Lily Painter Contributor ljpainter@willamette.edu Clothing and style are very important elements in most people’s lives. In recent years, with worries about the environment coming to the forefront of people’s minds, there has been a push to cut down on the massive waste that industries like the fashion industry create. Many people advocate for thrifting clothes instead of buying brand new ones, in order to be more sustainable, save money and find unique options. Thrifting, while incredibly popular and a good way to buy new clothes, is not the only option for sustainable fashion. Repurposing one’s old clothing is another great way to engage in sustainability, not to mention the money it saves and the creativity it allows for. Clothing items that are worn in some spots, are out of date or do not fit right do not have to be thrown out. Repurposing these items is a great and engaging project to take on while social distancing.  Clothing is surprisingly easy to change into different and updated items. Collegian news editor Jasper Jones (‘20) said, “I’ll make different shirts or sometimes dresses into crop tops” while Cristina Chapa (‘21) said, “I made a headband out of an old t-shirt.” Another classic and easy revamp is to cut jeans into shorts. All these ideas are simple and accessible ways to reuse clothing; fixes like these often cost nothing and only require tools such as a pair of scissors, a needle and thread or a sewing machine if you have one.  There is a chain of sustainable actions that happen when something is reused and looked at in a new way. When revamping an item you already own, you don’t use gas to travel to a store, you help limit the necessary production of clothing and you are responsible for less garbage thrown into landfills.  Bee Heumann (‘21) said, “It helps reduce waste and makes me less likely to buy more clothes that will then just become waste again.”  In an Instagram poll of 24 people, 71 percent claimed that they restyle or reuse their old clothing. When this mindset is exercised by many people, the human imprint on the earth lessens due to lowered demand for production.  Aside from the environmental benefits of repurposing an item, it also offers a creative project and allows you to keep clothing you may be attached to. Heumann explained that sometimes she repurposes items because she does not want to get rid of things, saying, “I get attached to certain articles of clothing and don’t want to lose them just because they got stretched out or got holes.” Many people experience similar emotions in relation to their clothes and can forget about the possibilities of simply transforming them.   As social distancing takes its toll and people begin to complain of boredom, revamping some clothes can be a fun way to fill time. Not only that, but with clothing stores closed, this offers an alternative to shopping for new clothing. Experimenting with clothing that is already destined for the trash on its own cannot ruin anything and may yield a surprisingly rewarding result.  Repurposing clothing allows one to express their creativity while on a college student’s budget. It is something that can always be done at home during your spare time. While the world practices social distancing, repurposing clothing can be one way to spend time in a productive and eco-friendly way.

Voting for ASWU president and senate opens Thursday, April 16 at 8 a.m. and closes Friday, April 17 at 5 p.m. The Collegian has not edited the candidates’ bios. CLASS OF 2023: Oliver Kushen Hello class of 2023, I am once again asking for your support in my campaign for student senate. In these trying times I see the commitment to equity throughout the Willamette community as one of the most important issues. To that end, I hope everyone is either safe at home or on campus and doing what is best to protect themselves and the ones they love. Although I have only been a member of student senate for a short time, I have been able to address various issues. One of which was the sustainability awareness poster campaign where myself, among the other 2023 senators, were able to spread awareness about sustainability. Currently I am in the process of working on a proposal for a restructuring of ASWU that will hopefully allow for better representation throughout the student body. My number one goal continues to be the idea that everyones voices are heard, so if you have any questions feel free to reach out to me @oliverkushen on Instagram. Thank you and I am looking forward to serving the you all further! Andrea Griffin Hello class of 2023! I’m Andrea Griffin, and I’m running for 2023 Senate. As a candidate and a Bearcat, I want to provide the best support for all Willamette students. This means taking a hard look at the issues on campus that need to be addressed and fostering good communication between ASWU representatives and Willamette students. I want to ensure all students feel empowered to voice their concerns and take an active role in their community. I love being a Willamette student because of the quality discussions that take place, the ability to get involved in a variety of things, and the supportive community of faculty and peers. I have experience in leadership positions such as Editor-in-Chief of my high school magazine and Senior Class President. I am currently involved with the Collegian, the debate team, cross country and track team. I’m from Eugene, Oregon and I love to paint, ride horses and go on trail runs. If you have any concerns or questions, feel free to reach out ! Gretchen Jacobs Hi Bearcats! I’m Gretchen Jacobs and I am so excited to be running for ASWU Senator and representing the class of 2023. I have worked with many different student organizations that have helped me to gain vital leadership skills that are necessary for this role. I was a senior class officer in highschool so I am familiar with working with large groups of students. I also lead my community’s Teen Council where we worked with City Council to pass a bag ordinance that banned single use plastic bags. Through these experiences I learned what it means to advocate for students, and the good of the community. I am personable and easy to approach. I look forward to addressing all of your concerns and communicating solutions. I plan to focus on sustainability, mental health and accessibility to resources on campus. If elected I would work to promote student wellbeing to create an atmosphere where you are able to succeed and thrive at Willamette University. If you have any questions about my plan of action please don’t hesitate to email me at ​gmjacobs@willamette.edu​ Voting starts on April 16th at 8am, and remember to vote Gretchen for ASWU Senate. Joshua Perez Hello, my name is Joshua Perez and I am running for a seat in the ASWU Senate​ ​as part of the 2023 class. In my short time at Willamette, I have seen many instances in which voices in our community from underrepresented groups have been silenced. Those issues on campus have come to my mind and I want to make a difference. As part of the ASWU Senate I hope to work for those groups. Ensuring that their issues and voices are heard. Not only as a suggestion, but as a real opportunity to make a difference. I will strive to make progress that will not be later torn down. One issue that has been apparent to me is the lack of representation across campus. The University has created resources to promote the safety and well being of those in underrepresented communities, but that is simply not enough. I hope to further promote the efforts, and allocate more funds to these programs to enhance those resources. Thank you for your time, and I hope I can represent the class of 2023 in the ASWU Senate. CLASS OF 2022 Morgan Yamane Hi Class of 2022, My name is Morgan Yamane. I am an Exercise and Health Science Major, and I’m on the women’s basketball team here at Willamette. I was a class representative for three years in high school, and would love to represent my class at Willamette as a senator. CLASS OF 2021 Mary Robichaeux Hello Bearcats! My name is Mary Robicheaux and I’m running for Class of 2021 ASWU Senator! From my time as a senator this school year, I have worked on one main campus improvement project (COVID-19 got in the way of projects this semester) and served on two university committees. This experience has equipped me to be a more productive senator next year and I am excited to continue to serve as an advocate for the student