WRITING
PBR vs. Eugene
Dirt-stained jeans, felt cowboy hats, vintage beer shirts, and enormous golden belt buckles were some of the attire on the University of Oregon campus on April 5. Matthew Knight Arena hosted the Professional Bull Riders Velocity Tour for the third year in a row. But, before any tenacious bulls were released, arena emcee Matt West asked the crowd if this was their first PBR event. West was met with a roar. Vocalists in the crowd had never seen “The Greatest Show on Dirt.” But does PBR fit in the culture that is Eugene, Oregon? A town known for events like the Oregon Country Fair, where clothing is listed as optional. “The event brings a lot of people not from Eugene,” Josh Spector, an Oregon Coast resident, said. For PBR fans, the sport is more than entertainment; it’s a way of life. Many drove in from towns across Oregon to see their favorite riders take on one of the world’s most dangerous eight-second challenges. But for some, it was a culture shock. “It’s a little different from UO culture,” Oregon student Jeremy Jackson said. “But, there’s actually a lot of country people (in Eugene).” West started the event like he started any, with a prayer, “Lord, please keep these athletes, our four-legged athletes, and everyone in this arena safe,” he said. Some fans drew a confused face when West asked everyone to join in. “What other sport stops the beginning of the whole show for a prayer?” said Neal McDonough, a PBR Brand Ambassador, in a GQ interview. “I’m a Christian, so it meant a lot to me,” Jackson said. “But I can see it could be a bit of a culture shock.” Following the prayer, West went for the highly anticipated call and response, “How lucky are we to live in the greatest country in the world?” Fans were a bag of mixed emotions. Much of the older crowd was loud in their approval, while the college demographic seemed to bite their tongue and turn to their friends in confusion. “This is a liberal place, but the surrounding area isn’t,” fan Mandy Smith, 65, said. Hours earlier, around 1,000 people attended the “Hands Off” rally in front of Eugene City Hall. Eugene was one of the 1,000 locations in the U.S. to protest the current White House Administration. PBR is known for its conservative culture. With two of their national sponsors being the U.S. Border Patrol and the Air Force Reserve, it is easy to notice the contrast between the sport’s patriotic pageantry and Eugene’s traditionally progressive values. Still, the event drew around 70% capacity, showing that even in a liberal college town, there is still room for rodeo.
Portland Gear: A UO Production
Through passion, creativity, and a deep love for his city, Marcus Harvey, ‘12, has built more than just a brand—he’s built a movement. From a simple Instagram page to a thriving lifestyle brand, Portland Gear represents more than just apparel; it embodies the spirit and pride of Portland itself. It all started at Gamma Rho. Marcus has been the CEO of his company, Portland Gear, for the last 10 years. “There was no plan to make money,” with @portland, an Instagram community. With a background in apparel and graphics, he wanted to make something to show his Portland pride. “In the early years, it was selling shirts and hats for people that were proud of Portland,” he said. But Portland Gear has evolved into more than “shirts and hats.” After acquiring brand deals and turning into more of a product-based business, the company has evolved into a lifestyle brand, with its biggest growth in backpacks and jackets. “Backpacks are now like 60% of our income,” Marcus said. “It’s a lot different than what it looked a couple of years ago.” What once started for people who liked Portland now represents people who live the lifestyle. Portland Gear has taken on many projects for the betterment of the city. When the WNBA announced last September that the league’s 15th franchise would be placed in Portland starting in 2026, Portland Gear was well in on the action. “I’ve known for months and months and months it was going to happen that we were going to receive this bid,” Marcus said. On the day of the announcement, Portland Gear rolled out special edition “WNBA X PDX” sweatshirts on its social media platforms. “So it’s not an accident that it gets announced, and we have a product ready to go.” But another basketball team in the Moda Center isn’t the only sports initiative Marcus and Portland Gear are working on. The Portland Diamond Project is a group pushing for the next MLB expansion team to hit PDX. Their vision: “Our effort is rooted in listening to business and community leaders, building great partnerships and working together to make Portland better with Baseball.” In 2017, Marcus and Portland helped start the movement by “building out a store with merchandise and a sprinter van for pop-ups at events.” With COVID disrupting progress, the Project announced on September 23rd, 2024, that they had reached an agreement to buy property at Zidell Yards on the city’s South Waterfront. “The first step is land, which we just got,” Marcus said. “[The project] has a lot of momentum right now.” “We didn’t have [design chair], but I would be now…I did all the shirts,” Marcus said. Marcus, a part of the ‘massive’ Fall ‘08 pledge class, never thought he would join a fraternity. “I didn’t think of myself as Greek life, I didn’t think to rush,” he said. But having some friends and friends’ brothers in Delta Tau Delta convinced him to try it out. Marcus said, “5 of us on my floor in LLC joined Delts, so that was great. We would all walk to formal Mondays together.” Marcus lived in the Shelter for two years. His sophomore year in what is now called the Landing Strip hallway and his junior year in the infamous almighty Racks