A few months back, I came across a Buzzfeed list that I couldn’t refrain from, as it usually goes for me and most other Buzzfeed lists (and quizzes). It was a thoughtfully sculpted rundown of “24 Things You’ll Find In Every Hipster Restaurant.”

My intentions with reading this particular listicle was to gawk at each item and connect them to a place I know, expecting to touch on some key Portland and Eugene spots, since the hipster culture has existed in our cozy corner of the U.S. for some time now.

One place that instantly came to mind as I scrolled from one trendy cliché to the next was Tailored – a minimalist café in Eugene’s 5th Street area that opened a couple years back. I was amazed at how many items on the list matched with Tailored’s aesthetic.

“A name that doesn’t give any clues about the type of food they actually serve.” Check.

“Old-fashioned light bulbs.” Check.

“Exposed air-conditioning ducts.” Check.

“Random framed photos of Edwardian people.” Not check, but there is a copy of a signed photo by Steve Martin on display – so, still hipster?

“Menus printed on ‘distressed’ paper, and then stuck to a clipboard.” Check and check.

And lastly: “Overly loud music that in no way fits with the theme of the restaurant.” True – this is another checked item for Tailored, since the only tunes I’ve heard being played are of the hip-hop or rap genres.

This aspect of the clean-cut café is what inspired me to learn more about the origins behind this coffee roaster.

After meeting with Tailored owner Brian Sung, I realize that his café is not just another Pacific Northwest stereotype, and that Sung and his employees contribute something to the city of Eugene that no other business does.

Early 2014 is when Sung’s vision for Tailored started to brew. His parents, who are both restaurateurs, influenced him. His mother’s business, Brails on 17th and Willamette Street, motivated him. His lasting passion for coffee mobilized him. And it was Sung himself and the things he finds comforting that laid the foundation for the Tailored that came to be.

“Coffee was kind of a hobby at first,” Sung said. “And then, I had my parents who have always been a big influence on me. Everything I’ve learned about the service industry growing up, is from them – managing people, dealing with customers, the sense of pride that you have over the product that you make and sell to your customers. Basically, I’m just trying to do what my mom does, but putting my own little spin on it.”

Sung grew up between Eugene and parts of Washington. After having received a business management degree from the University of Oregon, he put his knowledge of both commerce and coffee to work by starting Brails Espresso – the café located just adjacent to Brails Restaurant. This experience is what Sung leveraged into a Kickstarter project two years ago for his own trademarked coffee roasting business.

On February 13, 2014, Sung and his Tailored team set a $3,500 goal, and almost exactly a month later, they successfully raised $3,522 with a total of 29 backers.

And with that, plus a prime Eugene location, a reasonable aesthetic vision and a determined group of people, Tailored came to fruition.

Sung based the design of his café on what he said, “is how my wife and I would remodel our own kitchen at home.”

Similarly, the offbeat, but tasteful music that the joint bumps is, “exactly the type of stuff I or other workers would listen to on our own,” Sung said.

From Kanye West to Simon and Garfunkel to Erykah Badu, records from Sung’s personal collection, along with some owned by Tailored manager Matt Pierson, line the café’s highest shelf, displaying their seasoned taste in music.

“I think my generation and the current generation are more hip-hop influenced than in the past,” Sung said. “Some people don’t always like the music we play because it is different – if an album isn’t completely appropriate, we’ll change it out – but we just wanted to create a workplace that didn’t feel like work, essentially.”

Tailored Coffee Roasters is the child of a number of influences. The main ones: Sung’s way of life and his passion for quality coffee. Also up there are the people Sung learned from, as well as those he serves. With a client base regularly ranging from high school students to senior citizens, Sung and the rest of the Tailored team have captured the pallets of many in Eugene.

“I think we are very honest with who we are and I’ve never tried to be like anybody else,” Sung said. “People might not like the vibe or the color scheme or the aesthetic, or they might love it. But I think it’s the service that we provide that sets us apart; we really focus on being friendly and welcoming. We’re a different café; we may not be as fast as something like Dutch Brothers where they just bang out drinks. We take time. We want you to come in and hang out. We want customer-to-customer relations. And, we strive to break the hipster stereotype with the service we offer.”

Tailored Coffee Roasters can be found at 291 E. 5th Avenue and on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

A few months back, I came across a Buzzfeed list that I couldn’t refrain from, as it usually goes for me and most other Buzzfeed lists (and quizzes). It was a thoughtfully sculpted rundown of “24 Things You’ll Find In Every Hipster Restaurant.”

My intentions with reading this particular listicle was to gawk at each item and connect them to a place I know, expecting to touch on some key Portland and Eugene spots, since the hipster culture has existed in our cozy corner of the U.S. for some time now.

