The only way that the University of Oregon Rowing team’s boats can travel efficiently through Dexter Lake is if everyone in the boat moves “exactly in sync,” UO Rowing President Emily Kraschel said. This requires teammates to “work together in real precision,” something that’s impossible to accomplish amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
In addition to UO Rowing, COVID-19 poses challenges to many clubs that held events and activities in person, including the UO Journalist/Photographer Exploration Group and Mock Trial team.
In previous years, the rowing team competed with longboats of eight rowers. Now, all fall competitions are canceled and the team must practice with only one member per boat.
“On the positive side, it really helps each individual rower work on their own form,” Kraschel said. “If it’s just you in the boat, there’s really no one else to blame.”
The team will practice in small groups using ergs, or rowing machines, on weekdays, with six feet between each rower. Practice will no longer include the team’s usual conditioning, which is difficult to conduct while following social distancing guidelines. Instead, coaches will provide rowers a training guide they can complete at home.
Despite all the changes, Kraschel remains optimistic. “I think it will be worth it in the end,” he said, “but in my opinion, it would be ideal to be back in boats with my teammates by spring.”
The UO UO Journalist/Photographer Exploration Group also faces challenges due to COVID-19.
JPEG hosts workshops and outings to help students develop and master their photography skills. Last year, it organized trips to Crater Lake and Smith Rock State Park, where members took photos while spending time with friends.
According to JPEG President Evan Harvey, the club will limit its outings to two or three sites per term. They will also remain in Eugene to reduce transportation time.
The club also hosts regular meetings where members share photos and officers announce the next photo challenge. The challenge encourages members to submit new shots under a specific theme, like a specific color, object or location. These challenges, now virtual, help keep members engaged and using their photography skills at home, Harvey said.
JPEG is working to publish a magazine featuring members’ photographs taken throughout the year. Harvey said that the pandemic and Oregon fires will impact their publication progress and final product.
“[The pandemic] gives us the opportunity to create new stories and tell the voices of people that need to be heard” Harvey said, “but it also puts a hinder on how much time we can dedicate to this.”
UO Mock Trial President Sumit Kapur remains optimistic for the upcoming school year. Mock Trial allows students to argue opposing sides of an artificial case assigned by the American Mock Trial Association.
UO’s mock trial team usually travels to competitions at law schools and courthouses across the country, but all competitions this year will take place remotely via Zoom.
“We can interact with a lot of schools that we previously couldn’t afford to travel to,” Kapur said.
Last year, Mock Trial had one coach and four competitive teams, while remaining members were on the practice squad. Due to this year’s reduced travel expenses, they are able to secure funding for an additional coach and establish two more competitive teams.
“This all just gives us an infrastructure that we can build upon to make our program even stronger going forward,” Kapur said.
