In the dim aura of hazy bar lights, amid piles of french fries and freshly drained pint glasses, members of the University of Oregon Forensics team huddle around a tea-light table candle squabbling loudly about the proper response to a question they’ve just been asked.

Suggestions are shouted around mouthfuls of half-eaten burger — bad ones shot down quickly between swallows of Ninkasi and good ones greeted with the clink of a celebratory cheer. Ultimately, a consensus is reached, an answer scribbled, and the team’s response carefully passed along to a moderator.

It’s Monday Trivia Night at the Cornucopia bar in downtown Eugene, and generations of debaters from the UO’s speech and debate club are gathered in a weekly match-up of pop culture references and geographical factoids. Though the glow of the dim bar is far from the sterile florescence that usually illuminates the team’s competition space, their collective dynamic remains much the same: critical, yet constructive. Dissenting opinions and contrary perspectives are openly voiced between teammates unafraid of harming the unspoken assurance of unwavering community support.

It’s an atmosphere where people thrive.

Oregon debate has a history of success, borne largely of their history of inclusion: anyone, regardless of demographical, ideological or technical background is encouraged to participate. This year, the team sent three debate duo’s to an invitational tournament reserved for the top 55 teams in the country. At the tournament, UO senior Liz Fetherston was the first in Oregon history to win the distinction of top speaker. Her partner, Kehl Van Winkle, took fourth.

Yet, ask any member of the team what sets this year apart and national success won’t be the only thing that comes to mind. Instead, they’ll likely point to an influential member of the team that you won’t find hanging out at Cornucopia on Monday nights. Her name was Megan Gaffney.

A senior and philosophy major from San Diego, Gaffney was a four year member of the UO’s Forensics team with an affinity for learning and a passion for making the world a better place. An accomplished debater of eight years, Gaffney was respected as one of the top debaters in the country and as an ardent advocate for increasing female representation in the traditionally male-oriented activity. She died last fall.

Though her loss shook the team both personally and competitively, the group forged powerfully ahead — rededicating its efforts in honor of Gaffney’s vision.

“That tragedy caused the whole team to reflect more deeply on why we are doing this activity, why it is important to us and what we can do to make it better and reflective of the kinds of changes that Megan was an advocate for making,” UO Director of Forensics Trond Jacobsen said. “Oregon has been a program that encourages ethical advocacy, intellectual experimentation and responsibility toward improving society … It’s for the purpose of making society better — that’s why we do what we do.”

The UO Forensics team’s primary goal is to help spread the benefits of critical thinking, research and public speaking fostered by debate to demographics who don’t typically participate in the event – a goal they target through an open-door participation policy, high school recruiting efforts and outreach to inner-city youth. In addition, many of the team members — Gaffney included — shape their arguments to address prominent social issues and offer suggestions for their remediation, both within the world at large and in the debate community.

“One of the things that speaks to our goal as a team is that it doesn’t matter what your level of experience is or what kind of speech and debate or mock trial interests you — you have a home on our program,” Jacobsen said. “To me, the biggest thing is more than the kinds of awards we win — it’s that we are helping shape people who will make a significant impact both in our community and in the larger area.”

According to Megan’s mother Nancy Gaffney, it was this attitude of communal support that first attracted her daughter to the team. In turn, Gaffney loved to help train those who shared her passions.

“Megan was very intellectual. She loved to learn about things. That’s what she did for fun … but she was also very passionate about the topics that she was debating,” Nancy said. “If you were at all interested in debate, Megan would do anything possible to help you. She loved to be able to help people and teach … I’m proud of the fact that she would help people and reach out to them.”

Ben Dodds, a former competitor for Oregon debate and the team’s current Forensics Coordinator, remembers one of Gaffney’s last interactions with the team as an example of her role as a mentor. In a presentation, Gaffney taught the team to format its research with a computer template — both showcasing her personal expertise and teaching her teammates how to improve their own arguments.