body. I hope to fulfill students’ needs expressed in last semester’s survey by working on projects involving mental health, diversity and inclusion, or fixing the blue emergency poles. Vote for me, Mary Robicheaux, as a Class of 2021 Senator between April 16th and April 17th! Gregory Gandy I am an economics major with minors in computer science and math, and I am running for ASWU because I believe that I could provide valuable insights and perspectives to the attention of ASWU. Outside of the classroom, I have worked with various organizations on campus. I have worked for CSL, TIUA, the Office of Advancement, Academic Support, and Opening Days. In terms of extracurricular, I am the President-Elect of Willamette’s Catholic Newman Club and have enjoyed participating in CSL opportunities, intramural sports, and Outdoor Program events. In my spare time, I enjoy writing about investing, reading fiction, and running around Bush Park or Minto Brown Island Park. As one of your ASWU representatives, I will do my best to support the student experience at Willamette University. I particularly want to focus on fostering constructive dialogue and advocating for more transparency among university stakeholders. I believe that university stakeholders have a lot to gain from more openness and cordial relationships. Thank you for reading this and considering to vote for me. Have a great rest of your day! Kristin Jradi My name is Kristin Jradi, I use she/her/hers pronouns, and I am running as an incumbent ASWU Senator for the Class of 2021! I am grateful to have represented the Class of 2021 this semester, and hope to continue serving our student body next year. I am dedicated to representing all students, building active transparency, and creating robust communication between students and the administration. Through serving on CAFES, I know that there are vast and essential student needs that still need to be met. If elected, I will work to expand student emergency resources and create a greater sense of community between Willamette students. Please feel free to reach out with any questions! Kaizen Betts-LaCroix Hi folks, I’m Kaizen. I’ve been one of your incumbent ASWU senators for the past two years. It would be pretty nifty if you voted for me! Zoe Chittick I’m Zoe Chittick and I am excited to be running for ASWU Senate, representing the class of 2021! I am a History major and Spanish minor, an Opening Days leader, and a student employee at the Hatfield Library and it is my intent to represent all of the unique voices of our class. Considering our current circumstances, student support is more important than ever. If elected, I will work to improve our methods of virtual connection, in the off-chance that distance-learning is extended. Assuming that we will all be together again in the Fall, I will use my position to improve community-building on campus. The system of hearths allows for such a connection and I would like to see that strengthened across departments. The potential for growth and learning that the hearths hold is immense and I wish to increase the community-building support of the Humanities departments at Willamette University by bringing the social science hearths up to par with our amazing STEM hearths. In line with my goal to represent our entire class, I will proactively share ideas and seek feedback from y’all in order to strengthen our unique connection within the Bearcat community.

Dawn-Hunter Strobel Justine Bogle Lifestyles editor Contributor dsstrobel@willamette.edu jmbogle@willamette.edu With the switch to online learning, students were faced with the decision to stay on campus or leave to live elsewhere. A majority of students living on campus decided to leave their dorms, but some students chose to stay on campus. The Collegian interviewed students still living on campus, as well as staff members of the Housing Department, to discuss the changes that have happened to on-campus housing as a result of COVID-19. Those interviewed noted the heavier workload for RAs, new dining procedures and the University’s efforts to maintain hygiene standards in on-campus housing facilities. Because the numbers change so quickly, Housing did not have a definitive count of students to share, but Housing’s current estimation is that 200 students remain across all University housing, including in the University apartments.  Students had a variety of reasons for staying on campus, but all have to adjust to new modes of living given current nationwide restrictions.  McKenzie Potter-Moen (‘22) said she stayed on campus because of concerns around her family’s health. “I don’t want to be a non-symptomatic carrier and get them sick,” she said.  Jessie Evans (‘22) said she stayed on campus because at home she would be unproductive and not be able to focus enough. Lilith Jewell (‘22) said she stayed on campus because it “maintains my independence.”  Residential advisors (RAs) were given the option to leave campus, and most did, leaving less than half of the RAs on campus. As a result, many floors are left without RAs. Evans reported that there is only one RA in all of Lausanne, and there is one in Doney. Jordan Roue (‘22), an Eastside RA, said there are only nine Eastside RAs left.  As part of the reallocation of responsibility, RAs are being given extra rounds of duty, which is the task of RAs to walk the halls and ensure everyone is safe and check for housing infractions. Aleesha Kazi (‘21), an RA, said, “We’re looking at two to three nights of duty, probably on average two nights of duty a week, where before there was a set number where you only did 11 for the entire semester.”  Stephanie Leeth, the Eastside area coordinator, complimented the RAs on their response to added duties. “The RAs have really stepped up and helped out where it’s needed. I’ll put something in the Groupme [asking for help] and within five minutes it’s picked up,” she said.  Director of Housing Scott Etherton echoed this, saying the RAs are a very dedicated group. Leeth noted that in response to the government mandates and diminished staffing in housing across campus, Housing is taking a stricter approach to policy violations. “If somebody were to break policy in a larger way, we’re less likely to be like, ‘Yeah everything’s fine,’” she said. “You need to respect the policies now because we don’t have the capacity to track all of this right now, so please follow the rules and let us make the community as good as we can for everyone around.”  In response to government mandates surrounding the spread of the virus, residents have been told to not gather in common areas, though kitchens and bathrooms can still be utilized. Since so many people have left campus, many residence halls are nearly empty. Roue noted there is one person besides herself left on the fourth floor of Baxter, and Jewell said she estimated there were around 12 people on the third floor of Lausanne on April 6, the day the interview took place. Kazi said on her rounds, “I used to see like 10 to 15 people around. Now, I see like, maximum, five.”  Roue reported only hearing one case about someone moving rooms, which was due to that person being the only one left in their hall.  Initially housing planned to consolidate students in order to lessen the workload of maintenance staff, but Etherton said all of that consolidation has happened by now and Housing is not planning to move anyone else around on campus. “We have less than a month until finals are done. At this point it wouldn’t make sense,” he said. Everyone interviewed did not have a roommate, although Evans’ roommate had moved out just a few days prior to her interview.  Jewell said: “I’ve just been counting my blessings that my roommate went home already. Because if I wasn’t alone in this small of a space, then it would be impossible to handle.” Evans said her roommate staying on campus was one reason she decided to stay because they got along well, but it did bring challenges. “We aren’t allowed to use common spaces, but we both have classes and at similar times,” she said. She also cited issues surrounding having confidential Sexual Assault Response Advocates (SARA) meetings in her room, which required her roommate to leave for the duration of the meeting.  Dining is another factor that has changed the on-housing experience. Goudy is open twice a day for lunch and dinner pick-up. At dinnertime, residents are given breakfast for the following morning, which usually consists of a pastry, fruit juice, a kind of fruit and a grain bar.  