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Oregon avoids upset in overtime with 80-70 win over Portland

“They out-coached us, they out-worked us, they out-played us. [Tracey] and [Barthelemy] gave us a few plays to give us a chance,” head coach Dana Altman said postgame. 

Oregon found itself down four, staring down the barrel of what would have been among the worst losses in the Altman-era awaiting two TJ Bamba free throws with just 46 seconds remaining. 

Bamba hit just one of those, and Portland broke Oregon’s press — a common theme throughout Tuesday’s matchup. This forced a foul and two made free throws from the Pilots’ Chris Austin to seemingly ice Tuesday night’s nail-biter.  

That’s when Keeshawn Barthelemy stepped up to hit a quick three on the move and force this game to two points with 29 seconds left. Portland finally went 0/2 from the line, and Oregon had its chance. 

Jackson Shelstad missed a jumper, resulting in a scramble for the ball and a wide open lane for Jadrian Tracey to tie it up and send it to overtime with two of his game-leading 19 points. Tracey scored five of those in overtime and led the team to a miraculous 80-70 comeback win. 

“[Tracey] was phenomenal tonight. He played his butt off, and there was nobody more deserving of that bucket than him,” Barthelemy said. 

The Ducks (3-0) rolled into Tuesday night after two resounding wins to begin the season. Their adversary, the Portland Pilots (1-2), limped into Eugene after losing by 41 at home on Saturday night. 

The Pilots opened up the contest with a quick shot clock violation, which was the first of 16 turnovers for the visitors. Portland ran a 2-3 to begin the game, which Oregon took advantage of quickly, as the Ducks hit two of their first three attempts from deep. 

But it was Oregon who shot itself in the foot first. A three minute stretch of no scoring mixed with several turnovers and lackadaisical defense gave Portland its first lead of the night at 9-8. 

The Ducks shot just 27% in the first half, and after the first 15 minutes, they couldn’t hold up their strong defensive effort. Once Portland started hitting shots, it became incredibly difficult to bring the score back even. 

“We came out lethargic and gave them a lot of confidence and easy baskets. I don’t know how many defensive assignments we messed up…we weren’t anywhere near locked in,” Altman said about the first half. 

Oregon finished the half missing all of its last eight shots, but the Pilots did one better by going scoreless in the last three minutes of the opening frame. Nonetheless, Portland took an emphatic 31-23 lead at the half and crafted a mountain for Oregon to overcome in the second. 

In the second, Portland went two minutes where it hit three straight threes, and in that same period, Oregon could only muster four points. All the Pilots needed to do was match the inefficient production of the Ducks to keep them at arm’s length. 

At one point, Shelstad swooped into the backcourt for an electric steal, missed a layup, got the board, missed the layup, got the board, missed the layup and then Portland finally grabbed it. That stretch was made worse by the ensuing offensive possession leading to an easy post up on Shelstad in the low block for an open Portland layup. 

“In the second half, they hit a couple threes, and we came down and tried to get it back with one pass and a three, no rebounders. Bad coached team. I’m watching that game and saying ‘who coaches that team?’” Altman said. 

That almost defined the game for Oregon, but Oregon had attempts to get back into it throughout the latter half. 

Those were short-lived, however, as the Pilots stole back all the momentum after a Vukasin Masic banked-in three from the logo as the shot clock expired with five-and-a-half to play.

It was all but lost when Barthelemy decided to step up. Barthelemy walked down the court and hit two spot up threes and a deep two to cut the lead to 63-59 with just over two minutes to play. 

Oregon continued to try and press the Pilots and force bad decisions, but those never came. Portland’s intricately crafted press-break made Oregon’s attempts to come back futile. 

“We started pressing and we started making them a little uncomfortable. They weren’t turning the ball over, but once you press people, they may not crack in the first ten minutes of the half, they may crack in the last four or five minutes,” Barthelemy said. 

Futile until Oregon started surging yet again. In the last two minutes of regulation and the entirety of overtime, the Ducks played to their standard and didn’t let up. Oregon finally looked like the 25-point favorite the country thought it was. 

The Ducks started the extra period on an electric 9-0 run, and they never came close to giving up that lead, taking what could have been a disaster and turning it into a 80-70 win.  

With the help of leaders such as Barthelemy and Tracey, Oregon avoided what would have been one of the worst losses in recent memory. 

“We gotta change some things,” Altman said. 

The Ducks return to action Sunday afternoon and welcome the Troy University Trojans to Matthew Knight Arena.

