Story and Photos by Summer Luu

The refreshingly sunny university campus welcomed the 45^th Willamette Valley Music Festival on Saturday afternoon. It was a warm, almost cloudless day as the sun shone down on music lovers and students alike. Stages were spread across campus—the main stage located in the EMU ballroom, the student stage located in the EMU amphitheater and the KLCC stage in the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. Every year, the University of Oregon Cultural Forum produces this music festival for the enjoyment of university students and Eugene community members alike. “It’s great to see our student fees producing something like this—it’s a lot of fun,” said Charley DiBartolomeo, a junior.

The Willamette Valley Music Festival is a free one-day music festival held on university campus featuring a range of artists and bands from bluegrass, rap, rock, alternative, blues, jazz, hip hop, folk, electronic, dance and indie. Some acts in the past have included: Phantogram, Y La Bamba, Yeasayer, A-Trak, Baths and Blue Scholars. This year, WVMF had 22 artists: AgesandAges, All Your Sisters, Christine and Nate Hanks, Dreamdog, Ghillie Dhu and the Dhon’ts, Grass Widow, Homeschool, Hot Milk, Jade, June Apple, North Eugene Ukulele Orchestra, Nurses, Red Pajamas, Sol Seed, Stein, The Architex, The Great Hiatum, The Groundblooms, The Huckleberrys, The Silent Comedy, The Weather Machine, Theme Night and the soul funk headliner, Mayer Hawthorne and the County.

Mainly local folk musicians were housed on the KLCC stage, giving the music festival the great taste of rhythmic guitars as the student stage juxtaposed with pop, rock and rap performances. Not long ago, the annual festival was a folk festival with the majority of the performers playing folk music. The student stage housed two sustainable bicycling machines, assisting in electric power for the music—very Oregonian. Lastly, the main stage held performers from across the nation (unfortunately the stage moved from the Memorial Quad to the EMU ballroom due to the chance of rain). Accompanying the WVMF was the ASUO Spring Street Faire, providing an array of delicious food-cart style cuisine, beverages, crafts and shopping to music fans.  The WVMF catered to student parents as well and had set up children’s activities and music workshops.

The music festival experience was ideal due to the warm weather, the constant interactions at the street faire and amazing musical entertainment. When asking students’ their opinion of the entire atmosphere of Saturday’s event, most were just very happy it was nice out and there had been an abundance of elephant ears. “I think people really enjoy the street faire because it only comes twice a year and they don’t take it for granted, especially when there are really cool bands playing here too,” commented junior Madyson Zetterberg.

Both the Student Stage and KLCC Stage closed after 6pm but the Main Stage went until midnight, with its last act, Mayer Hawthorne and the County. Many sponsors had been involved with the event, such as the UO Outdoor Program, ASUO, Jordan Schnitzer Art Museum, KLCC Radio, Ethos Magazine, Eugene Weekly and of course, the UO Cultural Forum. Students can only wait until Spring 2013 to see what the Willamette Valley Music Festival has in store next.

Story and Photos by Katherine Marrone

 When the sun finally stretches out onto the lawns of our houses and over the green of our campus, Eugene comes to life. It’s on these days that the inches of past rain are forgiven, and we are reminded of why it’s so great to be a Duck. While the lush lawns of UO campus are always inviting on these beautiful days—serving as a great spot for resting between classes, snacking, and sunbathing— I encourage you to venture past the campus bubble and celebrate the gorgeous weather in other areas of the city, areas that give Eugene its reputation for the great outdoors and its diverse inhabitants. In these spots you will find the usual and quirky, each place exuding its own unique flair. Hop on your bikes, in your cars, or on your own two feet, for a Eugene adventure in the sun.

1. The Saturday Market

Location: 8^th Ave. and Oak St.

Even bleary-eyed from the previous night’s endeavors, you can’t help but feel energized walking through the Saturday Market. In every direction, something is worth noting. Handmade jewelry, delicious pad thai, abstract artwork. In the drum circle, men and women play, old and young, unified in a rhythm that seems to come from a world only they are a part of. Feet away are people selling unique items, playing hacky sack or impromptu break dancing. The Eugene Saturday Market is where all those who give Eugene its quirky culture come out, and share with us the spiritual and psychedelic side of this city.

2. Owen Rose Garden

Location: N. Jefferson at the Willamette River. 

Although the flowers aren’t quite in bloom this time of year, the Owen Rose Garden contains more than 4,500 roses of over 400 varieties. Come equipped with weeding tools, and you could volunteer year-round for Thursday work parties, tea and snacks included. Drinking tea in the garden’s gazebo, while breathing in the fresh scent of roses, sounds like the epitome of summer relaxation.

3. Kesey Square

Location: Downtown Eugene (Willamette St.) 