hallway. “The house was dirty and gross,” he added, “but I loved it.” But Marcus did everything he could to get the most out of his Gamma Rho experience. The Digital Arts and Business major said he went to all the parties, events, and intramurals and networked with the older guys and alumni whenever they would come through the door. His roommate, lifelong friend, and coworker, Eli Abramovitz ‘14, has shown what Delt connections are all about. “[He’s] my number two. He’s been with me here for a decade,” Marcus said. “It was just a good group of guys.” Marcus went on about how Gamma Rho wasn’t the flashiest of fraternities on campus, but they stuck to their values. He said they kept up on their academics, something the chapter continues. “I had this old hat that had that kind of basic sports block P logo that I wore for a year before I started Portland Gear,” Marcus said. He drew inspiration from the Oregon O and the Nike swoosh’s simplicity and iconic logos. So, he knew he wanted to keep his logo simple. “I was playing with the state of Oregon as the outline and noticing that it was more of a square and like it worked in the middle (of the P) perfectly,” He said. Two years after graduation, the Portland Gear logo was born, even though Marcus wasn’t fond of it at first. “But it’s growing, and I love it, and I wouldn’t change a thing about it.” “I try to create products that I would wear, experiences I would want to go to.” Three years into the company, he created Brand Camp. “That’s been the most fun piece over the last decade,” Marcus said. Brand Camp is a local initiative for high school and college students to get a week's worth of work in product design. “We give kids clarity into ‘oh, I like this, I want to do this.’” “In the early years, the perspective was work, now the perspective changes when you can rely on great people,” Marcus said, admitting to battles with anxiety and overworking. He once lived above the Portland Gear shop, so he didn’t waste time commuting to work. “Anxiety is a lack of control,” he said. Having a why and balance helped Marcus with his anxiety. “I created the balance over the years intentionally by moving out, got a dog, and then once you have babies, a hard line is drawn instantly.” “I exist to push my creativity every day.” Marcus wants to be better than yesterday. “I crave the ability to create.” While some like consistency, he likes the unknown. “I love coming to work. I love my office. I love my team,” he says. Marcus wants to keep Portland Gear a place where people love to work. He loves the camaraderie and passion his coworkers have, and he hopes “that lives on forever.” Marcus wants to make cool products for cool people. It isn’t uncommon for passersby to do a double-take when they see a UO Ducks Cascade Backpack walking through Lillis Hall. Portland Gear holds a certain caché on campus. Through passion, creativity, and a deep love for his city, Marcus Harvey has built more than just a brand—he’s built a movement. From a simple Instagram page to a thriving lifestyle brand, Portland Gear represents more than just apparel; it embodies the spirit and pride of Portland itself. Marcus’s journey is proof that when something is built with heart, it resonates far beyond what is ever imagined.
Joe Krasnowski’s Journey in Journalism & Family Business
At just 20 years old, Joe Krasnowski has built an impressive resume in sports journalism while balancing his deep-rooted connection to his family’s ice cream business. He has made a name for himself as a sports writer for the Daily Emerald and, back home in California, plays a key role in the family shop, Mother Moo Creamery. Krasnowski is pursuing a journalism major and a critical reasoning minor at the University of Oregon. Ultimately, Krasnowski’s passion for journalism led him to Eugene. “I liked the program. I liked the sports. And I liked the state,” he said. The summer before he stepped on campus in 2023, Krasnowski was accepted as a sports beat writer for the Daily Emerald, where he continues to write two years later. He also works as a reporter for UO’s student radio, KWVA, and interned with the World Baseball Network for four months as a features writer. “Working for (World Baseball Network) is great. They allow me to have freedom with whatever I write,” Krasnowski said. This past summer of 2024, he was signed on to the Eugene Emeralds staff where he ran the communication department as an intern. “Every day was intern stuff,” Krasnowski said. But it gave him a unique chance to connect with professional baseball players and interview his mom’s favorite player, Will Clark, a San Francisco Giants legend. While his dedication to sports journalism keeps him busy at school, he remains tied to his family’s ice cream shop, Mother Moo Creamery. Krasnowski’s mom opened the store in 2011 in their hometown, Sierra Madre, California. They’re known for serving “the very best pie and ice cream in the San Gabriel Valley,” according to a Google review. Krasnowski began working at Mother Moo in the spring of 2020. He started with customer service and is now the acting communications director, managing the business’s social media and public outreach. Krasnowski said he wants to take on a larger managerial role in the future but doesn’t “want to do the day-to-day work.” “It’s just a happy place for a lot of people,” Krasnowski said. “Kids come after school, families bond over ice cream…it was so important for me in my childhood.” Krasnowski’s journey is just beginning. He has a deep understanding of storytelling and community engagement. He’s prepared for success in whatever path he chooses. Whether it will be covering the next Ducks game or choosing a new gelato flavor, Joe Krasnowski is making an impact.
