Welcome Back!

Hi Everyone,

Welcome back to school!

My name is Jennifer Petty, and I am the new president of Ed for the 2009-2010 school year. Allow me to introduce myself.

I just turned 20 years old and I’m a magazine journalism major (obviously) and a psychology minor. Although it’s not exactly the best timing with the recession and all, I’m excited to graduate in June and hit the real world. When I’m not doing homework or interning, I enjoy spending time with my dog, a two year old Samoyed named Prince, and wonderful boyfriend of two years named Max. I was born and raised in Pasco, Washington (woot woot), drink chai almost everyday, and think serial commas belong in journalistic writing (take that, AP Stylebook).

I hope you’re excited about Ed activities for the upcoming year! Ed is co-hosting “Redefining J-School” with the Society of Professional Journalists! On Sunday, October 25 from noon to 4 pm, students, professors, professionals, etc. will meet in Allen Hall to discuss current media issues, improvements to the J-School, etc. It’s an “unconference,” meaning the topics and schedule won’t be set until the day of the event, to keep everything organic and interesting. You can find more information about the event here: http://barcamp.org/RedefiningJSchoolEugene. If you attend just one event, make it this one!

I hope everyone’s school year has started splendidly, and I look forward to your participation in Ed events. I have a few ideas of things we can do as a club, but ultimately, what you get out of Ed is what you put into it. If you have ideas for events, the blog, speakers, activities, anything, please let me know by commenting on this post, e-mailing me (jpetty1@uoregon.edu), calling me (509-727-7668), following me (@jpetty89), or friending me!

Bringing East to the West

BY WHITNEY MOUNTAIN

“Have you ever heard of a bank closing early on a Friday in the United States?” Brian Jensen asked leaning in and opening his palms, welcoming a response. But he’s right; banks don’t close early in the United States if business slows on a Friday afternoon, but they do in Thailand.
The Gypsy Chic Boutique gets all of its goods from Thai craftsmen, and Jensen and his wife make yearly voyages to handpick the commodities that they sell on N Mississippi Avenue in Portland.
But the Jensens didn’t start there. They started at street fairs like the one corking the main street on campus.
“I personally have been doing this for 6 to 7 years,” said Jensen. “Shows like this continue to bring in profits and pay for the parts.”
Jensen came to this fair with his hat tilted on his head, balancing atop his bountiful accessories. His hands are covered in large multi-colored rings, a subtle plug for the assortment of silver jewelry spread over the tables before him.
All of his embellishments can’t hide the sparkle in his eye.
“I am here for one reason,” he said aggressively, pointing at his merchandise.
Jensen says that his business practices have been influenced by his yearly treks to the east.
“In a [Thai] restaurant, you’re going to have 10 people on the floor and behind the bar,” he said. “There are a lot of people working, but everyone is getting paid.
“[Our business] is kind of a hybrid. It’s part of our company’s strength,” Jensen said. “It’s very symbiotic; everyone works hard, and everyone gets paid.
“We’re not getting rich,” he said. “But we can support our families and the people who work for us.”
Supporting families is important to Jensen and his wife. They have two children: a 4-year-old and a baby a little older than one year, both of whom take the trip to Thailand every year.
“It’s very family-oriented,” Jensen said of the east. “The Asians do that; it doesn’t matter if they are Chinese, Japanese or Thai.”
Jensen says that in America, the tight-knit atmosphere and all-inclusive attitude toward children has fallen by the wayside. Some families still embrace the family-oriented mindset, but it is not prevalent in western cultures.
“[In Thailand] it’s not the exception; it’s the norm,” said Jensen. “Your waitress will come and play with your baby at your table so you can eat.”
Jensen fondly described teenagers on the street who came to smile and coo over his children. Disappointingly, Jensen said, “We kind of lost that at some point.”
Jensen wasn’t automatically more impressed with eastern mindsets, however. The Thai are more slowly paced when it comes to business practices, he said, which threw this western salesman for a loop.
“Things get done, but not at the same pace,” he said. “It’s on Thai time.”
Jensen says that the difference between western business and eastern is remarkable.
“They have a completely different way of looking at things,” he said. “If you are not completely open-minded, it can get pretty frustrating.”
But after years of going to Thailand to do business, Jensen has developed relationships with the craftsmen he buys from.
“Even if there’s a language barrier,” he said. “They start to know what you want. It’s amazing.”
Jensen’s wife is the primary buyer for Gypsy Chic, and she has established a style sense that the Thai salespeople recognize and create clothing for.
“Most people speak English,” Jensen said. “But there are still certain things you have to accept.”
Jensen’s western rearing has made his experience in the east a trying one, but he, his family and their company have all benefited from the multicultural business approaches that they have combined by selling eastern merchandise in the west.