The post Oregon avoids upset in overtime with 80-70 win over Portland appeared first on Daily Emerald.

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Opinion: The underrated importance of email

Many people cringe upon hearing the word “email.” It often represents the worst parts of bureaucracy — cold, formal, painfully orderly and inevitably passive-aggressive.

This stereotype is misguided. Email is benevolent and meant to help you.

Everyone in college has met at least one person simply incapable of communicating. Perhaps someone in a group project never replies to outreach attempts, takes days to read messages or never receives announcements the professor sends through email. Leaving more than 1,000 unread messages in your inbox is normalized.

Like it or not, email is involved in every aspect of the professional world — studying and researching as a student, applying and interviewing for jobs and working within your career. As soon as you become comfortable with email, all communication becomes far easier.

Unfortunately, becoming comfortable with email takes years for many people who were never taught its importance. Others intentionally shy away from email because of its negative connotations.

Email skills and the importance of clear communication should be taught to students in high school so they enter college and their careers with the basic tools necessary to succeed.

Struggling with email is understandable. Meagan Baker, a College of Liberal Arts career coach at the University of Minnesota, said the rigid structure of email can make it daunting to students.

“There are unspoken rules that dictate how you should use the system,” Baker said. “It’s really important to learn those on your own so you don’t accidentally convey information that you didn’t mean.” 

According to Baker, learning proper email etiquette and norms can be nerve-wracking because it is difficult to tell when you break them. Some people may refrain or procrastinate sending emails because it is intimidating.

“Using the norms might feel a little weird at first,” Baker said. “They feel kind of clunky, but they have a purpose behind them.”

Adam Schrag, a professor of management communication at the University, said students’ emails often come off as awkward if they are uncertain of the proper norms. Some students’ emails are too casual and impersonal, while others are too formal and cold.

 

Students’ widespread discomfort with email stems from one overarching problem — most people are never taught enough to perfect their email skills.

“It’s not something we’re often taught in classes, high school or college,” Baker said. “It’s something you are assumed to have the knowledge of already.” 

Why are students rarely given instruction on such a vital life skill?

“We spend our entire school years, elementary through high school, focusing heavily on reading and writing, the core aspects of education,” Schrag said. “But there’s two things, learning how to craft slides versus learning how to email. These skills aren’t necessarily taught.”

Schrag said the focus on formal and literary writing in high school may make it harder for students to find the right tone for emails.

“I’ve noticed that, in high school, we get very calibrated toward trying to sound extra fancy or official, and it distances us from sounding conversational,” Schrag said.

High school students spend years learning skills like calculus, algebra and the meaning of literary symbols that few will ever use in their personal lives. Surely a week or two of instruction could be dedicated to learning the near-universal email and communication skills of our modern world.

Teaching students to memorize the proper format of a formal email is not enough, however. Like all communication, email is an art of matching the other person’s tone on a case-by-case basis that can only be perfected through practice, according to Baker.

In an ideal world, high school students would get a brief unit on email to learn both how it works and practice reaching out and replying in different scenarios. Email is not just about writing clearly; learning how to be timely and proactive is equally important.

“Being able to make sure you’re conveying information in a timely manner is helpful for the other person because you are showing you care about their schedule,” Baker said.

Schrag said strong email skills are crucial in most careers.

“Being a responsible emailer, even though it sounds like a boring or unimportant thing, matters tremendously towards your reputation and success, especially in a traditional office setting,” Schrag said.

Email is equally important in college, which can be a good opportunity to practice emailing before moving into the professional world.

“Universities are very well known for loving to use our emailing system to communicate information,” Baker said. “Likely, you will need to reach out to instructors, professors and staff members.”

According to Baker, email is important when applying to jobs and interviews, too.

“Job applications are about building relationships with people to show you would not only be a great candidate, but you are a good person to work with,” Baker said. “Getting the right messages in your emails shows the passion and excitement that is really helpful when you’re applying for jobs.”

Ya-Chi Huang, a graduate student, said navigating the modern world without email would be a challenge. For people less comfortable with social skills, it may actually be easier than making phone calls or talking face-to-face.

“Email is an easier way of communication,” Huang said. “For someone who is more introverted, email is a very friendly way.”

Communication skills like email are valuable in every career path and walk of life. We should stop shying away from email and start building communication skills into high school curriculums so young people are ready to succeed.

Now stop wasting time and go check your inbox.

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James Webb Space Telescope offers game-changing perspective of universe 

Nearly 1 million miles from the planet soars one of the most advanced telescopes ever created. It scans the vast cosmos using state-of-the-art detection instruments and data processing methods while it orbits the sun, sending back information that is the first and most detailed of its kind.