When you’re looking for a quaint place to rest downtown, Kesey Square is the perfect spot. Only feet away from Voodoo Doughnuts, you can grab a maple bar, people-watch, and sit alongside the bronze Ken Kesey. 

4. Skinners Butte

Location: Edge of downtown, near the Willamette River 

The first time I saw Eugene on Skinner’s Butte, from approximately 200 feet high, I must admit, it changed my perspective of the town. While Eugene isn’t a particularly large city, from Skinner’s Butte, the “O” at the Autzen Stadium appears brighter, the buildings taller, and the trees greener. The fact that everything is enveloped in green also adds to the spectacular sight.

5. Skinners Butte Park

Location: From Ferry Street to Lincoln along Cheshire St. 

Located just below Skinners Butte and just north of downtown Eugene, Skinners Butte Park has 100 acres of property along the Willamette River, running and bike paths, and acres of lawn. Have a picnic at one of the picnic areas, revert to your youth while playing on the jungle gym, or take a stroll along the river path.

6. Monroe Park

Location: 10^th Ave. and Monroe Street 

Formerly the site of an elementary school, this small park is a mix of the artsy and the quirky, and a staple to the Jefferson/Westside Neighborhood.  You can play on slides, play basketball at one of its three hoops, or just enjoy the sun beneath the large and abstract art sculpture. On a beautiful day, you are likely to see people tight-roping, practicing their Tai Chi, or hula hooping. Join in, and you just might meet some new, and interesting, friends.

7. Amazon Park

Location: 22^nd to 34^th, Amazon Pkwy. to Hilyard Street 

While not the most beautiful of parks, this 90-acre area is filled with opportunities for recreational activities, including basketball and tennis courts, a soccer field, a running track, a pool, and even Eugene’s only dog park, where you can take your furry creature to roam free of a leash.

8. Autzen Footbridge

Location: Over the Willamette River 

Take pictures of the sunset above the Willamette River. Rest on a bench and people-watch. Read a book. The Autzen Footbridge, which passes over the Willamette, then goes on to Alton Baker Park, can be a rest stop on the way to your destination or the destination itself.

9. Fifth Street Market

Location- 296 E 5^th Avenue 

Located in the center of the Fifth Street Market is a sitting area– filled with flowers, a water fountain, and patio tables. The atmosphere is cozy and intimate. With no expectations to purchase anything, this is a unique and serene area to relax and chat with friends.

10. Hendricks Park

Location: Summit and Skyline Drive 

With Douglas Firs two hundred years old, flowers vibrant with color, and a resting spot with a beautiful view of Eugene, Hendricks Park is a natural refuge. It’s Eugene’s oldest city park and includes 78 acres, over six thousand varieties of plants, and a native plant garden– an ideal escape from the campus hub of activity.

Illustration by Bailey Meyers

An announcement: I’m proclaiming the week of May 6th-12th Asshole Week. If you’re dealing with an asshole in your life or relationship and don’t know how to deal with it, send your inquiry to ruffledfeathers@gmail.com for an extra-crisp helping of advice (though I need to give the disclaimer: it won’t be from a shrink or doctor). It’ll be a week of commiserating with others, and dealing decisively with the assholes in our lives. Let’s do it!

I think I’m in love with my best friend, but I only just realized it. She just started dating this guy, and she’s really really happy with him. And the dude’s alright, I haven’t seen anything about him that means he’s a douchebag. But I’ve been her ‘one dude friend’ forever. Why didn’t she pick me? And she’s so so wonderful. She deserves the best. And I think I could give that to her, instead of this guy. What should I tell her? —In Love By Surprise

Dude, could you think any higher of yourself? This so-called love you have for your best friend is actually a bruised ego. You want to know why your friend didn’t pick you? She just didn’t. It doesn’t matter that you were friends with her first. That doesn’t give you a head start in the race to her vagina. Nor does it mean you’d be a better partner than this dude.

I wouldn’t say a damn thing to her, Surprise. Move on. Find someone else, if you wish. But analyze your motives behind being a friend to this woman. Will you still be able to be friends with her if you happen to not be the main man in her life? Be brutal with yourself, because your answer probably reflects your attitude toward women in general.

My boyfriend has been telling all of his friends about our sex life! Like details about my body and how far we’ve gone!! I’m so so mad at him. We’ve only really been dating three weeks. Why the hell would he do this? —Pissed About The New Guy

I’m getting hot and fevered just reading this letter. New Guy, you have every right to be angry. Let’s face it: everyone tells their friends some details about their partner, especially if they’re proud of managing to seduce someone way out of their league. But your boyfriend crossed the line into objectification and using you as an object of entertainment. Not only that, he was stupid enough to do it in a way that it got back to you. He didn’t think about you in the slightest.