Evans doesn’t find the breakfasts filling enough, and as a result she has gone to Safeway to stock up on supplemental foods. She said, “They give you enough food if you eat the food that they give you, but sometimes the food they give you is really, really bad.”  Jewell also expressed concerns about the food Goudy is giving, saying, “There’s at least one thing in every meal that I’m like, ‘Ah, I can’t eat that.’” However, residents are getting fed more now than they did over spring break. During that week, Goudy did not serve lunch. Students reported this not being enough food, with Evans saying, “I definitely felt like I was getting less than 2,000 calories a day.” As a result of this, students have stocked up on their personal food supplies. Potter-Moen relied on frozen vegetables and burritos for lunch during this time, and Jewell reported buying a lot of protein shakes.  Etherton acknowledged the difficult task dining services has been given. He said: “They have a really challenging demand. ‘Feed people but do it to-go only and do it with a minimum number of staff.’ I mean, I don’t know how I would do that. I wouldn’t know where to begin.” In the midst of students having to rely on their own food supply, some maintenance issues in shared kitchen spaces have yet to be resolved. Jewell and Evans reported that the Lausanne oven does not work, and the Doney kitchen doesn’t have enough cookware. Kazi noted that this might be due to fewer students on campus who are able to report when things are broken. “It’s usually more noticeable when there’s other people and they’ll tell the RA, but because there’s less people on campus sometimes we don’t notice until it’s been a week or so,” she said. Some changes are being made in response to hygiene concerns. Evans said everyone on her floor purchased their own hand soap. Flu Fighters, a group of students employed by the University to sanitize surfaces across campus, now sanitize surfaces and door handles in dorm buildings, which they previously did not do. Recently, Goudy gave everyone a mask in their dinner sacks. Masks can also be picked up in Ford Hall. Some students reported being unsure of up-to-date expectations for living on campus because they haven’t received email updates from Housing since before spring break. Jewell said that all of her clubs and classes are keeping everyone updated on changes and expectations, but she has gone “without any news” from Housing.  Etherton and Leeth said students have been receiving messages, but not from Housing specifically. Etherton noted that Housing is trying to “minimize the amount of information we’re sending to students.” He encouraged students to read updates on the Willamette website and read the Today@Willamette emails.  Many residents expressed appreciation for the support they did have from various places across campus. At Goudy, Willamette Events Board (WEB) handed out activities like paint by numbers, which came from a Portland business, and leftover supplies from their Valentine’s Day “Stuff-A-Stuff” event. Evans noted that the Bearcat Pantry has been helpful and is still open to students through online orders. Kazi mentioned that one of her fellow RAs hosted a reading of “Goodnight Moon” over Zoom.  Overall, residents reported feeling safe on campus with the precautions being taken, from closure of certain campus buildings to changes in resources around campus.  Kazi said, “Housing is here for the safety of everyone” and went on to encourage people to reach out to one another as well as their RAs.  Leeth encouraged residents still living on campus to send their feedback to Housing. “We truly are open to suggestions. I think a lot of times we think we’re doing things in the best interest of the entire group, but obviously we see things from the inside, so if people have suggestions or things they’re worried about, they can always reach out.” An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that no Residential Advisors were living in Doney Hall. At the time of publication, one Residential Advisor was.

James Willis Sports editor jdwillis@willamette.edu Managing academic responsibilities while training to compete on the field can be challenging for collegiate student-athletes. One Willamette professor in the exercise and health science department, Michael Lockard, relates to these challenges since he was a student-athlete in college as well. Lockard, who has been teaching at Willamette since the fall of 2007, played lacrosse for four years at Springfield College in Massachusetts.  When asked why he chose Springfield College, he said, “For me, I chose Division III because academics needed to come first, and I looked for types of schools with my academic programs with decent lacrosse programs. They were consistently in the top 20 for men’s lacrosse. I was lightly recruited by bigger schools, but they didn’t offer the education that I wanted.” Lockard noted that he doesn’t see a large difference between his experience as a Division III athlete and the experience of a Willamette student-athlete. “As a spring semester athlete, we often couldn’t get to the practice field at prime afternoon times, so we had practice at five in the morning. Then we would have to run to class, and the challenges that come with that whether it was being present mentally or staying awake because we would be physically exhausted. Lots of those experiences are pretty common.” When asked about his favorite memory as a collegiate student-athlete, Lockard named two. The first was: “About halfway through my freshman season, my coach came up to me after a game and let me know that I would be starting in the next game. That meant a lot to me, because I had been working my tail off and was competing with upperclassmen, many of whom were All-Americans in high school. So that was a great moment.”  Lockard described the second as: “Just a general experience of being part of the team, the accumulation of events, experiences and interactions as part of that group. Once you are on the team, you are part of a group and they support what you do. I haven’t found any more inclusive and supportive group than my team, besides from immediate family members. They support you academically, and are sort of your family while you are away at school. Many students start getting homesick during the spring semester, but as spring athletes you have games during spring break and can’t go home. So the team is like your family, and are all there to support you.” When asked how he found out about Willamette, Lockard said: “I was looking for a place like Willamette, I wasn’t aware of its reputation before I found them. I was looking for a smaller school like Willamette in the way that most students do. Academically focused and a place to have real relationships with professors, [where] I could focus first on teaching. Research is important and still goes on, but the priority is teaching and that’s what I wanted to do.”  Lockard said that when he first arrived on the west coast, there was much less attention given to lacrosse. “When I was in high school, lacrosse was just another sport on the list, and was given as much attention as any other sport. When I first arrived here, there were barely any high school teams. But now there are more and more teams popping up. Even in the local Salem community, there are a few clubs.” When asked how athletics helped him in his professional career, Lockard said: “For me, I had always participated in sports, it was always team sports. There is a certain sense of collaboration of dependency in all aspects of the game, the skill set of working with people, depending on collaborators, is a really important professional skill. My colleagues in my department, every one of us brings different skill sets to the job, but we need to find a way to identify our goals together and reach those goals together. More specifically to college, time management is a good skill to have. Not only athletes, as we all have extracurriculars. For me it was athletics, how can we meet these demands when you have extra obligations.” On attending athletic events at Willamette, Lockard said, “I was really good about it when I first arrived but when I had kids that dropped off, but now that they are older we make more of an effort to get out to games. It’s meaningful to get out to events that students are in, not just athletics.”