One place that instantly came to mind as I scrolled from one trendy cliché to the next was Tailored – a minimalist café in Eugene’s 5th Street area that opened a couple years back. I was amazed at how many items on the list matched with Tailored’s aesthetic.

“A name that doesn’t give any clues about the type of food they actually serve.” Check.

“Old-fashioned light bulbs.” Check.

“Exposed air-conditioning ducts.” Check.

“Random framed photos of Edwardian people.” Not check, but there is a copy of a signed photo by Steve Martin on display – so, still hipster?

“Menus printed on ‘distressed’ paper, and then stuck to a clipboard.” Check and check.

And lastly: “Overly loud music that in no way fits with the theme of the restaurant.” True – this is another checked item for Tailored, since the only tunes I’ve heard being played are of the hip-hop or rap genres.

This aspect of the clean-cut café is what inspired me to learn more about the origins behind this coffee roaster.

After meeting with Tailored owner Brian Sung, I realize that his café is not just another Pacific Northwest stereotype, and that Sung and his employees contribute something to the city of Eugene that no other business does.

Early 2014 is when Sung’s vision for Tailored started to brew. His parents, who are both restaurateurs, influenced him. His mother’s business, Brails on 17th and Willamette Street, motivated him. His lasting passion for coffee mobilized him. And it was Sung himself and the things he finds comforting that laid the foundation for the Tailored that came to be.

“Coffee was kind of a hobby at first,” Sung said. “And then, I had my parents who have always been a big influence on me. Everything I’ve learned about the service industry growing up, is from them – managing people, dealing with customers, the sense of pride that you have over the product that you make and sell to your customers. Basically, I’m just trying to do what my mom does, but putting my own little spin on it.”

Sung grew up between Eugene and parts of Washington. After having received a business management degree from the University of Oregon, he put his knowledge of both commerce and coffee to work by starting Brails Espresso – the café located just adjacent to Brails Restaurant. This experience is what Sung leveraged into a Kickstarter project two years ago for his own trademarked coffee roasting business.

On February 13, 2014, Sung and his Tailored team set a $3,500 goal, and almost exactly a month later, they successfully raised $3,522 with a total of 29 backers.

And with that, plus a prime Eugene location, a reasonable aesthetic vision and a determined group of people, Tailored came to fruition.

Sung based the design of his café on what he said, “is how my wife and I would remodel our own kitchen at home.”

Similarly, the offbeat, but tasteful music that the joint bumps is, “exactly the type of stuff I or other workers would listen to on our own,” Sung said.

From Kanye West to Simon and Garfunkel to Erykah Badu, records from Sung’s personal collection, along with some owned by Tailored manager Matt Pierson, line the café’s highest shelf, displaying their seasoned taste in music.

“I think my generation and the current generation are more hip-hop influenced than in the past,” Sung said. “Some people don’t always like the music we play because it is different – if an album isn’t completely appropriate, we’ll change it out – but we just wanted to create a workplace that didn’t feel like work, essentially.”

Tailored Coffee Roasters is the child of a number of influences. The main ones: Sung’s way of life and his passion for quality coffee. Also up there are the people Sung learned from, as well as those he serves. With a client base regularly ranging from high school students to senior citizens, Sung and the rest of the Tailored team have captured the pallets of many in Eugene.

“I think we are very honest with who we are and I’ve never tried to be like anybody else,” Sung said. “People might not like the vibe or the color scheme or the aesthetic, or they might love it. But I think it’s the service that we provide that sets us apart; we really focus on being friendly and welcoming. We’re a different café; we may not be as fast as something like Dutch Brothers where they just bang out drinks. We take time. We want you to come in and hang out. We want customer-to-customer relations. And, we strive to break the hipster stereotype with the service we offer.”

Tailored Coffee Roasters can be found at 291 E. 5th Avenue and on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

A few months back, I came across a Buzzfeed list that I couldn’t refrain from, as it usually goes for me and most other Buzzfeed lists (and quizzes). It was a thoughtfully sculpted rundown of “24 Things You’ll Find In Every Hipster Restaurant.”

My intentions with reading this particular listicle was to gawk at each item and connect them to a place I know, expecting to touch on some key Portland and Eugene spots, since the hipster culture has existed in our cozy corner of the U.S. for some time now.

One place that instantly came to mind as I scrolled from one trendy cliché to the next was Tailored – a minimalist café in Eugene’s 5th Street area that opened a couple years back. I was amazed at how many items on the list matched with Tailored’s aesthetic.

“A name that doesn’t give any clues about the type of food they actually serve.” Check.

“Old-fashioned light bulbs.” Check.

“Exposed air-conditioning ducts.” Check.

“Random framed photos of Edwardian people.” Not check, but there is a copy of a signed photo by Steve Martin on display – so, still hipster?

“Menus printed on ‘distressed’ paper, and then stuck to a clipboard.” Check and check.

