Emerald THE DAILY
INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM PRODUCED BY STUDENTS, FOR STUDENTS
MONDAY, MARCH 17, 2025
UO BASIC NEEDS PROGRAM
CITY NEWS
Eugene pushes forward with downtown revitalization Read story on page 9
CAMPUS NEWS
New narcan dispenser installed in EMU By Angelina Handris Campus News Reporter
On Feb. 12, University of Oregon Substance Abuse Prevention and Education produced a dispenser containing free individual doses of Narcan nasal spray which was installed by the Erb Memorial Union building manager team on the EMU ground floor. SAPE is a campus organization that focuses on substance misuse prevention and harm reduction as well as providing support for students who chose to abstain from substance use. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Narcan, also known as naloxone, is a drug that when administered can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Gabriela Gutierrez, the student director of SAPE, said that the implementation of a Narcan dispenser on campus has been in discussion for “at least a few years.” Continue story on page 5
CITY NEWS
MC Yoda uses music to help others By Jess Coronado City News Reporter
Joshua Frank walked into Espresso Roma cafe feeling nervous, knowing he was about to relive parts of his life for an interview. Not long ago, he lived on the street in the same neighborhood struggling with addiction and homelessness. Frank lived homeless since he was 17 years old and recently became housed in September 2023 after a series of drug relapses and runins with the court system. Frank now goes by the stage name Yoda MC. He uses his story to inspire people who struggle with addiction and homelessness. “I’ve always been into music and I’ve been writing since I was like 15, but it was just something to pass the time when you don’t know what you’re doing with your life,” Frank said. Frank wore a beanie, a shirt with a logo for his business, Lion in the Lamb Entertainment, and a backpack. His mustache was in a state of regrow-
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Eric Sutton, a PreK/K Lead Teacher, begins reading a story to his class prior to snack time.
(Julia Massa/Emerald)
Governor Kotek projects budget cuts for Basic Needs Navigators Program In Governor Kotek’s recommended budget, there is no mention of funding for Basic Needs navigators that thousands of students depend on OPINION
Hate speech has no place here; stop ignoring it By Claire Nowicki Opinion Columnist
It pains me to have to write about this in the 21st century, but I have heard slurs and hate speech used in Eugene, by ran-
By Bella Bishop Campus News Reporter
Governor Tina Kotek released her recommended budget for the 2025 to 2027 fiscal year on Dec. 18, 2024, which considers eliminating state funding for the Benefits Navigator Program across the state of Oregon. In Kotek’s recommended budget, there dom people, in random scenarios, none of whom were friends of mine. Hearing those words spoken in public was shocking and disturbing. It’s often used as a joke or as a playful insult with friends, but that does not excuse its use. I know this is not a rare experience. I’ve heard slurs a few times in public. One time I heard it across the bar. A second was at a party. Another time, very specifically, was after an intramural basketball game; I heard someone call the other team a slur to his teammates. I am
was no explicit amount allocated for the Benefits Navigator program compared to the previous fiscal year. In 2021, the Oregon legislature passed the Benefits Navigator Program which provides $4.99 million in state funding for the salaries of benefits navigators at all of Oregon’s public community colleges and universities. Continue story on page 6
sure I have had more moments like this, but part of me doesn’t want to believe it when it happens. I’ve reacted differently in these scenarios. In one scenario, I have spoken up, in another, my friend has, but in one, I stood in awe and silence, dumbfounded at this being accepted as “normal” and waiting for anyone to say something. That image of me staring blankly, too shocked and not strong enough to push through those emotions to say some
Continue story on page 11