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COVID Chronicles Dave Blow Castleton Media & Communication Professor Dave Blow ‘89 published his second book in April of 2021. Unlike his first – which rounds up stories and columns from his time as a journalist – Blow’s second book turns the spotlight on the work of his students. “COVID Chronicles” collects blog posts from 18 students in his Media Writing course, focusing on their personal experiences navigating life during the COVID-19 pandemic. The personal accounts reflect on adjusting to remote learning, managing changes in their mental health, family members being diagnosed with COVID-19 and their own fear of catching the virus, being afraid to leave their homes, and more. “I was trying to think of some cool assignment – not cool, even – but some thought-provoking assignment. I start Media Writing with a personal story, so they write that, and I was thinking that this could be a way to just purge their souls a little bit. What I started getting was just so powerful and wellwritten. It was just so raw,” Blow said. “It was halfway through the semester when I really started thinking these needed to be shared.” Many students, like Mason Svayg, found the positives in the pandemic, like time spent with family they’ve missed while away at college. He reflected on listening to his dad’s old cassette tapes, enjoying sushi for dinner every Sunday night, and adventures with his two dogs. 4 CASTLETON UNIVERSITY
Students also shared the struggles they’ve encountered. Student Lily Doton shed light on bias and inequality during COVID-19. Doton wrote about witnessing a rise in racism against East Asian people and her experience as a Vermonter of Asian descent. “I’ve really struggled seeing everything that’s going on in other parts of the country, even though I don’t directly feel unsafe here,” Doton said. “I think it’s messed with my mental state a little bit, but I wrote about those feelings, too, and that’s helped me cope with it.” The book’s cover art, which depicts a student in a cap and gown sitting in front of a laptop with a panel of masked students behind him, was created by students Jasmin Gomez and Anthony Richichi. Blow and students Lily Doton, Aris Sherwood, Jacob Gonzalez, Martin Kelly, and Jasmin Gomez presented a panel discussion titled “Making Lemonade out of COVID-19” at the College Media Association’s Spring National College Media Convention in New York City in March. They shared their experience writing about the pandemic’s impact in real time and having their work published.
“COVID Chronicles” can be purchased on Amazon.