Waffling Around

BY JULIE BASQUE

Eugene, OR – Omer Orian, his brother, and his father love to make people happy. How else do you make the people of Eugene happy but by serving them the best waffles this side of the Atlantic at their restaurant, Off the Waffle.

Pages: 1 2

Campus Tours

BY ADRIENNE ROBLES

Eugene, OR – Like any typical UO Campus tour, a caterpillar of people meanders through the University of Oregon campus, parents and their children following a guide as he shouts out the history of the campus and the features that it offers.

Pages: 1 2

UO College of Education, Upgraded

BY DANIELLE SWEET

Eugene, OR – If you visit the South side of the University of Oregon campus you can’t miss the new College of Education building with its modern design and eye-catching architecture.

Pages: 1 2

Jimbo Mathus – Unzipped

BY IRIS BULL

Eugene, OR – The crowd was restless. Swaying back and forth to the slow, sedating tune that filled the room, dedicated fans were waiting for the empty stage to finally come alive last Saturday night. Crowding near the stage were bodies from all walks of life and of all ages, dressed in anything from a plain white tee and jeans to a full black bow-tie tux. Apparently, not everyone got word that this was a bow-tie formal event – a theme sometimes required by the WOW Hall – but when the main spectacle of the night rolled onstage after an agonizing half-hour wait, it was the music that brought people together – not what they looked like.

Pages: 1 2 3 4

Singing It Loud and Proud

BY ALEX ROLAND

Eugene, OR – The venue faintly smelled of sweat, and reeked of dust kicked up from the stage in a frenzy of rocking out. The stage lights and a disco ball at the center of the room danced wildly with the audience to the music and static pumping through speakers. Not even three full rows of people lined the stage. However, the excitement of the audience was not hindered by its size, composed of an almost equal amount of guys to girls and a colorful mixture of high school and college kids. The crowd was a single entity, moving together but with separable parts stirring to the pace of a pop-rock crunch, infused and delivered by Sing It Loud.

Pages: 1 2 3 4

Take Back the Night

BY ANNA HELLAND

Eugene, OR – The overall message of Take Back the Night 2009 is not shy nor does not attempt to hide behind any political premise. It is clear and it is loud. We will be heard! And all that attended the rally and march were heard throughout the school, in the streets, and to one another as they gathered to raise awareness and advocacy for sexual assault survivors on Thursday, April 16th.

Pages: 1 2

Who Are We?

Bored?

Starving for a delicious slice of chocolate covered knowledge?
Sick of “A Shot At Love” reruns?

Join Ed on Campus – The only magazine and editorial club on the University of Oregon campus!

What is Ed On Campus?

In short, Ed on Campus is a community of aspiring magazine enthusiasts who want to learn more about the industry, so we can fulfill our dreams of landing top editing and writing positions in the magazine biz. Ed was born in New York City, but there are now have chapters in cities across the U.S., Canada, and in the UK.

Here in Eugene Ed on Campus is student run (and affordable), which is why you should come!

What Can Ed on Campus Do for Me?

This is the cool part – it is up to you! We want to learn more about the magazine and editorial world, visit magazines, make contacts with people in the magazine world (on campus and off), create internship opportunities, and eventually establish a career in editorial/magazine!
Nationally Ed:2010 holds events such as the college student-only conference in New York, which is available to our club! The possibilities are endless! Besides, where else can you meet up with people as geeky about
magazines as you are?

How can I learn more?

For more information or to ask any questions please contact uo.edoncampus@gmail.com.