“You matter,” “You are more than worth it,” and “You are loved” are just a few of the messages sprawled across the little green flags planted in Condon Lawn this week.  

As a part of Mental Health Month, the University of Oregon Student Mental Health Advocates planted 1,100 flags in the shape of UO’s signature “O” for the second year of Stomp Out the Stigma. Students are encouraged to write on a flag the words they would say to a loved one who was contemplating suicide.  

The flags represent the number of suicides that occur on college campuses every year: One flag for every suicide.

According to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, issues with mental health often appear in young adults aged 18-24, making college students more at risk.

SMHA’s vice president Abhinav Sahu coordinated the event in hopes of raising awareness of the importance of mental health and breaking the stigma associated with conversations about suicide.  

“It’s to get people talking about suicide,” he said. “It’s not an easy topic to talk about. The more we talk about it the more we can solve the issue.”

Sahu explained that while it is extremely beneficial, the formality of professional counseling and treatment can deter those who are struggling from reaching out for health.  

With Stomp out the Stigma, as well as SMHA’s other programs throughout the year, they aim to create a comfortable and casual setting for students to discuss mental health and self care.  

SMHA also works closely with the National Alliance on Mental Illness as a way to create a free peer support group for students, in addition to SMHA’s weekly Wednesday meetings.

“We just want to raise awareness of mental health,” said Sahu, “and shun the stigmas that come with it.”

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Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado planned for Friday, May 5 to be a normal night out with her friends to relax after a long week. She changed her mind after she realized it was Cinco de Mayo, and decided to stay home in order to avoid the cultural insensitivity.

Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado is the gender, identity and sexuality director of UO Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán, or MEChA at UO. (Image from MEChA website)

“It’s just so insulting to go out and see a whole bunch of white people wearing sombreros and mustaches,” she said.

Today, on Cinco de Mayo, a holiday that is often confused with Mexico’s independence day, UO Latinx groups are urging students to remain respectful and culturally aware on the Mexican holiday.

At a party titled “Cinco de Drinko” at Baylor University last week, students arrived dressed as maids, construction workers and in brownface. The partygoers received backlash for being overtly racist after photos spread around Twitter and Facebook.

Baylor University frat suspended for “Cinco de drinko” party, with some there reportedly chanting, “Build that wall” https://t.co/jDnTC872pl pic.twitter.com/JkBRqjWwXR

— CNN (@CNN) May 4, 2017

Fernandez-Alvarado, the gender, identity and sexuality director of UO Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán, or MEChA, was quick to admonish the Americanised customs that have developed around Cinco de Mayo celebrations over the years.

“I know there’s mass group of brown people who aren’t even Mexican that just don’t even go out that night, or for most of the day,” she said over the murmur of music coming from the UO MEChA’s zine release party next door.

(Image from facebook)

“It’s also a prime time for a lot of hate crimes and really terrible harassment,” she said, “so a lot of us just don’t leave our house.”

Despite the internet backlash that Baylor’s Cinco de Mayo party received, Fernandez-Alvarado said people will continue festivities and continue with insensitive celebration.

“I know people are going to celebrate it either way and if they are, then I really hope they do it in a respectful manner that’s good for my people.”

“Costumes — no go…” said Fernandez-Alvarado. “Particularly the little things.”

She explained that while Cinco de Mayo is a top holiday for people to go to bars and parties in brownface, sombreros, mustaches, and any other costume pieces should be avoided completely.

Fernandez-Alvarado urges supporting authentic Mexican businesses as an alternative way to celebrate.

Tonight, UO MEChA will be hosting 300 local high school students in an event called the Raza Unida Youth Conference.  The goal of the event is to encourage local Latinx students to attend university as well as promote the message that there is a Latinx community represented in higher education.

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As the spring weather rolls in, so does the newly minted Bike Month, beginning today, May 1. A group called We Bike Eugene is hosting over 30 bike rides and events around the city this month.

Today, the city is holding an open house to discuss Eugene’s future Bike Share program, similar to Portland’s BIKETOWN bike rental project, in which people can pick up and drop off community bikes for a low cost at different locations around Portland. The city will make 300 bikes available to rent over your mobile device.

The open house is today from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at 44 W. Broadway. It allows citizens to give input, such as possible kiosk locations for the city’s bike program. The City of Eugene partnered with the University of Oregon and Lane Transit District and expects to launch in October 2017, according to a Register-Guard article.

Learn more about the Bike Share program here.

The UO Bike Program is also hosting workshops, such as Wheel Building 101 on May 8 and Mountain Biking 101 on May 16.

Here is a full list of events during Bike Month.

More bikes means more accidents

Better weather means University of Oregon students are more likely to pull out their bikes. But with more cyclists on the road, the risk for collisions increases.

According to the University of Oregon Police Department, the number of reported bicycle accidents are not an “eye-popping” number, but the risk of a collision should always be taken into account.

To take preventative measures, UOPD offers information and tools to ensure student safety as they travel to and from class, and may even give students a well-intentioned warning if certain road behavior is considered unsafe.  

UOPD spokesman Kelly McIver and Police Officer Jared Davis both agree that one of the most important elements of safe cycling is the use of a helmet.

“Not everybody likes them,” said McIver. “They can mash your hair down, but it’s honestly a lifesaver if you’re ever struck or fall off your bike for any reason.”

UO student Alex Tushner can attest to the importance of helmets because his choice to protect his head allowed him to walk away from a bicycle accident with much less severe injuries than he would have had otherwise.  

During Winter term of his sophomore year, Tushner was rushing across campus on his way to work on his bike when he collided with an inattentive cyclist. The impact caused him to flip off his bike, straight onto his head. When Tushner recovered from the impact, his helmet was cracked and broken, but he was able to walk away without major head injuries. The other cyclist biked away from the scene.