And lastly: “Overly loud music that in no way fits with the theme of the restaurant.” True – this is another checked item for Tailored, since the only tunes I’ve heard being played are of the hip-hop or rap genres.

This aspect of the clean-cut café is what inspired me to learn more about the origins behind this coffee roaster.

After meeting with Tailored owner Brian Sung, I realize that his café is not just another Pacific Northwest stereotype, and that Sung and his employees contribute something to the city of Eugene that no other business does.

Early 2014 is when Sung’s vision for Tailored started to brew. His parents, who are both restaurateurs, influenced him. His mother’s business, Brails on 17th and Willamette Street, motivated him. His lasting passion for coffee mobilized him. And it was Sung himself and the things he finds comforting that laid the foundation for the Tailored that came to be.

“Coffee was kind of a hobby at first,” Sung said. “And then, I had my parents who have always been a big influence on me. Everything I’ve learned about the service industry growing up, is from them – managing people, dealing with customers, the sense of pride that you have over the product that you make and sell to your customers. Basically, I’m just trying to do what my mom does, but putting my own little spin on it.”

Sung grew up between Eugene and parts of Washington. After having received a business management degree from the University of Oregon, he put his knowledge of both commerce and coffee to work by starting Brails Espresso – the café located just adjacent to Brails Restaurant. This experience is what Sung leveraged into a Kickstarter project two years ago for his own trademarked coffee roasting business.

On February 13, 2014, Sung and his Tailored team set a $3,500 goal, and almost exactly a month later, they successfully raised $3,522 with a total of 29 backers.

And with that, plus a prime Eugene location, a reasonable aesthetic vision and a determined group of people, Tailored came to fruition.

Sung based the design of his café on what he said, “is how my wife and I would remodel our own kitchen at home.”

Similarly, the offbeat, but tasteful music that the joint bumps is, “exactly the type of stuff I or other workers would listen to on our own,” Sung said.

From Kanye West to Simon and Garfunkel to Erykah Badu, records from Sung’s personal collection, along with some owned by Tailored manager Matt Pierson, line the café’s highest shelf, displaying their seasoned taste in music.

“I think my generation and the current generation are more hip-hop influenced than in the past,” Sung said. “Some people don’t always like the music we play because it is different – if an album isn’t completely appropriate, we’ll change it out – but we just wanted to create a workplace that didn’t feel like work, essentially.”

Tailored Coffee Roasters is the child of a number of influences. The main ones: Sung’s way of life and his passion for quality coffee. Also up there are the people Sung learned from, as well as those he serves. With a client base regularly ranging from high school students to senior citizens, Sung and the rest of the Tailored team have captured the pallets of many in Eugene.

“I think we are very honest with who we are and I’ve never tried to be like anybody else,” Sung said. “People might not like the vibe or the color scheme or the aesthetic, or they might love it. But I think it’s the service that we provide that sets us apart; we really focus on being friendly and welcoming. We’re a different café; we may not be as fast as something like Dutch Brothers where they just bang out drinks. We take time. We want you to come in and hang out. We want customer-to-customer relations. And, we strive to break the hipster stereotype with the service we offer.”

Tailored Coffee Roasters can be found at 291 E. 5th Avenue and on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Buster Bluth, Homer Simpson, Liz Lemon, Dale Cooper, Ron Swanson, Tony Stark, Dexter Morgan and dozens of other fictional characters and non-fictional people, including me, have confessed their love for the holey greatness that is a doughnut.

The most delicious creation on this Earth even has a national holiday dedicated to it on the first Friday of every June because, well, America. And this year, I’d like to communally celebrate the pastry two months before its big day.

I’ve been keeping a local secret for a while now, and it’s time to share it with you all.

Stop taking your families to Voodoo Doughnut when they come to visit. Don’t fall for the irresistible dozen-deal at Safeway anymore. Forget that guy Dunkin the next time you’re on the East Coast. The donuts that have my heart, my health and my wallet are those from Master Donuts – a small-scale doughnut shop with two locations in Springfield and doughnuts in all four Eugene Market of Choice stores.

Master offers an assortment of café goods at reasonable prices. From house coffee, to Mexican mochas, to milks and juices, most beverages start at around $1.25.

As for pastries, there are three categories. The “Fancy” column includes Apple Fritters, Bear Claws and Chocolate Eclairs, at $1.50 each. The “Princess Flavor Donuts” list just about every traditional type that would satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth: Maple and Chocolate Bars, Twists, French Crullers and those with yummy fillings too. These start at $0.95 apiece and $9.50 for a mixed dozen. Lastly, there are “Cake Donuts” that so many call their favorites, priced at $0.80 each.

Owner Siam Chayasing works to make every pastry full of flavor and freshness.

