Over 100 community members came together on Nov. 20 for the 18th Annual International Transgender Day of Remembrance. The event held at the Hult Center Studio One included a vigil reciting the names of people who have lost their lives due to transphobic acts of violence this year.

“[TDOR] is a day for us to remember them for who they were and for these folks to be put to rest,” Rick Williams a member of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance at Lane Community College said.

In Studio One, a Striking Photo Exhibit, “Celebrating Transgender Lives,” displayed pictures and biographies of members of the trans community. Tables were set for community partners to provide resources to members of the trans community including allies. A paper chain linking together the hand written names of people killed by transphobic acts of violence over the last two decades was hung upon the wall.

Sign language interpreters and counselors were present for all in attendance.

Eugene City Councilor Chris Pryor spoke on behalf of Mayor Kitty Piercy stating a city proclamation in recognition of Transgender Day of Remembrance and Eugene’s commitment to being a safe space for the trans community.

The event had musical and spoken word performances, three keynote speakers and the reading of names during a candle lighting vigil for all the people who were reported to have lost their lives due to transphobic acts of violence this year.

The 259 people killed this year due to transphobic acts of violence throughout the world is the most ever reported explained Cass Averill president, administrator and founder of Trans*Ponder, a non-profit support organization for the trans community.

“This is the most reported, but in our history it’s probably not the most,” Averill said.

Many people have lost their lives throughout history due to transphobic acts of violence without it being reported Averill explained. One reason for the lack of reporting is due to a person being identified by their birth name and not the name they identify with.

“[TDOR] is a chance to recognize people for who they are,” vice president and treasurer of Trans*Ponder Seda Collier said.

To help people recognize individuals for who they are, Williams reminds people that gender is a spectrum.

“Introduce yourself with your pronouns to acknowledge appearance doesn’t equal gender,” Williams said.

Though the TDOR event provided a space to grieve and mourn, Averill explained that the event provides hope for the future with the community coming together and connecting through commonalities between people.

“We are more alike than we are different. We all mourn when someone we know dies,” Collier said.

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The University of Oregon is raising awareness for Transgender Week of Celebration by placing signs on campus displaying statistics such as, “There are over 700,000 transgender people in the U.S.” and “19 percent of trans people experience domestic violence at the hands of a family member because of their transgender identity or gender non-conformity,” along 13th Ave.

“[Trans Week] really helps spread awareness and create empowerment,” trans female activist in Greek Life Lexi Bergeron said. “A lot of what I’ve seen come out of my community is people empowered to be themselves and be out for a week.”

Trans Week of Celebration began on Nov. 14 and has included events such as Trans and Gender Nonconforming Poetry Slam/Speak Out, Trans Clothing Exchange, and ally trainings. The week of celebration concludes on Trans Day of Remembrance, Nov. 20, with a vigil beginning at 3 p.m. in the Hult Center Studio 1.

“Trans Day of Remembrance is a memorial for those who have lost their lives due to transphobia over the last year,” said Jesse Quinn, UO’s Interim Assistant Director of the LGBT Education and Support Services. “We light a candle for each name, we recite them aloud, and we have a profile on some. It is a pretty long list unfortunately,” Quinn said.

“With the amount of trans suicides and trans murders, particularly focused on the trans members of color, there is such a rampant rate of them we try to make that space to remember them and acknowledge that is happening,” Bergeron said. “There is a lot of suicide in the [trans] community and we want to try and show solidarity behind that and show there are other ways.”

In addition to remembrance, empowerment, and celebration of the trans community this week, Trans Week of Celebration hopes to educate on how to be an ally and how to effectively support people who are trans non-binary, LGTBESS outreach coordinator and Asexual Aromantic group facilitator Lilly Bonasera explained.

“Allyship isn’t something you proclaim. So, when you’re an ally, make sure you’re remaining educated in the process, you’re engaging in different social movements and you’re interrupting oppression as it occurs,” Quinn said.

“Ask if you can ask a question before asking a question. Don’t assume people are trans even if they are visibly trans, and don’t assume people are binary. There is a whole spectrum of trans just like there is a whole spectrum of gender,” Bergeron said to provide ally professional tips.

With efforts to support and create a safe space for the trans community, the University of Oregon has continuously been ranked within the top 10 trans friendly institutions across the nation by Campus Pride, a system that many institutions provide information for, explained Quinn.

The trans healthcare team at the UO is remarkable, Bergeron said.

“We already do a pretty good job,” said Bergeron about UO and the trans community. “It’s in social spaces we lack.”

Students and the community are welcome to the Trans Day of Remembrance Vigil to participate in Trans Week of Celebration events.

“I think that’s the goal, to get people there because that would show they care,” Bergeron said.

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The University of Oregon Mock Trial Team held 24 hours of court simulation for seven universities’ undergraduate students at the third annual David Frohnmayer Invitational this past weekend.

“If you’re looking for a challenge, get involved with the Mock Trial Program,” State Representative Phil Barnhart said after judging a round of the mock trial tournament.

The David Frohnmayer Invitational had four rounds of competition in which 14 teams from seven universities prepared a prosecution and defense for a case presented by the American Mock Trial Association. Within each round, teams were assigned a side to argue with three attorneys and three expert witnesses.

“It’s a simulation that gives you a lot of real world experiences because a lot of materials that we use are what they use in actual court,” the UOMT Vice President of Communication Niharika Sachdeva explained.

In the three hour rounds, attorneys use evidentiary rules to admit documents to the bench, state objections following the Midlands Rules of Evidence, and examine and cross examine witnesses. Attorneys and witnesses must respond to objections and cross examination questioning by the opposition as they arise.

