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ARTS & CULTURE

Climb on over to good climbs and good times

Heffron: Finding a resolution that sticks Read story on page 8

ARTS & CULTURE

Take a hike: a guide to Eugene’s smaller trails

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STUDENT GOVERNMENT

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SPORTS

Ari Long is having a career year in starting role By Rowan Shea

Sports Writer

The Montana Grizzlies and the Oregon Ducks were in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter on Nov. 8, 2025, at Matthew Knight Arena. The Ducks had pulled away from the Grizzlies early on, and with a 42 point lead, all Oregon was looking to do at this point was to end the game. Elisa Mevius, a central figure in Oregon’s starting lineup, went up for a ball in the paint, and crashed to the paint hard grabbing her knee. She was subbed out, and fans later found out that she was done for the season. Entering the place of Mevius in the starting lineup was junior guard Ari Long. Long has been a Duck for a season before taking over the job. The Californian spent one season at Oregon’s rival in the north, Washington. As a Husky, Long was used only 17 times in the 2023-2024 season, averaging 10.6 minutes on the court and 4.2 points. Long’s first season in Eugene had a dip in performance. She played more games at 29, averaging 9.1 minutes and just 2.5 points per game.

As ASUO surplus dwindles, student organizations seek alternative funding for events and travel Read story on page 12

ARTS & CULTURE

A guide to UO’s multicultural center By Gray Vanderpoel

Arts & Culture Writer

Have you ever found yourself wanting to join more clubs on campus? Be more active and social within the duck community? Do you not know where to start? The Multicultural Center, located in the EMU, is here for all students to find what they are looking for. The multicultural center is run by students organizations and unions to advocate for student rights as well as act as a social hub for connecting students to clubs and organizations all around the campus. It was started by student activists and was originally thought of by about 10 student interns with a collective goal of inclusion. The Multicultural Center started as a way to improve campus safety and equality for women of color.

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UO to replace DuckWeb completely by end of 2026 An email was sent detailing plans for a switch to a new student portal system. By Angelina Handris

News Reporter

The University of Oregon Information Services sent out a university-wide email on Dec. 4, 2025, announcing its intention to replace DuckWeb, the current student portal system, with a new system called MyUO. MyUO features a “modern design with clear navigation, mobile-friendly pages and accessibility improvements,” according to the email. The portal will be used for student functions such as class registration and the employee dashboard. The announcement also stated that features will continue to be “added and updated” beyond the upcoming year. UO spokesperson Angela Seydel, on behalf of the UO Information Department, said MyUO was designed to be a more modern and accessible information system than DuckWeb. “MyUO is designed to make your day-to-day university tasks easier. It offers a fresh, modern look, powerful search, secure single sign-on, and significantly improved mobile and ADA accessibility,” Seydel said in an email statement to The Daily Emerald.

Transfer portal updates Makhi Hughes

DAILY EMERALD

This change is in addition to other shifts in UO’s digital assets, including a specific change to Schedule Builder that occurred just before winter term registration. Because of the changes, including changing the registration cart to prebuilt plans, there were instructional videos included to help students navigate the differences. The MyUO homepage features the Ducks on Track graduation checklist, time and attendance and the employee dashboard for university employees, personal information, news and the ability to check in with an advisor. It has different tabs for different resources, including academics where students can access their schedules and student finances, where students can access their billing accounts. MyUO is already live, but both systems will continue to be used until DuckWeb is fully replaced. The email also states that the faculty menu will remain on DuckWeb until the transition is fully completed.

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NEWS

DAILY EMERALD

Final phase of Hamilton demolition underway The demolition of Hamilton Hall, delayed by the two-year closure of Kalapuya Ilihi residence hall, has finally reached its final phase. Hamilton’s removal realizes the penultimate phase of the Hamilton Walton Transformation Project, which will conclude with the construction of a new green space to replace the prior lawn, where Unthank Hall now stands. Photos by Anna Liv Myklebust/Emerald

Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026

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OPINION

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Ehly: First-gen students need support to thrive Opinion: Instead of threatening their funding, UO and policymakers should work to protect programs like TRIO that provide support to first-generation and underprivileged students. Rachel Ehly is an opinion columnist for The Daily Emerald and is studying journalism and political science. She could talk for hours about all things politics, pop culture and music. By Rachel Ehly

