products are featured inside of Uncommon Scents at the Meridian on March 22, 2024. (Alex Hernandez/ Emerald)

Fiona Kendall helps a customer as another browses products inside of Uncommon Scents at the Meridian on March 22, 2024. (Alex Hernandez/Emerald)

Products are seen inside of Uncommon Scents at the Meridian on March 22, 2024. (Alex Hernandez/ Emerald)

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OREGON’S FORMER STARS SHOW OUT ON PRO DAY

DESIGNED

BY

ADALEAH CARMAN

BY JOE KRASNOWSKI

Oregon’s 2023 squad was one of the best in the nation but — as most great college defenses do — graduated significant contributors. Those stars donned the “O” one last time to flash their skills and bump their draft projections at the schools’ Pro Day March, 12. With all eyes now turned to next month’s NFL draft, the Daily Emerald has created a list remembering the Ducks now former stars, while projecting where they might end up being selected.

BO NIX

Oregon’s golden boy is moving on from his time in Eugene. Nix, who departs college football as the NCAA’s all-time pass completion percentage leader, finished his Ducks’ career with over 8,000 career passing yards and 74 touchdown passes. Broadcasted by most major outlets as a late first or early second round pick, Nix turned heads, connecting with wide receivers on a plethora of routes at Pro Day, including this nearly 50-yard dime to Tez Johnson. NFL teams looking for quarterback help include the Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders and Minnesota Vikings.

BUCKY IRVING

Irving declared for the draft after a career year for the Ducks that saw him finish with 1,180 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. With Noah Whittington out after Week 4, he was the undisputed number-one option for the majority of the season. Irving likely projects as a Day 2 or 3 pick (Rounds 3-5); he’s not as physically imposing as some of the players above him, but some of the “game speed” that we saw on display at Pro Day will no doubt translate to the NFL. Irving projects as a speedy back with clear upside. Ideal fits include the Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals.

TROY FRANKLIN

Franklin, who spent 2023 as the primary option in Oregon’s high-flying offense, enters the draft as a strong option for teams looking for a receiver with no real weaknesses. Franklin and Nix broadcasted their tangible chemistry, connecting on numerous passes on Pro Day.

The graduating catalysts from Oregon’s highpowered 2023 squad showcased their skills one final time in Eugene

Franklin said that he was “most definitely” the top receiver in Oregon history after his workout.

Franklin totaled 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns in a season that fully cemented himself as a potential first round pick.

Likely fits at the professional level include the Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers.

JACKSON POWERS-JOHNSON

Powers-Johnson, Oregon’s Rimington Trophy winner, was a stalwart on a stout offensive line that allowed just five sacks all year, and was first in the country in sacks allowed. After the season commenced, Powers-Johnson was seen as a likely second or third round pick, but raving reviews from the Senior Bowl combined with his Pro Day performance have seen him consistently mocked into the first round.

BRANDON DORLUS

Dorlus turned heads all season, and Pro Day in front of numerous scouts was no different. Dorlus effortlessly pummeled tackling dummies and garnered significant attention. “Some teams like me as an edge, some teams like me inside, some teams like my flexibility,” Dorlus said. Of note, Dorlus has added 11 pounds since the season, boosting his potential at the next level. Dorlus projects as a likely second or third round

Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills — all of which met with him at the combine.

KHYREE JACKSON

Although failing to produce eye-popping results at Pro Day, Jackson was Oregon’s top cornerback throughout the season, finishing with 34 tackles and three interceptions. Projected as a day two or day three pick, Jackson will be selected as a speedy corner who will need to fill into his frame to contribute consistently at the next level.

CASEY RODGERS

Although his main claim to fame in 2023 was an 18 yard run on a fake punt, Rodgers finished with 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack and was a subtle contributor to a strong Oregon defensive line. Rodgers’ strong showing at Pro Day was highlighted by a 35-inch vertical and a 4.82 second 40-yard dash, which for a 6-foot-5, 305 pound lineman is pretty darn good. “I’ve never seen Casey jump like that before,” Dorlus said with a laugh.