Jake Procino Staff writer jprocino@willamette.edu At Willamette, around 349 students are involved in intercollegiate sports, according to the University website. About 125 students are in music ensembles. But only a select handful of Bearcats take on the balancing act of managing both, in addition to their academic work. Some student-athletes actually chose Willamette over other schools because of the possibility to be involved in both sports and music at the same time. Sophomore cross-country runner Audrey Piacsek, who plays viola in the University Chamber Orchestra (UCO), reflected on her college decision: “My second-choice college was a D-II school, but I ended up choosing Willamette in large part because of the cross-country and track programs. I knew that I wanted to run, but running has never defined my entire life and I didn't want to sacrifice school for it, so D-III seemed like a good option… I initially didn't think I would get to play viola in college, but I talked to professors in the department and found out that I could start with just a small chamber ensemble, which would take up less time than being in the orchestra. Both programs ended up tipping me over the edge to come here.” Others, like senior softball player Olivia Scott, who plays clarinet in the UCO and in a woodwind quintet, used the possibility of doing both as a filter in her college search. “Both music and softball were something I didn’t want to give up in college, so finding a school that would let me do both was really important to my college search,” Scott said. While Willamette athletics makes doing both non-athletic activities a realistic possibility, balancing sports and music takes a commitment to time management. Senior football player and Collegian sports editor James Willis, who plays trombone in Jazz Collective, talked about the difficulties of doing both: “It can be hard to find time to practice [music] during the season, as a lot of your time gets taken by the sport. Additionally, injuries can prevent you from practicing [music].” Sometimes scheduling conflicts arise and the student-athletes have to sacrifice a music rehearsal, performance or a practice. “I have had to miss rehearsals and performances for softball,” said Scott. “The orchestra always has a large spring concert on the weekends in the afternoon and that’s always when our games are. Professor Agüero [the University Chamber Orchestra and Wind Ensemble conductor] has been really good about working with me and my softball schedule, but it’s definitely a bummer to miss the big spring concert each year. While I haven’t missed games for music, I have had to miss some softball practices for important rehearsals I couldn’t miss.” While the connection between music and sports may seem disparate to some, the two activities can assist with one another. “Both activities require you to add commitments to your schedule, so I think discipline is definitely the biggest overlapping skill,” said sophomore track athlete Jeremy Falk, who plays viola in the UCO. “I think a less obvious way that the activities reinforce each other is through attention to detail. There is a lot of physical technique that goes into playing the viola that parallels how I think about improving my running mechanics.” Piacsek added: “I grew up performing on stages and in competitions because I was in music from a young age, so by the time I started running I was used to the pressure of performing in front of people. In the other direction, I think that seeing how much my running improved with practice helped encourage me to practice viola and gave me the confidence to push myself. Many of my friends were in both music and cross-country, and they pushed me to audition for an orchestra in a city about an hour away. I got in and it ended up being one of my favorite experiences of high school.” For first-year football player Chris Brown, who plays trumpet in Jazz Collective, “I had stage confidence well before I had athletic confidence and my concerts and public performances definitely made me more confident.” Trumpet playing has also improved Brown’s lung capacity, which is useful for cardio in football.  For others like Scott, both music and athletics serve a similar purpose: “The clarinet and softball are both activities that provide me a lot of stress relief so when I’m overwhelmed or stressed in one of those activities, I have the other to turn to. I definitely started playing my clarinet a lot more at college once [the] season was cancelled to take my mind off all that was happening around me.”