Opinion Columnist

As a first-generation college student, I often feel like I am losing my mind. The weight of being the first person in your family to attend college is not just from the stress of essays and exams, but also from struggling to find a community that can relate to your experience while figuring out how to balance work, studying and extracurriculars with no support. Obviously, my experience can’t be defined as universal. But it’s not easy knowing that there’s no one I can relate with to turn to when things get hard. This is what many programs designed TRIO to support first-gen students aim to solve. Programs like UO’s TRIO Student Support Services and First-Gen Academic Residential Community work to support first-gen students with community building, academic and career advising, counseling and so much more. Yet, for many first-gen students, the problem isn’t a lack of resources, but rather not knowing where they are. Junior Leslie Garcia joined the First-gen Academic Residental Community her freshman year, and said that it brought her extraordinary support in the new experience, and that the connections she made with peers and faculty members have lasted beyond her first year. “Being a first-gen student… can make navigating college difficult since you’re often figuring out things on your own,” Garcia said. “Having someone for support has helped a lot.” This is why programs like TRIO and the first-gen arc are so important to first-gen and underprivileged students. TRIO is a federally-funded program that provides intense academic advising, career and financial assistance and mental health support with a licensed counselor that serves only TRIO students. This program works to support students in as many ways as possible, UO TRIO director Tara Parrillo said.

From something simple such as congratulating students who earn good grades, helping a student find a place to live in a short amount of time or finding grants and financial aid for students working multiple jobs to support their education, TRIO allows underprivileged students of all backgrounds to thrive. Despite its impact, TRIO’s future at UO is increasingly uncertain in the face of the Trump administration and its attempt to significantly reduce federal program funding. Although the federal grant that TRIO is funded through operates on a five-year grant cycle, funding is effectively decided year-to-year based on how the U.S. Congress appropriates it, according to Parrillo. Currently, UO has taken on some of TRIO’s funding in order for the program to be fully operational and provide students with the level of support they need to blossom in the college environment. If TRIO were gone, students who use the program would suffer. “Our program is small, we’re really accessible and students feel well cared for,” Parrillo said. “(UO has) so many amazing advisors… (but) they have a lot of students… (it would be) hard to replicate (TRIO) university-wide because we just don’t have enough advisors for the number of students that we have.” While UO has other programs that work to support first-gen students, none are as in-depth and personal as TRIO. The loss of TRIO at UO would be devastating. Students would lose financial support, personal academic advising and the chance at finding a community that can relate to the hardships of struggle. If universities and policymakers believe in promoting access and equity in higher education, then strengthening programs like TRIO should be a priority. First-gen students don’t need to feel like their chance at a normal college experience is being threatened – they

Leo is the associate opinion editor for The Daily Emerald. He is a fourth-year student studying journalism and Spanish. Leo writes about a range of topics, but his favorites are fashion and social media.

Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026

page 8

Heffron: Finding a resolution that sticks

Opinion: New Year's resolutions are difficult to follow through with. Here are some tips to achieve sustainable habits with your goals.

By Leo Heffron

Associate Opinion Editor

I don’t think I’ve ever successfully followed through with a New Year’s resolution. Last year, I told myself I was going to run consistently. I wanted to be healthier, more active and accomplish something to better myself. I figured I’d stick with it and eventually sign myself up for a half-marathon. However, that effort was doomed from the start. The goal lacked specificity, structure and more importantly, deeper meaning. I stopped consistently running after about two months when school work piled up. I’ve noticed this pattern among some of my peers as well. The desire for change often outweighs the thought and planning required to sustain it. People want the outcome without fully considering the process. Resolution setting needs to come from a place of careful planning and deeper meaning. It’s foolish to jump into a scenario — whether that be a group project for a class final or a backpacking trip into the Cascades with little planning or thought — so why do that with your personal goals or resolutions? Dusty Destler, a senior staff therapist for University Health Services at UO, has similar thoughts. Destler works closely with the UO community on many issues, but some are related to stress, motivation and personal goal-setting — topics that might surface more as the new year approaches. When I asked Destler about how to succeed in sticking with a New Year’s resolution, he gave many tips, but SMART goals stuck out. “It stands for specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-based,” Destler said. “It’s a really great way for someone to look at a broad goal that they have and ask, ‘How can I make this realistic for myself?’” Using these standards can increase the success of achieving a goal. According to an article by Dr. Ryan R. Bailey, Goal Setting and Action Planning for Health Behavior Change, “Well-defined goals

are necessary for goal attainment because they help individuals focus their desires and intentions and create a standard by which success can be measured.” However, when following through on goals, SMART goals should be used as a tool, not the entire plan. “A limitation of SMART goals, however, is that they do not specify how the goal will be implemented,” Bailey said. Beyond this useful acronym, Destler advised against resolutions that are too broad, suggesting people set clear parameters while keeping in mind the motivation for the goal. Is your motivation intrinsic or extrinsic? Or in other words, is your motivation coming from within, or is it from outside factors in your life? Are you starting to run because all of your friends are? Or are you starting to run based on your own motivation? All of those factors contribute to following through and maintaining a New Year’s resolution. Kimberly Miller, health and wellness director at the Eugene Family YMCA, shared more advice as someone who has experience as a personal trainer. “Having a support system is very important,” Miller said. “It’s a great idea to say your goals out loud to anyone who will listen. This helps share the accountability with people who care about you.” Miller also talked about SMART goals and their usefulness, but asked, “What happens after you’ve checked the box?” At the end of the day, no one can force you to follow through with a resolution. “Finding that inner why is really important,” Miller said. “Knowing what motivates you and what kind of growth you’re looking for helps you move away from numbers and superficial goals and focus on what you truly value.” (ABOVE) People pose with hats and 2026 glasses after the ball drop at Times Square during New Year's celebrations in New York City, U.S., January 1, 2026. (REUTERS/Kylie Cooper)

