And it has been quite an issue, indeed. A release from the Keep Ken Coalition from August 2010, the movement saw more than 500 students working for eight months to try to make sure DeBevoise got re-signed. And he did.

That’s what makes the fact that this is an issue so puzzling to us.

But now, looking to fall term, Ken does not have any classes scheduled for the fall on DuckWeb, and there are a few less than 500 fighting to keep him now.

For most of us at the Emerald, Ken’s been teaching in-depth classes for understanding countries in the Middle East since we started here. From all accounts, while rigorous, these classes have been challenging and highly informative.

Then

From the about page for the Keep Ken website: “Professor Ken DeBevoise does not lecture. He does not assign papers. He does not give exams. But he incorporates reading, writing and speaking into his classes every day in a way that is extremely engaging, educational and fun.”

Not traditional, to be sure. But engaging, you betcha.

Ken is the kind of professor that fits so clearly with the ‘different’ nature of our campus.

The original attempt to remove Ken was based in differences of opinion in the political science office, culminating with what the coalition called ‘Coffeegate’. DeBevoise’s attempt to take a class to a coffee shop off 13th and Patterson ended up sparking everything that ended up happening.

“This action was admonished by the political science department without reason, cause, or justification,” the coalition’s website read. “This demonstrates the political science department’s personal crusade against Professor Ken DeBevoise, regardless of his value to the department high student demand for his instruction.”

Now

As of now, DeBevoise has no contract for fall term, and, as said before, isn’t scheduled to teach classes in the fall, and that’s a damn shame.

For all we pay the University, we have a right to expect someone more like Ken: Less of the traditional and same old, same old; and more of the innovators and big-thinkers.

Emerald News Radio interviewed Kathy Lynn, co-coordinator for the Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change conference on the event, the impacts of climate change on indigenous cultures, and conflicts in the dialogue between traditional ecological knowledge and western science.

The Blimp’s style can’t be explained simply. De-facto front man Lucas Gunn describes their style as “avant-garage,” but says that the label only fits loosely. With two guitars, a keyboard, multiple vocalists, drums and the occasional theremin, the band is a veritable circus of sound. Drawing from a multitude of different influences, they seek to provide something local Eugene bands typically don’t have: volume.

“All in all, it’s loud, bizarre, catchy, obnoxious, energetic, chaotic and sometimes pretty,” Lucas Gunn said.

The group is comprised of Gunn on vocals and guitar, Leland Vessey on drums, Miranda Soileau on the piano and vocals, Jesse Wood on guitar and Brayden Allison-Hall on vocals, theremin, trumpet and whatever else he can get his hands on.

The Blimp has been peddling their unique brew of guitar rock since 2004, dedicated to never once sounding the same. Their songs vary in content from jangly walls of sound, free-jazz freakouts to a cappella numbers featuring the group’s three vocalists.

When quizzed on the band’s inspiration, Gunn cited, “anyone who has their own individual and different way of playing or making music and puts passionate, honest emotion into it.” He went on to list Captain Beefheart, Mothers of Invention, 13th Floor Elevators, Bonzo Dog Band, Syd Barrett/Pink Floyd, Them, the Electric Eels, The Beach Boys, Link Wray and Hasil Adkins.

The lineup has been in flux for a long time. Since its beginning, where it comprised of Gunn, Vessey and their friend Brett Harding, the band has gone through three guitarists and more than nine different lineups. It’s been everything from a two-piece to a five-piece band.

Driving their individuality home, The Blimp often plays with an assortment of bizarre props on stage such as mannequins, trashcans and other such surreal accoutrements. Additionally, most of their publicity shots feature the band wearing plastic masks that look swiped from a dollar store’s back dumpster. The Blimp is dedicated to making sure that every one of their live shows is an entertaining spectacle.

On Friday’s show, Gunn will be opening with his own solo act. Previously he has played rhythm guitar with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Soldiers, a long running project that went on hiatus in 2008.

The Blimp’s “Not Beer” EP has received a wide distribution by The Violent Times label, and the band is currently working on an LP.

The Ducks will send 31 entries on the women’s side, while the men will send 26 athletes. The top dozen finishers in each event will earn a berth to the NCAA Championships, taking place June 6 to 9 in Des Moines, Iowa. Two Ducks have already earned a trip to the Midwest: heptathlete Brianne Theisen and decathlete Dakotah Keys, who secured spots after winning their respective events at the Pac-12 meet.

Competition in Austin will be steep, as the NCAA West Preliminary is chock-full of contenders from the USTFCCCA top 25. On the women’s side, 16 ranked squads will be present, while the men’s competition will feature 15 top 25 teams.

The women’s teams include No. 2 Kansas, No. 4 Texas, No. 5 Oregon, No. 6 Texas A&M, No. 8 Arizona, No. 10 Stanford, No. 11 Texas Tech, No. 12 Arizona State, No. 13 Arkansas, No. 16 Oklahoma, No. 17 Illinois State, No. 18 Southern Illinois, No. 19 Illinois, No. 21 Baylor, No. 23 USC and No. 25 Iowa State.

No. 1 Texas A&M leads the men’s teams, followed by No. 5 Texas, No. 6 Arizona, No. 8 Arkansas, No. 9 Texas Tech, No. 10 Nebraska, No. 13 USC, No. 14 Arizona State, No. 15 Wisconsin, No. 18 Stanford, No. 20 Kansas, No. 21 Oregon, No. 22 Oklahoma, No. 23 Iowa and No. 24 Baylor.

Of the 26 Oregon men slated to compete, 15 will be making their first postseason appearance. Six Duck men will enter the meet as a top-12 seeds (and favorites to advance): Mike Berry (No. 7, 400 meters), Johnathan Cabral (No. 5, 110-meter hurdles), Arthur Delaney (No. 11, 100-meter dash), Elijah Greer (No. 6, 800 meters), Luke Puskedra (No. 4, 10,000 meters) and Parker Stinson (No. 10, 10,000).

For the women, Oregon boasts the top seed in the 100 meters (English Gardner) and has a total of 15 top-12 seeds. Ducks looking to advance to Des Moines include Bronwyn Crossman (No. 11, 10,000), Claudia Francis (No. 6, 800), Phyllis Francis (No. 5, 400), Jordan Hasay (No. 3, 1,500), Anne Kesselring (No. 10, 800), Alex Kosinski (No. 4, 5,000), Kimber Mattox (No. 7, steeplechase), Lauryn Newson (No. 9, 100; No. 7, 200; No. 3, triple jump), Laura Roesler (No. 7, 800), Chancey Summers (No. 7, high jump), Lanie Thompson (No. 11, steeplechase), 4×100 Relay (No. 4) and 4×400 Relay (No. 9).

A free live web cast of the NCAA West meet will be available at www.texassports.com. Oregon’s results can be followed live via Twitter (@OregonTF).

“I chose to direct ‘I Ain’t Yo’ Uncle: The New Jack Revisionist Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ for many reasons,” said play director LaDonna L. Forsgren. “The show utilizes a multi-cultural cast, facilitates experimentation with several performance genres, incorporates 1990s hip hop, and is just plain funny! I love to laugh and have a healthy respect for the absurd.”

New Jack Revisionist Robert Alexander wrote the play. New Jack is a fusion genre, an amalgam of old sensibilities and new, and was spearheaded by the hip-hop artists of the late ‘80s-early ‘90s. This artistic paradigm is evident in the styles of music used in the play and the frequent breaking of the fourth wall, a method used most notably in postmodern theater.

Alexander will also be available for a Q&A with the audience following the performance May 31.

The real “New Jack” of the play (aside from just its title) is the subject matter, taking characters from the novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” and re-writing it with modern sensibilities and frequent points of view from secondary characters (many of which had little or no dialogue in the play.)

“When I first read the script it seemed really serious,” said Jade Edmondson, who plays Cassie. “But after a few rehearsals, I was like ‘wait…this is a comedy.’ Which makes it easier to watch, makes it enjoyable. You’re not going to leave feeling bad. It’s not a guilt trip at all.”

The play’s mix of comedy and serious topics has made it comparable to a popular sketch show.

“Now we’re at the point where someone compared us to an hour and a half ‘SNL’ skit,” said Brittany Dorris, who plays Miss Ophelia. “I mean, ‘SNL’ tackles some heavy stuff! But you laugh at it. It’s funny. It’s humor. It’s satire. We take a light approach to it. It’s the best bad acting you’ve ever seen on purpose.”

“It’s really, really, really funny. I know that it’s a big theme of racism and how terrible the world is, but it’s really funny,” said costume designer Annie Smith. This will be her last play since she is graduating this year. “I really like this play, and LaDonna did a really good job directing this, and it’s a good way to go out.”

Smith continued, “I went with an insane amount of bright color and patterns that crisscross in somewhat garish ways that reflect the acting. I also blended period clothing with modern clothing to reflect to the audience that racism did not end with slavery. This is a problem we still face and people need to be aware that this isn’t just something that our grandparents said.”

Footage of the LA riots of the early ’90s are projected on the front doors of a mock-up cabin, amidst handmade set pieces in the Hope Theatre in the Miller Theatre complex on campus. The cabin itself is a small frame, with canvas stretched thin to allow projection onto it, as well as to allow silhouettes to be cast onto its other side. The floor of the theater is hand-painted to look like the slat board floor expected in a rustic period dwelling.

UO alumnus Steen V Mitchell designed the set.

“We wanted it to feel as though you were in an older theater space,” Mitchell said. “A lot of the work you’re seeing in the set pieces was all built by students. It was a challenge to design the cabin, which can be projected on from the front and allow silhouettes from the rear.”

“I Ain’t Yo’ Uncle” premieres May 24 and runs until June 2.

@@**BREAKOUT**

“I Ain’t Yo’ Uncle: The New Jack Revisionist Uncle Tom’s Cabin”

Where: Hope Theatre on campus

When: May 24, 25, 26, 31 and June 1 and 2 at 8 p.m.
May 27 at 2 p.m.

Cost: Free with University ID, $12 for seniors, faculty, staff and non-University students or $14 general admissionI didn’t know if that should be in the published version@@

Based on Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel’s best-selling pregnancy guide, “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” portrays the trials and tribulations of five couples as they deal with pregnancy, adoption and miscarriage. With A-listers from Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Lopez to Chace Crawford and Matthew Morrison, the cast does a superb job representing impending parenthood.

“What to Expect When You’re Expecting” also represents almost every pregnancy demographic. Fitness guru Jules (Cameron Diaz) represents what happens when you are not really expecting to expect. Throw in another couple struggling to conceive (Elizabeth Banks and Ben Falcone), and you have quite an ensemble and a comedic performance of how each couple prepares for the birth. Perhaps what makes Banks and Falcone’s performance so hilarious is her embarrassing in-laws (Brooklyn Decker and Dennis Quaid) who always seem to be competing with their son over everything. This component adds a comedic and irritating element to the film.

If you are ready for something a little more sentimental, look no further than the couple trying to adopt (Jennifer Lopez and Rodrigo Santoro). Both Lopez and Santoro do an excellent job portraying the defeat of being unable to conceive but also demonstrate the hilarity of being new parents. The “not a couple” (Anna Kendrick and Chace Crawford) offer a stunning performance of the consequences of one-night stands.

In the midst of the five couples demonstrating what pregnancy is really like, we cannot forget the “dude’s group,” whose members include Chris Rock, Rob Huebel, Thomas Lennon and Amir Talai. While the majority of the film seems to deal with how couples handle the trials and tribulations of pregnancy, this group of whipped dads represents what happens after birth. With babies in strollers and hanging from carriers on their shoulders, this gang is an example of how the dads deal with the aftermath of pregnancy.

Unlike most romantic comedies, however, this film does not focus on how the couples fight and make up again in the end. It focuses more on the hilarity of brand new parenthood and how the birth is what brings everything back together again. At times, it can be a little cliched, but overall, it does a great job at truthfully showing the misery of pregnancy but also the beauty of birth.

“What to Expect When You’re Expecting” is no “Bridesmaids,” as many people had hoped. But the protagonists do make a trip to the theater worth your while.

Grade: B+

Before Giridharadas could even take questions from those in attendance, more than half of the students in the room slammed notebooks, zipped backpacks and began chattering as they exited the room in a wave of disruption. This is just one example of the disrespect that professors and presenters all over campus deal with.

