Steezy Bus Page 8
Inside:
Amenity Wars Media you may have missed in 2025 UO Swim Club
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Staff
Special Sections Editor Annie Bostwick Cover Photo Arianna Rinaldi
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Special Sections Writers Campbell Williams Daisy Valencia Karley Brenneman Sophie Turnbull Yasmin Alvarez Special Sections Photographers Alyssa Garcia Arianna Rinaldi Brayden Day Manuel Espinoza Lead Designer Eva Andrews
Dear Duck Living Readers, This new year, Duck Living is celebrating community innovation. We follow a thrift store on wheels, and get a glimpse into a local business bringing people together through literature and craft beer. As students start searching for new leases, we also explore what students prioritize in their off-campus housing options.
Student Designers Abigail Raike Adaleah Carman Amanda Bell Dewni Mirihana Gabe Vannelli Account Managers Ava Stephanian Camcole Pereira Elliot Byrne Torin Chevalier
Our January issue also features some media that might not have caught your attention in 2025, and how the University of Oregon Swim Club comes “first in fun.” Emerald Media Group, Inc. 395 University St., #302 Eugene, OR, 97403 541.346.5511 x327 dailyemerald.com
Whether you’re reflecting on the chaos of the last year or bracing yourself for 2026, we hope these stories give you a moment to pause and consider what you’re prioritizing in the new year.
Duck Living is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit media company at the University of Oregon. Formerly the Oregon Daily Emerald; the news organization was founded in 1900.
Annie Bostwick Duck Living Editor
Publisher & President Eric Henry
ehenry@dailyemerald.com
VP Operations Kathy Carbone
kcarbone@dailyemerald.com
Director of Sales Shelly Rondestvedt
srondestvedt@dailyemerald.com
Creative & Technical Dir.
Anna CK Smith
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Housing
Contents
Amenity Wars
7
Student Life
Steezy Bus
8
UO Swim Club
11
Media you might have missed
12
Chews & Brews
Hodgepodge Books & Taps
8
11
15
15
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Housing • 7
Amenity wars Balancing luxury and livability in student housing. Every year, student housing complexes advertise a familiar lineup of flashy amenities: resort-style pools, fully equipped gyms, game rooms and sometimes even things like tanning beds. While these features look great on brochures and social media ads, many students report that they rarely use them. Instead, they wish these complexes had amenities that are far more practical, such as free wifi, quiet study rooms, or accessible parking, which support their daily lives. For many students, the housing search starts with basic needs. “I looked for a good bedroom, and a built-in washer and dryer,” said Samantha Neal, a junior who has just started her second year living in off-campus housing. Her roommate, Madi Maguire, added that natural light and good parking were also factors. Although many of these buildings take pride in their amenities, many students admit to hardly using them. Neal mentioned that her building features perks such as a pool and a clubhouse – which houses the volleyball and basketball courts. “We never go to the club house,” she says, “and the pool is only nice for the last three weeks of school.” Lucy McMahon, a senior, shares a similar experience. Her complex hosts frequent events where attendance is often low. “It’s a great idea, but often it seems as though these events don’t quite live up to their expectations,” she said. Students also acknowledge how their priorities shift throughout college. Bella Thomas, a current senior, said that her freshman year housing search was about finding the best deal, but her junior and senior years became about “building a home.” Living in
a townhouse has allowed her to buy furniture and create a space that feels more personal. “I got to buy the furniture and built it from its bare bones,” she said. “It gave my space a lot more individuality than where I was living sophomore year, which had all these cool amenities that I realized I never used.” Property managers are quick to acknowledge this disconnect. PTLA, a company that manages 25 studentfocused properties near campus, said proximity to the University of Oregon is one of its biggest selling points. Location is what they look for when looking at properties to take on because they know students want this. They also offer accessible parking as this is a recurring need of new student renters. PTLA has a range of different