A metaphorical template herself, Gaffney’s skill, compassion and dedication to making a positive impact on her community made the senior a prime example of the type of student that UO hopes to produce, Dodds said.

“(Gaffney) is the reason we’re able to have the team shaped the way it is and dedicated to the things it’s dedicated to,” Dodds said. “When she got here four years ago, things that we do now were just ideas on paper … she was kind of the template for the team — she actually did it.”

For second year debate member Truth Mallon, Gaffney’s influence played out not only in terms of argumentative technique, but also personal acceptance. Gaffney went above and beyond to help accommodate Mallon, who identifies as transgender — even calling ahead before tournaments to assure the availability of gender neutral bathrooms.

In another telling instance, Gaffney brought along extra Halloween costumes to the team’s annual dress-up tournament last fall. She herself went as the Lorax – equipped with extra Truffula tree costumes for anyone who needed a way to participate.

“(That tournament) was really reflective of what Megan did on the debate team. Like ‘here’s a way to be a part of us. Not just be a part of the team, not just read our arguments, but really be a part of us,’” Mallon said. “That spirit really helped us when she passed — that idea that we had all been made to feel like we belonged.”

Though Gaffney is gone, the communal aspect remains. From trivia night to tournament, the UO Forensics team is in it together.

“Yeah, we’re working on debate, but also working on growing individually and ensuring that if you have problems you have someone to talk to,” Assistant Director of Forensics Steve Clemmons said.

“It feels really good. It feels like home. It feels like family.”

The Erb Memorial Union will experience temporary power outages on the mornings of Thursday Mar. 27 and Friday Mar. 28, as well as heating outages throughout the day, an email alert sent by EMU Facilities Director Dana Winitzky announced on Wednesday evening.

The power outages will be contained to the west basement area of the EMU and will span from approximately 6-8 a.m. on both days. The only affected areas will be the freight elevator and emergency lighting. In addition, the building’s heating and cooling lines will be off both days and visitors to the EMU are advised to dress accordingly.

The building will be publicly accessible according to the revised spring break schedule of 7:30 am to 5:00 p.m. both days.

Gender advocates. Social activists. Man haters. Bra burners.

Rampant social stereotypes and diverse personal applications of the word “feminist” make its meaning near impossible to pin down.

Among those who identify with the term, individual perspectives surrounding social and political conversations about race, reproductive rights and LGBTQ issues make the feminist agenda vary on a case-by-case basis. Within the movement, debate surrounding who can affiliate themselves with the term and what level of activism it implies further nuances the discussion. From moderates to lesbian separatists to political activists, the term feminist unites a range of views around one point of absolute consensus: leveling the playing field between sexes.

“The social context we’re in has conflicting mixed messages,” said Bonnie Mann, faculty adviser for the University of Oregon’s Feminist Philosophy Research Interest Group through the Center for the Study of Women in Society. “On the one hand, feminism is seen as something that’s very innocuous and sort of seen as being liberal … and on the other hand “feminism” is still a very dirty word and I think many young women are still afraid of the term.”

UO senior Anna Bird is not one of those women.

Originally from a rural town in northeastern Oregon, Bird has always considered herself aware of gender inequalities. However she didn’t adopt the label of a feminist until her first women’s and gender studies class her freshman year. In light of her positive exposure to the principle of feminism, Bird was surprised by the social stigma the word carried even inside her friend group.

“When I started talking to my friends about it, they were kind of shy to the idea of talking about it, and definitely to identifying as it,” Bird said. “People still think that to be a feminist you have to not shave your legs or shave your armpits or hate men and you have to want to lead this really separatist, lesbian life or something. And while that’s credible, and people definitely do do those things, that’s not what you have to do and that’s not what being a feminist means.”

