Issue 1
SPRING 2020
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Doug Cumming
CONTENT TEAM
Alex Lindsay
Simona Radeva
Jackie Tamez
DESIGN TEAM
Ann Douglas Lott
Gray Carlton
Leah Green
Kaki Huebner
BUSINESS TEAM
Teddy Bentley
John Mudd
Elliot Schaffer
Jarrett Wright
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Everything changed. So it was a good time to create a different kind of magazine.
Back in February, we were planning to work together in the journalism department’s 1904 building, travel to New York for a few days, and create another conventional print magazine. It probably would have been for our quiet area of Virginia, targeting some narrow niche audience on a niche topic.
But a pandemic tipped the world sideways, spilling us far and wide, from the Bay Area to Bulgaria. Campus buildings lay empty. The only subject to write about was the coronavirus, and even working journalists were doing that from home, as a New Yorker staff writer told us by Zoom from Oregon.
So that’s our subject. But not the daily news – which now is both addictive and unappealing, both factually robust and utterly uncertain. Instead, we offer an online-only magazine about the real life that we are experiencing, as a generation of students suddenly exiled from our schools, friends, and plans. We are looking for real silver linings, making new plans. Adapting.
We take public health seriously, so we understand the “six feet apart” thing. But we are looking at all the ways we can be Six Feet Together. It’s in the space between us, and in the unforeseen time we have (we won’t say we’ve lost) where we pitch our virtual magazine. We think there are many of you out there across the land, and overseas, who will join us, and enjoy the changes. Please give us a good look.
Doug. Cumming, Ph.D.
Cumming and his family in their very own Front Steps portrait. See page 7 for the whole story.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
OUT FRONT
Everybody’s home – but not for the holidays. What a great time to get a family portrait taken.
A CATHOLIC PARISH STAYS PRESENT
Finding a spiritual path through the pandemic.
KEEPING GOOD FAITH
How a Birmingham church is keeping in touch virtually.
SEEKING REFUGE
What happens when international students are told to ‘go home’?
7
MAN’S BEST FRIEND IN LOCKDOWN
Dog grooming à la quarantine!
10
MASKS
A series of photos from Long Island.
14
12
SHOTS OF A SHUTDOWN THE GREAT LOCKDOWN DEBATE
Debating the efficacy and effectiveness of lockdowns or stay-at-home orders as a means for dealing with the virus.
FINDING THE ‘ME’ IN HOME
An international student navigates her way through the pandemic.
22 27 PANDEMIC
19
How two women are using baby blankets to make live-saving masks.
THERE WAS TIME
A poem about the lasting impact of the pandemic.
FOOTBALL VS. CORONAVIRUS
What will happen to the beloved college sport this fall?
Antibodies in survivors could save other victims.
THE QUARANTINE GLOW-UP
Testing the myth.
5 5 6 4 17 24
Football vs. Coronavirus
By Jarrett Wright
A lot of fans across the country are worrying about the impact of the coronavirus on one of the country’s most popular sport, college football. While some fans have given up hope that they might be able to attend live sporting events this fall, the rest of you shouldn’t.
At least not for the smaller Division 3 schools like Washington and Lee University, where I am the team’s starting kicker.
My head football coach, Garrett LeRose, said it will be easy to promote social distancing at our games for fans and players. “Fans will probably be allowed to come,” he said. It is yet to be seen if Division 1 programs could do this as well. The coaches of these programs across the country have been meeting with each other to discuss the ways they can adjust to get players ready for the season.
Coach LeRose said that his staff has been discussing “Zoom position meetings, on-field walk through practices to replace some normal practices, locker room disinfectant, and social distancing outside of football activities” as ways to uphold social distancing guidelines. He also said there will be also likely adjustments to the schedule of games and post season play for Washington and Lee this upcoming season.
“There will probably be playoffs this season and most teams will probably play only conference games to limit travel.” This will not be that hard for the football team to do here since our conference, Old Dominion Athletic Conference, has football teams only in Virginia and North Carolina. So, day trips could be possible.
"While some fans have given up hope that they might be able to attend live sporting events this fall, the rest of you shouldn’t."
There has also been talk about moving the football season to the spring by the NCAA and media outlets, but Coach LeRose sees that only as a possibility for Division 1 programs. Division 3 programs would have logistical problems with field access and training staff, since football doesn’t have the same dominating position over other sports and over academic programs. Overall, Division 3 fans should be optimistic about college football coming back this fall but should not expect a normal season.
Jarrett Wright kicks for a goal.
