Post-Election: How Women At UO Feel About Their Rights
University of Oregon students and staff share their outlooks on how women’s rights may change once President-elect Donald Trump steps back into office
By Riley Fox Campus News Reporter
Competing with the clock: triathlete Liam Bielat finds any time he can to train
After President-elect Donald Trump won the presidential election on Nov. 5, 2024, several University of Oregon campus organizations, students and faculty shared their thoughts on how they feel women’s rights will be affected under Trump’s campaign.
UO College Republicans
Cassidy Perkins, president of UO College Republicans, said she “supported Trump back in 2016,” and she “still supports Trump now.”
“I am very satisfied that he was reelected and I am really looking forward to seeing how the next four years go,” Perkins said.
Perkins said she does not believe Trump’s
Leading Eugene’s Downtown development
By Stephanie Hensley City News Reporter
In a city like Eugene, business opportunities are shaped by a growing economy influenced by college students and permanent residents alike. Katie Wilgus, executive director of Downtown Eugene, Inc. since 2023, leads efforts to enhance the downtown core.
In addition to her executive director role, Wilgus was hired to be the Downtown Solutions Strategist for the Eugene Chamber of Commerce in November 2024.
“This is really exciting because it will allow me to broaden my focus on Downtown [Eugene] and expand my stakeholder reach with
See pg 9 for story
PeaceHealth Riverbend grapples with dissatisfaction and long wait times
INVESTIGATIONS
FRATS SEE TWO-EVENT PER TERM
LIMIT UNDER NEW SAFETY PLAN
Behind Founded Vintage and Eugene’s community of vintage shops
Beginning Winter Term, the UO Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life will implement phase two of its new safety plan, introducing a two-event limit to both fraternities and sororities in response to rising drugging incidents
By Sydney Seymour Investigative Reporter
Winter Term 2025 marks the second phase — out of three — of the University of Oregon Fraternity and Sorority Life’s new plan to address safety at social events.
Among the 12 points of the new plan, one is aimed to limit chapters to two social events with alcohol per academic term, rather than an unlimited number of social events.
Following several drink drugging reports during the winter of 2024, the Interfraternity Council implemented a month-long prohibition of
By Aidan Eckhardt Arts & Culture Writer
Wearing vintage clothing invites a very different experience than most other clothing. By wearing something that may be older than yourself, you invite a sense of wonder that is unique and exciting. These clothes have lived full and storied lives of their own that exist completely outside of the wearer, and to wear and buy vintage further grows the story of whichever garment you choose to steward.
fraternity social events. During this time, the plan was for chapters to:
Create a standardized new member presentation on party safety and responsible alcohol use
Establish a comprehensive sober monitor training program
Implement a standardized guest list system for social events
Use ten neon vests—distributed by the IFC—to identify sober monitors
According to an IFC and Panhellenic Council training presentation, a sober monitor is a fraternity member who is chosen by a fraternity to be sober throughout a party, and gives
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Oregon men’s basketball avoids slump with key win over Maryland ahead of January road trip
Days after a historical blowout, the Ducks bounced back in a key way against the Terrapins
By Owen Murray Sports Reporter
On Saturday in the Matthew Knight Arena press room, Deja Kelly talked about the importance of “stacking wins.” On Sunday, Dana Altman talked about the danger of “stacking losses.”
Two days removed from a 109-77 home loss to No. 22 Illinois, the Ducks men’s bas-
Eugene completes protected intersection in effort to reduce crashes
City planners emphasize the importance of a new protected intersection in reducing the risk of crashes
By Joseph Chiu City News Associate Editor
Eugene locals and visitors alike are driving into new territory in the new year after the completion of River Road’s “protected” intersection.
Construction on the River Road intersection at Irving Road and Hunsaker Lane was completed in late November 2024, nearly two years after it was originally set to be
Q&A with ASUO Vice President, Kiki Akpakwu
Emerald Media Group 1395 University St.,#302 Eugene, Or 97403 (541)-346-5511
ASUO Vice President Kiki Akpakwu sat down with the Daily Emerald to talk about her and ASUO’s plans for the remainder of the academic year
By Stephanie Jersey Campus News Reporter
In an interview with the Daily Emerald, Kikachi “Kiki” Akpakwu, the Vice President of the Associated Students of the University of Oregon, answered a series of questions, which all centered around her and ASUO’s plans for the remaining five months of the
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An Interview with Investigative Reporter Kaylee Tornay
In this episode of the EMG Recap Podcast, producer Riley Vedomske interviews Kaylee Tornay, a reporter at the Investigative West, a non-profit collaborative newsroom. Vedomske talks about two articles written by Tornay that highlight Oregon’s mental health crisis and the state’s response to said crisis.
Scan me on your phone to listen to our podcast.
Post-Election: How Women At UO Feel About Their Rights
presidency will result in the loss of any human rights and that his policies would strongly protect human rights.
“He’ll [Trump] bring us into a better economy where people are able to more freely live their lives and express themselves. I think that in that way, Trump has improved women’s rights and just human rights in general,” Perkins said.
Perkins also said she feels Trump will protect people’s human rights as stated in the Constitution of the United States.
