Emerald THE DAILY
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MONDAY, FEB. 3, 2025 SPORTS
Athlete of the Week: TJ Bamba Read story on page 11
OPINION
CITY NEWS
Political burnout is coming soon to people near you
LTD’s Climate Action Policy Drives Sustainability
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ARTS & CULTURE
CAMPUS NEWS
Sabai: A restaurant birthed from romance The phrase “Sabai Sabai” in Thai expresses a happy, easygoing way of life. The family-owned restaurant that bears its name is no different. By Andres Baisch Arts & Culture Writer
At Sabai, family and community are central pillars for success. The restaurant celebrated its 14-year anniversary this January, and after over a decade of operations, Sabai continues to thrive as a lively hub for good food and a great atmosphere in Eugene. “Sabai means to be well, to be happy. It’s like a greeting,” Tim Murff, part owner of Sabai, said. “So, there’s really this sense of healthiness at Sabai.” Murff co-owns Sabai with his wife, Mon Sutthiwari, and the business blends Murff’s experience in media and design with Sutthiwari’s Thai heritage. Murff and Sutthiwari initially met through
Murff’s son, who frequently visited Eugene Thai restaurant Chao Pra Ya, where Sutthiwari worked. Sutthiwari later began working at Ta Ra Rin, where Murff and his grandchildren would dine every Friday. Over the years that Murff visited Ta Ra Rin, he and Sutthiwari became closer, and three years after they met, the pair decided to open Sabai as co-owners. Before entering the restaurant industry, Murff worked in media on documentary films. But after 35 years in the field, changes in the media landscape pushed Murff to make a career shift. “I was spending so much time learning new editing software,” Murff said. “I just wasn’t getting to tell the stories that I really loved.” Sutthiwari was also looking to transition to something new, and Continue story on page 6
(Julia Massa/Emerald) Executive Director, Rachel Jefferson, of the Co-Op Family Center off of Patterson St inEugene.
UO community weighs in on CoOp Family Center budget cuts Student-parents and community members rally and speak in support of the Co-Op in response to a proposed budget cut By Bella Bishop Campus News Reporter
In November 2024, the Co-Op Family Center found out about a potential budget cut from their annual funding from the Associated Students of the University of Oregon. The potential cut led to an outpouring of support from the Co-Op’s community. Located in the Spencer View Apartments, – which houses UO graduate students, international students and families – the Co-Op is an affordable childcare program that operates yearround for ages eight weeks to 11 years old. “(The Co-Op is) a hub for student families,” Rachel Jefferson, executive director of the CoOp, said. The Co-Op primarily serves the UO community by offering reduced childcare rates for student families and faculty families. The way a Co-Op operates is through the support of both community members and the cooperative entity itself. Jordan Ackemann, ASUO senator and chair of the CFC, said the original proposed budget “included the Co-Op at a lesser funding than it Continue story on page 5