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A guide to UO’s Multicultural Center The Multicultural Center advocates for inclusion with unions and organizations, and helps students connect with university groups, students and clubs. Continued from page 1

Over time, as the student body grew, the MCC has become a connection hub for students and clubs, and with resources like computers, printers, books and videos for the students, it is now a meeting space for people to come study and plan union projects. It is currently the home of roughly 25 student unions and 13 organizations. “The MCC does a really good job of making sure all the clubs stay in the limelight, stay active, stay honest,” Vikram Thirumaran, the center’s student union engagement coordinator, said. According to Thirumaran and Dinorah Ortiz-Carté, the program director for the multicultural and South Asian, Southwest Asian, and North African Center, the MCC’s success and strive for equality aren’t the only notable qualities of the center. The MCC is unique in the fact that it offers community engagement beyond unions and organizations. The collection of students who frequent the MCC was described as a constant stream. “Students are able to kind of just be people and be themselves in the center, and it’s one of my favorite things to see,” Ortiz-Carté said. For the MCC, helping students meet people and helping them build a social network is a huge part of what they strive to do. “People talk about how easy it is to meet people in college, ‘oh you’re all students, you’re all this,’ but it is hard,” Thirumaran said. Especially for students of color and of different minority groups, finding community can be overwhelmingly beneficial. “I am really glad I get to flip the switch when I come straight from lecture to the MCC. It’s warm, it’s social. I’ve been coming here since freshman year,” Thirumaran said. “I just walked in because I heard there was free printing, and it’s blossomed into career opportunities. I’ve met almost all of my best friends here, and I have a job through here.” The MCC can also be a connection hub for several other departments and clubs that extend beyond its resources. Other departments often post information about other clubs and classes in the center itself to help with student engagement and distribute information. In other words, if you have questions about joining clubs on campus beyond the MCC, walk in and ask. The MCC

will have the answers and connections to help get you started wherever you are interested. “If we have a student who identifies as a Black student, they can come in, we can connect them to all of our different cultural African American Black student unions,” Ortiz-Carté said, “but we can also connect them to the black cultural center that is also on campus, and make sure we can do those warm hand-offs.” The students of the center also dedicate a large portion of time and energy to fun, community-engaging events. Some of the upcoming events for the winter term include an MCC Prom and the comeback of the MCC “small desk concert” event. No matter what you are looking for, whether it’s socialization, extracurricular activities, fun events, clubs, or to find a community on campus, the MCC is a great resource for students.

(ABOVE) The entrance to the Multicultural Center stands open inside the Erb Memorial Union on Thursday, Dec. 11, on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene, Ore. (ON THE COVER, BELOW) A student studies at a table inside the Multicultural Center in the Erb Memorial Union on Thursday, Dec. 11, on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene, Ore. (Max Unkrich/Emerald)

ON THE COVER

As ASUO surplus dwindles, student organizations seek alternative funding for events and travel By Sasha Love

Senior News Reporter

Well after 7 p.m. every Wednesday at ASUO’s senate meeting, student organizations ask for critical funding for for cultural events, such as the annual 800-strong University of Oregon Lū’au as well as travel funds for academic competitions at which UO is represented on a national stage.

As of the time of this publishing, all student organizations at UO are competing over a pot of around $300,000 As of the time of this publishing, all student organizations at UO are competing over a pot of around $300,000 as of ASUO’s last senate meeting, meant to be spread across the entire year. Surplus requests fall in the range of tens of thousands of dollars, and Quadrian Gill, ASUO’s speaker for the student senate, thinks there will be no money by spring.

The surplus fund The ASUO surplus fund consists of money from the incidental fee, a mandatory fee for all students that is allocated to student organizations but not spent by those organizations, including funds that were meant to be used but got caught up in bureaucracy and paperwork. During the COVID-19 pandemic, clubs did not use most of the money allocated to them since fewer events and less traveling took place. This caused ASUO’s surplus to grow to around $1.5 million in 2022, and $2 million dollars in 2023. In the nine months from September 2024 to June 2025, the surplus budget fell to just over $200,000.