In the almost three years since its launch, the James Webb Space Telescope has shown just how powerful and revolutionary this technology is. Functioning as a visual time machine, the JWST is regularly conducting novel research that has the potential to cause fundamental shifts in human understanding of the universe.

“Any time in astronomy we can use a different wavelength of light, we see a totally different universe.” -Andrew Caldwell, Northern Colorado Astronomical Society president

Courtesy of NASA/MSFC/David Higginbotham

In just a few months, Christmas Day will mark the third anniversary of the JWST launch. This may also mark the beginning of the first wave of interest surrounding the JWST for most; however, Colorado State University Associate Professor Emily Hardegree-Ullman has known of the JWST for a lot longer. Hardegree-Ullman said that while she was completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Arizona in the early 2000s, a member of the institution shared with her that they were involved with developing technology for a new space telescope.

Hardegree-Ullman teaches classes in astronomy and physics while also planning events at the Madison-Macdonald Observatory on campus. Hardegree-Ullman said she had heard about the JWST for a long time while it was still in development, but “it takes 20 or 30 years to get any telescope from beginning to actually launching it.”

The JWST’s mission duration is set for five to 10 years, meaning that at least two more years of data collection from the JWST can be expected. During this time, NASA lists four mission goals set to guide the JWST in its research. In brief, those missions are to search for the first luminous objects formed after the big bang, determine how galaxies evolve from their formation, observe the formation of stars from initial stages to planetary formation and measure the properties of planetary systems while investigating the potential for life on other worlds.

Hardegree-Ullman said that the JWST pushes everything forward.

“We always have a handful of excellent telescopes, but the reiteration keeps getting more and more powerful,” Hardegree-Ullman said.

One of these previous iterations is the Hubble Space Telescope, known for its advanced capabilities but also its limitations. The Hubble is much closer to Earth than the JWST, orbiting about 320 miles away. While the Hubble Space Telescope orbits Earth, the JWST orbits the sun with a keener eye for peering into deep space.

“It’s more of a complement to the Hubble than it is a replacement,” said Andrew Caldwell, Front Range Community College astronomy faculty member and Northern Colorado Astronomical Society president. “As wonderful as Hubble has been and continues to be, it was time for a major leap.”

The JWST launched through the atmosphere aboard the Ariane 5 ECA vehicle with a total payload mass weighing about 6,200 kilograms, including the observatory, on-orbit consumables and launch vehicle adapter. The mass of the JWST apparatus weighs 2,400 kilograms, requiring many engineering feats to assemble. The first worth mentioning is the backplane, which supports all 2.5 tons of hardware.

The JWST is easy to recognize with its now-iconic hexagonal gold segments, which make up the telescope’s primary mirror. The segmented mirror is fixed to a structure that folds into a shape small enough to fit into the rocket and then expands when in space. In collaboration with the National Reconnaissance Office and the U.S. Air Force, NASA developed lightweight optics that would contribute to Webb’s minimal mass. The backplane supports this mirror with such precision that the margin of alignment is within 1/10,000 the diameter of a human hair.

The primary mirror’s 18 segments are made of beryllium and coated with gold, measuring just over 21 feet across. The view of the JWST is shaded, and its components are protected from the intense light and heat of the sun by its unique sunshield rated at an astounding SPF 1 million. The sunshield is made up of five layers that progress in temperature protection. The shield is built to withstand temperatures up to 383 kelvins on the hot side and as low as 36 kelvins on the cold side.

The JWST mirrors and sunshield are major components, but they would be of little use without the main four instruments that do the telescoping. These instruments are the Near Infrared Camera, Near Infrared Spectrograph, Mid-Infrared Instrument and the Fine Guidance Sensors/Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph.

Each name of the instrument hints toward the JWST’s main advantage, which is that it views the infrared light waves across the universe with remarkable sensitivity. Seeing in infrared is advantageous in deep-space observations because the lower wavelengths penetrate clouds of particles and dust that otherwise obscure information beyond. 

“Any time in astronomy we can use a different wavelength of light, we see a totally different universe, and it really is a great advantage to be able to do that,” Caldwell said. The JWST sees infrared light waves on the spectrum from 0.6-5 microns, drastically increasing what can be detected beyond the visible light spectrum.

