Golden Lining

“I really think this pandemic has given an opportunity for people to be good and do good for others. People check in more, I check in with people more. That type of positivity and social responsibility to do good for each other was long overdue.” —Mike Russo ’20 of Sayville, N.Y., emergency medical technician in Suffolk

County, N.Y.

“It takes something massive, like a pandemic, to unleash very creative ideas and problem solutions that would not have seen the light of day under normal conditions.” —Karol Olson ’65 of East Quogue, N.Y., retired school teacher

“Something positive that I have gained throughout the pandemic is the opportunity to spend more quality time with my children.” —Jerrell Robinson ’94 M’96 of Rockville Centre, N.Y., Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Director,

SUNY Old Westbury “I learned I am resilient and adaptable to these crazy times. I have found creative ways to keep myself and others entertained by starting the Positivity Poster Project.” —Dori Gronich ’17 of East Norwich, N.Y., child care worker at Plainview Old Bethpage School District

“I’ve learned how to effectively communicate with my partner, and I’ve gained a love for relaxing moments. Everything has been stressful since the pandemic started, taking time to relax and live in the moment has been incredibly helpful.” —Tyler Doan ’19 of Albany, N.Y., law student at the Vermont Law School

Many in the resilient Laker community looked for the “golden lining” of the pandemic.

“Be assured we will continue to closely monitor and evaluate information and guidance provided by state and federal agencies in order to inform future decisions, and post updates to our COVID-19 website (oswego.edu/covid19), which will feature key resources related to online and distance learning,” President Stanley said in a MARCH 11 statement to the college community. “This is a time of unprecedented circumstances that will no doubt create burdens and challenges for students, faculty and staff.”

The New Vernacular

It wasn’t long until the world was saturated with discussions about this “unprecedented time,” “social distancing,” “flattening the curve,” obtaining “PPE” (personal protective equipment), practicing good hygiene, properly wearing and changing of masks, protecting the most vulnerable and securing enough ventilators. Then came all of the new technology terminology and work-from-home etiquette (a.k.a. Zoometiquette)—“Donald ducking” on videoconferencing calls (dressed nicely on top with casual or minimal bottoms), swapping in virtual backgrounds on video calls, hosting videoconferencing on secure lines to avoid “Zoombombers” (uninvited attendees who disrupt calls or live online events), and attending virtually everything virtually—from classes to concerts to happy hours. The novelty of the situation quickly faded as the number of cases and deaths climbed to record levels. Stories emerged of medical professionals holding up phones so loved ones could say goodbye from hospital beds, and funeral parlors quickly adapted to be able to livestream services as social distancing guidelines prevented families and friends to gather en masse.

What became clear quickly was the resiliency of the Laker community. Our alumni stepped up to help in their communities and reached back to their alma mater, voicing their support and seeking ways in which they can help. (See related story on page 26.) In turn, SUNY Oswego established a Student Emergency Fund to help direct the generous donations of our college community members to support immediate student needs, such as housing, technology, food and health care. (See related content on page 30.) Our students had their lives upended in spring, as in-person courses and activities moved to the virtual world. Zoom fatigue and sore eyes after hours in front of a computer screen became the norm. Students, and particularly our 2020 graduates, continued to work hard to manage the mix of emotions they felt about the unfolding events initiated by the pandemic. Yet, they persisted. (continued on the next page)