5-15-23 Emerald Media Group - ODE

AFTER THE FIRE

The Holiday Farm Fire displaced hundreds of people. Now they navigate strict land use rules, steep construction costs and a struggling local economy as they try to rebuild.

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EDITOR IN CHIEF

Hannarose McGuinness

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Brandon Roth

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Sarah Matlick

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Caleb Barber

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Krista Kroiss

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Mojo Hill

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Emma J Nelson

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Ian Enger

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Liz Blodgett

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Amanda Lurey

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Dylan Farrell Logan Robertson

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Jamie Diep

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Jennifer Singh

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PUBLISHER & PRESIDENT

Bill Kunerth X317 bkunerth@dailyemerald.com

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Amy Mendez

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Riley Valle

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ON THE COVER

Of the 517 homes that burned down due to the Holiday Farm fire, 136 have been rebuilt. (Ian Enger/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.

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Top viewed story in the past week: “Eugene City Council workshops new camping ordinances” By Mathias Lehman-Winters

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Student Recommends

BY ADRIAN CARDENAS-MEJIA

MOVIE RECOMMENDATION: “CAPTAIN FANTASTIC”

Summary: Against all social norms, Ben and Leslie raise their six children in the depths of the forest in the Pacific Northwest. After Leslie’s untimely passing, Ben faces his pain while raising his children on his own in spite of his extended family. No matter how discouraging the circumstances become, Ben and his children fight to honor Leslie’s final wishes.

Recommended by: Alana Hilkey. “It’s kinda sad and has some dark themes, but it’s about a family that does hippie things in the woods and it’s an interesting way to think of the world.”

(Ali Watson/Emerald)

Second most read story in the past week: “Jail levy draws ire and support this election season” by Mathias Lehman-Winters

(Madi Mather/Emerald)

Voices of UO

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(Adrian Cardenas-Mejia/Emerald)

NO MOVEMENT ON NELSON’S IN THE WHIT ARSON CASE

After a fire at Nelson’s in the Whit on April 16, the Eugene Police Department reached out to the public for leads.

BY: ETHAN DONAHUE

Eugene Springfield Fire Department responded to a fire at Nelson’s Taqueria, a popular Latino restaurant, in the Whiteaker community at 1:18 a.m. on April 16. The fire is currently being investigated as a case of arson.

Nelson’s in the Whit is located at 394 Blair Boulevard. The business started as a food truck, Nelson’s Taqueria, which is still located in the parking lot of the restaurant.

The restaurant opened in 2021 and quickly rose in popularity, winning the Eugene Weekly’s Best of Eugene 2021 awards for Best Latin American Food and Best Food Cart. Nelson’s holds many events which involve the community such as drag shows, trivia nights, open mic nights, comedy shows and celebrations for holidays.

Owner Nelson Lopez and his husband TJ

Mooney, who live roughly five minutes from the restaurant, arrived on the scene of the fire and found fire trucks and police on the scene. Lopez and Mooney both wrote on their Facebook page on April 16 they believe the fire was intentional. The fire department was able to control the burn, but there was still substantial damage, the Nelson’s owners wrote on their Facebook page. The fire created holes in the building’s interior, some sections were exposed from the outside, and there was damage to the storage cooler. The owners are responsible for covering the costs of the damaged coolers, products lost and replacing equipment.

Nelson’s owners have been able to provide the police with security footage and worked with them as the investigation has progressed, but there have been concerns raised about how the police are

handling the case.

“Eugene Police Department assigned our arson case to a detective who is on vacation and won’t be back for a WEEK,” Nelson’s in the Whit wrote on its Facebook page. “This treatment of minorities by the Eugene police department is appalling and we as a community are not going to stand for it any longer.”

Nelson’s was able to remain open with the clearance of their insurance company and held a busy Cinco de Mayo celebration. A friend of Lopez and Mooney started a GoFundMe page which has raised $3,680 of a $10,000 goal.

The EPD is asking the community for witnesses or information regarding this case to reach out to Officer Dave Clark at 541-359-9835 and use EPD case 23-05449.