This light reaches the JWST from the earliest stars, galaxies and other luminous objects formed in the universe. Using the NIRSpec, these light waves are dispersed into a spectrum, allowing observations of an object’s physical properties, such as temperature, mass and chemical composition. Such details were hidden by previous telescopes, but the JWST is designed to capture light 100 times fainter than that of the Hubble.

“It can see very very far back in time essentially,” Hardegree-Ullman said.

This is possible because the farther away an object is when people on Earth look at it, the earlier in the history of the universe they’re seeing it.

“Because the universe has been expanding for about 14 billion years, all of the light that was originally emitted is getting stretched to longer and longer wavelengths over time,” Hardegree-Ullman said.

Reach Miles Buchan at science@collegian.com or on Twitter @buchanmiles.

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‘Too Many Balls’ busted by BOS Nation backlash, team apologizes for controversial branding

A new women’s soccer franchise in Boston received criticism for its “boring” team name and controversial marketing campaign.

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UH men’s basketball’s Roberts, Sharp, Cryer: Leaders on and off the court

Houston Cougars guard L.J. Cryer (4) dribbles the ball during the first half of an NCAA men’s college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 11, 2024 in Houston, Texas. | Oscar Herrera/The Cougar

In college basketball, leadership is often defined by talent and player performance on the court. 

However, at UH, leadership has a deeper meaning. It is seen in dedicated players such as graduate forward J’Wan Roberts, redshirt junior guard Emanuel Sharp and graduate guard L.J. Cryer. 

These athletes have navigated unique paths to become trusted leaders under coach Kelvin Sampson. 

“We do a great job creating value in our players,” Sampson said. “Our players buy into our culture and we develop them as not only players but young men.”

Their journeys show how perseverance, hard work and a commitment to their community can create successful basketball players and inspiring leaders.

J’Wan Roberts

Roberts, a six-year veteran, leads the front court for the Cougars. Now entering his final season at UH, he is considered Houston’s captain. 

Roberts was a three-star recruit and enrolled at UH on July 1, 2019. He began very low in the depth chart and needed time to develop into Sampson’s system.

“From my first day at Houston I knew this was a family-oriented program,” Roberts said. “The older guys would help me and they even showed me around the city.”

 At the time, Roberts was mentored by former forwards Justin Gorham and Fabian White Jr, along with former guard DeJon Jarreau.

“Those guys took me under their wing, and now it’s my turn to carry the throne,”  Roberts said.

Roberts averaged only 2.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game through his first two seasons. 

He gradually climbed the depth chart with more experience. His ability to learn from his mistakes and improve made him a key component of the Cougars’ success. 

Roberts’ commitment to his development showcased his skills and earned him the trust of Sampson, who values players who play hard and pay attention to detail. 

Roberts’ performance exploded his next two seasons averaging 9.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

Now in his last season at UH, Roberts has taken on a much more important role as he is not only just a talented player, but a leader for the Houston program.

“I remember my first years on campus and how difficult it was,” Roberts said. “I am now here for those guys just like I had guys here for me.”

A true leader not only guides others by words, but by embodying the values and actions they wish to see in those that they lead.

“The way he performs is how I want the game to be played,” coach Sampson said. “J’wan has developed into a winner, leader and a person that his teammates and coaches respect.”

Emanuel Sharp

Sharp is entering his third season at UH and is one of the most feared perimeter shooters in the country. He is already proving that this season, shooting 50% from behind the arc.

Sharp’s journey to success was very challenging. In his final year at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic high school, Sharp suffered a broken fibula and tore several ligaments in his ankle. 

He made the decision to graduate high school early and enroll at Houston. 

He spent his first year focusing on rehabilitating his ankle and making a full recovery.

“I spent most of that year getting healthy and really just learning from my coaches and teammates,” Sharp said. “I wanted to find a way to get better even if I wasn’t on the court.”

Sharp’s second year was not filled with expectations, but he wanted to do everything he could to help the team and learn from former guards Marcus Sasser and Jamal Shead.

“Even though I wasn’t playing much I still feel like I had a big role on the team,” Sharp said. “My role was to knock down open shots and guys like Jamal and Marcus really helped me improve.”

Sharp has always been known for his scoring ability, but this offseason he committed himself to becoming a more well-rounded player.

“This summer I really worked on my defense and that’s how I solidified my role on the team,” Sharp said.

Sharp’s commitment to elevating his game and learning from teammates and coaches paid off.

In the 2023-24 season, Sharp averaged 12.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. He also was second on his team in three pointers made with 82.

His commitment to defense also was seen on the court as he averaged 1.5 steals per game.

As a leader of his current team, he now focuses not only on his own improvement but also on developing the younger players who are the future of the program. 