“We will be more free under a Trump presidency. [He] has vowed to protect our First Amendment rights. He has vowed to protect our rights of free speech,” Perkins said.
Perkins, who is also pro-life, said she believes “every unborn child has the right to life” and has the right to be “born no matter the circumstances under which they were conceived.”
“For me personally, I think it would be good to not have any abortion access period,” Perkins said.
Students for Choice
Audrey Tirrill and Karlie Windle, leaders of Students for Choice, a prochoice group on campus, discussed their concerns about women’s rights following the election.
“People had such a problem with a Black woman being the president that they elected a convicted felon and known liar,” Windle said.
Following the election, both Tirrill and Windle grew concerned about women’s access to abortions.
“It’s not just about abortion, and I think people center things around abortion,” Windle said.
According to the World Health Organization, “Around 73 million induced abortions take place worldwide each year. Six out of 10 of all unintended pregnancies, and three out of 10 of all pregnancies, end in induced abortion.”
“Abortion is needed and needs to be accessible,” Tirill said. “We have seen time and time again that numbers [abortion-related deaths and unsafe abortions] go down when abortion is completely accessible all over the country.”
Tirrill said she felt it was “dehumanizing” that some people would prioritize the life of a fetus over a woman.
“The vast majority who get abortions are already mothers,” Windle said.
According to Pew Research Center, most abortion procedures in 2021 were “women who had already given birth.”
Tirrill and Windle said they were concerned that in states where abortion was illegal, people would be left to seek help at crisis pregnancy centers.
“They’re not trained medical professionals,” Windle said. “They’re not only pushing a child on you but also a religion,” Tirrill said.
UO Student
Lauren, a Christian student who wished to not share her last name because of concerns surrounding her political views, said she is aware that her political views “aren’t the norm on campus.”
Lauren said she disagreed with the extent of the changes Trump had planned to push for once he entered office.
“I don’t agree with the level of social reform Trump wants to implement,” Lauren said. “At the same time, I do agree with a good chunk of his policies and believe in the positive impacts of his election.”
Similar to Perkins, Lauren said she does not believe that Trump’s policies will impact women’s rights.
“[I do not] feel strongly that Trump is taking away women’s rights by his policies,” Lauren said. “I believe his attitude toward women on stage has not been respectable by any means, but that doesn’t impact my rights as a woman.”
When it comes to abortion, Lauren said her “stance as a Christian and right-leaning individual is to protect kids.”
“I don’t believe abortion should be offered to anyone everywhere, but I also do not agree that it should be banned entirely for medical and safety reasons,” Lauren said.
UO Faculty and Staff
Donella-Elizabeth Alston Cleveland, a faculty support specialist, said she was “devastated” by the election results but “not overly surprised.”
“I think I’m disappointed, in the sense that I dared to hope this country was not who I know this country to be,” Cleveland said.
Cleveland said that after she found out President Biden would be stepping down from the election, she recalled telling her wife that the country would
not elect a woman for president.
“If you think this misogynist, racist country is going to have the first woman president be a woman of color and a Black woman, then you’re out of your mind. It’s not gonna happen,” Cleveland said.
She said she began to have “some hope” when she saw people around her supporting Harris, but after the election, she realized she may have been right with her initial judgment.
Similarly to Tirril and Windle, Cleveland said she believed Trump’s motives were mostly based on gaining power.
“With the president-elect [Trump], one does not know where his values are because, in all honesty, he does not value anything other than power in my personal opinion,” Cleveland said.
Jimmy Howard, UO Interim Dean of Students, said there are policies in place on campus to protect women who may have concerns about equality and access to reproductive care.
“Some of [them are] the recent changes to Title IX, which include protections for folks who are pregnant and continued reminders of making sure that our universities are free from sexual harassment and sexual misconduct,” Howard said.
According to Howard, he believes that students should know that the state of Oregon is a place that protects and values the rights of women.
“Oregon, the state and then the University of Oregon are two places that value women’s rights and make sure women have access to healthcare but also ensure that they have a safe place to attend school free of harassment and sexual violence,” Howard said.
Howard said that when “really any [UO] administration change” occurs, more students come to the Dean of Students’ office with concerns.
“My staff have been consistently thinking about what we communicate to students and continue to support students in a way that helps them feel like they have agency and choice,” Howard said. “We are consistently trying to reiterate that Oregon law hasn’t changed and that there are still protections at the state and federal level.”
New UO Beach Volleyball Court Plans Approved
The Campus Planning Committee has approved plans for new beach volleyball courts. The UO’s women’s beach volleyball team and their lawyer said they remain dissatisfied in lawsuit against UO.
By Riley Fox Campus News Reporter
On Nov. 15, 2024, the University of Oregon Campus Planning Committee, also known as the CPC, approved plans to build new beach volleyball courts as part of the Hamilton Walton Transformation Project.
The courts will replace Hamilton Hall, with construction set to begin in the fall of this year.
The plans have drawn criticism for failing to provide basic amenities, including on-site restrooms, at the new site.
At the same November 2024 meeting, it was noted that only portable toilets would be available at the new site for spectator use during events.