Noah Dantes Managing editor ngdantes@willamette.edu On April 1, Willamette President Steve Thorsett announced that this spring’s on-campus Commencement ceremonies would be cancelled due to the spread of COVID-19. In the same announcement, Thorsett said that this year’s graduates will be formally recognized virtually on May 17 and will be celebrated on campus in an alternate event when it is safe to do so. While the decision to cancel on-campus Commencement is a painful one for this year’s graduating class and their families, the decision is a necessary one and there are several alternatives worth considering. One of the key ways the spread of COVID-19 is slowed and minimized is through social distancing. According to an April 3 article by Newsweek, social distancing measures have cut COVID-19 cases in Oregon by as much as 70 percent. Oregon’s stay-at-home order has been in effect since March 23, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting, but peak resource use isn’t projected for Oregon until April 21, according to data compiled by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). On April 2, the same IHME model predicted peak resource use for Oregon to be May 5. While Oregon’s COVID-19 cases rose above 1,000 on April 6, social distancing measures are flattening the curve of infections and saving lives, as shown in the drastic improvement in projections for Oregon over the past week. While it is good news that the worst of COVID-19 may be behind Oregon after April 21, it is important to keep social distancing measures in place even after cases dip significantly. The IHME model makes its projections with the assumption that social distancing will continue through May, which is when Commencement is normally held. If social distancing is relaxed early, Oregon could see a second wave of infections. COVID-19 has proven to be highly transmissible due to its ability to pass from person to person through respiratory droplets and to survive on surfaces. It can be transmitted by those with mild and, in some cases, no symptoms at all, according to the World Health Organization. Its incubation period, the time between exposure to infection and the first appearance of symptoms, can range anywhere from one to 14 days. The spike in infections the country is seeing now are infections from one to two weeks ago. Oregon, and Willamette, need social distancing through May in order to prevent the possibility of a second wave of infections. On-campus Commencement entails the gathering of hundreds of people in close proximity, which is not only dangerous for the graduates but also their families, and COVID-19 is especially deadly for the very old, according to Business Insider. On April 4, Oregon governor Kate Brown donated 140 ventilators to New York, leaving 762 ventilators available in the state, the Oregonian reported. These ventilators are essential for the survival of patients with the most severe cases, and with the reduced number of them now available it is even more important to keep social distancing measures in place. IHME’s projection for Oregon resource use could easily jump back up to May, as it was on April 2, if we are not careful.  Willamette, while its promise to hold an on-campus celebration of the graduates at some point in the future when safe is a good one, should be cautious before committing to a new date. Willamette students come from all across the country and from around the world. Even if COVID-19 has disappeared from Oregon, it wouldn’t be wise to hold an on-campus Commencement until the outbreak has disappeared from the United States. The COVID-19 outbreak is ever-changing and new information is coming out every day. The projections for all the states have been changing daily in both directions, and several states are more affected by the outbreak than Oregon. There is no telling when the outbreak will end, whether it is sooner or later. Willamette has to adapt to the daily new information just as the students do, and the decision to cancel Commencement was the right one given the information we have now. Other universities around the country are similarly cancelling their graduation ceremonies. Some colleges are adding this year’s graduation ceremony to next year’s, some are postponing their ceremony, most are holding virtual ceremonies, but all are still adapting and coming up with plans. Willamette has committed to recognizing graduates on May 17 remotely, and while the details have not been specified as of April 6, Willamette students should think of additional ways to celebrate. Connection and community is especially important during this time, and Commencement alternatives will help with that. Discuss the loss and brainstorm ways with peers to celebrate graduation and keep the community thriving, whether it’s something small for your friend group or the creation of a larger community page or event. Have a party with your family in your house. Get your friends on a Zoom call and have your own quirky ceremony. Get creative. There are many alternatives out there and you don’t have to choose just one. There’s an entire graduating class of students, from Willamette and elsewhere, looking for connection, closure and answers. Willamette is adapting as well as it can, but no solution can make things perfect or like nothing ever happened. This outbreak robbed this year’s graduates of their final months at Willamette and now Commencement. It’s okay to grieve. The pain and loss is real, but don’t experience these emotions alone. Call your loved ones, find connection and community. Reach out to a peer, for many are feeling alone right now. Social distancing does not mean isolation. This outbreak does not mean the parting of our community. We are greater than this crisis. More than ever, it is important to remember our motto: not unto ourselves alone are we born.

James Willis Sports editor jdwillis@willamette.edu When Willamette University decided that all classes would move online for the rest of the year and that upcoming spring sports seasons would be cancelled, returning student-athletes were faced with a challenging question: what were they going to do in order to stay in shape? With the closing of Sparks Fitness Center and other gyms in the Salem area, these athletes had to figure out ways to safely stay in shape for their upcoming seasons. Some athletes have access to personal weights sets and can lift from their own homes. Others have had to get creative in order to achieve their offseason goals. Local gyms in the Salem area have started posting workouts on social media for anyone to participate in. Many of these workouts are designed so that the participant doesn’t need to use weights, but rather their body weight to determine the reps needed. Additionally, participants are encouraged to go outside and run, walk or hike. Football head coach Isaac Parker explained how the football team is staying in shape. With students all over the place, the coaches send out workouts for every week digitally. Parker said, “We send out workouts that our players can either do with weights, or with bodyweight as a measurement.” This is a way to ensure that players without access to weights can still stay in shape.  Parker also explained the process of keeping in touch with all of his players: “We have Zoom meetings every Tuesday and Thursday… our coaches are also staying in touch with both our academic success platoons as well as our position players.”  The team splits up into six groups, or “platoons.” Each platoon is led by a coach and student-athlete captains. These platoons meet to achieve academic goals and to compete in friendly competitions during the offseason. Although it is important to remain in shape, Parker emphasized that academics still come first. Sophomore Carson Pies explained what this new process looks like for him. Every week, he receives a week’s worth of at-home workouts. When asked about having to improvise workouts due to lack of equipment, Pies said: “We focus a lot more on core, now that that’s the easiest thing to work on due to lack of accessibility to weight room equipment. Lots of variations of pushups, wall sits, air-squats and squat jumps, bicep curls with basically anything you can find and situps.”  Although the team is still able to complete workouts, Pies mentioned a challenging aspect of the at-home workouts that he and many other student athletes face. “The hardest part for me is finding enough space to do the workouts! I live in a small house with my parents and it can get pretty cramped at times as there isn’t much space anyways, let alone trying to do circuit workouts in the living room.” Before social distancing measures were put in place, all WU sports teams had set times where they work out as a team. Examples included weight classes in the early morning or afternoon, field work, group runs and sessions in the pool. With student-athletes now having to work out alone, they now have to work harder at keeping themselves and their teammates accountable. Pies said, “We stay in touch as a team a minimum of two times a week to talk football, and also to check in on one another.”

Photos by Dani Garcia King Captions by Sophie Smith Photo editor Editor-in-chief dgarciak@willamette.edu slsmith@willamette.edu The Bistro, which is usually packed with patrons all hours of the day, is now vacant. A week after announcing that its hours would shorten and that only take-orders would be served, Bistro leadership announced on March 21 that it would close for the rest of the semester. Read a full story about these changes to the beloved campus café in next week’s Collegian . Although some students remain in their dorms, most of the campus’ residence halls are emptied and shuttered, including many in Lausanne Hall. Behind Lausanne is a Doney lot empty of cars. The normally bustling quad and its surrounding pathways are empty. The magnolia tree by Smith Auditorium blooms without its usual hammockers and tree climbers. University employees, donning face masks, get ready to assist American Studies Program (ASP) students with their luggage. All ASP students returned home on April 1 and 2. A sign directs students to Goudy Dining Hall’s side entrance. Goudy is the only on-campus dining location still open to students and Willamette community members, albeit with limited services and hours. The exterior of the Baxter Hall complex, which houses Bishop Wellness Center. Bishop Director Don Thomson announced on March 30 that the center will conduct many health and counseling services remotely via Zoom and phone calls.

