As the Oregon track and field team sat on the team bus in Albuquerque, New Mexico, before a meet in early February, a hype video from the Oregon track and field Instagram started to reverberate around the bus. The upbeat music and stunning visual effects fired up the athletes before the meet even started.

Josh Phillips, the creator of the video, couldn’t help but smile to himself.

Phillips was hired in December 2017 as the creative director for the Oregon track and field team, a job unique in a track and field program. While his position is new, he has years of experience shooting photos during truly iconic moments at Hayward Field. From the women clinching the Triple Crown to Devon Allen’s victory at the Olympic Trials, Phillips has been there to capture it all.

With his new position, spearheaded by head coach Robert Johnson, Phillips continues to bring his dedicated approach to the Oregon team. Johnson wanted Oregon to have a bigger presence online, and that meant more coverage of meets away from Eugene, something not all programs do.

“I don’t know that another program has a position like this,” Phillips said. “That was his brainchild.”

A Eugene native, Phillips graduated from Oregon in 2012 with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Graphic Design. Phillips online portfolio boasts a well-rounded display of creative work. He has worked as a graphic designer for Nike and the American Marketing Association.

“I worked at Nike for a long time, and I had a hard time fitting in there,” Phillips said. “Because at Nike, say you have a graphic designer, you’re going to have the best in the world, and I think my specific skill set have always translated better to a smaller team where I can do a lot of different things really well.”

TrackTown USA’s smaller staff suited Phillips better. While working at the non-profit, Phillips was the digital communications coordinator, which involved running the company’s social media accounts as well as updating the website. But because the staff at TrackTown was relatively small, Phillips felt he was unable to put maximum effort into his work.

“I was able to do a lot of different things, which is a good thing, but it also spreads you kind of thin, and I felt like I was doing everything 75 percent to my capability,” Phillips said. “Whereas when I’m here my sole responsibility is to focus on the various social media entities that the Oregon track team possesses.”

Whether it be photo or video, Phillips has the eye for detail, and he wants to bring the same level of professionalism to Oregon’s social media. Phillips said part of his job at TrackTown was to post “the best professional looking photo on the internet.” He wants his posts to bring more than just the score or the time. His work has drawn praise from fans and Oregon athletes.

Triple jumper Drew Russert, a graphic design major, said Phillips has encouraged him to pursue his digital drawings, like the ones he posts on his Instagram.

“I don’t think he could be doing a better job,” Russert said. “The fact that he’s the first and doing it so well. …He’s done a great job.”

Follow August Howell on Twitter @howell_august

The post Oregon’s creative director position is unique in collegiate track and field appeared first on Emerald Media.

Budgeting is incredibly challenging, especially as a college student. From worrying about the ever-increasing cost of housing, to meal plans and tuition – it’s a lot. Not to mention school supplies and books! You are not alone in the pain of preparing for a new semester, so here are five tips on how to save money this fall.

Cut Coffee Consumption

College is rough and it’s hard not to bite, literally, into the temptations of all the convenient campus fast foods and coffee shops. Whether you spend $5 a day on Starbucks, or $2 on a vending machine snack, it can add up. In fact, ABC News discussed a study that found the average American spends about $1,100 a year on coffee alone. By investing in a coffee maker this fall (some pots are as cheap as $25, that’s less than a week’s worth of coffee shop drinks), or packing snacks, you can minimize the amount of money you spend on campus food, and thus maximize savings.

Walk, Bike or take Public Transportation

Uber and Lyft are incredibly convenient options for getting around, especially when you are running late for class across campus. However, the costs can add up if it becomes a habit. Check out the public transportation in your area, where students often receive a discount, or your institution’s bus services, which are often free! Or, even better, consider leaving yourself a few extra minutes to bike or walk across campus. Not only is this cost-effective but it’s a great way to get fresh air and stay in shape.

Shop Around for Course Materials

Books are one of the most expensive parts of college but they don’t have to be! Your university will often carry copies of textbooks at the library for you to check out when you need it. If your friends have previously taken the course, ask to borrow their book if they purchased it.

In addition, check out Cengage Unlimited, a new subscription where students pay a one-time fee of $119.99 per term ($179.99 per year) to get access to all the digital learning platforms, online homework & study tools, as well as ebooks that Cengage offers. For students who need to purchase multiple books, this is a great tool because you can get all your materials in one place, and access all the other study tools Cengage offers for about the cost of just one book! And, if you want print, you can receive a free print rental at no cost – just pay $7.99 for shipping. Figure out how much you can save today by using the Cengage Unlimited Calculator.