The approval is the recent step in the process for the UO women’s beach volleyball team to have an on-campus facility.
The team has previously practiced approximately a mile and a half from campus at Amazon Park.
In December 2023, 32 female student-athletes from the university, including 26 women’s beach volleyball players and six club team rowers, filed a lawsuit concerning Title IX and the facilities being provided to the team.
Numerous inequities have been revealed between the women’s beach volleyball team and other school-sponsored sports, most notably the lack of their own facility.
Former beach volleyball player Ashley Schroeder said she believes the approval of the plans wouldn’t have happened without the lawsuit being filed.
Arthur H. Bryant, the lawyer for the women’s beach volleyball team, said building the new courts was a step in the right direction, but not enough to place the team on equal footing with the school’s other teams.
“The fact that that’s what they’re coming up with and somehow suggesting this is good enough — it is ridiculous,” Bryant said. “To be clear, it is a huge improvement over what they’ve given the women up to now, which is no facility and a bathroom in a cinder block public bathroom with no doors on the stalls.”
According to UO spokesperson Eric Howald, the CPC could not provide comment on this story.
(Noa Schwartz/Emerald)
PeaceHealth Riverbend grapples with dissatisfaction and long wait times
A recent survey by two Oregon medical associations highlights the struggles facing Eugene-Springfield’s remaining Sacred
By Kellan Quinn City News Reporter
A recent survey of PeaceHealth patients reveals that an overwhelming majority have experienced what they consider excessive wait times and unacceptable conditions.
The Oregon Nurses Association and Pacific Northwest Hospital Medical Association recently released the results of a survey conducted in September 2024, showing that 97% of PeaceHealth patients reported negative experiences since the closure of PeaceHealth’s University District emergency room.
The University District location closure aimed to consolidate staff at PeaceHealth RiverBend Medical Center and cut costs. However, some patients cited wait times and insufficient time with health care providers as their most significant complaints.
Bruk Esayas, a junior at the University of Oregon, shared his experience at RiverBend.
“I visited RiverBend with an extreme case of tonsillitis,” Esayas said. “When I arrived at 10 p.m., I was told there would be a bit of a wait. The emergency room was filthy, extremely disorganized and smelled terrible. After getting my diagnostics taken, I waited for three hours before going to the front desk to stress that I was in extreme pain and on the verge of passing out.”
Heart facility
Esayas said he begged for acetaminophen or ibuprofen but was denied.
“They said, verbatim, ‘You are one of the next guests to be seen by a doctor.’ That calmed me down, so I sat back down. Five more hours passed, and it was 6 a.m. After waiting for nine hours and continuously seeing people come in, get help and leave, I left the hospital without receiving any treatment.”
70% of survey respondents reported long wait times, with some claiming waits of over eight hours, similar to Esayas’ experience. More than half struggled to secure appointments, with some waiting as long as six months. 50% of respondents also said they felt they had insufficient time with their healthcare providers.
The delay in addressing RiverBend’s rising wait times appears tied to the way PeaceHealth measures wait times versus how patients perceive them.
During a public meeting addressing the survey results, Dr. Charlotte Yeomans, a PeaceHealth hospitalist and PNHMA president, explained the disparity.
“[PeaceHealth] only looks at the moment between when the patient was registered and the moment a triage nurse talks to them or pulls them into the room, and they call that the wait time. But patients themselves consider their wait time the entire time they’re in the lobby.”
Leading Eugene’s Downtown development
Executive Director of Downtown Eugene, Inc., Katie Wilgus, has worked to revitalize the downtown core through community programs and expanded housing development
the goal of really making progress on Downtown’s vibrancy,” Wilgus wrote in an email.
Wilgus and her team have worked to improve Downtown Eugene, Inc.’s guides program, which started in the early ‘90s, according to Wilgus.
The guides program, also known as “red caps,” assists with non-emergency situations and helps connect individuals to resources in the downtown area. They are available to be dispatched to specific locations for support in the downtown service district, which covers approximately 25 square blocks.
“When I came on board, they were just starting to collect data and it’s really amazing how helpful that is,” Wilgus said. “People see them on the street and don’t fully understand all of the hats that they wear. That’s one thing I’m really proud of, just building up that team.”
Before moving to Eugene with her husband Jeremiah, and their two children, Wilgus was an advisory board member of “RACE TALKS: Uniting to Break the Chains of Racism” in Portland. She also worked as the vice president of the board for the Beaumont Business Association and sat on the Patient and Advisory Council for the Broadway Medical Clinic.
Wilgus, who attended Portland Community College, said she considers herself “a student for life.”
“I still take classes that I think will help increase my knowledge or make me a better leader,” Wilgus said. “I think I’m a little bit different than some students who go to school seeking a path. I already had a path.”
According to Wilgus, approximately 70% of calls made are from property or business owners who have concerns about somebody trespassing and guides work to de-escalate those situations and assist people in a compas-
“I think one of the things that is most valuable to our city is that they make 120 responses a month,”
Wilgus said. “Of those responses, less than one percent results in a call to 911. Less than three percent result in a call to non-emergency. So they’re filling an incredibly helpful role.”