It is a problem that needs to stop but never will.

It’s understandable that students can get a little anxious to leave class at the end of a long lecture, especially these days when the sun is shining. Others may have another class to get to across campus and want to get a head start on the hike. Or some are simply hungry or want to meet friends after class, so they try to clear out as quickly as possible.

However, if the professor is still at the head of the class trying to explain a subject or an assignment, there is no excuse for shoving your binders in your backpack and waiting for the word to bolt from class. Some students throw all of their materials in their bag and keep their hands on the table as if they are in the starting blocks for the 100-meter dash at Hayward Field, and that’s with five minutes left in class.

No matter where your next class is, you have at least 10 minutes to get there. It is possible to walk from Agate Hall to Lillis in 10 minutes, and there are few farther walks from class to class on campus. Even if you can’t make it on time, as long as your teacher knows you have a long walk they won’t mark you late.

Your friends, your meal, and the sunshine will all still be around if you wait the extra five minutes of class to let the teacher finish the lesson.

But the issue is not just with trying to leave early for class. The problem of disrespect to professors stems from texting and the use of social media to flat out falling asleep in class.

I understand that people want to stay connected with the outside world when having to sit through a class. I want to see what LaMichael James is tweeting about “Swamp People” just as much as anyone else. But if you made a commitment to be in a class for 50 minutes, the Twitterverse can wait. Whatever gossip your friend wants to text about will still be relevant news after the teacher lets you go for the day.

It is not difficult to give a professor the attention they deserve for an hour or two a day. As students we pay a lot of money to go to classes, so we might as well get everything we can out if it.

Courtney Thorsson, an English professor specializing in African American literature, says that maximizing class time is vital in her classes.

“Given the brevity of a term in the quarter system and the fact that my class is, for many students, the only course in which they will read African American literature, I hate for them to lose even five minutes of that work,” Thorsson said.

Professors put in a lot of time and energy putting together lesson plans and preparing to teach classes. They have studied their respective fields for years and are experts at what they do. If they didn’t feel that the information they were giving at the end of class was important, they wouldn’t be teaching it.

Even if you have somewhere important to be, some students actually want to listen to what the professor or presenter has to say. Be respectful to other students and to professors.

So slow down. It doesn’t matter what you have to do after class. It can wait.

We’ll be trying to find stories and headlines inherently relevant to situations that persist today, as well as the occasional oddity we find in our past.

***

Court rules on election complaints

The Constitution Court ruled that it had no authority to enforce a law that would disqualify the newly elected ASUO Executive

May 23, 1997

Thom Schoenborn | Emerald archives

Twenty days after it allowed the postponed ASUO General Election to happen, the ASUO Constitution Court issued its opinion in the cases that delayed the election. The court ruled it would review all election complaints, but the elections will stand unless they find something in the complaints to overturn them.

Hilarious pull quote: “These elections are stained with a taint that cannot be rubbed off.” — then-Justice Dave Coffman in his dissenting opinion.

***

This story delves into an elections controversy from spring 1997 when a campaign was accused of violating Eugene law. But, as a city court had not found the group guilty, the Constitution Court said it didn’t have jurisdiction to use that to remove the president-, vice president-elect. Note the date, though — 15 years ago, the ASUO campaign was on halt through most of May. Also note a bit of awesome melodrama from Associate Justice Coffman.

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to direct a live, televised sporting event?

Probably not, because it’s a pretty random and inconsequential thing to ponder out of the blue. But every once in awhile, whether it’s during the NBA playoffs or just a run of the mill baseball game, some poor director presents us with an accidental reminder of just how important his or her job is. Like copy editors in the news media world, it seems that these directors are only noticed when they screw up. Like last year, for instance, when TNT accidentally cut back from commercial to a cameraman creeping on Heat fans.

Or just last night, in a fleeting moment that sparked this whole preamble:

Poor Mitch Kupchak. Standing by himself, surrounded by those raucous, monochromatic Thunder fans just minutes before his team is booted from the playoffs. And then the hyperzoom camera lens has to get in his face. I’m guessing this was a mistake, unless last night’s director was hellbent on haunting all of our dreams. (As an aside, I’m guessing Mitch made approximately the same facial expression when he was first told about Kobe Bryant’s rap video).

On the flip side of director foibles, we have moments of accidental brilliance. Look at this seemingly innocuous shot of Andrew Bynum being mopey, and tell me if you notice anything strange.

Yes, that’s Troy Murphy sitting to Bynum’s right, and yes, it appears that he is indeed dipping during a national broadcast of an NBA playoff game. Aside from the obvious hilarity of Murphy plainly expecting to never enter the game, I also particularly enjoy whatever that facial expression is that he makes right before spitting. He looks like he just finished a keg stand.

Speaking of benchwarmers, you’ll be happy to know that Adam Morrison is still alive and hasn’t cut his hair since 1995:

Let’s move on and agree to never look at that picture ever again. Ever.

Over the baseball diamond, players and fans alike are getting restless. It’s only May, after all, and approximately 452 games remain in the interminable regular season. So to spice things up, some people in Milwaukee are dressing as bananas and playing air guitar:

This is another “let’s never speak of this again” moment, isn’t it? I’m sorry.

Tweets of the Week: 

If you’re a fan of the NBA, or just sports in general, and don’t follow Javale McGee on Twitter … well, you need to go follow him. A small sample tray:

Just seen a old man get beat up by a shopping cart…. Smh

— Pierre McGee (@JaValeMcGee34) May 19, 2012

My favorite part about this one is @kg_stereohogzz responding by asking, “U in LA?” Like that would totally explain everything.

Kno ur role u jabrony — Pierre McGee (@JaValeMcGee34) May 21, 2012

Totally out of the blue, so that only Javale knew what exactly he was referring to. He does this a lot.

I just seen the prettiest girl with a wooden leg and a real foot! — Pierre McGee (@JaValeMcGee34) May 15, 2012

Game over.

Sports Photo of the Week:

This is awesome RT @NickiJhabvala Never change, @paugasol. twitter.com/si_vault/statu…

— Andy Gray (@si_vault) May 18, 2012

The many faces of Pau Gasol, which are all basically the same face.

Sports Video(s) of the Week:

Stan Van Gundy was unfortunately fired yesterday so that the Magic could move forward with their plans to lose Dwight Howard anyway. In Stan’s honor, let’s show this hilarious video of him breaking out his killer crossover:

As soon as I saw this, it reminded me of this ESPN commercial from a year ago, which is also wonderful:

Think you found something worthy of the next Take a Minute? Hit me up on Twitter!

Health Center Director Dana Mills said that the health clinic is open during the break but with different hours.

“Our clinic remains open over the summer, but the hours are significantly reduced given the fact that enrollment is reduced, and there are not as many students on campus,” Mills said.

University junior Ryan Lysne will be staying in Eugene this summer to attend classes and continue studying through the break. Lysne said that, obviously, campus is empty when compared to the other three terms, but the facilities which remain open give students another reason to stay in Eugene.

“I think everyone would assume the SRC and libraries are open, but I feel that not everyone knows that the UHC is open as well,” Lysne said. “Especially with my allergies the way they are in Eugene, I know I will frequent the pharmacy there.”

Along with normal clinical operations, the Health Center maintains numerous summer-specific activities in preparation for the upcoming fall term.

“In the summer, we prepare for IntroDUCKtion and orientation programming, as well as assisting incoming international students,” Mills said. “Also, a fair number of students that come early with their parents to visit the school before fall stop by here and drop off information.”

Mills maintained that strategic planning for the upcoming academic year is paramount for the Health Center. One such activity will be replacing building-wide software that is responsible for record keeping, scheduling and clinical ordering of supplies.

But perhaps the most exciting event for the Health Center is the Olympic Trials, in which select physicians will be working as volunteers on the medical staff for athletes.

“A chance to do this is a highly sought after position for all medical staff, and this is sort of a feather in our cap that our physicians are considered for care for the prospective Olympic athletes,” Mills said.

According to the Health Center’s website, it will remain open until summer term ends on Sept. 7, at which time the center will close until Sept. 17 – a day before Week of Welcome commences for incoming students.

The women were joined by four other Pac-12 teams in the top 12, including Arizona (No. 8), Stanford (No. 10) and Arizona State (No. 12). LSU took the top spot overall, followed by Kansas, Clemson and Texas.

On the men’s side, Texas A&M took the familiar No. 1 spot, with Florida, Indiana, LSU and Texas following in its stead. Other Pac-12 teams joining the men in the top 25 were Arizona (No. 6), USC (No. 13), Arizona State (No. 14) and Stanford (No. 18).

The term “alcoholic” will be more broadly defined next year in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which is the manual of all psychiatric diagnoses used by clinicians around the world. The new DSM will increase the number of symptoms for alcoholism and drug addictions. The new symptoms would include drinking more than intended and craving alcohol, according to an article in The New York Times. Previously, an alcoholic was defined by having a dependency on alcohol that influences their decisions and behavior.

Numbers from the Harvard School of Public Health show that 31 percent of college students show signs of alcohol abuse, while six percent are dependent on alcohol. Under the DSM’s new definition, that means about 37 percent of college students may be considered alcoholics.

Doctors are hoping that this new definition of the term will help catch severe cases of alcoholism early, instead of when the problem is full-blown. Jessica Champion, substance abuse counselor at the University Counseling and Testing Center, favors the new definition.

In this year alone, Champion has helped 700 students who were mandated to get help by the University for alcohol abuse. Champion said that number doesn’t include students who were not required to get help but needed it.

Jennifer Summers, director of the Substance Abuse Prevention Program, doesn’t think this new definition will change the minds of many college students. Summers said that she thinks many students perceive drinking as the norm and that they don’t think they are at a risk of an alcohol problem.

“There are definitely students who fall into high-risk drinking,” Summers said.

She doesn’t think students will change their minds or actions with drinking, but she does think the new definition will help diagnose more students.

University freshman Matt Strazzulla finds the new definition a little disturbing.

“I believe that they might be overreacting just a bit,” Strazzulla said. “Most college students that I know do drink heavily on the weekends, but they do not develop addiction behavior.”

Champion thinks this new definition could cause a greater awareness and reduce the amount of drinking in college.

“I’d like to say it would stop college binge drinking,” Champion said.

“In Her Shoes” recommended by Rebecca Sedlak

I have to admit, it was tough to narrow it down to one pick this time. I went through numerous Jodie Foster, Charlize Theron and Meryl Streep movies before I finally settled on this one. I decided that while the description of a “strong female lead” includes a woman with a tough life who kicks ass and sticks it to the system, it also includes strong female characters who are complex.

Thus: “In Her Shoes,” a movie that features three such ladies. This 2005 film, based on the novel of the same title, tells the story of straight-laced lawyer Rose (Toni Collette) and her younger sister Maggie (Cameron Diaz), a “free spirit” who can’t hold down a job. Their shoe size is the only thing the two sisters have in common, especially after Maggie sleeps with Rose’s boyfriend. Hurt and enraged, Rose cuts all communication, and Maggie skips town to visit her grandmother Ella (Shirley MacLaine) for the first time. The family dynamics of this film are deep and honest as you watch the sisters’ relationship heal and Ella get to know her granddaughters. All three women are multifaceted and three-dimensional, and it’s a refreshing look at strong female characters in a movie anyone can enjoy.

“Aliens” recommended by Ben Kendall

James Cameron’s “Aliens,” is the quintessential film with a strong female lead. Lt. Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), fresh from her experience with the “xenomorph” creature in “Alien,” (“Alien” was directed by Ridley Scott and is also an awesome film) finds herself 67 years in the future, as she was lost in space in suspended animation before she was picked up by random chance. Ripley is tasked to go back and prove that she had an encounter with an alien life form, as well as investigate what happened to the colonists that came to live on the planet while she was drifting through space. This is one of Weaver’s best roles and is really the one that made her super famous in the ’80s. If you have the chance to watch the extended cut of the film, I recommend you do so. It delves deeper into her character, as well as gives you a couple extra action scenes. Why would you cut out action scenes with big robotic sentry guns? I say there’s no damn reason!