“If you want to keep your product to be long-term and consistently liked, you don’t do all that crazy stuff,” Chaysing said when the name, Voodoo, was mentioned.

Over the last decade, the Portland-established doughnut shop has become a mega-hit and an Oregon staple for its unusual creations and quirky vibe. But one thing Chayasing and I agree on is that to make their eccentric products, a lot of the time, the quality of Voodoo’s donuts suffers. The creepy jelly-for-blood and vulgar phallic pastries at Voodoo have yet to convince me of their significance, yet, Master Donuts did the trick for me overnight.

Now, I’m not someone who restricts my consumption of doughnuts to only the morning, but most of Master’s clientele come in for a sweet treat before noon. Because of this, Chaysing decided to put his Thai food cooking skills to work and has added a savory option for his customers to enjoy throughout the day.

“There is no good Thai food on Gateway Street or in this area, and it gives me something to do after the morning rush for doughnuts,” Chaysing said.

Master’s Thai food menu is a solid list of 46 items, ranging from noodle soups, curries, rice and noodle dishes, and fried rice. Most plates start at $6.95 and include chicken, beef or tofu.

For work, Chaysing goes between the two Springfield locations of Master Donuts, which, according to him, are two different experiences.

On Gateway Street, a good amount of the customers are coming off Interstate-5, so consistency with who comes in is rare. And then there’s the Mohawk Street location that is deeper set in the city of Springfield, so more locals visit the shop.

One commonality between the two spots, though, is positive customer reviews: The people have spoken, and Master has earned itself four out of five Yelp stars. Here’s what the public is saying.

“I actually buy their doughnuts at the Market of Choice, but they are seriously the best donuts I’ve ever eaten!” Kathleen K. of Eugene raves. “They are so light and fluffy and excellent flavor! They beat out Voodoo by far!”

Kristy W. from Eugene also thinks the Master (of) Donuts is “legit:”

“This place is legit! When I go here it’s hard for me to figure out what I want because everything I have tried on the menu is great!” she reviews. “From the curries, drunken noodles, Cashew (Nut) Chicken and Pad Thai… The last curry ordered was the Panang and I would have to say I liked that one the best.”

Also from Eugene, R.W. says she “accidentally discovered” Master, and she has regretted it since because she hasn’t been able to stay away.

“Their chocolate bars are to die for!… Everyone I have ever shared them with say they are the best donuts they’ve ever had. Always fresh and seem to just melt in your mouth. Highly recommend Master Donuts over the other shops in town,” she says.

Master Donuts is open Monday thru Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on weekends at 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

During his first few years of high school in Kigali, Rwanda, Julian Gakwaya spent most of his free time researching scholarships and financial aid within various United States educational institutions.

Gakwaya knew he wanted to receive an American education, specifically one from the University of Oregon, after a recruiting agent from UO visited his high school class.

It wasn’t until his junior year that he received a financial aid package to attend an international Christian boarding school in small-town Oregon. Without any hesitation, Gakwaya arrived at Canyonville Christian Academy, just south of Roseburg. He began his last two years of high school in America, restarting his junior year.

Continued below.

International Students give their opinion on the new changes regarding their health care. (Natsumi Seki/Emerald)

After spending a year at Mt. Hood Community College, Gakwaya is now a freshman at UO—his dream school—studying mathematics and computer science. His tuition is covered by various scholarships, but he still pays supplemental costs, which include health insurance.

The university has two forms of health insurance. One is available to domestic students, and the other for those with student visas. But, while domestic students have a choice of whether they want to sign up for insurance through the university, those holding student visas, like Gakwaya, are required to pay for it.

The alternative to not applying for UO’s insurance plan is proving coverage by an outside organization by submitting a waiver. If they don’t, a hold is placed on their student accounts, prohibiting them from registering for classes.

Since the 2014-2015 academic year, the enrollment process and insurance costs have changed, adding to students’ workloads and bills. International students are now required to apply for UO’s health insurance plan without the university’s help, instead of being automatically enrolled.

And the price has gone up.

Previously, international students paid $1,335 for coverage September through June, according to the University Health Center’s website. The cost of insurance has increased this year to $1,734.

Part of the reason for this increase in cost is that UO wanted to switch to a local insurance provider, PacificSource Health Plans. The quality of coverage was the deciding factor, according to Ayla Rosen, the university’s international student health promotion and outreach intern. Rosen, a senior in human physiology, works on increasing the number of international students enrolled in the new insurance plan.

Continued below.

How do international students pay for health care on top of tuition that costs three times as much as in-state tuition? (Taylor Wilder/Emerald)

“This new plan that the Health Center came up with is really for the benefit of the student,” Rosen said. “I think a lot of international students were hesitant to use our resources on campus because they didn’t want to get charged random fees. So now just about everything you can imagine within the Health Center is covered for them.”