Score Student Savings

Don’t overlook college student discounts – they’re an easy way to save money throughout your time as a student. Many stores, like Banana Republic, Topshop and ASOS, all offer discounts if you have a valid student ID. Amazon Prime also offers a 6-month free trial for students and the New York Times offers access to all publications for $1! Apple, Dell, Spotify and Microsoft give significant student discounts, as well. Find out if your university offers Microsoft products for free as many colleges do.

Plan Courses According to Expenses

The classes you take and the professor teaching it can make a huge difference in the course materials you’ll need. Some professors might require a subscription to a news service, while others may require three different textbooks. This could be the difference between spending $20 and $200.

To better prepare, check out websites like Rate My Professors, where students often mention whether the materials are required or just recommended. If, for instance, you know that one professor requires an expensive book or a digital program, plan to take that class when you don’t have many other expenses. Scheduling classes with this in mind can help you plan accordingly and minimize the amount you spend.

-Kat Humphries

Kat Humphries is a freshman majoring in Political Science and Criminal Justice at the University of Akron. She works as a Student Ambassador for Cengage and is a Student Assistant for the Engineering Department at her University. In her free time, she is an assistant debate coach for high school students and a writer for Her Campus Akron.

In Orpheum performance, ‘The Color Purple’ is vibrant portrait of female empowerment

SHN/Courtesy

Within the titular song, the simple joys of life are found, even when everything else is complicated. The entire duration of the musical “The Color Purple” embodies this philosophy, with simple set design and dialogue and not-so-simple melodies and stories that end in deeper joy than fields of purple.

“The Color Purple” opened at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco on Wednesday, May 2, as the Tony-winning revival is making its way across the country.

The play, based on the novel of the same name by Alice Walker, tells the story of Celie, played by Adrianna Hicks, and her life in the rural American South in the early 20th century. Her life, like most of those around her, is full of struggles — as the musical begins, a 14-year-old Celie is forced by her father to give away her baby and is sold into marriage with a brutal man, saving her little sister from having to marry the man.

The musical is centered around the struggles of racism and sexism in the town, and uses the individual stories of its women to show the resilience needed to face these challenges. Celie doesn’t initially put up a fight with her husband (Gavin Gregory), who she just refers to as “Mister.” But Sofia (Carrie Compere), the woman who Celie’s son-in-law, Harpo (J. Daughtry), is seeing is strong and loud. Sofia leaves Harpo the moment he tries to hit her, in contrast to Celie, who doesn’t see how she could leave her husband, even as Mister beats her nightly. Nettie (N’Jameh Camara), Celie’s sister, tries to overcome the limitations her society has placed on her by doing missionary work in Africa. Shug Avery (Carla R. Stewart), Mister’s obsession and a fixture of town gossip, is boldly feminine and takes abuse from no man, eventually inspiring Celie to take control of her own life.

The musical starts with Celie and the women around her having little power in society and over their own bodies. By the end of the show, the women are empowering each other and themselves, with Shug showing Celie her own beauty, and Celie discovering for herself her own worth.

For a show with such a colorful title, “The Color Purple” featured a set and costumes that were fairly simple. The backdrop was three jagged floor-to-ceiling columns of wood covered with chairs that the cast could remove and place around the stage to set different scenes. The only other props were strips of fabric and baskets. The costumes were also fairly muted as the town was poor, with the exception of Shug, a successful singer, who brought the first bright color to the play. Eventually, the other women in the town found the courage to wear similarly bright colors.

The understated nature of the staging and costumes really let the voices and the acting shine through with passion and grace, spotlighting the themes of the play. There was not one weak link in the cast, but the women especially brought power and soul to the music. The gospel score was not only brought to life by the main characters, Celie and Shug, but made even more compelling by the power of the ensemble — the cast grabbed the audience’s attention when it needed to and at other times gave only a soft background mood when the attention needed to be on the main characters.

In the end, the formidable cast was what made this musical such a moving one. In a setting full of such trial and fear, the idea of women lifting one another up as they realize their own self worth is an idea much needed and well executed. The musical was moving because of the music and the talent it took to carry those melodies, but also because of the message — of watching women who are told their whole lives to be invisible and to obey become the masters of their own bodies and livelihoods, all in perfect harmony.