Eugene Springfield Fire Department responded to a fire at Nelson’s in the Whit early in the morning on April 16. (Caleb Barber/Emerald)

Nelson’s in the Whit will remain open for business since the incident, which is being investigated for arson. (Caleb Barber/Emerald)

AI IS AN INFANT

BY ANTONIO MORALES

As humans continue to move forward in the 2020s, scientific achievements overwhelm our daily lives as frightening new inventions dictate our society’s present and future. Artificial intelligence is one of these exciting achievements that is evolving faster than humans could ever keep up with.

Over the past few months, a number of different AIs have sprouted in all directions with Microsoft’s OpenAI at the forefront. Universities and professional environments are confronted with a new tool for cheating and laziness. Not only can you ask the insanely smart learning system for help on a Canvas discussion post, but this technology can also help medical professionals make new analyses and diagnoses which drastically improves clinician-oriented relationships with patients.

The amazing abilities do go over the line of human comfortability, however, as Google’s most influential AI pioneer, Geoffrey Hinton recently quit in order to warn the public about the philosophical risks involving this transition into the era of advanced AI.

What are these risks that have left so many tech giants fearful for a premature reliance on AI models? Popular media tells us to panic and prepare for the robot overlords to completely wipe out humanity just because they can. Fortunately for us, it is extremely unlikely that these sci-fi stories will come to fruition. Unfortunately for us, we are creating our very own sci-fi story never seen before.

Today, as AI use becomes more normalized, governments across the world have announced plans to eventually integrate AI into their policymaking sectors. China specifically has plans to begin its process of complete integration by 2025, as it also hopes to profit from this pioneering decision. This may sound fine and dandy right now, but there are many pressing limitations that have not yet been perfected by many AI developers.

OpenAI announced in early March of this year that it dramatically improved on its predecessor’s limitations, risks and safety mitigations. Its newest model, GPT-4, is a multimodal large language model which allows this AI to be able to spatially reason.

According to OpenAI’s technical report, “One of the main goals of developing such models is to improve [AI’s] ability to understand and generate natural language text, particularly in more complex and nuanced scenarios.” In other words, GPT-4 has the capacity to understand, reason and remember the visual and spatial relations among objects and space, making it a faux form of consciousness.

As scary and exciting as that might sound, this

technology continues to be developed and edited as AI in general is still in its infancy.

OpenAI even claims that its shiny new GPT-4 should be used with caution, emphasizing its potential to significantly influence society in both beneficial and harmful ways. OpenAI has also specified that it should not be used in “high-stakes context,” something that world leaders need to listen to. As China prepares to implement AI in its government in less than two years, it is increasingly unlikely that AI will be prepared to take on such a critical role.

For example, one of the ways GPT-4 avoids risky and problematic responses is by a reward system called rule-based reward models. RBRMs target correct behavior, such as refusing to generate harmful content or not refusing safe requests by any user. This reward system is extremely flawed, as one of its three requirements needs a human-made rubric that tells the program what is right and wrong. What happens when this technology gets in the hands of someone who has an objectively skewed view of the world? They would then be the one to dictate how this model responds going forward either positively or negatively.

Overall, AI is not yet an overwhelming force that could destroy all of humanity. Instead, it can best be regarded as an infant that requires lots of patience and learning. This is only the development period, which also makes it the most critical period. We should guide AI toward its final form, as pushing it too early can have devastating effects that aren’t yet comprehensible to our contemporary lives.

Let’s raise this massively influential technological baby for the good of humanity, even though we do not really have a choice.

EDITORIAL CARTOON:

BY ANTONIO MORALES AI

an Infant

is

Artificial Intelligence should not be heavily relied on as development goes on, making it increasingly difficult to tackle every problem created with this technological infant.

Antonio Morales is an editorial cartoonist for the Daily Emerald. He is a fourth-year student studying History and Anthropology. Antonio’s cartoons emphasize the cultural and social significance of current events and its direct impact on UO.

TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS AFTER THE FIRE, MCKENZIE VALLEY STRUGGLES TO REBUILD

MCKENZIE VALLEY STRUGGLES TO REBUILD

BY ALAN TORRES

517 homes were destroyed in the Holiday Farm Fire. Only a quarter of them have been rebuilt thanks to a combination of factors including county bureaucracy and stingy insurance and loan providers.

Between Sept. 7 - Oct. 29, 2020, the Holiday Farm Fire ignited and quickly burned through over 173,000 acres of northeast Lane County communities from Rainbow to Vida, destroying 517 homes in the process according to Lane County Public Information Officer Devon Ashbridge.

“We’re almost three full years out and still haven’t even been able to break ground on our business,” Melanie Stanley said.

Stanley’s home was one of those 517. She’s been able to rebuild it, but hasn’t been able to do the same for her store.

Stanley recalled a recent conversation with a friend where they talked about her progress toward rebuilding her business. “For her, it makes it hard to come through Blue River because my store’s not here,” Stanley said.

According to Lane County Public Information Officer Devon Ashbridge, 136 of the 517 homes lost have been rebuilt, for a recovery rate of 26%. Stanley said this recovery rate is lower than the other areas hit by Oregon’s 2020 fire season.

Fire survivors navigate strict land use rules, rising construction costs, limited assistance from

government, insurance and loan providers; and a shrinking community as they work to rebuild theirs.

LEGAL BARRIERS: COUNTY BUREAUCRACY

Many people want to rebuild their homes, but local land use laws put in place after they were built the first time make it difficult for people to recreate their previous lives.

“Every single strict and stringent rule that could be applied to building in the state of Oregon, Lane County went, ‘sure, we’ll take that one,’” Stanley said.

When Stanley rebuilt her home, her original plan included a garage three feet too close to the road. She chose to shorten the garage by three feet rather than pay $5,000 to go through the three month process of applying for a variance.

But many residents can’t make these adjustments. The most extreme example of this is the riparian zone, an area around a river where construction is not allowed to protect wildlife and drinking water. Many homes are located on land zoned for forest or agriculture. In these areas, the riparian zone is 100 feet from the high water mark,

which can be as far as 140 feet from the river, a limit that used to be 20 feet, meaning when the fire came, it was illegal for residents close to the river to rebuild.

“We’ve got these people who have nowhere to build on their property because we added 120 feet to this boundary line,” Stanley said.

Stanley said while the land use regulations developed by the county were done with good intentions, the barriers those rules have placed upon her neighbors’ rebuilding efforts have been unnecessarily burdensome on those whose property was destroyed.

“I think that a lot of people are just stuck on what’s best for the environment and the ecological side of things, which I don’t disagree with because Eugene needs our water and we need our water, but we also can’t keep people from coming home,” Stanley said.

The county has taken some action to reduce these barriers. People can apply to build inside the riparian zone, but it’s a lengthy process that has mostly been undertaken by those with the most resources, who tend to be rebuilding second homes.

Lane County land regulations have stalled or halted reconstruction of buildings that burned in the Holiday Farm fire. (Ian Enger/Emerald)

Another one of these barriers is the Blue River Drive right-of-way setbacks. Right-of-way setbacks include a road and the area next to it where building isn’t allowed so the road can be widened or utilities can be added later if needed.

When most of Blue River was constructed, these setbacks were 40 feet in downtown Blue River and 60 feet in the surrounding area. But the county has since increased them to 50 and 80 feet, limiting the space home and business owners have to rebuild.

In Stanley’s case, she and her architect realized they would have room to rebuild her store but not its parking lot. “We were joking about zip lines and tuck-and-roll as you drove by and all those other things and I’m like, ‘that’s not going to be really conducive to a good customer service experience.’”

County employees recognized this hurdle and held a community meeting to discuss it at McKenzie High School on Jan. 14, but it took until April 25 to get a public hearing with county commissioners.

