Beet is a brand new app born and bred here in Eugene. App creators Jonathan Miller and Sean Thielen came up with the idea after a friend studied abroad.

“There are a ton of videos online where people take short video clips and then compile them into one big video, but there was nothing that allowed them to do this in a simplistic way,” said Miller.

The app combines short clips users have taken in their day-to-day lives. Instead of going through each individual clip, the app combines it all into one continuous video. It’s a social video platform that allows users to share with friends and gloat to people around the world.

Both developers are University of Oregon students from California, as well as roommates. Miller is a business major and Sean is an English major, and neither imagined that by their senior year they would be developing an app and talking to investors.

Thielen, the developer behind the app, took three months building the app and critiquing it according to user feedback.

“We spent a lot of time getting feedback from people in our classes and our friends as to what they thought of the initial concept and what they wanted the app to do. We got some good feedback, tweaked the app and then submitted it to the app store,” says Thielen.

How does Beet compare to other picture and video capturing platforms?

Beet offers video merging that hasn’t been offered by any other mobile app. Instagram users can edit and personalize their video clips and photos, and Snapchat takes on the opposite approach to Beet by allowing users to share images and video that can’t be saved.

This is meant to heighten the security and privacy of the media that gets shared with friends and the world. Snapchat, for example, settled with the Federal Trade Commission, after the company failed to “secure its Friends Feature [that] lead to the New Year’s Eve data breach of 4.6 million usernames and phone numbers,” according to PCmag.com.

New brands like Beet have seen the importance of securing media that is posted through the Internet. The company’s policy is that, “The video clips you upload to Beet belong to you, and you alone.” There is also a privacy setting on the app that allows users to select which individuals view their content.

The post Did you hear about the new ‘Beet?’ appeared first on Emerald Media.

Two homes, two daycare centers and many parking spots are at the negotiating table for the University of Oregon’s next residence hall project.

Like the other facilities spearheaded by the UO’s Campus Vision Framework Project — which includes a new softball stadium and science building — the new student housing building on 17th Avenue and Moss Street is to accommodate a growing student body.

In the last 20 years, the number of students living on campus has increased by 8,000.

Michael Griffel, the UO housing director, said that the 18-month project is also an investment.

“(Students) that are living in an academic residential community are graduating at such a significantly higher rate,” Griffel said. “So we really want to be investing in those communities.”

Unlike the other facilities, its construction means infringing on an already cramped parking situation and demolishing nearby homes.

The area designated for the project is currently a parking lot used by the Moss Street Children’s Center and the Vivian Olum Child Development Center. In addition to the loss of parking spots, the construction is also a concern for children and their parents.

To address the concerns of all affected by the housing project, the Campus Planning Committee held a number of meetings over the last few months. The last meeting was on Feb. 13, and allowed residents and individuals with concerns to speak to Griffel and leaders of the project from the architectural firm, Mahlum Architects — the same firm that developed the Moss Street Children’s Center.

Despite concerns for the children that attend theMoss Street Children’s Center, parents as well as the director, Becky Lamoureux have kept a close connection throughout the development process.

“The university housing and campus planning have been in contact with us since the very beginning. It’s been really nice because they’re seeing us as an important piece of how the project will go and I feel pretty well considered,” says Lamoureux, who oversees up to 128 children in any given day.

Regardless of how smooth communication has been, parking remains to be a concern even after the project is finished. The Global Scholars parking lot is limited and may become worse once construction begins. Parents that have children attending Moss Street Children’s Center and the Olum Child Center have also expressed the need for better parking, but are limited to space available during school days.

The new housing will occupy the lot near the Olum Center and the UO has no solution as of yet to compensate for loss of parking spots.

Yongwoo Jeung is a Political Science graduate student, as well as a GTF that lives in a home that will be removed for construction. The homes being removed for construction as of now are the two homes existing on the corner of Moss Street and 17th Avenue, and with the need for more parking, other homes may be affected in the future. Jeung’s concern is where the UO is investing its money.

“One might argue that money is needed for funding graduates and helping faculty members publish things and ultimately providing an ideal environment for scholars,” says Jeung. “But as shown in the recent GTFF strike last year, it is dubious that the profit gathered is re-invested on the university community.”

