The Statesman 08-31-20

This opinions article was written by Xenia Gonikberg, a sophomore journalism major from California.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact our daily lives, many students like myself have grappled with the decision whether or not to return to school. Safety and health are a top priority, so for those of us who attend school in a different state from the one they live in, this decision became even more difficult. The thought that was constantly on my mind was whether returning to campus would be worth it, since I would have to quarantine before going back home. I spent the last two weeks leading up to the first day of school quarantining in a hotel on Long Island, mostly reading and watching Netflix — feeling more distant than ever from home.

Because I had been isolating myself in my hometown of Palo Alto, California, since mid-March, quarantining didn’t seem that difficult at first. I learned the hard way that quarantining with your family, versus out of state without your family, are very different things. As a result of both experiences, I have compiled a list of the most valuable lessons that I have learned while in quarantine.

1. Being alone does not have to mean being lonely. While quarantining by myself, I managed to keep in contact with friends and family through video chat and phone calls. It made me feel much better knowing that I have people who care about my wellbeing. Digital communication made the whole experience less mentally isolating, despite being physically isolated and unable to see anybody in person.

2. Productivity is subjective. The “hustle culture” mentality is hard-wired in our society, but it can be really damaging to your mental health, especially when in isolation.

After a long time, overworking and overexertion can lead to burnout which negatively affects both mental and physical health.

When we are so used to a structured routine, a disruption as big as this pandemic can make our daily lives feel unfulfilling and pointless. It is important to recognize that productivity is more than just going to work and completing tasks. For some, productivity can be reading a book, and for others it can be learning a new skill, like baking or sewing. Even sitting on the couch and watching Netflix can be productive because it helps bring comfort to people during this tumultuous time. Everyone’s idea of productivity is different, but it is important to validate others quests of taking steps to prioritize themselves. For me, I wrote a little bit, but I did not push myself to do anything that I did not want to do.

If I was not in the mood to write, I would instead video chat with my family or read nonfiction books.

3. Take pride in the little things. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, it can be hard to adjust to having more available time in your day. Breaking away from the workaholic mentality can be a process, but it is important to celebrate personal victories, no matter how small. This can be something as simple as completing a household chore, like the dishes or something as complex as redesigning your bedroom. Celebrate these accomplishments and reward yourself for checking an item off of your to-do list.

These small actions can have a big impact on your mood throughout the day.

4. Do not spend time dwelling on the past. While the inability to spend time outdoors might seem frustrating, it is necessary to move forward during this time of change, and not let the norms of the past bring you down. The pandemic has re-energized dis-

Lessons I learned while quarantining on the West Coast

By Xenia Gonikberg

cussion on social and environmental issues, and now more than ever people are campaigning for drastic changes in our society. I have learned that instead of wishing for something to happen, I can make things happen on my own through social media advocacy and spreading awareness on topics that I am passionate about. Life before coronavirus will not be the same as life after it, but that is not an excuse to avoid improving the quality of life for everyone.

In my time shuffling between two states that have taken different approaches to handling the virus, I have reluctantly come to terms with my new and uncertain reality. Living in limbo is something that I personally have never dealt with before, but it has been a stepping stone of self-reflection. The lessons that I have learned while in quarantine have made me realize that while uncertainty is uncomfortable, it can sometimes teach us lessons about our growth and development as individuals who are a part of a greater community.

How COVID-19 Transformed My First Summer Back Home From College

By Minal Chawla

This opinions article was written by Minal Chawla, a junior health science major.

Summertime with my family in Ludhiana, India pre-pandemic meant sharing my unique college experiences — like late-night breakfast hours — and going on a family vacation where we would drive for hours to reach the Golden Temple, a sacred pilgrimage for people of the Sikh faith. Just like many other college students, I had a laundry list of activities I wanted to do this summer. And as many others might relate, my summer plans

headed south extremely quickly in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak. I never imagined I would be cooped up for months, yearning to go outside.

When my final exams ended in May, I thought I was going to use my time to decompress from the stress — but little did I know that relieving myself from the pressure of exams meant adding stress and life changes brought by the pandemic. Touching packages that I ordered online was never an issue but now even after meticulously disinfecting them, the reoccurring thought fills my mind –— what if the virus is still living on surfaces?

