Students have found a new and indispensable venue for exercising their talents, and audiences have an opportunity to see firsthand reports of campus issues and student interests.
“Duck U,” the University’s first completely student-run television show, airs on cable channel 23 every Wednesday night at 10 p.m. Premiering last fall, this cable access program examines everything from current events and sports to dorm life
and movies.
Executive producers Jessica Cohoon and Emily Scriven said students have attempted to start a program before, but “Duck U” is the first to air.
Since the show’s start, the “Duck U” crew has grown from a meager 10 to the nearly 60 students currently working on the show.
Among the segments featured on “Duck U” are the run-and-gun antics of “Hanging with Nate Jackson,” which offers a unique look at Eugene happenings. In what could be characterized as an “on the town” segment, Jackson and crew hit the city, looking for entertaining moments, places, events and, of course, people.
“We look for people who are energetic and confident with a real camera presence,” Jackson said.
Jackson credits the entire “Duck U” staff and crew with what hopefully emerges as an entertaining show.

“There really is no individual. We all motivate each other to create the best show we can,” Jackson said.
Co-host Robin Winfield said Jackson is the perfect person for the shoot-from-the-hip segment.
“Nate is just a little kid in a big body,” Winfield said.
In prior episodes, Jackson has found himself in some pretty unusual situations, including a visit to an outdoor convention where he climbed inside a monster truck, scaled a rock wall and shared a moment with a llama.
“Dormland” is an inside look
at what goes on behind the closed doors of University residence halls.
Cohoon describes another portion of the show as “Siskel and Ebert” meets “Jackass.”
An additional entertainment segment, “Duck U Music,” features Jamie Hichens and Ben Miljkovic, who offer a glimpse into the local music scene. On a recent episode, Hichens and Miljkovic recounted an evening they spent hanging out with the Wu-Tang Clan during the group’s visit to Eugene.
Recent “Duck U” highlights include exclusive interviews with Shaquala Williams and Bev Smith concerning the player’s dismissal from Oregon basketball.
Scriven said “Duck U” uncovers a side of Eugene and the University that other shows cannot portray. But while the program may push the envelope at times, Scriven maintains that there is a line she doesn’t wish to cross.
“We just want to have the most fun we can and still remain tactful,” Scriven said.
The show is not expressly affiliated with the University School of Journalism and Communication, but utilizes equipment supplied by the department. Funding for the show is the sole responsibility of the creators and production team. This has resulted in various creative fundraising initiatives, including a recent T-shirt sale.
Cohoon and Scriven came up with the concept for the show after meeting in an Introduction to Electronic Media class last spring. With the help of Professor Rebecca Force, their professor in the class and current faculty adviser for the show, “Duck U” began to take shape.
“We started leaving notes for her all the time after class, and then basically bullied her into helping by taking her out for sushi,” Cohoon said.
Their persistence is paying off as the “Duck U” team begins preparations for the winter term finale, airing next Wednesday. After that, planning begins for the spring set of shows with auditions to be held at the beginning of the term. Interested students can contact “Duck U” at [email protected].
In addition to the original Wednesday 10 p.m. airtime, “Duck U” also airs on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 p.m. on channel 14 in the residence halls.