Along with responding to non-emergency situations in place of police officers, the guides program also helps the Newberry Child Care development center on walking field trips for an “extra layer of security.”
One of Wilgus’ primary roles is expanding downtown Eugene’s housing development.
“I am hoping that Downtown Eugene, Inc. will also be able to develop some kind of cleaning program as well,” Wilgus said. “It’s a little bit early to say how exactly that will run. I have high hopes we’ll be able to collaborate with other community partners and lift up people who need opportunities to get back into the workforce.”
While living in Portland, Wilgus worked with the Association for Portland Progress for three years and “fell in love with the work.” However, they are no longer operating independently after merging with the Portland Visitors Association in 2002.
Following former APP president Ruth Scott’s departure, Wilgus left and pursued other job opportunities before joining Scott at Innovation Partnership, a collaboration of entrepreneurs and creative professionals in Portland.
“I knew it well and was passionate about it, and felt like that’s where I could make the biggest difference,” Wilgus said.
Wilgus’ previous experience has allowed her to continue to work on Eugene’s development with a focus on housing developments, revitalizing the downtown core and building community relationships.
In addition to her executive director role, Wilgus was hired to be the Downtown Solutions Strategist for the Eugene Chamber of Commerce in November 2024.
“This is really exciting because it will allow me to broaden my focus on Downtown [Eugene] and expand my stakeholder reach with the goal of really making progress on Downtown’s vibrancy,” Wilgus wrote in an email.
(Molly McPherson/Emerald) RiverBend Hospital is located on Riverbend Dr. in Springfield. PeaceHealth announced, on Aug. 22, 2023, that the University District hospital has begun the process of shutting down. The emergency department,
(LEFT) Katie Wilgus is the executive director of Downtown Eugene Inc. She said she hopes to develop a cleaning program during her time as executive director.
(Miles Cull/Emerald)
Continued from page 1
Frats see two event per term limit under new safety plan
resources and support to party attendees. Sober monitors
Jan. 25, 2024
Delta Sigma Phi was placed on interim suspension after an alleged drink drugging report.
Continued from page 1
resources and support to party attendees. Sober monitors are required to track the party guest list, now via an app called “Flare,” remove people “due to behavior” and are expected to contact venue managers, security guards and the University of Oregon Police Department if needed.
Despite IFC’s efforts, allegations of drink drugging at fraternity social events have continued since the winter of 2024. Eleven alleged druggings at fraternities were reported throughout 2024, according to the University of Oregon Investigations and Civil Rights Compliance. Five of them occurred this fall.
Last January and February, IFC placed three fraternities on interim suspension due to drugging allegations. UOPD investigated those chapters and later three other fraternities who faced reports during the fall term.
In November 2024, the UO Prevention Services, the Dean of Students, the Office of FSL, fraternity and sorority chapter presidents and outside experts in safety for college life discussed and developed a new plan for safer social events. FSL Director Caitlin Roberts said in a written statement to the Daily Emerald.
The current plan builds upon last winter’s plan with the two-event limit, a standardized platform to maintain guest lists (the “Flare” app), partnerships with communication services GreekLine and Real Response, and a collective discussion between the university staff and FSL community to build the plan. The plan says chapters must adhere to it to maintain good standing and avoid further action by the university.
“This new directive more clearly outlines acceptable practices and sets limits and restrictions on certain activities,” Roberts wrote.
Behind IFC and FSL’s planning meetings
Brainstorming and planning meetings for the new plan,
Feb. 12, 2024
Feb. 15, 2024
Phi Delta Theta was temporarily suspended after an alleged drink drugging report.
The Eugene Police Department opens a criminal investigation into Phi Delta Theta following a reported drink drugging.
Feb. 20, 2024
which started on Nov. 6, 2024, included education about the Clery Act, context of received reports and review of the plan IFC created last winter, with discussion regarding what was effective and what still needed improvement, according to Roberts.
The Jeanne Clery Act, enacted in 1990, “requires colleges and universities to report campus crime data, support victims of violence and publicly outline the policies and procedures they have put into place to improve campus safety,” the Clery Center says.
The plan’s initiation began on Nov. 22, 2024. Phase one consisted of:
Fraternities and sororities hiring professional security guards for social events where alcohol is present Chapters adhering to tighter guidelines of who can distribute alcohol (only state-licensed bartenders) and ensuring only people 21 or older consume it
Using the “Flare” app for guest lists
Limiting the number of social events with alcohol to two per academic term
The “Flare” app is used by over 300 colleges. It allows a time-in/time-out guest system and a RSVP function, according to IFC’s plan. To enter events, party attendees must be on the guest list and each attendee is required to provide photo identification at the entrance. Invitees will receive a QR code admission ticket to the event, and upon entering and leaving, must scan the code to provide time stamps.
In a written statement to the Emerald, 2024 President of Delta Sigma Phi, Cameron Lee, said meetings that included all of FSL were the most beneficial since sororities were able to voice what they wanted to see implemented. Even though sororities aren’t hosting the events where drugging allegations occur, Pi Beta Phi 2024 President Kaydyn Guelsdorf said they have members attending these events.
