Sonder Issue No. 4

EVERYONE HAS A STORY.

ISSUE No. 4

n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.

Cover Photo by Grace Hawthorne

Grace Hawthorne

TABLE OF CONTENTS 6

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RUNNING AHEAD OF INSECURITY

JUST KEEP SWIMMING

LIFE OUTSIDE THE BOX

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46

56

BALANCING A CHAOTIC LIFE

WRITING DREAMS INTO REALITY

SCORING HOOPS AND HEARTS

Grace Hawthorne

STAFF

Editors-in-Chief

Cameron Branch Jadzia Engle Mckenzie Palmer Kindra Roy

Paige Oswalt

Estrella PeĂąa

Jared Stephens

Colby Endicott Jaydon Johnson

Emma Goggins Sarah Karr Braeden Lowe Isaac Michaels Matthew Michaels

Sarah Beck Katherine Boals Ciara Hernandez

Kameron Coryell Jalen Forman Nathaniel Gordy Casey Knight AnaLaura Penaloza Kiara Teel

Logan Auxier Lexy Ellis Cora Hall Grace Hawthorne Piper Sugg Melina Villegas

Jaiden Mitchell

Paige Scott

Austin Hilkey

Ivan Miller

Copy Editor

Springfield High School’s Miller Integrated Nature Experience gives students a look at Oregon they may never see otherwise. The program combines nature writing, Oregon geography, leadership, journalism, and exploration, while providing a foundation for environmental consciousness and stewardship.

Social Justice Editor Feature Editor Sportswriters

Field Reporters

Creative Directors

Designers

Photographers/Videographers

Social Media Manager MINE Director Tech Director Adviser SON DER

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AN AUTHOR’S CALL TO ADVENTURE Emma Goggins

Sarah Karr

Emma Goggins awakens a previously unknown aspiration for writing.

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hen I was 9 years old, my sister gave me a leopardspotted scarf that changed my life. Now, that may sound like an exaggeration, and it’s not half as dramatic as it may sound. What happened was relatively simple, but it marked a turning point for me that changed the way I viewed myself and the world by introducing me to something important: the power of storytelling.

It started the day my little sister acquired three different scarves during school, one of which was leopard printed.

I immediately wanted it and convinced her to let me have it. That same night, for reasons I can’t explain, I was completely restless and couldn’t fall asleep. As I looked over at my new scarf where it hung on my coat rack, I decided to play with it. For some random reason, I tied the scarf around my eyes and the craziest, most creative idea my little 9-year-old self could come up with popped into my head. What if I was the daughter of Medusa from Greek mythology, and I had to spend my life in a hospital, blindfolded because I had inherited my mother’s ability to turn people to stone? A whole story started to form in my mind of an adventurous little girl who was friends with Medusa’s daughter and set out on a dangerous journey to help rid her of her powers so she could live happily in society.

Afterwards, I dreamed up a prequel story involving the same young girl who went on a dangerous quest to revive the spirit of a mighty leopard whose skin could heal any injury or disease. I woke up the next morning feeling unsettled and inspired. I’m not sure how to explain it, but as I watched my family going about their day normally, I felt a little out of place, like something was supposed to be different but it wasn’t. The feeling of inspiration refused to leave me, and I decided to start writing. I will never forget the swell of pride I felt when I completed the first chapter, and it was then I realized that this is something I enjoy doing.

The book took me a year to write and it was a fun process. Some days I could barely write a few words in the book before I felt like quitting, and other days I felt so committed. I will never forget the day I finally finished my book. A moment of disbelief briefly overtook me as I stared at the battered, purple journal that held my entire story. I had not completely believed I could do it, especially at my age, yet, there it was; my very own story.

The memory of elation and pride I felt that day still brings a smile to my face even now, nearly eight years later.

I still carry with me the love of reading, the passion to write, and the determination to succeed. This is what led me to join Mr. Miller’s journalism class at Springfield High School.

Looking around his classroom during magazine production time, I see now that my story of inspiration isn’t just my story, but the story of many.

Stories help us express ourselves, portraying the feelings and creativity we normally keep within us on a dayto-day basis. We all have a secret spirit inside that longs to show itself and, from what I’ve seen, individual creativity sparks creativity in others, allowing for new ideas and new possibilities that we can use to innovate and change the world for the better, helping people and communities progress.

Throughout this year, I have seen the rewards of what happens when strong-willed, creative people come together, combine resources, and commit to a single, worthy goal. All of the people involved in the production of Sonder have demonstrated what the power of storytelling really is and how it impacts the community. We increase awareness of the lives around us when we take the time to read stories about people and the things they go through. It makes us think about our lives and what we want to do with them and forces us to look at things from a new point of view, comparing who we are to who we want to be.  SON DER

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Cyan Kelso-Reynolds concentrates as she positions herself on the starting blocks.

RUNNING AHEAD OF INSECURIT Y

Springfield High track star Cyan Kelso-Reynolds finds herself while discovering her love for athletics.

Kindra Roy

T

he sandpit was lined with athletes in blue and white uniforms looking on expectantly. The distracting noise of the district track meet went quiet, blocked out by focus. A girl stepped up to the line, her eyes intent on the orange cone placed in the sand. At the signal, her legs lent explosive steps, propelling her toward the pit. With a leap into the air, she tucked her legs, shooting for the cone that marked an opportunity to compete at the next level.

She landed in the sand and her team erupted in celebration.

Cyan Kelso-Reynolds was headed to state.

As just a sophomore, Kelso-Reynolds sealed 4th in state in the 100 and 200 meter races, along with placing 5th in state in the long jump. She ended her second season of track and field with a 12.48 in the 100 and a 17’1” personal record for the long jump.

Confidence, it appears, is a big part of Kelso-Reynolds. It is evident in the way she walks, speaks, and competes. But it has not always been that way. For years, Kelso-Reynolds struggled to grasp a strong image of herself, rooted in a negative force during developing years that led to an absence of trust in herself and others.

Kelso-Reynolds lacked a meaningful relationship with her biological father. When her step-dad entered her life, her trust rose, and she grasped onto the figure that might show her he valued her. She moved in with the new father figure during her second-grade year, but shortly after, her hopes of what the move could bring began to dissipate.

She felt unhappy in the new living situation. “He was verbally and emotionally abusive,” she shared. “When we lived with him I was very insecure and not a very happy person.”

Kelso-Reynolds felt she was back to square one, let down again.

Leaving the negative environment, Kelso-Reynolds, her mother, and her younger sister returned to Springfield to

Grace Hawthorne live near family. The next year would be her first year in high school, and her mom encouraged her to join track. At first, Kelso-Reynolds was very unsure, but with low expectations, she eventually gave in.

“Immediately, I found out that I like [track],” she expressed.

It was early on her freshman year when she qualified to compete at an invitational meet.

“I was really surprised,” Kelso-Reynolds said. “That was the time I realized I was potentially good at this sport.”

Soon enough, she was running times that were competitive with the fastest female athletes on the team.

She was starting to see herself as a runner. Kelso-Reynolds fell in love with the sport. She shared, “when they say ‘set’ and I’m on the blocks, I just zone out. I don’t hear anything, everything is quiet. And I just hear that gun go off and I’m gone.”

Kelso-Reynolds track and field abilities have quickly blossomed into stand-out performances, and she has grown on and off the track. “It feels great finding something that you’re good at. It’s that satisfaction when you put your heart into something, and you excel at that,” she shared.

Kelso-Reynolds’ experience has transformed other aspects of her life: her sense of self and her sense of others.

“Honestly, doing track and meeting all those good friends boosted my confidence so much. I’m the most confident I’ve ever been in my whole life,” she explained.

Kelso-Reynolds describes her teammates as not only a source of her self-confidence, but all of the joy she finds in the sport.

“If track was just a one-man sport, I would not be as happy doing it. It would just be me running from point A to point B,” she said. “Even if they don’t have an event they are doing at that meet, they are there cheering me on. They are

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there to support me even when I can’t support myself.”

With an encouraging community now surrounding her, Kelso-Reynolds believes in herself and the possibilities to come more than she ever imagined.

This rebuilt confidence and trust has translated into new passions and goals. Now, Kelso-Reynolds uses her courage to voice her opinions on equality. “It’s important to me that everyone be treated equally. It doesn’t matter who you are, how you are, or how you act,” she explained.

Kelso-Reynolds believes one of the biggest problems that needs to be addressed is the fear of differences. She shared that some problems include thinking “people of color are inferior to other people [and] thinking women aren’t as powerful as men.”

“We are all human beings. We are equal.

That’s it,” she said.

Kelso-Reynolds shares that if people are willing to address the root of racism, sexism, homophobia and the like, as opposed to fighting hatred with hatred, healing can occur. “Many times, it’s in their mindset, it’s what they’ve been taught and all they believe in, and if you’re not taught another way, you can’t really believe in something else,” she explained.

“If someone is hating, there is often something going on in their life to cause that. If they have hate in their heart, there is a reason that is there,” KelsoReynolds said. “So stick up for people when you see racism, sexism, homophobia, or any time you see someone hating on somebody, but you shouldn’t hate back,” she continued.

“You should try to teach them love.”

Kelso-Reynolds’ journey discovering her passion opened doors to new opportunities for herself and others. Using her newfound confidence and support from track, she seeks to inspire people to believe that things can change, and remind them that change will come through teaching, forgiveness, and fighting with love instead of hate. 

“WE ARE ALL HUMAN BEINGS. WE ARE EQUAL. THAT’S IT.” - CYAN KELSO-REYNOLDS

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Cyan Kelso-Reynolds leans against the Springfield High track shed.

EXERCISING

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Stephen Hitt stands in front of a van with his company's slogan: "Industrious. Work hard. Live fit."

AMBITION Entrepreneur and Springfield High graduate Stephen Hitt finds his passion for fitness and builds a business to inspire others.