Dump this guy. Immediately. And while it will be tempting for you to broadcast details about his anatomy/technique/fetishes/whatever to retaliate, don’t do it. You’re the honorable one, remember? Keep it that way.

I know most guys like it when their girlfriend wears their clothes (because it’s HOT), but what if my girlfriend is wearing my clothes ALL the time? Does this mean she’s a drag king or something? Should I say something? —Stop Raiding My Closet

Hm, this is a tough one. First, you didn’t mention how frequently your girlfriend is wearing your clothes. “ALL the time” doesn’t tell if she’s wearing your clothes every time you have sex, every day, every time you go out, etc. Wearing all a guy’s clothes because you find them extremely comfortable is a different situation than if wearing them because smelling like a man gets you hot.

It sounds like your girlfriend’s just experimenting with her gender identity in general. This doesn’t mean that she doesn’t like you! But she may end up a different girlfriend than the one you originally hooked up with. Don’t stifle her exploration, that’s an asshole move. If she ends up changing in a way that makes having a romantic relationship too difficult (which may not happen!), she’ll remember that you were kind during this time of her life and likely want to remain friends. Being the guy in a girl’s life with whom she discovered a new dimension of herself with is a pretty special role. You have nothing to lose by just letting her explore without judgment.

I’m getting kinda worried about my friend. Two weeks ago, we went to a party and got kinda drunk. I caught her making out with another girl in private. Both of them were really into it. I brought it up to her the next day, and she totally denied that it happened. Now she just refuses to talk about it at all. Could she be hiding in the closet? —Suddenly Non-Straight

She could be. Or she could just be a heterosexual who was taught that any homosexual experimentation “makes” you gay (sounds stupid, I know. But a lot of people really do think that way). But you need to respect the fact that your friend doesn’t want to talk about that night right now. It’ll drive you crazy, because you sound like a really good friend. It’s obvious that she remembers what happened. But if she is indeed in the closet, you can’t force her out. You can continue to have a wonderful friendship, so that she knows that she can come out to you if that ever happens. But if she ever comes out as not-fully-hetero, it should be on her own terms.

What’s Ruffling Feathers This Week: Finally, one recorded incident of a university sided with the non-uptight party! On April 15th, professor Peggy Gish of Fresno State University was accused of showing a “pornographic”  film to the students in her Human Sexuality class. But the uptight prude who came forward seemed to forget that the movie actually wasn’t porn. It was a sexual instruction video, originally designed to help couples learn new techniques. The dean of the school is on Gish’s side, saying that her class is just teaching “physiological, psychological, social, cultural and developmental considerations for life-long understanding related to sexuality.” In other words, the school is saying, “Kiddo, you knew what you were getting into. Quit your bitchin’.”

Story by Anna Smith
Multimedia by Will Kanellos

Bringing the loudest Painted Porch show yet to play on 27^th and Hilyard, All Tiny Creatures played in Eugene last Thursday with opener Indian Headset.

After a classic instance of Oregon weather brought the show inside, Indian Headset, comprised of Ryan Schoeck, opened with an acoustic set despite the fact that the audience couldn’t quite shut up. After hemming and hawing and playing an iPod to appease the crowd, All Tiny Creatures came on with Aviation Class from their 2011 album Harbors.

All Tiny Creatures is a self-described fusion of 60’s/70’s minimalism and German rock, citing Tangerine Dream and Steve Reich. The group formed in Wisconsin after band member Matt Skemp’s time with Emotional Joystick and Volcano Choir with Justin Vernon, respectively. “From there we’ve done something else that’s based on that [initial sound], but more accessible,” says multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Matt Skemp. The band then toured for five dates with Bon Iver and have since split off and toured the East coast, the South, and Midwest. This tour was their first venture to the West coast.

The group came to Eugene due to a connection with Simon Adler, the Painted Porch’s “founder” through Hometapes, their record label, and the fact that it was between San Francisco and Portland.

“All Tiny Creatures put on one hell of a show,” says Adler. “I had a good time, and everyone there seemed to have a good time.” Complete with homebrewed beer and a really official makeshift lightshow, the success was audible.

All Tiny Creatures hopes to have another album out in the fall, although that approximation is “super malleable.” Adler in the meantime would like to bring in some more acts like Creatures to the Painted Porch, “Given how well the show went, we’re very open and interested in having more touring acts come through,” says Adler. “At the same time, however, we want to stay true to what we initially created the Painted Porch for, which is fostering the college/local music scene.”

The next show is May 10^th and will be featuring the local indie folk band The Royal Blue.