“It’s really important to provide input as people who
Feb. 22, 2024
The University of Oregon’s Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life issued a statement informing students about two alleged incidents and the subsequent suspension.
15 out of 16 fraternity presidents and voting representatives of the Interfraternity Council chapters voted to approve the suspension of alcohol related fraternity events through Apr. 15, 2024.
Feb. 27, 2024
Theta Chi is placed on interim suspension following two reports of drink drugging at their chapter house.
charges being filed.
(Alyssa Garcia/ Emerald)
The University of Oregon Fraternity and Sorority Life office is located on the ground floor of the Erb Memorial Union.
April 2024
The Eugene Police Department concludes its investigation
Phi Delta Theta, resulting
Department investigation into resulting in no filed.
aren’t hosting have women in their chapter who go and historically have been targeted by situations like this,” she said. “Women come with a perspective that’s different from males and fraternity members.”
Lee raised concerns about a lack of input from other UO students.
“It’s not just sorority girls attending social events,” he wrote. “People not in Greek life aren’t getting the same input and aren’t being kept up to date with what we are trying to accomplish.”
Another area of concern Lee said he has with the plan is the limit to two events per term and the potential loopholes it could ensue.
“Once all houses reach their quota, it encourages party goers to go to unaffiliated house parties or other places that aren’t following social policy,” Lee stated.
The intended purpose of this guideline, however, was to “give organizations space to practice new guidelines and increase the chances of identifying bad actors,” Roberts wrote.
Guelsdorf expressed her respect for everyone involved in the making of the plan and acknowledged that no matter what happens, the community will consistently make an effort to improve.
“I think a lot of people understand that this may not be the perfect plan, but it’s the plan we have now,” Guelsdorf said. “Nothing’s going to be perfect, and this is a work in motion. We have to constantly change and adapt — we’ve seen that over the last year.”
Phase two: partnerships, trainings and policy reviews
Expecting to implement specific plans of phases two and three by the end of winter term, IFC and FSL intend to simplify the social policy in the form of a guide or checklist for easy implementation.
The two organizations also are looking to provide training handbooks for transitioning chapter presidents and consistent training for members on the effects of alcohol, bystander intervention, sexual assault, drink drugging, peer education and more sober monitor training.
In terms of alcohol education, FSL intends to use the Alcohol Skills Training Program, which aims to help students at risk of developing alcohol use problems.
The IFC intends to partner with UOPD to help chapters understand how to conduct environmental assessments of social events, according to Roberts. Environmental assessments identify areas of potential concern at event locations, involving assessing how sober monitors are trained, the role of the sober monitor, event access and restricting isolated areas.
The IFC also plans to explore the ways councils can hold chapters accountable for minor infractions and a partnership—already in place at 29 organizations across US and Canada—with Greekline, a phone number for text messaging urgent safety concerns and contacting hosts of social events, according to the plan.
An $18,000 investment of phase three
The third and final phase, the plan says, includes ongoing efforts to reduce reporting barriers through Real
April 15, 2024
The suspension of alcohol related events is lifted, allowing fraternity to resume to normal practices. Delta Sigma Phi, Phi Delta Theta, and Theta Chi all remain on interim suspension while the university continues their own investigations into the allegations against the chapters.
April 12, 2024
UO’s Fraternity and Sorority Life launches new sober monitor training initiative.
Response, a communication platform already used in UO athletics, with an $18,000 investment made by the Office of the Dean of Students and the Office of Investigations and Civil Rights Compliance.
While the OICRC covers the costs from its budget and savings accrued from unfiled positions, the DOS will reimburse OICRC $9,000, according to UO Spokesperson Eric Howald.
“UO is launching its partnership with RealResponse as part of the FSL social plan, but that is not the end of it,” Howald wrote in a statement to the Emerald.
Within a few weeks after the initial launch of RealResponse with FSL students and programs, Real Response and the ? will be available to all UO students.
Real Response Anonymous Threads enables confidential reporting through text messaging, email and an online portal.
The investment aims to enhance the university’s capacity to hear from and support students without them fearing they are triggering an official university report, the plan says. The platform accommodates anonymous reports about mental health concerns, hazing reports and other sensitive issues.
The biggest challenge of the new social plan, according to Roberts, will be students understanding their responsibilities as both hosts and attendees of social events.
“Success depends on everyone holding themselves and
Oct. 23, 2024
UO issues a second statement sharing a second reported incident of possible drugging also on Oct. 18. The statement does not name a location but mentioned the student had attended an event that evening at the unaffiliated Kappa Sigma fraternity.
Oct. 21, 2024
UO issues a Clery statement after a student reports a possible drugging at a party hosted by Alpha Tau Omega on Oct. 18.
Nov. 4, 2024
others accountable for their actions,” she stated. “If a student believes they’ve been the victim of a drugging, or any other crime, report it. Even if a student chooses not to pursue formal or legal investigations, support services are available to help restore self-worth and dignity.”
According to the social plan, as of fall 2024, despite the numerous allegations, no fraternity or sorority has been found responsible for drink tampering or drugging through the UO’s investigation.