Melina Villegas

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rduous, grueling, and intense is how some people perceive it. Others see it as motivational, lifechanging, and fulfilling. The painful build-up of lactic acid courses through the body and agony rears its head through unexplainable facial expressions. Breathing heavily through a clenched jaw, many try to hold back a cry for help, as annoying droplets of sweat slowly sting their eyes. This is CrossFit. There are those who shy away from a mental and physical challenge, unwilling to give it a second chance, and those who are determined to annihilate rigorous workouts. Stephen Hitt chooses to take any challenge head-on. Before opening his own gym in Seattle, he always wanted to accomplish bigger and better things, often taking risks for the good of his dreams. He didn’t care about becoming wealthy, knowing that with time and patience financial stability would naturally fall into place. His life motto: “go broke changing lives.”

Hitt was born in Springfield, Oregon and grew up in the Northwest. At the age of 3, Hitt’s parents divorced, resulting in his mom moving the family up to Seattle, Washington.

Hitt lived there until his sixth-grade year and moved back to Eugene his seventh-grade year.

Hitt received his diploma from Springfield High School in 1999, but he lacked a clear plan. Having the tendency to hurl himself headfirst into the unknown, Hitt took a risk and with only a couple hundred dollars in his pocket and no knowledge of Arizona, he packed a duffle bag and left.

While living in Tucson, Hitt realized he disliked the person he was becoming, living an unhealthy lifestyle. He wanted to change himself for the better, so he took action on Thanksgiving weekend of 2006. “The workout of the day was a classic CrossFit workout called Cindy, which is as many rounds as possible in 20 minutes of 5 pull-ups, 10 push-ups, and 15 squats,” says Hitt. “I did the workout and

Melina Villegas

got my butt kicked.”

He instantly fell in love with the arduous fitness regimen and began working CrossFit into his everyday routine.

He started to see progress in himself as he made better decisions about his wellness, and ultimately felt his improvement reach beyond the gym. “I fell in love with CrossFit and I felt like my life was changed by it,” says Hitt.

Hitt found a new lifestyle and calling. He began his journey in 2008 by coaching at CrossFit Belltown in Seattle, where he moved after college. During his time coaching at the local gym, he crossed paths with the woman he would later spend his life with. In September of 2011, Hitt founded Industrious with his future wife, Molly.

Hitt opened up his gym in a small garage off Highway 99 in Seattle that was once an old auto repair facility. Leasing the place was not the only expense. Security deposits, renovations, equipment, and website set-up were just a few other crucial expenses to get the gym off of the ground.

With only $50,000 to get the business up and running, he drained almost all of his savings after a slow start.

The first two years were a struggle. Molly and Hitt were the only coaches on staff. Through hard work and determination the Industrious brand began to grow and, for Hitt, it “became more of a lifestyle brand more so than just a CrossFit gym.” In the first year, Industrious’ clientele grew to around a 100. Hitt takes pride in his successful company, which now has two locations.

Finding his path was taxing both mentally and physically, but just like a workout it was worth it in the end.

Hitt loves what he does because he knows that, for both him and everyone who attends Industrious CrossFit, “[life is] much more sustainable when you are doing something that you have a deep emotional connection to and purpose behind.” 

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JUST KEEP SWIMMING Sarah Karr

Sarah Karr

Competitive swimmer McKenzie Galloway uncovers her passion as she finds new motivation with each stroke.

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t was the first meet of the season, and the end was drawing near. Swimmers and spectators alike were looking at the athletes in the pool, waving and cheering them on. Behind the diving blocks was a cluster of swimmers from 11 different teams, boys and girls sporting their schools’ caps and colors, waiting to swim their events. Among them, equipped with her friend’s phone, Springfield High School sophomore McKenzie Galloway was approaching anyone in sight, asking for a group photo.

When approached, most strangers only offered confused looks in response to her question. “Do you wanna take a group photo?” she repeated without fail.

If she was declined, she would wish them luck and go to the next group of strangers, raising her voice over the noise of swimmers splashing water into the air. Phone in hand, she would ask the question again until her offer was accepted. The willing victims of this odd approach all left with smiles.

While the majority of swimmers pass their time by listening to music, playing games, or doodling all over

McKenzie Galloway props herself on the edge of the pool after emerging from the water.

their friends, Galloway has adopted ulterior activities over her eight years of swimming. Galloway said, “I’ve learned through all my years of competing [that] I just gotta get out of my head.”

For Galloway, getting out of her head means socializing with other swimmers and putting herself out there, through means of group photography or simply conversing with the swimmers around her, no matter the team. She said, “I just like to do things that get my mind off racing. If people see me having a good time, what’s wrong with that?”

As just a freshman, Galloway placed first in 5A districts for the 100-yard breaststroke and second in the 500-yard freestyle. “It was a reality check,” said Galloway. “During that swim, it really made me think back on my training, and how much training I’ve done to get there.”

Placing second in one of her strongest events made her realize that she will not always come out on top, and that

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Grace Hawthorne

McKenzie Galloway smiles after a swim at Echo Hollow Pool.

her best will not be the same as her competitors’. Taking this realization to state, she proudly won third place in the 500-freestyle and fifth place in the 100-breaststroke for Springfield High School.

Galloway started swimming at age 9, and in July of 2015, she launched herself into the world of competitive swimming. Clad with a bright purple and yellow floral suit, and a Willamalane Swim Club cap, Galloway felt the cold air sinking into her skin as she climbed atop the block. Nerves wracked her body as she stood there, waiting to dive into the pool, and all that could cross her mind was “what can I lose?”

“The first event I ever swam was the 50 Breaststroke.

I dove in and my goggles fell off. I lost my goggles and choked on water,” said Galloway, “but I finished it.”

Trudging past her first competition, Galloway strived to become better, both inside the pool and out. “Swimming has taught me to be patient with myself,” said Galloway.

Galloway went on to say that the patience she has learned through swim has helped her accomplish her academic goals and cope with home life. “It’s helped me figure out what is best for me, and that it will come if I’ve been training,” she said.

With patience and a strong grip on her goals, Galloway has been able to find a healthy balance between work and play, but it wasn’t always like this. Starting her competitive swimming career in elementary school, Galloway often overlooked her academics. “I never liked reading, and my reading score was a couple grades below where I was,” said

Galloway. “For that year, my parents ended up having to pull me out of swimming because I just refused to read.”

This was an eye-opening lesson for Galloway. Her love for swimming motivated her to boost her grades quickly in order to continue the sport. Since then, Galloway has been adamant about doing her best in school, at home, and in the pool. Now in high school and reaching for nothing less than the highest marks, Galloway balances online classes with on-campus extracurriculars such as car care, woodshop, and choir while maintaining a 4.0 grade point average.

Swimming has had an immensely positive impact on Galloway’s life, and she wishes to inspire that same passion, dedication, and motivation within the newer and younger members of the swim club and high school team.

“I want to be a motivator for younger kids to swim because I needed it when I was younger. So just imagine how many more kids I can help motivate to keep swimming and how bright their future will be,” Galloway said.

Galloway has been able to learn from herself, and from others, the importance of patience, leadership, and dedication through her love of swimming. From losing her goggles during her first race to swimming in state competitions, the ups and downs have forged and molded Galloway into a strong individual. Through her personal experiences, failures, and successes, she aspires to motivate people around her, while reaching new lengths of self-improvement. 

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PREPARED FOR ADVERSITY Springfield High assistant football coach Malik Boynton continues to dream big despite a past full of uncertainty.

Kindra Roy

E

nergy is high under Springfield High’s Silke Field lights.

The usual excitement surrounding a high school football game is bursting at the seams, magnified by the curiosity of the newly redirected team. On the sidelines, unfamiliar faces pace back and forth, for a new coaching staff was brought on just weeks before. Students and families sneak peeks at the new coaches, attempting to diagnose their qualifications in a split-second glance.

Near the Miller end zone, one coach’s presence demands attention. Walking confidently and casually, he approaches players, his plaid belt raising onlookers’ eyebrows. He appears young, energetic, real.

Malik Boynton seems to be the usual 23-year-old football fan, with hobbies like bowling, watching Netflix and playing Fortnite, however, the power of his voice and wisdom hint at a story much deeper. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Boynton was the oldest of four children.

He was notably gifted in sports, and caught attention playing baseball from an early age. However, his family life was disrupted early on when his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, passing away the summer before his freshman year of high school. Soon after, Boynton’s father lost his job, and when the family was unable to keep up on house payments, an old van became their temporary home.

The night of his mother’s death, Boynton had a baseball game, the last baseball game he would play in. Boynton turned to football instead, leaving baseball behind with a quickly changing life. Football became his outlet.

To onlookers, it appeared that Boynton came out of nowhere his junior year, bursting onto the scenes his first season starting on the varsity team. He quickly became one of Michigan’s best receivers, and schools took notice and began recruiting. Boynton did not disappoint his senior year, recalling, “it was like the icing on the cake, I just came and had an even better year.”

By the end of his high school football career, Boynton had been selected all-state wide receiver, defensive back, and specialist, along with being an honoree for the Offensive-Defense All American Bowl. Boynton received

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Grace Hawthorne a full-ride scholarship to Austin Peay State University, a Division 1 college out of Clarksville, Tennessee.

Boynton became a recognized name at Austin Peay after starting games his sophomore season as their defensive back. “My junior year of college, everything was finally starting to get along,” Boynton remembers. Making nine tackles during the season-opener against Tennessee Tech, and continuing his success with solo and shared tacklesfor-loss in early games, the season was off to an honorable start. But Boynton’s season came to an early end.

On October 22, six weeks deep into their season, Boynton’s attempt to take down an opponent with poor form had serious consequences.“I came down and made a hit with bad technique,” Boynton explains.

After the play, Boynton was temporarily paralyzed from the neck down. Though he began to regain feeling quickly in the hospital and through rehab, Boynton was out for the remainder of his junior season.

Despite the startling injury and disrupted season, Boynton returned to the Austin Peay Governors his senior year, refusing to let his injury bring his career to an end.

Boynton’s senior season proved to be a success as he racked up an additional 50 tackles and three forced fumbles, along with an interception and two fumble recoveries. Ending his time at Austin Peay with 158 tackles, Boynton’s performance with the Governors landed him an invitation to the 2018 Pittsburgh Steelers rookie camp.

