Emerald THE DAILY
MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2025
INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM PRODUCED BY STUDENTS, FOR STUDENTS ONLINE
CITY NEWS
OPINION
Instructor-provided textbooks are more efficient than students buying them By Daria Morris Opinion Columnist
A large portion of University of Oregon students have the burden of paying for not only tuition, room and board and other miscellaneous university fees, but on top of that, textbooks. Even if some of these costs are covered by financial aid, some of the books we are paying for are borderline unaffordable. And even worse, once that class is over, we will never pick them up again. I have spent a large sum of money on textbooks, ranging from $15 to over $250 for a single book. Some of these have been physical copies while others have been online purchases. Some classes I have taken required up to four books just for that one course. Many of these books I’ve bought I never used again after that class, and some of them I never even had to read. I can understand the need for books for some courses, such as ones for your major, making it obligatory to purchase a textbook. However, if professors can provide required readings for students rather than forcing them to pay outrageous prices on books, that is the better option financially for students. Melanie Hanson, a research analyst for the Education Data Initiative, explained the real cost of attending public universities in the U.S. She writes, “The average postsecondary student
Donate to College Media Madness Today!
New Dave’s Hot Chicken location to open in Springfield Read story on page 11
FASHION FORWARD
Continue story on page 14
CAMPUS NEWS
UO introduces three new academic programs By Stephanie Jersey Campus News Reporter
Three new academic programs have been introduced at the University of Oregon: a bachelor of science in materials science, an education specialist degree and a brewing innovation minor. Jayson Paulose, associate professor of physics, spoke about the new material science B.S. aimed at bridging the fields of chemistry and physics. “The program is very much a joint effort, developed by a group of several faculty in MSI (Material Science Institute) from both physics and chemistry starting back in 2022,” Paulose said. According to Paulose, the team challenged themselves to create a degree with a focus on “applied science” and “real-world problems” within the institute.
Continue story on page 6
A model wears one of Cheri Moritz’s pieces during the 2024 Cottage Grove Trashion Show.
Renegade tailor: turning trash into fashion Oakridge local, Cheri Moritz, makes runway looks out of trash, drawing from a lifetime of sustainable clothing design
By Cass Morrison Arts & Culture Writer
For over 60 years, Cheri Moritz has made clothes out of recycled materials. In the realms of thrifting and upcycling garments, which have gained significant cultural traction in recent years, Moritz is a seasoned veteran. Although selling her designs to various retailers has served as a primary source of income throughout her life, her motivation to create has always been the practicality and expressive freedom it allows. Today she frequently displays her
transportation.uoregon.edu/bus
(Photo by Jessica Klarr, courtesy of Cheri Moritz)
designs in local “Trashion Fashion” runway shows, where all of the designs are made out of trash. Moritz’s fashion journey began at the age of 16 when her stepmother gave her a sewing machine. “I’d sit up and make a whole outfit one night and wear it to school the next day,” Moritz said. “Everybody loved it and wanted to know where I got it, and I was able to say I made it. So it kind of began there.” After high school, Moritz moved to Nebraska and became a go-go dancer, which was a pivotal moment in her fashion career. Continue story on page 12