This past year was one full of change. There were plenty of setbacks and plenty more accomplishments. Undoubtedly, it was an important year for the University of Oregon and its community.
Here are 14 moments that made me proud to be a Duck in 2014, starting with the most recent.
1. When we went to the Rose Bowl (and ended up winning 59-20).
I guess that was technically in 2015, but it’s too good not to be number one.
2. When Marcus Mariota won the Heisman.
And made everyone cry during his acceptance speech.
3. When GTFF demanded better treatment, leading the longest strike in UO’s history, and didn’t back down until they got a contract they deserved.
A perfect example of how we Ducks will keep fighting until we get what we deserve.
4. When UO grad and former Emerald employee Will Cuddy starred in the movie Wild, alongside Reese Witherspoon.
Because Hollywood needed a little more yellow and green on the big screen.
5. When students joined hands and demanded change after the sexual assault incident, and gained national attention.
If you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us. This was one of my favorite moments.
6. When they let us graffiti and sledgehammer the heck out of the EMU before it was renovated.
Because we all needed to let off a little steam, and it made for some fantastic photos.
7. When a UO environmental law professor started the Environmental Trust Litigation and helped high school kids sue the government for treating their environment badly.
What would Oregon be without its environmental activists?
8. When UO student Andrew Lubash won the prestigious Truman scholarship — the first UO student to accept this honor in 22 years.
We’ve got more than just athletic superstars — we’ve got academic superstars as well.
9. When these UO athletes spent the day with local foster kids.
Another great example of how Ducks love to give back to the community.
10. When UO grads Samantha Stendal and Aaron Blanton won the Peabody Award for their viral video titled “Real men treat women with respect.”
Because what would Oregon be without feminism and viral Youtube videos?
11. When administration agreed to include a meditation room in the new EMU.
An example of how Oregon works hard to include all cultures and religions.
12. When Taylor’s hosted a music benefit to raise money for campus joke book seller Frog, who was hospitalized at the time.
Because UO just wouldn’t be the same without him.
13. When Oregon showed off its mad fundraising skills and announced the most ambitious fundraising campaign in the state’s history — at a whopping $2 billion.
Because at UO, the sky’s the limit.
 14. When the class of 2014 didn’t let the weather rain on their parade, even though it was actually pouring.
Because what would Oregon be without its inclement spring weather?