Contact Sydney Rodosevich at srodosevich@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian

We write to denounce two recent acts of vandalism that targeted the Undergraduate Students Association Council Academic Affairs Commission.

First, the pride flag hanging on the AAC’s office door was stolen. Then, after the stolen flag was replaced, the word “fag” was drawn on the door. The perpetrators of this vandalism are currently unknown, and UCPD is appropriately treating this as a hate crime.

Regrettably, these hurtful incidents follow a similar incident in which a Jewish mezuzah was torn off the doorpost of the USAC president’s office.

Much could be said about these troubling incidents and the ugly slur sketched onto the AAC’s door. Our message here is simple.

First, we repudiate hateful acts that demean and degrade on the basis of identity, including sexual orientation. Such conduct runs contrary to Bruin values and has no place at UCLA. Second, as we have stated previously, the university will not tolerate hateful acts that target fellow Bruins, and we will deploy all lawful resources to counter any harassment or intimidation. We continue to unite under a collective resolve to ensure that all members of our community feel safe, valued and welcome.

Third, we applaud how UCLA’s student leaders, stepping up to the challenge of shared governance, have responded to this incident. As the Daily Bruin reported, Divya Sharma, the USAC Academic Affairs commissioner, will coordinate efforts to collect donations for the UCLA LGBT Campus Resource Center.

The Daily Bruin has also authored a forceful editorial condemning these recent homophobic acts. The Office of Student Affairs has been coordinating closely with various student groups to plan educational campaigns, workshops and events.

Additionally, Associated Students UCLA is collaborating with the appropriate entities to enhance operational protocols with a solid determination to ensure that respect, safety and security of all members of the Bruin family and guests remain of highest priority.

While incidents like this are upsetting and demoralizing, it is important to recognize that, in large part, UCLA has resisted the divisiveness and intolerance that have corroded our national politics. We find countless examples of Bruins engaging in good faith – across difference – with a keen interest in listening to and understanding opposing viewpoints and perspectives.

Commencement season is near. As this exciting time approaches, we hope that all Bruins stand together to celebrate our differences and our accomplishments, and to condemn hateful acts that undermine our most basic commitments to one another. We will always be stronger together. Acts of hate and intolerance have no place at UCLA.

Jerry Kang, Vice Chancellor of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Monroe Gorden Jr., Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs

Pouria Abbassi, ASUCLA Executive Director and CEO

The University of Oregon hosted “Intertwined: Journeys,” a free storytelling event, on Thursday and Friday. The event included 11 storytellers — undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty and staff — sharing stories of a journey they have made that had an impact on their lives.

Intertwined is a UO production through the Office of the Dean of Students that hosts events to give storytellers from the community an opportunity to share their stories with an audience.

This year’s theme of journeys brought a diverse group of storytellers to the stage. Stories were about anything from a literal cross-country journey, the journey of healing after the loss of a loved one, the journey after growing up being discriminated against or the journey of becoming closer to family.

“I felt like I had more of an open mind after hearing others’ stories,” said Stephanie Scott, a UO freshman majoring in photography. “Knowing that there are people out there that had to work a little harder or go through tougher times to get where they are now was breathtaking.”

The Intertwined storytelling series aims to share diverse stories about community members’ lives in order to build a better sense of community at UO.

The story that earned the most laughter and attention was a story about a cross-country hike told by UO classified staff member Piper Fahrney. The story starts with Fahrney in Arizona getting ready to start his hike to the east coast.

Fahrney comes upon a dead rattlesnake in Texas and decides to pick it up to cut off the rattle as a souvenir. A Texas police officer comes over to Fahrney and questions him about whether he was the one to kill the snake or not, all while Fahrney holds the snake with his hands in the air in surrender.

Fahrney describes this scene to the audience as one of the many “Oh shit, I am here” moments that he’s had in his life. Fahrney finishes his hike at the east coast and finishes his story with, “Oh shit, I am here.”

Melissa Schenter, a graduate student and graduate teaching fellow with the Office of the Dean of Students, helped organize Intertwined. Schenter opened the night by saying that through hearing others’ stories, we can all become better at taking the time out of our day to just stop and listen to what our community has to share.

“There are two big things that happen when we take more time to listen to each other,” Schenter said. “First, from a cerebral perspective, we learn more about the world around us by adopting different lenses. Second, we exercise our abilities to empathize.”