After the loss of his mother, a period of homelessness, and a shocking injury, Boynton knew he could not give up on his dreams, even when the future was unclear. After being released from the Steelers with nothing more than the chance to improve, Boynton kept his head up, grateful for the challenge and the opportunity to grow. Boynton determined the next step in his career was to try out for the Memphis Express of the then newly formed Alliance of American Football (AAF). However, after earning a spot on the team, Boynton was inactive the first two weeks of the season, watching from the sidelines as they lost their first two games. Even after reassurance of his ability and value to the team, Boynton received a call informing him he would not be used until later in the season. Just six weeks

Malik Boynton poses with his football at Hamlin Middle School.

later, the AAF, along with the Memphis Express, was shut down. Boynton was lost. “I didn’t know my next step,” he confesses.

Coaching was his next step. Brought to Eugene by his girlfriend, Boynton received word of Springfield High’s search for a new football staff through boys attending his football clinic. “I was eager to join,” Boynton explains.

He was interviewed and hired by new head football coach and Springfield High graduate Miles Haley.

Waiting for his next big break, Boynton is currently using his story, experience, and determination to fuel a new generation of football players. Boynton was excited for the opportunity to coach at Springfield High during the 2019 season. “[Coaching] allows you to be a part of these young kids’ lives,” Boynton explains. He believes his background has shaped him, and the lessons he has learned throughout his life can benefit the boys he coaches.

“The challenges made me tougher, they made me more patient, they made me more caring and more understanding,” he says. “They made me more prepared for adversity.”

Boynton now finds himself naturally lending advice and help to those facing adverse situations. In the Springfield High community, facing adversity is a common thread.

Students and athletes all have their own stories, some of which have been written in part by the hands of poverty, addiction, grief, or racism. Boynton feels prepared to interact and mentor the boys he coaches, connecting with them on a personal level. To those who look up to him as their coach, he is a symbol of overcoming the worst, and never giving up on a dream.

And Boynton has not given up. A free agent in the recent XFL draft, he continued training towards returning to a football career. Now, he is on to his next step after recently signing with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League.

Though each step of his journey has come with its own challenges, Boynton has refused to let adversity stop him from pursuing his dreams. From grief to instability, injury to lost opportunity, Boynton continues to believe that hard work can get him, and others, to where they want to be. “You can’t waste time, you can’t take things for granted, because yesterday could have been the worst day of your life, and the next day you could wake up to an entirely different lifestyle,” he says.

He offers this advice to those who feel their dreams are obstructed by challenge: “you never know when your break is coming, so you just gotta stay focused and keep pushing.” 

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Joe Kidd looks at the computer in his squad car.

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PRESS TO PATROL Isaac Michaels

Sarah Karr

Eugene police officer Joe Kidd uses his ability to engage with others to promote justice and safety in the community.

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n the brisk Tuesday afternoon of November 26, 2019, Eugene police officer Joe Kidd responded to a complaint on West 6th Alley. A woman was running the streets, threatening to light things on fire. Kidd quickly began searching the nearby area, finding her just north at the Eugene bus stop of 6th and Monroe.

Kidd approached the woman, asking what was wrong.

She sat down and started explaining how hard her life had been lately. Her speech was fast and slurred. Kidd soon discovered she was schizophrenic and had been off of her medication. He called Cahoots (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets), an organization that provides free intervention for non-criminal crises, and waited.

She refused treatment from Cahoots, forcing Kidd to arrest her for probable cause. He attempted to take her to the hospital for a psychological evaluation, however, she refused to get in the squad car. Kidd waited in the rain, in 37-degree weather, for an ambulance so that the woman could be sedated and taken to the hospital. When paramedics finally arrived, it took two officers and an EMT to keep her still, while a second EMT administered Ketamine. Soaking wet and with only one shoe, she was then put on a gurney for transport to the University District Hospital.

Kidd cares deeply about the people in the community and ensures their safety as a police officer. However, he was not always a cop. Before jumping fences to track

down criminals he had a different job, a job that he feels contributes greatly to his success as a police officer. Kidd was a journalist.

While serving in the Marines, Kidd always followed the news and read the newspaper, and thought, “hey, I could do that.” He loved the process of inquiry, and after four years in the Marines, he went to the University of Oregon to follow his passion for the press.

“I loved being a journalist,” says Kidd. One of his craziest stories started with a midnight fax from Yoncalla, Oregon, telling him to contact the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

They explained the situation and Kidd quickly jumped in his car and made the 45-minute drive south to find a crime scene with two dead bodies and an interesting story of how they got there. Eyewitnesses in the neighborhood say two men, who live across the street from each other, had been bickering and fighting for the past few weeks. Eventually, one neighbor had enough, grabbing his shotgun, and chasing the other. Then, the other grabbed his own shotgun, and the two neighbors proceeded to chase each other around their two houses, eventually killing each other. Kidd was in shock when he heard this, but he did his reporting and went back up to Eugene. Arriving home sometime around 2:00 a.m., he quickly wrote the story to publish in the morning paper.

Stories like this did not come often, and after ten years of typing away at his desk, Kidd couldn’t sit still anymore.

He needed a job out of the office, and felt his background as a journalist would certainly prepare him for becoming a

police officer. “Being a reporter helps me as a cop because in both jobs you want to get information from people, even if it isn’t in their best interest,” he says.

Since joining the police force, he has never felt bored, constantly taking on surprising calls. Kidd’s duties in the community vary from day to day. Whether it be in the form of assisting those involved in car crashes exchange information, or reponding to a bank robbery, Kidd helps settle many different conflicts. “Cops are problem solvers,” he says.

Police officers have to be a jack of all trades, with the ability to adapt to different situations and still find a solution. “Cops have to have a large toolbox,” says Kidd.

And they have to know how to use all of their tools.

Kidd also enjoys helping others in the community through community service efforts. For the past couple of years, he has partnered with several local businesses to build Thanksgiving care packages—a warm meal, a blanket, and various other items—for struggling veterans. They handed out 33 care packages this year.

Kidd recently took on a new role in the police department; he was the first Eugene officer to receive a drug dog. He switched over to the street crimes unit and

received Logan, his K-9, in February.

Before applying for this position on the K-9 unit, Kidd did extensive research on drug dogs and what it would be like having a partner on four paws. He rode along with eight officers who had drug dogs, attended a weekly training session for other drug dogs in the area, and spent his free time studying laws about drug dogs, such as search and seizure laws. When he went in for the interview process, he felt very prepared, however, none of his knowledge of laws on drug dogs would help him.

The first portion of the interview was in front of a committee, just asking him a few questions. Next, Kidd had to guide a dog, who he had just met, through a mock scenario. The dog had to jump through a window, find a small bag of drugs, and return to Kidd to be carried up a ladder. Finally, Kidd had to guide the dog through an obstacle course. The whole process took about four hours.

Afterwards, he remembers thinking, “I bombed that!”

But on November 26, the same day he helped the schizophrenic woman, Kidd was pleased to hear that he had been selected for the position, making all the work worth it.

Officer Kidd genuinely loves working for and with the public, finding the best possible solutions, and taking on new challenges. 

Joe Kidd stands in front of the Eugene Police Department.

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LIFE OUTSIDE THE BOX Cameron Branch

Contributed

With no prior experience, Lily Nolan’s family dropped everything to follow their dream of becoming world-traveling circus performers.

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freckled girl with brown curly hair steps out of the airplane that carried her the 6,283 miles back onto U.S. soil for the first time in nine months. Nobody suspects that everything she owns is shoved into the gray backpack swung over her shoulder. Her family trails close behind, the bright red hair of her younger sister catching the light as the echoes of their laughs and recounted adventures bounce off the walls. The four hustle to their next gate, settling into a corner with dirty white walls and stiff, gray airport chairs. Heads turn and surprised looks clutter the faces of fellow passengers in the terminal as she twists her curls into a tight bun and flips her feet into the air, demonstrating an array of acrobatic handstands to pass the time. She is unafraid to share her talent and love for performing as a circus artist.

Many people lack the courage to extend their dreams and experiences beyond what is predictable. They often associate happiness with materialism, concrete buildings with education, and societal roles with passion. The Nolan family, however, has never limited themselves to society’s expectations. Unafraid to step out of the box, they sacrifice friendships, community, and a permanent home to travel and immerse themselves in the circus world, where no adventure or experience is passed up and every risk is worth the reward. “My lifestyle has taught me to always try to get out there and do what you want to do, even if it scares you to death,” says Lily Nolan, age 17. “Now I just approach life with the perspective of just going all in.”

Nolan, a world-traveling freelance circus artist, began her journey locally. She spent the first eight years of her life in a cozy, two-bedroom rental house in Eugene, Oregon, living a normal childhood filled with fort building, bedtimes, and gymnastics classes at Bounce, a local gymnastics center. However, Nolan’s love for performing was fostered

at a young age. She says, “I had my first [gymnastics] performance at 5, and from that point on, I think I’ve just always loved being in front of an audience.”

With her two sisters harboring a similar passion for gymnastics, the Nolan family decided to take a less traditional route to life. Nolan and her sisters were homeschooled, opening up their schedules for gymnastics and circus training. Her parents took odd jobs, often working from home and at night to be involved in their daughters’ lives and newfound passion. Three years later, the Nolans decided to pursue circus performing as a family. With no substantial circus training and three young kids, the family sold almost everything they owned, named themselves The Troupe Nolanders, and hit the road in a renovated school bus. “We really wanted to go all in and see how far we could take this family circus thing,” says Nolan.

Despite this seemingly terrifying uprooting, the Nolan family did not perceive it as a huge risk, but a call to adventure and unmissable opportunity. With Nolan’s dad, Greg, working in technology development and programming, a job that can be done virtually anywhere, their financial situation was not a deterrent to their dream.

Greg says, “I had the flexibility to move around and to be mobile, so from that perspective, I wasn’t quite so worried about finances because I knew that was something that we could reestablish, something that I could do anywhere.”

Nolan’s parents saw their children’s developing passion for circus performance as an opportunity to show them a life of excitement and adventure and to teach them that hard work and dedication can always get them to where they want to be.

