Ryan Vickroy (’26) and Lliam Mattingly (’26) duel outside Smith Auditorium on Nov. 17. Photo by Patricia Krepel. Weekly, a group of friends practices sword fighting in the Kaneko Quad, allowing anyone to take a swing. This is not just some regular fighting; it’s HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts).  HEMA is a combat fighting style that originated in the Middle Ages, though its techniques have since faded out of popularity or have evolved into different sword fighting practices. In order to reintroduce and preserve this art for future generations and HEMA enthusiasts, professionals have used recovered manuscripts to learn the old fighting techniques.  Lliam Mattingly (’26), who runs the club, described HEMA as “living history.” There is an array of clubs all over Europe and the U.S. where people can learn and even get certified to teach HEMA. This historical hobby is also a competitive sport for some; there are tournaments where individuals can duel against one another for a chance to receive medals or even cash prizes.  Mattingly has been studying the art of HEMA for 2 years. He was trained in Texas, and this semester, he decided to bestow his knowledge onto his friends and the Willamette community.  On Friday nights, Mattingly rounds up his friends and brings them to Kaneko, where the lessons begin.  Mattingly has a collection of six different styles of foam training swords, accompanied by a variety of books on HEMA and training manuals. This, alongside his previous knowledge of the sport from back home, is what he uses to share his hobby with the rest of the community. He estimated that he has had about 20 people drop in and out to take a stab at this elaborate fighting style. These training sessions have expanded to the Nerf Club. On occasion, Mattingly has brought his sword fighting equipment to Nerf Club’s meetings to extend his knowledge to the club as its vice president, allowing members to get a mix of modern-day shoot-offs and medieval duels.  When asked if he ever thought of turning HEMA into its own club at Willamette, he expressed how expensive the equipment is. One piece of HEMA training equipment costs on average $100 or more, he said. Even with funding, Mattingly understands he would have to pay some money out-of-pocket to help fund the club's equipment needs, including an investment of time. He decided that he prefers these impromptu training sessions, so anyone passing by can join in.  Despite the lack of official club status, many still enjoy the opportunity Mattingly has given them to learn HEMA. Ryan Vickroy (’26), a friend of Mattingly’s and participant in these weekly gatherings, stated, “It’s fun to learn from him, even if it is just a bunch of friends getting together and having a good time.”    Mattingly added, “I’m really glad I have a community here that has people willing to do this niche stuff with me. People are willing to try it out.”

Public art on display at the "Step Up Your Resistance Festival" at the St. Mark Lutheran Church in Salem, Oregon on Nov. 22, 2025. Photo by Sofie Szigeti. On Nov. 22, the “Step Up Your Resistance” festival hosted over 60 attendees for a day of workshop, music and art framed around local political issues and civic engagement. The event was held in the St. Mark Lutheran Church in Salem and was organized by One Million Rising , a subsidiary program of the “ No Kings ” organization.  A week after the event, which included discussions on mitigating the effects of local Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity, the Salem city council pushed back against ICE by declaring a state of emergency.  To start the event, participants were provided packets outlining the schedule and lyric sheets for group singing, held together by a paperclip as a subtle nod to history. An attached card explained that during World War II, Norwegians wore paperclips as a quiet act of resistance against Nazi occupation. Organizers of the event wore frog-themed headbands referencing the “ Portland Frog ” as a way to identify themselves. A mural titled “We Are the Flood” invited participants to paint resistance fists, symbolizing an opposition to authoritarian systems.  The pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church addressed the attendees, briefly speaking his beliefs of overlapping values between human rights activists and Christians. Music was a central feature of the event thereafter, with Peter Bergel, one of the organizers, performing protest songs such as “Which Side Are You On?” with his own lyrics, leading attendees to sing. Virginia Stapleton, a former Salem city councilor running for Oregon State Senate District 11 in the 2026 general election, gave a morning message concluded by the statement, “Fascist governments cannot take joy or hope.”  Speakers encouraged attendees to take civic action, including attending city council meetings, submitting public comments and supporting marginalized voices. Organizers highlighted PeoplesAction.org , which is a national progressive advocacy and political organization in 29 states in the U.S.  A morning workshop on human rights observer training, organized by a leader from Latinos Unidos Siempre who wished to remain anonymous, emphasized immigrant justice and civil rights. Human rights observers, as described by the leader, act as neutral witnesses who document civil rights violations, including activity by police, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and political groups. Observers are not lawyers: they do not give legal advice and do not physically or verbally interfere with enforcement actions, the speaker said. Human rights observers are intended to serve as a resource for victims by collecting information that can later be used in legal cases.  