“Thelma & Louise” recommended by Kevin Piaskowski

In Ridley Scott’s 1991 motion picture, “Thelma & Louise,” we see powerful female leads in both Susan Sarandon’s and Geena Davis’ characters. The film is a captivating and riveting drama that includes murder and subsequently, evasion of the law. Thelma and Louise hit the road on an adventure and wind up in a confrontation with a rapist outside a bar. The plot intensifies when Louise shoots and kills the man. From there, the two women begin their hectic journey through the Midwest in an attempt to escape the country. The film also stars Brad Pitt in his break-out role. It’s classic, entertaining and stimulating.

Oregon pitcher Jessica Moore hugs catcher Alexa Peterson after the Ducks' 4-1 victory over BYU. (Jeff Matarrese/Oregon Daily Emerald)

Just over 1,680 miles, two games and the No. 6 Texas Longhorns stand between 11th-ranked Oregon and its first-ever appearance at the Women’s College World Series.

In what can already be considered one of, if not the absolute best, regular seasons in Ducks’ softball history, Oregon needs to win two of three games against the Big 12 opponent to reach the final round of eight in Oklahoma City next week.

It’s an intriguing matchup between two very even teams — worthy of the nationally televised schedule it will receive. Both programs feature dominant pitchers, with Oregon’s Jessica Moore (two-time first-team All-Pac-12) and Texas’ Blaire Luna (two-time first-team All-Big 12). Each team is aggressive on the base paths, sound in the field and very evenly matched across the board offensively.

On a personal level, this series truly brings my softball-watching career full circle.

Some of my earliest memories of the sport came from watching the WCWS on television. After baseball practice, I would go home, eat dinner and split time between college softball and the Mariners’ games on Fox Sports Network. (I can still remember the exact cable channels, though I’ve long since dropped the Mariners’ bit, mind you.)

Like an average 12-year-old boy, I never gave softball much of a chance — in any regard. It wasn’t baseball; therefore, it was innately inferior.

Then one day, my perspective dramatically changed when I first saw a lanky left-hander by the name of Catherine “Cat” Osterman pitch in 2003.

Osterman was a sophomore at the time, leading the Longhorns to a third-place finish that year. Beside the catchy name, Cat was beyond brilliant in the circle with a pure combination of grace and dominance that, for me at least, was harder to appreciate on the baseball diamond.

She went on to redshirt her junior year at Texas so she could compete in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. At the same age as Moore is now, Osterman went 24-0 during the USA Softball National Team’s 53-game schedule, pitching alongside fellow collegiate standout Jennie Finch (a name you all undoubtedly recognize). Team USA went on to win a gold medal that year and then a silver medal in Beijing in 2008.

If Osterman’s NCAA all-time record for strikeouts per seven innings (14.34) doesn’t speak for itself, her 20 NCAA career no-hitters and 10 NCAA career perfect games certainly do.

Now, I’m not attempting to draw a comparison among the aforementioned players. That wouldn’t be fair to any of them. But watching the Texas’ and UCLAs of the world compete year after year was the jumping-off point for my softball appreciation.

When I took over the Oregon softball beat in 2010, I had little-to-no idea what to expect. The previous Oregon coach’s firing wasn’t received well around campus, yet a change in Oregon’s program was forthcoming.

The Ducks got off to a great start under Mike White and have only built on that momentum since — and with their improved play has come higher expectations.

Just two years later, it’s the Women’s College World Series-or-bust for Oregon. They’ve seen Super Regional play two years in a row, and two years in a row, they’ve had to sit home and watch other Pac-12 teams win national championships.

It’s a sting this year’s team — which has beaten four of the 16 remaining teams already this season — isn’t willing to accept. And that’s the expectation for Oregon softball from here on out. I wrote a couple weeks ago that aspirations are extremely high for all sports programs in Eugene, which they rightly should be.

Thus, this weekend is the opportunity Oregon has been waiting for since early February: the chance to prove they belong in that next tier of competition — one that Moore and her teammates are anxious to join.

Having won their first-ever home Regional last weekend at Howe Field, the Ducks (42-15, 13-9 Pac-12) are back in the NCAA Super Regionals for the third consecutive season. And of the 16 remaining teams in the softball tournament, Oregon has already played six of those opponents and beaten four of them — No. 1 California, No. 3 Arizona State, No. 13 Arizona and No. 16 Washington — at least once this season.

They also played No. 2 Alabama and No. 9 Missouri in nonconference action earlier this year.

With that in mind, the Ducks say they’re past the point of being satisfied with reaching the Super Regional round and expect more from this postseason.

“Especially my class,” University junior second baseman Kaylan Howard said. “We feel like this is a hump that we get stopped at every time, and we have to overcome it.

“We’re definitely coming in with a lot more confidence than we did (the last two years). Everything was so new to us before, and everything that we did was an accomplishment because we never did it before.”

The junior class of Howard, left fielder Allie Burger, pitcher Jessica Moore and right fielder Samantha Pappas has advanced to the Super Regionals every year they’ve been on campus. Senior infielders Kelsey and Lindsey Chambers have played key roles on the last two Super Regional teams as well.

Yet, as Howard mentioned, the Ducks have yet to win a game beyond Regional play. Back in 2010, Oregon won the Georgia Tech Regional and then had to turn around and fly to Columbia, Mo., for the Missouri Super Regional just a few days later. As the crow flies, that’s a 7,598-mile roundtrip in less than two full weeks for a team starting — and relying heavily — on four freshmen.

It was the same story last season, when Oregon won the Penn State Regional in State College, Pa., before losing both games to eventual national runner-up Florida at the Gainesville Super Regional. That year, they covered 9,452 miles in the same amount of time.

At the very least, being able to host last week’s Regional gave the Ducks a well-deserved travel break.

“I think it’s helped a lot,” Oregon head coach Mike White said. “Definitely, with the preparation for the ladies with school, it takes a little bit of the stress and pressure off — that’s for sure. We don’t know until it happens, but I would say right now it’s a good thing.”

For Oregon’s few freshmen who have played regularly this spring — primarily center fielder Janie Takeda and No. 2 pitcher Karissa Hovinga — this week presents another opportunity to reach a childhood dream of playing in the Women’s College World Series.

“I’ve watched the World Series as long as I can remember every year on TV,” said Takeda, a 52-game starter for the Ducks. “And it’s always been a place that I really wanted to go to. I’m really excited to be a part of it this year.”

Six Ducks grab all-region recognition

Oregon garnered a school-record six National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Pacific Region accolades earlier this week. Other Pacific region winners were drawn from Boise State, BYU, Cal, Cal State Sacramento, Oregon State, Pacific, Portland State, UC Davis, Utah and Washington.

After helping the Ducks to a third-place finish in the Pac-12 regular season standings, Moore, Howard, Pappas and sophomore catcher Alexa Peterson were each chosen to the first-team all-region.

Moore is Oregon’s first pitcher to receive back-to-back first-team honors, while Pappas was also a first-team choice as a freshman in 2010.

Sophomore infielders Courtney Ceo, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in March, and Kailee Cuico were named to the second team.

Oregon was one of only five teams in the country to place all six of its honorees on the first and second teams, joining Arizona State, Alabama, Louisiana-Lafayette and UCLA in the category.

Meanwhile, successful weeks at the polls continues for Oregon. The Ducks are ranked sixth by Baseball America and fifth in the RPI. Additionally, ESPN’s most recent power rankings have head coach George Horton’s squad in the top spot.

After Wednesday’s game against Portland, the Ducks conclude the regular season with a three-game set in Corvallis, needing just two wins to clinch at least a share of the first Pac-12 title for the Ducks.

Wednesday’s game against Portland is set to begin at 6 p.m. at PK Park.

With human trafficking set to surpass the trafficking of drugs and arms, it’s hard to come to terms with how widespread it is.

But then again, it shouldn’t be that surprising. After all, trafficking drugs and guns carry great risks. We need only look to our southern border to realize how bloody, violent and gruesome those industries are. Not to mention the strict enforcement of laws for a product that has to be replenished after it is sold.

A point Ann Kokkeler, Program Manager of SAPP, relayed.

“With trafficking humans, unlike guns or drugs, is that you can sell a person over and over again,” she said. “It’s why it’s now a multibillion dollar industry.”

Yet the laws in place are nowhere near the severity for selling humans as they are for drugs or arms.

This information was as interesting as it was revolting. It was also eye-opening. In that same column, I mentioned that right here in Oregon, young girls are being trafficked by nefarious individuals whose only goal is to make money off of selling people. And sometimes, these people are members of our own community.

Make no mistake. They live in our neighborhoods, walk down our streets and we may interact with them being none the wiser to their true nature. And this doesn’t even include the women that we may see living what seem to be normal lives.

They’re at the mall doing nails (extremely popular fronts for trafficking outfits are nail salons), at the local bars having some drinks or even sitting next to you in class.

The sad reality is background plays little importance for many of these girls. Before I learned this, I, like many, believed that it was just poor, downtrodden people who would fall prey to such predators. Furthermore, it was only those from the most desperate areas of the globe that would be coerced or deceived into prostitution.

I’m here to tell you that isn’t the case. Not by a long shot.

The first obstacle is to understand how this happens, and on such a large scale.

It all starts with the pimp. Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Donald Ress, described how pimping is an “expertly crafted con game.”

The simple labeling of it as a “game” reflects just how truly twisted these individuals are. Unfortunately, they excel in the “game”.

Ress also pointed out how Portland was becoming known as “Pornlandia” due to the hub it has become for sex workers. Women are brought up from California or down from Seattle and are bought and sold to other pimps or johns before they move on to the next destination on their “circuit.”

But that’s Portland, right? It’s much bigger than Eugene and with those big cities come those types of problems, right?

No.

Would you be shocked to learn that the biggest prostitution ring bust in the entire country in 2010 happened right here in the Eugene-Springfield area?

Operation Squash Bug was its name. It was headed by FBI Special Agent Mick Fennerty. Fennerty is also the same agent who solved the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping almost 10 years ago.

Stanley Mack “Bug” Spriggs and his outfit were the targets of the operation. Over the course of the operation it was discovered that over 100 women and children were being prostituted by Spriggs and his cohorts.

They used Internet ads on sites like Craigslist and Backpage to entice customers. But by doing so they made sure the case went federal. In November of last year, Spriggs pled guilty to two counts of sex trafficking a minor, and in March of this year was sentenced to 16 years in prison for those charges.

Clearly it was a huge win for Fennerty and Co. But he acknowledged how difficult it is to not only arrest men like Spriggs but then successfully prosecute them, “We need willing witnesses, and sometimes nobody is willing to (testify). Without any witnesses, we don’t have a case. I need them to be willing.”

In total, nearly 40 arrests came about from Operation Squash Bug and over half of those arrests led to convictions.

All of this happened here in Eugene and Springfield. Mere miles away from campus dozens and dozens of women and children were being trafficked. They were being forced to service up to 10 customers a night. Forced to take meth so they could, “stay awake and work.”

Even today, one doesn’t have to search far to see the solicitations online, with girls who look far younger than advertised and have phone numbers from all over the country. Child trafficking hasn’t slowed down one bit.

The one upside however, is that now you know. Awareness is a such a critical aspect when dealing with any problem, but especially one that is typically ignored by many.

With that in mind, on Tuesday, Dr. Cyndi Romine with the nonprofit “Called to Rescue” will be speaking at 5 p.m. in 129 McKenzie.

I guarantee you won’t look at the mall the same again.

OUR Journal was started early last year with the first volume published on October 24, 2011. It incorporates works from all different areas of academia including literature, science, social sciences and the arts.

Lucy Gubbins, senior chief editor, is a founding member. She said that she strives to provide undergraduates with a platform in which they can publish their research and get recognized for superb work. As a senior, she will be handing off the torch to another chief editor this summer, but she is confident the publication will continue to flourish.

“We just want to empower the students. There is amazing research being produced at the University and not enough people know about it,” Gubbins said. “Another issue is that students don’t really know that it’s possible to do research, and it’s such a formative experience at the undergrad level.”

The Journal’s staff is as diverse as the topics it publishes. There are students from all various departments, and by no mistake. They use their diverse backgrounds in order to get fresh looks at each piece from all angles and mindsets of study.

