Salary ranking based on major
Class of 2021 Page 8
April 15, 2021 — Vol. 99, Issue 13
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Life beyond Loras
Center for Experiential Learning as a resource for life after Loras
Traveling while Black
by DALTON OBERFOELL guest writer
When students are weighing out their plans for school, not many take notice of some of the various offices that the school presents to them. While the Center for Experiential Learning Office (CEL) may not be the top reason for students choosing Loras College, it certainty is one of the most beneficial offices on campus. CEL and its dedicated staff members go above and beyond to help Loras students gain experience beyond the classroom in photo by JON QUINN the form of internships, San Jose pool sits under a night sky full of stars. The building is attached right next to Graber study abroad, resume where several intramural events take place. Not as many events were held this year due to the b u i l d i n g , m o c k on-going pandemic. interviews, and various ever made. Learning how to live and adapt possible if not the experiences I have had career forums. CEL’s reach goes far beyond in a different part of the world was massively the privilege of experiencing through the the hills of Loras and the bluffs of Dubuque. beneficial for my personal growth. Not only CEL office. It extends across the United States and even that, but academically immersive by being While I could talk about my experiences across oceans, connecting current students able to learn from completely different all day long they are only one part of CEL. with opportunities all over the world and perspectives. It also wasn’t awful living CEL provides Loras students with so much country. next to a beach and communing with what opportunity it is hard to fit it all into one It is in my personal opinion that the CEL seemed to be every single colorful bird in piece of writing. Even beyond what CEL can office is one of the most valuable resources existence. Nevertheless, my time in Australia offer it is staffed by some of the nicest people that students can access. Speaking through exposed me to so many people from all over on campus. People who take the time to get experience I was able to travel to the other the world and forced me far outside of my to know you and take an interest in your life side of the planet to study in a different comfort zone. Because of the many skills and future plans after Loras. While many country. With the help of the CEL office I and experiences that I developed and had students may only get a glimpse of what was able to identify a program and school through my study abroad experience I will is offered by the office when visiting, the to attend in Sydney, Australia. Having the be pursuing my master’s degree entirely Center for Experiential Learning deserves a opportunity to live aboard for a semester abroad. None of which would have been exploration by every single student. was one of the best decisions that I have
Vaccination efforts intensify Vaccine efforts expand to 16-yearolds and older by JON QUINN executive editor
The vaccination efforts in Dubuque County continue to be more aggressive than the spread of COVID-19. A total of about 28,000 people have been vaccinated. This is almost 30 percent of the county’s population. The CDC and Dr. Anthony Fauci claim that in order to reach heard immunity, at least 70 percent of the population has to be vaccinated. This means that Dubuque county has about another 40 percent of the population in order to reach heard immunity. Another 14,000 people have received their first dose of the vaccine in Dubuque County. These recent vaccination efforts come as the 14-day positivity average has increased to almost six percent. Most medical experts believe that the main
driving force behind the spread is the more contagious variant of COVID-19, B.1.1.7. This variant was first discovered in the United Kingdom and is believed to be more easily spread than the original strain according to epidemiologic and modeling data. The total deaths in Dubuque County to COVID-19 is just over 200. There is about an average of 10 new cases of COVID-19 a day in Dubuque County. There is a total of about 530 active cases. On campus, Loras College has stayed in a relatively good standing with the virus, keeping cases to a minimal and allowing many students to continue as normal on a day-to-day basis. Iowa now is allowing anyone 16-years-old and older to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Appointments are available at MercyOne (Peosta), UnityPoint, and WalMar t (Dubuque). The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was halted April 13th due to six women between the ages 18-45 developing blood clots. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has
already been administered to almost seven million individuals. A similar problem has occurred with the AstraZeneca vaccine which has not yet been approved in the United States. The AstraZeneca vaccine has been approved in Europe by the European Union. The vaccine now lists blood clots as a possible side effect however medical officials claim it is still safe to use.
Insightful considerations when booking your next stay in an AirBnB by MARION EDWARDS staff writer
Imagine finding yourself in your car broken down. One: in the middle of nowhere, two: with nothing but a cell phone with no signal, and three: all of this occurring ‘while being Black’. The dangers of ‘traveling while Black’ is the unfortunate reality Black people have come to live with in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic, in many ways, exposed several issues in America, of them being strained race relations. As people try to go back to a sense of ‘normalcy,’ minority populations continue to take extra precautions while traveling. Here are some different tips on how to save money and stay safe when ‘traveling while Black’: Traveling with a group: One of the first and most important things to do when traveling is to notify someone that you’re going to be traveling or having a travel buddy. When traveling, having someone to ‘watch your back’ can often save your life. As it is important to watch out for yourself, having someone to help you throughout can make a huge difference. ‘Traveling while Black’ may mean that being pulled over by law enforcement may occur. Keeping your hands present on the dashboard and answering the officer’s questions as clearly as possible can mean the difference between life and death in 2021. Research your destination: Knowing when and where you’re traveling to is a very important step. Understanding possible living spaces, cultural life, customs, and events happening can possibly save your life. Kendra Pierson, a family designated travel researcher discusses that ‘traveling while Black’ means research is the most vital step. “I rely very heavily on the recommendations of friends and Black travel bloggers. I know that my friends are going to share the honest truth based upon their experiences. I love my friends who are non-Black family travel bloggers but we’re not always going to have the same experience” said Pierson in her article about tips for ‘traveling while Black’. Being aware of the racial history and current events within the area you’re visiting can help you properly prepare for avoiding certain stopping areas, or even a possible destination change. Look for Recommendations and Referral Codes: ‘Traveling while Black’ may also mean that certain places may not be the most welcoming or safest for yourself or family. continued on Page 2