 Story and Photos by Samantha Thom

Being someone who loves fashion but doesn’t want to break the bank, I am constantly on the lookout for cheaper ways to look and feel fabulous. One of my favorite trends of this year has been studded, high-waisted denim shorts. However after browsing the web for the perfect pair, I found that companies charge sky-high prices for something that with a bit of sweat and concentration I could easily make on my own. For example, one of my favorite stores, Urban Outfitters, sells “Urban Renewal Destroyed Studded Shorts” for $79 online. I  know many college students, myself included, who would cringe at that price. So I made the attempt to create my own DIY version, and really like how they turned out. It’s easy, affordable, and people won’t even be able to tell the difference!

Materials

1. A pair of thrifted denim shorts with a long inseam (featured: Faded Glory, Goodwill, $3.99)
2. 2-3 packs of studs (featured: silver, “nail head” studs, $1.29 per pack, Ben Franklin Crafts by Gateway Mall)
3. Scissors

Directions

1. Start out by trying on your shorts, pulling the waistband up to your navel. Roll up the cuffs so that they are at a length you are comfortable with. Be sure to remember that after cutting them, they will begin to fray on their own after washing/wearing. You can always go shorter, but never longer!

2. Remove your cuffed shorts and lie them flat on a tabletop or chair, zipped and buttoned to ensure evenness.

3. Begin cutting along the top cuff you made on one side, keeping the shorts as flat on your chosen surface as possible and cutting through both the front and the back layers of the shorts. Cut all the way across to the inseam, and repeat with the other leg. If you think you might want them shorter, try them on first before cutting them again. High-waisted shorts typically look a lot longer off of the body than they actually are on.

4. Once you’re satisfied with the length, take one stud at a time and sit them on top of the denim to play with placement and designs. This is your chance to get creative! If you’re stumped for ideas, check out my design in the final pictures, or even Google search “studded denim shorts” for inspiration.

5. Once you figure out your game plan, take your first stud and push it through the denim so that all 4 prongs make it through to the other side.

6. Take your closed scissors and use them to flatten the prongs of the studs, securing them in place. Be sure to flatten them as best as possible to avoid any sharp bits poking you as you wear them.

7. Continue studding to your heart’s content! Stud around the front pockets, under them, on the back pockets and even on the legs themselves. Go for a minimal look with only a few, or edgier by using most or all of your studs. The look I created took 2 packages of studs, leaving me with 1 package left over for touch ups or adding on later if I choose.

8. Once finished, you will have a great staple piece that you can wear with practically anything this Spring and Summer. To style up, pair these beauties with a flowing blouse and heels or flats. Go casual by tossing on an oversized tee and some sandals or sneakers. The versatility is endless, so let your creative and crafty side shine through!

1. The diameter of the trees is enormous, too. Some of them are 13 ½ feet long. We tried to embrace one of the trees, but did not have enough “arms.” Photo by Kodiak Atwood.

Story and Photos by Xenia Slabina

I spent this Spring Break in the Redwoods, camping and hiking among the tallest trees in the world with my four University of Oregon friends. 

On Saturday, March 24^th, around 10:30 a.m. we embarked on a Redwoods National and State Parks tour. International students Ethan Park from South Korea and Shiro Yamaguchi from Japan were fascinated by the sunny and warm weather, wishing it would be like that throughout the entire trip. Kodiak Atwood, the initiator, was giving driving directions to Michael Worcester. While driving, Mike was singing songs, replacing the missing radio in his good old 1989 Suburban.

Sequoia sempervirens, which in translation from Latin means “ever living,” can weight up to 500 tons and stand taller than the Statue of Liberty.” Photo by Kodiak Atwood.

It took us around five hours to get to the Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park. We started our first 4.3 miles hike on the Hatton Trail. The main thing that catches your eyes in the Redwoods is the awe-inspiring tallness of the trees around. Sequoia sempervirens, which in translation from Latin means “ever living,” can weight up to 500 tons and stand taller than the Statue of Liberty, according to the information from the camp side handout. The diameter of the trees is enormous, too. Some of them are 13.5 feet wide. We tried to embrace one of the trees, but did not have enough “arms.” As we climbed inside the hollow trunk of the fallen sequoia, we agreed it’s possible to design several small compartments (or apartments) inside of it! That was like in a Jonathan Swift’s fairy tale “Gulliver’s Travels,” except that instead of being in Lilliput land, we were lilliputians ourselves.

That same day we went to the Stout Grove, a small half-mile walk along the giant fence of perennial plants. These trees are centuries and some of them millennia old. What makes them so impervious to weather, fires, and insects, is their foot-thick bark. Many trees continue to grow even after being seriously damaged by fire. Kodiak mentioned he heard that somewhere in the Redwood Parks there was the tallest tree in the whole World, and it would be nice if we could find it.

We started our Sunday by walking down the Smith River in Stout Grove.