“It’s a stepping stone for many people to really be able to enter the publishing world, and it’s much better than doing your term paper, setting it on a shelf and never looking at it again,” said Emily Balloun, linguistics editorial board member. “It’s really tough to decide which articles are going to be published but it’s very rewarding to see the finished product.”

The Journal is an open-access publication, meaning anyone can access the research at any time without a subscription. Gubbins and Balloun both spoke on the editorial process, explaining a rigorous procedure in which each piece considered for publication must be double-blind edited and approved by the editorial board on multiple levels.

Iida Pollanen, author of one of the published pieces on comparative literature, said that the work she did with OUR Journal gives her optimism for the future of her studies and research.

“I think the University of Oregon, as a whole, is very good at supporting undergraduate research and this journal is one of the examples of that,” Pollanen said. “It gives me more confidence for the future. If I can do this at the undergraduate level, I’m sure I can do it in the future.”

Located at 131 East 5th Avenue in Eugene and a short walk from the Amtrak station, Buffalo Exchange sells vintage and antique clothes and will buy your old clothes for cash or in-store credit on the spot.

Be aware, the girls who work here may not buy everything you bring in. Buffalo works on a trade system, where the clothes it buys become a part of the inventory it sells. The staff will decide whether or not to buy the clothes you bring in and how much they’re willing to pay you. You can get cash or in-store credit for the items they take, and usually you can get more in-store credit than cash.

Designer items are in high demand as well as anything that’s in season (as determined by the staff). Unique items or pieces that are trending may bring in a good price, but clothes that don’t raise eyebrows probably won’t get a high bid either.

For those who value style and want well-priced access to trendy clothes, visiting Buffalo Exchange may be something to put on your to-do list.

University Day

The yearly event where students and others at the University get to help beautify campus went well, judging from the ubiquitous smell of mulch all over campus. Thank you to everyone who took an hour out of your day on Thursday to plant flowers, spread bark dust or pick up trash. This is such an awesome tradition, and we hope you’ll consider participating next year if you didn’t get the chance this year. You get a free shirt, plus the opportunity to give back to your school.

Thumbs down

Stafford rates slated to double

There’s not much to say, except that it’s disappointing that the Congress has yet to find a source of funding to prevent the Stafford loan’s interest rate doubling from 3.4 to 6.8 percent. Considering the diminishing level of state support for higher education in Oregon specifically, defining the status of our rapidly growing tuition, this issue hits close to home to many Oregonians. If the status quo remains both instate and nationwide, the issue could be drastic.

Arizona State
No. 4 Arizona State women’s golf will travel to Franklin, Tenn., for the program’s 21st-consecutive NCAA Championship appearance, May 22-25 at the Vanderbilt Legends Club. The streak of appearances is approaching the NCAA record of 30, a distinction also held by the Sun Devils. The team is led by senior Giulia Molinaro, currently ranked fourth in the nation by the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings. Molinaro, a contender for an individual NCAA title, holds a 72.28 scoring — the third-best total in the nation. She earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors in April.

California
In the round of 16 of the 2012 NCAA Division I Men’s Tennis Championships, 14th-seeded California men’s tennis (14-12) fell, 4-0, to third-seeded and No. 2-ranked Virginia (27-1). Cal head coach Peter Wright has now led the team to the round of 16 six times in his career. The Golden Bears were facing Virginia (the 2011 NCAA runner-up) for the first time in program history.

Colorado
Colorado junior Derek Fribbs failed to rally for a berth into golf’s NCAA Championship Finals, instead firing a final-round 81 in tying for 64th in the NCAA Men’s Golf Bowling Green Regional. Fribbs recorded a 75-79-81-235 over the three days (or 19 over par) on the 7,248-yard, par-72 course.

Oregon State
Monday, Oregon State infielder Danny Hayes was named baseball’s Pac-12 Player of the Week. Hayes hit .571 (8 for 14) in the Beavers’ four games, including wins over Portland and Washington State. Those eight hits included three home runs and totaled 10 RBI. Hayes earned four walks while also extending his hit streak to a season-high eight games with a double in the ninth inning against the Cougars.

Stanford
No. 11 Stanford men’s golf qualified for the NCAA Championships after finishing fourth at the Stanford Regional on Saturday at the Stanford Golf Course. The Cardinal shot 280 in the final round to finish the tournament at 8 under par. California won the regional, extending its two-day lead by shooting 269 on Saturday. The Golden Bears finished with a three-day total of 815 (25-under par). The other teams from the regional that earned NCAA bids were San Diego State, Alabama-Birmingham and Central Florida. The NCAA Championships will take place at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles beginning May 29.

UCLA
Former Bruin and current NBA player Russell Westbrook helped the Oklahoma City Thunder win their first ever playoff game against the Lakers at the Staples Center, 103-100. Behind outstanding individual efforts from Westbrook and teammate Kevin Durant, the team stormed back from a 13-point deficit to take the lead on a three-pointer with 13 seconds left to play. Westbrook played 43 minutes and led all scorers, except Kobe Bryant, with a playoff-best 37 points, shooting 15 of 26 from the field. He had 23 points in the second half alone, including nine consecutive points in the fourth quarter.

USC
USC’s track elite — including the No. 13-ranked men and No. 23-ranked women — will be heading to Austin, Texas to compete at the NCAA Preliminary Rounds at Texas from May 24 to 26. The top 48 declared athletes in descending order in the region will be competing, with the top 12 finishers earning a bid to the NCAA Track and Field Championships in Des Moines, Ia., from June 6 to 9. Many Trojan fans will have their eyes on sophomore sprinter Aaron Brown, who won the Pac-12 title in the 100 meters with a wind-legal PR of 10.18 at Hayward Field on May 13.

Utah
Phil Steele’s College Football Preview, which hits newsstands on June 5, cites Utah’s Star Lotulelei as a preseason first-team All-America defensive tackle and running back John White as a third-team All-America selection. Both were named to Phil Steele’s preseason All-Pac-12 first team. CollegeFootballNews.com projects Lotulelei as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Washington
After an up-and-down regular season — including a 32-1 start followed by a 6-17 record in the Pac-12 Conference — Washington softball, seeded No. 16, will take on No. 1-seeded California in the NCAA Super Regionals. The winner of the series, which takes place Saturday and Sunday in Berkeley, Calif., will advance to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City next weekend. The Huskies (39-17) came out on top of the Seattle Regional, going undefeated with three victories over Harvard (twice) and Texas Tech.

Washington State
Former Cougars shooting guard Klay Thompson is one of 13 NBA players selected for the 2012 USA Men’s Select Team that will train against the 2012 USA Basketball Men’s National Team from July 6 to 12 in Las Vegas. Other Pac-12 players joining Thompson on the 2012 USA Basketball Select include Ryan Anderson (Orlando Magic/California), DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors/USC) and Taj Gibson (Chicago Bulls/USC).

At a surface level, it’s nothing usual for the NBA’s personal ensemble of Don Drapers. As slow-motion footage of the Spurs’ motion offense plays, overset by the campaign’s signature “big” white letters, we watch as point guard Tony Parker squeezes a pass just beyond the outstretched alien arms of Rajon Rondo and into the hands of shooting guard Manu Ginobili. As defenders converge in Ginobili — who’s stationed in the right corner of the court — he quickly swings a no-look pass to Tim Duncan, who pumps fakes at roughly the speed of a dying turtle and then rises up to nail a mid-range jumper. Nothing unusual, and really a pretty boring sequence to feature in a playoff commercial.

Except, of course, for the background music, which is none other than the classic “Shook Ones Pt. II” by Queensbridge rap duo Mobb Deep.

The first thing this does is conjure a slew of hilarious images: Gregg Popovich listening to Mobb Deep, Tim Duncan listening to Mobb Deep, Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan listening to Mobb Deep together at the same time, Tony Parker’s ill-fated rap career, Boris Diaw eating pastries (OK, that has nothing to do with Mobb Deep, but it’s still hilarious).

Basically, everything the Spurs have ever done goes against the idea of pairing them with one of the hardest rap songs in history — a beat that somehow manages to out-menace lyrics like, “you all alone in these streets, cousin/every man for theirself in this land we be gunnin’/and keep them shook crews runnin’.” For going on fourteen years now, the Spurs’ methodical pace, suffocating defense and even their black-and-silver color scheme may as well have been paired with Coldplay music, based on their uncanny ability to induce sleep on viewers. It was dominance (four championships and 15-straight playoff appearances) in its most boring form.

Until now.

You see, this rebranding of the Spurs isn’t just some desperate marketing ploy by the NBA in response to the increasing odds that San Antonio won’t lose throughout the entirety of the playoffs (although I do suspect that the NBA’s Don Drapers hoped the Knicks wouldn’t completely flame out, so that they could save Mobb Deep for an actual New York team). The funny thing, as only the most astute NBA fans would know, is that the 2012 iteration of the Spurs — the boring, plodding Spurs — might actually be a perfect candidate to be paired with hardcore hip-hop.

For one thing, they’re neither “boring” nor “plodding” anymore. Okay, Tim Duncan remains expressionless in his destruction of opposing power forwards everywhere, but the fact that this team employs Stephen Jackson eliminates “boring” from the conversation. Plus, there’s plenty of young blood in guys like Kawhi Leonard, Daniel Green and Gary Neal. Parker’s subtle brilliance remains as prevalent as ever (even if I’ll never forgive him for cheating on Eva Longoria) and, at long last, I’ve finally come to appreciate the singular creativity of Ginobili’s game.

But at the center of everything is Popovich, who has completely revamped the team’s identity from “defensive juggernaut” to “high-octane offensive machine” that rivals even the Steve Nash-Mike D’Antoni Suns teams of yore. To watch the Spurs seamlessly work the ball around the court, scoring by way of anything from a trademark Duncan banker to an open corner three by Green, is akin to viewing basketball in its purest form. It’s been said before, but I’ll repeat it anyway: if you don’t enjoy the Spurs on some level, you don’t really love basketball. Pure and simple.

Between the action on the court and the cinematography off of it, the Spurs have somehow been reborn as one of the coolest teams in the NBA. Even their uniforms — once the epitome of blase — have become weirdly appealing in their own unassuming way.

That Mobb Deep peaked in popularity during the mid-’90s is perfect, really, since the Spurs’ reign began in 1997 when Duncan was drafted. I was five when “Shook Ones” was released, but it remains just as arresting, if not more so, within today’s musical spectrum. Amidst the emo-rap that Drake hath wrought, it’s refreshing at times to take a trip down a more intense memory lane.

It’s the same with the Spurs — like finding an enhanced kinship with someone you’ve known for years. That it took a 30-second television spot to discover this might be sad, but it does nothing to change the takeaway.

The GTN was created after the Clark Document was written in the late ’60s to early ’70s. It contains all the rules the ASUO follows on a daily basis, including the ASUO Constitution and Rules of Student Senate.

According to Chief Justice of the Constitution Court, Nick Schultz, it is hard to tell who wrote it and what it looked like originally because it has been amended so many times.

“It has been written and rewritten,” he said. “Sometimes you don’t know if you’re reading what was in the original statement, or something that has been changed.”

This can make it difficult when learning the GTN, because there are so many small syntax things that can be overlooked. Schultz explained that there are a lot of things that are complicated and can be missed.

For ASUO Sen. Ben Rudin, it is important that incoming senators understand the term viewpoint neutrality, and make sure they exercise it. Viewpoint neutrality is basing funding on the service provided, not the viewpoint espoused.

The GTN states that senators “must remain viewpoint neutral on any subject matter relating to the allocation of funds brought in front of the Student Senate.”

“It is important to understand the differences between funding extracurricular speech and expressive activity, and public policy decisions,” Rudin said.

His advice for digesting the GTN is to ask questions, and have an understanding of Robert’s Rules of Order, the guidelines for an official meeting.

Schultz also had ideas on how to best learn the document.

“The best thing to do is just to read it through from start to finish once, then go back and take notes,” Schultz said.”You could also make flash cards.”

He also said that he will be updating the Con Court website so it will include past court decisions. Reading these would deepen an understanding of the Green Tape Notebook.