Man’s best friend in lockdown
By Teddy Bentley
Has your dog’s hair gotten very long during quarantine? Well fear not! Wahl Clipper Pet-Pro Dog Grooming Kit ($25.93) is a doit-yourself dog grooming kit that is perfect for this quarantine. It comes with a buzzer, scissors, a lengthy instructions sheet, and a CD video instructing you how to groom your dog correctly.
I have a King Charles Cavalier and his hair was getting out of control. He is a small dog named Moose and his hair getting so long it was beginning to drag on the floor. We knew it was time to give him a much-needed cut but didn’t know how to do it. We purchased the Wahl product and it was everything we needed. I was able to shave down Moose with ease and he didn’t mind it too much either. I think he was happy to get all of the hair off.
ENJOY PET Dog Clippers
(from $49.99) is one of the top competitors of Wahl and it is the number one chosen brand for Amazon Prime. Another competitor in the do-it-yourself dog grooming market is Ceenwes Dog Clippers (from $50.99). All three of these are trusted companies that can help you get your dog looking good during quarantine! Good luck!
Goodbye, baby blankets. Hello pandemic masks.
Melissa Jones, a Bay Area resident, first came across PurThread Technologies while speaking with her friend Jenifer Smyth, the company’s senior vice president for business development. While learning about PurThread, Jones was reminded of an unpleasant flying experience. “The jam-packed airplane with passengers coughing and sneezing made me crazy. I thought, there has to be a way to make air travel better. I wanted a mask and covering for the chair and a blanket all made with anti-microbial fabrics.” PurThread Technologies, founded in 2009 near North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park, developed and manufactures an anti-microbial fabric that utilizes EPA registered silver salt and copper.
By Kaki Huebner
The fabric kills any microbe with which it comes in contact. Arranging for use of this antimicrobial fabric, Jones started her own company, Air Sanity. Originally, the company produced baby blankets, to protect newborns from harmful bacteria. But when COVID-19 arrived, Jones’ redesigned her merchandise and introduced the anti-microbial face mask, to protect all age and sizes. With the fabric made by PurThread, Air Sanity has found its focus in two pandemic-related products: the Anti-microbial Face Mask for $20 and the Anti-microbial Adjustable Sport Gaiter for $30.
T h e r e W a s T i m e
By Leah Green
The students packed up all their things and hugged their friends goodbye
“Please call me when you get home, tell your mom I said hi.” Some of us drove home alone, some took a chance with flight With campus classrooms empty now, the buildings weathertight, We were told to scram. Go home. Things happened pretty fast. Once home, we thought: Should we unpack? How long would this thing last? Coronavirus filled the news, a whole new paradigm, And with the world on pause – for the first time, there was time.
At first there was some cynicism – mostly disbelief. Yet still, we had some hope that shined in spite of all the grief. We still believed that it would pass – that they overreacted. Little did we know, like wisdom teeth, we’d be impacted. Internships were canceled, and traveling was banned Covid-19 wreaked havoc through everything we’d planned. Sports were over, shows were done, tickets not worth a dime, And with everything closed – for the first time, there was time.
It took some readjusting, but this became our norm, Even though we couldn’t help but miss our dorm sweet dorm. But slowly we began to notice all the things we’d missed –Our dog, the cat, and mom’s bean dip that we just can’t resist. We slept, and slept, and slept some more until we were well rested And we began to read the books our friends had once suggested. With air pollution falling, and a new low rate in crime, The earth began to heal, and for the first time, there was time.
So now we play the waiting game, wondering from afar, How we can be with friends again, six feet from where they are. We’ll never claim entitlement – that’s something we’ve recanted. Nor will we ever overlook the things we took for granted, Like having full shelves in stores, and crowded stadium cries, Shaking hands with strangers and cotton candy skies. May we live and may we learn. At least I know that I’m Never going to overlook the first time there was time.
TOut Front
Everybody’s home – but not for the holidays. What a great time to get a family portrait taken.
By Ann Douglas Lott
he Front Steps project began in the first weeks of the lockdown. Boston photographer Cara Soulia had the idea of taking portraits of families in Needham, Mass., on their front porches – from a safe, social distance. She asked the families to make a donation to the Needham Community Council to help those in need in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
In exchange for their donation—Soulia recommended $50, but any amount was encouraged—families received a digital copy of their portrait, and, more importantly, an unforgettable memory of being together—often for the first time in years.
The idea caught on, not only in Needham but around the country. Photographers in other cities and towns started similar projects.
