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The ofrenda at Alianza's Dia de los Muertos at Willamette University, Salem, Oregon on Oct. 31, 2025. Photo by Sofie Szigeti. When students stepped through the Cat Cavern doors on Oct. 31 and walked down a path of golden marigold flowers, they were immediately greeted with an explosion of color.  Flags of every Latin American country and papel picado banners fluttered from the ceiling. An ofrenda stood at the left of the room , decorated with food, candles, flowers and photos

White-crowned sparrow on Willamette University grounds on March 5, 2025. Photo courtesy of Riley Teske. Think about all the times you’ve been outside on campus. The noise of birds chirping and ducks splashing in the Mill Stream is a constant soundtrack to Willamette life, but many factors work under the radar to make this place a haven for avian life. Leading the student charge for birds are the WU Bird Nerds. Under the group’s umbrella, they lead birdwatching trips, raise aw

Rachel Swenson ('27) and Skweezy Jibbs pose for a selfie at Willamette University on Oct. 17, 2025. Photo courtesy of Rachel Swenson. Rachel Swenson (ʼ27) usually doesn’t get up early on Fridays, which she has off. But at 9 a.m. on Friday Oct. 17, she was up searching the Willamette campus with one goal in mind. The day before, social media personality Skweezy Jibbs had uploaded an image to Instagram with a familiar red brick building in the background: Eaton Hall. Via that p