ASUO Sen. Lindy Mabuya, who is helping with the transition, said that they made packets for the incoming senators that include a brief overview of what is in the GTN. Her focus is getting new members ready to function well in meetings. Other than that, she said it is important for them to learn on their own.

“It is a learn-as-you-go thing,” Mabuya said. “I read it two times through when I started. Learn it, live it, love it.”

The Ducks (41-14, 19-8 Pac-12) travel to Portland on Tuesday and play the Pilots (25-23, 12-12 West Coast Conference) again on Wednesday night in a makeup of what was supposed to be Oregon’s home opener. Oregon enters the week ranked fifth by Baseball America — the highest ranking since reinstatement.

The games present a brief diversion from the pivotal Civil War series this weekend, but head coach George Horton says playing two games might be too much of a good thing.

“There’s nothing like playing to stay sharp, as long as it doesn’t wear you out,” Horton said. “In retrospect I’d rather we didn’t schedule the first rainout of the year this week. I’d rather have one game than two, but we have two so we’re going to do the best we can with it.”

Horton said sometimes complacency can be a factor in midweek games when one team is the stronger squad on paper. While those games may be seen as easy wins, Horton says the reality is anything but.

“I don’t enjoy coaching games that everybody thinks you should win,” Horton said. “You’re kind of playing not to fail.”

Complacency didn’t seem to play a role when the teams last met in Salem on April 18, as Jordan Spencer turned in the first no-hitter in modern program history, but Horton cautions that the Ducks can’t focus on that success as they prepare for a Pilots team that has given them trouble over the past several years. That’s a message not lost on his players.

“We’ve always struggled against them in the past so we need to come out and play our game,” second baseman Aaron Payne said. “Hopefully the scoreboard rewards us.”

Horton said he expects to give Spencer the start again on Tuesday night and use a staff effort on Wednesday, as he has done in many of the Ducks’ midweek games this season.

The Oregon skipper hopes another under-the-radar player will step up against Portland the way Spencer did in his spectacular performance at Volcanoes Stadium — not that he expects another no-hitter. Horton says that the season has been full of similar instances of role players stepping forward, and that’s no small part of the team’s success.

Portland currently sits in sixth place in the West Coast Conference and has struggled against the Pac-12 this season, losing eight of its nine games against Pac-12 teams. But those numbers don’t tell the whole story. The Pilots pitching staff has a WCC-low ERA and two Portland pitchers — Travis Radke and Kyle Kraus — are ranked 31st and 32nd nationally in ERA. The Pilots’ combined ERA of 3.00 is just a hair worse than the Ducks’ Pac-12 leading ERA of 2.93, with both clubs ranked in the top 25 nationally in that statistic.  

Oregon and Portland play Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m. before returning to Eugene on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. game.

Paul Schweibinz created the UOKnows website five months ago. He estimates that the website fluctuates between 400 and 1,000 hits depending on the day. (Tess Freeman/Oregon Daily Emerald)

Paul Schweibinz, a 23-year old University alumnus, was having a hard time finding things to do around Eugene’s University community. He clicked and searched through website after website in order to find local concerts, new restaurants and the best bars. An idea came to mind — why doesn’t somebody consolidate all the entertainment information around town into one place?

Then, a class project assigned to Schweibinz asked him and his group to create a sustainable idea for a business. Schweibinz took his pre-existing website idea and added a coupon side to it, allowing users to enter their phone number and have coupons and deals from nearby restaurants and businesses texted directly to their phone.

Thus, KnowUO was created.

“There is a disconnect I’ve noticed between the student community and the business community in Eugene,” Schweibinz said. “The real goal is to have something of a guide and a place for students to connect with each other and all that’s around them.”

According to the website, KnowUO is most importantly a more specific coupon and deal distributor similar to Groupon, and a source of entertainment and food news.

“I see it as a homepage for anybody in Eugene,” Schweibinz said. “You look at it in the morning and see what is going on and text a couple of coupons to yourself and your friends for lunch later.”

Schweibinz’s website programmer is his only employee at the moment. Although he believes that his model could produce money one day, at the moment he’s just trying to show local businesses that it could work. To fill KnowUO with content, he encourages community involvement by inviting students to contribute to the site by posting short blog posts, videos and reviews.

“Not everybody can get a journalism job on campus,” Schweibinz said. “And, not everybody wants one. This can also be an opportunity for someone to get their work published — it’s more than just a website.”

University sophomore Casey Pechan met Schweibinz when she was working for DuckTV news, and thought it would be fun to contribute.

“It was another outlet for me to showcase work, and it sounded fun,” Pechan said.

The full site shows upcoming events around Eugene, recent news, weather and coupons for deals around campus neighborhood businesses. Schweibinz wanted to help his on-the-go users and made a mobile-friendly site that shows only the deals and coupons side of KnowUO because creating an app is expensive and pointless for the site’s application.

Although starting the website required out-of-pocket money and a considerable amount of time, Schweibinz hopes to keep expanding not only the websites, but also the locations.

“Hopefully, we can branch out to other schools and other colleges,” he said. “Pac-12 would be a good start, but it’s a big goal. It’s definitely been a learning experience.”

University freshman Taylor Stacy describs her style as casual, where she throws on whatever is on her floor as long as it matches. (Alex McDougall/Oregon Daily Emerald)

Last month, Rebecca Sedlak wrote an article detailing the five things that girls love and hate about men’s fashion. It seemed only fair that the men had a chance to return the praise and criticism.

Ladies, if you didn’t know, guys appreciate a well-dressed female. It’s not a secret. The same can be said vice versa. I certainly cannot speak for every male on this campus; however, there are certain style decisions that should be avoided (or used more often). Yes, there are some styles that are outright awful, but usually, the good outweigh the bad. On that note, here are the five worst and best female style choices.

The worst:

1. Trucker/Baseball hats

Trucker hats are done. Both men and women should steer clear of them. Baseball hats, on the other hand, can be a bit trickier. It just looks strange, unless of course you’re going to a baseball game. On a standard day though, avoid the baseball cap.

2. Not being able to walk in heels

My mother once told me, “Make sure any girl you date can walk in high heels.” The effort is appreciated, but if you can’t walk in them it really just negates the whole purpose of wearing them. Heels are classy and only women can wear them. Why wouldn’t you take advantage of that?

3. Plastic, fake Ray Bans

This may come off as pretentious, but the fake Ray Bans look like what they are — fake. They’re probably not good for your eyes either. Now, you shouldn’t feel obligated to run off and buy yourself an expensive pair of sunglasses. Just know that if you do, you’re making a lasting investment and your eyes will thank you for it.

4. Skate shoes

I’m talking about the puffy, wide-laced skate shoes. Skate shoes like those I used to wear in middle school probably aren’t a good style decision. They just look disproportional on both men and women, but especially women. Vans, on the other hand, will always be acceptable.

5. Ripped jeans

This can go for both men and women. How is ripping perfectly good jeans and charging the same (if not greater) amount for them stylish? This, more so than the fake Ray Bans, comes off as trashy. Come back to the present decade and keep the jeans in one piece.

The best:

1. Combat boots

Vintage look with some punk rock flair, what’s not to love?

2. Pastel colors

Earthy tones are fine for the winter, but summer is approaching. Bright colors are attracting to the eyes, so unless you want to go unnoticed (which is totally acceptable in certain situations), bring out the colors.

3. Crop tops

For some reason, crop tops seem to be appropriate for a variety of situations. The fact that they can be worn in both a comfortable and a stylish fashion makes them that much more welcomed. Plus, they look really cool.

4. Vintage jewelry

It’s a perfect way to show off your style and get unique. Feather earrings seem to be pretty popular these days, for good reason. It’s also a way to get creative, which is definitely appreciated.

5. Long skirts

The reasoning for this one is beyond me, but the fact that these are coming back into style makes me (and hopefully most of my male peers) very happy.

***

Yes, this list may be controversial. You may disagree with my reasoning completely, however, it’s by no means a complete list. It’s simply a suggestion. In the end, the most important aspect is to keep your style creative and unique. To put it frankly, men will appreciate the effort, even if they don’t mention it directly.

While it may appear to be a simple task, attending a music festival actually requires physical and monetary dedication. You’ve done all the initial steps: purchasing tickets months in advance, persuading friends to join the adventure and shamelessly bragging about the fact that you’re going to anyone with a pair of ears that’s willing to listen. Now that the time has come (at least for those of you heading out to the Gorge this Memorial Day weekend) to head to the market, gather up the dusty camping gear and cram into a car for a few (or many) hours.

Essentials:

Most importantly of all: bring your ticket!

Pack copious amounts of water. In fact, bring double the amount of water you were originally planning on bringing. One thing is certain: you will not survive the weekend on cheap beer alone.

Unless you’re made of money or just came up on a hefty inheritance, you will be quite unenthusiastic about paying for food at the venue. Instead of dropping $10 on an awful-tasting breakfast, pick up a charcoal grill and get creative with your meals. It may not be a weekend of gourmet dining, but it will certainly get the job done.

Do not forget a tent and sleeping bag. If you bring any camping equipment at all, do not by any means forget these two items. Even though it might be beautiful and warm during the day, temperatures will probably drop dramatically at night. Moreover, bring a jacket.

Extra:

Totem poles are awesome festival props and can serve multiple purposes. First off, you can designate your campground so you don’t end up lost among the thousands of other festival-goers. Second, your group can stand out from the crowd during the actual show. Lastly, you can grab the attention of your favorite artists while they perform. Who wouldn’t like that?

If you’re of age, pick up plenty of your favorite beer or liquor. After all, you are going to a music festival. While abusing alcohol for the entire weekend is not condoned, it’s perfectly reasonable to indulge in some imbibing while you’re separated from the rest of society.

If you’re trying to make the experience even goofier, invest in some inflatable pool toys. You’d be surprised how something as simple as this can get a crowd of people unusually excited.

Make sure you have plenty of music for the drive. Nothing is more boring than a four-plus hour drive to a festival in complete silence. Start the festivities early.

***

Although this is by no means a complete guide to the festival experience, it should provide some direction to make the most of your outing. An important detail to remember is that you are essentially escaping reality for a few days. Therefore, make the most of it. Don’t be afraid to get weird. Embrace the experience; music festivals provide incredible life experiences. Now go out there and have the time of your life.

Clouds obscured the view of the solar eclipse for many Oregonians tonight, but those with proper eye-wear and cameras could still catch it. (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald)

(Courtesy of Bill Harbaugh)

University economics professor William T. Harbaugh was honored Saturday night at the Society of Professional Journalists of Oregon and Southwest Washington’s annual awards banquet in Portland.

A professor at the University for 17 years, Harbaugh was awarded the First Freedom Award of the SPJ’s nondaily contest. The award is given annually to an individual who has upheld the principles of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution through pushing for access to public records. Harbaugh was recognized for his public records work through his independent blog “UO Matters.”

“It’s very difficult for people to access information about the government, and the stuff that Bill does tries to right that ship,” said Christian Gaston, SPJ Oregon board member and reporter at the Forest Grove News-Times.

Harbaugh’s interest in public records was first sparked in 2007 when the University refused to give him records pertaining to a new affirmative action plan. Instead of simply handing Harbaugh the records that were supposed to be readily available to the public, he was asked to pay $270 for documents. From that point he began to investigate public records law more closely and how it pertained to the University.

In 2009, he went to Oregon’s attorney general to inquire about the legality of the University’s action and was told simply to review the Oregon public records manual. When he asked for a copy of the manual they refused to give it to him without a fee of $35 and the copy would be watermarked, so if he ever published it online they would know it was him.

“I thought this was completely ridiculous,” Harbaugh said. “I went to the law library, found the public records manual, paid my daughter $40 to scan it to PDF and then posted it on my UO website with the headline ‘Get your free and illegal copy of the Oregon Public Records Manual here.’”

The story of Harbaugh’s public record heroics led to a huge response from the online community and multiple media stories on the lack of access to the laws surrounding public records in Oregon. His actions started an outpouring of support for the public records manual to be made accessible by the attorney general’s office, and after a couple months they complied with the public and published the manual online — marking the first time the manual had ever been made public on the Internet.

“That has been very useful to journalists because now if you want to find out how to get public documents in the state of Oregon, that manual tells you what to do and how to do it,” Harbaugh said.