In Bird’s opinion, feminism lies at the intersection of economic, racial and social interactions with gender: and as such, she considered it a feminist’s prerogative to advocate against all issues that affect them. This includes combating instances of domestic violence that affects one in four women in the United States and pushing science and math education for women — a field where men still make up 3/4 of the work force. However, she said, the fabled “bra burning” is in no way a prerequisite.

“The rhetoric of feminism started as a way to combat sexism and as it’s evolved it’s taken on all of these other meanings and these movements for people,” Bird said “I want to think that it’s just a lifestyle choice — you’re just an inclusive person and you lead this life of conscientiousness and if the time comes to be an activist you’re an activist but you don’t have to be a twenty four seven activist or something.”

Bird praised the variety of issues targeted by the feminist movement and the range of perspectives with which feminists themselves approach those issues as a way to spur democratic decision making. However, feminism’s multifaceted nature also invites confusion among those who don’t associate with the term.

“I think that to be a feminist means to be committed to the emancipatory aspirations of women — simple enough.” Mann said. “Beyond that sort of basic aspiration it becomes very complicated.”

For many feminists at the University of Oregon, the most pressing call of the feminist movement has become achieving equal rights for all.

“People have this view that feminists want to bash men down, but that’s not the case. We want to raise people up and gain equality for everybody — regardless of race and gender and class,” freshman feminist and ASUO Women’s Center office assistant Ali Byers said. “At the Women’s Center we try and provide opportunities for all underrepresented people … that’s a good example of the feminist movement as a whole. You have to bring awareness first and then you can make more changes.”

As a male, sophomore Andrew Rogers brings another perspective to the table.

Rogers attributes his first significant alignment with feminist practices to a conversation he had with his mother regarding former Vice President Dick Cheney’s policies on abortion at 10 years old — long before he understood the political implications of the word. He still identifies as a feminist, yet the decision between when to participate as an activist and when to take the role of an ally has become more complex

“Sometimes I see male feminists trying to speak over actual women, which I find disingenuous,” Rogers said. “I think it would be really easy for me to be like ‘I’m a feminist and I’m a good guy and I support equal rights.’ It would be easy but it would be kind of pointless … As a feminist and a feminist ally I want to make sure that I know what I’m talking about and I’m listening to women’s opinions because feminism is not about me trying to be a nice person — it’s about me trying to make shit better.”

Despite Roger’s intentions to further the rights of women, there are those feminists who would revoke his self-affiliation with the term because of his sex.

“We don’t try to indoctrinate. We try to open up certain questions and invite people to participate in their own way, from their own standpoint,” graduate student Fulden Ibrahimhakkioglu said of the general “feminist” movement. “Personally, I’m not sure that I agree with (all feminists), but I don’t think it’s anybody’s right to deny them to claim the term for themselves.”

Various personal perspectives, intentions and levels of activism make feminism tricky to pin down. However, it’s the range of opinions present within the larger scope that Ibrahimhakkioglu believes transforms feminism from a linear issue to a multidimensional space for discussion.

She finds beauty in its complexity.

“I don’t think feminism is an ‘-ism’ like any other. It’s not a system of thought, it’s not a system of ideology, it’s not a cult that one needs to be cautious of. It’s more like an approach, an attitude, an area of study and a political movement,” Ibrahimhakkioglu said.

The end result of such a dynamic group of collaborators, says feminist Women’s and Gender Studies Professor Elizabeth Reis, is a progressive social movement that consistently evolves and adapts itself to target each and every manifestation of what she described as “sexist oppression.”

“People are worried that you have to walk a certain line to be a feminist — but I’d just like to see it a lot more open. We’d get a lot more people and a lot more perspectives,” Reis said. “There’s a whole lot to be done, so the more feminism invites anyone into the process at whatever issue speaks to them, the more effective we’re going to be.”

Charlie Weaver, the digital and creative director at the Iowa State Daily student newspaper, was officially announced as the future president, publisher and CEO of Emerald Media Group following an Emerald Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 12.