The new insurance covers medical and prescription drugs, dental, physical therapy, urgent care visits and worldwide, 24-7 emergency medical care and assistance. For students similar to Gakwaya, this amount of coverage is necessary to have, and they are willing to accept the higher costs. But many others would like to see more options for international students and different levels of coverage they can choose from.

For Atsushi Hosaka, a student from Ibaraki, Japan and marketing executive for UO’s International Student Association, the price of insurance is more than he makes every month.

“When I keep asking my parents at home to pay my bills, they are always surprised and confused why they have to send more and more money,” Hosaka said. “I don’t argue that health insurance isn’t important and we shouldn’t have to pay for it, but I wish we would have more of a choice and more options to look at.”

Hosaka struggled to figure out which forms to fill out and which links to click in order to get enrolled.

“I didn’t even know that I had to do this for the insurance because last year the school did it for me,” Hosaka said. “My friend told me one day that I had to do it before school started, so I got really worried and stressed. He had to help me with the whole thing because I thought I had no time before the deadline.”

Continued below.

Hosaka was confused about the deadline to submit applications: It isn’t until Oct. 31, but Hosaka hadn’t received any information about it.

Gakwaya, along with many other students from abroad, was taken aback by how healthcare in the U.S. works, since there is universal coverage in Rwanda. However, he believes the benefits he now receives are worth the high costs.

“What Oregon offers me in health insurance is a lot better than what I got with the cheap plan I signed with back at Mt. Hood,” Gakwaya said. “A lot more is covered, which is really important for me since I get sick often and I have a pre-existing condition with my shoulder.”

Unlike Gakwaya, Hosaka’s education is solely paid for by his parents in Japan, who encouraged him to study in the U.S. after the earthquake and tsunami hit in 2011, when “life sort of stopped for [his] people.” Hosaka felt that learning English and studying business would give him an advantage in Japan, where he can eventually start a business or an organization that assists those who are affected by natural disasters.

“It’s frustrating,” Hosaka said. “Sometimes I feel tricked by the university with everything they say we have to pay for and they just want to suck our money. Maybe it will get better.”

A pen and paper should be to every human as rabbits are to James Franco, as sponges are to Jennifer Lawrence and as throwing pies at naked women once was to Charlie Chaplin. No, basic writing tools shouldn’t turn into a common fetish. No, they shouldn’t become something we sexualize as many Hollywood icons do with things like live animals or the degradation of bare females getting hit with classic American sweets. But instead, a pen and paper should become more essential in our lives: things we get excited to have because of how much they contribute to our well being.

As a kid, all I would do was write and draw—put pen to paper. But, there was a period of time when the image of colorful bubble iMacs and noisy keyboards became more appealing than doing everything by hand. Computers and the Internet together became more attractive and efficient to use for both school and fun. At a young age in the early 2000s, I was blinded by the tech like so many others around me.

The majority of people living in the U.S. today are still blinded by technology and gadgets. Take college kids for example. Touchscreen tablets are your rabbits. Shiny new MacBook Pros are your sponges. Smartphones that talk to you are your naked women and life-proof cases for them are your pies. All these tools are attractive and handy at one point or another. But, it must be known that when it comes to writing, you are creating restraint when typing on these devices rather than writing by hand.

In class, it’s been proven that writing notes by hand gives you a better understanding of what is being taught, a deeper conceptual understanding that sticks with you. A study done by Pam Mueller of Princeton University and Daniel Oppenheimer of UCLA shows that typing notes on laptops gives you only a shallow understanding of material that doesn’t last in your long-term memory. Typing takes less time, but it also takes less mental energy and less engagement of the brain compared to handwritten notes. This makes information harder to absorb, unlike one of J. Law’s sponges.

When lecture notes are written by hand, there is a physical connection between you and the words you are writing down. Research done by Patricia Wade of Indiana University explains how the sequence of movements that our fingers and thumb create while writing stimulates cells in our reticular activating system, the part of the brain that filters incoming information and assigns different degrees of importance to new information. So, to take effective handwritten notes, make sure you listen instead of worrying about getting everything down verbatim, word-for-word, and let your brain and hand do the rest. Listen. Reword. Jot down. Highlight if you need to. Use underlining, draw arrows and physically map out the information you are receiving in a way that you will comprehend.

Your brain and the words you write down form a relationship. The brain becomes the clingy half since it feels attached to the words and feels things for them even if there’s nothing there. Sound familiar? This weirdly powerful coupling that happens is also why things like handwritten letters and cards to loved ones are so much more meaningful than sending text messages or writing on people’s Facebook walls. Admittedly, typing a quick “HBD” to your friends on their birthdays gets your message across and only takes a few seconds to post. But, when you take time to physically form personalized sentences for whomever you’re writing to, that’s when human-to-human bonds can become stronger without face-to-face interaction.