“Look at this green water. I wish my camera was able to picture its real beauty,” said Shiro as he approaches the river. For some reason, the water in this river had an unusually lovely turquoise color. We suggested it was either because of the minerals, or because of the amount of the reflected light in that place.

Later that day we also hiked a beautiful .9 miles Simpson-Reed Trail and 5.2 miles Boy Scout Tree Trail. The surface of the ground is pretty homogeneous in Jedediah Smith. Ferns, fungus and moss cover the ground and the trees, and giant coast redwoods bloom in a great amount.

It’s fascinating that many trees in Redwood Park grow with or on each other in “family groups” of two, five, seven and more. We read in the information handout that saplings use the parent tree’s root system to support themselves. Redwoods have no taproot, and their roots penetrate only 10 to 13 feet deep, but they spread out 60 to 80 feet wide. I thought that fact was pretty astonishing.   

The next day, after arriving to the Prairie Creek Redwood State Park, we embarked on the Miner’s Ridge and James Irvine trail, the 11.6 miles world’s best redwood hike, as the Redwood hikes Web site described it. I agree. It was the most diverse and challenging hike of our entire trip. One hour walk, break, second hour walk, break, third hour walk… Kodiak stopped.

“Hey, guys, if we turn left now, we can go see the Fern Canyon. Do you want to go?”

“Sure!”

4. On the meadow located near the Fern Canyon we saw a herd of Roosevelt Elks, resting on the ground and nibbling the grass.

Fern Canyon looks like a shallow river with many fallen logs in it, surrounded by 50-foot walls with seven kinds of ferns grown on them. We had to jump a lot while we hiked there. Just like Roosevelt elks, which we saw in the meadow located near the Fern Canyon. Some of them were nibbling the grass, and others were gracefully resting on it.

Finally, we turned to the trail, which led to the beach. There, the Pacific Ocean inspires with its giant waves, and refreshing wind. We walked along the beach about an hour, and met no one but some seabirds.

Mike was already in the car when we returned. While waiting for the rest of us, he went to the visitor’s center and got postcards for everyone. Mine was with a Harbor Seal on it. The skin of the seal on the card looked just like the pulp of the dragon fruit.

“I got news,” Mike said, “That special world’s tallest tree we wanted to find is in this park, but it’s no longer the tallest. I was told in the visitor’s center that its top recently fell off during the storm.”

That was a little disappointing, but not surprising. They say the tree used to be 367.8 feet long.

Tuesday morning was wet and our tents appeared to be in little puddles of spring “deluge.” It continued to rain all the morning long, and we started to negotiate new plans. Since it was raining nonstop, and many of us got cold, we decided to drive back to Eugene, visiting the corkscrew and the whale watching point on our way home.

That was the end of our short, but adventurous journey. It’s great to travel and explore new places, especially with adventurous friends. Even though we did not see the bears and whales, we had fun hiking and camping among hundreds of world’s tallest trees, which are the green “lungs” of our planet and the active providers of oxygen for every living organism on earth.

Story by Nina KaPow

Well here we are, the beginning of spring. And I can tell you from my dark corner armchair hidden away in the library: Sunshine makes people crazy. Since the Madness Orb decided to show its face from behind the clouds, people are laughing louder and more often. People walk slower to take in the heat, blocking traffic for fish-pale writers sprinting to a nookie session. The flirting becomes constant. Everywhere you go. To the point where you have to say, “Fellas, please! I’m not Belle du Jour!” Yeah, I hate spring. But it’s an excuse to wear a dress without a bra, so I cope.

Send your sex and relationship questions to askruffledfeathers@gmail.com. I’m not a counselor or doctor, but I am the girl whose purse contains the mints, lube, condoms, and post-coital blueberry scone.

My boyfriend is completely insecure about his sex technique. He keeps asking me, “Is this right?” “Is this right?” Right in the middle of having sex! It drives me crazy. I wouldn’t be with him if he wasn’t at least somewhat good in bed. This insecurity makes me not want to have sex with him. Why the fuck does he doubt himself?? —Tired of Answering

Because college boys watch too much porn.  A lot of men feel very insecure about their own sexual techniques because they’ve been exposed to images of guys routinely pleasing women to ecstasy (which is bullshit, porn actors are acting. They’re not always pleased to ecstasy by a cowboy position being done by a hairless dude). Porn can mess with men’s heads just as much as women’s.

However, your boyfriend is getting to the obnoxious level of insecurity. If you’ve reassured him that he’s fine the way he is,  and that you still enjoy having  sex with him, and you’ve done this many many times, then you’ve pretty much done your part, Tired. Some people don’t really want to solve their problems. They just want to whine and moan about them. Because problems get you sympathy, which can give you a false sense of self-esteem. Your boyfriend may be intimidated by your own sexual skill, and might be looking for reassurance in a really pathetic way. But in any case, you can’t fix him 100 percent. If he doesn’t stop his pleas for reassurance, or at least start seeking help from other (perhaps more professional) sources, leave. You’re his girlfriend, not his babysitter.