Although the goal of Intertwined is to build a better sense of community through the sharing of diverse stories, sometimes hearing stories of success can cause stress among listeners about whether or not their lives are going in the correct direction.

“I’m glad I have a second major and a minor to fall back on,” said Sarah Case, a UO freshman double majoring in psychology and sociology, after hearing one storytellers experience with being a Psychology major.

Case said that she wasn’t upset with hearing about the storytellers journey through the psychology major and how he ended up studying cultural psychology, but that she wouldn’t do it the way he did and hopes that her route through psychoanalytic and forensic psychology goes the way she wants it to.

“By listening to other peoples’ stories, we expand our own worldviews, which sometimes means challenging our own belief systems and assumptions,” Schenter said. “This means that sometimes listening can be uncomfortable — which is why it’s even more important to practice.

“Intertwined: Journeys” was an opportunity to hear culturally diverse stories about going from one point in life to another, and some of those journeys did include success. While the overwhelming feeling of the room was that of admiration, there was also a sense of urgency from some audience members to get to the successful point in their lives.

The post Intertwined storytelling series helps connect the UO community through personal narratives appeared first on Emerald Media.

Alumni Park was buzzing with excitement on Friday morning, as the graduating class of 2018 celebrated its accomplishments with cheers, high-fives and selfies at the 135th Annual Commencement Ceremony.

USC President C. L. Max Nikias, class valedictorian Rosebud Campion and keynote speaker Siddhartha Mukherjee each delivered remarks to nearly 18,000 graduates at the main ceremony.

Nikias opened the event by recognizing the achievements of this year’s graduates, welcoming them as new alumni members of the Trojan Family.

“Go forward as cherished members of our Trojan Family,” Nikias said. “We will always be with you to encourage you, to applaud you, to celebrate your extraordinary achievements.”

Mukherjee, a renowned physician and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, was awarded one of five honorary degrees at the ceremony. Other recipients included Charlie Beck, the Los Angeles police chief; Maj. Gen. Charles F. Bolden Jr., the first black person to serve as the administrator of  NASA; Jennifer A. Doudna, a distinguished biochemist; and Forest Whitaker, a filmmaker and international peace activist.

Emily Smith | Daily Trojan

In his commencement address, Mukherjee spoke about playing chess with his 8-year-old daughter. While the game initially led to a stalemate, his daughter ultimately prevailed against him by putting herself in his shoes. Mukherjee used this anecdote to encourage students to hone the art of listening as a lifelong skill.

Mukherjee defined three kinds of listening — to empathy, to history and to nature — as fundamental skills that define graduates’ entry to adulthood. Emphasizing the power of listening, the keynote speaker reminded his listeners that mastering this skill would allow them to understand and take the perspectives of others.

“We are the only species that can learn to think like another of our own species,” Mukherjee said. “The only one that records and remembers its history — the only one that tries to decipher the nature and laws of the universe.”

Meanwhile, Mukherjee cautioned students against the dangers of being reticent and staying in their own minds. He identified the class of 2018 as “Generation L,” the listening generation that will soon transform the world.

“Unlike us, you will really, really defend the defenseless. Unlike us, you will really, really learn the lessons of history,” Mukherjee said. “You will discover the natural laws that we missed in the midst of our cacophony. You will be the listening generation, Generation L. Go get out of your heads. Go out into the world and listen to it. Most importantly, please make us listen to you.”

Emily Smith | Daily Trojan

Aside from Mukherjee, Campion also delivered her valedictory address to the class of 2018.

Campion, who received a bachelor’s degree in history and music, was recognized for her academic and community service achievements. Shifting between humor and seriousness, Campion stressed the importance of human empathy in her speech. Campion shared her experiences with overcoming language and cultural barriers when performing in a German symphony orchestra for a semester, and discussed problems happening around the world today.

“The ability to put ourselves in the shoes of someone else does not come easily,” she said. “That is why we practice empathy in our humanities, arts and GE classes, using text and works of art to get into the minds of people who live in different circumstances. Outside the classroom, USC pushes us to understand others from diverse backgrounds — in our clubs, in organizations, in group projects, and especially in the dorms.”

To conclude her speech, Campion explained how empathy is crucial to education and life, commending the University for helping its students practice empathy inside and outside the classroom. She finally urged the new graduates to overcome the barriers that have historically divided people, and to close these gaps to create a better future.