Teenage Tow Truck Driver's Unlikely Path to Entrepreneurship
Living in his friend’s walk-in closet, Morgan Griffin, 17, provides essential roadside assistance for the small town of Veneta, Oregon. Morgan is a tow truck driver for Brooks Towing and a delivery driver for the infamous late-night campus dining calzone place, Dough Co. He is Brooks Towing’s go-to man for fatal crashes due to his quick onloading procedures and a Dough Co. frontman. Morgan works full-time. He hasn’t gone to school since the sophomore year of high school, hasn’t had contact with his parents since that same year, has minimal family contact, and does not need to return to his previous life. Work was a place where Morgan could escape reality. “I was fighting, causing problems, and being disruptive in class. I had a big problem with the authority,” he said. His parents wanted less and less to do with him, so they kicked out their 15-year-old son. Morgan had no issue with their decision. He was “mentally trapped in that house,” he said. For a month before his departure, he slept in a tent in the backyard. “My younger sister wanted a bigger room, so they put me in the back like I was some dog,” he said. “Thankfully, I had Joe, though.” When he was in the third grade, Morgan met Joe Brooks, the boyfriend of his friend’s mom. Morgan loved going to his friend’s house to talk about cars with Joe, a local tow truck driver. “He would come to my house after school and go on tows with me,” Joe said. The unlikely friendship between a 35-year-old and a 10-year-old turned into coworkers. At 14, Morgan wanted to start working and instantly knew his first job. Joe Brooks Towing. A month after Morgan left his parents' home, he dropped out of school to work full-time. He found a place to rent and started working more hours than allowed for minors to stay afloat. Even though Morgan hit adulthood early, he had no plan of going back. “They set me back in life, and I'm a lot happier not being around them,” he said of his parents. Morgan turns 18 in September. “I hope to make passive income by 19 and be a millionaire by 24.” Morgan looks to own a detailing and body shop in Florence, Oregon, as his next business venture. Joe plans on being the first investor in the company. They will have to start fresh. A new building. New tools. New company name. And another new beginning.
We Fight Back Rally
Speakers at the Jan. 19 “We Fight Back” rally talked about democracy, current and potential wars, oligarchs, and disconfidence in the Trump administration. Around 150 people gathered outside of the Wayne L. Morse U.S. Courthouse and the week before the rally flyers were posted all across Eugene. Justin Filip, a former Pacific Green Party candidate for the 2024 4th Congressional District race, was one of the speakers. “Trump is the epitome of the swamp,” Filip said during his speech. He was met with many crowd responses. “You got that right,” said one woman who agreed with his statement while holding a poster that featured Trump’s face and included labels like, “felon,” “racist,” “liar” and “loser.” “We need to be in solidarity with people that are trying to fight back against the billionaire agenda,” Filip said in an interview with the Daily Emerald. “The goal is for us to build a better system, one that isn’t catering to the interest of the wealthy few.” From 2021 to 2024, Filip served on the State Coordinating Committee for the Pacific Green Party. Now, he is the party’s secretary. “Obviously, my confidence in the Trump administration is not high but I want the best for this country,” Filip said. The speakers and bystanders alike shared a sentiment of prosperity for the country. “I do hope that he [Trump] does make better choices for the country. But I don't think my hopes are very high.” Jennifer Nguyen said, a volunteer for the Party of Socialism and Liberation (PSL). She was handing out paper slips with a list of call-and-response chants that were repeated throughout the rally. Speakers at the “We Fight Back” rally attacked more people than Trump. Some went after local billionaire, Phil Knight, for contributing to “the oligarchical system” as one speaker said. Others also went after Trump’s presidential opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. One speaker pointed out that 52 billionaires outwardly supported Trump while 83 billionaires supported Harris, a statistic that received jeers from the crowd. Bystanders came prepared for the rally with a wide range of signs. One protester had a sign that read “Healthcare not warfare,” while a couple held a poster that said, “U.S. Military is #1 CO2 Contributor to Climate Crisis; Planet vs. Pentagon.” The Party for Socialism and Liberation brought many other local groups to join them at this event. The rally started with the Raging Grannies, a local group promoting justice and peace, who sang an original song. The event had speakers from PSL, local union groups, and the University of Oregon Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine. Many speakers touched on the Palestine-Israel conflict. Some said the temporary ceasefire is not enough, and a permanent solution is the only acceptable option for peace. Other speakers talked about how Gaza is not the only place with oppression. “Just last week, Yemen was struck by U.S. and British-made bombs!” One speaker said. While the U.S. has struck many Iran-backed rebels in Yemen as recently as New Year’s Eve, there are no reports that the U.S. has sent any artillery to the region, officials say. After the speakers, the Ceasefire choir sang an original song, “Not Another Bomb.” This was the second of the three major rallies happening in Eugene this weekend. On Monday, Jan.20, the Eugene-Springfield NAACP will hold its annual Martin Luther King Jr. march. It is expected to attract hundreds of marchers.