“After that moment, even if I’m riding a block down to a friend’s house, [the helmet] is on,” Tushner said. “I’m not taking a risk.”

In addition to personal safety, UOPD stresses that cyclists should also take into account the interaction with others on the road.

According to UOPD, it’s crucial to be aware of one’s surroundings as a cyclist sharing the road with other bikes, vehicles and pedestrians. To safely contribute to traffic, a cyclist should use proper hand signals, communicate with others and avoid unpredictable or hasty moves to prevent accidents.

“The density of bicycles, cars and pedestrians in the core campus area are such that it’s a constant safety risk,”  said McIver from UOPD. “We have probably lots and lots of near misses every day.”

For more information on bike safety and security, visit UOPD’s website at police.uoregon.edu, and for information on laws and regulations related to cycling, visit Eugene’s government website at eugene-or.gov/2312/Bicycling.

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Before coming to the United States, UO graduate Seela Sankei, from Nairobi City, Kenya, was unable to openly protest and use her voice against the sexual violence occurring against women in her country.

Sankei marched with about 300 others in the University of Oregon’s 39th annual Take Back the Night — an event occurring on college campuses around the country to raise awareness about sexual assault and to stand in solidarity with survivors.  

The event began at the EMU Amphitheater as the sun began to set over campus. UO students and Eugene community members clutched homemade signs as they listened to representatives of multiple student groups speak about the importance of such events.

While living in Kenya, Sankei spent 12 years of her life fighting for girls falling victim to female genital mutilation.

“In Kenya, we have traditions and culture that prevents us from speaking of anything to do with sex or sexuality,” she said.

Seela Sankei dances her way down the road during the Take Back the Night march in Eugene, Ore. on Thursday, April 27, 2017. (Aaron Nelson/Emerald)

She said that coming to the United States gave her an opportunity to get involved in women’s rights activism. Marches like Take Back the Night allow Sankei to speak freely about her beliefs.

Presentations at the amphitheater included a performance from the Sexual Wellness Advocacy Team, a speech from UO Mujeres, a poem from representatives of Planned Parenthood and speeches from the Women’s Center’s Fatima Roohi Pervaiz and Itzel Chavez.

Members of the group UO Mujeres painted half of their faces like skulls to symbolize survivors of sexual assault.

“Sexual violence happens at epidemic proportions throughout the country and around the world to people of all genders,” said Chavez. “It has impacted many of our lives, whether we are survivors or allies.”

The speeches were followed by a march to downtown. Marchers routed through UO’s sorority row to stand in solidarity with panhellenic women.

About halfway through the march, a group of 20 middle-aged women clad in workout gear and pink scarves began a choreographed flash mob dance in a parking lot near the marchers. Cheering peaked when the marchers saw the flash mob.

A flash mob led by Margo Jennings surprised the marchers with a dance called, “Break the Chain.” (Will Campbell/Emerald)

One of the leaders of the dancers was Margo Jennings from Bronx, New York. Jennings said their dance, named “Break the Chain,” represents women’s power. The dancers are part of Eugene 350, a climate change awareness group in Eugene.

“We thought this would be a good opportunity to support [the marchers],” Jennings said.

Sankei even joined the flash mob in their dance.

After the march, an intimate and speak-out took place at 99 W 10th Ave., where survivors had the opportunity to share their stories, poems or thoughts regarding sexual assault. Speakers asked to not have their words recorded.

A new goal for this year

According to the UO Women’s Center, one goal of the evening was to center it around diverse and marginalized communities, as well as shed light on the intersections of sexual violence.

A common complaint about January’s Women’s March on Washington was that the event was primarily catered to white, cisgender women, and did not provide for women of any other marginalized group.

“Our presenters represent a diverse group of identities on our campus community who will shed light about the realities of sexual violence,” Chavez said in an email to the Emerald.

To offer support during an evening of sensitive content, the UO Women’s Center staff served as a safety team, donning turquoise sashes as an indicator of safe, available allies.

The evening was coordinated and hosted by the UO Women’s Center, who were supported and sponsored by UO panhellenic women, UO Sexual Assault Support Services, Lane Community College’s women’s program, UO Mujeres, Safe Ride, the National Organization for Women and Triangle Graphics.

Will Campbell contributed to the reporting of this article.

Take Back the Night march at UO. @dailyemerald https://t.co/SOtvCsF9cM

— Will Campbell (@wtcampbell) April 28, 2017

Flash mob @dailyemerald https://t.co/oNfBs62hZP

— Will Campbell (@wtcampbell) April 28, 2017

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Worn Wear, Patagonia’s traveling outdoor gear repair company, will be on campus Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. alongside the University of Oregon’s own eco-conscious groups such as UO Zero Waste and the UO Outdoor Program.

The group is offering free gear repairs to students all around the country in an effort to reduce waste. UO is Worn Wear’s 17th stop on their 21-campus tour. The event was brought to campus by the UO Net Impact undergraduate and graduate chapters.

Alongside Worn Wear, other student and outside groups are joining the cause by giving out succulents, repurposed T-shirts and a multitude of other prizes.

Faye Christoforo, director of campus coordination for the Post Landfill Action Network (PLAN), sees a bigger goal for Worn Wear and campus sustainability fairs.

“The goal wasn’t to drop in, do an event and leave,” Christoforo said as students stopped by her booth for pamphlets and stickers emblazoned with the message “Students for Zero Waste.”

“The goal was to find campuses that have an active student population, and have and ethos for repair and zero waste.”

After Worn Wear packs up this evening, there will be informational events in Lillis beginning at 5:30 p.m. The events will feature panelists and speakers such as health coaches, sustainability managers and Patagonia’s VP of Environmental Initiatives Rick Ridgeway.

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