properties, many of which are townhouses or smaller buildings when compared to the common Eugene apartment complex. Sarah Sly, a PTLA Property Manager, acknowledges this difference, and points to the “trade-offs” that come with smaller properties. She highlights accessible parking, proximity, and a personable, understanding team as key advantages. Curiosity arose about the competitive side of managing smaller properties compared to larger ones with newer, and flashier features. She was asked whether there was pressure to offer these amenities because competitors do. “If we had all the land in the world, of course, we would love to have all these amenities,” Sly said without hesitation. She added that novelty amenities often aren’t used as much as expected. “We have a game room at one of our properties, and it doesn’t
Written by Sophie Turnbull Photos by Alyssa Garcia Designed by Adaleah Carman
get used nearly as much as it did when it was first installed.” Jimmy Rimmerman, a property manager at Yugo Eugene Skybox, a local mid-rise complex, also noted the tension between marketing and practicality. “The market is saturated with options, and students are priceconscious,” he said. “Amenities often come second to price. They usually ask to see the apartment and rate first before the amenities.” Skybox offers a fitness center, terrace and game room, but Rimmerman acknowledges that most students don’t spend as much time in these spaces. Still, managers recognize that amenities attract attention, with constant renovations and new additions, housing companies that include these will do everything they can to appeal to students. While luxury amenities may grab headlines, the reality is clear: students use the more practical features before using the ones they saw in the magazines. For property managers, the challenge remains in finding the right balance between the amenities that market the best and the amenities that meet students’ priorities like comfort, affordability, and convenience.
8 • Student Life
Steezy Bus
provides Eugene shoppers with a unique experience Written by Daisy Valencia • Photographed by Arianna Rinaldi Designed & Illustrated by Dewni Mirihana
A
t many Eugene pop-ups and events, a blue bus is often parked at the scene. This bus turned thrift store, the Steezy Bus, has garnered plenty of attention from students and the community.
Stella Hucka and Joey Arrieta are the two behind the wheel of the Steezy Bus, which is named in remembrance of a friend of Hucka’s brother. Both Hucka and Arrieta previously worked as managers
at separate thrift stores and gained experience working with the logistics of selling second-hand clothing. Hucka was already pursuing the Steezy Bus when she met Arrieta, who was captured by her idea and eventually encouraged her to commit to the bus full-time. Now engaged, the two run the business together with Hucka curating the inventory and Arrieta handling the finances. The idea for the Steezy Bus was inspired by Bumble Boutique, founded by Sarah Hambrick, which first began selling vintage clothes out of a trailer before it became an established brick-and-mortar store. Hucka’s brother had been living out of a bus for some time and was looking to give up his lifestyle. He offered up his bus for Hucka to begin a new business venture selling second-hand clothes. Soon, the bus would be completely transformed into a working thrift store with the help of her dad.
Joey & Stella
The Steezy Bus’ first pop-up was in June of 2023 at Hop Alley Brewery. In the beginning, Hucka was only dedicating her time once a month to the business, but then it quickly became an everyday commitment. She put in her two weeks as a manager and rented a warehouse the next day. The couple uses the warehouse to store hundreds of curated second-hand pieces, which they source from thrift stores all
Student Life • 9
over Oregon. They take pride in having a large selection for their customers, often driving several hours in every direction to find new items. Warehouse space allows for the Steezy Bus to hold “styling appointments” in which Hucka and Arrieta browse a client’s personal Pinterest page to gather an understanding of their style and fashion inspiration. They then pull fifty or so items, all in the client’s size, onto a rack before the scheduled meeting time. This allows for a special, personalized experience completely tailored to each client. When asked if anyone’s ever walked away from a styling appointment empty-handed, Hucka said no, which serves as a testament to the couple’s combined skill as fashion curators.