The housing project will be funded using room and board fees paid by on-campus residents.

The new housing development will have residents of the homes near the construction zone removed by the end of June.

The post Concerns moving forward with new UO housing appeared first on Emerald Media.

You might have heard the saying, “Earthquakes don’t kill people—buildings do.”

Some of the oldest buildings in Oregon, including Deady and Villard halls, which were constructed in the late 19th Century, raise some questions as to whether the University of Oregon could withstand a large-scale earthquake.

March 11 is the four-year anniversary of the record 9.0 earthquake that shook the country of Japan. With recent earthquake activity here in the Pacific Northwest—are we overdue for a big one?

Oregon is part of a large tectonic plate called the North American Plate that extends across the United States and part of the Atlantic Ocean. Earthquake activity occurs more often near the Pacific coast due to the series of plates that are pushed under our larger plate, otherwise known as subduction. The plates’ movements create contact and pressure under the larger North American Plate, thereby causing earthquakes.

The largest earthquake most recently in Oregon was a magnitude 6.3 off the coast of Coos Bay seven years ago and a 6.0 that occurred 21 years ago in Klamath Falls. The quakes caused landslides, but more notably led to structural damages totaling over $10 million.

Krista Dillon, the Assistant Director for the University of Oregon Emergency Management and Continuity, is one of the spearheads on campus for emergency situations, including earthquakes.

“There are a number of great seismic retrofit projects that have been completed on campus including: Anstett Hall, Gilbert Hall, Fenton Hall, Allen Hall, Straub Hall, and the EMU expansion,” said Dillon.

According to her, even with the technology that exists today, it’s not yet possible to accurately determine how big an earthquake will be or when it will happen.

Dylan Colon is a graduate student studying geological sciences and is a GTF for a Volcanoes and Earthquakes class.

When asked about the concern over recent earthquake activity and the relationship to the possibility of a large-scale earthquake, Colon commented: “Recent earthquake activity has very little to no bearing on the likelihood of a large mag-9 event in the next several years…another event cannot be considered to be overdue, but is certainly possible.”

The EMC website is a great place to find updated procedures, as well as emergency alerts to keep you informed about what is happening on campus.

“Preparedness for an earthquake is a shared responsibility. There are things we are doing that will prepare all of campus, there are things departments can do to prepare, and there are things individuals can do to prepare themselves,” said Dillon.

The chances of an earthquake like the one in Japan happening in Eugene is very slim, and the chances of it happening in our lifetime are even slimmer. The most we can do as students is to learn the emergency procedures and stay prepared in case an earthquake does occur.

The post Is the University of Oregon ready for an earthquake? appeared first on Emerald Media.

The University of Oregon’s Student Recreation Center has gone through a large-scale renovation this year and is welcoming students to come in and keep up with their New Year’s resolution to work out more.

Paola Flores is a psychology student at the UO and goes to the rec center four times a week.

“I used to just run the treadmill every single day when I went to they gym or I would jog all the time—but that got really boring and my body got used to it,” said Flores.

With new workout equipment, there’s also more room to expand your exercise limits. But trying new equipment and getting the right help can be the most challenging part of picking up a new routine.

Mike De La Vergne and Katie Juth had a similar problem when they were attending school here at the UO.

“We had each other to go to the gym with, she likes doing cardio and if I wanted to lift, she can’t exactly spot me,” said De La Vergne.

Surprisingly enough, there were no tools that could help them find people who had similar goals and interests when it came to being fit.

After two long years of product development, the app Workout Buddies was born.

The app allows anyone looking for help getting motivated to stay on track and attain their goals.

De La Vergne began his time at the UO studying Business and doing design work. A native Eugenean, he had a strong love for the culture of fitness and exercise.

This same love for the culture in Eugene created a strong student international relationship, bringing in students from all over the world. Workout Buddies has taken this theme and developed the International Student Fitness Organization, that students from other countries can find and build relationships through fitness and exercise.

“Fitness is kind of like music; it’s an international language that people can relate to,” said De La Vergne.