A majority of UOMT’s members are prospective law students, but students also join UOMT because they enjoy other aspects such as the acting necessary of witnesses Sachdeva explained.

“[Mock Trial] gives you the most out of any club on campus in terms of networking, critical thinking and public speaking,” a second year member UOMT Areeb Alam said. “It’s fun and you learn about the law which is always important.”

When rounds conclude, the judges critique each team’s performance providing legal advice and information for better argumentation before sending their scores to the tab-room to determine a winner.
Michelle Blackwell, attorney at law and judge of the competition said there was an outstanding amount of dedication by the students and their arguments inspire her work.

Last year the UOMT placed 19 at the AMTA national competition and they are currently ranked 59 in the nation. The team’s next competition will be in December when they travel to the university of the defending national champions, Yale.

“The level of competition this weekend has elevated significantly from last year. The trajectory of these teams is going way up,” a judge of the invitational Jesse London said.

If you are looking for more information on UOMT or mock trial competition you can find it here.

UOMT is partway through their competition season, but in the spring they will open up to all students who are looking to get involved in an academic program that has a competition aspect Sachdeva explained.

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DUCKS2K16 is bringing together campus cultural groups to be united on the court.

Saturday and Sunday from 11 p.m. to 7 p.m., 17 student groups will be participating in a basketball tournament hosted by the International, Hong Kong and Vietnamese student associations.

“The true meaning behind this tournament is to raise awareness of diversity. By inviting Greek Life and all international student groups we not only strengthen our international communities but also reach out to our domestic student groups,” the International Student Association’s President Amy Li said.

ISA’s mission is to see a university with limited cultural barriers. ISA works to achieve its mission by building and strengthening international communities through events, providing students a home away from home.

Li recognizes segregation between international and domestic students has long existed on campus, but she sees basketball as a common interest that can bring cultures together.

The tournament provides participating students an opportunity to step out of their circle, Hong Kong Student Assocation President Sammi Wong explained, “It’s the beginning of a movement.”

The 17 teams participating in DUCKS2K16 include 14 cultural groups and three Greek Life chapters, with all genders welcome.

The tournament begins in a round robin format with teams being separated into three groups. All teams play four games and earn points depending on their outcome. The points in group play are given in the same way as a soccer tournament’s, ISA’s Vice President Luoyi Farestrand explained.

Top teams from each group will be reorganized into a single elimination bracket. The top three teams will earn prizes from sponsors which include The Duck Store, Yogurt Xtreme, Chipotle, Subway and Sweet Life.

In addition to the tournament, the event will include a performance by the Duck Street Dance Club and a featured competition between the UO Men’s Club Basketball Team and an ISA All-Star team led by UO Men’s Basketball former assistant coach Ben Voogd.

Spectators are welcome to the event and are encouraged to sign up for three-point and half court shooting contests on the DUCKS2K16 Facebook Page.

For all involved, DUCKS2K16 provides an opportunity for cultural engagement, communication and networking between diverse student groups, Li said.

This tournament is part of ISA’s “Same but Different” campaign.

“The idea behind it is to raise awareness for diversity on this campus and celebrate all nationalities and how everyone is unique in their own way,” said Li.

When talking about how the HKSA team will be playing a sorority team in the tournament, Wong smiled.

“At the end of the day I want players to recognize, ‘Wow, I wouldn’t have had that anywhere else if I didn’t go the University of Oregon,’” Wong said.

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The Residence Hall Association’s balloon and streamer covered cart concluded a procession of school spirited vehicles at the homecoming parade. As the cart cruised down 13th Ave., members of the association smiled and waved for the university to see. But being a feature in the homecoming parade is not all what RHA is about.

“My college experience definitely wouldn’t have been the same if I didn’t join RHA,” current RHA President and previous administration coordinator Danny Lu said. “I wouldn’t have met the amazing people I have. I wouldn’t have met the lifelong friends that I have if I didn’t do RHA.”

That same sentiment resonates at RHA’s general council meetings. Each week, representatives from every residence hall take time to discuss and plan events that impact the residence halls’ communities.

Events include watch parties, Cake Study Break, and Dux in Tux, a formal dinner and dance.  

In addition to planning and producing events, being involved in RHA provides students living in the residence halls an opportunity to network and develop leadership skills. These skills help students become successful in other leadership roles on campus.

“I would not be in the position I am now if it were not for RHA. 100 percent,” said James West, former RHA President and current internal staff director for ASUO.

If a person living in the residence halls is looking to develop leadership skills and make an immediate impact on campus, all residents are members of RHA Mike Hardej the professional staff advisor for RHA explained.

As members, residents have many ways to get involved including the president’s cabinet, joining a task force for the Pacific Affiliate of College and University Residence Hall, the organization RHA is under, and joining hall government.  

Hall government is a branch of RHA with elected positions and a senate. Residents elected to a position meet with RHA executive board members once a week and connect communities from different residence halls. Senators are voluntary but important positions.

“Some of our best hall government members start as senators and step up,” said Lu.

Mirroring RHA, Hall Governments create events for their halls, including LLC’s Block Party and Hamilton’s Hamstock. Hamstock, a one-day music festival held on the Humpy Lumpy Lawn between Bean and Hamilton, received recognition as the program of the year at the PACUHR Conference last year.

At that conference, the University of Oregon’s RHA and sister organization, the National Residence Hall Honorary, received four institutional awards, two members received individual awards and eight members earned service certificates.  

“RHA only enhances our university full of amazing communities,” West said.