“We need empathy to repair these deep divides and create a unified and peaceful society,” Campion said. “… I call on us, the class of 2018, to build on our experiences as Trojans and find to a way to continue practicing empathy each and everyday after we leave this campus.”

The post Siddhartha Mukherjee urges class of 2018 to practice empathy appeared first on Daily Trojan.

In their last stop before the NCAA West Preliminaries, the Colorado State track and field team competed at the Mountain West Championships. The men’s team placed second overall after four days of action falling to the defending conference champion Air Force. The women’s team placed third while San Diego State took the top spot at […]

Spoiler Warning for the Season 4, Episode 5 of “Fear the Walking Dead,” as well as all previous episodes of the series. Spoilers from “The Walking Dead” will also be discussed. 

Jenna Elfman as Naomi and Garret Dillahunt as John Dorie. (Photo credit: Richard Foreman Jr./AMC)

Love is in the air. Loss is in the air.

The latest episode of “Fear the Walking Dead” takes things to a new level as the focus shifts to two of the most interesting characters. In a standalone backstory, the series tells the tale of John Dorie and Naomi/Laura as they fall in love and separate. This backstory is damn near perfect, feeling almost like a singular romantic comedy film rather than an episode of “Fear.” Without any doubt, this is the strongest episode of Season 4, and is one of the most engrossing episodes in the entire “TWD” franchise.

Over the course of the season so far, small tidbits of information about John’s past have been dropped, but this episode really dives deep into his character. Think of this episode as “Fear the Walking Dead’s” version of “Here’s Not Here.” At some point in the past (an exact timeline is not given), John resides alone in a cabin next to a river. He wakes up each day to music from a wriggling fish radio and begins his day of chores and relaxation. There’s a sense of calm, but also loneliness as John kills beached Infected, collects water, scavenges for food and plays Scrabble; while going about his chores, John murmurs words that he later plays in Scrabble, something that was first hinted in the Season Premiere. It’s important to note that John’s cabin is extremely isolated and rigged to withstand the apocalypse; there is a moat out front to prevent the undead from getting close to the cabin, a smart tactic that assists in his survival. In the middle of the night, he hears what he believes to be another Infected washing up, but he is stunned to find an unconscious woman, revealed to the audience to be Naomi. Not only is this episode the story of where John was before he met up with Morgan and Althea, but it is also serves to peel back the layers of Naomi and show her character prior to arriving at the Diamond.

When John finds Naomi, she is badly banged up and has a nasty cut on her side. He treats her wound and lets her sleep through the night before trying to talk to her. Only when he checks on her in the morning, Naomi is trying to flee in his truck. It’s clear that John isn’t going to make her stay if she doesn’t want to, but the battery is dead and she isn’t able to go anywhere. This is yet another case of Naomi being skittish, mirroring the times she tried to flee from both Madison and Alicia in previous episodes. They both return inside the cabin and Naomi asks that John stitch up her wound. Later, he makes fish soup for her and they properly introduce themselves to each other; however, Naomi never states her actual name and instead goes by “Laura,” which John names her after noticing that she isn’t quite ready to open up to him. Throughout the episode, Naomi repeatedly tells John that she will be leaving after she heals up, not wanting to stay at the cabin for too long; this parallels Morgan’s insistence that he will only be traveling with John and Althea temporarily, even though he keeps getting pulled into drama and staying with them.

Garret Dillahunt as John Dorie and Jenna Elfman as Naomi. (Photo credit: Richard Foreman Jr./AMC)

A major element of this episode revolves around the pair of matching pistols that were split between John and Naomi. In the middle of the night, Naomi watches as John cleans the pistols, playing into his explanation that he rarely sleeps anymore. When morning comes, John dispatches a few Infected that wash up, something that Naomi questions; John explains that something is happening upstream that seems to be drawing them into the river. She offers to tag along as he heads upstream to check it out and also head to a local store that he frequents. The two load into a canoe and begin paddling up the river, allowing for some bonding as John reveals to Naomi that he was once a police officer. They approach an overpass where a car seems to have driven off and crashed into the water; John questions if this is how she ended up in the water, which turns into a quip about Naomi’s driving skills. An Infected falls from the opened gap on the bridge, giving an explanation to why they keep washing up outside of the cabin downstream. Later, the two pay a visit to a general store to collect supplies. Naomi reorganizes the medical supplies in the store so that any survivor will have an easier time finding what they need, especially if they’re in a hurry. John rents a movie, even signing it out as if he were living in the pre-apocalypse. There’s a sense of normalcy and peace that these scenes showcase while simultaneously bringing the characters of John and Naomi closer together, letting one another (and the viewers) see the good in the other.