These created alternate, digital communities on Instagram and other social media sites, featuring the smiling kinfolk out on their front steps and porches. The story made local and national news. Having a full family at home is a very rare thing, says Washington and Lee University senior Frances Conner, who has studied photography throughout her time at W&L “People feel like they haven’t all been home since Christmas three years ago, so that’s a really cool thing to capture.”
Two months ago, Conner was inspired by the Front Steps Project to organize her own version of the project in her hometown of Birmingham, Ala., after returning home to finish her senior year virtually.
“I typically am a pretty busy person,” she said. “I’m always doing some sort of side project because it provides more structure.” As a student photographer working for W&L’s head campus photographer, Kevin Remington, Conner decided to use her Nikon camera to participate in the Front Steps movement and donate 50% of the proceeds to the University of Alabama Birmingham Coronavirus Response Support Fund.
The fund supports COVID-19 research and treatment development as well as patient care.
Conner’s inspiration was Remington, who organized his own version of the project in Lexington, Va., home to W&L. The project was met with incredible enthusiasm, so when Conner approached Remington about bringing it to Birmingham, he encouraged her to take it on. And so, Magic City Porch Pix was born.
“People feel like they haven’t all been home since Christmas three years ago, so that’s a really cool thing to capture.”
Like Lexington, the Birmingham community has been eager to have their portraits taken. “I have 13 sessions booked for this coming Friday,” Conner said one day in May.
After she first shot for a few families in her neighborhood, more people began to hear about the project by word of mouth and social media. She created an Instagram page, @magiccityporchpix, to spread the word and bring people together.
Conner lives in an affluent suburb of the city called Mountain Brook, but she was glad that social media spread her project more widely. “I wanted to be representative of Birmingham as a whole and shoot beyond the people that I know personally.”
Over the past couple of months, Conner says she has felt a strong connection to both the W&L and Birmingham communities. Interestingly, Birmingham has a fairly large number of W&L alumni, and they make up a significant percentage of her clientele.
“The W&L alums understand that missing senior spring term is really upsetting,” Conner said. “So they are super willing to support the cause.”
In addition to alumni, Conner has also been introduced to so many new people in Birmingham outside of what has been dubbed the “tiny kingdom” of Mountain Brook. A lot of people from tightknit neighborhoods throughout Birmingham have been quite responsive to her project.
Also, as a college senior who is about to enter a quite stagnant job market, it is important to Conner that she makes money in a time when almost no one is hiring.
“It’s the first time in a while I’ve done an independent project not connected to school at all,” she said. Her situation demonstrates how many photographers, who are also out of work in this time, have found economic relief in addition to those benefiting from charitable donations.
Conner plans to continue Magic City Porch Pix. She has seen so many positives while also raising money to support the people on the frontlines, she said, and the project is growing more popular every day.
Conner has had the opportunity to photograph many W&L families, such as the Sharman family, pictured above.
FA Catholic PresentParish Stays
Finding a spiritual path through the pandemic
By Alex Lindsay
or Roman Catholics around the world, the obligation of going to Mass weekly was lifted in most dioceses due to COVID-19. In Virginia, Catholic Mass was restricted by government guidelines that did not allow gatherings of more than 10 people.
Confirmation, First Communion, many weddings, and other major Catholic gatherings were postponed.
However, Catholic Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria, like other Catholic churches around the world, was livestreamed daily. Yet, without the full presence of Christ’s body and blood in Communion wheat wafers and wine, and other physical aspects of Catholic practice, worship temporarily changed.
The Basilica of St. Mary was founded in 1795, the first Catholic parish in Virginia. In 2018 the Vatican issued a decree granting the church the title “minor basilica.”
Confession times at the Basilica remained the same. However, if there were more than 10 people waiting in line, the end of the line had to wait outside the church. Also, the church taped markers to ensure that parishioners remained six feet apart in line.
The church was open for private prayer and adoration, that is, the designated prayer in front of the exposed consecrated bread and wine. Pews in the church were also marked off to guarantee that parishioners stay six feet apart during prayer.
The quarantine gave Catholics like Maura Lindsay, a parishioner at the Basilica, more time to stop by the church for adoration. She said that she learned to appreciate Mass more during quarantine. On Sundays, Lindsay watched a Mass in her bedroom trying to make it feel like a normal service. She kneeled and stood just like she would during a Mass in the church.
During these virtual Catholic Masses, priests encouraged viewers to participate in a “spiritual communion,” which means “acknowledging that we want to be one with the Lord,” said Fr. David Dufresne, a priest at the Basilica. During social distancing people were forced to slow down a bit. “With people not at work or school, they have more time to work on their spiritual life,” Dufresne said.