After getting acquainted with the law, he put his knowledge to use by requesting various items from the University and publishing them on his UO Matters blog. One public records request he was particularly proud of was when former University president Dave Frohnmayer was proposing pay cuts for faculty and Harbaugh found public records showing he had negotiated a big raise for himself with Chancellor Pernsteiner not long before. His work was appreciated by his coworkers who blew up his blog with comments.

Since then, Harbaugh’s blog has tripled its readership and stands as an effective tool for faculty, students, staff and journalists alike to find raw information on happenings at the University. Harbaugh said he wants to provide an open place for people to discuss these issues and keep providing useful public records to uncover things that normally would go unseen.

“People have told me they’re not so interested in my opinion,” Harbaugh said. “What they really appreciate is that I post public records and that I give them a place to talk about their opinion about what’s going on.”

Members of Chi Omega lift a lantern into the sky during a candlelight vigil in memory of Lill Pagenstecher. (Alex McDougall/Oregon Daily Emerald)

Nearly everyone held their breath as Lill’s Chi Omega sisters lifted a lantern into the sky. The glowing fire rose higher, blazing against the warm night sky. Then, the wind started carrying it. As the tribute blew toward the trees lining Carson Hall, students started chattering and pointing. It looked for a second as if Lill would set fire to campus.

Just as quickly, the moment and the danger passed, and nervous giggling broke out across the EMU East Lawn. It was laughter that had been buried too long under tears, and the catharsis was palpable. I like to think it was Lill making us smile one last time. She would’ve loved it.

“That did not go like they planned,” one student next to me said.

But when does life ever?

Like many others, I’ve been moved by the outpouring of support across campus for the Pagenstecher family and Chi Omega. We’ve demonstrated that the strength and togetherness of our community overshadows chapter loyalties and rivalries and extends beyond functions and service projects.

By no means does Fraternity and Sorority Life own a monopoly on sympathy or compassion. But our unity, our closeness, has proven unique. Who else could turn a weekly drink special into an emotional fundraising tribute?

In 1980, a fire in Sigma Alpha Epsilon destroyed the entire third floor of the house, killing a Delta Gamma named Laurel Steil. The Emerald splashed the story across its front page: “Fraternity blaze slays woman student.” In addition to the unfortunate rhyming, the subsequent days of the paper were devoid of any mention of Laurel. No obituary, no memorial, no funeral coverage. That’s just how it was.

Last April, University sophomore and Delta Gamma member Lauren Sickler was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a malignant cancer that typically affects young adults. She’s chronicling her journey through chemotherapy in a courageous and inspiring blog. She couldn’t be reached for comment, but she’s received uncommon support from within the community too. Chapters on campus have sent flowers and cards, and Delta Gamma also donated a portion of their Anchorsplash philanthropy earnings to help her financially.

Yes, there’s always more we can do, but we’ve come a long way.

Inevitably, life will return to a state of normal. It always does. But when relations between chapters next fracture — and they will — think back to Sunday’s vigil or Wednesday’s Dollar Beers and remember the role we play in each other’s lives; how interconnected and dependent on each other we all are.

Don’t forget this momentum we’ve developed. It’s disappointing it took the loss of one of the most ebullient and fun-loving girls in our community to help us set aside the differences in our letters, but now that we’re here, we can honor Lill by moving forward together and treating each other with honesty and compassion.

And Lauren? Kick cancer’s ass for us. We’re pulling for you as one community and one Greek Life.

Oregon pitcher Jeff Gold catches an errant bunt during Oregon's 6-3 victory over USC Monday evening at PK Park. Gold pitched six innings giving up five hits and three runs while securing the Ducks' sweep of the Trojans. (Alex McDougall/Oregon Daily Emerald)

It’s a chance for Oregon State to play the same type of spoiler role that Oregon played against the Beavers last season, but for now the Ducks are concentrating on a Portland team that has given them trouble in the past.

“If I have to give any speeches it will be on Tuesday or Wednesday,” Oregon head coach George Horton said. “When we go into (Oregon State), as much respect as we have for that, if I have to give a speech something’s wrong.”

On Friday, Alex Keudell became the first pitcher in school history to win 10 games in a season — breaking the record held by several other Ducks including last season’s ace Tyler Anderson. Keudell will take the mound on Friday night looking for his 23rd career win, which would set a new school record for wins in a season.

Keudell pitched a gem for the Ducks, holding Seattle (22-27) scoreless through eight innings. The senior right-hander was spotted a two-run lead after the bottom of the first and never looked back.

“When your teammates put runs on the board early, it’s nice to be able to relax a little bit and just throw strikes,” Keudell said.

The Ducks’ hot start didn’t continue, however, as they were held hitless between the second and seventh innings until center fielder Connor Hofmann hit an inside-the-park home run — the first since Oregon reinstated baseball — to lead off a bizarre seventh that would see the Ducks score on Hofmann’s home run, a balk and a walk to take a 6-0 lead into the eighth.

Hofmann hit a ball to left field that got over the Redhawk left fielder, who then tripped while chasing the ball to the wall. By the time he hit second base, Hofmann said he knew he had a chance at scoring on the play.

“Out of the batters box, coach always tells us to think in twos,” Hofmann said. “I was thinking out of the box ‘two’ and then I saw the guy was jogging to the ball and I just kept going.”

Oregon had to work a little harder to bring home the win in the second game of the series on Saturday, getting the victory courtesy a walk-off hit from Aaron Jones. The Ducks once again scored in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead, but stalled offensively throughout the middle innings.

Oregon scored a run in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to tie the score going into the final frame. Aaron Payne was hit by a pitch to bring Jones to the plate with one out, and the sophomore from San Clemente, Calif., drove a full-count pitch for the game-winning RBI.

“I got myself into a good count,” Jones said. “And I knew a fastball was coming.”

In Sunday’s series finale, the Ducks took 4 1/3 innings to register their first hit but erased an early 1-0 deficit to win 6-1. Oregon had plenty of opportunities early despite not getting a base hit, thanks to four walks from Redhawk starting pitcher Bryan Dalton.

After four no-hit innings, Dalton retired J.J. Altobelli to bring up Aaron Payne, who smacked his first career home run into the right field bullpen. That sparked a rally that lead to two more runs, and the Ducks would score twice more in the sixth and once in the seventh to give their bullpen insurance.

Jeff Gold picked up the win for the Ducks in 6 1/3 innings of work. Gold gave up just five hits and allowed the one run while striking out five.

This marks the 25th time in school history that Oregon has reached the NCAA Championships, and the fourth appearance in the six years since Casey Martin became head coach.

The Ducks rode a 4-under 280 in the final round on Saturday to capture the second-place finish behind fellow Pac-12 opponent USC. In all, Oregon shot a 10-under 842 for the tournament, just one shot behind the Trojans (11-under 841) and two shots ahead of third-place finisher Kent State (8-under 844). Rounding out the top five to advance to the NCAAs were fourth-place Virginia (6-under 846) and fifth-place TCU (3-under 849). The scores dropped off precipitously after that, as none of the remaining eight teams managed to break par for the tournament.

“We would have loved to have won, but we advanced and that was the main goal,” Martin said to GoDucks.com. “We aimed high coming in and were right there in the hunt. I’m thrilled to be going back to nationals, and it will be a great way to send off a senior class that has done so much for our program.”

Individually, it was Daniel Miernicki who led the way for the Ducks. The senior tied for second overall with a final score of 7-under 206, paced in large part by a 6-under 65 in the second round. Freshman Jonathan Woo followed close behind in a tie for seventh (5-under 208), while seniors Eugene Wong and Andrew Vijarro were also strong with ties for 19th and 28th place respectively.

Looking ahead, the Ducks will look to improve upon an impressive third-place finish at the NCAA Championships back in 2010. Oregon’s tenth-place finish at regionals last year barred it from any sort of encore performance.

The Championships are scheduled to begin on May 29 at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles.

In 1920, Czech science-fiction writer Karel Capek wrote a play about a factory that made artificial people called robots. In Slavic languages, the word “robota” means “serf labor” or “hard work.” The word entered our modern global vocabulary, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Such a participation of Slavic arts in world culture is what this weekend’s Russian and East European Arts, World Stage conference set out to explore. The conference ran May 17-19 on campus and was presented by the Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies Center at the University.

Associate professors and REEESC directors Katya Hokanson and Jenifer Presto organized the conference to look at cross-cultural intersections of Russia and Eastern Europe with the rest of the world.

“This conference was designed to examine how Russian and East European arts have affected other countries internationally,” Hokanson said.

“We thought it would be really fascinating to put together this conference,” Presto said.

Supported by a long list of sponsors, including the College of Arts and Sciences, the conference brought together Slavic scholars from the University, as well as non-Slavic scholars like music and comparative literature professors, regional colleagues from other Oregon universities and the greater Pacific Northwest, and scholars from as far away as Cornell University and New York University.

The conference consisted of live music and dance, a drama performance, five scholarly panels and two keynote addresses. It explored many different arts, including visual arts like painting and cinema, as well as literature and poetry.

An exhibit in the display cases on the first floor of the Knight Library, curated by Slavic librarian Heghine Hakobyan, gives a general overview of the large amount that Russian and Eastern European arts has contributed to the world. For example, Sergei Diaghilev founded the Ballets Russes company in the early 20th century, which produced a flood of famous dancers and choreographers, reinvigorated ballet and created many ground-breaking ballets by composers like Debussy, Stravinsky and Richard Strauss. Another art form first produced in Russia was the idea of method acting, created by Konstantin Stanislavski and Vsevolod Meyerhold, a system that is still used almost 100 years later by actors such as Robert De Niro and Daniel Day-Lewis. Film montage also stems from Russian cinema.

The conference kicked off Thursday night with traditional Balkan folk music by the Eugene-based band Kef and University instructor of ethnomusicology Mark Levy and anthropology professor Carol Silverman. The band, comprised of guitar, cello, clarinet, percussion, accordion, two trumpets and vocals, played celebratory Bulgarian dances, as well as Macedonian, Romany and Serbian dances. The persistent tempo of the drum mixed with the lively, frantic twittering of the trumpets and clarinet made the audience want to clap.

“This is dance music,” Levy said. “It’s not music you can just sit down to.”

Many of the songs concerned unrequited love, a common theme in Balkan and Russian music.

“The happy ending is a very American idea,” Hokanson said. “It’s not really a big thing in a lot of the rest of the world.”

The theatrical performance, titled “To Hell with Meyerhold: History and Unforgetting,” occurred Friday night. It consisted of excerpts from associate professor Julia Nemirovskaya’s original play “Meyerhold in Hell.” Directed by theater arts associate professor John Schmor and performed by University students, the performance focused on Vsevolod Meyerhold’s life and theater theories.

Scholars presented their papers during the panels, which centered on different themes such as “Encountering the Other” and “Empire and Global Engagements.” The three presenters on the first panel, “Visualizing Culture,” talked respectively about a painter, a filmmaker and a poet, but all three were connected to the ideas of denial and the return of the repressed (including Jewish culture, homoeroticism, and creation and death).

“I think it’s been a great success,” Presto said of the conference as a whole. “It’s provided a dialogue on a number of levels, between Slavic scholars, between Slavic and non-Slavic studies, between faculty and students, between the local community and the Pacific Northwest and even people from farther away in the U.S. I think it’s been a diverse conference in a lot of regards.”

This is the first time REEESC has held a conference, and its success has spurred talk of making it an ongoing event.

“It’s neat to have more people around. They have great experiences and knowledge, and we can have meaningful discussion,” Hokanson said. “When you’re in the Spanish or the Romance Languages departments you’ve always got a lot of people in your field. But there’s only about four or five of us, so for us it’s really nice to get together like this.”

So what can we do?

As federal affairs coordinator for the ASUO, my job this year has been to link the affordability issues we face here at the University to nationwide issues — like the expiring interest rate cap on federal Stafford loans and the predatory lending practices of private lenders such as Sallie Mae. I have worked to collaborate with students on a national scale through organizations such as the United States Student Association. Through my work, I have seen firsthand how crucial it is that we address this issue, just as the Editorial board said in their piece “Talk to your elected officials or don’t complain about student debt.” Whether we have five minutes per year or five hours per week to spend helping to address the problem, there are ways we can all make a difference.

