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A Global Pandemic: How Covid-19 is Impacting HBCU’s
Raven Joseph 4/20 On February 11, The World Health Organization (WHO) officially entered the Coronavirus, or Covid-19 ,into their database calling it a “public health emergency of international concern.” It was not until weeks later in the midst of some students’ Spring Break and days before others’ began that students on college campuses across the world were told to pack up their belongings and return to their homes as universities followed government suggestions of gatherings of no more than 100 people. This disproportionally affected students at HBCU’s. Moving classes online and closing campuses raises a host of questions and concerns of equity and access to education that colleges should not overlook. Traveling home may be an expense that some students and their families cannot afford, or even worse, some students may not have a place to call home that they can return to. Furthermore, students may not have the means to complete their academic courses online. Senator Cory Booker, D-N.J., noted that some HBCUs have given out emergency aid to low-income students and made unexpected investments to support online learning, such as purchasing WiFi hotspots for students without reliable internet access in their homes. For colleges that typically have fewer resources than predominantly white institutions, this is what some may consider a notable act of charity for HBCUs. But should it be "charity" to give to the students that are supposed to be finding solidarity and family within their school community? During this time of crisis it is imperative that HBCUs, and the students that attend them, are not left a casualty of Covid-19. Luckily, the House of Representatives has a bill currently in the works that would allocate $1.5 billion in emergency aid to HBCUs that would cover the cost of this online transition, potential revenue lost, and other Covid-19 related expenses. Will the House succeed in assisting HBCU students or will they be left to suffer in the hands of Covid-19 and the government? |
Impact of Covid-19 on Young Children
Raven Joseph 5/20 As many Americans are continuing to follow social distance and self isolation practices around the country, some are noticing that the changes and circumstances stemming from the current pandemic have negatively impacted their mental health. Stress and separation anxiety have entered the lives of adults, teens, and young children alike. A few weeks ago, I stumbled across a post on Twitter from mom Amber Sparks (@ambernoelle on Twitter), who wrote, “My kid had an absolute unholy screaming like forty minute meltdown about a very small thing and then at the end of it said quietly ‘I miss school and I miss my friends.’” That singular post led me down a trail of hundreds of similar stories from parents whose little ones were struggling amidst these unprecedented times. Children are used to routines. They’re used to morning meetings at 7:45 and centers at 9:30. They’re used to recess at 11:30 and naptime at 12. They respond well to structure and their little minds enjoy learning with their classmates! It’s difficult for them to understand what’s going on, though they pick up on all of the stress and angst that their parents and guardians feel during this time. One parent said, “My daughter after a similar episode recently asked: Have you ever felt sad and angry at the same time?”, while another said, “It’s so hard on them. I have a 9 year old and a 6 year old. My 6 year old doesn’t want to FaceTime or talk to any friends. She says it makes her miss them more. One night my 9 year old gave me a huge hug and said softly, ‘I miss everyone.’” Though each of the messages were filled with various levels of sadness, many of them were also full of children expressing their feelings in beautiful, unique ways. Some simply asked for hugs, others had tantrums and apologized while sobbing. As a young adult, I know all too well how difficult it can be to communicate with your parents about how you are feeling. Even at a young age, children are able to decipher between a safe space and an unsafe space for their innermost thoughts. Parents should work to provide safe havens for their children where they can voice their feelings and concerns without potential ridicule or backlash. It would also be beneficial to teach coping skills and positive practices such as meditation and deep breathing exercises for the children so that things are easier for them during this time. If you'd like to read more of the messages from parents of sad little ones, you can click on this link https://twitter.com/ambernoelle/status/1253789572020002817?s=12. |
A Letter to my Freed Self
Yesira Delgado 5/20 I don’t think I've ever felt this contained in my life. It has been so long since I interacted with people who aren’t my parents and I can slowly feel this slowly eat away at me. It’s the first time I’ve ever felt isolated from the outside world. Even though I’m not the only person going through this, it still feels really isolating. Before, I didn’t mind staying home and relaxing, but now that I’m being forced to stay home and relax I’m begging to leave and the fact that I can’t is what’s getting to me. I didn’t realize how much I took for granted the fact that I can hang out with my friends every day; although I’m still talking to them every day, it still doesn’t feel the same. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this small in my life. With everything going on in the world and people not taking it seriously, the more I spend time in my room, the more I stay isolated, the more and more I feel small. That’s a very hard thing for me to admit; it’s not who I am at all. I don't usually let boredom get to me but for some reason this time it seems to be winning over everything. I hope you, my future self, remembers this experience and learned from it. I hope you are enjoying life and not worrying over the little things. I hope that you are still writing because that was a way for you to cope during such a weird time. I hope that you teach others about this experience in your future classroom. I hope that you have grown and matured into the person you want to be. I hope that you never take your friends for granted again. I hope that you are still in touch with your friends from high school. I hope that you are healthy. I hope that you have recovered from any possible trauma. I hope that you never have to feel isolated again. I hope that you never feel small again. I hope that you are nice to others. I hope that you are happy. Sincerely, Your past self |
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The corona virus is a small thing that we are all trying very hard not to share. I was reading from Ben Lerner's The Topeka School and came across a passage about a small thing that we have trouble sharing with others -- phosphenes. There are so many parts of our lives like this. We are very much introverted beings. Find peace during these antisocial times in your own private treasures. And for those you are able to share love with -- do so generously!