Dufresne said the response from parishioners was a “mixed bag.” He said that he saw more people trying to visit the church daily, going to Confession, and setting up meetings to talk to him about their personal spiritual lives. He estimated that participation in Confession was up about 20-30%. But, he also heard from parishioners that without the comfort of the physical church they found it difficult to stay focused during virtual Mass.
The stay at home policies gave the busy priests at the Basilica and those around the world a chance to work on their own spiritual lives. But Dufresne said that there was an “emptiness” without Catholics being able to worship together.
Even with government guidelines, there were still a few weddings at the Basilica. “The couples are often acknowledging that they can have the party later,” Dufresne said. “There is an understanding that the sacrament is more important than the party.”
FAITH
By Ann Douglas Lott
How
a Birmingham Church is keeping in touch virtually
One Sunday morning after the pandemic arrived, the pews of Canterbury United Methodist Church in Birmingham were empty, just like those in thousands of churches across the world. And yet, the Rev. Keith Thompson still preached at the altar to over one thousand people of all ages via livestream. In a time when Protestant churches are not attracting a lot of young people, Canterbury has been largely successful in doing so in the Mountain Brook community—even with the recent online shift. Prior to the spread of COVID-19, Canterbury’s youth and young adult programs were already largely successful. It helps to be in Mountain Brook, which is made up of families who mostly identify as Christian. A lot of people who grow up in this church remain members their whole lives.
Young people are drawn to Canterbury for many reasons, including a contemporary worship service on Sundays, a more youthful clergy, and a willingness of staff to reach out to younger generations.
Canterbury has shifted to a virtual campus in a time where it seems people are relying on their faith most. The church’s staff have assumed their responsibilities online to ensure member engagement. “When we started all of this, everyone felt so disconnected,” said the Rev. Sheryl Thornton in an interview. “[The Rev.] Tory Hastings put out a bulletin asking staff who wanted to lead something online that could. It got people thinking, ‘Who’s my target audience, and what gifts do I have?’”
For older members of Canterbury, the transition to using apps like Zoom has required a lot of learning and patience, whereas younger members have adapted much more easily.
For example, Canterbury’s young adult coordinator, Matthew Montgomery, started a class on theology as well as a movie and book group, both using Zoom, said Thornton. Montgomery said in a staff meeting that he has had a great response to these opportunities.
Youth pastor Seth Moon has also kept junior high and high school students involved with video challenges and bi-weekly Zoom meetings. Each meeting explores a different Bible passage.
“There’s something about seeing a face that makes you feel like you’re not alone.”
One video challenge was for students to submit clips of random acts of kindness they have done for other people. Moon and his staff compiled these submissions and posted the final video to YouTube, where viewers can watch students deliver Girl Scout cookies to a neighbor and pay for someone behind them in the drive-thru line at Starbucks.
Even the youngest members of the congregation can hear a recorded bedtime story read to them by a member every weeknight at 7 p.m. There are plenty of other resources for the entire congregation available online. This past week, there were 13 online opportunities to connect with the church.
Weekly worship services can either be livestreamed or watched later in the archives on Canterbury’s website. Record numbers of people are livestreaming the worship services, said Thornton, who is an administrator of the website.
Being able to connect with the church online has held an emotional impact for members and staff alike.
In a recent grief care group meeting on Zoom, “it was pure giddiness when those screens clicked on and they started seeing each other,” said Thornton. She recalled that when one member of the group became very emotional, everyone picked up their box of Kleenex and tried to offer it. “There’s something about seeing a face that makes you feel like you’re not alone.”
Before quarantine, the livestreams averaged about 25-30 viewers per week. Now, Sunday worship services average 1,550 viewers, which of course doesn’t count the number of people watching each screen, Thornton said. Also, daily devotions can be livestreamed at 8:30 every morning on Facebook, averaging 1500 viewers each.
“It surely includes people beyond Canterbury,” said Thornton. “That’s kind of a cool thing, too. People from across the internet are checking it out.”
Seeking Refuge
What happens when international students are told to ‘go home’?
By Simona Radeva
One by one, private and publiccolleges and universities across the United States closed their doors, forcing students to evacuate to somewhere else. For most American students, that was their hometown or another place where they have family.
However, for international students studying and residing in the United States, like myself, finding shelter wasn’t so simple. After considering a few other European countries where I have relatives, I flew “home” to Sofia, Bulgaria. After almost two months of being alone in a way-too-big apartment, I left Sofia for my hometown where my immediate family is.
