Freedom Forum Newsletter January 18, 2021

January 18,16, 2021 November 2020

Staying Vocal During the Pandemic How to be socially and politically active online Yaelin Gonzalez, Journalism Student Over the summer a great number of people had become very socially and politically active online. With the election, the Black Lives Matter Movement (BLM), protests, and more people have come together to use what they know and love: the internet.

There are many ways to stay politically active online. One of the very popular ways people have stayed involved is through Change.org, which allows people to make petitions, sign petitions, and chip in money towards an issue. It was used over the summer when people wanted to get justice for those affected by the BLM Movement.

Many other ways for people of all ages to stay educated

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and involved online include watching digital discussions and town halls, supporting important issues and organizations, filling out the census form, and more.

While many people are staying active online, others attend in-person protests.

“There certainly is a risk, I would say that with confidence,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

It is important to stay aware of your surroundings and stay safe if you are taking an outside approach when fighting for change to help keep yourself and others safe from covid.

Some even say that protesting outside of the online world helps make even

more of a different during these harsh times.

“Sitting around watching the news all day and people dying and police harming African Americans and COVID-19 killing people, it’s heartbreaking. But if you get involved with other people, you can find a way to at least be a small drop in that bucket that makes a positive difference,” said Gina Fields, chairperson of the Empowerment Congress West Area Neighborhood Development Council.

She and others go on to say how it is best to get up and go out if you want to see a change.

The only way for a problem and a change to occur politically is to get to know people and help people become aware socially. Social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, and even the infamous Tik Tok are all platforms that can help shine a light on problems.

With the pandemic still being at large, there are various online organizations.

The United Nations is looking for volunteers online. Other great organizations include Catchafire, Smithsonian Digital Volunteers, Amnesty Decoders, and the Crisis Text Line.

Be prepared though. When getting so involved online, people's true colors are visible especially when it comes to politics. Many people were tested and had shown their true colors over 2020. Society got a glimpse of some of the most well known people and their views, including the U.S. president. There was no denying where he stood with different situations with the use of his social media and more.

There are many ways to be involved online, and there will be many more ways to do so in the future. It is important to remember that when wanting a change, it is best to be smart and utilize online tools to make a difference.

January 18,16, 2021 November 2020

The Forum Weekly Newsletter

The Album That Changed The History of Music Taking a look back at Nevermind Angelina Triscari, Journalism Student Thirty years ago, Nirvana released their second studio album “Nevermind.”

Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and Dave Grohl thought it would not gain popularity, just like their first album. But just as Cobain had smashed his guitars at numerous underground concerts, the band smashed the US charts, speeding to the top.

Grunge music was beginning to become a more familiar genre in America during the late 80s and early 90s. The punk scene in Seattle, Washington was

beginning to transform into a hub for grunge music. Small, independent bands played at bars and in college dorms. The sound of more relaxed punk mixed with heavy metal filled the city After “Nevermind” hit the top of the charts, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Come As You Are” could be heard playing from teenagers’ bedrooms and coming from car stereos.

Record labels became interested in more grunge bands, such as Pearl Jam and Soundgarden.

Nirvana changed the way that music would develop for

years to come. The 90s grunge has inspired alternative bands from the late 90s all the up until present day.

Some current popular artists have shown their appreciation for Nirvana, including Lana Del Ray and Cage the Elephant, by commenting and performing some of their pieces.

“When I was 11, I saw Kurt Cobain singing ‘Heart-Shaped Box’ on MTV and it really stopped me dead in my tracks.

I thought he was the most beautiful person I had ever seen.

Nirvana Band Members Source: Classic Album Sundays

Carly’s Critiques Traveling during a Global Pandemic Carly Grozier, Newscast Producer Almost a year ago, the entire world shut down due to the spread of a virus, creating a global pandemic. After a few months of complete shutdown in the United States, the country began to slowly open up again state by state. Most daily lives have changed drastically since the shutdown and activities are limited.

While travel out of the country has been shut down in most cases, travel within the country to different states still takes place. The first time I flew during the pandemic was during the holiday break from Pennsylvania to Florida.

Besides social distancing guidelines and required face coverings, the typical airport routine of check-in, security, and boarding was not much different. The only thing I noticed, mainly in the Florida airport, was the lack of food places open.

Knowing the risks of COVID-19, my friends and I did our best to sanitize surfaces before touching them and sanitized our hands throughout the trip to prevent the spread.

Not every state follows the same leadership throughout the pandemic, creating

Even at a young age, I really related to his sadness,” said Del Ray. Nirvana left behind a great legacy after the band’s split, following Cobain’s death.

This message of carrying on good music and being true to yourself still stands clear as their music can still be heard booming from Iphones and stereos.

different rules for the individual state. For the past few weeks, Governor Tom Wolf shut down things such as indoor dining and other indoor activities in Pennsylvania.

Meanwhile in Florida, everything is completely open under the leadership of Ron DeSantis.

The two things that the states have in common is their social distancing guidelines and mask mandates. In Pennsylvania, you are asked to wear a mask in every facility and business you enter. In Florida, despite the mandate, most places I entered there were customers or even workers not wearing their masks. This does not mean

there are not places in Florida that enforce masks, but the majority I had the opportunity to enter did not.

Another thing that was different was having to quarantine in my room amongst travel, but it was necessary to keep my family safe after taking the risk of getting the virus.

Even though quarantine is not ideal, I would do it again to get to travel. Being cooped up in Pennsylvania for months makes me very grateful that I was able to go to Florida and get some sun.

I look forward to this pandemic coming to an end, so I can travel to even more places without the added stress of COVID-19.