The concept of the app brings social media into a different view. You can find people who have similar body features like weight, interests in activities like weightlifting and goals like getting more toned.

The most important feature of the app is the integration of safety. This becomes important for those who might not feel safe running at night or working out alone.

“Unlike any social media app, you have to send a friend request before you can message them. That’s a safety factor for any college girl…” said De La Vergne.

With the inconsistencies that exist in a student’s schedule, finding the right time to run and go to the gym is a huge obstacle for those who can’t do it during the day. The features of the app lets students befriend someone with the same problem so they can help each other out.

Studies from Kansas State University show that exercising with a buddy or within a group pushes individuals to work harder.

Brandon Irwin, assistant professor of kinesiology, tested 115 participants doing various exercises. While the test was done using a “virtual partner” through a fitness video, the participants were able to exercise 90 percent longer than by themselves.

After being put into a group and having the participants workout together, that percentage jumped to 160 percent compared to individually.

The couple is continuing to integrate more features into the app that will help make fitness easier to access. They found their success here at the UO and hope to keep the efforts and development growth right here in Eugene.

Lots of green things like to live in Eugene. The ground is damp and humidity is high almost all year round (the annual average for our town is a balmy 78 percent.) From the moss on trees near the University of Oregon Knight Library to the grass by the quad, green is omnipresent.

And for the unlucky (or unclean), green is a lot closer to home.

Eugene is the perfect climate for mold to thrive because of the abundance of cheap, old housing units and students willing to rent or lease them. Before you and your roommates get too excited about the house on Potter Street, you should probably evaluate the mold situation in your current or future living space.

Gizel Rios of Mold Inspection and Testing in Eugene is a professional that deals with mold removal and prevention.

“Typically, we see more problems [of mold] within the basement, bathroom and kitchen,” says Rios.

If you’ve ever lived in a house with mold growth, you know that mold is so much more than what grows on your uneaten Dough Co. When allowed to grow over time in a house, it can lead to cold-like symptoms that won’t ever be cured by just spending the day in bed.

Although not all molds are deadly, living in conditions where mold can grow is a sign that something is wrong. Moisture collection is the general concern when mold sprouts. Condensation and even leaky faucets can be a sign that your bathroom needs to be looked at, not only for mold but also for a problem that could be something more expensive and hazardous.

If mold becomes an issue in your residence, the first thing to do is clean the location with a disinfectant spray or wipe. Using a wet towel with water may make the area worse.

The worst-case scenario is the mold returning with the location looking spongy underneath. If you see this, immediately call the landlord and get a professional, because that means that mold has seeped into the wood and can become a structural hazard if not immediately dealt with.

If you had childhood asthma, unchallenged mold growth will only make it worse. Recent studies done by lead researcher Anne Karvonen of the National Institute for Health and Welfare in Finland show results that moisture damage due to mold has drawn a connection to respiratory conditions like asthma.

The concerns of on and off-campus living coordinators like Eric Barman are to make sure that students are living in a safe environment.

“It is something that we take very seriously and take purposeful action to avoid,” says Barman.

The UO takes a lot of pride in keeping the dorms and off-campus housing safe. Inspections are conducted several times throughout the year, but that doesn’t mean that the school is responsible for the living responsibilities of every student.

So throw out that old Dough Co.

With over half a dozen cafés near the University of Oregon campus, coffee is fairly easy to find no matter where you are. Regardless of whether you’re looking for a quick fix on campus at The Buzz, or at Vero Espresso at West University, local coffee joints are reaping the benefits.

The Emerald surveyed 108 UO students ranging from ages 18 to 34 to ask about their coffee consumption. Results show that 51 percent of those surveyed drink one or more cups of coffee a day. Overall, 27 percent admitted to drinking at least two or more cups as a normal routine.

Thirty-eight percent of coffee drinkers were enrolled in majors having to do with science, including biology and chemistry. Business majors ranked second, with 20 percent drinking one or more cups a day.

Mikayla Arellano is a freshman studying religious studies and an avid coffee drinker.

“I started drinking coffee more frequently when I was a junior in high school,” said Arellano. “My mom introduced me to Starbucks and I’ve loved it ever since.”