Gray Gautereaux Staff writer gagautereaux@willamette.edu A previous version of this article included inaccurate information regarding student health insurance plans and the services available at Bishop Wellness Center. For the most up-to-date information about changes to Bishop’s services, you can visit their website at https://willamette.edu/offices/wellness/index.html .  For the spring 2020 semester, tuition for the Willamette’s College of Liberal Arts (CLA) was $33,220, with fees priced at $370. Willamette Admission reports that the average CLA financial aid package is worth $18,829. Factoring in this average financial aid package, which includes federal loans that must eventually be paid back, the total fixed costs for the spring semester add up to about $14,761. This cost does not include what students pay for books, supplies or individual class fees.  On March 12, all Willamette classes were moved online, and on March 16, distance learning was extended indefinitely. On March 30, Bishop Wellness Center moved all health services to an online or over the phone format, which they are referring to as “telehealth.” In addition to classes being moved online and Bishop closing its doors, all athletics events were cancelled and the majority of buildings on campus were closed. Students were told four days before spring break that they were not allowed to return to their residence halls if they left, on-campus employees were limited to security, facilities and select administrators, and Goudy significantly limited its dining options and suspended “All You Can Eat” meals, a staple of on-campus dining plans. The buildings that remain open are the University Center, Goudy Commons, Ford Hall and residence halls (the latter are only open to students still allowed to live in them). As all of these resources closed down to the Willamette community, students have been expected to pay the same amount of tuition and fees. Students are no longer getting what they paid for and the University should seek to reimburse students for their disrupted education.  The rapid spread of COVID-19 has required equally rapid responses from institutions of higher education across the nation, leaving many students and university staff confused and scrambling to keep up with which resources are still available and where they are allowed to go without losing further access to their places of employment and education. While these measures have been taken in the interest of public health, the financial and educational security of Willamette’s student body has been negatively affected by the sudden suspension of resources that are largely funded by students’ tuitions. There is additional concern among graduating students of the Class of 2020, a cohort facing a post-graduation global recession as it waits to hear further updates on a cancelled commencement ceremony.  The University has taken some steps to acknowledge these shortcomings. On April 3, Vice President of Finance Dan Valles emailed students who were paying for room and board, stating that “students who departed campus by the end of spring break will receive a full refund for board plans and a 50% rebate on room plans.” While this is a significant relief for students who have resided on campus, the University has yet to address concerns around tuition, despite the ongoing restriction of student access to a majority of campus resources.  A member of the group “WU Students Demanding Tuition Reimbursements,” Megan Pratt ‘20, explained, “I came to Willamette partially because we are one of the only undergraduate programs in the nation with a cadaver lab. Exercise and health science students, as well as STEM students of other disciplines, have paid to use expensive lab equipment and research materials we no longer have access to. I am also under the impression that studio art majors and music students have lost access to their recording studios and art materials, which the administration should address.” Another student, who asked to remain anonymous in the interest of preserving their relationship with the University and its administrators, expressed support for tuition reimbursement because, “while still paying the portion of tuition that covers ‘free’ printing, I've had to purchase a printer, paper and ink in order to take my finals… Two printers in Ford are nowhere near adequate to provide printing to the better portion of 1,800 students, many of whom previously depended on this service that we pay for with our tuition dollars.” While some student leadership have reported ongoing administrative conversations on these subjects, most students have been left in the dark as administrators fail to seek student input or experience regarding the burden of tuition payments. Some students and their families have been experiencing financial hardship as a result of the pandemic, and there are options for these students to appeal for more financial aid, but ultimately they shouldn’t have to scramble to continue paying for the quality of education they are no longer receiving. As a result, some students have begun calling for the administration to establish a task force examining tuition and graduation reimbursements, and are demanding this task force offer a place at the table for students who are willing to work with administration in shaping the University’s response. I have personally taken action to reflect this desire by creating a change.org petition titled “WU Students Demand Tuition Reimbursements.” The petition was created in collaboration with members of the WU Students Demanding Tuition Reimbursements group and, after being published on April 6, was posted to the Willamette University Students page on Facebook. The petition calls upon President Thorsett, the Board of Trustees and Dan Valles to respond quickly by forming a reimbursement taskforce.  Within 12 hours of its posting, the petition received over 100 signatures and support continues to grow.  When and how administration will respond has yet to be seen, but it should be clear that students are not getting what they pay for, and they are paying a lot in a time when financial security is unattainable across the nation. It is unclear how long COVID-related disruptions will last or what the future holds for next semester, but for the time being it is an economic injustice for the University to take tuition payments in full for the spring 2020 semester.