We international students all had to take at least two things into consideration: the decisions made by our particular institution and the status of our home country. Only then could we figure out our next move.
“I was not sure how long this would go on, so going home was the best option,” said Graciela Gaviria, a friend of mine from Costa Rica who, like me, goes to Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.
While some of us had friends or family somewhere in the United States or could catch a last-minute flight home, others weren’t so lucky. For Daniel Gahn from Uruguay, going home wasn’t an option at all.
“We international students all had to take at least two things into consideration: the decisions made by our particular institution and the status of our home country. Only then could we figure out our next move.
Uruguay made some arrangements for people who wanted to come home from other countries, but not from the United States.
Gahn was pleasantly surprised by the many measures taken by his university – Wartburg College, in Waverly, Iowa – to accommodate the needs of international students. The students who remained on campus were moved to another residence with only single rooms for social distancing, and continued being provided food and housing.
My country is closed,” he said in an interview. “All the flights in and out of the country are cancelled indefinitely.”
Still, his concerns didn’t end there. “My mother is a nurse, and in recent weeks she has been overwhelmed by the exaggerated number of patients she has received,” he said. “Health services are rapidly collapsing and many people refuse to go to work, even though their service is essential. This has made me feel a bit useless, since at a distance I can do no more than call.”
Not being able to go home is a common complaint among international students. Lucklita Theng, a rising sophomore at Carleton College from Cambodia, decided that staying on campus was her safest bet.
“Going home is unsafe,” she said. “Cambodia doesn’t have testing or other proper procedures and I might not be able to come back if I leave. The visa issuing and other legal barriers prevent me.”
Theng misses her friends and family back home, but she tries to make the most out of her time in quarantine through bonding with friends, cooking – and self-reflection. “It’s good because I get to do all the things I haven’t been able to do and reflect a lot,” she said.
Michela Benazzi, who goes to the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, managed to return home to Italy – one of the countries with a high number of casualties from the coronavirus. She sees the situation as having educational benefits.
Theng decided that staying on campus was her safest option in order to avoid contact with the virus.
For Benazzi and others, the pandemic led to many on-campus plans being scrambled. “My main concern is being able to go back in August. I’m really looking forward to in-person classes. Networking is very important for me, and e-mails aren’t my favorite means of communication!”
“It sure was a learning opportunity,” she said. “I am going to be ready to handle potential administrative emergencies in the future.” She is grateful for her university’s adaptive capacity and thinks the situation couldn’t have been handled any better.
Home or not, all international students continue to face numerous concerns with regards to the Covid-19 shutdown, such as when and whether they’ll be able to fly back into the country, whether they’ll have to take fall term classes online and, of course, fears of contracting the virus.
The students are in agreement that they look forward to being able to go out again and return to their normal activities. But most of all, we look forward to knowing what our academic future holds. We need that, now, more than ever.
“Positive” Results
Savannah Jackson survived COVID-19 and may be helping others do the same by donating her plasma.
The 27-year-old Condé Nast Senior Communications Manager apparently was infected in March where she lives in New York City. Unaware that she had contracted the virus, Jackson decided to quarantine in Alexandria, Va., with her family. In Alexandria, she heard of co-workers back in the city who tested positive for COVID-19.
Anti-bodies in survivors could save other victims
By Alex Lindsay
And after about six days with a scratchy sore throat and stuffy nose, she realized she couldn’t taste or smell, a common symptom of the illness. Although her symptoms “never got that bad,” Jackson received a positive COVID-19 test result on March 28.
“I was lucky enough to get the positive test and knew that a lot of people weren’t even able to get tests,” said Jackson. “I wanted to be able to do something that could help other people.”
Jackson had heard about early COVID-19 research from her New York City friends. According to the FDA, evidence began to suggest that the transfusion of convalescent plasma, that is, plasma from recovered subjects, was helping other victims heal.
The FDA had found that those with COVID-19 develop antibodies in their blood that help fight the virus. These antibodies could be donated in plasma. Jackson signed up through Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City to donate her anitbodies. After 14 days of being fully recovered, Mt. Sinai called Jackson and told her she was qualified to donate. The hospital wanted Jackson to return to New York City. Although Jackson said she was willing to drive back, she felt better staying in Virginia.
Photo by Savannah Jackson
“Information wasn’t readily available,” she said. “Probably because it was so new that they weren’t publicizing it a ton.”