Attendees were provided with two resources for reporting and support: Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition ( PIRC ) for reporting ICE activity in protected locations, and Equity Corps of Oregon ( ECO ), a statewide program under Oregon Worker Relief that provides legal support related to immigration status. The training emphasized three primary methods of documentation: recording from a phone, taking notes on paper, and documenting vehicle interactions. If approached by police or ICE agents, participants were encouraged to record the interaction, narrating time, location and date when possible, and announcing themselves as human rights observers.  Constitutional protections highlighted during the morning workshop included the First Amendment, which covers the freedom of press, speech and assembly, and the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. Attendees were advised to secure phones with passwords that do not rely on biometrics to prevent bypassing if devices are taken. The resource wehaverights.us  was shared for further guidance.  Concerns raised during the workshop included ICE presence on tribal lands, recent arrests on Lancaster Drive and tactics such as agents using out-of-state license plates or presenting warrants not signed by a judge. The workshop organizer concluded by calling for Salem to declare a state of emergency to protect the community and to withdraw from lawsuits challenging Oregon’s sanctuary law. Following this demand, the Salem Reporter  later noted on Dec. 1 that the city council declared a state of emergency in response to federal agents violating constitutional rights through immigration enforcement. Before the afternoon session, Salem Councilor Vanessa Nordyke, who is running for mayor against incumbent Julie Hoy, spoke to attendees. Nordyke emphasized diversity and community advocacy, stating, "Change is coming. If you are not outraged, you are not paying attention. … The notion that local politics doesn’t matter is not true.” Nordyke encouraged residents to attend council meetings and engage directly with those in leadership positions.  An afternoon workshop titled “Targeted Boycott” by Matthew Boulay focused on boycotts and coalitions. Boulay discussed stopavelo.org  as the head of the national coalition, a campaign against Avelo Airlines, which has been linked to deportation flights. He explained that boycotts can be effective tools when communities unify around accessible information. Boulay noted that the boycott has led to route cancellations in multiple cities and pressured Avelo to suspend flights in some regions. The final session was led by Kathleen, a retired city manager with 30 years of experience in local government. Kathleen, who only gave her first name to The Collegian, explained the structure of Salem’s council, the role of managers and the pressure points that influence policy. These points include campaign donors, unions and regulations, and she advised attendees to review council agendas, attend meetings, build coalitions and remain in contact with all council members. She emphasized focusing demands on issues within the city’s jurisdictional authority. Following these sessions, the festival concluded with Bergal leading another song, “Hope Lingers On,” by Low Lilly. Attendees sang, “ I will not hate, and I will not fear / In our darkest hour, hope lingers here.”

Christmas sit-com characters having a Thanksgiving dinner. Art by Addie Martin. In the 20th and 21st centuries, holiday specials have replaced many supposed staples of Christmas iconography (what even is figgy pudding?) and cemented themselves as a part of seasonal festivities for millions of families.  For decades, audiences have been able to enjoy watching their favorite characters, from “I Love Lucy’s” Lucy Ricardo, to “Parks and Rec’s” Leslie Knope, celebrate the holidays. Unfortunately for viewers, the switch from the broadcast model to streaming has changed the way television is produced and may have stifled the holiday episode. Forever. The shift from cable television to streaming began in 2007, when Netflix switched from DVDs to an online platform, allowing viewers instant access to any movies and television on the site. Over time, the week-by-week model of episode releases was overtaken by the binge model. Now, the culture around TV shows is less, “Did you see what happened last week?” and more “Have you finished the season?” about four days after it is released. Despite this shift toward binging shows, it’s clear viewers still crave the communal experience provided by the episodic release structure, as shown by the popularity and cultural prevalence of shows like “ Euphoria, ” “ White Lotus ,” and “ The Summer I Turned Pretty. ” Each of these shows, varied in quality and mired in controversy as they may be, experienced intense popularity while they were being released.  These shows brought back the communal element of television consumption, but they’re all notable for their tonal whiplash of both the comedic and the dramatic, often coming across as comedic because of the intensity of their melodrama. They’re also notable for their season-long arcs, compared to the episodic story structure of sitcoms. This makes incorporating holidays into the plot less feasible, and releasing these episodes seasonally near impossible. It's harder to release a "Walter White carves the turkey" episode on Thanksgiving because lining it up with the plot is bound to cause problems.  