“It was nice coming into this program having guys that helped me out and taught me the culture,” Sharp said. “Now that I have been in these younger guy’s shoes, I want to be a mentor for them and help them in any way.”

Emanuel Sharp and L.J. Cryer during a break in the game in October 2023.| Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

L.J. Cryer

Leading the guards for the Cougars is fifth year guard Cryer who is one of Houston’s premier scoring threats this season. He is also one of 20 student-athletes named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Player of the Year preseason Watch List.

He played his first three seasons at Baylor, averaging 15.5 points per game in his final season, and was also a part of the 2021 team that won the NCAA Championship. 

Cryer is known for his scoring ability, especially his three-point shot. He came to Houston to elevate his game defensively and play for a championship-contending basketball program. 

He also reunited with former UH guard Jamal Shead who he grew up with

“I’ve known Jamal since the third grade,” Cryer said. “He is the best point guard in the country in my eyes and I’ve learned a lot from him.”

Cryer’s first season at UH was difficult for him to adjust to. Leaders of last year’s team took pride in taking in the highly rated transfer and teaching him the culture at Houston.

“Last season was a culture shock,” Cryer said. “I spent a lot of time learning about the coaches’ expectations from Jamal and J’wan.” 

With the help of leaders from last year’s team, Cryer didn’t miss a beat. He led the team in points per game with 15.5 and three-pointers made with 112.

Going into his final year of college basketball, Cryer strives to develop the younger guys just like the teammates that helped him.

“Being a good example for the freshman is a big deal to me,” Cryer said. “I try to give them the same advice that helped me.”

Defining leadership

Leadership in basketball extends beyond individual stats or accolades; it also encompasses elevating those around you. 

Sampson emphasizes a culture of accountability, and these players embody this attribute by consistently showing up and giving their best, as well as inspiring their teammates to do the same. 

“Great leaders know that they create and drive culture,” Sampson said. “The culture is a reflection of their leadership.”

Roberts, Sharp and Cryer also consistently give back to their community. They show the importance of making an impact on those around you, illustrating that life is bigger than sports. 

Houston basketball participates in several community service events every year such as Hoops for Hounds, volunteering at the American Cancer Society, and visiting children at the Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital. 

The trio not only leads their team on the court but also prioritizes leading the team in bettering the community.

The journeys of Roberts, Sharp and Cryer at Houston exemplify what it means to be a leader in both basketball and life. 

sports@thedailycougar.com


UH men’s basketball’s Roberts, Sharp, Cryer: Leaders on and off the court” was originally posted on The Cougar

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Hurricane Milton’s Rapid Intensification Brings Mass Devastation to Florida

Following Hurricane Helene’s toll on Florida’s Big Bend, Hurricane Milton landed on the west coast of Florida and tore through the state, leaving widespread devastation and fatalities. Many scientists, including Dr. Sarhadi Ali and Dr. Zachary Handlos of the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS), point to global warming and rising sea temperatures as reasons for the storm’s rapid formation. 

Hurricane Milton grew at record rates, transforming from a weak tropical storm to a major Category 5 hurricane in less than 24 hours while crossing the Gulf of Mexico on its way to Florida.

Handlos is a senior academic in EAS who serves as an undergraduate advisor and teaches several upper-level meteorology classes. Sarhadi is an assistant professor in EAS whose main field of study is climate extremes, with a focus on tropical cyclones. They attribute the rapid intensification of Hurricane Milton to a combination of environmental phenomena. 

“Rapid intensification is defined by the National Weather Service as an increase in a tropical cyclone’s maximum sustained wind speed of at least 30 knots — about 35 mph within 24 hours. That increase can be enough to escalate a storm from Category 1 to Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Milton’s wind speed went from 80 mph to 175 mph from 1 p.m. Sunday to 1 p.m. Monday, and its pressure dropped from 988 millibars to 911. Most of that intensification was over just 12 hours,” Handlos and Sarhadi wrote in an article for The Conversation.

Several factors contributed to this rapid intensification, including wind speed, water depth and water temperatures. 

“In the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, where Milton formed, water temperatures were at a minimum 85 degrees Fahrenheit, if not warmer than that. You also want water to be fairly deep, usually about 200 feet deep or greater, to sustain temperatures that warm. So all those things just came together at the right time. And it’s important to note that water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico are at record levels this year. So during an already warm season, the waters are even hotter than usual,” Handlos said.

Sarhadi further explored the underlying causes of the rapid intensification and examined whether it was a result of natural variability or influenced by climate change.