"Phospenes, tiny fading Rorscharchs formed by the inherent electrical charges the retina produces while at rest, an experience of light in the absence of light. He knew these shapes from his concussion as a child and from his migraines and more recently from this kind of contact [kissing a girl]; he knew them from when he was little trying to fall asleep, watching grey circles migrate across the darkness; if he pressed his closed eyes near the temples, the forms would brighten. He'd wondered if these patterns were unique to him, evidence of some specialness or damage, or if they were universal, if everyone saw them. But they were so faint and difficult to describe that he was never able to figure out if his parents or friends shared this experience just above the threshold of perception; the patterns dissipated under the weight of language, remained irreducibly private." (p. 15-16) |
Click for thoughts from Mr. Nelken
COVID-19 Journal 1
Angela Nunez Espinal Dear diary, I haven't been writing here ever since 8th grade and yet I find myself feeling the urge to write this, so I'lld never forget the horrors of March 2020. Boredom strikes and so did the Covid-19 virus around the world. Today alone, more than 200 people died. I remember as teachers and friends explained to me that everything would be fine a week before our schools closed...everything didn't turn out okay at all. It's been two weeks of being quarantined and the world has relied on technology more than ever before! However it's unfortunate just how many are being affected by this worldwide epidemic. We were never taught about something like this in school and, truthfully, it has all been something hard to grasp. There are people in Italy who can't leave their houses without a crucial reason; if they leave, they are arrested. Millions of workers are now unemployed, struggling to cope with these new adjustments. This epidemic, while it's allowed for many to help others in need, has also brought out the worst in humanity as a whole. We don't look at each other as human beings, but as a threat with every foot closer to one another. Children who look Chinese or are Asian American are being beaten up, a woman pulled out a knife on a man while fighting over toilet paper, a passenger was put in a headlock for deliberately coughing on a female flight attendant, and a woman was seen also deliberately spitting at her neighbors' door handles...where dozens of people living in the same complex had been diagnosed with coronavirus and were sick later. We, as a population, we as human beings, have become so desensitized. I worry that egos and selfishness will prevent us all from unifying as one to beat this virus and help one another evolve. Thousands of people are dying, and one can only feel so helpless and unsafe. Personally, I haven't been as productive as I'd like to be either. I've been so accustomed to practically living in school and being familiar with the traditional classroom environments, that trying to get work done at home only causes me to become unmotivated as a whole. Self isolation has been difficult and yet the more time continues to pass, the more I (in some form) grow to familiarize myself with it as well. I feel as though my life is slipping away, and my body, decaying from all the hours of sleep. But I also have to be grateful that my situation is not as severe as others'. In the past few weeks, social media has become my escape from it allI. I spend more time on my phone than I ever did before, but I've also been able to keep myself busy with my dog Max, and new puppy Toby. I miss seeing my friends and school and laughing together as we walk to lunch. I miss seeing my boyfriend and being able to go on dates, and I no longer dance or exercise every day. My life has changed completely in a matter of days. I do know however, that the Most High is doing all of this so to prove a point and that all I can do is have some faith. Never would I have imagined something like this occuring in my life and yet those who will learn about this in the future in textbooks will be nothing but lucky to have not experienced these horrors of March 2020. But until next time, that is if I'm still alive.... -Angela Nunez Espinal |
Fireside Chat 1 w/Mr. Boroski
Fireside Chat 2 w/Mr. Boroski
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