“We saw it as an opportunity to set a goal that seemed really far-fetched and crazy, really almost unattainable, and then to work towards that goal as a family,” says Greg.

“The idea was that if we could achieve such a crazy wild

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goal, becoming working circus artists out of nothing... that any other goal that they could set in life could be attainable.”

Their bright yellow school bus cruised up and down the West Coast and into parts of Canada for nine months, always open to adventure and in search of opportunity.

During this time, they met circus trainer Jean-Luc Martin and followed him to the crowded streets of San Diego, where they trained for three years at the San Diego Circus Center and developed their skills. This experience opened many doors for them. Nolan and her family have since been to dozens of countries around the world, busking on the streets of Germany, performing in Croatian circuses, and training with Netherlands’ most acclaimed circus artists.

They live an unconventional life of risk and reward, free of traditional expectations, and with a goal of pursuing passion, finding happiness, and leading a fulfilling life of unique experience.

“It’s so amazing to be able to take in all these different influences and put it all together and present this mesh of different styles and cultures,” says Nolan. “It is easy to get stuck in one way when that’s all you’re surrounded with and that’s all that you’re seeing, and meeting lots of different people is a very inspiring thing as an artist.”

The family tackles housing hurdles and expenses by couch surfing across foreign countries, their most recent residency in Croatia landing them in the home of their trainer’s grandmother, who spoke no English. “It made the experience all the more interesting,” Nolan laughs. “It was much more authentic to see how she lived her life, definitely amazing.”

Nolan’s academic education is self-directed and designed. Through research, she outlines typical learning objectives for each grade level in high school and constructs her own curriculum using college courses and other online resources that apply to her interests and the real world. “Learning is something that I’m so interested in and I think by creating my own curriculum, I have just

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become so much more invested in my own education.

Every day, I’m excited to do my schoolwork because it doesn’t feel like busy work,” says Nolan.

Travel experience is also an invaluable part of her education, providing a rare foundation of knowledge and appreciation of cultures around the world. Her lifestyle and unique worldly understanding have shaped her morals, strengthened her values, and taught her many life lessons.

Her innate sense of motivation and dedication carries into her everyday life. With daily training sessions and rehearsals lasting up to six hours and mornings dedicated to school, time for leisure and socializing is minimal. Her motivation and discipline through intensive training and strict schedules is driven by her love for performing. She says, “when I look at the clock and there are four hours of rehearsals left and all I want to do is go to sleep, I just think about performing, because I love it so much that it’s honestly the number one motivator for me.”

While liberating, Nolan’s travel agenda presents many obstacles that she must overcome. Most notably, it limits her socially. “It has been very difficult to be so mobile because I feel like I’ve kind of refrained from friendships with people just because I know I’m just going to leave,” says Nolan. “I felt very isolated for a few years because I didn’t have time to invest in a community or deeper relationships outside of my family.”

However, her many new beginnings have taught her the value of family. “It has become normal to have a sense of home based entirely off of who I’m with and have absolutely nothing to do with where I am,” Nolan explains.

Adventure and travel form the roots of her independence and self-awareness, molding her morals and shaping her into the person she is today.

Liberated from society’s materialistic values, standards of conformity, and unrealistic expectations, the Nolans are able to experience their idealistic lifestyle of expression and passion through adventure and spontaneity. They model the freedom, courage, and perseverance that many could only dream of as they sit, legs crossed beneath their desks, thinking about what could have been. 

Lily Nolan immerses herself in a gymnastics routine.

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Luis Torres prepares food in the kitchen of Ixtapa Mexican Restaurant.

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A TASTE OF CULTURE Spending his whole life dedicated to food, Luis Torres shares his culture with all who visit his restaurant.

Estrella Peña

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pon entering Ixtapa Mexican Restaurant in Veneta, Oregon, the sound of mariachi music hums faintly in the background, and a dominating tinge of vivid yellow adjoined to a hint of mint green on the walls catches the eye. A cheerful and colorful interior design contrasts with the earthly tones of paint. A server warmly smiles and leads customers to tables. Intricately colored decorations accent a Mexican sombrero hanging on the wall. The restaurant’s atmosphere has a certain ambiance, something like a comfortable dining room away from home. An order of a warm corn tortilla rolled around a seasoned mixture, covered with chili sauce and cheese that melts on the tongue, is set atop a table. The rich aroma of the enchilada dish wafts up temptation. Enormous platters of food always serve as the center of attention, with guests observing various plates. Music, cultural decor, and the people all combine to create a sense of comfort. When describing his restaurant, Luis Torres says, “there is an utmost and very profound tradition of the infatuation of food culture which we view as Mexican.”

People come to America because it is known as the “land of opportunity,” where better living standards, financial stability, and improved working conditions are provided. Throughout history, immigrants have built the country, adding to America’s intellectual growth, culture, domestic security, and economic productivity. People, such as Torres, immigrate to the United States because they can be anything they aspire to be, and they don’t come alone, they bring their cultures with them.

Torres entered the United States with dreams of a better life for himself, to emerge in the American lifestyle.

“My family and I had been living in a poor part of town in Guanajuato, Mexico,” says Torres. “Both of my parents were farmers who wanted a better life for me. Since they didn’t have much power, all they could do was keep me in school.

When I became older, I learned that we can define our

Grace Hawthorne

success, no one else.”

His past drove him to take charge of his own future, and make a decision to take action. Despite his family’s economic struggles, he remembers a good childhood of “strengthened family bonds.”

At a young age, Torres worked in a restaurant with his two older brothers. “It’s some of my best memories I had with my siblings in our hometown. The recollection of us working together, the laughter and enjoyment, is what further motivated me into the pursuit of this line of work” he says. “None of my family members owned a restaurant, but at the age of 15 I decided to work in one. I worked my way up, performing any given task, from working in the kitchen to waiting tables.”

Torres left Mexico to improve his living standards and do better for himself. He left his home, friends, and family to bus tables in America until he earned enough money for a start-up business, Ixtapa Mexican Restaurant. He arrived in the United States in 1990, began with practically nothing and emerged as a testament to drudgery, devotion, and the will to succeed. He went from barely making ends meet to being a successful business owner, honing his story along the way and connecting with investors, employees, and consumers.

Although Torres worked his way up to owning his own restaurant, he does not belittle or abandon the positions he worked to get there. To this day, he continues to help wait on tables, clean, and cook.

On November 15, 2019, Torres worked with others in the kitchen, navigating through a chaotic dance that was the dinner rush.

Coded language and endless sounds of utensils and dinnerware clashing filled the vastness of the kitchen.

Pedro Gómez, one of the cooks, wasn’t able to come into

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work. Luckily, Torres himself filled in for Gómez last minute.

There was no time for slowing down, requests were sent in, and the rambunctious sound of barking orders sent to all parts of the kitchen heightened.

“I need more tomatoes!” called one of the cooks, and another rushed to grab them. The tempting smell of fresh corn tortillas arose as they chopped up spicy marinated meat. A waiter walked in to fill her round tray with cups of water. As she was about to walk out, she bumped into an individual, losing her balance and spilling the water.

Ixtapa maintains the ambiguity of both chaos and order. Torres handled the staff incident with composure.

He asked one of the staff to help her clean the spill and another to quickly replace it. In a matter of seconds, it seemed as if nothing happened and the flow of the frantic pace in the kitchen lingered.

“We continue to function because we work together,” says Torres. The staff resumed their work like clockwork, motivated to get the job done.

Outside the kitchen, customers salivated and all the cooks and servers worked as a team to satiate their hunger.

The crowded kitchen consists of distinct people from varying countries, cultures, and backgrounds.

Torres’ inimitable inclination of touch, taste, and sight take root in his authentic style of cooking, choosing to bring the traditional Mexican cuisine to Springfield and Eugene natives. His appreciation and love for the ingredients distinguish him from the others. Torres values people who are fond of cooking over those who intellectualize the culinary art. He says, “I know people who are not natural cooks, but love to cook, and that is more than great because others only use their hands and brain.” The natural feeling between the hands and the heart is more important to Torres.

It would be tough to encounter anyone more impassioned about cuisine and business than Torres, however, passion’s driving force can only take one so far. Keeping the restaurant open during one of the worst

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economic recessions took an incredible amount of discipline, perseverance, and determination. As Torres points out, “it was awfully hard and continues to [be].”

During the recession, many restaurants and businesses nearby were obligated to close. Torres has invested a lot of money and dedication. “Before, the restaurant was this old and slummy building, but now it’s a charming and homey establishment,” he says. “We’ll be able to prosper—I’m not opening restaurants to close them up.”

Breaking barriers, he serves as an inspiration to the entire community, proving that anyone can reach their dreams, despite everlasting obstacles. Torres, currently 45, adores the food business, and has “been involved in this industry for 30 years.” He says, “Unless you’re passionate about food and operating a restaurant, you’ll eventually discover that you’ve made a serious mistake. When you enjoy it—as I do—the difficulties seem insignificant. If you run a restaurant with the conception of becoming wealthy, then you’re not in the right place.”

To own a restaurant is to be very active and engaged The level of authenticity customers experience at Ixtapa influences how they identify with the culture. Ixtapa provides the “family style” environment that most people look for when they seek an authentic experience. Charlotte Anderson, a customer, states, “the environment is very warm and comforting; I love it here!” she says. “I drive about an hour to just come to this Mexican restaurant every so often.”

People tend to Americanize traditional Mexican food.

Contrarily, Ixtapa remains true to the flavors of Mexican heritage, presenting authentic dishes ranging from carne asada to enchiladas to Camarones a la Diabla. As Torres stresses, “the food is the most important thing,” emphasizing its need to be authentic and good quality. His life pursuit results in satisfaction. While being a restaurant owner is demanding work, he feels only content in maintaining a sense of cultural herritge through food. 

NW-inspired menu Brunch 9-2 weekends Happy hour food specials

Family friendly Great for groups Burger & Brew Monday

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BALANCING A CHAOTIC LIFE Springfield High student Gwen Michna regains control of her life despite struggles with anxiety and depression.