Weaver was one of two candidates selected as finalists in the Emerald’s search to replace current president Ryan Frank, who will begin a new job as the political editor of the Las Vegas Sun on March 31. A University of Oregon alumn and former Emerald editor, Frank has led the student media company for the last three years, most notably through a digital “Revolution,” from a daily print publication to a digitally focused news organization in September of 2012.

It was that Revolution that sparked Weaver’s interest.

“I’ve been following the Emerald now for the last five to six years, and more specifically for the last three years once they kicked off the Revolution, and was just really excited about their changes and the approach The Emerald was taking toward college media and really wanted to be a part of it,” Weaver said.

Weaver’s selection was the culmination of a nearly year-long replacement process that Frank likens to a “courtship” of sorts. Frank and the Emerald board recruited candidates who they believed demonstrated a strong understanding of college media, a penchant for innovation, leadership skills, energy and passion for journalism as a pillar of civil service in a stable democracy.

“You start to stack these things on top of each other, and the keyhole — someone who has some, or all of these components — is a really narrow keyhole,” Frank said. “As we went around looking for people who fit those requirements, you start to notice that the pool gets really shallow.”

Of 20 applicants, two candidates were finalized and evaluated by three Emerald search committees comprised of students, professional staff and a panel of board members. Finalists were flown to campus to meet with staff members and present their business plans. Both received audience evaluations, however the final decision was left up to a vote by the Emerald board.

Peter Milliron, chair of the Emerald’s Board of Directors, is positive that Wednesday’s board decision secured the brightest possible future of the Emerald. His certainty stems largely from the student feedback encouraged by the unique selection process crafted by Frank in which students and professional staff were given multiple opportunities to express their opinions on the two candidates.

“We wanted someone who had good business sense, who understood college media and who had a strong journalism background and we believe that in Charlie we found all of those things,” Milliron said. “I know that the entire board of directors feels strongly that we made a better decision, not only because of what Ryan did in helping us through the process  but also because students and staff helped us understand what was important for them.”

Weaver has worked at the Iowa State Daily newspaper since 2001, when he started as a student designer. After graduating as a nontraditional student in 2005, he secured a spot on the professional staff as the design director. Admittedly, he’s hooked on college media.

“Once you’ve participated in a college media organization it’s in your blood. It’s there for life,” Weaver said. “It would take a lot to get me to even think about quitting my job at the Daily because I love the students, I love what I do and it’s a huge passion of mine. But this is an amazing opportunity that I really want to take a shot at.”

At the Emerald, he hopes to capitalize on opportunities presented by the Venture Department — the Emerald’s new creative funding agency — and help inspire innovative methods of improving the financial stability, breadth and impact of student journalism efforts.

The Iowa native will begin his career in the Pacific Northwest no later than May 1, 2014. Though Weaver admits it’s a daunting transition to pack up everything he’s familiar with and relocate his life,  he’s excited for the change.

Perpetual motion is a personal philosophy that he shares with the Emerald.

“There’s always room for improvement, there’s always room to try something new and there’s always reasons to take risks. The interesting thing about the Emerald is that you have cultivated a culture that is okay with that — taking risks, taking chances, not afraid to be out in front,” he said. “My goal, my mission is to maintain and foster that culture into the future.”

Scott Coltrane will assume the position of Senior Vice President and Provost of the University of Oregon, an email from President Michael Gottfredson announced early this afternoon.

Coltrane has served as the Interim Provost since July of this year following the resignation of former Provost Jim Bean. Prior, Coltrane was the dean of the UO College of Arts and Sciences.

Three finalists for the Provost position gave presentations and received public feedback on campus over the past few months. In his presentation, Coltrane stressed the importance of retention rates, financial stability and tenured faculty moving forward.

Chemistry professor Andrew Marcus will serve as interim Dean of CAS while an official replacement is sought to assume Coltrane’s former position.