Of the million dollars spent last year, about half of it went to travel benefiting around 1% of the UO student population

Of the million dollars spent last year, about half of it went to travel benefiting around 1% of UO’s student population, as The Emerald previously reported.

“I think ‘benefited 1% of the university’ is relative because maybe 1% of the university got to travel, but when they come back, they get to share the stuff they learned. They also represent the university wherever they go, so that helps expand more opportunities for folks,” prior senator Taliek Lopez-DuBoff said in an interview earlier this year. Lopez-DuBoff did not respond to a request for comment for this article. New student organizations will not be as affected by the smaller surplus because for the first year a club is ASUO-affiliated they are using funds from another pot called “unallocated reserves.” This fund is used since they do not go through the budget processes for another year.

The Surplus Accountability Committee The Surplus Accountability Committee was re-established at the beginning of this academic year with aims of making a “blueprint” to address spending issues. “I would say my first goal (on the committee) was to try to get senate to be on as much as the same page as we could with surplus because surplus is going very fast,” Kayla Fisher, the committee’s chair, said. Gill said another of the committee’s goals was to “see that the money (is) not concentrated like it was last year in such a small portion of the student body.” Given the issue of distribution, one of the major focuses of the committee is travel. SAC developed recommended travel limits of $8,000 for trips on the West Coast and $12,000 for traveling longer distances. The weekly senate meetings mainly consist of senators working to whittle down travel requests. During a recent senate meeting, UO’s American Marketing Association initially requested $9,000 for a Chicago conference after already having spent around $4,000 in surplus for a Los Angeles trip earlier in the year. Several senators, thinking the expense was too high, debated on the cost of plane tickets and hotel rooms for an hour before the amount was lowered to around $6,600 for the club. Gill said it is difficult to deny requests for travel, supplies and events brought to senate, but he thinks having those hard discussions brings ASUO and student organizations closer. “Telling an org they can’t go on a trip hurts really bad but one of the things that’s come from this is that it’s honestly strengthened our relationships with these orgs,” Gill said. One of the reasons so many requests to use surplus for travelling happened in the first place, according to Gill, came from the “culture” of not putting much money in a student organization’s regular budget for travel because of the reliance on surplus — a chicken and egg type of situation. “The last couple years it (the surplus) has been so large that basically everything had been rubber-stamped,” Fisher said. Despite negotiations in the senate, for some clubs it still hurts when their requests are approved but fewer members are able to travel, compete or attend a conference.

Students in AMA had been preparing all year to participate in a Chicago competition representing clients to marketing professionals. “This isn’t just about getting students across the country; this is about getting students that hands-on experience,” Hailey Sandler, vice president of strategy, said while pitching the trip to senate. In the end, only eight members out of over 130 club participants were able to attend. “It really does suck to say we are only taking (eight) of you and you have been training since week two,” Sandler said.

DAILY EMERALD

Increasing fundraising and creative resourcing According to Fisher, the SAC was also developed to help student organizations understand what kind of requests might get approved and what requests might not be approved. Fisher and Gill said approvals often center on whether the request fits into the organization’s existing budget, how much the club has fundraised and how wellplanned and creative the club’s proposal is.

Quadrian Gill is asking that student organizations rely more on fundraising Ultimately, Gill is asking that student organizations rely more on fundraising, which several student organizations seem to be taking to heart. Muxeres, a Latine student organization co-hosting a music and dancing event called Noche de Excelencia, applied for funding through several grants before they came before the senate. Hui ‘O Hawai’i, a club dedicated to students from Hawai’i or those wanting to learn more about Hawaiian culture, has plans to dedicate time and creativity to build costumes from Dollar Tree materials, and is working on fundraising through Panda Express and a Hawaiian company called Cookie Corner Hawaii to support the annual Lū’au. “That (partnership) gives an opportunity for our families at home to support us since they’re not here with us in Oregon,” Hui ‘O Hawai’i’s Lū’au Co-Coordinator Penina Vaimaona said. Gill said ASUO is trying to plug clubs into local restaurants and business connections, and encouraging the use of DuckFunder, a fundraising platform similar to GoFundMe where student organizations can reach out to alumni,

friends and family on one website. For Lū’au Co-Coordinator Caleb Correa, thinking about the budget restrictions has led to more student involvement to address gaps in programming and more “creative room for people to fundraise,” but the $30,000 surplus they requested is still critical for their organization. “We want to be eventually self-resilient, self-efficient and responsible for what we do, but being able to have this opportunity to reach out to ASUO to help us fund what means we can’t uphold is very beneficial for us,” Correa said.