Whether you pick a ruled spiral notebook, a nice leather Moleskin, a makeshift journal made of paper from a recycling bin, or give in to the odd American author fetish of writing on legal pads because it looks effortlessly cool—I prefer the yellow ones—practice the art of writing. Pick up that pen you found on the ground and put it to work. You’ll actually learn from your two-hour lectures and not fall asleep or get distracted, hopefully. And you’ll finally be in a relationship, with words that is, while maintaining your human relationships when you send someone a personalized letter or card. If you don’t do it for class notes or corresponding, at least write for fun. Your handwriting will improve. Your imagination will run freely.

And who knows? You might come up with something worth sharing with the world.

The movie National Lampoon’s Animal House made its debut in the summer of 1978 – the same year people fell in love with Sandy and Danny in Grease, when the two notes, “duh-nuh,” were what nightmares were made of with Jaws 2 and when Robert De Niro was the all-out macho man, Michael, in the premier of The Deer Hunter.

Since all these movies are a little off my radar – because they came out 15 years before I was born – I like to compare Animal House to movies of my time like Superbad, the American Pies and Old School. But the thing that sets the 1978 hit apart from these other slapstick college movies – again, other than its datedness – is its connection to the city it was filmed in: Eugene. Not only does the film’s location add to the movie, in my opinion, but the Animal House project did a lot for our city as well.

The University of Oregon and Eugene are never explicitly mentioned in the movie; although, I think anyone familiar with the area can recognize Johnson Hall, the EMU fishbowl, Hayward Field, Autzen Stadium, the Phi Kappa Psi house on 11th and Hilyard and even a few campus lecture halls. There are also shots of the region off-campus like with the drive-ins at Skinner’s Butte, the drive out towards Dexter Lake and the parade that was filmed in nearby Cottage Grove.

For a lot of movies, the city it takes place in isn’t really that important when it has nothing to do with the plotline. In Animal House, Eugene isn’t necessarily a part of the story either, but as a Eugenean myself, I think the city fits so well with the film’s overall vibe. Aspects of Eugene’s culture, both positive and negative ones, make their way into the movie, adding to the overall Animal House appeal.

The hippy culture in Eugene, for example, was a perfect match for Animal House’s retro bits. Think: the boring literature professor who turned out to be a good teacher, not in academia, but with a how-to: smoke weed lesson instead. The way Professor Jennings lives in the movie, his mannerisms and knowledge of marijuana is an encompassment of one, popular type of Eugenean.

There is also the aspect of majority-whiteness in the movie, which is yet another tie to Eugene. The city’s unfortunate history with white supremacy, and the glaring reality that has lasted through time is that there is still an obvious disparity in Eugene and the University of Oregon with ethnic diversity. Now, I think we’ve moved away from a lot of the outright racism that is found in the movie – like when they refer to Black people as “Negros” and use a confederate flag as décor – but again, Eugene is, sadly, the perfect place for a movie with Animal House’s particular ensemble.

Overall, I think the setting of UO is relevant to the movie that stars a once-SNL favorite, John Belushi, a young-Kevin Bacon and a non-villainous Donald Sutherland. Our campus provides a traditional collegiate environment for Animal House, and one that brings a unique Pacific Northwest tinge.

Like any good pairing, the relationship between Animal House and Eugene is not one-sided.

It has been said that for three decades following the film’s release, “the University of Oregon tried, unsuccessfully, to hide its participation in Animal House,” according to Jim Scheppke of Oregon Encyclopedia. I mean, it’s understandable that the university didn’t want to be associated with a film that capitalizes on sexual assault in college, unnecessary animal cruelty, gun violence and an excessive amount of cliché characters, but by justifying the time period of when the movie took place, the university, Eugene and surrounding areas have welcomed Animal House into the local cultures in a big way.

We sing “Shout” at our sporting events—the infamous toga party rendition by Otis Day and the Knights. We saw Nike’s homage to the song and movie last year in a video featuring some star-studded Oregon alumni. Incoming Ducks hear about famous filming location from the movie on campus tours. And in 2012, an Original Animal House Saloon was even built to pay tribute, but has yet to open for business.

There is no doubt that Animal House has contributed to the Hollywood film culture, as well as our local culture, which, I believe, is mirrored by how much our campus and city gave to the movie.

Close your eyes and imagine yourself waking up in a king-sized bed, putting on slippers that say “fan” on the left foot and “luv” on the right, walking with said slippers into your state-of-the-art kitchen, perching yourself up on your marble countertop to eat the three-course breakfast your personal chef made for you.

This is what an average Tuesday morning looks like for the one and only, DJ Khaled – a man who knows how to #treathimself.

The real you is probably sitting in a t-shirt you got for free at a campus event without any pants on, eating Lucky Charms cereal with the last bit of milk in your house, inhaling numbers and words off of your computer screen, hoping something will stick since you have a midterm in 20 minutes that’s worth 40 percent of your overall grade in a class.