“Our building has already totally been designed,” Mary Sherman, secretary for the O’Brien Memorial Library told commissioners at that hearing. “Taking away any of the space that we have now will definitely impact our plans that have already been developed, and we really would like to start building now. So any delay in that by having to redesign and start over would be very counterproductive.”

Commissioners granted the exception at the meeting, but the over three month process shows how long it takes to get these barriers removed.

“We still have a ton of people that are not even sure that they can rebuild or will rebuild because they’re just tired,” Stanley said. “They can’t fight with the county anymore.”

FINANCIAL BARRIERS: CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND STINGY INSURANCE

Even for people who overcome the legal barriers, the financial ones are just as prohibitive.

Brandi Ferguson is the board secretary for McKenzie Community Land Trust, a new nonprofit looking to build affordable housing in the McKenzie River Valley, which Stanley is also a board member of.

Ferguson estimated that on average, construction now costs 40% more than it did when the people who lost their homes built them. Insurance, for those who had it, usually only covers that original cost.

Stanley added that insurance is also usually limited to just the house. Exterior costs like redrilling a well to replace one contaminated in the fire are rarely covered, Stanley said.

Stanley described herself as “one of the most well insured people in the 97413 zip code.” Every year she would call her insurance agent and re-up coverage for her home and business. But according to her insurance, it wasn’t enough to keep up with rising construction costs.

“I was insured for half-a-million dollars on the building, but it’s going to cost a million and a half to rebuild it,” she said.

As a result, most of the people rebuilding in the McKenzie Valley are ones that can afford those major costs”, Ferguson said.

“What we’re not seeing is that kind of working class and middle income housing coming back,” Ferguson said. “And as we’re trying to rebuild a community — we need housing for everybody.”

So far, McKenzie Community Land Trust has secured funding for six homes in downtown Blue River. It plans to add projects throughout the McKenzie corridor, but like all affordable housing nonprofits, it’s limited to the money it can get from governments and in donations.

COMMUNITY BARRIERS: A LACK OF PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES

Stanley said her friend told her Blue River will feel more like home and people will be encouraged to return once Stanley’s store is back.

Stanley feels the same way, but has had trouble finding the money to rebuild. Governments including Lane County have stepped in to provide some of the money for rebuilding homes and infrastructure, but there’s no fund like that for businesses.

Instead, she’s been exploring private-sector loans, but those aren’t much easier to access.

“We have half the people who we don’t even know what their income looks like anymore because most of them have had to take half their retirement and

put them into their rebuilds because their insurance didn’t cover everything,” Stanley said. “And the other half of the people we’ve lost because they had to move or they have not chosen to come back.” Stanley said.

This makes her and other McKenzie Valley business owners unattractive loan prospects, she said.

As people like Stanley work to rebuild their businesses, people who are looking to hire struggle to fill those spots. Darren Cross is the district ranger for the forest service’s McKenzie River Ranger District and another member of the McKenzie Community Land Trust.

Since many people left the McKenzie Valley after the fire and there are few homes for people who would like to move there, hiring is difficult for people like Cross. “We have people either not apply, or they do apply and then once they figure out what the cost of living is and/or how far they would have to drive … they turn it down,” he said.

This goes both ways. “It’s kind of a chicken and the egg when you’re talking about recovering a community. You have to have housing and people so that you can have an economy,” Cross said. “Without the people, you don’t have the recovery. Without the recovery, you don’t really have the people.”

Lane Tompkins, president of the McKenzie Community Land Trust and superintendent of the McKenzie School District has had the same challenge. Even with an administrator’s salary, he couldn’t afford a home in the school district and commutes an hour from Eugene, a commute he recognizes not everyone can make.

“It’s been a challenge to attract and retain staff members when getting into the area home market is tough,” Tompkins said. “There’s just no starter homes in the area.”

FOR HOLIDAY FARM FIRE VICTIMS, THE ROAD TO RECOVERY CONTINUES.

“It’s always interesting to find out how many folks in Eugene think everything should be rebuilt and get right back to normal. It’ll be five to ten years before that happens,” Ferguson said.