Finally, she found a center at INOVA Fairfax Hospital in rural Virginia. At the time, the hospital was the only plasma donation center in the D.C. area. “There were more people readily available to help in New York and not so many in D.C. So, I was able to feel good about staying close.”
On April 20, Jackson went through an interview, an exam that including testing to make sure her blood still had the antibodies, and another COVID-19 test. Later on, at the plasma donation center connected to INOVA Fairfax, a machine drew her blood, separated out the plasma, then put the red blood cells back into her system, a process called plasmapheresis. The amount of plasma that Jackson was able to donate could go to three critically-ill COVID-19 patients at INOVA Fairfax Hospital that same day.
Staying at home with family has its risks. Savannah’s sister, Kaelin, and her father both contracted the illness. Jackson said that while staying home is certainly contributing to the fight against COVID-19, she felt good that she could contribute in a more direct way.
“The process wasn’t pleasant. But hearing them saying it was going to three people that same day was really awesome.”
To donate plasma, one must meet certain criteria, including being at least 18, having documentation of a positive COVID-19 test, and being fully recovered for 14 days. The FDA said further investigation is needed to determine how effective convalescent plasma is against COVID-19.
The FDA said that if you haven’t had COVID-19, you can still contribute to the fight, by donating blood. The FDA said quarantine and the cancellation of blood drives has caused challenges to the U.S. blood supply.
In May, Jackson’s sister also donated her antibodies.
“The process wasn’t pleasant,” Savannah said. “But hearing them saying it was going to three people that same day was really awesome.”
Shots of a Shutdown
A series of photos from Long Island
By Teddy Bentley
The center of Huntington, N.Y., on May 1. The usually a busy, traffic-filled main street is nearly empty and lines with closed shops.
Two masked coworkers have a conversation in a nearly empty Wild by Nature supermarket in Long Island, New York.
This restaurant in the town of Huntington is closed for all visitors but is still open for takeout and delivery.
No going back to school these days! Lloyd Harbor Elementary School is totally shut off to all visitors, even those that want to use the fields and playground.
Happy Birthday Brooke!! Honk when you drive by this house in Northport, N.Y. People have been celebrating their
A household in Huntington, N.Y., thanks all of the frontline workers during the pandemic.
THE GREAT LOCKDOWN DEBATE
Students John Mudd and Gray Carlton debate the efficacy and effectiveness of lockdowns or stay-at-home orders as a means for dealing with the virus
JM: Gray, we have to talk lockdowns. Lockdowns gotta continue due in part because nearly half of the cases in the world are in the United States. I think it’s better to continue this quarantine despite the collective boredom of not really being able to go out on the town. What do you think on the subject?
GC: It’s tough to hear the Unites States leading the world in even more morbid stats than usual. Something definitely has to be done - the virus should be approached with extreme care, but what should that look like? Certainly sitting on the couch all day is not the only solution. Nothing will be as safe as lockdowns, but there are many things we can do to safely get back to normal. Some people like restaurant employees simply can’t afford boredom.
JM: It is a tough situation that we find ourselves in these days. I understand that some people can’t afford to not work right now and that is something that must be taken into account by the government. While I do sympathize with these people, it is more urgent that we get the virus under check. Possibly another round of stimulus checks would do some good, but it is hard to place a price on the health and life of a person despite the problems the economy is facing. I do agree that doing nothing at all would be terrible, so something has to be done, but rushing back into everyday life before the virus could have unforeseen consequences.
GC: I am wishing for a normal summer. While it might be a while until I can go to a packed concert in the heat with a bunch of sweaty and smelly people, we can take steps to get there. The fact is that this virus is not going anywhere while we sit inside. We have the privilege of knowing who this virus effects and who it doesn’t. Protect the old, the obese, free everyone else. Lockdowns only make sense if they’re finished with a vaccine. That timeline looks to be over a year; I don’t think we can get by on stimulus checks for that long. We are already seeing compelling evidence from states that refuse lockdown orders like Georgia. They have been “open” for 25 days with a continual drop in confirmed cases, deaths, and overall hospitalizations. That could be the way forward. The livelihoods of small business owners have been completely destroyed due to knee-jerk reactions. Most business don’t have the luxury of lobbying for bailouts. We must end this unnecessary destruction.
JM: I think a normal summer may be out of the question at this point. Georgia is a great example, but I do not think it is wise to rush back into things like Florida and other states seem to be doing. The economy may be suffering, but a lot of business has moved online and that may be more commonplace in the future as companies realize that people can do their work from home. Of course that isn’t an option for everybody and some companies will have problems. Rushing back into things would result in more deaths and cases. The US has already surpassed 90,000 deaths at this point and reopening will most likely result in a lot more. I agree that unnecessary destruction must be stopped and quarantining and staying closed must be the option we take.