Despite the prevalence of the aforementioned shows, classic comedies, the once all-encompassing 20-minute sitcom, have been left behind. This isn’t to say sitcoms aren’t still big on streaming, but new sitcoms haven’t had their moment in the sun. While streaming remains the primary consumption format for sitcoms, it makes less sense to release episodes that are specific to particular times of years, and so, the holiday episode has lost its dominance in the American television canon.  Consumers are now deprived of the joy of seeing their favorite characters in trashy Halloween costumes or ugly Christmas sweaters. There’s a staggering lack of Secret Santa shenanigans, Valentine’s Day hijinks and April Fool’s Day tomfoolery. Just think, if holiday episodes hadn’t been so culturally prominent, the public may have been deprived of Glee’s seminal Thanksgiving hit, the immaculate mashup “Let’s Have a Kiki / Turkey Lurkey Time.”  Admittedly, many of these sitcoms are not representative of a wide array of experiences. They primarily center on Western culture and Christian holidays, which leaves many marginalized communities behind. However, in recent years, many mainstream sitcoms have adopted more diverse casts and more progressive ideology, rather than relying on humor that punches down. While this may be too idealistic, a remnant of Obama-era liberalism, it’s not unreasonable to believe that this shift could continue and potentially lead to holiday episodes focused on a variety of traditions.  If sitcoms maintained their former dominance, an increase in diversity within holiday episodes may have been a possibility. Instead, the most beloved sitcoms of the 90s through late 2010s have retained their popularity, while sitcoms that are currently being produced fall flat. NBC’s recent releases, like “The Paper” and “St. Denis Medical,” have nowhere near the fanbases of their predecessors. Maybe they’re sleeper hits, but as of now, they appear irrelevant. What has filled this void?  The answer is almost always the same: slop! Middlebrow media is dead and HBO and Netflix are dancing on its grave. Many comedic series, like HBO’s sardonic dramedies, are too intellectual or dry in their comedy to embrace the corniness of a holiday episode. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are movies that exist not to tell a story but to convey the vague idea of holiday joy.  They’re plotless, festive fantasias of attractive people in red sweaters, mass produced on the Hallmark or Netflix lot. At this point, the commentary on these films are just as cliché as the plotlines themselves. It’s all big city girl, small town boy, every day for the rest of time. Or, for a new twist on a classic form, there’s the monarchy-obsessed Netflix cinematic universe, with oodles of princesses and too many Vanessa Hudgens. There's nothing wrong with liking these movies. They’re the movie equivalent of crackling log YouTube videos; they add festive ambiance and holiday cheer. There’s a beauty, too, in the annual tradition of these movies, especially in the sequential films, as viewers gain familiarity with the characters and their world. This familiarity is the specific joy of the holiday episode. The viewer gets to watch characters they know experience the trials and tribulations of the holidays, the same way everyone does. They get to watch the way the holidays pause many parts of everyday life but don't pause the challenges of familial relationships or the stress of communal get-togethers.  Holiday episodes represent people’s hopes and fears; they’re not just a distraction from real life festivities. They’re a reflection of them. They provide a look into a world like ours, but one where the complications of everyday life and the joy of holiday festivities are always able to coexist. They’re a light in the dark, a bright spot in our often dismal cultural landscape. Turkey is already dry. The holiday media ecosystem doesn’t have to be. Get holly, get jolly! Bring back the holiday episode.

Waller Hall, which contains the office of President Steve Thorsett, in October of 2024. Photo by Lucy Devlaeminck. On Dec. 11, students, staff and faculty of Willamette University received a set of emails from university President Steve Thorsett and Interim Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences Kelley Strawn outlining a proposed merger between Willamette University and Pacific University. The combined school, currently slated to be named “the University of the Northwest,” would include all higher education institutions currently under the umbrella of each university, including the Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA), which Willamette merged with in 2021, and all offered graduate programs. According to Thorsett’s email, the universities are presently “at early stages of this project. … Pacific and Willamette leadership teams are working to complete financial and legal due diligence and negotiate a definitive agreement.” As such, both universities are working toward a finalized agreement. Thorsett said the three institutions would retain their names, athletics and admissions standards, and that “all current academic programs would remain in place.” Thorsett wrote to WU students, “The most important thing for you to know right now is that you remain a Willamette student and your education and experience at Willamette will continue uninterrupted.” Editor’s Note: This is a developing story . But as a student-run organization, The Collegian is mostly on hiatus for final exams and winter break. We will continue to cover the merger, and what it means for WU, in the future. Have questions about the merger? Email collegian-feedback@willamette.edu  or leave a comment below. The Collegian will work to address your question in future coverage.