John and Naomi demonstrate their strength as a team by partially repairing the gap on the bridge with some metal they find at the general store. Later, after returning to the cabin, they get even closer as they sit together on the couch and watch a movie; John had previously mentioned his love for movies, and this episode reiterates that fact. There’s an absolutely heartbreaking moment as John wakes up on the couch to find Naomi staring at him before quietly saying the words “I lost my child.” This single line reveals so much about Naomi and provides insight into why she is rather closed off in the two timelines she’s been shown in. John’s reaction to this is rather simple, but shows that he feels her pain, but doesn’t rub his pity in her face. Numerous characters in both shows have lost children and it always serves as a element that develops them and in many cases, makes them stronger, but also more broken than ever before. This episode shows that there is a path forward for those that lose a child with Naomi gaining necessary survival skills, including fishing. John teaches her the art of fishing, allowing them to feast on their fresh catches. A montage shows their growing bond over an indeterminate amount of time with them going about daily activities, such as fishing and playing Scrabble, together rather than alone. These scenes are further parallels to “Here’s Not Here,” wherein Eastman taught Morgan aikido and several other noteworthy skills.

Jenna Elfman as Naomi. (Photo credit: Richard Foreman Jr./AMC)

There’s more exploration of Naomi’s backstory as she is clearly having a difficult time letting herself feel a connection to John. After she is fully healed up, she lets John know that she will be leaving soon and his mood drastically changes, clearly saddened to realize their time together is ending. Outside, more of the Infected have washed up, leading the two to realize their repair job didn’t solve the problem fully. They return to the bridge and John discovers that Naomi has brought one of his pistols along with them to assist in taking down the Infected. This angers John, who states that he never wanted the pistols to leave his cabin, citing his disdain for guns and his belief that they only cause more problems. The duo use a handful of melee weapons to clear the bridge of Infected before driving a vehicle to close the gap of the bridge. An Infected with a machete through its body approaches the vehicle and cuts through the window as Naomi yells for John to shoot it, but he refuses and is nearly bitten before finally bloodily bashing its head in. This opens up a whole can of worms when it comes to John’s history and he is later encouraged by Naomi to share why exactly he doesn’t like to use guns. Before the apocalypse, John stopped a robbery at a gas station by firing his gun at the robber, who later bled out and died. This turned him into a hero in the eyes of the town even though he felt immense guilt and relocated to the cabin to get away from it all. There’s clearly a ton of pain and sorrow that John feels for his role in killing someone, leaving him less than willing to get his hands bloody in the apocalypse.

Things take a turn for the worse as the sound of the undead in the partially submerged crashed car draw a small herd to the gap on the bridge, allowing them to move the parked vehicle and tumble into the river. Naomi and John are stunned to find a large collection of the Infected washed up on their shore. They fight off as many as they can, but there is simply too many and Naomi falls into the moat. Just as it looks like she is going to be devoured, John steps in and takes all of the Infected out by double shooting his pistols with killer accuracy. This attack sequence is stylistically similar to old-school horror/zombie movies and is likely an homage to George Romero’s films. Later, John offers one of his pistols to Naomi and tells her that she needs to take it with her for both of their sake. After settling in for the night, Naomi tries to sit beside John to watch a movie, but he steps away, still bothered by her impending departure. He understands her need to be alone and offers to leave and allow her to live at the cabin by herself. It is here that John professes his love to Naomi, something that he notes that he didn’t want to do, but was compelled by her decision to leave and his need for her to survive. She responds to his proclamation with a kiss that seems to lead to sex. However, John wakes up in the morning to find himself alone in the cabin with Naomi nowhere to be found. On the table is a note laid out in Scrabble letters stating “I love you too. I’m sorry.” Once again, Naomi is running away (or possibly to something) and John is left alone in the world…that is until he finds his new friends later down the line.