GC: In 2018 330,000 people died from car crashes. Think about the deaths we could have prevented if everyone was mandated to stay home. This virus is no different. A life forced at home is hardly a life worth living. There is absolutely no legitimate reason to keep everyone home to protect a small percentage of the population that could be negatively affected by this. It’s almost as if journalists are eagerly awaiting mass deaths in states like Georgia and countries like Sweden. They refuse to accept the idea that lockdowns are an illogical and immoral overreaction to a problem that can be dealt with through technology. They refuse to accept the idea that people would rather weigh risks themselves and act accordingly; that people are willing to take responsibility for their actions. Lockdowns are causing incredible destruction that could be totally avoided. People’s life work is being destroyed. Mental health problems are exploding. Doctors suggest 75,000 deaths from suicide and drug abuse will take place due to stay at home orders. A similar amount of avoidable deaths will take place due to non-coronavirus issues not being treated. Quarantining everyone for this virus is a childish solution to a complex problem.
JM: Over 300,000 people have already died as a result of Coronavirus worldwide within a span of 5 months. With more cases means even more deaths, and it’ll grow exponentially. To let people die as a result of negligence will set a dangerous precedent. If we ignore coronavirus and lets Darwinian thought that only the strongest survive, it could mean that people on late stages of other diseases could be ignored because there is nothing left to do for them. While staying at home does suck, there are plenty of activities to do while still performing social distancing. There are also online therapists and people to talk to during these times. While the economy is slowed down and people are anxious to get back to work, we cannot let it happen all at once and let nature deal with it. Letting people roam freely would be dangerous to everyone and the virus will only spread at a rate which has not been seen since the days of the Spanish influenza which killed 50 million people worldwide.
The Quarantine gl o w - up
T e s t i n g t h e M y t h
By Leah Green and Simona Radeva
Being stuck in isolation, our plans cancelled or put on hold, with so much time on our hands and no idea what to do with it - hasn’t been easy. How do we make this time of sheltering-inplace well spent? We invest it in ourselves.
It’s called the “quarantine glow-up,” the idea that you can become a significantly better version of yourself while away from your normal social life.
But how realistic is that idea? We interviewed 60 people about whether they’ve engaged in any types of transformational behaviors and what those look like More than 93% admitted that they’ve at least attempted to achieve some sort of transformation during quarantine.
For many people, the glow-up is not about changes in appearance Rather, it has been a from-theinside-out experience, such as one achieved through mindfulness, yoga or meditation Indeed, about 68% of our interviewees said they tried some yoga or meditation while in quarantine.
There is no better time than a pandemic to look inward. Some popular approaches have been reading for reading’s sake, doing makeup for fun, journaling, learning a new skill or mastering an old one
And, of course, cooking Whatever keeps you going and fills your mental “cup” with positiveness Or whatever you have put on hold because of not having enough time Quarantine has proven to be the enemy of all excuses
“With all this extra time,” one of our interviewees said, “I feel like I can take care of myself in a way that’s a lot harder with the stresses of regular life.”
Having a glow-up can simply mean making your everyday routine more organized and put-together That could be, for starters, cleaning your room, the very act of which has proven to be therapeutic More than 79% of the people we surveyed said they’ve tidied their room while in quarantine Myself included
Having all this time on hand has also resulted in people making some rather impulsive decisions about their appearance In specific, girls cutting their own bangs and guys growing a moustache.
According to Cosmopolitan magazine, the “quarantine moustache” might be the boy version of cutting your own bangs – “a quiet act of rebellion ”
We interviewed Carson Canulette, a rising sophomore at Washington and Lee University staying home in Louisiana, who was among the surprising number of guys who decided to grow a moustache while in quarantine. Carson called facial hair and other changes to appearance “a stalwart protectorate from the dark chasms of our bored minds.”
“After letting all his facial hair grow at first, he felt ready for a change again He shaved, but the moustache stayed
“I don’t care what people think in general, but there was now less social pressure,” Carson said. He felt less judgment – silent or aloud – from other people “It’s liberating, in all honesty ”
That made us wonder: How long does the glow-up last? Is it all a myth, just another “New Year, new me” type of deal? We’ll see. In the meantime, Leah tried out some of the “tools” behind the glow-up. Here’s her report.