The current senate Decreased funds are causing increased tension in ASUO’s senate. Fulfilling the “social, cultural and physical development of students” at UO, as ASUO’s governance documents states as the role of surplus, is far from the clearest of tasks for a group of around 20 student senators from across the university’s schools and departments. Every Wednesday, these senators are weighing value and cost, time and time again. “This is such a great event but it’s so much money,” Fisher commented after the Lu’au presentation. Fisher said the event was not worth spending $30,000, but most of the senators disagreed. “Events like this just cost this much money especially in this school and in this state where it is harder to try to get these cultural items,” Senator Marisol Peters, who has helped plan the UO Mother’s Day Powwow for the past few years, said. “If you break it down, that’s about 1/17 of surplus, and I don’t see 16 other events that do what this event does,” Senator Cole Stevenson said. Gill said the nature of these approvals is inherently subjective but called some level of disagreement “healthy for a legislative body.”

Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026

(BELOW) From left to right, Prissila Moreno, Jordan Ackemann, and Taliek Lopez-DuBoff participating in the ASUO Spring Elections President and VP Debate, held on April 8, 2025 in the Erb Memorial Union at the University of Oregon. (Saj Sundaram/Emerald)

page 13

ARTS & CULTURE

DAILY EMERALD

Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026

page 14

Find good climbs and good times at the Circut Eugene The Circuit Bouldering Gym has been in Eugene for over a year and offers a space where pro and beginner climbers alike can enjoy the same environment.

By Henry Perrine

Arts & Culture Writer

What makes a climbing gym? Is it a vast selection of routes for climbers to choose from? A friendly staff ready to help? A bar serving cold lagers and IPAs on tap to help get you over a climb you slipped on? If you picked all three, then you’re in luck. The Circuit Bouldering Gym, exclusively located in Oregon, has five locations: southwest Portland, northeast Portland, Tigard, Bend and Eugene. Their doors first opened in 2005 at their SW Portland location and on Nov. 21, 2024, the Eugene Circuit was born — only a few blocks west from the University of Oregon campus. With a team of 15 people, the Eugene Circuit is one of the largest locations, featuring over 200 bouldering routes for climbers of all abilities and more than 25 new routes set each week. If you didn’t grow up rock climbing or weren’t born a mountain goat, then you might be unfamiliar with what “bouldering” means in the climbing community. Bouldering is a form of rock climbing without a harness, consisting of short routes that vary in difficulty. Each level is graded on the Vermin scale, more commonly known as the V-scale, where the easiest climbs start at V0 and work their way up to the hardest level — one that seems like only professional climbers can stomach, V17. This humbling yet helpful scale enables someone to interpret a climb, understand what it will look and feel like before they get on the wall. To start bouldering, feasible routes are necessary, ones that climbers of all shapes and sizes can handle. The Circuit takes all of that into account, focusing on inclusivity for its community.

Each route is carefully planned, tested by employees and given thoughtful grading to help climbers out. By the end of setting a segment, you are left with a colorful, chaotic wall made up of oddly shaped holds, some the size of a basketball and others that you can barely fit your pinky on. “Bouldering makes you challenge your brain in a different way,” Maddy Castleberry, who has been coming to the circuit since August, said. “You’re focused on one problem that’s right in front of you and you have to be fully focused, or else you’ll fall.” After your forearms have begun to cramp and you scaled all the climbs you were hoping to do, enjoy a cold one from their very own bar. There are four rotating taps featuring beers from local breweries. Currently, they have a Czech Pilsner, Hanzo Japanese Lager, Rain Gauge IPA and a light pale ale. Get a drink or don’t get a drink; the sociable staff and extensive, vibrant walls add to a welcoming atmosphere. Not only can you climb, but the gym also hosts events like a “Halloween DJ” or a “backyard BBQ ,” where all members are welcome to enjoy. “Through setting, working behind the desk (and) serving people, we try to create an environment that’s fun,” Ava Davenport, a senior at UO who works both at the front desk and as a setter for the Circuit Eugene, said. (ABOVE) A central bouldering feature stands inside Circuit Bouldering Gym on Wednesday, Dec. 17, in Eugene, Ore. The freestanding structure offers multiple angles and routes, allowing climbers to train power, balance and problem solving in a shared space. (LEFT) Kale Reaves climbs a bouldering route at Circuit Bouldering Gym on Wednesday, Dec. 17, in Eugene, Ore. Circuit offers indoor bouldering routes for climbers of all experience levels and serves as a training and community space for local climbers. (Max Unkrich/Emerald)

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A&C AND SPORTS

DAILY EMERALD

Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026

page 17

ARTS & CULTURE

Take a hike: a guide to Eugene’s smaller trails Get outdoors on these three local trails. By Gigi Roddick

Arts & Culture Writer

As winter term settles in and you’re left stranded without something to do, now is the perfect time to go for a hike. Take a break from studying to enjoy the cool weather and fall colors on three nearby hikes. Remember to pack for the stay, not the hike — bring layers, a first aid kit, extra food and water and other essentials. Be sure to tell a friend where you are going and when you’ll be back, check the weather and have fun!