As a student in college, I understand the complexity behind finding a balance between your academics, work, extra curricular activities, social life and familial life, but what needs to come first is your personal health and well-being.

I am taking initiative and I am deeming February as #Treatyoself Awareness Month.

Buy those heart-shaped boxes of chocolate this month. Line your bathtub with tealight candles. Watch the latest Neflix shows in bed. Go on that sunset hike. Make time to do the things you find fun and relaxing, whether you have a significant other or not.

“For singles, self-care includes finding out what your identity is based on and finding people who will support you in that journey,” Zhen Cheng, a psychology Doctoral candidate, said. “Many people go into relationships seeking a thrill or to fill a hole that no human being can fill. When we seek our self-worth and value in another person, it can lead to a lot of disappointments.”

During the month of February, I’ve seen my fair-share of friends who loathe the fact that they aren’t in a relationship because of the social stigma behind Valentine’s Day. And if they are involved with someone, I’ve seen the other side where the pressure to celebrate their romance on February 14 becomes a burden.

My solution: turn February into the month of loving yourself.

This lovin’ could mean a variety of things from person to person, so whether caring for yourself involves other people or not, you should do you.

“I think self-care for single college students in the month of February may mean something as practical as creating a list of people who you are grateful for and thanking them,” Zhen said. “Gratitude has been shown to be linked with a variety of positive outcomes, thus gratitude and hope are powerful tools for self-care.”

The whole concept of self-care is a powerful tool to use to fight the stress that comes with being a college student. We have so much to think about on a daily basis that figuring out what keeps us at a happy-medium is important for our overall health.

“I honestly am really bad at coping with everything going on in life and especially school,” Sam Henderson, a senior political science major and nanny, said. “Sometimes I just go on a drive, buy myself food and try to relax and process. Giving myself time to just ‘be’ is what works best for me – also, playing the ukulele in my room.”

Phoebe Chan, who is working towards a BS in international studies,while also juggling her position as Vice President of Finance within her sorority, has her own ways to unwind.

“I drink a lot of tea to relax and take baths,” Chan said.

For sophomore Isara Katmanee who’s studying business, being in a peaceful state of mind includes the presence of food.

“To relax I cook myself a nice meal and watch anime,” Katmanee said. “Cooking is especially important because food makes me relaxed.”

In order to have a clear mind, there needs to be motivation and passion in life as well as relaxation. Another way to slowly incorporate treating yourself and practicing self-care in your everyday life is to channel your inner DJ Khaled.

Now, I know most of his lavish life is a result of how rich he is and his celebrity status, but he also lives day-to-day with an internal awareness of himself that we can all learn from, no matter how rich or poor we may be. By just watching his Snapchat stories on a daily basis, I now see the importance behind his his words.

#blessup #stayawayfromthey #keytosuccess #securethebag

For those of you who are cracking the spines of a new 2016 planner, who take every Buzzfeed quiz that has the word “perfectionist” in it, who are people-pleasers, who routinely add to a never-ending to-do list, who find it odd to have free time, who proofread and continue to re-read texts and posts after they’ve been sent and who religiously live by ‘what ifs’ and the ‘should-woulda-coulda’ paradigm, I’m right there with you.

Being busy, worrying about success and over-thinking situations have become a sort of cultural norm these days where we glorify stress and we try to take advantage of the world in the most efficient ways possible. “Watching, waiting, commiserating” with “all the small things” in life is how we not only integrate Blink-182 into our lives, but how so many of us work to achieve whatever our definitions of happiness may be.

With college being a place full of endless possibilities, and with our workloads constantly being questioned by others and ourselves, hundreds of stressed out over-thinkers are created every day on our campus. College isn’t just a place that makes us grow academically, professionally and socially – it’s also one of the times in our lives when the perfect amount of chaos is presented to us and our minds incessantly try to cope with it all. We form specific mindsets and perspectives that help us to make sense of things.

Sometimes this mental growth involves leaving the chaos, but for myself, and for so many others that I know, it’s the strict mentalities we develop that get us through these four rough years.

Many of us are on the path to becoming pro-jugglers and master multi-taskers with everything going on in our lives, but I personally learned this year that being a hyper-thinker about, all the small things can become too much. From one friend to the next and from one social media post to another, I realized just how many people around me are affected by high levels of stress, anxiety and depression because of the society we live in.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness researched mental health on U.S. college campuses this year and their study shows that one in four students have a diagnosable illness, but about 40 percent don’t seek any sort of help. They found that around 80 percent of students feel overwhelmed by their responsibilities in college and about 50 percent have been struggling in school because of feeling anxious.