“Most of the heat from global warming is absorbed by oceans and studies have shown that in the Atlantic Ocean, global warming has likely increased the frequency and intensity of major hurricanes like Milton. Researchers run models to simulate hurricane activity both with and without the influence of greenhouse gas emissions. When greenhouse gasses are factored in, the models show a trend of increasing hurricane frequency and intensity, matching what we’re seeing today. So, we can say that it’s very likely that the heat from global warming is contributing to the intensification and increased frequency of hurricanes, especially in the Atlantic,” Sarhadi explained.

Along with the hurricane’s size, the accompanying rain and storm surges were said to be record-breaking and detrimental for Florida.

“As for storm surges, after Milton intensified, it dropped to Category 4 and then regained Category 5 status before making landfall as a Category 3 hurricane. During this process, an eyewall replacement cycle occurred, causing the hurricane to grow in size. As the hurricane grows, it pushes more water from the ocean toward land, generating storm surges. Essentially, the high winds and increased size of the hurricane pushed more water, similar to a tsunami,” Sarhadi stated.

The severity of Hurricane Milton was evident through its devastating aftermath in Florida and the solemn reactions of experienced meteorologists and scientists. NBC Miami meteorologist, John Morales, became visibly emotional while reporting on Hurricane Milton in anticipation of its landfall. 

“I apologize,” Morales said through tears, “This is just horrific. The maximum winds are 160 mph, and it is just gaining strength because the seas are just so incredibly hot, record hot. You know what’s driving that — I don’t need to tell you — global warming, climate change.” 

Handlos and Sarhadi pointed to an upward trend in the number of intense hurricanes since the 1980s. As for the future, Sarhadi explained that predictions indicate that this trend will continue. 

“This is an active area of research. Based on current models, it’s expected that with continued global warming, we’ll see more intense hurricanes, at least in the Atlantic Basin. While the overall frequency of tropical cyclones worldwide may not change significantly, the frequency and intensity of major hurricanes, those in the higher categories, will likely increase. The extent of this increase is uncertain, but with more global warming, say two to three degrees, it’s very likely we’ll experience more intense hurricanes. Generally, the total frequency of tropical cyclones may remain stable, but the stronger storms, category 3 and above, will become more frequent,” Sarhadi stated.

With the increase in the frequency of hurricanes, comes a rise in inland hazards. 

Sarhadi said, “So, the three main hazards are high-speed winds, storm surge, and freshwater flooding. And it’s not just coastal areas at risk. Inland areas can experience significant rainfall and flooding, as we saw in Western North Carolina where hundreds of people were killed by heavy rainfall during Hurricane Helene. We need to prepare for more intense hurricanes, both in coastal and inland areas, and adapt our infrastructure to minimize damage.”

When asked what governments, communities, and civilians can do to minimize the hazards caused by the hurricanes, Sarhadi proposed a two stage approach: mitigation and adaptation. 

“We need to push governments and policymakers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and keep global warming to a manageable level, like under the two-degree target set by the Paris Agreement. Beyond that, things will get more chaotic.” Sarhadi said.

The post Hurricane Milton’s Rapid Intensification Brings Mass Devastation to Florida appeared first on Technique.

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Feminist cinema: representation vs. relatability | Still Rolling

This is not to understate the value of representation or the importance of advocating for more minority filmmakers. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. If relatability politics take precedent in the industry’s current state of homogeneity, the limited diversity that we are already privy to will become almost obsolete. In order to counter this, we need to advocate for the elevation of more voices in Hollywood while simultaneously discouraging the superficiality of representation at face-value.  

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Opinion: The U Must Provide Research Transparency

 

One of the University of Utah’s strengths is its “world-class research.” U Health boasts 949 faculty members and 36 research departments. The U has succeeded in gaining recognition for its research across multiple disciplines, such as understanding kidney disease and snail toxins used to create better medicine.

But there is a major problem with U research.

In 2023, the U was one of 10 universities to have a researcher found guilty of research fraud. Even in 2024, the U was once again found guilty of the same crime. Being a research-focused university means nothing when the U has been the host of two separate instances of research fraud in the past two years. If the U aims to withhold its research integrity, it must take accountability for its failures and prioritize educating the student body.

A Lack of Accountability

The U did assist in investigating both the Ivana Frech and Gian-Stefano Brigidi cases. There have been public posts such as their assessments for the ORI (The Office of Research Integrity) and a brief statement to The Salt Lake Tribune.

However, there has been no self-published article or statement for the U’s students and community regarding the actual events that occurred.