Matthew Michaels

Logan Auxier

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ids these days are happy and without worries, right?

This is how some people view teenagers. Young people are supposed to have access to everything they could ever want, however, this really is not the case with the world’s teens today. Life may be great, for some, but it is not simple. Teens come from all different backgrounds, have all different passions, and fight their own unique battles. Springfield High School student Gwen Michna has her own story to tell about life as a senior, and it is far from ideal. Michna leads Springfield’s cheerleading squad as cheer captain, plays a crucial role in the theater department, and balances the challenge of a strenuous class schedule full of advanced placement and honors courses. On top of it all, she faces the difficulty of anxiety and depression as a part of her daily life.

Michna, a natural born leader, was voted into the role of cheer captain at the beginning of this season, but it took a lot of hard workand passion for her to rise to the place she is today. Michna started to take dance lessons at the Eugene Ballet Academy when she was 4 years old, and stuck with it for nine years before eventually growing out of dance. “[Dance] was boring me and was taking up too much of my time,” she says. “I went to one of the [Springfield High

School] football games, looked at the cheerleaders and thought, ‘Oh! I could do that!’”

The following Monday, Michna went to talk with the head coach and she started practice the next day as their newest freshman. Michna was hooked. She worked hard and became integrated into the family-like community.

Last May during tryouts, the team chose Michna as their captain for the next season. Having earned her teammates’ respect and trust, Michna felt “honored” and has had a “crazy, great time” with her teammates since. Michna was able to plan team bonding events and help lead them with care.

However, leading a cheer squad is accompanied by its own hardships. She learned some big lessons this year.

“I have to make some hard choices,” says Michna. “If our coaches aren’t there, I would have to do what they wanted us to do. Even if that means yelling at people, or making us do extra conditioning even when it isn’t that fun. Just stuff that I know will make us better.”

Some of the biggest aspects of cheerleading, however, are the family bonds that are built and the trust that is formed. “We’re just a huge, great family,” Michna reflects.

“Not only do we spend ten hours a week practicing, we also spend time as a team at games and competition. But for

Gwen Michna relaxes in Springfield High's library.

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the sport of cheerleading, you are throwing girls up in the air. You have to have that trust, and be physically close, or else you won’t perform well.”

Cheer is not only about fancy stunts. The main goal of cheerleading is to support the other sports within the school. “Cheer is a very different sport,” says Michna. “We practice 11 out of 12 months of the year and I would say that we are the hardest working sport in our school. It’s very difficult as an art to be an athlete but also look pretty and make it seem effortless.”

The team also competes and raises their own money for events. “We fundraise a lot. I don’t think I’ve had to pay a single penny out of pocket because of how hard we work,” Michna says.

Perhaps the biggest obstacle in Michna’s life is her mental health. At the end of her eighth-grade year, she noticed a decline, having “breakdowns” that were later diagnosed as anxiety and panic attacks. “Something just didn’t feel right,” she says.

Finally, after about a year of this, she broke down to her mom. “It’s hard to tell someone so close to you that something’s wrong,” Michna says, “but with her help I got to see a therapist.”

Michna was first diagnosed with anxiety in October of 2016 and later she learned she was dealing with depression. After a few years of seeing two different therapists, and a psychiatrist, Michna has been given

hope and is set on a road to recovery. Her therapists have helped her to manage her anxiety and depression, and her psychiatrists have given her medication that has helped Michna significantly. The best part of this whole process has come in the form of answers for Michna. She is not in the dark anymore and is very grateful for the help given on her journey.

However, this process was not as easy as Michna thought it would be. She described it as “rough,” having to try two different medications until finally settling on the one she has now. It took an extensive amount of patience, endurance, and courage to be able to break through her diagnoses. She now has been out of therapy for some time, and is not currently seeing a psychiatrist. After years of visiting with specialists, she is finally herself again. She has surrounded herself with caring, loving friends and is happy to be where she is today.

“Try to talk to people. Try to stick up for yourself. Try to get help even when you feel helpless,” Michna urges. “Everything’s going to be okay in the long run. Believe in yourself. Don’t give up hope now.”

The biggest lesson that Michna has learned throughout her stuggles with mental illness has been to never give up and always believe in yourself. She has discovered that perseverance can get anyone through the toughest of times. 

“TRY TO TALK TO PEOPLE, TRY TO STICK UP FOR YOURSELF. TRY TO GET HELP EVEN WHEN YOU FEEL HELPLESS.” - GWEN MICHNA

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Gwen Michna confidently leans against a wall in downtown Eugene.

CULTIVATING IMAGINATION Mckenzie Palmer

Cora Hall

Encouraging students to explore beyond their comfort zone, Ed Madison teaches journalism to the next generation.

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t’s October 1, the first day of class for Journalism 100 students at the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication (J-School). Professor Ed Madison stands confidently with a soft, genuine smile dancing upon his lips.

Madison instructs his students to write down their name, contact information, and what their interests are on a piece of paper. They then must locate people with similar interests and introduce themselves. Students hesitantly stand, wary about completing the second portion of their task. Slowly, they begin to move about the room, nervously speaking with their classmates. The room remains quiet.

Most are reluctant to open up to complete strangers.

Suddenly, a strong voice fills the void: “if this feels awkward or uncomfortable, great. You’re in the right place,” says Madison.

Between moments of speaking, Madison laughs with his whole face, his smile wide and eyes gleaming with joy, creating an aura that makes even the most timid and anxious students feel calm and unafraid.

Most people have at least one teacher or professor that they greatly admire or that inspires them to pursue their dreams and accomplish something great. For many J-School students, Madison creates a space where they are molded into skilled, confident, and successful people. He takes his classes beyond a mundane routine, encouraging them to go out of their comfort zones and build relationships along the way.

For instance, in an effort to provide students with an opportunity to challenge themselves, Madison takes them

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on powerful journeys to foreign countries. Lisa Heyamoto, another professor at the J-School, accompanied Madison on a trip to New Zealand in December of 2019 to learn how the country’s indigenous population, the Māori, tackles current issues. She says that their group of 17 students went to “tell stories about a Māori community that, like the rest of us, are experiencing certain things, global problems, but [the Māori] are coming up with really interesting local solutions.”

These trips led by Heyamoto and Madison give students a chance to apply their skills and branch away from the typical classroom setting, bringing meaning and practicality to their studies. Madison loves how these expeditions allow you to “challenge your skills in an unpredictable setting.” He boasts that “students come back with really life-changing experiences, but also win lots of awards, and when they go to interview for jobs, they stand out because they’ve had these rich experiences.”

Madison takes journalistic learning to a new level, encouraging students to break out of their shell and enhance their skills. The number one thing that he tells his students is to talk to strangers. He says, “sometimes it’s challenging for undergraduate students to even make a phone call,” so he encourages students to reach out to the community and move past their fears.

“The biggest obstacle one can have is just their own fears about what’s possible,” he says. “I think as long as you keep testing those fears, you discover that more is possible than you could have ever imagined, just by trying it out, seeing what your imagination will allow you to do.”

Ed Madison stands outside his classroom at the University of Oregon.

While it can be difficult to face your fears, Madison strives to make students feel comfortable enough to do it, and enthusiastic about the process. Heyamoto says, “he kind of creates this space where students can try and explore and maybe fail… [and] they want to do that.”

A young man of 16, Madison tested his fears and saw results. Interning for a Washington Post-owned TV station, he turned the TV on one day and saw Bob Shanks, a famous producer, being interviewed locally. Madison’s producer gave him the green light to call Shanks. He nervously asked Shanks if he would come onto Madison’s show the next day.

Though he was unable to stay, Shanks gave Madison his phone number, telling him to keep in touch. While Madison was unsuccessful in this moment, his courage resulted in future opportunities.

Two years later, Madison called him up. Shanks agreed to speak at Emerson College, the school Madison was currently attending.

Another four or five years passed, and after seeing Madison’s name on the credits of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, Shanks wanted to hire him to produce a show for CBS. Madison says, “how could I have ever even known that my tenacity at 16 was going to lead to a job that I had at 25 or 27 or something?… You just never know the impression that you’ll make on people.”

Madison’s experiences have taught him that speaking with people and taking chances can cause amazing things to happen. He encourages students to focus more on relating to one another than on chasing a job that may not exist by the time they can get there. The most important thing is to create a community. He says, “there are no jobs.

There are only relationships.”

Madison encourages people to “experience it all,” because “you never know when you’re going to step in front of a bus or something.” He himself has had many extraordinary experiences, working in the entertainment industry for years. He has worked with “everyone from Michael Jackson to Elton John to Tina Turner… from Eddie

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Murphy to Tom Cruise.” When CNN was just starting out, he ran the Los Angeles entertainment division. Throughout his career, Madison has produced several shows and worked with multiple big-name networks, such as CBS, ABC, A&E, Paramount, Disney, and Discovery.

He had numerous opportunities available to him in Los Angeles, and his career was going well. However, he decided to move to Eugene, Oregon.

“I just had some ethical concerns about the direction the industry was going and so it was really kind of for quality of life reasons,” he reflects. “One of the things that troubled me ethically was that when famous celebrities or whatever would die… the news people would want us to go out with a camera crew and put microphones in people’s faces, and I thought that that was just completely reprehensible.”

On the contrary, Madison says, “Eugene is a very livable place.”

Madison is thriving in this new environment. He has developed many new hobbies, such as kayaking, meditating, yoga, and making his own kombucha and wine.

Heyamoto adds, “he’s kind of intense about these different cooking projects. He’ll grow tomatoes and then make salsa out of them, and then bring it to a meeting… I am very endeared by things that he makes and then wants to share.”

Beyond the city itself, Madison’s students keep him connected to aspiring journalists who are preparing to enter the field. They keep him young, and in return, he gives them invaluable experiences. Heyamoto says, “Ed has an infectious enthusiasm for journalism… when he gets excited and worked up, you just can’t help but be excited with him.”

Through his focus on experiential learning, coupled with his passion for the subject, Madison is able to prepare students to succeed as journalists. His class causes them to grow excited about the field and curious to learn more.

