CAS Connection - Jan 2026 Issue

January 2026

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The science behind setting goals

With the right steps, reinforcement and soul searching, anyone can make their goals transformative.

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Experiential Learning  |  Research & Innovation  |  Community Impact  |  Career Preparation  |  Teaching Excellence  |  21st Century Liberal Arts  |  Building Community  |  Good Vibes  |  CAS Spotlights  |  All Stories  |  Past Issues
 

National Day of Writing brings an ant’s perspective to light

Experiential Learning

What would an ant write if it could?

English major Sarah Twiggs’ short story takes the perspective of an ant to win flash fiction contest.

By Jenny Brooks

A new cutting-edge major in the College of Arts and Sciences equips students to drive technological change.

Research & Innovation

Filling a gap in tech knowledge

A new cutting-edge major in the College of Arts and Sciences equips students to drive change.

By CAS Communications

Squatting toward housing policy change

Research & Innovation

Research examines squatting practices

Two sociologists examined how pro-squatting advocates influenced housing policies in three US cities.

By Henry Houston

UO professor predicts crab seasons years ahead using a simple trap

Research & Innovation

Dungeness data does not deceive

Baby crabs caught in a simple trap can predict how big crab season will be within a 12% margin of error.

By Leila Okahata

UO alum turned his love for Spanish into a global career

CAS Spotlight

An unexpected major becomes a global career

College of Arts and Sciences Alum Brandon Rigby enjoyed studying Spanish, but it wasn’t until a professor suggested he major in it that he dove in. WIth multiple overseas assignments under his belt, he is now a global diplomat for the U.S. Department of State.

By Violet Ashley

Go Global with Brandon

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CAS News

three people dressed in Shakespearean costumes
Shakespeare’s beloved comedy opens winter season at University Theatre
THEATRE ARTS — Love, mischief and mistaken intentions take center stage this winter as University Theatre presents “Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare. Directed by Jerry Ferraccio, the production marks the grand reopening of Robinson Theatre and runs Feb. 13, 14, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 and March 1.
an illustration of a black hole
CAS physicist finds a black hole spewing more energy than Death Star
PHYSICS - A supermassive black hole with a case of cosmic indigestion has been burping out the remains of a shredded star for four years — and it’s still going strong, new research led by University of Oregon College of Arts and Sciences astrophysicist Yvette Cendes. Cendes and her team published findings about this one-of-kind black hole in the Feb. 5 issue of Astrophysical Journal Astrophysicists.
a person sits on a couch in front of a red wall
A researcher takes on one of the unsolved mysteries of the universe
PHYSICS - Fascinated by the unexplored corners of the universe since childhood, physicist Tien-Tien Yu has made dark matter the pillar of her research career. In her quest to understand, she’s co-founded a major experiment in collaboration with physicists at other institutions, all of whom are trying try to bring light to the dark.

All news »

From the Media

an illustration of women dressed traditionally
From Mormonism to Ms. Magazine
College of Arts and Sciences history PhD student Genevieve Bonner Davis writes in Ms. Magazine about her experience as a former devout Mormon housewife. Bonner Davis writes the essay as more women are being encouraged to adopt the tradwife lifestyle by federal government lawmakers. A tradwife is a repackaged, buzzy word to describe “traditional” women who intentionally forgo career and educational opportunities in order to stay at home to take care of their children and husbands within a heterosexual marriage.
aerial view of an oregon town
Fear fuels Oregon’s race for governor. This city shows why
The Oregonian/OregonLive digs into the data on the Oregon gubernatorial race and spoke with political science assistant professor Chandler James. While uneasiness can motivate voters, James said voter apathy also can make it difficult for campaigns to boost turnout, which could play a pivotal role in this year’s race. “If that’s the game, then the person who taps into the greatest anxieties is going to win,” James said. “Whatever Oregonians are most fearful of will be the thing that drives the outcome of the election.”
space illustration with solar flares creating a line of white light
Radio Waves Coming From an Alien Planet May Be a Cosmic First
PHYSICS - College of Arts and Sciences astronomer Yvette Cendes spoke with the New York Times about a recent paper she authored that documented waves coming from what seems to be an aurora at the poles of Beta Pictoris b, a planet that circles a star more than 63 light-years from Earth.

All media news »

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