But know, friends, if naturally worrying and stressing about life turns into a cognitive disorder like anxiety, panic, OCD or depression, this doesn’t necessarily mean you will have it for life – it is beatable and we are each others’ greatest resources. There are ways to go back to planning out your days, being positively busy and preparing for anything that might come your way – it just needs attention, time and work.

Talking through the fear and discomfort that mental illness brings isn’t easy, but it is a great way to start treating it or preventing it, if caught early. Discuss what’s happening on the inside and how that affects what you do on the outside. What do you think causes the symptoms?

Along with talking privately to friends and other peers who may be experiencing the same things, campus resources like the Counseling and Testing Center are other means of support.

From talking it through, to directing our energy to things in life other than over-thinking—like writing, drawing, working out, meditating and having fun—it is important for us to examine ourselves and our friends for the possibility of having or developing a serious mental condition.

Mental illness has a history of being a taboo subject. But with all we deal with on a daily basis, at college and with our families back home, life can be scary to manage, and people shouldn’t be suffering silently anymore. Together, we can learn to be in control of ourselves.

For more information, start at the University Health Center.

When news came out that North Korea allegedly tested out an H-bomb, the world dropped a massive f-bomb.

On Jan. 5, an earthquake was said to have happened in North Korea near a spot that has historically been known as a nuclear testing site. Then, N.K. said nope, it was actually a hydrogen bomb test and the world should know that its nuclear game is on point. South Korea got a bit flustered, while the U.S. shook a finger Kim Jong-un’s way since the territory has been under U.N. sanctions for this exact kind of mumbo jumbo.

As for the Middle East, some shenanigans occurred between Saudi Arabia and Iran. After a Shiite cleric and 46 prisoners were executed in Saudi Arabia on Jan. 2, Iranians became furious and went after the Saudi embassy in Tehran, Iran’s capital.

Ties between the two countries have been cut and Iran’s relationship with countries like Kuwait, Sudan and Bahrain have weakened because of the events – words like, “You can’t sit with us!” were said. All this drama is a result of other deep-set geopolitical issues between Saudi Arabia and Iran; oil, military and religion, to name a few.

On President Obama’s list of concerns are North Korea, Iran and America’s relationship with Saudi Arabia, as well as gun control.

On Jan. 7, our president gave many of us the feels when he spoke on the country’s gun epidemic, specifically mentioning the 26 Sandy Hook Elementary School victims after the mass-shooting in 2012. Obama voiced with a heavy heart that executive action is going to be taken to end the gun violence in America.

After the speech, (insensitive) people took to the Internet to make fun of the fact that the POTUS cried when he spoke about the murdered children of Sandy Hook. One good thing that came out of people’s ridiculous comments was Trevor Noah’s Daily Show segment on the subject. Snaps for Noah, and his beautiful monologue.

See that thing you’re feeling right now, that pain in your chest that comes from watching someone weep on national television, because he knows that society can do better than to file the shooting of children under ‘shit happens’? That feeling is how you know you’re human. No matter how opposed to Obama’s policies some people may be, or how cynical their politics, they have to at least acknowledge and respect the raw authenticity of that emotion.

He followed with a response to critics claiming Obama’s tears weren’t “believable.”

Are you f***ing kidding me? Shedding tears when you think of murdered children is not really believable? You know what? There is something here that is not really believable, the fact that the rest of us have to share the title of human being with you.

Speaking of monologues, the Golden Globes aired on Jan. 10, and so many great things happened.

For starters, the night’s dynamic duos: Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Schumer, Eva Longoria and America Ferrara, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt and always, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. The night’s best social media activity: a selfie by Tony Hale posted by Julia Louis-Dreyfus with the (phenomenal) cast of Veep, a selfie by America Ferrara (with her crew), another squad picture by Eva Longoria, all the (deserved) Twitter praise for Leonardo DiCaprio and my personal favorite, a Twit vid by Liev Schreiber (aka Ray Donovan) pre-gaming to Selena Gomez where he just wanted to look good for us.

I like to look at the Golden Globes as a sort of pre-Oscars, and since DiCaprio, others from his film The Revenant and the movie itself won big, I think everyone should agree when I say 2016 will be the year of the Leo.

Week one has now come and gone here on campus, and hopefully everyone is as settled as the weather. Winter term can be a difficult one to get through with it being so dark in the morning and only brief daylight hours.

This is the time of year when the type of depression called S.A.D., or seasonal affective disorder can creep up on people. It is classified as a very common mood disorder that affects around three million people a year in the U.S., according to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

This is not a drill!

Get those happy lamps. Make time for that trivia night. Answer when your family calls. Start that new Netflix series (to watch after you study). Always eat the dessert (after a well-balanced meal). Take a nap in between classes as a refresher. Ask for help and support whenever you feel like you need it. And make sure you are taking care of yourself in terms of mental peace and physical strength.