The Holiday Farm fire burned through over 173,000 acres of northeast Lane County communities from Rainbow to Vida. (Ian Enger/Emerald)

FREE RESOURCES FOR UO STUDENTS

UO’s Reusable Office Supply Exchange aims to support student needs.

BY MIRANDAH DAVIS-POWELL

Ever wished you had access to spare batteries or another water bottle after you’ve misplaced yours? The ROSE Room is where you might find your luck. The Reusable Office Supply Exchange, located in Prince Lutheran Campbell Hall in room 182, can be hard to find but rewarding to explore. Stumbling across the ROSE Room is reminiscent of finding hidden treasure: This gem is a resource used by few but loved by those who are familiar with the program.

The ROSE Room has been in operation since 1992. The program existed originally as a sort of “staff closet” where faculty would donate used office supplies that they no longer needed but didn’t want to throw away. The resource helped prevent still-operable office supplies from filling up landfills.

Now operated by the UO Student Sustainability Center, the ROSE Room is a resource available to all students. The program has recently undergone some changes to improve its efficiency, as well as beautification.

Because the campus is heavily digitized now, there wasn’t a lot of need for the old supplies. Physical office supplies such as folders, file cabinets and computer mouses had taken up the majority of the space in the ROSE Room. These weren’t in especially high demand in recent years, according to Josefina Cruz, reusables and waste reduction lead at the SSC.

Seeing this reality, the SSC overhauled the ROSE Room, remodeling, painting the area, and getting specific about the materials that they wanted to prioritize — things that would be helpful for students, such as dorm decorations, but also things that students often overlook, such as batteries, water bottles and more.

In her role, Cruz oversees the maintenance and operation of the ROSE Room

with the assistance of volunteers. Being in the position for about a year and a half, she was present through the remodeling of the ROSE Room. “We want the space to be more inviting, and have more things you would actually need,” she said.

Cruz recounts an instance where a GE came into the ROSE Room on the day they reopened and was super excited to see that the space was available again. Aside from that, she was grateful for the renovation of the space and Cruz’s outlook on the future of the program. “She left saying ‘I’m gonna go tell all my students about this!’” Cruz said. “That’s the biggest way of getting this outreach is word of mouth.”

In the future, Cruz hopes to create more momentum around the program by bolstering donations through supply drives and continuing to get the word out about the program. “I feel like most people don’t know we’re here, and that’s the biggest overtaking is letting people know, this is free,” Cruz said.

As we’re entering the end of the school year, Cruz encourages those who are moving out of the dorms to consider donating their unwanted room materials or school supplies to the ROSE Room. It can be a great way to prevent waste and support a program that has the capacity to support the community of faculty and students at the UO.

Cruz is optimistic about the future of the ROSE Room and is looking forward to continuing to support her community. “It makes me really happy when someone even comes and gets a water bottle because that’s one more person I’ve helped,” she said.

The welcome sign to the ROSE room which is open every Thursday from 1:30p.m.3:30p.m. ROSE (Reusable Office Supply Exchange) is a group involved with University of Oregon’s Student Sustainability Center. (Kemper Flood/Emerald).

The room recently had its grand reopening Apr. 4. It is open to both students and staff. ROSE (Reusable Office Supply Exchange) is a group involved with University of Oregon’s Student Sustainability Center. (Kemper Flood/Emerald)

Primarily the ROSE room has office, and school supplies in stock. ROSE (Reusable Office Supply Exchange) is a group involved with University of Oregon’s Student Sustainability Center. (Kemper Flood/Emerald)

DOWN

5 Architectural Digest subject

32 Bar mitzvah official

33 Dallas suburb

34 Bobby of the Bruins

36 Word with Beach, Beastie, and Backstreet, in band names 39 Weaver’s device

44 Journalist Curry

46 AC power unit

48 Allied groups

49 Send payment 50 Simplifies 51 “We’re full” B’way sign

52 Like the “funny bone” nerve 55 Invisalign side effect, perhaps 56 At a standstill 57 Banana throwaway

59 Keeps in the email loop 60 Regret 61 Golden yrs. fund 62 Cravat or ascot

RUTH: 8 TRACK AND FIELD EVENTS AND THE OTHER-SPORT ATHLETES THAT SHOULD GIVE THEM A TRY

Which athletes would it be the most fun to swap with Oregon’s incredible track and field team?