When guest speakers come, students eagerly line up to talk to them after class. Their enthusiasm and excitement towards gaining a deeper understanding of journalism show Madison that he has done his job well. He proudly photographs his students waiting for their turn so that he can post it on Twitter, because, as he says, “that’s pretty cool.” 

Ruby McConnell enjoys her surroundings at Hendricks Park.

UNAPOLOGETIC FREEDOM Paige Scott

Grace Hawthorne

Author and nature enthusiast Ruby McConnell supports women in the outdoors by tackling topics that have been marginalized by society.

W

hen walking into a crowded pub on a Tuesday night, the last thing you’d expect is to hear the word “menstruation.” However, Ruby McConnell, a local author, is unafraid to jump up to an open mic any chance she gets and speak her mind.

“It’s like 6 p.m. and everyone has their after-work beer, and it’s a bunch of dudes and I get a mic and I’m like, ‘menstruation.’ I’m going to say the word ‘menstruation’ into a microphone 20 times on a Tuesday night,” states McConnell. “Some of the men leave, and I’m like, ‘really, come on! Fragile.’”

Her voice and fearless attitude are apparent in her books, A Woman’s Guide to the Wild: Your Complete Outdoor Handbook and A Girl’s Guide to the Wild: Be an Adventure-Seeking Outdoor Explorer! Both are outdoor guidebooks, written by a woman, for women.

Defining McConnell as just an author would be far from the truth. Living in Eugene, a town that seems to breed a nonconformist way of life, McConnell fits in perfectly. From not celebrating holidays to chasing her passions, she puts careful consideration into every aspect of her life, living by the motto “you don’t have to like me, and I don’t have to care.” McConnell explains

that it is a freeing way to live.

McConnell and her husband started waking up at 3 a.m. to keep their small essential oils business running. This schedule change allowed her to break free of the normal 9 to 5 most Americans live. “We don’t sit in traffic, and we are ready to run our errands right when [stores] open up. I do not stand in line for coffee or the bank or for groceries,” says McConnell. “If we want to go out and have a meal together, we go out on the lunch schedule, so the portions are smaller and it costs less per plate, and it’s not as busy, so we don’t have to wait in line for restaurants. It’s like, totally magical. It’s so great.”

McConnell expresses that being able to shape her schedule in a way that breeds creative freedom is particularly important for her life as an author.

“There’s a lot of days that I’m like, ‘did I work today?’ Like, it’s 8 o’clock in the morning and I’ve done three and a half hours of writing today, but I’m just starting,” says McConnell.

Growing up in Portland, Oregon, McConnell expresses that she had parents who always supported her wild ideas, and they unknowingly unlocked her love for the outdoors by sending her to summer camp as a child. Even though she came from first-generation immigrant parents, McConnell feels as though she lives a privileged life, expressing, “I’m a white, middle-class woman in the state of Oregon and I had funding for college available through scholarships and student loans... so I feel like I don’t have the kind of traditional barriers [that others face].” She continues,

“YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIKE ME, AND I DON’T HAVE TO CARE.” - RUBY MCCONNELL

Cameron Branch reads A Woman's Guide To The Wild: Your Complete Outdoor Handbook, designed by Teresa Grasseschi.

“everyone has tragedy and everyone has hardship, and these things happen, but I was blessed with a happy attitude.”

This happy attitude pushed her to go to college for a geology degree, to study something that she loved, not just something that would make her wealthy. McConnell makes staying true to herself a huge aspect of her life.

“I have traveled through life with an image of—and I’m not kidding you, this is what a strange human I am—with this internal image of a red bouncing ball—that is, you know, like children with a shiny, shiny red ball,” she says. “Have you ever watched a small child just be transfixed by that thing in front of them that they are reaching to as a baby?

That’s how I went through life.”

This mentality is what led her to ignore social conformity and follow her passions, despite receiving firm advice on why she shouldn’t, and receiving lots of criticism for what people assumed was “wasting money.”

This lifestyle has broken down many barriers for McConnell. In her book, A Woman’s Guide to the Wild, she takes on taboo topics that come with being a woman in the outdoors. From a detailed description of how to properly pee in the woods to a step-by-step breakdown of all the options available for handling menstruation on the trail,

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she covers many topics that were previously not readily available to women.

After releasing her book, McConnell shares that interacting with fans opened her eyes to the impact the book made. “I’ve had women older than me come up and say, ‘I’m so glad you’ve finally talked about menstruation because I’ve struggled with that issue for years in the outdoors,’” states McConnell, explaining that these moments give her deep satisfaction in knowing that her writing may inspire others.

In April of 2020, she is releasing a collection of essays called Ground Truth: A Geological Survey of Life. True to her nature, McConnell is reaching out of her comfort zone once again, diving out of the how-to genre and into research essays, stating that when writing, she follows her heart, writing about whatever catches her attention.

Outdoor books tend to give enough information for survival, but none for comfort. Normal bodily functions, such as menstruation, and the comfortability that eyeliner gives some women, shouldn’t be something that is ‘taboo’ in society. This is why it is crucial to have women like McConnell writing for women. Everyone should have the chance to experience life in a way that is uniquely their own. 

Camilla Mortensen stands in front of Eugene Weekly.

WRITING DREAMS INTO REALITY Jadzia Engle

Melina Villegas

Eugene Weekly’s Editor-in-chief Camilla Mortensen settles for nothing less than the best while spreading her love for journalism.

W

hat if you could change the world through words?

Camilla Mortensen first realized she could in 2007 while she was still considered “fresh meat” at Eugene Weekly. She took on the job of writing an obituary for a young woman who was killed in Mexico, per-request from a group of bereaved friends. In all other news reports of her death, only the circumstances of the tragedy were discussed. By interviewing friends to capture the story of the deceased, Mortensen immortalized her spirit and honored her life in an impactful way that resonated with friends and family.

Her piece also prompted the young woman’s mother to contact Mortensen out of gratitude. This gesture of thanks allowed Mortensen to connect the mother with her late daughter’s friends, which she had not previously known, so they could all better share the memories of the past while they grieved. The power of one single obituary opened Mortensen’s eyes to the human element of journalism that truly makes a difference in people’s lives.

Be it an obituary, a profile of a community member, or breaking news, journalism serves people by informing them about the world around them, uncovering the truth of a situation, or recognizing others for the role they play in the world. To accomplish this, Mortensen, now editor of the Weekly, strives for the publication to never “pretend [that] it’s objective and doesn’t have an effect on the world.” They instead acknowledge that they have the potential to make a

difference while catering to an audience that is “looking for voice, and sass, and gutsiness.”

The Weekly publishes a new issue every Thursday, printing nearly 40,000 copies every week. Mortensen attributes the success to their unique and predictable niche in the community. Although the Weekly does keep up with some breaking news on their website, Mortensen has made it a priority to avoid falling into the fast cycle that can be “the detriment of papers.” She highlights that they “have kept [their] focus on being special every Thursday and not trying to keep up with everything that’s going on throughout the week.” This allows for interest to peak in the upcoming days to the release date and assures readers will be receiving the most significant stories from the week.

The paper works as an alternative weekly paper, tailoring to a younger audience more than a daily paper would, and it covers primarily local topics in formats ranging from slant columns and art reviews to hard-hitting features tackling major issues in the area. They incorporate the voice of the community into their reporting by running letters-to-theeditor, opinion pieces, and compositions from freelance writers or interns.

Since 2013, local newspapers have cut more than 10,000 employees. As more media becomes digitized, eliminating the use of paper copies, the importance of physical, free reporting becomes imperative to those without the means or capability to access and navigate the internet. All

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Camilla Mortensen lectures to her class at Lane Community College.

Sarah Karr

citizens have the right to be informed about the ongoings of their community and government. This makes the work of the alternative weekly more vital than ever, meaning Mortensen cannot take her job lightly.

Mortensen, 47, dreamed as a child of pursuing her passion of writing and teaching in order to express her artistic side and to make a difference in the world. A headstrong and innovative woman, she found her knack for journalism by “falling upward” into her current position.

Growing up in Florida, Mortensen received her bachelor’s degree at the New College of Florida, in a major she created herself (folklore), before packing up her things in a pickup truck and moving to the West Coast to further pursue academics. She received a master’s in folklore and mythology from the University of California Los Angeles, and soon after found herself in Eugene to earn her Ph.D in comparative literature at the University of Oregon. With a teaching background from grad school, she worked as an instructor at the University of Wisconsin, where she lived with her fiancé. Then, Mortensen’s life took an unexpected turn.

A realization suddenly dawned on her that she only followed her partner of eight years to Wisconsin because she “thought it was what [she] was supposed to do,” and the prospect of a white picket fence and an idealistic life of societal conformity did not suit “the trajectory [she] had for [herself].” Reflecting back on the activism she did in college and before she left Oregon made her “miss the part of [herself] who was trying to change the world and not just focused on what’s going on with [herself].”

In order to be true to herself, Mortensen broke off her engagement two weeks before the wedding. Mortensen soon received a job working for the Library of Congress that granted her the ability to work from anywhere in the United States, and so she headed back to Eugene, Oregon.

Through the years, she worked as a freelance writer whenever she got the chance. All the while, Mortensen still did not have a job that granted her the writing career she desired. After finishing up with the Library of Congress, she stumbled upon an opening at the Weekly in 2007 and seized the opportunity.

One year into her position at the paper, Mortensen chased down the chance to keep the other half of her dream alive by applying for a writing instructor position at Lane Community College. The unique and adverse backgrounds commonly found in students of a community college and their resulting drive and motivation to learn have always appealed to Mortensen, and it keeps her love for teaching alive and thriving. Before or after her Weekly workday, she now teaches two or three courses per term that consist of writing composition at varying levels and a

journalism course.

Early on at the Weekly and LCC, Mortensen’s love for low-wage occupations did not sustain her lifestyle in downtown Eugene. With an expensive and deeply rooted love of riding horses for competition, Mortensen knew she had to give up something. Unwilling to sacrifice her dream jobs, Mortensen, on a whim, jumped on Craigslist and purchased a 1975 Airstream trailer. Now, there is no place she’d rather call home. With her two dogs, Aksel the Ridgeback and Biggie the Pitbull, she parks her home in Creswell and commutes to Eugene with her four-legged friends in tow.