Nov. 22nd, 2024
Phase one of new safety plan is initiated by FSL and IFC.
UO issues a Clery statement regarding a reported sexual assault and possible drink drugging at a Pi Kappa Phi fraternity live-out house on Oct. 31. The statement also includes a separate possible drink drugging at a live-out house of Lambda Chi Alpha on Oct. 24.
Dec. 2024 - Jan. 2025
UO rolls out a new three-phase action plan that includes updated reporting platforms and procedures, along with a two-event limit per term, in an effort to curb incidents of drink drugging.
(ABOVE) FSL Director Caitlin Roberts said in a written statement to the Emerald that the new plan aims to improve safety at FSL events.
(Photo Courtesy of the University of Oregon)
Crossword
“You’re __ friends”
Gradually ease off
Org. with opening and closing bells
PIN point
“__ knows?”
“Rubbish!”
Not quite run
Go-getters
India Pale __
Pro’s camera
“Mom knows”
Sudoku
STUDENTS TODAY, ALUMNI TOMORROW
(SAA)
ARTS & CULTURE
Behind Founded Vintage and Eugene’s community of vintage shops
How Founded Vintage, a Eugene vintage clothing store, came to be
The vintage sphere has fostered a loyal following in the fashion world, and Founded Vintage, a Eugene-based vintage store, has become a favorite for local vintage enthusiasts.
“The thing I love most about my job is getting to talk to people in here,” Peter Michaels, the owner and founder of Founded Vintage, said. “I think we fostered a lot of cool people who come in and I think that vintage itself has a cool built in audience.”
Michaels, who’s been running the show since the store’s inception in 2022, is no stranger to the vintage community himself. A Eugene native, Michaels said he was brought up around the sights and sounds of the 70s thanks to his parents, and he’s been hooked on old clothing and culture ever since.
The store itself reflects this interest, and if the faded jeans and worn flannels don’t interest you, the hung up records or the boxy old television in the corner may. The clothes themselves generally range from around the 60s to the 90s, and the Founded Vintage team hand picks and chooses their inventory to have something for everyone.
This can be a difficult balancing act though when trends move as fast as they do these days, and it would be hard to retain an identity as a shop if the inventory was to change personalities every few weeks.
“There’s always been different aesthetics that we’ve leaned towards, but I think that keeping it open ended has been nice so we can evolve with the market,” Michaels said. “For example, camo is super big right now, and we can sell that stuff, but we’re not trying to become the camo store.”
He said that if you always try to follow what’s in at the moment, you’ll inevitably fall behind. To Michaels, the key is to stay true to your personal tastes, but to sprinkle in other bits of style flavor to help keep things fresh.
Founded Vintage is well established these days, but Michaels said its origins were less concrete. When he was younger, Michaels and his friends were regulars at many thrift stores, but he never considered approaching the market from the other side of the counter.
Later, he attended Portland State to study business and graphic design, and during his time in Portland, he started selling clothes on Depop, an online clothing marketplace. He had quick success, and soon dropped out from Portland State to pursue his new business full time. Then, in 2022, Founded Vintage was born as the brick and mortar manifestation of his online business.
Michaels said he was thankful to have an online business experience before opening the physical store, where the consequences of growing pains weren’t as harmful as they could be otherwise.
“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket,” Michaels said. He’s learned to always have a wide range of sources for clothing inventory. This way, if one source dries up, you can always count on the others to fill the empty space.
Beyond his business goals, Michaels also wants to help foster the fashion community in Eugene. Last spring, Founded Vintage hosted a runway show that showcased some of their inventory and other local creations as a way to bring Eugene’s clothing enthusiasts together. Michaels hopes the store itself can be more than a shop too.
“I’m from here, I was born and raised in Eugene …especially in the age of the internet, I think we’re losing some of our community spaces,” Michaels said. He explained the sociological concept of third spaces to help illustrate his point.
The first space is your home, somewhere that’s all about you, created by yourself and for yourself. The second space would be some place like school or your place of work where
you go usually more out of necessity than desire. Then, the third space is somewhere outside the home that you go to out of desire for social connections or to exercise interests.
In a big city, third spaces are everywhere — coffee shops, libraries, museums, parks, theaters and so on. However in smaller towns like Eugene, the number of these third spaces is proportionally smaller. Combine this with the transformation of many of our third spaces into the digital realm through things like social media and forums, and it can feel like we’re losing these third spaces.
Michaels wants Founded Vintage to serve as one of these third spaces for vintage enthusiasts and casual shoppers alike, and maybe the best way to reach that goal is to lead by example.
“People come in when they’re in a good mood (and) people come in when they want to treat themselves,” Michaels said, and because of that, it’s easy to socialize. “Getting to talk to all these people, that’s what I love most about my job.”
2024 Arts and Culture staff film recommendations
The Daily Emerald’s Arts and Culture desk ended 2024 by reflecting on its favorite movies watched this year. With a mix of new releases and classics, the staff provided opinions on the films.