Lily Painter Contributor ljpainter@willamette.edu Everywhere you turn, the news, your friends and your employers are talking about COVID-19, the disease being spread by the novel coronavirus. Faster than most people expected, many businesses have closed, social distancing measures have been imposed and schools have shut down. Universities are no exception to the new regulations and classes are now conducted online. These changes have created a lack of human interaction which many people find difficult, realizing that they cannot hang out with friends or talk to many people in person. In some cases, people are also having to stay away from their family. There has been a surge of talk about the struggles of social distancing as people find themselves without the flood of regular human interaction most experience in a day. In the midst of this sudden lack of human interaction, social media platforms have gained a greater prominence in people’s lives. Instagram in particular is constantly blowing up with new challenges, polls and memes about social distancing. These challenges seem to be a new way for people to feel connected with one another while being unable to hang out in person.  These challenges range from posting workout videos to sharing funny photos to spreading positivity. They begin when someone posts a story with the challenge. Then they tag friends, asking them to participate. The friends who choose to do so then tag even more people and it spreads until the challenge becomes common. Once it is, almost everyone on Instagram has either seen it, heard about it or participated in it. A few that have been circulating recently include the “Do 10, Tag 10,” which has people all over the country and the world doing pushups and getting some exercise done in a fun and interactive way, and the “Until Tomorrow” challenge, which asks people to share embarrassing or unattractive photos of themselves for 24 hours. Another one involves posting people’s Instagram posts and handles on your story in order to support others.  Kawika Kalama (‘21) said: “I’d say the most powerful aspect of social media is its application as a tool to connect communities across the world. With the global pandemic lately, it seems that connecting with one another is again at the forefront of how social media is used. It’s just nice seeing this refocusing.” He is one among many who enjoys seeing the fun activities people are coming up with on Instagram and other social media platforms.  Joel Westby (‘21) mentioned that he thinks the Instagram challenges have unity in mind but added, “I see solidarity within many small groups and groups that are more likely to participate in challenges anyway.” However, despite this, he said, “That being said, they’re definitely a net positive thing!”  Instagram, much like real life, often connects those with similar interests or those who already know each other due to the ability to choose who to follow and who your followers are, leading to the group distinction Westby talked about. While this is noticeable, it is also important to realize that friend groups are managing to stay connected and in-touch by way of social media.  As with all things social media, there are differing opinions about these challenges. Some people enjoy them, others find them useless and still others do not care either way. In an Instagram poll of 38 Willamette students, 66 percent stated that they believe the Instagram challenges show solidarity and help people interact and stay connected. The other 34 percent were mostly indifferent, not thinking the challenges did anything out of the ordinary besides create a way to fill time.  Daniela Camacho (‘20) said that she does not necessarily think they make people feel connected, but that they are instead “just something to do now that everyone is bored.”  Even with this view however, one can see that it is something to do; no matter the motive behind it, the challenges are a way to draw people in. These games are a fun way to connect the world in the midst of a pandemic that is putting stress on everyone. Sharing activities can remind people that, although social distancing is incredibly important, there are ways to relieve some of the stress of being isolated.  Social media has been a central part of life for a while now, and due to COVID-19 it has gained a new centrality in people's lives, offering a space to reconnect and share thoughts. Instagram is one of the many platforms that is being used to fill time and remind everyone that they are not alone. Like everything, Instagram challenges are not for everyone, but they offer a fun way to interact with friends and even make new ones while still practicing social distancing.

Dawn-Hunter Strobel Lifestyles editor dsstrobel@willamette.edu In the midst of the global shutdowns happening due to COVID-19, Willamette students studying abroad this semester were recalled to the United States and summer programs were canceled. This process looked different for each program, depending on where in the world it took place and what level of support it had, but all who were interviewed shared the sentiment that the changes happened exponentially as the crisis became more and more widespread. However, students in different programs had varying experiences with being recalled.  The decision to cancel programs was one that was university-wide, according to Kris Lou, director of the Office of International Affairs (OIE). People present in meetings concerning the cancellation of study abroad programs included representatives from the Office of Academic Affairs, Bishop Wellness Center, the university legal counsel and the dean’s office. These meetings addressed issues as they arose, starting with figuring out how to help a degree-seeking student stuck in China at the beginning of the semester, then students in Japan, Italy and onwards as the situation evolved. Lou said in an interview: “The thing that is really important to understand in all of this is that the series of events that occurred was always an evolving situation. You can see that in the series of decisions the CDC and the state department were making throughout time, travel warnings that were issued over time. All these things evolved over time. And each time these things ramped up… we had to then adjust.” Bee Heumann (‘21) was studying abroad in Rome, Italy and was one of the first two people to be recalled.  “Being one of the first students to be called back, I didn’t realize what a big deal this was yet,” Heumann said. “When I got the email from Willamette telling me I had to come home, I just didn’t understand, so it seemed like a huge overreaction from Willamette’s part.” But as time went on, she checked regularly on the progress of the virus and changed her mind. She reported that one day there were five confirmed cases in Italy and two days later, there were 400.  Students studying in other places reported similar feelings. Katy Payne (‘21) was studying abroad in Galway, Ireland and said that “it was just on the backburner the entire time,” but once things changed, “it was exponential.”  Jordan Hitchcock (‘21), who was also studying in Galway, similarly said: “Leading up to it, it was hypothetical, going home. Like, ‘This is probably not gonna happen.’ Everyone was chill the day before [things changed].” On Tuesday, March 10, Karen Arabas, a Willamette professor on-site with the Galway program, sent the participants information about what would happen if they did get recalled.  Payne said: “To myself I was like, ‘That seems like a little bit of overkill, but okay, I guess it’s good to have this kind of stream of thought.’” Two days later, on March 12, the program was canceled and on March 15, Payne and Hitchcock flew back to the United States. Cassidy Brennan (‘21) was studying in Granada, Spain and said that she was initially given 10 days to leave, but once a national state of alarm was issued, they were urged to leave within 48 hours for fear of getting stuck in the country. “Everyone was sort of like, ‘It’s not even deadly, it’s like the flu, it’s fine, it’s fine, it’s fine’ in Spain. And then all of a sudden, in one week, it was just not fine, not fine at all.” At the time of Brennan’s departure, Spain had the third highest number of cases and Brennan said people were calling it “the new Italy.”  Having to obtain such quick flights home left some people in difficult situations. Hitchcock returned to Salem instead of Hawaii, where her family is, because returning to Hawaii was three times as expensive as returning to Oregon. Brennan also reported nearly not being able to afford to leave the country. “I couldn’t pay for three international flights, so I had to plead with [the airline] to waive all my change fees. But that was after being on the phone for six hours, being transferred to their supervisor and their supervisor’s supervisor,” she said.  