To make the best use of my time, I started exploring virtual internships and online courses that I could do in order to be more productive. I was fortunate to come across AT&T’s online summer academy, which allowed me to develop my leadership and management skills.

It was a self-paced online learning certificate program through which I had an opportunity to hear from speakers like Molly Bloom, author of “Molly’s Game,” and CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Although this program kept me busy for a few weeks, I still felt like there was no end to some exceedingly boring days where the weather couldn’t be grayer.

Over time, I understood how vital it is to stay centered and prepared for whatever

our future holds. I was fortunate to have my friends and family, who prevented me from getting dragged into a state of anxiety. My parents always provided me with a lot of comfort by listening to my worries with compassion and understanding. Sharing my feelings with them helped me to gain a different perspective when drowning in uncertainty. They encouraged me to use my time at home to explore my career path in health science and gain new experiences, which pushed me to enroll in online courses that covered topics ranging from global health to personal branding.

These summer courses were instrumental in providing me with a chance to network with peers across the continents and at the same time gave me exposure to diverse cultures. I worked on an assignment with students from Australia where we had to use the six-hat thinking technique to design a health care plan for people with physical disabilities. This thinking method focuses on tackling a problem or a decision using a range of approaches and each hat represents a particular way of thinking. Collaborating with other students enhanced my self-awareness and developed my interpersonal skills.

I realized that studying in an online environment can actually be substantial to one’s academic growth. Since I was confined at home, I also engaged in different aerobic

activities to maintain my physical and mental health. This was fundamentally new for me because I had never attempted to do intense aerobic activity without any guidance.

For starters, I gave jumping rope a shot, and truth be told, I was surprised to learn how therapeutic it can be.

Most of my days were spent attending Zoom meetings, practicing some sort of physical activity, finding new shows and movies to watch on Netflix, exploring my career career exploration and networking online. I set small achievable goals for myself, like decluttering my room, and I found activities, like assisting my mom with her cooking, that kept me occupied. I indulged in frequent self-care activities, like playing badminton, gardening and taking short naps to ease my anxiety over feelings of uncertainty about my education, mental health and most importantly life after the pandemic.

Despite the obvious downsides of spending summer break amidst a global pandemic, I found smaller joys and peace that I wouldn’t have found otherwise. This summer has taught me that even in these upended circumstances, we should use the extra time on our hands to nourish ourselves. It’s safe to say that I am finally ready to gear up for another great semester of virtual learning with full optimism.

Mandated campus mask policy turns into fashion statement

By Lajiere Blake Stony Brook University welcomed all students back to campus on Aug. 24.

The school outlined its plan to bring students back to campus in a safe and effective manner.

For one, there are new social distancing markings all over campus. Green dots are littered across desks to make it clear exactly where students should, and should not, sit. In some buildings, only two people are allowed in an elevator at once. Even the capacity for campus busses has been reduced. All of these changes are necessary steps to ensure safety for not only students, but for faculty and staff as well.

What could be possibly the biggest change in place of all, is the requirement to wear a face mask.

Stony Brook’s mask policy is in direct accordance with the Center for Disease Control and the New York State Governor’s Executive Order. “Everyone on campus in direct contact with members of the campus community or the general public must wear a face covering and/or mask,” the school’s outline reads.

All students, both commuters and those who reside on campus should receive two washable masks from the University. The set of masks are black and white with red lettering, and “#StonyBrook Strong” is displayed across the front.

For some people, masks are an additional part of their appearance that they must worry about.

But for senior Health Science major Joie Carelus, wearing a mask is the smallest step a student can take.

“Having that mask is a way to feel protected,” Carelus explains.

Even with all of the measures that the school has put in place, it is up to the students to actually abide by the new regulations. An extensive cleaning protocol for staff to follow after a suspected infection is important, but in order to avoid getting to that point to begin with, everyone must abide by the mask protocol.

Carelus understands the need for these rules.

Masks are already an important part of her daily routine.