By Mark Munson-Warnken and the Arts & Culture Staff
Wicked (2024)
Released in November, “Wicked,” directed by Jon M. Chu, brings the famous Broadway musical to theatres. Featuring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jeff Goldblum and others, the film depicts a story in the Land of Oz in the time before the classic novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” The film tackles complex themes like identity and race through the story of Elphaba and Galinda, two aspiring Witches. Romie Aviv tuhl, a senior associate editor for A&C, recommended the film due in large part to nostalgia. “Being an ex-theatre kid, it was fun to see a musical I had seen on stage come to life on the screen,” she said.
The Breakfast Club (1985)
30 years after its release, the cult classic coming-of-age film made an impact on A&C this year, showing why it earned resounding acclaim over the last three decades.
Centered around five high school students and a fateful Saturday detention, the film shows the commonality between all humans when cliques are removed from the equation.
“The characters are quite different from each other in terms of social status, but throughout the movie they overcome their differences and come together,” Cate Campbell, a junior art reporter, said.
The Substance (2024)
Released in September, “The Substance,” directed by Coralie Fargeat, is a thriller/horror masterpiece that depicts the sickening results of the search for youth. Starring Demi Moore, Faorgeat’s vision is brought to life with “thoughtful camerawork, striking production design, nasty makeup, and a squelching soundboard,” Sean Avery, a senior film and TV reporter, said.
Avery further described the film as “an unsubtle exploration of Hollywood’s ridiculous body standards, which trickle down to the everyday woman.”
Ricky Stanicky (2024)
Scapegoat, fall guy and, patsy, are all words to describe the imaginary Ricky Stanicky who is used as an excuse for the inane behavior of JT (Andrew Santino), Dean (Zac Efron), and Wes (Jermaine Fowler).
Eventually caught in the lie, the three men hire an actor (John Cena) to stand in for their imaginary scapegoat.
“It gets really out of control,” Fern Peva, a senior food writer, said. “It’s not a deep film, but it’s one you won’t regret watching.”
The Boy and the Heron (2023)
This modern animated classic was the seminal work of animator Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. 22 years after his first nomination for best animated picture in 2001, “The
Boy and the Heron” cemented Miyazaki as one of, if not the best animator of all time. The film describes a boy and his journey towards peace following the death of his mother.
“The combination of reality and imagination is really beautiful,” Seira Kitagawa, a sophomore dance and theatre reporter, said.
The Departed (2006)
Rediscovering the work of Martin Scorsese has been an incredible ride, and “The Departed,” is a nail biting thriller surrounding two Boston cops played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon and their relationship with Frank Costello, a mafia kingpin.
Played by Jack Nicholson, Costello has a cold and psychotic grip on the Boston drug trade and the budding police officers are forced to deal with the results of his rule in their own ways.
If you’re looking to be on your toes and sweating with anxiety for the better part of two and a half hours, the visceral experience of “The Departed” is my personal recommendation for your next movie night.
Kneecap (2024)
This musical comedy depicts threewo Irish hip-hop rappers and their rise to fame. The trio, named Kneecap after the torture technique popularized during the political conflict in Northern Ireland, fight an uphill battle of critics and assailants who complain of their promotion of anti-social behavior and republican ideologies.
“It was swept under the rug,” Jackson Buckley, a junior music reporter, said. “It told a great story of the duo’s impact on current social conflicts in Ireland with language.” If you’re looking for a music-centric and socially pertinent film, “Kneecap” is available on Netflix.
(Spencer So/Emerald)
Founded Vintage hand picks and chooses its inventory to have something for everyone
(Noa Schwartz/Emerald)
Y u g o E u g e n e S k y b o x + Y u g o E u g e n e C o u r t s i d e
R A T E S S T A R T I N G A T $ 9 0 9
2 , 3 , + 4 B E D H O M E S F O R F A L L 2 0 2 5 14 2 5 V illa r d S tr e e t E u g e n e , O R 9 7 4 0 3 S T A R T Y O U R A P P L I C A T I O N O N L I N E w w w . li v e s k y b o x . c o m
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Going the distance: Ultrarunner and triathlete
Elise Miles-Colthup talks all things endurance
Miles-Colthup completed her first triathlon when she was nine and her first Ironman before her 20th birthday. As she looks toward her future with triathlon, the end is nowhere in sight.
Competing with the clock: triathlete Liam Bielat finds any time he can to train
UO triathlete Liam Bielat doesn’t do days off. Juggling 18 hours of training a week with a full time school schedule, time is not his friend.
By Jess McComb Arts & Culture Editor
The CDC recommends Americans exercise at least 150 minutes per week, but for UO triathlete Liam Bielat, a typical week of training is 18 hours.
“I don’t have rest days,” Bielat said. “My coach doesn’t really believe in them.”
triathlon team, which, as practice director, he leads and plans, and he said this schedule can be a lot to balance.
“You’ve got to make a lot of compromises,” Bielat said. “It’s bad, but sometimes I’ll push back homework to get my training in.”
With all the hours Bielat puts into training, he said it’s been extremely helpful to have a team to do his workouts with. He doesn’t have a whole lot of extra time to socialize, so he said by training with friends he’s killing two birds with one stone.