Once students did obtain flights home, many reported harrowing experiences in the airports they went through. Hitchcock said she was at the airport for almost nine hours waiting in line for screenings, where they asked where each person had been in the last two weeks and if they had a fever. If someone had been in any other country than the one they were flying out of, they had to go in a separate line for more comprehensive screenings.  Payne reported that her initial flight was delayed five hours due to how long it took for everyone to get through these screenings as well as customs. At the last minute, Payne had to book an entirely different flight for the next leg of her journey, because the first flight was delayed to the point that she missed her connection.  Upon arriving in the U.S., Brennan reported that everyone had to fill out questionnaires before landing, then go through a CDC screening where their temperatures were taken and they were examined. Only upon completion of that could they then move on to go through customs. These delays made return journeys substantially longer, and in Payne’s case, the total journey was 40 hours long.  No one reported getting compensated or reimbursed for their last-minute emergency flights. Lou noted that “students are wondering rightfully about refunds” and reported that Willamette announced a general refund policy last week. Lou will soon be meeting with people in the Office of Financial Affairs about how people who were studying abroad might fit into that policy.  Whether or not a student will be partially reimbursed for their study abroad program varies by program . Heumann reported receiving some refund for her housing in Italy, and Brennan reported a partial refund for her program itself, but those who studied in Galway said they haven’t received any money back and do not foresee getting anything in the future.  Lou said, “Everybody really wants to do everything they can in terms of doing right by people as best we can.”  Everyone who was studying abroad is able to finish their classes online, though this is easier for some students than others. For those abroad in Galway, they only had one week of classes left by the time they were recalled, so it hasn’t been as much of a struggle to switch to an online system. But Heumann was studying art history in Rome and most of her classes were on-site, looking at art in person, which is no longer possible. Brennan said that only one of her classes is doing live lectures, but that it takes place at 5 a.m. where she is now, so waking up for that has been a struggle.  Among all participants interviewed, there is a distinct sense of loss. Heumann said: “I have been working toward this study abroad experience since I was about 12. I knew what I wanted to do, I knew I wanted to study art, I knew I wanted to study art in Europe. So this experience of being able to walk around and just be living among the art was just magical. I miss everything about it.” Brennan reported having a very difficult time parting with her host mom from Spain. “It was really hard because she was my best friend in Granada,” Brennan said. “I would come home every day and we would sit for an hour before lunch just talking. She cried so hard when she found out the program was canceled. It was really hard.” Despite all of this, everyone said they had a wonderful experience in the time they did spend abroad and were overall very glad for the experiences they were able to have, even if it was for less time than they had anticipated. Those interviewed expressed gratitude for their program directors. Payne called Arabas a “dynamite lady” and Brennan said, “Our program directors in Granada have been phenomenal.” Lou echoed this, saying his biggest takeaway from the experience has been the incredible dedication of those involved. He said, “The idea of a community has never been more true than now.”

Sophie Smith Editor-in-chief slsmith@willamette.edu In response to COVID-19-related cancellations, Willamette’s Office of Admission is changing its operations. This is in an effort to offer virtual alternatives to campus visits for prospective students, to support student employees and to mitigate potential enrollment decreases in the wake of the outbreak. In accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, Willamette’s Office of Admission has suspended its campus visit programming until at least May 15. The office has postponed all admission events for the semester, including this year’s second and third Bearcat Days events, and has created online visits to allow admitted and prospective students to still interact with members of the Willamette community.  The Office of Admission began creating virtual visit programming around the time of this semester’s first Bearcat Days, which took place March 12 and 13. The office first set up online information sessions, or presentations that admission counselors host for admitted or prospective students. As of April 1, about 60 visitors had participated in the virtual sessions.  “Just having had four days of info sessions and having that many visitors engage with us I think is a really good sign,” said Mary Randers, the interim dean of admission. “Even though we aren’t able to offer the in-person visits that we would normally be offering at this time, we’re still engaging with as many students as we can through these virtual visits.” The office has also started hosting virtual student appointments, which are conversations between students and admission ambassadors, or student employees of the office. Bearcat Days usually allows for prospective students to sit in on classes, so the office has also set up faculty appointments that allow admitted students to engage with professors and current students at the same time. Randers said about 50 faculty members have already volunteered for this type of virtual programming. The University contracted with a local business to film programs that took place during March’s Bearcat Days, including President Thorsett’s talk at the welcome program and a student ambassador-led campus tour. These videos are still being edited and are not yet available online. “There is no shortage of work to do in the virtual world,” Randers said, noting that both counselors and ambassadors are staying busy as the office adapts to recent changes. Admission counselors, who normally travel extensively during the spring semester, are participating in virtual college fairs, often with consortiums of other schools.  Ambassadors have been participating in virtual appointments and panels, as well as contributing to social media pages and conducting research projects for the office. All student employees of the office are able to retain their regular work hours. “I think the benefit of having a work study job is that you’re a person and you’re a student first. So we tried to be responsive to students actually needing a little bit of space and time to process. But as soon as they’re ready to work, we have really important work for them to do,” Randers said. The office’s employees are exploring alternative options to the suspended admission events, which may be held in the summer. Randers said one idea is having an event for admitted students that allows them to do some enrolling steps on campus, like participating in advising meetings or discussing financial aid. The $300 travel vouchers awarded to visiting students who live more than 250 miles from campus will apply to any program that might be held in lieu of Bearcat Days. The office is also trying to devise an alternative to the Access to Excellence program, which funds the travel expenses of first-generation college students and students of color who visit campus during Bearcat Days. Randers noted that these solutions might be challenging for students who were depending on a campus visit in order to make their final college decision. “I really feel for families and students that are trying to make this decision,” Randers said.  The University is working with students and families to address uncertainties such as pass-fail class credit on a student’s transcript, standardized test scores and changes to financial need based on recent job losses. The University has kept open its application to accommodate students who may be changing their college decisions based on recent events, such as students living in the area who have decided to stay closer to home. “We are seeing applications still coming in for first-year students. It’s not a lot, it’s a couple applications each day,” Randers said. “So one impact too is maybe some additional applicants that we didn’t expect to have.” Most years, Willamette generally accommodates students who request extensions of the May 1 enrollment deposit deadline. This year is no different, although the University has not announced a formal deadline extension. “I don’t think we’ve seen the impact yet of what this will do,” Randers said of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I think all of us are trying to be pretty realistic, that it’s likely that this class will not be at the target that we hoped that it would be. And that is completely understandable. But we’re doing everything we can to work with the families that are still considering Willamette and to make them feel comfortable about making that decision.”