My roommate found my porn stash, and I think he’s actually been using it to get off, too! What do I say to him? —That’s My Smut

You don’t say anything. Hide it in a better spot, dumbass.

My girlfriend’s on her period, and she still wants me to eat her out. How on earth do I do that?? It smells so weird down there, and it just seems gross and disgusting. I can’t tell her no. I’d feel like a wuss. What do I do? —May Need a Helmet

Ah, period sex. The classic testing ground of a long-term relationship. First of all, you’re not a complete wuss for being scared to go down there, Helmet. That time of the month completely resets everything about a woman. Everything is completely different than usual. Except of course, the fact that she’s a sexual being. Helmet, this could be a great chance to strengthen the sexual bond between you and your girlfriend. She would be able to see just how committed you are to her, and how much you’re willing to sacrifice to make her happy. I’d seriously consider taking the plunge.

But I do have to say: If your gut just keeps saying no, and you don’t see any situation where you could warm up to the idea (even just purely out of love), then don’t do it. There is such a thing as being too accommodating. And you’re the one you have to live with at the end of the day.

Nina, I have a practical question: What can you eat off of your partner? I want to start eating things off my partner, but we need some ideas. Whipped cream seems like such a cliché. We can do better! —Ladies With A Pantry

Ladies, you’re right. Whipped cream is a fucking awful cliché, and should be improved upon.

Here are some of my ideas (be careful if one partner’s diabetic): Mushed up bananas. Honey (caution, it crystallizes). Ice cubes. Pancake batter. Nutella. Fruit preserves. Fruit gelatin. Frosting. Sushi. If you’re really clever, cappuccino foam. Sticky rice. Gravy. Do you see my point here? You gotta find your own signature food. And then indulge (bad pun, I know) into you and your partner’s newfound inside joke.

What’s Ruffling Feathers This Week: Call her the “Call Girl With A Megaphone.” Melissa Petro of New York lost her job as an elementary school teacher last month because her past occupation as a call girl was discovered by the media. But what’s interesting about the whole story is that this lady hadn’t been hiding it under a pillow. She actually wrote about the subject of being a sex worker while actually doing her job, trying to “[make] sense of [her] chosen profession.”

Perhaps most interesting of all within this story is that Petro actually does fulfill the ‘stripping to pay tuition’ sex worker stereotype that so many people is untrue . The article she wrote for The Guardian lays out her motivations for working as a call girl point-blank, to the point where it makes sense that she’s angry about her termination. Makes you think about the woman who’s taking her clothes off for you in the club. Why exactly is she risking social stigma for such a job as stripper, call girl or even no-frills prostitute? What are that woman’s dreams?

FOR MORE FROM NINA KAPOW, READ OUR PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF RUFFLED FEATHERS:

RUFFLED FEATHERS #25

RUFFLED FEATHERS #24

RUFFLED FEATHERS #23

RUFFLED FEATHERS #22

(From Left to Right) Hannah Hogan, Maggie Mae Stabile, Martin Diaz-Valdes, and Charlie Van Duyn

Story by Jaclyn Morris
Photos Courtesy of Ariel Ogden

Theater was once divided in two distinct groups: tragedy and comedy. However, in the upcoming production of Arabian Nights, there is no division between the two. This collection of stories, based off A Thousand and One Nights, has stories and characters that can relate to anyone and contains many different situations that can leave you laughing or crying. Director Michael Najjar describes it as a tale of  “faith, healing, and redemption” and it certainly fits this description.

Martin Diaz-Valdes as Shahrayar and Maggie Mae Stabile as Shahrazad

The main story starts with King Shahrayar (Martin Diaz-Valdes) finding out that his wife is being unfaithful to him. After ordering her death, he decides that from that day forward, he will wed a new woman every night and send her to the headsman the next morning in order to avoid betrayal by women ever again. Shahrazad (Maggie Mae Stabile) is a courageous young woman who voluntarily weds herself to the king so that she may inspire in him a change of heart. This play showcases the many stories that Shahrazad uses to sway the king, including “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,” “Es-Sindibad the Sailor,” “The Story of the Wife Who Wouldn’t Eat,” and “The Story of the Envious Sisters.”

We have all probably seen depictions of this story in the form of Disney’s Aladdin, but director Michael Najjar wanted to stay away from an Oriental representation of these tales.

“The vision for this production was to do the non-Disney version. I feel that the cartoon [Aladdin] and others like it really present an exotic Orient. I was much more interested in returning to primary sources. I spent a great deal of time looking at Persian manuscripts and different Islamic paintings and that was a great source of inspiration because they’re so colorful and imaginative.”