The easiest way to help is to register to vote here in Oregon. Engaging our elected officials is crucial if we are to fix the problems we face together, and the more students who are registered, the more our elected officials care when we talk to them. Earlier this term, the ASUO and the Oregon Student Association ran a huge voter registration drive, registering 2,661 students at the University and 14,511 students statewide.

Because we worked so hard to make college students a significant voting bloc, our local, state, and federal elected officials have even more reason to listen to our voices and to work to address our needs. Our voting power means that we can indeed talk to our elected officials about problems like the cost of higher education and the staggering burden of student loan debt, and they care about what we have to say. Registering to vote takes five minutes and makes a profound difference.

You can also help by supporting and participating in efforts to hold elected officials accountable to college students. When you see a student canvasser, stop and talk to them and sign their petition. It is worth sparing two minutes to support the important work being done to help you. Come lobby in Salem or Washington, D.C. with the ASUO, Oregon Student Association and the United States Student Association.

When students keep coming to the capital and raising awareness about our issues, issues of access and affordability, elected officials have to listen. Also, tell your representatives in the ASUO that organizations like USSA — through which students collaborate to hold our elected officials accountable to us — matter to you. Ask for continued support for and collaboration with these student organizations. By supporting and taking part in the work being done already to address this problem through whatever means we are able, we can help ourselves and our generation move one step closer to real solutions.

This year, the ASUO has worked on a local, statewide and national level to make education more affordable. Besides our successful vote campaign, we also took student voices to Salem and Washington, D.C., to advocate for lower tuition, more funding for higher education and financial aid, continued statewide regulation of tuition and increased consumer protections for student loan debt.

Our work made a difference. For the second year in a row, we prevented the University from being removed from the statewide system that regulates tuition through a public process. We prevent further cuts to funding for public universities, even amid a budget crisis. We also secured $10 million in additional funding for the Oregon Opportunity Grant, expanding access to financial aid for thousands of Oregon students. We showed up and we made the difference.

You can show up and make the difference, too, whether it’s as simple as signing a petition here and there and registering to vote or as extensive as getting involved into the ASUO and lobbying your elected officials. Students just like you have been making a difference for years. We’re talking about your education and your pocketbook — will you join in the struggle?

Omid Alipoor
ASUO Federal affairs coordinator

Cafe Yumm specializes in serving fresh ingredients in a classy and relaxed environment. It’s a great place to take your family, friends or a date.

Using rice and beans as a base, the restaurant builds a bowl of savory toppings and pours on its delicious, trademarked Yumm! Sauce. A variety of Yumm! Bowls are available, including Jazzy, Hot ‘n’ Jazzy, Edamame and the Original.

Besides the Yumm bowls, you can buy sandwiches, wraps, salads and some tasty desserts.

University junior and economics major Alex Sonnichsen goes to Cafe Yumm! whenever he can.

“My favorite thing to eat there is the Tempeh Reuben, though I love the Edamame as well,”  Sonnichsen said. “It has a very chill atmosphere where I can go study and eat, and it’s not too far off campus so I can walk there in just a few.”

Cafe Yumm’s one downside is that the food may be considered a little expensive compared with other restaurants near campus. But the ambiance, vegan and vegetarian options, fresh ingredients and respectable service make up for the price difference.

A caller reported a theft of $10 in quarters from their belongings. Along with the missing coinage, the caller noted blood splattered across a countertop. No other possessions were reported stolen.

Criminal trespassing
2911 11th Ave.
May 18, 10:06 a.m.

A scissor-wielding subject was seen pacing around the parking lot of a store harassing customers. Upon police arrival, the subject respectfully relinquished his scissors to law enforcement.

Loud noise
1125 19th Ave.
May 19, 1:30 a.m.

A pickup truck loaded with “a dozen people” supplemented a party with more than 100 partygoers, according to the caller. The truck made multiple passes in front of the boisterous party.

Reckless burning
510 15th Alley
May 20, 3:09 a.m.

A concerned individual reported a flaming couch arranged in the center of an alleyway. The flames — which reached 4 feet in height — were encroaching on a nearby vehicle. No subjects could be found near the incident.

McCain summed up the thinking of the campaign: “In our opinion, you could tell that past campaigns were too much about the people who were running. For Laura and I, the campaign wasn’t about us.”

Their ideas about student government became the bedrock of the We Are Oregon campaign. Their slate went on to win the ASUO presidency and the majority of Senate seats after a hotly contested election season beset by a shocking scandal from a rival campaign.

“I feel the ASUO has been a very polarizing and political environment that people don’t want to be involved in,” McCain said. “The nature of it has turned a lot of people away. I hope next year that we can make the ASUO a helpful and collaborative experience for everyone who wants to be involved. ”

We Are Oregon stressed serving the regular student population and on-campus students. Key campaign promises included increased access to student football tickets and revision of the ticket-distribution system, working with University administrators to curb tuition costs and creating sustainable solutions to the University’s new funding model, and sponsoring an annual concert with a big-name artist.

In hosting their first-ever regional, the Ducks defeated Portland State (7-3) on Thursday, Brigham Young (6-4) on Friday and then topped BYU (4-1) again in Saturday’s finale. Since Mike White took over as head coach in 2010, Oregon has gone a perfect 9-0 in regional games, with Saturday’s victory securing a third-straight trip to the Super Regional round later this week.

The Ducks (42-15) will face No. 6 Texas (46-11) in a best-of-three games series to be played in Austin, with a trip to Oklahoma City on the line.

“I’m excited to see what this year has to bring us,” junior pitcher Jessica Moore said. “I’ve been saying that for a while. I feel like the team is getting better and better as we go.

“This weekend was a little bit of a lull, but I don’t think this defines anything with how we’re going to do within the next week, or hopefully the next couple weeks.”

Moore, a two-time first-team all-Pac-12 performer, only seemed to improve as the weekend progressed. In Thursday’s win over PCSC champion Portland State, Moore limited the Vikings to just three runs on six hits while striking out seven and walking one.

The following morning, against a potent offensive team in BYU, Moore surrendered just five hits and allowed two earned runs en route to reaching double-digit strikeouts (10) for the third time this season.

Yet, the Sutter, Calif., native saved her best effort for last in a brilliant finale on Saturday. Of the 21 outs Moore recorded against the Cougars, 12 were ground balls, seven were strikeouts and just two were fly-outs. She finished the weekend with 24 strikeouts against eight walks, and allowed just six earned runs over 21 innings.

“Really, what set it all up was Jess’ pitching to start with,” White said following Saturday’s victory. “She kept them at bay, kept them at bay, and fortunately gave us enough time to find a way to score some runs.”

It wasn’t until the fifth inning that Oregon finally provided Moore with the run support she needed. Junior right fielder Samantha Pappas roped a two-out, two-run double off the right center field fence to give the Ducks their first lead of the game, 2-0. On the next pitch, junior second baseman Kaylan Howard hit a two-run home run to center — her team-high 12th of the season — and put Oregon on top 4-0.

“The at-bat before that I was sitting change and she was kind of blowing it right by me,” Howard said. “Then I kind of switched it up, and I was like, ‘If she throws fast-in again, I’m gonna take it.’ And she did.”

BYU’s lone run came on a two-out RBI single off the bat of J.C. Clayton in the bottom of the fifth inning.

For the weekend, Oregon had three of the top four hitters in terms of average among the four-team field. Pappas batted .500 (6 for 12, two doubles and two RBI), followed by junior second baseman Kaylan Howard (4 for 9, two doubles, home run, three RBI) and freshman center fielder Janie Takeda (4 for 9, two RBI) at .444 each.

Meanwhile, Moore led the field in innings pitched (21), hits allowed (17), walks (eight) and strikeouts (24), while holding opponents to a .213 batting average.

Looking ahead to the Super Regionals, Moore expects a different outcome than the previous two years in which Oregon has lost to Missouri in Columbia (2010) and to Florida in Gainesville (2011).

“I feel like this year out of any we’re really rolling into it well and I think we’re a little more prepared,” Moore said. “We’re better all around as a team and we have a lot of veterans that have been there. A few of us have been to Super Regionals a couple times before, and those are the leaders.”

Bicycling is a huge part of being a Eugene resident. According to Bike Portland, 17 percent of University students ride bikes. That’s more than 4,000 students milling in and around campus on bicycles, getting to where they need to go in a quick and environmentally friendly manner.

I like bicyclists. They are, for the most part, courteous. They watch where they’re going and avoid pedestrians. However, more than ever I have noticed the number of student riders who consistently practice reckless and dangerous habits while on their bicycles. It’s a needless hazard that has some easy solutions, but, for some reason, students do not seem to grasp the simple rules that in the event of an accident can save a bicyclist’s life.

First, please wear a helmet.

It’s true — Oregon law does not require bicyclists over the age of 16 to wear a helmet, however it seems like a no-brainer (no pun intended). According to helmets.org, riders without helmets are 14 times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than their helmeted counterparts. Helmets are often seen as a fashion faux pas, but is seems like a small price to pay.

Another thing I see bicyclists do quite often on or around campus is riding without using the handlebars. I suppose this is for comfort reasons: it allows a rider better posture, and perhaps it’s even more fun to ride this way. I wouldn’t know, I don’t have this ability.

My freshman year of college, I saw a man riding through campus playing a trumpet. It was interesting and fun, and I supposed he knew the risk he was taking. However, to bicyclists who ride with their hands in their pockets, or their arms hanging limply at their sides, please reconsider your position. I have seen riders zigzagging between moving buses and cars without their hands, and it gives me a little heart attack to see it.

In giving up your grip on your handlebars, you are also giving up your ability to react quickly to a changing situation. A car backs out in front of you suddenly, and you cannot swerve. You may be able to brake, if the bike is set up for pedal-braking, but without a firm hold on the handlebars the rider can go flying.

My last suggestion — obey traffic laws. As cyclists, you are considered a vehicle on the road. Traffic lights, stop signs, and pedestrian crossings all still apply to you. Even if no car is to be seen, respect a red light. Learn and properly execute the correct hand and arm gestures when riding through traffic to indicate merging and turning.

I ask all of this because every day I see riders narrowly avoiding a collision. Every day, I notice reckless behavior in crowded areas, and a bus driver doing his best to avoid cyclists that refuse to let him drive through. I see heads without helmets and empty hands over pedaling legs, and I see red lights given no notice.

It’s a barely controlled chaos, and I request that bike riders do their part to protect both themselves and those commuters around them.

Dr. Neal Freedman, of the Nutritional Epidemiology Branch of The National Cancer Institute in Maryland, found coffee may be linked with living longer, which may mean great news for coffee drinkers. Past studies have linked coffee with negative effects on the body, but in a recent study published by the New England Journal of Medicine, the data shows the opposite.

The study examined the correlation between drinking coffee and the mortality rate among 402,260 people. Initially, the results showed the mortality rate among coffee drinkers was higher than those who didn’t drink coffee. Looking closer at the data, researchers found that a higher number of the coffee-drinkers who died were more likely to smoke, drink alcohol, eat lots of red meat and not enough vegetables, and exercise less. Taking those factors out of the equations, researchers found better news for coffee drinkers.

According to the study, drinking two to three cups of coffee a day increased a man’s life by 10 percent and 13 percent for women. Drinking one cup of coffee only increased the chance of living longer by 5 percent for both men and women. People who drank six or more cups of coffee a day also showed an increase of living longer by 10 percent.

Although a correlation between living longer and drinking coffee exists, it’s unclear as to the effects of coffee.

“Coffee is a very complex mixture,” Freedman said. “It’s made of thousands of compounds.”

Most of the compounds have not yet been researched. Some of the compounds could be linked with negative effects like diabetes while others are linked with positive effects like reducing the risk of colon cancer.

Although there is evidence that points to coffee drinkers living longer, it’s not fully proven.

The study is based upon observation over a long period of time, Freedman said. Researchers don’t actually know if it’s the coffee itself that leads to living longer, or the behavior of the coffee drinkers.

Tyson Striley, a University senior, drinks up to two 16-ounce coffees a day. He isn’t worried about the negative health effects that are associated with coffee.