Her personal achievements in the journalism field have flourished in her 12 years at the Weekly, in part due to her passion and skill. Strangely, she attributes her success to her lack of training. “I wasn’t locked into what journalism was, or what journalism was allowed to do,” Mortensen says. This granted her the ability to be creative and think outside the box—something the Weekly still strives to accomplish.

One particular way the alternative weekly employs their platform in such a way is through solutions journalism.

Mortensen passionately explains this as a “type of journalism where you locate a problem in your community and then look [at]… other communities that have solved this problem or are working on solving this problem, and how it worked.” This gives the Weekly the ability to not just report on a problem, but then offer a solution and opportunity to improve the world, and it is “a really powerful type of journalism.”

Not only is the work of the paper contributing to the wealth of knowledge in the community, but as the current arts editor of the Weekly and former arts writer for The Register Guard, Bob Keefer, reflects: “the great thing about the Weekly is that it’s a teaching paper.” From her Weekly interns to her LCC students, Keefer adds that Mortensen “was clearly destined to be an academic.”

She helps provide an environment where students are unafraid to ask difficult questions, and further challenges them by presenting meaningful journalistic reporting for them to analyze and discuss. Her unabashed fearlessness helped Mortensen form the life she always dreamed of, and she draws on her experiences to inspire her pupils to someday achieve their own dreams.

Mortensen is the embodiment of a journalistic spirit, unwilling to settle for anything she does not believe in. In a world in which news gets blurred together, Mortensen stays hungry for the truth and potential for change. Acting as a lighthouse to all of the individuals around her, she leads students and coworkers alike towards journalistic inspiration and the power it wields. 

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Joe Hass stands in front of his class and laughs with his students.

PAINTING PATHWAYS Briggs Middle School teacher Joe Hass sees the world through a different lens.

Paige Oswalt

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n order to reach the art studio at Briggs Middle School, a visitor must embark on a treacherous journey through the school. First, they must gain access through the main office, where they will immediately be greeted by the friendly faces of the office staff.

Unfortunately, these faces do not properly prepare outside people for the chaos that ensues upon entering during the students’ passing period. The loud trill of a bell releases a tidal wave of prepubescent bodies swarming the hallways. An escape involves pushing through the herds of different friend groups, meeting up for the first time in 45 minutes, and quickly fleeing into the cafeteria, packed with herds of kids pushing up against one another, eagerly waiting to get their hands on any lunch they can find.

Maneuvering through a third of the school’s ravenous students poses a challenge, but you must reach the double doors that sit in the farthest corner of the room. Slowly moving forward through the doorway, the lights begin to brighten and the sounds of the cluttered and cramped cafeteria slowly fades.

When entering the art studio, the aura of students settles differently compared to any other area of the building. Kids move around in organized chaos, dancing around the room to clay stations, light tables, or supply rooms. In the center of it all, Joe Hass operates the ship. Hass is energetic and engaging, and his personality proves hard to miss. Whether it be his endless jokes, wild stories, or ridiculous accents, current and past students alike have a special fondness towards their art teacher.

In Hass’ 8th-grade class, students have just received their newest project and Hass floats through the room answering the constant buzz of questions. The minute he sends one student off, another takes their spot.

“Hey, Mr. Hass-Man?” a student says as he approaches Hass while he works on a scroll saw. Hass finishes his cut and turns his attention to the newcomer. He listens to what he is asking, then immediately springs into action answering the questions while demonstrating and adjusting the cuts his pupil had been struggling to grasp. As the endless barrage of questions finally comes to a close, the student has a grand “aha moment” as he takes it all in.

After the student is satisfied, he begins to walk away, yet he abruptly turns back.

“Guess what?” he asks with a sly smile full of mischief.

Slowly, Hass looks away from the newest student that has appeared, and for a moment just looks at him. Finally, he shakes his head with a laugh and tells him, “it is time for you to go away now,” and sends the student off.

Hass is the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) and CTE (Career and Technical Education) teacher at Briggs. The art studio and shop class are both run by Hass and, depending on the time of day, students create and learn something completely different. The 6th-grade classes are making ceramic pieces that tie into what they are learning in their social studies class, while 7th-graders are required to come up with a “crazy idea” about how they could improve the way we live while also

preserving the environment, and then they must create a poster that includes drawings that encompass the scope of their idea. All of these classes reflect parts of his personality and commitment to helping educate and mentor kids at a “very pivotal and difficult time.”

Fine arts provide many advantages for students. Studies show exposure to fine arts have both academic and noneducational benefits. For instance, self-esteem, motivation, and creativity are improved, and cultural exposure and emotional expression are increased. However, all across the nation, fine arts programs are being cut by the hundreds. After the 2008 recession, 80 percent of schools were faced with budget cuts. Regardless of the multitudes of art departments disappearing, Hass has remained devoted to the challenge of upholding the arts at Briggs in order to better his students’ experiences in all aspects of education, providing them with an outlet that advocates for self-expression.

As of the summer of 2018, Hass has been in the process of revamping the art department, spending countless hours designing, planning, and painting his updated space. With the help of bond measures like Measure 98—which provided the Oregon Department of Education with $170 million to disperse among schools—secondary schools were allowed to spend money to renovate. He has refurbished the art studio with a new layout and equipment, as well as advocated to bring back shop classes. Previously, the life skills program was at Briggs, and they utilized the shop space. However, once Hamlin Middle School was rebuilt in the 2017-2018 school year, the program moved into the new school. This then freed up the shop once again, allowing Hass to make efforts and take steps to bring woodshop classes back to the middle school.

Hass introduced the STEAM program to Briggs.

According to Hass, STEAM is creating more collaboration among himself and the science and math teachers. These partnerships allow him to coordinate lesson plans and develop a curriculum that lines up with what students are learning in other classroom settings. “When we look at the arts along with the core classes, we are trying to teach an entire student instead of just a part of them,” Hass states.

The connection between classes provides further comprehension of all subjects, supporting students to flourish in ways that otherwise might not have been possible. Under Hass’ management, art is no longer simply fumbling around with watercolors, but rather, an extension of the classroom “that allows students to use a totally different side of their brain and try to be creative, versus just sitting in a desk.”

To simplify Hass as just an art teacher feels like an injustice and understatement. Hass was born in South Korea and faced many trials growing up. When he was in Korea, Hass says, “I had to learn to take care of myself.”

At a young age, his family was poor and his mother, being a single parent, was often forced to work long shifts. His father, who was a part of the US Army, left when he was a

Joe Hass perfects a cut while working on a scroll saw.

Joseph Hass

Joe Hass leans on a table as he helps students with their newest project.

Art by Joe Hass year and a half old. Since his father was no longer present, Hass was given his mother’s family name, Nam, rather than the last name he was born with, which is considered a social taboo in Korean society. Only half Korean, Hass says, “kids would make fun of me because I looked like an American. At the time, I actually had blond hair and blue eyes, so they would wait after school to fight me because I was different.”

At the age of 10, Hass was forced to leave his mother behind when she placed him in an orphanage in Seoul, South Korea, in hopes to grant him a better life in the United States. Knowing not much more English than the ABCs, Hass waited for a year to be adopted by an American family. He was eventually adopted by a family in California, where he remained until he was 13. Then, he was driven up to Holt International, a Christian organization in Eugene, devoted to finding loving, adoptive homes for kids and orphans. There, he was placed in a foster home for several months until he was adopted by the Hass family, whom he remained with throughout the rest of his childhood.

Once enrolled in school, Hass reminisces that learning English was a considerable challenge. He says, “I didn’t know at the time, and wouldn’t until I was in college, but I have dyslexia and later on found out I have ADHD.” He also recalls that “on top of everything else, my fifthgrade teacher, the very first teacher I had, did not want to spend a lot of time with me because she viewed me as more of a burden than anything.” Alienated by both Korean and American society and familiar with the struggles of learning impairments, Hass wishes to now teach his

students in a way that utilizes their differences, allowing them to become gifts, not burdens. “It’s more of a blessing because I think we get to see the world completely different compared to somebody else,” he says. This has allowed him to connect with young students as they enter middle school and are now face-to-face with their own issues and struggles, unlike anything they have experienced thus far.

Tyler Rutledge, an 8th grader at Briggs Middle School, has taken Hass’s class as an elective since his 6th-grade year. Rutledge continues to come back each year to take everything Hass has to offer. “He makes school fun,” Rutledge says, “and it is different because you incorporate everything together, rather than just learning one subject. It makes you want to learn.”

The STEAM program and Hass are breaking down boundaries with students and the way they are learning and processing information in and out of the classroom.

Rutledge expresses his appreciation toward the program by revealing that he has “learned to think outside the box,” and that if a student happens to be struggling in a class, “Hass will always help you and he never will tell [you to] go do it yourself or figure it out on your own. He will actually spend time to sit down and help you with what you need.”

Hass has dedicated himself to bettering the art program at Briggs and has become an advocate and support system for young students. Despite all that he has been through, Hass has taken life into his own hands and now recognizes the lessons life has taught him as a powerful tool to help his own students through the darkest parts of their lives. 

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SCORING HOOPS

Kelly Graves throws the iconic Oregon O outside of Autzen Stadium.

AND HEARTS Kelly Graves and his unique vision lead the Oregon Ducks women’s basketball team to new heights.

Kindra Roy

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Lexy Ellis

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T

he elaborately painted trees on the Matthew Knight Arena floor are covered by a flood of yellow jerseys.

Fans jump to their feet, clapping in unison to the fight song that echoes throughout the gym, signaling the beginning of a face-off between the women Ducks and the UC Riverside Highlanders. Captured by the astonishing ease of Sabrina Ionescu and Erin Boley’s warm-up routine, the crowd’s eyes are pulled downcourt, lost in the rhythm of flawless layups. Back at the tunnel, the coach sneaks in, unnoticed by the majority of the audience. Walking with a casual yet professional aura, he greets the opposing coach with a warm two-handed handshake before finding his seat at the Oregon bench. Leaning back, with one arm cast over the chair and one on the score table, he taps his fingers to the blaring rap music, a smile plastered across his face.