BY BRADY RUTH

Oregon is blessed with an incredible track and field team, facility and coaching staff. We know this, and it comes as no surprise. But what if the team suddenly disappeared, and Hayward Field was hosting an event tomorrow?

Surely the Ducks would need to field a team.

It wouldn’t be nearly as studded as the roster Oregon has now, but it sure would be entertaining to see who the Ducks use as replacements.

Taking just one athlete group or position from various Oregon athletic teams, I created a list of who might be able to best fill the shoes of one of the most remarkable track and field teams in the nation.

Now, in no way am I saying these track events are easy, and I’m not taking anything away from our current track athletes. But you’re telling me that you wouldn’t be even a little curious to see how some of Oregon’s other athletes fare at Hayward?

POLE VAULT — ACROBATICS AND TUMBLING TOP

If anyone’s going to be nearly a dozen feet in the air, I want the athlete with the most experience flying. At any Oregon acrobatics and tumbling event, tops being hurled into the air while spinning enough to make us commoners puke is a regular sight. If some tops from Oregon’s roster were to try pole vaulting, they’d feel right at home up in the sky… and we wouldn’t even ask them to spin too much. A big part of flying is also falling. I’d trust a top to not panic on the way back down and position herself to land safely. This is one I could legitimately see having a shot at working as long as they can get off the ground.

HIGH JUMP — VOLLEYBALL MIDDLE BLOCKER

Do you know how high you have to jump to get nearly your entire torso above an over seven-foot tall net? Yet middle blockers do it - often more than once per volley. They have a talent for hops that’s not matched by most anyone else. Not to mention, touching the net is a violation in volleyball, as is touching the bar in the high jump. Oregon’s middle blockers can jump and evade and seem a fitting pick to try out the high jump. They’d just have to get horizontal for a change.

JAVELIN THROW — BASEBALL PITCHER

If a starting pitcher can turn a 90 mph fastball into a metaphorical weapon, I’d love to see what they can do with a real one. Let’s give one of these hurlers a literal spear and see how far he can make it go. They’re already accustomed to making objects fly from a standstill. Give them a couple steps headstart and a proper pulldown, and I think we’d be impressed to see what they can do with a javelin. The jump from a 5-ounce baseball to a 28-ounce javelin could prove to be slightly problematic, but I’ll take my chances with a pitcher’s velocity and arm strength.

SHOT PUT — SOFTBALL OUTFIELDER

Unlike baseball, I chose a softball outfielder over a pitcher because she’s more accustomed to throwing her hardest overhand. I understand that a shot put is more of a push than a throw, but the arm power

it takes to throw a runner out from hundreds of feet away likely has enough strength to attempt a put. Not to mention, while being significantly heavier, a shot is much smaller than a softball. I’d like to see a center fielder put her all behind a put. She might just surprise us.

110 METER HURDLES — FOOTBALL PUNT RETURNER

For a hurdle event, I want someone who’s as fast and agile as they come. Sounds like a punt returner to me. On the rare occasion that a fair catch isn’t called for, a punt return can be one of the most exciting plays in sports. The returners have to be quick enough to evade opponents, smart enough to think ahead to their next move and fast enough to leave everyone else behind. If they can get high enough off the ground to clear the 42-inch hurdles, a punt returner might just be able to compete in this event. But that explosive speed on what’s practically an obstacle course would be so incredibly entertaining.

MARATHON — WOMEN’S SOCCER MIDFIELDER

The obvious answer here was cross country. But, I figured it was too similar to track and field and the roster is roughly the same. So instead I’d like to take a midfielder from Oregon’s women’s soccer team. Running a marathon takes considerate endurance — a trait often found in soccer players. Specifically, I’d take one of the Ducks’ midfielders. They run the most during the games, and Marathon Handbook claims they can sometimes run up to 9.5 miles in a single match. I have to imagine

their practices consist of brutal conditioning and significantly more running. As far as non-track athletes competing in a hypothetical marathon goes, I like a soccer player as my pick.

