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First contact. Art by Basil Allen. I never expected to feel maternal toward a rock, yet here we are.  “Project Hail Mary” follows scientist and junior high teacher Ryland Grace through space as he searches for a solution to save Earth. It turns out, space isn’t devoid of life — Rocky exists. Rocky is an endearing rock-adjacent alien lifeform whom Grace teams up with to find the cure to star-eating astrophage and save both Earth and Rocky’s origin planet, Erid.  Grace and Rock

The "Dear Colleague" letter being torn in half. Art by Wes Mowry-Silverman. After almost a year since its implementation into educational systems around the country, the United States Department of Education’s February 2025 “Dear Colleague” letter  has been repealed by the Department of Education due to a federal court’s decision in August  that the letter violated the constitution.  The letter outlined official guidance to colleges and universities about how they should comp

Chemeketa Community College students in Chemeketa's Student Center on March 3, 2026. Photo by Mac Childers. Transfer access from Chemeketa Community College to Willamette University is at risk for some as a shifting federal landscape threatens to reduce financial support for disadvantaged students.  Through the Bearcat Pathway , Chemeketa students receive exclusive scholarship opportunities and dual support from both institutions in order to facilitate transfers. However, som

Editor’s Note : In addition to resources on campus, Oregon’s 988 crisis line  is available if you or someone you know is facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just needs someone to talk to. Marion County also offers 24/7 support  for anyone in crisis. The Willamette community is grieving a student who died on campus over the weekend. The Salem Police Department responded Saturday to a report that the student in question was found