“I figure coffee is still something from the earth, so that makes me feel less worried about it,” Striley said.

Although Striley does see the benefits of coffee, he doesn’t really believe the study.

The proven fact is that coffee has both negative and positive effects on the body. What these effects are still remain unclear.

“Should you drink more coffee?” Freedman said. “We don’t suggest it.”

A four-run top of the fifth gave Ducks’ starter Jessica Moore enough room to close out the final three frames and lead 11^th-seeded Oregon to a 4-1 victory over Brigham Young University in the final game of the Eugene Regional portion of the NCAA Softball Tournament Saturday afternoon at Howe Field.

With its third victory in as many days, Oregon improved to 9-0 in regional games under third-year head coach Mike White, and officially punched its third-straight ticket to next week’s Super Regional round.

The Ducks (42-15) will matchup with the winner of the Austin Regional, which is hosted by No. 6 Texas. The host Longhorns lost their opening game on Friday night, meaning they will need to win three straight games today and Sunday to advance.

As the higher seed, Texas would have the right to host the Super Regionals. But if any of the other three teams win — Northwestern, Houston or Auburn — then Oregon would have the opportunity to host its first ever Super Regional next weekend.

“It’s exciting to be back in the Super Regionals again,” White said. “And actually be done one day early so we can sit back and watch everybody else fight it out. So it feels really good right now.”

Making her third straight start in the circle, Moore (30-12) was at her absolute best when the Ducks needed her most. The junior right-hander scattered six hits over seven innings, while striking out seven, walking two and the one run she allowed was earned.

Of the 21 outs that Moore recorded, 12 were ground balls, seven were strikeouts and only two were pop-outs.

“I didn’t throw nearly as good as I have been, or could (be), the past couple days,” Moore said. “So that was my mindset today coming out and giving the team the best effort that I could give and keep them in the game.

“It was a close game for a while and I just wanted to make sure I went inning by inning and not lose that focus.”

In going 3-0 on the weekend, the two-time first-team all-Pac-12 pitcher gave up six earned runs in 21 innings of work, to go along with 24 strikeouts against eight walks.

Moore kept the Cougars (45-15) in check defensively on Saturday, and BYU starter Tori Almond held the Oregon’s bats to just one hit through the first four innings of play.

But in the decisive fifth inning, junior right fielder Samantha Pappas roped a two-out, two-run double off the right centerfield fence to give the Ducks their first lead of the game, 2-0. On the very next pitch, junior second baseman Kaylan Howard hit a two-run home run to center — her team-high 12^th of the season — and put Oregon on top 4-0.

“The at-bat before that I was sitting change and she was kind of blowing it right by me,” Howard said. “Then I kind of switched it up, and I was like, ‘If she throws fast-in again, I’m gonna take it.’ And she did.”

BYU’s lone run came on a two-out RBI single off the bat of JC Clayton in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Oregon's Christie Nieto is welcomed home by her team after she hit a grand slam in the bottom of the third inning during Oregon's 6-4 win against BYU in the second game of the NCAA Regionals at Howe Field Friday. (Michael Ciaglo/Oregon Daily Emerald)

Oregon's Christie Nieto rounds third with a smile after hitting in three runners with a grand slam in the bottom of the third inning during Oregon's 6-4 win against BYU in the second game of the NCAA Regionals at Howe Field Friday. (Michael Ciaglo/Oregon Daily Emerald)

Oregon center fielder Janie Takeda is tagged out by BYU short stop JC Clayton during Oregon's 6-4 win against BYU in the second game of the NCAA Regionals at Howe Field Friday. (Michael Ciaglo/Oregon Daily Emerald)

Oregon pitcher Jessica Moore finished out her second game of the NCAA Regional series with a 6-4 win over BYU at Howe Field Friday. (Michael Ciaglo/Oregon Daily Emerald)

Oregon left fielder Allie Burger practices her swing in the dugout before heading to the plate during Oregon's 6-4 win against BYU in the second game of the NCAA Regionals at Howe Field Friday. (Michael Ciaglo/Oregon Daily Emerald)

The Ducks (41-15) will play the winner of tonight’s game between BYU and Portland State/Mississippi State on Saturday at noon. Since Oregon is the only undefeated team remaining, a potential second game could be played at 3 p.m. in the case of an Oregon loss Saturday morning.

“We’re in the drivers seat right now,” Oregon coach Mike White said. “And it’s a good place to be, it’s exactly what we wanted to have happen.”

After two scoreless innings, Oregon grabbed its first lead with two outs in the bottom of the third. With Samantha Pappas (single), Kaylan Howard (walk) and Kelsey Chambers (single) on base, cleanup hitter Kailee Cuico roped an RBI infield single off the glove of BYU third baseman Ashlee Brawley to put Oregon in front 1-0.

Two pitches later, senior designated player Christie Nieto hit a line-drive grand slam over the right centerfield fence to extend the Ducks’ lead to 5-0. It was Nieto’s eighth home run of the season — the fourth-most for Oregon in 2012 — and the first round tripper for the host Ducks this postseason.

“The first pitch that I got was a changeup,” Nieto said. “All game she was throwing changeups and we were all hitting them into the ground and getting kind of crappy pitches. So I got a fastball the second pitch and I just drove it.”

The Cougars got two runs back the following inning on an infield single and a Kelsey Chambers throwing error that plated a pair of runners to cut the lead to 5-2. Oregon continued to hit BYU starter Hannah Howell in the bottom of the fourth, with Kaylan Howard’s two-out RBI double scoring Janie Takeda to reclaim a 6-2 advantage.

Coming off a complete-game effort against Portland State late Thursday evening, Moore was nearly unhittable through the first three innings of play on Friday. The Sutter, Calif., native struck out the side in the first and fanned six of the first 10 batters she faced before giving up her first hit in the top of the fourth.

Moore (29-12) ran into some trouble with a no-out bases-loaded jam in the top of the fifth. She gave up an uncharacteristic three walks, two of which with the bases loaded, to cut BYU’s deficit to 6-4. However, she quickly recovered to retire six of the final seven Cougar hitters in order to end the game.

The quick turnaround from Thursday night didn’t seem to faze Moore, who reached double-digit strikeouts for the third time this season.

“It’s just something that you’ve got to get used to,” Moore said. “We haven’t done that in a while, but you’ve just got to go out there and kind of start the game over again. It’s a new game, it’s a new day.”

Offensively, seven of the nine Oregon hitters recorded at least one hit in the victory. Pappas tallied her fourth consecutive multi-hit game, going 3-for-4 with a run scored, while freshman centerfielder Janie Takeda went 2-for-3 with a run scored as well.

Looking ahead to Saturday, White addressed the depth of each team’s pitching as a common factor between the respective opponents. However, the Ducks would have to lose back-to-back games to miss out on a Super Regional berth, which has only happened twice all season. Oregon State took two games in a row from Oregon in late March, and the Ducks also fell in consecutive games to Missouri and UCLA two weeks ago, though five days separated those two contests.

“They’re not going to be too tired out there,” White said. “It’s just going to be a matter of us adhering to our game plan in whatever we decide to do, and then executing like we did today.

“We had opportunities early and we executed very well.”

The Ducks scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning and held off a late Portland State surge to claim a 7-3 victory in the opening round of the NCAA Softball Tournament Thursday night at Howe Field.

With Moore (28-12) battling sinus complications, the 11th-seeded Oregon softball team rallied around the two-time first-team all-Pac-12 performer to the tune of six run on six hits to knock Portland State starter Anna Bertrand out of the game with two outs in the bottom of the first inning.

“Obviously the first inning was huge,” Oregon head coach Mike White said. “First of all, shutting them out in the first inning, and making the most of our opportunities to put the pressure on straight away.”

Bertrand (22-12) was the unanimous choice for pitcher of the year in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference Mountain Division after leading the Vikings to the conference title last weekend. However, her first appearance against the Ducks this season didn’t quite go as planned on Thursday night.

Samantha Pappas led off the first with single and Kaylan Howard smacked a standup double to right center on the ensuing at-bat. Pappas was thrown at out home on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Kelsey Chambers for the first out of the inning before Bertrand really ran into trouble.

Junior pitcher Jessica Moore delivers during the first inning at Howe Field during the NCAA Softball Championships. Oregon defeated Portland State 7-3. (Michael Arellano/Oregon Daily Emerald)

With the bases loaded, Kailee Cuico and Christie Nieto reached base on a walk and hit-by-pitch, respectively, the latter plating Howard for the first run of the game. Sophomore Alexa Peterson followed with a two-run double to centerfield to give Oregon a 3-0 advantage.

Moore then helped her own cause with an RBI bunt-single during the next at-bat, and Janie Takeda capped the frame with a two-run single that plated Moore and Peterson to go ahead 6-0.

“Anna Bertrand is certainly a very, very good pitcher, and she could definitely play for most teams in this country,” White said. “It was one of those games where we kind of knew it would be a tough one with her out there and the mound, and I was real happy to come out of that first inning with six runs and set the tone for the rest of the game.”

Portland State got all three of its runs off the bat of senior first baseman Karmen Holladay, who recorded a two-out RBI single in the top of the third and a two-out, two-run double in the fifth. She finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBIs, and Becca Bliss went 2-for-3 with two runs scored to lead the Vikings at the plate.

Moore scattered just two other hits to the Portland State lineup while striking out seven, walking one; all three of the Vikings’ runs were earned. Offensively, Moore, who entered the batting order for the first time all season against UCLA last weekend, went 2-for-3 with a walk, RBI and run scored.

The Sutter, Calif., native said she didn’t have as much energy as she normally does, which forced her to rely on the location of her pitches rather than her usual speed. She also mentioned the sell-out crowd made a noticeable difference, with temporary bleachers installed behind the left field fence.

“It was really nice to see a full crowd out there, especially with those bleachers out behind the field,” Moore said. “So, I think that was a big turning point for us that we did fill them. I think it’d be kind of a different story if we put those up and nobody showed up.”

Pappas (2-for-4) and Howard (2-for-4) also had multiple hits for Oregon.

The Ducks will face the Brigham Young University Cougars today at 11 a.m. BYU defeated Mississippi State in the tournament opener on Thursday, 4-3, in nine innings.

The onslaught began before dawn when University Day planners and members of University Central Support showed up at East 13th Avenue and University Street to set up tents, tables, chairs, fencing and an enormous balloon arch that shut down morning traffic for a few minutes as it was strung.

Within an hour of officially opening for volunteers, more than 100 people had signed up and been sent out with tools and gloves.

“This is the oldest ongoing tradition at the University of Oregon,” said University senior and University Day Chair Alex Hoffman. “It’s been going on since 1905, and I think it helps us come together as a community. We’re all working together to make campus feel like a home.”

After devoting their time to the beautification, a group of students smiled and joked as they dropped off their shovels, peeled off sticky purple gloves and brushed bark dust off their jeans.

Graduate student Ryan G. Robinson was one of the volunteers. He was glad he and his friends took the time to sign up.

“I think a lot of times we don’t think we can afford to spend just an hour volunteering for something like this, but then you do, and it feels great,” Robinson said.

Many other volunteers had been participating since they began college.

“I’ve been involved since freshman year,” Molly O’Connor said, a University senior and University Day Campus Project Chair. “This is my first time helping in committee. I got involved in my first year because my friends were doing it and then as an RA with residents.”

But, not all the volunteers were students. Custodial worker Carmen Bradbury has been involved since 2004.

“I clean in the residence halls, and this is a nice chance to get outside, and the shirts are great,” Bradbury said. “After today, I’ll add another one to my collection.”

Part of the University Day tradition is making a permanent installment on campus. Past projects included a “Moon Tree” located on edge of the EMU lawn across from Huestis Hall. It was sprouted in an experimental container on a mission to the moon in 1972.

The 2012 tradition installment will not only include bike racks shaped like fern fronds and painted lime green near the Knight Library, but also a bronze relief of the University Duck nearby made by University graduate and sculpture artist Alison Brown.

University Day is organized by students, receiving support and assistance from Campus Operations, the Office of the Dean of Students and sponsored by numerous University organizations. The actual planning for the event takes place in a special committee set up at the beginning of every school year. University Day always takes place on a Thursday in mid-May.