With a welcoming grin and a voice oddly similar to John Wayne’s, Kelly Graves’ interactions with the public do not necessarily scream “championship-winning basketball coach,” and that is not the only thing about the Oregon Ducks women’s coach that is unusual. With over 30 years of coaching under his belt, Graves has turned around his fair share of programs, and during that time developed a unique coaching style that has captured the hearts of players and fans alike.

Graves came to the Oregon Ducks as the head coach of the struggling women’s team in 2014. Since then, the team has been transformed, blossoming with new philosophy and talent into a nationally-ranked team heading for a championship. But Graves didn’t originally set out to be a women’s basketball coach, let alone for a top-ranked team in the nation.

Graves’ road to glory was not the most predictable.

In fact, it all started during his junior year of high school.

Graves was a star player at Dixie High School in St. George, Utah when his family made the decision to move five hours north to the city of Logan. But the newly hired head coach, Mark Poth, was not ready to see Graves go, making his first project as head coach to convince Graves, and his parents, that he should stay at Dixie High School for his senior year. Poth taught Graves a valuable lesson about the importance of a family-like team atmosphere when he opened his home for Graves to stay in, and this devotion

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and generosity toward Graves set the story in motion.

The bond Graves built with his high school coach led him to his first college coaching job, working alongside Poth for the men’s team at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake, Washington. With little money, Graves was taking on odd jobs just to get by: managing the dorms, cleaning the gym floors, and even plowing potato fields.

“I lived in the basement of a booster’s house for $100 a month rent. I just did whatever I could because I really wanted to coach,” Graves said, reflecting on the financial struggles during his early years of coaching.

When the women’s head basketball coach position opened at Big Bend, the paycheck looked appealing.

His lack of experience with women’s basketball did not deter him, especially with the promise of $2,500 added income. “The only reason I said yes was because it was $2,500,” Graves admitted, “and that was when I first started coaching women’s basketball. It was a complete accident.

I hadn’t set out to do it, but it was the greatest move that I ever made.”

His first year head coaching for Big Bend led the team to their first winning record. From there, Graves worked his way up, first assisting at the University of Portland before taking on a head coaching position at St. Mary’s College of California, where he advanced the team to their first NCAA Tournament. But family is important to Graves, so when his wife, Mary, informed him she wasn’t happy there, it was time to pack up and move to somewhere else. That is when Graves found himself back in Washington as the head coach at Gonzaga, a struggling program with a dream to match the success of their men’s team.

“I left the best program in the league to take over the worst, and we went 0 and 14,” Graves recalled. “And don’t let the record fool you, we weren’t that good. We were even worse than the record.”

After losing every conference game his first year at Gonzaga, Graves still believed in the team and their potential. Sticking around after a challenging first season, Graves elevated the program into a national team, earning West Coast Conference coach of the year eight times as the team dominated their way into ten consecutive conference championships. Graves made a name for himself, and after turning around Gonzaga’s program over the span of 14 years, he was ready for a new challenge. “It was my turn to talk to Mary. I told her I want to coach the

Kelly Graves coaches his team from the sidelines.

GoDucks.com

Kelly Graves intensely coaches star-player Sabrina Ionescu from the sidelines.

best, I want a chance to win a national championship,” said Graves. “We had just outgrown Gonzaga.”

The Duck women had endured a rough stretch of seasons. Their 2010-2011 season record of 3-14 increased by four wins the following season, only to decrease to 2-16 in the 2012-2013 season. They were looking for a new coach, and Graves was looking to transform the team. “I thought it was a gold mine,” Graves recalled, and jumped at the opportunity.

Taking on the Ducks was not a walk in the park for Graves. “It’s humbling to go from 10 straight championships to what we had that first year,” Graves said, addressing the 6-12 conference record, “but we changed it, we changed it quickly.” By the 2017-2018 season, the Ducks had a conference record of 16 wins, 2 losses, soon clinching their first PAC-12 tournament championship as well as back-to-back Elite 8 appearances.

The talent and record were not the only part of the team growing. More and more people found themselves immersed into the Ducks’ seasons, many of which had never previously been women’s basketball fanatics, some not even previously devoted to basketball at all. It’s a phenomenon Graves likes to call, “Our Women’s Syndrome”: the increasing fan base that has reached beyond the normal and expected. Graves believes it is rooted deeper than good performance: “they’re not necessarily fans of women’s basketball, they’re fans of our team,” he explained, “because they are easy to cheer for, not just because they make baskets. They are good people.”

At the center of the team are Graves’ core values, inspired by his philosophy of family atmosphere and priority of relationships and teamwork. “Usually when you think of athletics, it’s hard work, toughness, discipline,” Graves shared, “but for us, it’s passion, unity, integrity, thankfulness, servanthood.” On his team, Graves encourages open communication and equal power, refusing to use a whistle and inviting players to call him by first name. Additionally, Graves encourages his players to be vulnerable, to make sacrifices, and to exercise humility.

As a team, they commit to shaking the hand of every visitor at practice, signing autographs after every game, and celebrating every assist as much as the points. “We don’t

just focus on the product on the court, the product on the court comes as a byproduct of how you treat each other, how you work together.”

Last year, during their 2018-2019 season, the team cruised into the Final 4, losing in a 67-72 point matchup against Baylor, the eventual champion. To many, it may have seemed like a devastating defeat. Graves and his team see it differently: “you turn the page, and I think our players did just that.” Graves took the lead, offering it as motivation for the coming season. “What’s passed is passed, learn from it,” he tells his players, “you either win or you learn, there are no losses.”

The Ducks rolled over UC Riverside in an 84-41 victory, predicted by fans and analysts alike. Throughout the game, their play and interactions reminded each fan why they are so fond of the team. From the first quarter to the fourth, Graves sat back, allowing the team to direct the game largely themselves. They did not disappoint. Despite the clear early lead, the Ducks gave nothing less than their best, reflecting on their promise to play with passion no matter the circumstances. Ionescu launched herself at various tables throughout the game in an attempt to keep live balls in play, regardless of the constant cushion between the Ducks and their opponent. The team communicated with ease, nodding in nonverbal recognition and encouragement after both successful plays and missed shots. Staying true to their values of teamwork, the players credited each other by pointing to teammates with gratitude for important assists. The bench erupted with praises after eloquently delivered plays, using the moments to celebrate every player’s accomplishments and contributions. They played hard, played humble, and had fun.

The Ducks have their eyes set high for this season.

However, when asked the team’s goal, Graves did not answer with the obvious. Instead, he remained true to his core values and previous beliefs: “our goal is to get better every day.” For Graves and the Ducks, winning their third consecutive PAC-12 championship is not the focus, and neither is winning the national championship. “But if we stay humble, if we stay hungry, if we keep working hard,” Graves says, “we will achieve all those outcomes.” 

GoDucks.com

MAKING SONDER

Jadzia Engle Grace Hawthorne

Jadzia Engle (left) assists Melina Villegas with edits.

T

he warm aroma of coffee and antique scent of newspapers encompassed me as I walked through the door of a homely office building with photographer Melina Villegas in tow. I met the gaze of Eugene Weekly editor and teacher Camilla Mortensen and a familiar, toothy smile spread across her face. My profile subject for the previous two months welcomed us in and continued on with her tasks as we commenced our morning goal: to conduct a fourth interview and capture a third round of photos of a community member doing extraordinary things.

The seemingly excessive follow-ups with the seasoned journalist were well received by her as being “thorough,” as she too knows the responsibility that comes with representing others on paper. Structuring a high school curriculum around professional-quality journalism brings an elevated level of education to the table for all students in the Miller Integrated Nature Experience (MINE). When tasked with interviewing and capturing tWhe life of a peer or community member, a dynamic challenge is presented to students that no prompted, in-class essay could ever properly prepare them for. Consequently, the first round of drafts is far from perfect.

As counterintuitive as it may sound, beginning with failure is the key to success. In our education system, students are punished when mistakes are made. Although encouraged to reflect and improve after each of these “learning opportunities,” it becomes impossible for them to deviate from what the set curriculum expects without it negatively affecting their transcript. As a result, students become afraid to take risks.

The MINE program has different expectations. Each year the class is full of journalism rookies, and venturing into the unknown is our first step. We must learn to persevere despite any fears. We make mistakes often, especially in the beginning, but the scope of the class allows us to break

free from the negative connotation. Failures are iterations, and stories that don’t get published are building blocks for the skills needed to take on the next one.

Those interested in visual arts have the opportunity to get behind a camera or sit down with design programs that they must learn as they go. The improvement that occurs comes from the motivation of working towards a final product that we want to proudly distribute to our community.

MINE takes on real issues that pique our interests, and we select profile subjects we believe should be recognized.

This freedom breeds creativity, and it results in policecar ride alongs, access to Oregon women’s basketball practices, and immense personal growth fostered from leaping out of a confining comfort zone. In each issue, Sonder stories reflect the passions of the current class and create an authentic representation of our community.

Whether a spark of inspiration results in a headline for a story, a profile is perfected through countless drafts, or a creative design for a spread is seen to fruition, when the ink hits paper and the magazine is published, pride lights up the faces of the students who took the leap to broaden their educational experience.

I took my own unique opportunity to expand my schooling by delving into the world of the Eugene Weekly to capture the essence of Camilla Mortensen. My eyes opened to the parallels that can be drawn between a wellestablished community newspaper and the Springfield High School journalism program. From brainstorming stories and cycling through rounds of edits, to connecting with the art world, journalistic success seems to boil down to the ability to support other team members, highlight individual skill sets, and be unafraid to fail. Each and every contribution makes it possible for us to come together and create something we can each call “MINE.” 

We Would Like To Thank Our Sponsors

SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AND COMMUNICATION ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

This is a MINE publication, produced at Springfield High School in Springfield, Oregon.

Grace Hawthorne