The coffee industry is one of the biggest world-wide. The profits even exceed sugar and natural gas. Coffee comes in second as one of the most sought-after commodities in the world behind crude oil, according to a Business Insider article.

Tom Driscoll, the UO director of dining services, oversees the staff and sales of the dining services on campus. One of the most profitable coffee shops that Driscoll oversees is Common Grounds, which serves a variety of espresso drinks, coffee and foods in Hamilton Hall.

“Common Grounds (generates) about $35,000 a week in total sales,” said Driscoll. “On average, about 18 percent of that is due to coffee-related products.”

A coffee place like Common Grounds will run through 75 pounds of coffee beans before the next shipment the following Monday. Assuming that it takes about eight grams of ground coffee beans to make a single cup of coffee. That’s as much as 4,252.43 cups a week.

Miguel Cortez is the manager of Espresso Roma and has seen the growth of coffee among students over his 25 years of business.

“Business has become more consistent the last 10 years,” said Cortez. “About 90 percent of the customers are students and the other 10 are mostly people passing through and from the hospital nearby.”

Student purchases make up a huge percentage of what the campus and local coffee places earn. As long as there’s a need to get a few more hours out of the day — students will continue to help these businesses thrive.

Follow Justin Hun on Twitter @justinthehun

Over a week ago, a student at the University of Oregon developed a blood infection called meningococcemia that can develop into meningitis. 800 of this student’s classmates were given a shot of prophylaxis, a powerful medication that prevents the development of disease.

The UO hasn’t considered anyone to be at risk for contracting the bacteria since Jan. 17. But there’s still a chance of students falling victim to the common cold’s older and much more bitter sibling: influenza.

According to a 35-year research from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, December through March has the highest rates of flu activity—February having nearly triple the amount of cases in comparison to any other month.

With that in mind, sitting in class near students that are coughing and sneezing makes the possibility of getting sick more prevalent. Lionel Thomas, who is finishing his Doctoral in Musical Arts, spends countless hours around musicians every day.

“It can become distracting, especially during rehearsals. I also get a bit of anxiety that I could get sick as well,” said Thomas.

Mike Eyster, UO Health Center director and vice president of Student Affairs, suggested that a call to the Health Center is the quickest and easiest way to get immediate help if you feel that you are having any symptoms.

“We’ll be able to give you a good idea whether to come over here or just do some home care at home—and we can tell you if you’re just fine or you have nothing to worry about,” said Eyster.

Take the proper precautions if you have to be around people that are sick. If you’re the one that is sick, consider the people around you.

“If you’re coughing, use a napkin, cough into your elbow, or wear an antiviral mask,” recommends Eyster. Keep from spreading germs and stay home if you feel too ill. Coughing at the point that you can’t hold it back means that you should rest and get better.

A germ epidemic in 2015 sounds unlikely, but it is not impossible. Populated areas such as college campuses can spread germs quickly, especially with the congestion of classes.

In 2009, Washington State University had a campus wide spread of the H1N1 virus, known as swine flu. An estimated 2,000 individuals were infected with the virus, recording one of the first outbreaks in the U.S. Prior to that, the case of H2N2 or Asiatic flu, swept the students of Pennsylvania. In the fall of October 1957, The Prince reported that, 71 percent of students at the University of Pennsylvania as well as Princeton were absent due to the flu.

The best suggestion that Eyster offered is to get your seasonal flu shot. It takes a minimum of two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body, so getting a shot as soon as possible is crucial to keeping in good health.

The Health Center is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Call ahead to make an appointment or just walk in to get your questions answered. If you’re too ill, call the Health Center direct number so you can be sure you treat yourself with the right solution.

Update: Students reported power returning at approximately 9:45 p.m.

Power along the East side of campus, including Franklin Boulevard and Matthew Knight Arena, was reported as shut off at 8:30 p.m. Monday evening, according to the Eugene Water and Electric Board.

The streets currently affected by the power outage are: Walnut St., Orchard St., Augusta St., E 24th Ave.. and Laurel Hill Drive.

The reason for the power outage is unknown, according to EWEB officials.

Traffic lights are also out in these areas, according to Eugene Police Department.