LONG JUMP — MEN’S BASKETBALL CENTER

Oregon’s men’s basketball team is full of the tallest athletes on campus. Forget their incredible wingspans, let’s talk about how lengthy some of these players are. They could simply step and record a longer “jump” than I could ever attempt. If they can get the running start on the runway and treat it like a fast break, I wouldn’t be floored to see one of the Ducks’ centers clear the whole pit. This might be the comparison on this list that I’d be the most intrigued to watch. These giants are unbelievable athletes. We’ve seen them jump for dunks, rebounds, tips and flops. Let’s see what happens when they jump for sport.

100 METER SPRINT — WOMEN’S LACROSSE ATTACKER

Quick, sporadic breaks of speed are exactly what attackers are built for. Attackers are speedy throughout the whole game, but they seem to find another gear when presented with a scoring chance or breakaway. These quick bursts are exactly what they’d need for a 100-meter sprint. They can hold their lacrosse stick for the race if it makes them feel more in tune with their natural sport for all I care. Treat the race like a breakaway and let an attacker compete. Of all the sports we haven’t used yet, I’ll gladly take a lacrosse player in a brief 100-meter sprint.

With a commanding lead, Shana Grebo puts all that she has left in her tank to cross the finish line in first place. (Jonathan Suni, Emerald)

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

This week’s editor’s picks...

MAY 17

How to: LinkedIn Like a Pro

Come visit Lillis to get expert tips on your LinkedIn profile

Are you struggling with your online presence? At the Mohr Career Services Center, career readiness coach Chelsey Niles is hosting a LinkedIn workshop to answer all things networking and job searching. Niles will also help those who need to update their LinkedIn profile to grab an employers’ attention. This workshop will take place in Tykeson Hall 50 Wednesday between 3 and 4 p.m.

MAY 18

Dirt Maidens BIPOC Women’s Ride

Try out the Outdoor Program dirt biking event if you are looking for a new hobby or to be in a safe space

Grab a bike—or rent one from the Outdoor Program for $37— and head down to the Outdoor Program Barn to participate in the BIPOC Women’s Ride. This event is open to all women, trans and non-binary people who are comfortable in feminine spaces and identify as Black, Latino, Asian or Indigenous. Once a group is formed at the barn, a van will transport bikers to the Carpenter Bypass Trail System where they will participate in dirt bike riding trails of all varying levels. Participants do not need to be an experienced riders, but they need to know the basics of gear shifts and brakes. This event will take place Thursday between 5:45 – 8 p.m.

MAY 20

Native Plant Tour

Looking for something to do on a warm day?

Go on a leisure walk around a native garden

The Museum of Natural and Cultural History is holding a native plant tour for all UO students and community members. Members of the Emerald Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Oregon will lead people through the museum’s outdoor garden where there are more than 40 species of plants home there. On the tour, the group will explain how these plants have been important to indigenous ways of life for many generations. The tour is free of charge for UO students and $6 for general admission. This event will take place on Saturday between 1 – 2 p.m.

MAY 21

Greenhill Humane Society’s “Bark in the Park”

If you have a dog or not, go on a run to support the Greenhill Humane Society.

Humans and four-legged friends alike are all welcome to the Alton Baker Park “Bark in the Park” run. This run is organized as either a 2K, 5K or 10K, depending on the distance and time you have. While there, enjoy the various vendors available and the doggie activities. The organizers of the event are the Human Green Hill where all proceeds will be for maintaining facilities and finding homes for the 3,400 pets in the program. Pre-registration for the event is $35 before May 20 and $40 on the day of the event. The 5K and 10K starts at 8:45 a.m., and the 2K follows at 9:45 a.m.

(Photo Courtesy of Museum of Natural and Cultural History)

(Photos Courtesy of Greenhill Humane Society)