“
We had a gentleman come in, and we had prepped a rack for him. He bought every single item off the rack except for one solely because it didn’t fit. Stella Hucka Co-Owner
“We had a gentleman come in, and we had prepped a rack for him. He bought every single item off the rack except for one solely because it didn’t fit,” says Hucka. When looking through the racks of the Steezy Bus or its accompanying warehouse, you can find items of all kinds of brands and different eras, from Gunne Sax to Brandy Melville. The shop encompasses all styles, both those timeless and trending. The items run in straight sizes and plus sizes in both clothing and shoes. Hucka dedicates herself to keeping up to date with the details of all the pieces currently in their rotation. When pulling a lingerie slip off the rack, Hucka could immediately recall the brand and era from halfway across the store. If you’re ever in need of a new wardrobe, the Steezy Bus is the place where you’re statistically unlikely to walk away unsatisfied. Though their warehouse is located on 5th Ave, you’re bound to find the blue bus parked just around the corner.
Perso naliz Racks ed
& One
Only
Go Ducks!! Go Ducks!! Go GoDucks!! Ducks!!
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541-485-7776 • vonkleinrentals.com • 1301 Ferry St. #2 /vonKleinPropertyManagement 541-485-7776 • vonkleinrentals.com • 1301 Ferry St. #2 /vonKleinPropertyManagement
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Student Life • 11
First in Fun
Written by Karley Brenneman • Designed & Illustrated by Gabe Vannelli • Photos by Brayden Day For more than 20 years, the University of Oregon’s club swim team has quietly built one of the most welcoming and committed communities for studentathletes on campus. Run by the students and fueled by close-knit relationships, the UO Swim Club is proof the competition doesn’t have to come at the cost of fun. For many swimmers, the path to the pool was predetermined. First-year Ava Kloster, a butterfly specialist who competes in both 50 and 100 fly, grew up watching her older brother swim and followed in his wake. After trading high school cheerleading for a cap and goggles in college, she joined the swim team to rebuild her endurance and the goal to reclaim her competitive 100 fly. Just ten weeks into her first season, and she’s already hitting her goals. Sydney Ashton, another first-year in the program, competes in the 50 and 100 breaststroke and shares a similar story.
Like Kloster, she grew up with an older brother in the sport and now finds herself rediscovering swimming in a less rigid, more fostering and friendly environment. Other swimmers have a bit of a different story. Second-year swimmer Kai Paasch competes primarily in distance events like the 500 and 1000 free, 200 breaststroke, and 400 individual medley. He grew up with swimmer parents and admits that he “hated it at first,” but has found peace and enjoyment with the Swim Club. Now, Paasch competes with the goal of making nationals this year, and remembers to check in with himself rather than face burnout. “You’re always gauging how you feel in swimming,” he said. The club is led by swimmers who bring experience as well. Will Pariso, the thirdyear secretary, started out as a recreational swimmer. He now competes in the 50 free and is also aiming to make nationals this season. Pariso’s personal goal is to hit a
personal record every time he competes, but “never let the outcome affect how I approach the next competition.” Another experienced swimmer is Abby Tomlinson, the third-year meet coordinator, who is described by her teammates as a “jack of all trades.” With all the meet coordinating, she hasn’t been as active in her 100 individual medley, but originally found her love for swimming in her hometown of Hood River, where she was “surrounded by water.” The team is unique because it thrives on inclusivity and welcomes all types of swimmers, but the leadership extends far beyond what’s accomplished in the water. Practices are coached and structured, but the responsibility of coordinating meets, managing finances, putting out team surveys and keeping morale high is upheld entirely by the students. Luckily, the morale for the team is always high, fueled especially by their mascot, JeanPaul the Labubu, who has a handcrafted crochet sweater, and is awarded for good behavior after meets. The club’s guiding principle is heartwarming; they always aim to be “First in Fun,” regardless of results. This ethos guided them on a 32-hour road trip for a meet in Irvine, California, where they admittedly didn’t hit their goals, but the memories of the trip are still important to the team. The team emphasizes personal and collective growth, and they enter each season with the intention to support as many swimmers as they can in getting to the CSS Nationals in spring. The advice the team has for students who may be interested in joining is to simply“show up.” Whether you’re chasing a national title or just starting out, there’s always a lane for you with the UO Swim Club.