“When I want to go out it consists of me getting dressed, but then there’s the new addition of me grabbing a mask,” Carelus said. “It’s part of my wardrobe. You can’t go anywhere without a mask.”

And the functionality of your mask is key. If a lot of air is escaping from gaps in your mask, there is little to no protection from the virus. Carelus finds that her Stony Brook mask is one of the most effective. Carelus said she does not want to give the school too much credit so soon, but recognizes how well the masks work.

“You can tell they put money into it, which is really great,” she said. “They definitely care about the students by doing that.”

Ximena Carter, a junior health science major, also finds the Stony Brook garments impressive.

“The masks Stony Brook gave us are washable so that’s good for the environment,” she said.

Carter, like most, cares about looking presentable when going to class. But so far, she has yet to feel like masks have restrained her ability to express herself through fashion.

“It’s there to protect you — it’s not really about how it looks,” Carter said.

But for those who do care about how a mask may look, luxury brands have you covered. Carter noted that “all these big name brands are making masks now, but they’re crazy expensive.”

Off-White has nine face masks listed on their website, each for $105. Seven of them are currently sold out. But on the other end of the luxury mask spectrum is Tory Burch’s $35 mask. For the price, consumers receive a pack of five.

Carter finds the luxury aspect silly. “They just want the money, because they just want people to buy their stuff. It’s just about them making a profit off of us,” she said.

Clear face masks are also all the rave, but not because they are easy to style. Those with autism and hearing impairments are just a fraction of people who rely on lip reading or visual cues from others in order to communicate effectively. ClearMask is one company that has rolled out a collection of transparent face coverings.

Carelus is a big fan. As someone who can communicate through sign language, she knows that the visual component of communication is integral in understanding each other. “Facial expression gives everything away,” Carelus explained.

In a time where appearance is everything, face mask requirements are an adaptation that we all must become accustomed to. Carter can not imagine a world where the design of a mask changes someone’s decision to put one on.

“I would hope it doesn’t influence anyone,” Carter said.

The Stony Brook Volunteer ambulance corp volunteered through the height of a pandemic

By Alek Lewis When COVID-19 infection rates in New York started to increase in March and the Stony Brook University campus lost most of its residential student population, some students stayed behind.

The Stony Brook Volunteer Ambulance Corps (SBVAC), the university’s collegiate emergency medical services (EMS) agency founded in 1970, is made up of 39 trained student volunteers. The organization, which usually responds to 900-1000 calls a year, including helping overwhelmed local EMS, became essential workers in a global health crisis.

“I chose to stay on campus as I was serving as SBVAC’s First Assistant Chief at the time and I felt a responsibility to serve throughout the crisis,” Mikayla Katz, who graduated in the spring with a degree in biology, said. “Going home hadn’t been an option in my mind as I knew I should be there. Had there been any other serious events, or changes with the pandemic, I wanted to make sure I was right there so I could assist as needed.”

Although some SBVAC members left campus, 22 members like Katz volunteered to serve the campus after much of the resident population evacuated. Some even opted to stay on campus, though that meant they couldn’t take advantage of the university refund offered to students who were forced to vacate campus.

“They’re putting themselves at risk for contracting a potentially fatal disease,” Ahmed Belazi, SBVAC’s faculty advisor and Director of Planning & Staff Development for the Division of Student Affairs, said. “And that’s a choice that all healthcare providers and other frontline workers are making, and it really does service to just describing how selfless and generous and civic these members are.”

SBVAC officals said that with the resident population greatly reduced, they recieved around one-third the amount of calls. Because their were fewer SBVAC members on campus, the remaining volunteers took on extra shifts to make sure all the emergancies on campus were addressed.

“We expected a reduction in the number of members that we would have to staff our alarms,” Nikhil Bamarajpet, a senior biology major and SBVAC president, said. “Our entire weekly shift dock during the pandemic was filled to capacity… So we had 24/7 coverage during the pandemic, which was insane.”

COVID-19 changed SBVAC’s campus operations. SBVAC’s responses to emergency calls, which included four people before the pandemic, were decreased to two — the driver and lead technician. The organization also increased the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), like N95 face masks and surgical masks, to ensure the health of their members and the campus.