Garret Dillahunt as John Dorie and Jenna Elfman as Naomi. (Photo credit: Richard Foreman Jr./AMC)

The final few moments of the episode catch up with John and Morgan as it is revealed that John was telling the tale of him and Naomi. The two men are at a bit of a crossroads now, having split from Alicia, Strand, Luciana and Althea, and Morgan asks John if he believes that their revenge quest against the Vultures is the right move. Morgan clearly believes that it is the wrong move having just spent a full season fighting All Out War on “The Walking Dead,” which really messed with his head. He repeats the line that Rick said to him in the Season 4 Premiere about being part of the world, showing that he has grown immensely since leaving Virginia and meeting up with John and the others. Rick told Morgan that he would end up with people one way or another…and he was totally right. Both series like to remind viewers that regardless of if a character wants to alone, people always find a way into that individual’s life. There are a lot of similarities between John and Morgan, and it will be interesting to see if they further their already strong bond. Both Lennie James and Garret Dillahunt have great chemistry with one another and have developed this dynamic that is fascinating to watch.

“Laura” is a slow burn episode that takes time to dive deep into the characters of John and Naomi. This episode is precisely what “Fear the Walking Dead” and the “TWD” franchise as a whole is all about; human beings living their lives in the apocalypse, loving and losing people in the process. Director Michael Satrazemis deserves a ton of praise, along with the cinematographer and writers. Both Garret Dillahunt and Jenna Elfman deliver spectacular performances and pack all of the emotional punches that make this episode so effective. A ton of questions still remain, but this episode is an excellent addition to the “Fear” canon and is definitely one of the strongest chapters to date. It’s always great when the focus is shifted to one or two characters, allowing for immense development and growth. Where are Morgan and John headed now? Is Naomi actually dead? WHERE IS MADISON?

Be sure to tune into “Fear the Walking Dead” next Sunday at 9 p.m. on AMC.

It came down to the final competition.

Texas softball (32-24) is headed west for the Seattle regional to take on Big 10 champion Minnesota (39-15) this Friday. The Longhorns received the news late Sunday night during the NCAA Selection show, which announced the fate of softball teams across the country.

As Texas heads to Seattle, it will be met by the No. 5 Washington Huskies, the Golden Gophers of Minnesota and the Boise State Broncos.

“Well obviously we’re very excited,” head coach Connie Clark said. “I just used the word a minute ago… ‘opportunity.’ Our strength of schedule from day one was strong. I kept seeing the seeds that were hosting go up, and I kept saying ‘Yep, we played them, yep, we played them.’ We’ve had opportunities against a lot of them, including Washington here on our turf.”

Last year, the Longhorns enjoyed the luxury of playing their NCAA tournament games close to home, only having to travel to College Station. This year, the team is forced to travel a bit further –– about 2,000 miles further.

The team has a limited history with Boise State, as the teams have not played each other in the past five years. However, the Broncos boast two 13-game winners on their pitching staff, in addition to a lineup that contains four hitters with batting averages over .400.

Texas has had matched up against both Minnesota and Washington in the last two seasons, and none of them have gone the Longhorns’ way.

Minnesota has relied on strong pitching to lead the way, specifically the pitching of sophomore Amber Fiser, who recorded an astonishing 26-9 record over the course of the season. The offense is led by sophomore Kendyl Lindaman, who hit 19 home runs over the course of the season, 14 more than the top home run hitter of the Longhorns, junior captain Bekah Alcozer.

The Huskies are the strongest team of the bunch, with impressive offensive contributors and an ace pitching staff. These factors led to Washington hanging around the top 10 rankings for the majority of the season.  

“You’re excited to be in the tournament, as always, and not being one of the Top 16, you’re just excited to see where you go and get the plans together,” Clark said. “I think our team was excited to see the match-ups go up. No doubt, everyone is tough on their own turf, so Washington will be tough up there. Obviously, we have to go through a quality program in Minnesota first, but we like it.”

The 2017 season opened with two losses to a ranked Minnesota team in the season opening Texas Classic. This season, the Huskies visited Austin while being ranked No. 1 in the country, and barely escaped with a 2-1 victory over the Longhorns.

Every team in the Seattle regional, besides Texas, boasts at least 39 victories on the season.

While the Longhorns boast a strong bullpen, they’ll need an explosive offensive outing if they hope to advance past Big 10 champions.

“It’s a great opportunity and better than playing in Texas where the weather is in the 90’s,” Clark said. “We’ll try to get up there as soon as we can, with it being a long-distance trip, and settle in. Hopefully, this is when we cash in on the opportunity.”

The regional tournament takes place from May 17-20. The Longhorns face off with Minnesota at 9 p.m. ET this Friday at the University of Washington.