Close to Home: The Ridgeline Trail System Length: ~12 miles, varies based on route Elevation Gain: ~2,100 feet, varies based on route Location: South Eugene

If you’re looking for a choose-your-own-adventure, the Ridgeline trail system is your friend. Walk through meadows and forest on the well-maintained dirt pathway forming a half-circle around Eugene’s southern neighborhoods. Choose to summit Mount Baldy, or enjoy the changing fall leaves of the Fox Hollow sections. Use any of the seven trailheads to begin your hike, or go end-to-end! With the plethora of other trails branching off toward Erin Noble Headwaters Park, Spencer’s Butte and South Eugene Meadows, the Ridgeline trails are perfect for a nearby and straightforward day hike of any length. No permits are required and trails are open between 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

For the Views: Horse Rock Ridge Trail Length: 4.26 miles Elevation Gain: 1,164 ft Location: Shotgun Creek Recreation Site

Approximately a 45-minute drive southwest of campus is a ridgeline trail with beautiful views of the Willamette Valley. The last eight miles are on a fairly well-maintained

paved road, navigating through Shotgun Creek Recreation Site to the trailhead. Be alert when the road narrows and when going around blind corners, especially on weekends, as traffic increases. After parking (free, no pass required), follow the wide gravel track through the large yellow gate and proceed until the path is obstructed by cut trees. Either navigate through the brush on the left of the debris, or walk along the trees themselves to find the path again. The next half mile is a gentle uphill along a forested track. Watch for mushrooms that have sprung up from the mossy ground. Elevation gain begins when the trail opens onto the more exposed ridge. Early views also open to the south. Listen for raven calls, and look for the red bark of common manzanita shrubs. Just over a mile into the hike, the path will once again cut into the trees. Stay on the trail to circumvent a small electrical facility. Watch for signs saying “Closed Circuit TV.” At the trail’s end, enjoy views to the east and west before returning the same way. Look for snow-capped mountains to the southeast. On weekends, the parking lots can get busy. Those seeking a bit of alone time may want to arrive earlier to avoid the crowds. Make sure to download a map of the trail before heading out, as service is spotty in the recreation area.

A gradual forest hike leads you deeper into the thick woods of Umpqua National Forest. Keep an eye out for wildlife here, including bears. Around the two-mile mark, choose to keep right or to take a left toward the short but viewless Sawtooth Rock excursion. Enjoy the mossy trees before the trail’s final demanding ascent. The summit boasts views to the west of Sawtooth Rock and Hardesty Mountain (4200 feet). Consider picnicking on the spacious slopes before returning down the same path. Download a map of the trail prior to your trip, as service is generally poor in the forest.

Day Trip: Sawtooth to Mount June Length: Seven miles Elevation Gain: 2,200 feet Location: Umpqua National Forest

Just 50 minutes northwest of campus is a more strenuous hike with rewarding views of the Three Sisters and western valleys. A paved road leads to the parking lot. Park for free, cross the road and follow the trail to the right. Be sure to take valuable items with you before leaving, as car break-ins have been reported in the area.

SPORTS

The Ridgeline Trail, which leads to Spencer’s Butte, is a popular hiking spot with a rocky summit, and is the highest point along Eugene’s ridgeline. (Anna Liv Mykleburst/Emerald)

Ari Long is having a career year in starting role Ari Long has gotten a starting job and is thriving. Continued from page 1

Long was also coming off the bench for the entire season. This year likely would have been more of the same for Long if it wasn’t for the injury to Mevius. This year, the 20-year-old is having the year of her career. With the starting job, she’s averaged 22.5 minutes and increased her average points per game by just under four, currently sitting at 6.2 points per game. Long is also shooting better in every metric: 36% from the field, 33% from three and .833 from free throw line. She’s already doubled her assists from last year with 26 and has 1.6 assists per game Offensively, Long has shown she has more than what it takes to perform as a starter in the Big Ten. She fits in well with a Ducks starting lineup that consists of Katie Fiso, Mia Jacobs and Sofia Bell. On the other side of the ball, Long is keeping up production. In her first two seasons off the bench she had 32 total rebounds, 28 defensive, in 17 games with Washington, and in season two she had 40 total rebounds with 37 coming defensively. Being only 16 games in the season, Long has set her career high in rebounds with 55, nine coming offensively. The other 46 are defensive rebounds. She is the third best defensive rebounder on the team, only behind Jacobs and Ehis Etute. She also has over 31 steals, the most on the team, and is second on the team in blocks with 12. Though Long didn’t start the season, she has meshed well with the team in her new role. She dropped a season high 15 points against St. Mary’s College of California and pro-