“(Coltrane) has proven himself to be a strong leader and an inspiring colleague,” Gottfredson said in the email. ” I am impressed with the academic-planning and priority-setting efforts he is currently leading on campus, and am excited to work together as we advance our mission of access and excellence at the University of Oregon.”

“The state of the university is sound,” President Gottfredson said as he opened the University of Oregon Faculty Senate  on Wednesday Feb. 12 with a state of the university report.

Gottfredson’s comments updated the audience on the recent progress of the UO’s new independent governing board, the progression of a series of academic planning forums hosted by Interim Provost Scott Coltrane and  his support of the current operational model of the university’s budget system, including the development of a new university-wide group in charge of advising the administrative and auxiliary budgets.

Though Gottfredson described the university model as stable, that wasn’t a sentiment that could likely have been translated to reflect the atmosphere in Lawrence 115.

Tensions ran high as administrators, faculty and department staff discussed a heavily anticipated item on this month’s agenda: ending subsidies to athletics and requesting academic funding from the athletic department.

Entitled “An End to Subsidies for the UO Athletic Department,” the motion laid out by Senate member and UO Economics professor Bill Harbaugh calls for both an end to the university funding of academic tutoring for UO athletes and requests that the academic department contribute funds to the university’s academic operations. According to President Gottfredson’s written response to the senate proposal, the UO currently spends a smaller portion of funding on athletic purposes than 92 percent of its peers with division one athletics.

Following discussion, it was decided that the motion would be split into two – one to address the withdrawal of academic funding for athletic tutoring, and the second to request academic funding from athletic income. Both motions were postponed for deliberation at next month’s meeting on March 12.

A second issue that caused a stir in the room was another motion proposed by Harbaugh, this one intended to change the by-laws surrounding senate budget committee, an institution the motion cites as the “primary vehicle for faculty and senate participation in university fiscal matters.”

After much discussion and a suggestion for postponement from Senate executive Margie Paris, a UO law professor, the senate decided upon its intent to vote on the amended proposal. The motion carried according the the required two-thirds majority. Following Wednesday’s meeting, the committee will include an additional faculty member (increasing the requirements to eight faculty representatives instead of seven), and require that four of those members represent voting members of the faculty senate, and three of which are tenured.

Arbitration regarding athletics will continue at the next senate meeting on Wednesday, Mar. 12.

The Eugene Water and Electric Board estimates that roughly 1,400 patrons remain without power on Monday morning, as per an announcement on its Facebook page.

This is a significant decrease from the estimates of roughly 5,000 affected mid-day Sunday.

EWEB has requested that clients comfortable sharing their location post their addresses on the Facebook page in order to receive estimates for an estimated repair time. The utility continues to post updates to its Facebook and Twitter pages as they restore power to specific areas in the city.

Scattered areas near the University of Oregon campus suffered power outages since Saturday afternoon, when a mixture of freezing rain and snow from the prior two days wreaked havoc among much of the region, downing tree limbs and power lines. The National Weather Service forecasts highs in the mid-40s to low 50s for the remainder of the week with showers throughout the day.

This map illustrating power outages in the area around the University of Oregon campus was compiled using reader reports submitted to The Emerald between late morning Sunday, Feb. 9 and mid morning Monday, Feb 10.

As such, it is intended as a snapshot of power outages during that window and does not reflect current power conditions.

People in residential areas still without power can contact the Eugene Water and Electric Board  or follow them on Twitter and Facebook for the most recent estimates for power restoration in their area.

A University of Oregon alert released Friday evening announced that campus activities and classes will remain suspended until at least noon on Saturday, Feb. 8.

However, all campus employees are expected to report for their normal working hours to support the nearly 4,000 on-campus residents dependent on their services.

Stay tuned for more updates.

University administration has announced that classes until 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7 have been cancelled. Additionally, the status of evening classes will be announced by 3 p.m.

Currently, campus remains open and all employees are expected to report for their normal working hours.

The status of weekend events will be announced later in the day.