Ground view of some of Konan's campus on Sept. 4, 2025. Photo courtesy of Rand Carswell ('27). In the fall semester of 2025, four Willamette students arrived at Konan University in Kobe, Japan, the first from Willamette to take part in a new study abroad program.  Unlike the Tokyo International University (TIU) study abroad program, the Konan University program is in a city situated between the ocean and mountains in Southern Japan, and is only available for the fall semester

A rainy day at Geer skate park on Feb. 7, 2026 in Salem, Oregon. Photo by Sofie Szigeti. In October, the city of Salem unveiled a brand new skate park in northeast Salem.  The project had been underway since January of the same year, and after a few delays, the park was finally open for business and quickly surged in popularity. In the first few months since its completion, Geer Park has been making waves through the Salem skate community.  Joshua Santos-Díaz (’28) is from Sa