vided 14 points against Michigan, five of which came in double overtime. Against Montana State, Long had the best overall game of her season. She had 3 defensive rebounds, scored 10 points and logged an assist and one block, all of which came in the third quarter. “I think Katie just found me when I was wide open on that first one,” Long said, talking about her three that opened up her scoring on the night. “I let it fly and then came at me again, let it fly.” When a team loses a key player at the onset of a new season, it can throw a wrench into the whole operation. This Oregon team found a way to not let the situation get out of hand. The Ducks sit at 13-3, they just won their first conference game of the season against Northwestern and are playing overall good basketball. Ari Long is not just a player who will come off the bench and put some good minutes on the floor; she’s evolved into a legit starter who is becoming a key piece in this Ducks lineup going forward. (RIGHT) Ari Long (14) looks to sink a 3-pointer for the Ducks. The University of Oregon Ducks defeated the West Georgia Wolves 100-59 in their home opener at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore., on Nov. 3, 2025. (Julia Massa/Emerald)

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SPORTS

DAILY EMERALD

Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026

page 21

Oregon women’s basketball: looking into the remainder of conference play Despite a tough 0-2 start, the Ducks have the team to turn their conference play woes around. By Rowan Shea

Sports Writer

Oregon women’s basketball has been on an absolute tear to start the season. Having only dropped two games through their first 14, the Ducks enter conference play with an impressive record of 12-3. The bench has been on fire, the starters have been clicking and the product on the court has been outstanding. This rendition of the Ducks has been putting together a much better season than what was expected of them. The Ducks lost a key player in center Phillipina Kyei to graduation, and that loss propelled the Ducks into adapting a new style of offensive play: sending out three guards and two forwards. Throughout the season, the offense has been working hard under the new system. With the intense pace of play coming from the smaller lineup, the speed of the game would be hard for any team to keep up throughout the season. Oregon has remained quick on the court. Sophomore guard Katie Fiso has returned and shown up for the Ducks this season, leading the fast-paced Oregon offense. Through the first 15 games of the season, Fiso has 228 total points, averaging 15.2 points a game and is shooting 50% from the field with 31% from three. Backing up Fiso is senior forward Mia Jacobs who is shooting 46% from the field and 38% from three. Australian player has 216 total points, is averaging 14.4 points per game and is fueling the offense alongside Fiso.

Players off the bench have been performing exceptionally well. Ehis Etute has been the best member of the Ducks coming off the bench, averaging 8.4 points per game and shooting .49% from the field through her 254 minutes on the court. Amina Muhammad has been great for the Ducks as well, averaging 5.8 points per game and shooting 64% from the field through just under 240 minutes. Although the Ducks had a strong start to the season, they have run into a small rut: Oregon has dropped its first two Big Ten games. No. 4 UCLA and No. 6 Michigan both proved tough challenges for the Ducks. Both teams are ranked in the top 10 and showed why they are, outplaying the Ducks in all areas. But the Ducks weren’t ineffective against all opponents. Against Michigan, the Ducks, despite being down 18 points in the second quarter, came back. They tied the game up at 69 a piece at the end of regulation and sent the game into overtime. Though, the Ducks did drop the game 92-87. It’s always important to get the first conference win out of the way early. It took Oregon three games to do so, but on New Year’s Day against Northwestern, Oregon cruised to an 87-54 victory. Fiso dropped 17 points with six assits, and Jacobs had 16 points with four assists and six defensive rebounds. The Ducks will continue to play against tough Big Ten teams in the coming weeks. No. 17 USC, No. 24 Michigan State and No. 14 Iowa are scheduled to play in back-to-backto-back games in early January. Throughout the remainder of the season, Oregon will face No. 19 Ohio State, No. 20 University of Nebraska and No. 7 Maryland. While ranked play is always a deciding factor on how good a team is, for the Ducks, the game against Maryland on Jan. 31 will show if the Ducks have the ability to make a strong push through the rest of the season and into tournament play. The Terrapins shoot well, take care of the basketball and allow the second to least opponent points per game with 53.7. On paper, Maryland can be compared to Michigan. If Oregon can draw from the late game performance against Michigan, the Ducks have a strong chance at pulling out a win against the Terrapins. The Ducks will head back down to Los Angeles, this time to face USC. The Trojans are a very strong defensive team, ranking fifth among Big Ten teams in points allowed at 55.2 and averaging a Big Ten best 7.1 blocks per game. The upside for the Ducks is that USC frequently ranks lower than Oregon offensively. While the game could be low scoring, the Ducks have the chance to snag a win against a ranked opponent. (LEFT) The Oregon Ducks men’s basketball team defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs 96-73 at the Moda Center in Portland, Ore., on Dec. 21, 2025. (Fred Hall/Emerald)