In a phone interview, Sophia Friesen, media contact for U Health Research, said the U has published a specific article regarding research integrity.

Friesen also said, “We [the U Health’s Public Affairs Office] don’t comment on personnel issues.”

However, the article features no direct mention of the two research fraud incidents. Most offensive is the concluding sentence.

It reads, “Our researchers demonstrate their commitment to integrity every day as they produce the rigorous science that benefits society.”

Some researchers do not fulfill this statement.

The U Health Research Department cannot expect a vague post to be treated as the formal apology students and researchers deserve.

To ensure the student body is informed, the U should be announcing and sharing fraudulent research incidents. If the U isn’t keeping the student body up to date, students cannot practice their civic duties of evaluating and applying university regulations, as seen in the third right of the Student Bill of Rights.

If the U was transparent about poor research behavior, it would allow students to be more aware and active within the campus community.

Funding Inequality

In 2023, the U made history by surpassing its research funding goal with a total of $768 million within the fiscal year.

In this same year, a research fraud scandal occurred when Ivana Frech unlawfully altered images in cell biology research regarding cellular iron regulation.

One of her fraudulent research papers has been cited by at least 27 researchers. The most recent was a publication from 2022. The impacts of her data are still in relevant research today. Frech had received at least eight grants from various respectable organizations such as the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the National Institutes of Health.

A portion of that same $768 million that the U surpassed helped fund research fraud.

For those hoping or actively completing research for the U, that is disheartening. While there isn’t a clear metric on exactly how many individuals seek research funding at the U, about 500 undergraduates were funded to complete research through UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program) in 2023.

With the U’s Health research center boasting 949 faculty members, the U has an impressive number of researchers.

The issue of research fraud can be especially frustrating for minorities because it furthers a divide between races in research, which has been a historical issue.

It is already extremely challenging for minority members to receive funding, specifically research regarding Black representation.

Moving Forward

Research integrity is essential to the U’s ethical and practical reputation.

If the U seeks to create meaningful change for Utah communities and globally, it must improve the way that it handles research fraud.

The practices that it enforces, like notifying federal funding agencies and training researchers on ethics, aren’t doing enough. This is the second year in recent history that research fraud has occurred on campus.

It is incredibly important that the U updates students with these events and recognizes the disparities within its research systems.

Through these changes, the U will create an environment where students are informed members of the community.

Students can then be proud of the U’s research through the belief that the university is an honest and transparent institution.

 

a.ichimura@dailyutahchronicle.com

@avery_ichimura

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No. 25 Oregon women’s basketball struggles offensively in 66-35 win over North Texas

Kelly Graves always stresses the importance of certain things. Protect the ball. Hit open shots. Don’t leave points at the free-throw line. 

And on the heels of the program’s biggest win in years, that version of the Ducks (4-0) didn’t arrive in their 66-35 win over North Texas (2-1) — at least not completely. They continuously committed turnovers. They missed open layups. They shot just 55.6% from the line. 

Fortunately for the Ducks, their defense proved too much for an opponent incapable of handling active hands and halfcourt pressure. Oregon forced 19 turnovers but committed 16 of its own,  not really taking a step forward after its cathartic win over then No.12 Baylor. 

“That wasn’t our best effort in terms of execution,” head coach Kelly Graves said. “I’m really proud of our team to come back like we did after 36,38 hours after a huge game, I’m really proud of our team for coming out like we did.”

“Our biggest opponent is ourselves,” Mevius said.

Tuesday’s contest included turnovers galore, long-scoring droughts and struggles making shots from long range. But, luckily, Oregon’s offensive struggles happened in a game where North Texas struggled at just about everything. 

“We were ready to play,” Graves said. “We defended really well in that first half, the experience won out, they were ready, we just didn’t execute it the way we wanted to.”

In a more encouraging development, Oregon’s defense was superb and held North Texas to 24.5% shooting. The Mean Green’s offense went ice-cold with just 12 made field-goals on the day. 

12 of 13 Ducks that played added baskets. Nani Falatea and Mevius led all scorers with 11 points apiece.

“It’s not going to take one or two people,” Falatea, who was 3-4 from deep, said. “It’s going to take everyone.” 

Most of the other points came on layups and shots in transition, the rewards of expending all that effort on defense.

North Texas had trouble merely getting the ball into the frontcourt as the Ducks’ offense simply having a pulse turned the game into a blowout. The Mean Green hit just two shots from the field in the first half of action, which was good for just nine points. 