Frankenstein's Monster reading a book. Art by Dasha Allyn. Since its original publication in 1818, Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" has maintained an enduring presence in academia and popular culture. The most recent film adaptation of the gothic science fiction novel, directed by Guillermo Del Toro, hit theaters in October of this year. Diverging from the exaggerated horror that often defines “Frankenstein” films, Del Toro successfully shifts the focus of the film onto the thematic explorations of Shelley's novel. While the highly anticipated film has received a lot of positive feedback from viewers and boasts strong approval ratings, not everyone is happy with Del Toro’s take. Film critic Eileen Jones referred to the movie as “baggy” and "distracted” in   her article , arguing that the film was weighed down by Del Toro’s own preoccupations and strayed a step too far from Shelley’s original plot.   ​ Another critic  noted disappointment with the softness of Del Toro’s interpretation of the creature itself.  Compromising the fear factor of Frankenstein’s monster, Del Toro delivered one of the most sympathetic and humanized versions of the creature thus far. For comparison, James Whale’s 1931 "Frankenstein" presented an almost comedic grunting and shuffling monstrosity that was completely mute and a far cry from Shelley’s literate creature.  ​ Admittedly, there was a lot wrong with the most recent adaptation of "Frankenstein.” For a 2025 release, the special effects were underwhelming. The scene where the creature (Jacob Elordi) fought off a pack of obviously CGI wolves was one of the most egregious instances of this.  Aside from its cosmetic shortcomings, the film omitted fan favorite characters such as Henry Clerval, Victor Frankenstein’s best friend. Del Toro also resurrected William Frankenstein, who was canonically murdered by the creature in its mission to destroy Victor’s family. ​ There were other small deviations here and there, but the change that has been getting a lot of attention on social media was Del Toro’s reframing of Elizabeth Lavenza. Elizabeth’s character in the novel was ornamental, with her greatest contribution to plot being her strangulation at the hands of the creature. Del Toro entirely reimagined her role in his adaptation, instead casting her as William Frankenstein’s fiancée. Most unexpectedly, the director portrayed Elizabeth as being strangely infatuated with the creature after only a few brief interactions.   ​ The oddly romantic connection between Elizabeth and the creature leads to the next contested aspect of Del Toro’s take — the creature itself was not that scary. Juxtaposed with most other adaptations and Shelley's description of the creature, a gray, body-painted Elordi wasn't up to par. Since having a hideous appearance was exactly what led to the creature’s isolation from the rest of humanity, Del Toro’s lighthearted take on the creature’s look was a weak point of his adaptation.  That being said, the film was not completely bereft of qualities that made it a worthwhile watch. A redeeming feature of Del Toro’s "Frankenstein" lies in the creative liberties he took with Victor Frankenstein’s father and the subsequent exploration of the film into parent-child relationships.  Veering completely away from the novel in this regard, Del Toro depicted Victor’s father as a domineering and abusive man who pressured his son to live up to the family name. Viewers were given an unexpectedly intense depiction of young Victor’s upbringing in a gilded cage, which deepened his character beyond what can be found in other notable adaptations. ​ The creature’s body language in the moments after he came alive mirrored Victor’s movements exactly, an inspired move on the part of Del Toro that set up his exploration of how Victor’s childhood trauma was projected onto the creature.  Instead of immediately rejecting the creature and falling into a fit of hysteria as Victor did in both the novel and Kenneth Branagh’s 1994 "Frankenstein,” Del Toro had Victor take a different approach by trying to form a parental bond with his creature. As Victor became frustrated with his creation’s inability to learn language, he began abusing the creature in much the same way his father abused him. ​ The emotional wound from abandonment was one of the fundamental aspects of the creature's psychology in the original novel. Del Toro clearly recognized the importance of capturing this aspect of the creature, and he dives deeper into themes of generational trauma and emotional abuse that “Frankenstein” films often gloss over. The creative liberty Del Toro takes to deepen Victor’s relationship with his creature pays off by making Victor’s eventual rejection of the creation that much more powerful. ​ All things considered, Del Toro's "Frankenstein" justifies its existence through its creative ambition and the respect it paid to the most essential thematic explorations of Shelley’s novel. It was an adaptation that did not strive to emulate the novel exactly, nor did it disregard Shelley’s intention by milking the horror of the creature. Instead, Del Toro delivered a thought-provoking film that is a valuable contribution to the ongoing legacy of “Frankenstein.”

A duck in a Willamette jersey about to score a goal on the soccer field while the crowd cheers behind them. Art by Wes Mowry-Silverman. Hello, Bearcat Fan! Finals are almost over, which means that this is the last Fast Break of the fall semester. Rats! When we return, I will no longer be a NARP and also have to keep in mind far more conflicts of interest when writing these. Lots to look forward to. Anyway, slow week in Bearcat sports once more, so let’s get the news over with! Women’s basketball  resumes their losing streak after dropping a game to the George Fox Bruins 63-78 on Dec. 5 in Newberg. Curse you, Fox! Men’s basketball , on the other hand, put up a solid performance over the Bruins, winning 81-61. In the wider world of sport:  The Indiana Hoosiers defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big Ten championship, which means one thing: the Buckeyes are no longer No. 1 in NCAA Football! Everyone, cheer! Playoffs are set for CFP, and the Ducks are No. 5, which means they play James Madison at home on Dec. 20. I don’t want to talk about the NFL.  In the coming weeks:  After a weeklong break, basketball  returns to regular play while we non-hoopers sleep soundly, enjoying our winter breaks. Women’s basketball  plays Oregon Tech at home on Dec. 14 and then heads down to southern California to play Occidental and Cal Lutheran. Men’s basketball  stays in beautiful Salem, facing the Northwest Indian School at home on Dec. 15 and then Asbury on Dec. 18. I have been informed by my editor that the Men’s World Cup Group Round has been announced. I forgot that was happening. The United States drew Group D, with Australia and Paraguay, and our glorious leader and FIFA Peace Prize Winner Donald John Trump has assured us our toughest potential opponents are the Turks. USA! USA!  Anyway. Good luck to our ’Cats, and I hope everyone else has a good winter break! I might, depending on how the Ducks and Bears do for the remainder of the season. It’s not looking good so far. Please pray for me in these hard times.

