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Students of Willamette play a game of pickup soccer with the ducks. Art by Alyssa Diggdon. Welcome back, Bearcat Fan. No exclamation point this week so as not to confuse the reader, as this column is resuming its usual dreary mood to match that of the weather and the abysmal record of our beloved ’Cats this weekend. The rain drowned everything but our own despair. Let’s get it over with. Football suffered another loss in Forest Grove against Pacific on Saturday, in which thre

Ellis poses with his new book on Sept. 29, 2025. Photo by Jack Godsil. Released in February, Willamette professor Richard Ellis' latest book seeks to tackle the question: What do presidents actually have the power to do?  Ellis has taught political science at Willamette University for 35 years. Throughout his lengthy career, he has published an array of books and textbooks, focusing on the history of the American presidency and American political culture. His newest publicati

Some silly little stuffed animals. Art by Dasha Allyn. Fluffy, stuffed and charming: a child’s trusty sidekick. Stuffed animals are common objects of comfort and can function in various ways. They can be a bedtime companion, a soft shoulder to cry on after a stressful midterm, and, depending on the brand, a cute heating pad. These objects serve many purposes that children often overlook. Whether it’s a ratty, washed-out teddy from childhood or a new fuzzy friend, owning a stu