12 • Student Life
Media you might have missed
A look at underappreciated films and albums from 2025 Written by Campbell Williams • Designed & Illustrated by Abigail Raike The year 2025 has been a confusing year in the media to say the least. There was a seemingly endless train of half-baked films released straight to streaming services and remade classics falling flat on their face, like Disney’s “Snow White” or Netflix’s “The Electric State.” These were mixed in with expertly made films with original stories that breathed new life into the film industry, such as Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” or Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another.” In music, the pop and hip-hop genres seem confused as to where they stand, with artists like Benson Boone giving lackluster performances in comparison to 2024’s pop revival with Chappell Roan and Charli XCX, and several failed hiphop comebacks such as Will Smith, Lil Wayne and JACKBOYS. We still did see inspiringly inventive and original releases, such as Dijon’s “Baby,” Geese’s “Getting Killed” tied with Cameron Winter’s “Heavy Metal,” and Clipse’s return to form in “Let God Sort Em Out.” The most important take-away from this last year in media was that there are still incredibly talented people releasing highquality art for the public to enjoy, but with so many pieces coming out every week, it can be hard to pick them out of the crowd. Luckily, there are many people out there doing the heavy lifting for the rest of us, finding those hidden gems that may have flown under the radar if not for their relentless searching.
Music
Paige Rodriguez is a University of Oregon graduate and current employee at Music Millennium in Portland, Oregon, one of the most popular record stores in the city. While at school, she worked for the Daily Emerald as well as KWVA, and has always been a fan of finding underground, lesserknown artists. “Well first I would say ‘How Long Does It Last’, that’s by Jeanines,” said Rodriguez. “They just had sort of an indie feel that I feel like is missing right now from the pop scene in general.” This is the third and most popular album from Jeanines, an indie-pop band based out of New York City. Rodriguez equated their music to The Smiths, saying they have that same jangle-pop energy and vintage feel to their sound. She also mentioned “Thinking, Dreaming, Scheming” by the band Lightheaded, who have a similar feel and are signed to the same record label as Jeanines. “They sound like they could have been made 30 years ago,” said Rodriguez. “I liked that a lot about them.” For anyone looking for something different, the debut album “Tether” by Annahstasia could have what you’re looking for. Despite getting attention for over a decade, “Tether” has been Annahstasia’s breakout and has been getting a lot of attention since its release earlier this year. The album blends
elements of folk, soul, and indie music backed by Annahstasia’s operatic and haunting vocals, making a truly unique listening experience.
Film As for movies, there have been many films that went unnoticed by the mainstream, but are still absolutely worth checking out. Fortunately, Eugene’s longstanding theater Art House has curated many lesser-known films from this last year, such as “Caught Stealing” by Darren Aronofsky, director of films such as “Black Swan” and “Requiem for a Dream.” “I feel like an odd turn for Aronofsky to do something fun like that,” said Edward Schiessl, employee at Art House. “Caught Stealing” follows a New York City bartender who agrees to watch his punk-rock neighbor’s cat and ends up in the middle of a criminal dispute over a mysterious key hidden with the cat. This movie is much more lighthearted in comparison to others in Aronofsky’s filmography, but another employee at Art House, Shaelin Jornigan, added that it is still “often quite bleak at times.” “Definitely not underrated… but ‘It Was Just An Accident’, which won the Palme d’Or this year,” said Aidan Phillips, University of Oregon graduate and avid film buff. “I thought that movie was freaking terrific.”