Skin Care
As a college athlete, I’ve been having a hard time with gyms being closed. I was eating all the chips and cookies in the house that I could find and skipping out on my skincare routine. I realized that I might be getting close to gaining the dreaded “Quarantine-15.” However, I started noticing new trends on TikTok, including YouTube workout videos and helpful skincare routines, DIY face masks, and supplements like vitamins or oil that would help get your appearance right. So, I decided to join in on this quarantine glow-up movement before I lost motivation to start.
First, I got rid of all my old skincare products. It turns out, a lot of the products I was using were bound to lead to a short-term relief with long-term skin destruction. I found “Hyram,” a popular 24-year-old “social media influencer” specializing in skin care products. His site acknowledges that he is paid by the products he picks. Anyway, I scrolled through a few videos trying to find cheap yet effective products, and found the holy grail of skin-care routines. In total, this entire revamp routine cost under $60. It is as follows:
Step 1: Cleanser
Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser. $13.79
Apply this all over the face – I usually let this sit while I brush my teeth, then rinse off
Step 2: Toner
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution. $8.70
Apply this with a cleansing pad all over the face – it might burn a little but that just means it’s working!
Step 3: Eye Cream
Cerave Eye Repair Cream. $10
Apply under the eyes and all around the eye area to get rid of dark circles.
Step 4: Serums
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 $6 80
Apply all over face with hands
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%. $5.90
Apply all over face with hands
Step 5: Moisturizer
Cerave Daily Moisturizer $11
Apply all over the face and neck with hands.
At-home Workouts
What I like the most about this workout is that it is broken up into different videos that target different parts of the body, and each video is under 15 minutes. The every day full body workout is 13 minutes and it is the only video that is required for the two-week shred challenge. Chloe Ting includes other videos for core, lower body and upper body, depending on what workout you want for the day. Since I have workouts from my coach that work my upper and lower body, I’ve been doing Chloe Ting’s every day video and her core workout.
I decided to try the Chloe Ting’s two-week YouTube “shred challenge.”
She demonstrates every exercise and does them with you, which definitely helps to keep you engaged. She is also super encouraging throughout the video and lets you know when you’re a quarter, halfway, and almost through the workout.
I lost five pounds and half an inch off my waist, but even without physical results, these workouts made me feel so much better about myself. After weeks of being a couch potato and binge-watching “Glee” for the third time, I needed something like this to get my mind right.
And finally, I saw videos about vitamins and oils that can help appearances as well. I’ve been putting castor oil on my eyelashes, eyebrows and in my hair roots twice a day to help grow out my eyelashes, eyebrows, and hair. People say they’ve grown their hair out two inches in just a month! Stay tuned for those results!
FINDING THE 'ME' IN HOME
By Simona Radeva
When our university announced that we all had to go home, “home” offered itself as a number of possibilities to me It offered itself as all the places where I’d lived and as all the places where my family was scattered It offered itself as Bulgaria and France and Germany. So many places, but none of them truly felt like a place where I would go and feel safe and welcomed, like I belong.
Being in a situation as uncertain as this one raises a lot of questions. Questions of belonging. Of identity. Of what’s truly important and what are the things, the people, the connections and the places that we hold genuinely dear. Questions of what stays constant when everything else changes.
Any time I leave my country for a longer period of time, such as to study somewhere, I lose a sense of “home” and what it means It starts being an abstract concept to me I feel weightless Everything that exists is where I am at that very moment, who I am and who I am with, then and there
After weighing all of my options, I ended up going back “home” to Bulgaria and spending the next month and a half in quarantine on my own. To some, being away from the warm embrace of family in these rough times might have been distressful. But to me it meant mostly good things. It meant plenty of time to think. To introspect. To retrospect.
At first, I admit, being stranded in my own head and left alone with my thoughts was scary I was scared of loneliness and boredom and feeling purposeless and sometimes of the dark, too But it soon became a new normal and it was surprisingly easy to find things to be occupied with. I’d never thought that actually having to cook all of your meals by yourself would be so time-consuming. But even more satisfying!
Soon enough, an apartment in the capital of Bulgaria – way too big for my small persona but with a lovely terrace and a beautiful view of the city – started becoming a “home.” I built new habits, took care of the space around me and of myself. It felt like I had all the time in the world, even though I didn’t. One could say that, all clichés aside, I reconnected with myself.
It turns out, we can make a home out of every place so long as we feel truly at home in our own skin. So thank you, Covid-19. You’ve made me feel homeless once again. But I’ve found “home” in me and put the “ me ” at home.