Evan Williams (33) makes a pass. (Kai Kanzer/Emerald)

COVERING THE PAC-12 MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

My time in Las Vegas covering Oregon’s win in the final Pac-12 Championship as a student journalist

The Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada, seemed like a last ditch effort for the Oregon Ducks to redeem a season that saw injuries derail what could have been a competitive year.

Heading into the weekend, the Ducks sat fourth in the conference, needing either a conference title or a trip to the championship game while dominating their opponents on the way to have a chance at a March Madness bid. The path for Oregon was not forgiving. The streaking No. 5 seeded UCLA Bruins had won the previous matchup between the two teams, and the Ducks were a combined 0-4 against the No. 1 seeded Arizona Wildcats and No. 3 seeded Colorado Buffaloes.

With the road as precarious as it seemed, I feared that the Ducks might lose round one and I would only be covering one game. Clearly, I was wrong.

I landed in Las Vegas late on Tuesday, March 12 and got to my hotel very early the next morning. I got some sleep before heading to T-Mobile Arena to watch the first round of the tournament. The No. 9 seeded USC Trojans beat the No. 8 seeded Washington Huskies in the first game, potentially a semifinals opponent for Oregon if the Trojans could pull off a massive upset against the Wildcats. Then, the Bruins defeated the No. 12 seeded Oregon State Beavers and Oregon’s first opponent was set.

The Bruins boasted Adem Bona, who had caused problems for the Ducks earlier in the season. Bona vs. N’Faly Dante seemed like the matchup that could define the game. That matchup took a hit when Bona found himself in foul trouble early and often. He played just six minutes in the first half, then sat for extended periods of the second half as well.

Oregon was able to close the game down the stretch, a weakness for the team all year, and come away with their ticket to the semifinals. I had an almost courtside seat to watch the first game of Dante dominating the Pac-12 inside the paint. His great play helped the Ducks overcome poor shooting from almost every other player, something that would become a theme throughout the tournament.

After the second day, the amount of games decreased, and the start times got later. Before, I had spent most of my time at the arena watching every game I could. Now, I had to wait until Oregon’s 5:00 p.m. start time. I took advantage of that time to do things other than watch basketball, and explored Las Vegas a bit before

heading to the arena.

Arizona had been a team that seemed to have the Ducks’ defense figured out throughout the season. In the two previous matchups between the teams, the Wildcats outscored Oregon 190-161. So head coach Dana Altman adjusted. They forced the pace slower, and held Arizona’s offense to poor shooting. It was another game in which Oregon was forced to put its opponent away late, and once again the Ducks were able to do so.

The final day presented a problem for me. I had forgotten the start time of the championship game — 6:00 p.m. — when scheduling my flight back to Oregon. I had initially booked a flight for 10:00 p.m. Saturday night, and was forced to change to a 6:00 a.m. departure on Sunday morning. Since I did not have a hotel room booked, that meant a long night in the airport was waiting for me.

Before that, however, Oregon took on Colorado. The game was a third straight close game, and a third straight game in which the Ducks were able to slow the pace way down to end the game and come away with the win. The ensuing celebration and trophy presentation was the highlight of the trip.

I was able to get a close up view of Oregon cutting down the nets and booking its ticket to March Madness. Dante was named the Tournament MVP and Jermaine Couisnard and Jackson Shelstad were both named to the All-Pac-12 Tournament team. The team celebrated on the green and yellow confetti-covered court for over an hour before heading back to the media room.

After all the dust settled, I finally made my way to the

BY JOE MOORE DESIGNED BY EVA ANDREWS

airport to begin my long night. I did not sleep a wink after the excitement. I landed the next morning, absolutely exhausted, but without a single regret from the weekend. Covering the Pac-12 Tournament is easily the highlight of my journalistic career so far, and watching the Ducks take home the final Pac-12 Championship was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Oregon guard Jadrian Tracey (22, right) and center Mahamadou Diawara (24, left) celebrate a dunk from center N’Faly Dante (1) from the bench. The Oregon Ducks were defeated by the University of Colorado Buffaloes 79-75 in a home game at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore., on March 7, 2024. (Eric Becker/Emerald)