Student Life • 13
“
They just had sort of an indie feel that I feel like is missing right now from the pop scene in general. Paige Rodriguez
Music Millenium Employee
“It Was Just An Accident” is a thriller following a man, Vahid, who randomly bumps into who he believes to be his past capturer and torturer, but after the person adamantly denies it, Vahid doesn’t know what to do. This movie has been highly praised by audiences and critics alike, and won the most prestigious award at the Cannes Film Festival and the Palme d’Or. Past recipients include Francis Ford Coppola for “Apocalypse Now,” Martin Scorsese for “Taxi Driver,” and recently Bong Joon Ho for “Parasite.” 2025 was a great year for media as a whole, so much so that so many pieces went unnoticed by the masses. While everything presented is a great start for what folks may have missed, there are still so many different and incredible albums and movies that came out last year that have not gotten the attention they deserve. Going to record stores and local, smaller theaters and asking the employees there, talking to friends and family, and searching online are great ways to find these smaller-release media picks. If you’re ever looking for something new to dive into, just take a deeper look at what’s coming out now, you may find your newest obsession.
Chews & Brews • 15
Books, Beer, and People:
The Hybrid House Redefining Communion Written by Yasmin Alvarez • Photos by Manuel Espinoza • Designed by Amanda Bell Blurring boundaries between both work and personal life can spring forth a reinvention of how people gather and connect. Hodgepodge Books & Taps feels like a place Eugene didn’t know it needed. It’s the kind of space that feels more at home in Portland or Seattle, yet its owners, Sophie and Stuart Raymond, insist that Eugene is exactly where it belongs. The idea behind Hodgepodge may seem simple on the surface, but its intentions run deeper. For co-owner Stuart Raymond, the decision to stay in Eugene after initially moving for school was less about ambition and more about relief. “We immediately felt a little unwound,” Stuart said. After years of living in Portland together, Eugene offered something different – less pressure, noise and more room to breathe. Within a month of moving, the Raymonds knew they wanted to stay. That sense of ease is something the couple hopes visitors feel when they step inside Hodgepodge. The space doesn’t feel performative; it offers people a place to read, talk, sit quietly, or simply exist among others. This two-story house creates a luxury of community in an increasingly isolated world. “I always feel so much better when I’ve just kind of been around people. We really want to foster a space where people can just do that,” Stuart said.
Sophie, the store’s main book buyer, curates a collection of books to put on their shelves that balances familiarity and discovery. Current bestsellers and classics sit alongside niche, lesser-known authors. “There’s a lot of bookstores in Eugene. We had to find some way to be slightly different,” the Raymonds said.
Customers linger long after finishing their drinks, finding themselves enthralled in the atmosphere.
The process of creating a place that feels effortless was anything but that. The building itself required a lot of remodeling to meet code for a mixeduse commercial space. According to Stuart, the city had never processed a business quite like theirs, and navigating that uncertainty stretched the opening process from early 2024 to spring 2025. The work was just as demanding mentally and emotionally for the Raymonds. There were moments where the vision felt fragile, especially during slow summer weeks when foot traffic decreased; “I remember thinking, ‘No one’s coming anymore — we’re done,” Stuart recalls during the week of the Oregon Country Fair. At the time, he didn’t yet know that seasonal slowness was a normal aspect of running a business. What kept the team going, he said, was trust in the idea, in the community and especially in timing.
The space has also been shaped by change beyond the business itself, and more so, a personal aspect of both the owners’ lives. Sophie Raymond is currently pregnant and still working harder than ever before, both running the business while navigating through an incredible change in life pattern. She hosts events and manages the store while preparing for the arrival of their child. “It’s one of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen. She’s incredible!” Stuart said.
This trust is continuing to be rewarded in small, meaningful ways. Regulars now greet one another by name. Conversations unfold naturally between strangers.
“Seeing people enjoy the space we made has honestly been one of my favorite parts. At the time, we had no idea if people would,” they said.
The dual sense of creation, growing a business and preparing for a new chapter in life, mirrors Hodgepodge itself: slow, intentional, and deeply human. At its core, Hodgepodge isn’t just about what’s sold across the counter. It’s about what’s shared: stories, space, and the quiet reassurance that you don’t have to be alone to feel at ease. And in the heart of Eugene, that might be exactly what makes this all work.