Clothes and makeup on a vanity. Art by Dasha Allyn. As the  number of U.S. states effectively in a recession  increases, more comments online jokingly discuss recession indicators. Though the United States is not officially in a recession , fears are increasing towards the possibility of there being one soon, based on the flippant spending of the current administration and other concerns. In terms of more tangible recession indicators, women’s fashion trends have proven to be one of the most reliable and are often used by economists. This is partially due to women being the main drivers of the American economy , no matter how prejudiced the U.S. continues to be towards them. From purchases of lipstick to the appearance of fake blonde hair, women have been the tried and true skeptical divas, displaying the country’s potential for economic downfall. In 2025, the revenue of the lipstick industry in the U.S. is at $4.15 billion , having increased by approximately 3.8% from 2024, and is expected to grow annually by 2.91%. The “lipstick index” explains that increased purchases of “affordable luxuries” like lipstick are fairly trustworthy indicators of an incoming recession.  Leonard Lauder, one of the heirs to Estée Lauder, coined the term shortly after the attacks on the Twin Towers in 2001. Lipstick sales dramatically rose after the accident, which coincidentally happened during a devastating economic crash.  Mary Mannion, a writer for J.P. Morgan , explains that these purchases of lipstick “can have a positive psychological impact during stressful times.” The ability to spend on a small luxury item typically makes people feel better about their economic situation. It gives a false sense of stability and short-term happiness by being able to afford something unnecessary.  Similarly, the “hemline index” can also predict economic crashes and potential recessions. As hemlines get longer, the economy is speculated to become worse. This trend loosely goes back to the 1920s , when hemlines were shorter during prosperous times and then promptly lowered during the Great Depression. Since then, hemlines have been decently reliable predictors of economic failure.  Part of the reasoning behind this is that when women wear shorter skirts, it represents going out, partying and generally participating in activities that require money. During 2025, online searches for maxi skirts rose 393 percent , assisting the growing belief that a recession will occur soon.  Vogue Arabia’s Hanadi Merchant-Habib does not agree , however. Merchant-Habib believes that in this modern day and age, hemlines should not be viewed as recession indicators, since runway models and everyday people continue to wear both mini and maxi skirts. They are a fashion statement, not a prophet.  Generally, luxury purchases have fallen as of late due to economic uncertainty, even though fashion houses want to convince the public otherwise. Despite new releases, sales have continued to slow down as less affluent consumers prefer to keep their money saved for necessities instead of luxuries. However, “small” luxuries are still on the rise and will continue to be on the rise for the foreseeable future. In practice, researchers at Erasmus University Rotterdam found that the index also works on a three-year delay , changing after the economy does. Nevertheless, searches for minimalist fashion and maxi skirts have risen dramatically, giving many much to worry about as we enter the new year and continue with the same political make-up in the federal government and no evident improvements to the current economic situation. Recession blonde, also termed recession brunette, is another women’s fashion trend that has been used to exemplify increased economic uncertainty. After the stock market crash of 2008, in the following year, the term “recession hair” was coined. This refers to how bleach blondes grow out their roots and do not get them touched up in tough economic times due to the cost of such an appointment. In general, keeping up bleached blonde hair is costly and takes lots of dedicated time. This is time and money that cannot be afforded when the economy is down. There is a fair amount of pushback to the idea that blondes growing out their roots is a recession indicator. Healthy hair has had a stronger push in recent years, with clients wanting to keep their hair healthy but stylish, opting to dye anything but the roots. Even so, it is reasonable to link the two together and see the clear line drawn between cost-effective styles and economic insecurity. Though these indices and trends may not be hard-hitting proof of an incoming recession or market crash, regardless of whether a recession is on the horizon, if women are such a crucial component of the economy, we should be paying more attention.