Oregon men’s Basketball struggles in non-conference play The Ducks sit just above .500 heading into Big Ten play, which puts postseason hopes in jeopardy. By Harry Leader

Sports Writer

Heading into this season, the Ducks were poised to be in the chase for a run at the Big Ten title, with outlets like CBS Sports having Oregon at No. 5 in their Big Ten preseason poll. However, things have changed drastically since the start of the season, with the Ducks currently sitting at 8-6 overall and 1-2 in Big Ten play, with given early losses to UCLA and No. 24 USC. The season started off rocky, but solid, with four straight wins at home. The home opener against Hawaii was marked by poor ball handling and passing, resulting in a program-record 21 turnovers in a nail-biting 60-59 win. One of the team’s main issues this season is turnovers. The Ducks currently rank No. 3 in the Big Ten in total turnovers with 178. “Our turnovers were guys trying to make plays for themselves,” head coach Dana Altman said following the recent loss against Gonzaga. “It wasn’t turnovers where we were really trying to execute something and 11 turnovers into 19 points, you know, they were pretty dang efficient when we gave them a turnover, it’s a big difference.” The Ducks season quickly turned sour after a trip to the Players Era Festival, a tournament Oregon won last season. The Ducks lost all three games to No. 21 Auburn, San Diego State and Creighton. These losses exposed the team’s inability to handle teams in the postseason picture, which continued to be evident when they picked up another two losses against USC and UCLA. The Ducks have also had a tough time with efficiency this season, ranking third-worst in field goal percentage (43.9), tied for eighth-worst in three-point percentage (34.2) and second-worst in free throw percentage (71.1) in the Big Ten. Following the five-game losing streak, Oregon picked up two blowout wins at home against UC Davis and Portland, which gave them solid momentum heading into their toughest game of nonconference play against the No. 7-ranked Gonza-

ga Bulldogs at the Northwest Elite Showdown in Portland. The Ducks fought well against the Bulldogs, but ultimately lost 91-82. Senior center Nate Bittle led all scorers with 28 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four blocks in that game, but the rest of the team struggled at times. “Nate played good,” Altman said after the loss. “I mean, 28 points against those guys, five assists, no turnovers and four blocks. Man, after a month out to come back and play like that, he played his tail off. I got no complaints with his effort.” Bittle is currently the team’s highest scorer, averaging 16.1 points per game as well as the team’s leading shot blocker with 2.6 blocks per game. “Our awareness, defensive intensity, was not good enough,” Altman said following the loss. “No attention to detail on how we’re guarding people. We made a lot of mistakes, defensive mistakes. Now, they can score, don’t get me wrong; they average 90 points a game. But we sure didn’t take much away.” Their saving grace has been rebounding, ranking sixth in the conference, which has kept them competitive against undersized teams. Players like Kwame Evans Jr. and Nate Bittle have been solid rebounders for Oregon, averaging 7.7 and 6.8 rebounds, respectively. Evans and Bittle have struggled with injuries so far this season, missing 2 games apiece so far. “We’ve got KJ with the bad ankle and Devon starting to come back,” Altman said following the recent win against Omaha. “Those three guys — Nate, KJ and Dev — are probably in our starting lineup. We just got to get them healthy.” The Ducks look to pick up their first home conference win as they take on Ohio State at Matthew Knight Arena on Jan 8 at 7:30 p.m. PST. (ABOVE) The Oregon Men’s Basketball team was defeated by Gonzaga 91-82 at the Moda Center in Portland, Ore on December 21, 2025. (Akimba Agbohessou/Emerald)

Weekly Crossword 1

Puzzles Master, Nate Wong

ACROSS

DOWN

1 Gamer’s sportsmanship message, abv. 4 “Road work ___? Yeah, I sure hope it does!” 6 Viral 2020 social deduction game once played by AOC 8 Fantastic Mr. Fox director Anderson 9 Wildebeest 10 Criss-crossy pattern 12 Sierra ___ (African nation) 13 Jake from Adventure Time or Blue from Blue’s Clues, ex.

1 Left on read indefinitely 2 ___ Z (group who may be familiar with this puzzle’s references) 3 Like pants without a belt 4 “___ in itself” (filling) 5 Word on a student’s white conical hat 6 Hole puncher 7 Bring to court 11 “I’m ___ hot / Call the police and the fireman” Uptown Funk lyric

11 12 13

Sudoku 6

3 5

Unscramble

9 4

5 1 4

8 1

Answers

SudokuTuesdayWinter By Nate W

A C N E H C

L S A N T

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I R P

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SudokuTuesdayWinter

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