This means that, rather than containing bright colors and scantily clad women, this production stays true to its roots. The rich colors and intricate details of the costumes are evidence that bright colors are not needed to capture your attention. The women and men of this production are made beautiful not by a lack of clothing, but by the decorations adorning them.

“Even dancers from the period wore quite a lot of clothing,” Najjar adds. “For me, it was much more about the tone that tells about the real people of the period as opposed to a sort of fantasized version. This is not to say that the Persian manuscripts aren’t fantasized, but they are a vision into the world by the people who lived in that world, which is much more interesting than people looking back centuries later.”

Choreographer Devon Polynone was called to be a part of this production to contribute her knowledge of belly dancing. Polynone was given license by Najjar to completely choreograph “The Story of the Wife Who Wouldn’t Eat.”

“I was nervous about trying to tell the story without too much mime,” she remarks. “I wanted it to be more about movement. The way [the actors] embody the characters through movement has been incredible. They have blown me away.”

Dance has an integral role in this production, framing it from beginning to end. The first dance by Shahrazad is mystical and evokes a curiosity as to whom she is dancing for and what her dance signifies.

“Movement is so powerful and draws the imagination into thinking, ‘What is this?’ and maybe that’s the point of it: getting the viewer to start getting engaged in the story before it even happens,” Polynone says.

“I don’t think it’s your traditional piece of theater,” Derek Verhoest remarks about the upcoming production. Verhoest plays many different characters in the production, including Es-Sindibad the sailor. “I like that [Najjar] is not selling it out to be an American Arabian Nights but staying true to the elements of the original piece. I also like the amount of freedom that he has given us as far as characters go. We really have a lot of room to explore.”

In response to what draws people to see this production, Najjar says, “You could take this script and set it anywhere and you’d still have really important messages. For instance, a line in the play is, ‘A king can lose his way like anyone else but he can find his way back if the doors to his heart are open.’ There are beautiful poetic lines like that and little gems throughout the play. We all lose our way; we’re human beings. We get lost and do things we regret sometimes, but if we can get back to being open with the world around us we can find our way back.”

Arabian Nights runs from April 20-May 5 in the Robinson Theater in the Miller Theater Complex. All shows start at 8 pm except for the 2pm matinee on Sunday, April 29^th. The ticket office is open an hour before the show. Free seating is available for students with a valid University of Oregon ID but must be reserved the day of the performance between 7 and 7:30 pm for evening performances and between 1 and 1:30 pm for the matinee performance. Tickets for UO Faculty/Staff and seniors are $12 and $14 for the general public. For more information, click here.

Volunteers learn how to plant in Jefferson Park.

Story and Photos by Ted Shorack

With work gloves and bright safety vests, volunteers followed Mayor Kitty Piercy and Planting Coordinator Jeff Lanza to the first hole in the ground. Assisted by others, Lanza placed a young Oregon White Oak inside and children volunteers swarmed with shovels to bury the roots with mulch. This was the beginning of the first Arbor Day event for the Eugene chapter of Friends of Trees (FOT) at Jefferson Park.

What was once Eugene Tree Foundation has become the local branch of the Portland-based group, which has been conducting tree plantings since last year. Members of the organization were joined on the sunny April 7 day by volunteers from REI, NW Natural, Hummingbird Wholesale, EWEB, members of Kappa Alpha Theta and others. The objective was to plant trees along the southern edge of the Lane County Fairgrounds, in Jefferson Park and street-side in the Jefferson-Westside neighborhood.

Mayor Piercy gave a speech in the park before everyone got started, touting the benefits of tree canopies, both to the ecosystem and to the overall health of communities. At her side was Mark Snyder, an urban forester with the City of Eugene. Snyder worked with FOT in determining which type of trees would be suitable in the designated areas. “We have to be real smart,” he said. “Matching the right tree to the right place.”

Volunteers carried Valley Ponderosa trees in wheel-burrows to assigned holes along the Fern Ridge Trail, near Amazon Creek. These were positioned near the flow of the creek to begin addressing heavy storm runoff during Eugene’s rainy months. According to Snyder, trees can help slow down the rush of rainwater by catching it before falling to the ground and carrying pollutants into waterways. “That first flush of water that goes off the streets and into the creeks and into the rivers carries most of the pollutant loads,” he said. “If you don’t have trees that can be a real problem.” He stressed the negative effects it can have on the salmon population in the Willamette River, which the Amazon Creek flows into.

Erik Burke, right, helps volunteers carry a tree to its planting location

Also on the trail and in the park, were nearly thirty Kappa Alpha Theta members, planting Oregon white oak trees and California black oak, many for the first time. “It was difficult at first,” said Geena Grzeca, a sorority member. “But it’s fun to help out.” The UO chapter partners with local community groups through a service committee. “This presented itself as a perfect opportunity,” said Chelsea Obrist.