WU triathlon athlete breaks through the finish line. Art by Adrian Axtell. Since its foundation in 2021, Willamette University's triathlon program has turned an emerging NCAA sport into one of the school’s most impressive competitive success stories. In just a few seasons, the Bearcats have earned podium finishes at multiple regional qualifiers, consistently ranking among the top DIII programs in the country, and most recently competed at NCAA Nationals, taking No. 4 for the second year in a row — a milestone that signals how quickly the team has risen in the national landscape.  Competing in a sport with few DIII teams nationwide, the Bearcats are learning to thrive by embracing heavy travel to find competitive races across states, training relentlessly and building a culture rooted in adaptability and care. The Bearcats’ squad regularly finishes ahead of longstanding programs at regional championships and secures top DIII placements on the national stage.  Triathlon is a sport that combines swimming, cycling and running into one continuous race and has only recently entered the collegiate athletics world. Recognized by the NCAA as an emerging sport, it is still building its competitive infrastructure, with fewer than 50 universities nationwide fielding teams.  This means athletes often compete in unconventional formats, travel widely to find qualifying events, and line up against schools from multiple divisions in the same race. Yet Willamette has quickly become one of the most promising DIII programs, earning recognition at this year's West Regional Championships in Texas and placing No. 3 among the top DIII teams in the country.  Unlike some DI programs, Willamette faces unique logistical challenges. There are few DIII triathlon squads in the US, so the Bearcats often compete in mixed field or unconventional events, finding races in creative ways just to get the race experience. Many races, like Newport and Mount Sasha, are community triathlons where their head coach Brett Franz works with race directors to make sure the team is able to compete with each other.  In these races, they have to make sure to have at least one other collegiate team racing, too, and the course must be close to sprint triathlon length. They travel long distances, including to major competitions — recent ventures include races in Arizona, Illinois and Texas — but despite these hurdles, the team continues to rise.  For the athletes, success goes beyond results. It's about community, growth, and the discipline it takes to balance three different forms of competition, plus academics.  Because the sport is relatively new, the team has had the rare opportunity to shape its own traditions. “We still have the liberty to create our own culture and do things how we want,” said Natalie Thomas (’27), a third-year triathlete. “Other teams have built-in traditions, but we change every year in good ways. We adapt to the people and the different personalities.” Thomas was named Collegiate Triathlon Coaches Association (CTCA) All-Region after her performance in the West Regional Championships on Nov. 8 in Tempe, Arizona. Before a race, Thomas focuses on mental clarity: “I try to keep my head as clear as possible and visualize what I’ve done and what my race could look like. I visualize myself performing at the level I want to perform at.” She added that nutrition is also important leading up to a race in order to maintain her energy levels. Triathletes train hard, about 15 hours a week, balancing swims, rides and runs alongside recovery and coursework. Thomas admitted the season can be grueling: “I’m sore for eight months straight. My body gets physically exhausted, but it's a good kind of tired. I crave that.” Triathlon's constant progression is what keeps her hooked. “It's an emerging sport — we progress every single race. It's really rewarding.” Willamette's program represents something larger than athletics; it’s proof that new programs can succeed without precedent, that small schools can compete nationally, and that team culture can be both competitive and compassionate. “Going to practice is never something I dread,” Thomas said. “That’s kind of a blessing, especially for a full-season athlete. You get tired, you get burnt out — but I look forward to it everyday.”

Giant green viruses descend on dorms. Art by Addie Martin. As Willamette University is in the midst of its flu season, health officials at the Bishop Wellness Center explained how they keep track of diseases and encouraged students to utilize Bishop Wellness in preparations for the upcoming semester breaks. Last year’s pertussis (whooping cough) outbreak remains a point of reference for campus health officials as they navigate this flu season.   Willamette has several established means of tracking and managing infectious diseases, as noted by Lauren Carlson, the director of health services and lead nurse practitioner for Bishop Wellness, and Don Thomson, the associate dean for health and wellbeing. Carlson explained, “The state of Oregon monitors wastewater and the number of positive [influenza] cases that are reported.” Willamette then has access to the reported cases and is able to monitor them in relation to on-campus outbreaks. Bishop Wellness sends out reminders to prioritize personal health nearing travel-heavy seasons, before and after the academic breaks.  Specific protocols at Willamette are managed through county and state public health officials and not the federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Expanding on this, Carlson said, “Historically, the CDC and OHA have been pretty aligned.” Thomson added, “But we [Willamette] defer to the Oregon Health Authority because of the regional context.”  Beyond more common illnesses like influenza or COVID-19, Willamette experienced a whooping cough outbreak last year. Thomson was then in correspondence with the Marion County Health Department, which helped orchestrate an email response to the community. Among other things, the email noted, “Being vaccinated with Tdap [tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis] is effective at preventing pertussis or decreasing its severity, and is a critical protection.” The email provided contact information for medical advice and continued to explain early symptoms of pertussis, ending with a statement about the disease’s typical incubation period of 1-2 weeks.  Jake Freeland (’26), a  public health major and student-athlete, contracted whooping cough last year during the outbreak. “I’m celiac and immunocompromised, which means certain vaccines I take at certain times might not be effective.” Freeland self-isolated and received antibiotics to combat the bacterial infection. As a student-athlete, however, Freeland was unaware of how long the cough would linger, which impacted his return to the Willamette tennis team. “The cough lingered for 3 ½ months. … I got it in November and was still recovering in February,” he said. Freeland discussed the importance of understanding the severity of the whooping cough and advised other students to contact trace if sick and to wear masks. Containment protocols necessary for contact tracing include exposure notifications to those potentially infected.  Bishop Wellness, in addition to antibiotics, can provide the flu vaccine across both the Willamette and PNCA campuses. Carlson also listed other communicable diseases Bishop can treat, including strep throat, sinus infections, pneumonia, ear infections and other symptoms that can accompany respiratory viruses. Students are able to purchase COVID-19 tests over the counter as well. In situations where Bishop Wellness cannot provide adequate resources for students, medical referrals can be provided.  Additionally, a vaccine clinic partnership is in the works between Safeway Pharmaceuticals and Willamette University to offer vaccines not offered on campus. Carlson explained, “[Safeway] could do an MMR vaccine, meningitis vaccine, COVID vaccine and booster shots.” On Nov. 17, the Bishop Wellness and Safeway Pharmaceuticals partnership had a flu and COVID vaccine clinic  for the Willamette community in the University Center, providing free or low-cost vaccines to students before holiday travel. Bishop has recommended students to go to Safeway for other medical needs but acknowledges that it may be a barrier for some students. Soon, Bishop plans to further its partnership with Safeway. While health care at Safeway is billed through students’ direct insurance under preventative health care, in the future, if a student uses the school insurance with the partnership, there could be no additional cost. The anticipated continuation for the partnership is within the next academic year.  Aaron Hukari, the director of residence life and housing, commented on housing's role in combating the spread of infections as well: “RA’s report up concerns coming from residents. Then, we can communicate [to the Willamette community] what the issue is.” Hukari explained that housing follows Bishop’s recommendations, but challenges stem from congregate living. Hukari recommended that students stay home when sick, access health care services where possible and wash their hands.