By Jess McComb Arts & Culture Editor
When Elise Miles-Colthup competed in her first triathlon, she was 9 years old. Her dad was training for an Ironman, and she felt left out, so she signed up for a mini-triathlon. Eleven years later and a month before her 20th birthday, Miles-Colthup became an Ironman.
In the pool of endurance sports, triathlon was not Miles-Colthup’s first love. She ran cross country throughout high school in Colorado and began competing in ultramarathons when she was a sophomore.
Since then, she has completed five ultramarathons, including the 50k category final at Ultra-Trail du MontBlanc (UTMB, or the Superbowl of trail running).
When Miles-Colthup rediscovered triathlon, she was 18. She became a triathlete as many other runners do, by rehabbing stress injuries with swimming and biking. In 2021, she completed her first half Ironman (a 1.2-mile swim followed by a 56-mile bike ride and finished off with a 13.1 mile run), and she said her background in ultramarathons made training for the event much easier.
After her first half Ironman, Miles-Colthup was hooked, and when she came to the University of Oregon in 2022, she immediately joined the triathlon team. Having trained alongside her dad for years, Miles-Colthup said the social aspect of the team is extremely valuable to her.
The team primarily races the shorter distance olympic and sprint triathlons, but Miles-Colthup has continued to pursue long distance events independently. Whether
she’s training for a long or short distance race, her approach is the same.
“I’ll train for a sprint the way I would train for a half ironman,” Miles-Colthup said. “It’s something I love, so why not do it as much as possible.”
While she was training for her first full ironman, ironman Arizona 2023 (a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run), as much as possible meant 2-3 workouts a day, six days a week on top of a full-time load of classes. When asked if Ironman training ever feels like too much to balance, Miles-Colthup said the benefits of the sport vastly outweigh any negative aspects.
“It helps with my mental health a lot, which is kind of counterintuitive. It’s like, okay, you’re going to go work out constantly, but you’re going to be happier about it,” Miles-Colthup said.
Currently, Miles-Colthup is gearing up to race her first 100k in April, the Desert Rats 100k.
The race will start at 4688 feet and climb over 6700 feet in 62.1 miles, so Miles-Colthup must be acclimated to elevation.
This season will be Miles-Colthup’s last with the triathlon team as she intends to graduate in the spring, but she plans to continue triathlon as a hobby post grad, focusing on the half Ironman distance and peppering in a few more full Ironmans along the way.
“Whenever I tell people I run ultras or I’ve done an Ironman, they’re just like, ‘Why would you do that to yourself?’” Miles-Colthup said. “I have the ability to do this crazy thing and to see how far I can push my body and my mind until I can’t go anymore, and I’ve never hit that spot. So I have to see if I ever will.”
Prior to joining the UO triathlon team in 2023, Bielat had never done a triathlon. He has now completed two half Ironmans and is the practice director for the team as well as the President of the UO cycling team.
“It really helps when you’re getting into triathlon to have a group to do it with who will encourage you and help you get stronger,” Bielat said. “Tackling it alone is so confusing and intimidating.”
Before he started triathlon, Bielat was primarily a cyclist, which he said isn’t traditional for most triathletes. “Most people come onto the tri team with running or swimming experience, so I’ve become the bike guy for the team,” he said.
Now, when he is training for a half Ironman, his preferred event,, Bielat bikes up to 180 miles a week.
During the rainy Eugene winters, Bielat braves the elements in his warmer cycling gear, but he said he also spends a lot of time on his indoor bike trainer to get in his mileage. “It’s pretty brain numbing, but it’s just what you have to do,” he said.
Juggling cycling with a full time class schedule, 25 miles of running and 14,000 yards in the pool a week, Bielat squeezes in workouts wherever he can — early morning swims, a run between classes, or late nights on his bike train er. Three of his weekly work outs are with the
Currently, Bielat is preparing for nationals with the triathlon team in March before he begins training for longer distance races in the summer and fall. Bielat said he is considering tackling a full Ironman in the fall, and that it’s a longtime goal of his to eventually qualify for the Ironman world championships in Kona, Hawaii.
While he intends to continue triathlon post grad, Bielat is unsure if he’s interested in going professional. For now, he’s focused on competing at the collegiate level and helping his teammates improve.
“It’s so fun for me to help my teammates and see them progress in the sport,” Bielat said. “You can only push yourself so hard, so that’s where me and the other captains come in and make you go a little bit harder. The team has motivated me to improve so it’s cool to give that motivation back to them.”
(Left ) Miles-Colthup completes the running portion of Ironman Arizona, a 26.2 mile-long journey after first finishing a 2.4 mile swim and 112 mile bike ride. (Courtesy of Elise Miles-Colthup)
(Courtesy of Elise Miles-Colthup)
Miles-Colthup runs on a steep trail with a stunning backdrop behind her. Her first long-distance trail race was the Bryce Canyon 30k, which she completed as a sophomore in high school.
(BELOW) UO triathlete Liam Bielat was first a cyclicst before he started to train and compete as a triathlete. He said he grew up in a house that was big on biking, with his father having completed two Ironmans.