Along with the sorority sisters in the park and out on the trail, were many young families, their children smiling and enjoying shoveling mulch onto the burlap-wrapped roots of the young trees.

Erik Burke, Eugene director of FOT, was bouncing between different planting crews throughout the day. He seemed to be doing everything at once; loading up mulch, answering phone calls, helping carry trees. “We build community through planting and caring for trees,” he said about the organization’s core values. Burke described training crew leaders who live in the neighborhood where trees are going to be planted, and in many cases have trees being planted on their property. “It brings people together in that way and it makes them more invested in the trees.”

Burke and five other neighborhood coordinators went door to door in the Jefferson-Westside neighborhood. Forty-five households signed up to have trees planted in front of their house in the narrow strip adjacent to the street. The first 35 to sign up received trees paid for by the City of Eugene, the rest were provided by FOT.

Some of the neighborhood’s new Arbor Day trees were delivered by bicycles, a first for the Eugene chapter of FOT; It has long been a practice for those in Portland.

From the staging area in the park, volunteers loaded up trees in bike trailers and cargo carriers and then biked slowly on a zigzag course to the neighborhood spots. Helping out with the bike-planting was the UO outdoors program as well as the bike delivery service: Hummingbird Wholesale, who’s volunteers brought along bikes they use on the job.

Kitty-corner from Cornucopia’s west 17th location, Ponce Christie, an employee of Hummingbird Wholesale, was busy holding trees in place and pouring buckets of water for recently planted trees. “It’s fun to ride around with trees,” he said about his experience with transporting them on bike. He added that people were giving him a lot of strange looks and he got a kick out of it.

Mayor Kitty Piercy, right foreground, with volunteers helping plant the first tree of the day.

Burke emphasized that the Arbor Day event was a test-run in bike-planting for the Eugene chapter and the organization plans on using bicycles for transporting the trees more in the future.

After volunteers had gotten their hands muddy and might have gotten a little too much sun, NW Natural provided barbeque and refreshments for them. Those who had spent hours shoveling and digging, sat down in the grass and chatted about how beautiful the day was and the experience they had just had.

Burke said that the organization plans on expanding the volunteer base to every neighborhood in Eugene and Springfield. Low-income areas with less canopy cover are the highest priority at the moment, but tree planting and management in those areas depends on volunteers living there, which FOT is trying to organize.

Story and Photo by Felicia Kloewer

This all time classic just got easy to make! Don’t be intimidated by the delicacy of the crepe; this crepe recipe will make it easy to pour, flip, and roll. It’s great cold or hot and can make enough for your roomies or leftovers for yourself.

 Savory Spring Crepes

Preparation: 10 minutes

Cooking: 10 minutes

Ingredients

Crepes:

2 eggs

1 cup of all purpose flour

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup water

2 tablespoons of butter, softened

1/4 teaspoon salt

Sour Cream topping:

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup finely chopped chives (half in topping and other half in filling)

1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional)

Filling:

1/2 cup corn

1/2 cup red and green peppers

1/2 cup green beans

1 cup ricotta cheese

1. Make sour cream topping first and store in fridge. Add in 1/2 cup sour cream, 1/4 milk, and 1/8 of chives. Stir until mixed. Optional, add in a teaspoon of lemon juice for a little kick.
2. If you’re making the crepes first and then the filling, be sure to put wax paper between the crepes so they don’t stick as they cool. If the crepes do stick, put them in the microwave for 30 seconds or until warm and they will come apart.
3. For crepe: Pre-heat a medium sized pan to Medium-High heat. Use a non-stick pan or, if not available, grease the pan.
4. Grab a large bowl and add all the crepe ingredients. Stir until mixed and no lumps remain.
5. Use a 1/3 measuring cup to pour crepe batter onto the stove. Pour into pan and quickly tilt the pan in a circular motion to get a thin round layer of batter. They’ll cook quickly so be sure to watch.
6. The batter will start to darken and small bubbles will form similar to pancakes. Turn over with a spatula and let the other side cook.
7. Repeat until batter is gone.
8. For filling: Pre-heat large pan to Medium.
9. Add corn, red and green peppers, and green beans to the pan. Stir occasionally making sure they don’t burn.
10. Once the vegetables look cooked about 5-7 minutes for frozen vegetables. Fresh vegetables take 5-7 minutes. Add in 1 cup of ricotta cheese and rest of chives. Stir into the vegetables until melted.
11. Grab a couple crepes, lay them out flat on a plate and put a liberal amount of filling inside. Roll crepe and then add a tablespoon or more of the sour cream topping.