A duck in a Willamette jersey about to score a goal on the soccer field while the crowd cheers behind them. Art by Wes Mowry-Silverman. Hello, Bearcat Fan! I hope we all feel rested and rejuvenated post fall break. I know I do, mostly thanks to the fact that the Bears are suddenly the No. 1 seed in the NFC. I sure hope this doesn’t age poorly! Anyway, not much has happened this week in Bearcat sports, so let’s get onto the news! Women’s basketball  played UC Santa Cruz twice over the weekend, with the Bearcats losing the first of the series on Friday 45-72 but taking the second on Saturday 72-61. Kaitlin Imai (’26) recorded 22 points and four steals in the latter, helping the ’Cats break their four-game losing streak. Believe it or not, there were no other competitions over the weekend, so this is a woefully short piece. In the wider world of sport:  Once more, the NFL saw several upsets over the week, with the AFC’s dominant teams further proving themselves and the NFC being shaken up (Bear down, baby). Rumor has it that star Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo wants out of Milwaukee, and the Blazers currently find themselves at No. 10 in the Western Conference at the quarter mark. The Buckeyes snapped a losing streak against archrival Michigan, establishing themselves firmly as No. 1 in NCAA Football standings, and the Ducks rose to No. 4 with a win against the Huskies.  In the coming weeks:   Basketball  faces George Fox away on Friday before a bye week, and swim is currently on a competition hiatus until the new year, so not much is happening in Bearcat sports as the semester winds down!

Chicken katsu curry, a popular dish that was served during the Akimatsuri fall festival on Nov. 4. Photo courtesy of JSSL. On Nov. 4, you might’ve noticed a line much longer than usual at Goudy Commons. Maybe you saw the Japanese-inspired decorations on all the tables and walls. That day, Japan Studies Student Leaders (JSSL) hosted Akimatsuri, a fall festival at Goudy serving Japanese foods. The festival celebrates the fall harvest season, and JSSL worked with Goudy and Bon Appetit to put together a menu of unique Japanese foods for lunch that day.  For JSSL President Sean Olson (’26), the event is especially important to the Japanese exchange students on campus, as it both celebrates culture and connects students. “Having accessible Japanese food really brings comfort to the study abroad students over here, especially since they've been in Goudy for a long time eating American food, pizzas, burgers, all those kinds of things,” Olson said.  In addition to the change in Goudy’s regular food schedule, Olson said that the event brings more awareness to Japanese foods and culture as a whole, and giving the campus community a taste of a different culture can bring new perspectives. One dish in particular has been popular every year over the four years JSSL has hosted the event. “It's been our tradition to always have chicken katsu curry because that's always been very popular,” Olson said. “It brings me a big smile when you look at all the different food tables and booths, and then just out of nowhere, there's one huge line at the chicken katsu booth. So we always make sure to keep that.” Even though Akimatsuri only happens once a year, Olson said students welcome breaks from Goudy’s usual offerings, whether it’s from JSSL or another club.  “Goudy tends to have pasta and pizza very consistently.… But because it keeps coming up on a rolling basis every week, it gets very monotonous. I feel like being able to have that variety … that would make the student life experience a lot better,” Olson said. In the past, Goudy has hosted similar events celebrating different cultures. In October, the Latine Heritage Month takeover had a similar unique menu, and last March, the building hosted the Women’s History Fair. These events, and others throughout the year, create breaks from the aforementioned monotony. For Olson, the community joining together over food or events like Akimatsuri is a meaningful reminder of what students can accomplish. By working with clubs and organizations, students are able to bring new experiences to their community, even starting with different menus at Goudy. “Personally, I'm very glad I’m able to help represent and try to talk with the students,” Olson said.  “Being able to help voice what kind of issues as a community we want, and being able to feel that impact firsthand, by seeing a giant line at Goudy for the food, to me and for [JSSL], that brings us a huge smile.”