“When you’re only allowing two field-goals in a half, that’s getting it done.” Graves said.

Oregon hounded North Texas all game long, forcing multiple shot clock violations and countless turnovers. UNT head coach Jason Burton angrily called timeouts after each Oregon scoring binge. 

“Our team schemes were really good tonight,” Mevius said. “I know Ari [Long] took a charge one time when I got beat.” 

Graves was especially pleased with his team’s effort throughout, which proved the Ducks were “ready to play” after the big win over Baylor. 

He was also complementary of Mevius who converted a four-point play extending the Ducks’ lead to ten in a first quarter where they held the Mean Green to just four points. Mevius drew a charge on the following possession, another example of just how impactful she can be even when not producing the most eye-popping statline.  

“She’s a menace,” Graves said of Mevius. “Capital M.”

Graves will have to wait a week before seeing his team in action again, as the Ducks will sit idle before taking on Grand Canyon next Monday. 

“We don’t have an off opponent,” Graves said. “We’ve got to bring it every night.”

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Men’s basketball falls to Duke and Cooper Flagg in season opener

On Monday, Nov. 4, the University of Maine men’s basketball team fell to the Duke Blue Devils 96-62 inside Cameron Indoor Stadium. It was somewhat of a homecoming for Duke’s star freshman, Cooper Flagg, who is from Newport, Maine. Flagg was the first freshman to be named the Maine Gatorade Player of the Year. His mother, Kelly Flagg, played for UMaine and his brother Ace Flagg recently committed to the Black Bears.

Maine was ranked 4th in the America East preseason poll, marking the highest preseason ranking in 13 years. Head Coach Chris Markwood is entering his third season and has improved his record every year since joining the program.

Duke opened up the scoring with a driving layup by first-year forward Kon Knueppel. Flagg initially struggled offensively but found his other first-year teammate, center Khaman Maluach, multiple times early off drives and dump offs for layups.

Maine was able to hang in with the Blue Devils early thanks to offensive rebounds and forcing turnovers. Grad student Kellen Tynes put Maine on the board after ripping the ball away from a Duke player and grabbing his miss for a layup. Tynes got another offensive rebound that led to back-to-back scores for fourth-year guard Quinn Burns.

That’s when the Duke freshman came alive. Knueppel went on his own 7-2 run. Flagg finally got on the board after knocking down a pair of free throws. Then Knueppel drilled a deep transition three, despite getting fouled. A Duke lead of 4 expanded to 14 in two minutes.

Fourth-year forward Christopher Mantis ended the Maine scoring drought by knocking down his second three of the game. This sparked 9 unanswered points by the Black Bears. Tynes, Burns, and third-year guard Jaden Clayton were able to attack Maluach in drop coverage. While Maluach won plenty of the battles, the paint penetration led to some mid-range makes from the guard trio. 

Flagg scored his first basket off an offensive rebound, then punched in a massive driving dunk. Duke led going into the second half 44-33. Maine’s offense had some success but was forced to take shots deep into the shot clock thanks to the tight Duke defense. The Black Bear defense forced eight first-half turnovers. The unsung hero of the first twenty minutes was third-year forward Keelan Steele. Steele battled with injury the past two seasons and was forced to redshirt, but he made his impact in this game with multiple impressive footwork and tough post finishes. 

Burns and third-year Duke guard Tyrese Proctor traded threes to open the second half. Steele then scored an and-one off an offensive rebound over Maluach, who went down and returned the favor with an and-one of his own. That unfortunately was Steele’s fifth foul, ending his night early. 

After that, Duke started to run away with the game. The offense was beginning to click with some great off-ball movement and cutting. The Blue Devils also started crashing the offensive glass, gaining multiple extra possessions which led to points. Proctor started to heat up, scoring all 10 of his points in the second half. Second-year guard Logan Carey was able to score on an excellent spin move where he got fouled, but it wasn’t able to turn the tide of Maine.

Proctor hit a big three that felt like the dagger, and second-year guard Caleb Foster nailed another to give Duke the then-largest lead of the night, 85-56. Flagg seemingly got hurt on a driving layup attempt with just under 4 minutes remaining. It was later found out that he was dealing with a bad case of cramps, something that NBA All-Star Paolo Banchero dealt with during the first couple of games of his one season at Duke a couple of years ago.

Flagg finished with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and a team-high 5 assists and 3 steals. Knueppel scored a game-high 22 points. Duke had six different players reach double digits. For Maine, Burns had a team-high 15 while Steele also reached double digits with 11 points in only 12 minutes.

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