Bistro cookies, now priced at $2, on Oct. 6, 2025. Photo by Mac Childers. The Bistro, Willamette’s student-run coffee shop, is known beyond its drinks for its affordable cookies. But as the economy faces inflation and other factors that have caused costs to rise, the Bistro has raised the price of its chocolate chip cookies from $1 to $1.50 and now, as of fall semester, to $2.  In a conversation with The Collegian’s Aubrey Lee, Emma Stephens (’26), the general manager of the Bistro, and Sarah Leist (’26), the Bistro’s financial manager, broke down the financial considerations the Bistro has to balance, like economic pressures and student affordability. Each has held their respective roles since April of last school year.  The Q&A has been edited for length and clarity. Lee:  Typically, how are the Bistro's finances managed? Stephens : Sarah [Leist], our financial manager, manages most of the Bistro's finances. That includes doing profit loss reports, paying for invoices, and pushing out tips and wages every two weeks. Her duties are very large; they encompass most of the financial stuff. Myself and the kitchen manager are engaged in some part of it, but most of it's Sarah, and she's doing a great job this year.  Lee: The cookie price has been raised to $2. Can I ask what led to that decision?  Leist:  Our suppliers have been raising their prices, so it's more expensive for us to buy the ingredients to make everything. I did a cost analysis on all of our cookies, and for the chocolate chip specifically, by pricing them at $1.50, we were actively losing money. It costs more than $1.50 to make a chocolate chip cookie, so raising the price was just kind of inevitable. Stephens: We really recognize that the chocolate chip cookies are a staple, and they've always been relatively low-priced. We just wanted to keep the Bistro open for everyone. In order to do that, we did have to raise prices. But we didn't do so without recognizing that it would have an impact on the student population in some way. Lee: What has been the response to the price change from the students so far? Stephens: We were really worried, especially after last year, when we raised the price 50 cents. Doing so again so early on in our managerial journey was definitely something we were worried about. But I found that people don't really care. I feel like if they're gonna buy a cookie, they're not really deterred by the 50-cent increase. I don't know if that would be true if we raised prices more, but we have not seen a decrease in cookie sales. If anything, with the specials that we've been running, we've been seeing an increase. Lee: Given the larger state of the economy, are there any considerations for raising the prices of other goods in the Bistro? Leist:  Yeah. We've been getting emails from our matcha provider and from our coffee bean provider that they are raising their prices. So unfortunately, I think more is coming from us. We just haven't gotten to that point yet.  Stephens:  Most of the price increases are probably going to happen next spring. But any decision we make will be with respect to what we think the general student population can handle. We are catering mostly to college students who, in this economic time, also don't have a lot of money to spend. We want people to be able to buy themselves a sweet little treat when they feel like they want it or have coffee at an affordable price.  Lee: Is there anything else either of you wanted to add or like to communicate to students and customers about the Bistro? Leist: All of our decisions are made with the best best interest of our employees and the Bistro as a whole and all of our consumers. Those are who we have in mind; we're not like a money-hungry corporation. We're just students like the rest of us just trying to keep our small business alive.  Stephens: The Bistro has never been like a for-profit business; any money that the Bistro makes does go back into running the Bistro. There have been instances in the past where the Bistro hasn’t made money. We've had lots of losses, and that's put us in financial situations like debt that we're still working with. But those are tricky financial situations that we are willing to be put in because we're trying to provide a service to the student population. I think any opinions people have about the debt, you're more than welcome to have them, but we're also just college students, and we're trying our best to make sure that the business works and stays alive.  Lee: Since you already brought up the debt, would you mind sharing a little bit more about that situation?  Stephens: At the end of every year, we reset our finances in a way, and we start with a fresh slate. We start with zero dollars at the beginning of each school year. We spend a lot of money up front just on training and the costs of buying goods. And then slowly, the theory is, over the whole year we're supposed to make enough money to pay that back. But what's happened in years past is because of the economy, because of the changes to campus … one of the biggest things that we've been talking about with our financial consultant that we've brought in is the switch away from Compass Cash . It was a thing before our time, like flex dollars, but you could spend it on anything on campus including the Bistro. The transition away from that took away a big source of revenue for the Bistro, so that in conjunction with the state of the economy, and the rising prices, COVID, and just people not having a lot of extra money to spend, the Bistro has not been making a lot of money to pay back all of the costs of running the business each year. So we have been put in debt very slowly over time.  Every year, we inherit that debt as something that we need to pay off. We're very grateful to receive some subsidies from ASWU in the past. Without them, we couldn't operate. But it's not because we're not running the Bistro in a way that's financially responsible. It's just because of all of these factors piling on top of each other that we really don't have any control over that we are in this financial situation.The debt is something that we're actively trying to reduce and make sure that it’s not a continuing precedent in the Bistro.  Lee: Is there anything else either of you would like to add?  Stephens: We're just very grateful for the students. Honestly, I think the best part about this job is having the interaction with the public and the student body, and seeing how everybody treats the Bistro like their own space is what makes it so important to me. I feel like we don't have a lot of third spaces on campus, and I think that the Bistro is one of them. And so we want to keep it open, so people can come and hang out, regardless of where they live, what sports and clubs they are involved in or whatever. There are the hearths and stuff, but the Bistro is where everybody hangs out, and we just want to keep doing that. I love seeing people in the Bistro. It makes me so happy.