“We had to rethink how we approached calls of all natures,” Kevin Quintero, first assistant chief and senior biology major, said. In the spring semester, he served as SBVAC’s captain and training officer. “Our greatest fear at the time was: What if we start losing our members? Not only fearing for their health, but also for the well-being of our community.”

Zachary Davidson, who graduated last semester and is SBVAC’s current Chief of Operations, recalled an incident where a student was struggling with mild respiratory symptoms and was distressed about possibly having contracted COVID-19.

Before COVID-19, patients with flu-like symptoms wouldn’t be cause for much concern for SBVAC members. “Those are the kinds of things that we can do with our eyes closed, because we do them so often,” Davidson said. “But now you look at those kinds of patients with new eyes, where you’re worried much more about things that you wouldn’t have been normally.”

SBVAC members volunteer up to 12 hours a week. Many are also regular students, with full time class loads and often part-time jobs. Bamarajpet said that

being both a student and medical provider signed him up for a busy, but interesting, college experience.

“During the thick of the pandemic, that’s when I also had finals,” Bamarajpet said. “I was volunteering at SBVAC, then I also volunteer at Central Islip and I was also picking up the leadership position here at SBVAC. I also had a part time job at the Division of Information Technology which I had to come in for. And so there was a lot of going back and forth.”

Davidson said that SBVAC members being fellow students help them connect with their patients and better reassure them that they would be well taken care of. He said it’s one of the main differences between the care SBVAC gives and other EMS agencies.

“I think we have a tighter bond with the patient population sometimes because we share the common experience of the students,” Davidson said.

Bamarajpet and Davidson said that after the campus closed, it was harder for members to interact with each other. Located on the west side of the West Campus, SBVAC headquarters, usually a social gathering place for members to relax in between shifts and classes, had become limited to essential personnel only.

“All our members are really close,” Davidson said. “I met a lot of my closest friends here when I joined as a freshman and we spent a lot of time together at our headquarters, on calls and in our personal lives. And so you miss out on people coming down to watch a movie or to hang out.”

With most of the world on lockdown, the local Stony Brook community made sure they showed SBVAC their appreciation.

Davidson recalled walking to headquarters one day and finding a sign outside that read “Heroes Work Here.” The Three Village Church in Setauket showed their appreciation for SBVAC by providing them home cooked meals for several months during the pandemic. SBVAC also received gift cards to several restaurants. Bamarajpet said the outreach from the community was “incredible.”

“I think those sorts of gestures were really important in just letting them know that people were there with them, and that they supported them and were thinking of them,” Belazi said. “I think that went a long way for a lot of the members.”

SBVAC collaborated with the university’s Center of Prevention and Outreach in July to make a video for students in residential halls about their experience helping people with COVID-19, and about the danger of the virus.

“Informing our student population about [COVID-19] and making sure they’re aware [COVID-19] is still a thing is an important part of what we do,” Bamarajpet said.

SBVAC, who do not charge for their ambulance service to the hospital, are partnering with Student Health Services this fall to give residential students who are discharged from the hospital after being infected with COVID-19 free ambulance rides back to their dorm.

“I think roles like EMTs and roles that SBVAC members play are great examples of how we hold a society together during a period where it was a lot more difficult to keep society together,” Belazi said.

SBVAC officials said that thankfully, the organization has not yet received many calls relating to respiratory illnesses or COVID-19 during the fall semester. Students interested in joining SBVAC can visit their website.

Sara Ruberg contributed reporting.

Clubs adapt to budget cuts and a remote campus in the wake of COVID-19

By Maya Brown A dance team unable to perform at a competition. A singing group unable to sing for an audience. A soccer club unable to play a game.

Clubs and organizations thrive on interaction, community and events, all of which are a vital part of campus life. However, they are now forced to adapt to a remote experience and limited funds in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Stony Brook University has had to adapt to health and safety policies from New York state, and Student Organization Health and Safety Guidelines have been put in place to ensure social distancing. Although in-person events and meetings can be submitted by request once per month, the Department of Student Engagement and Activities strongly encourages prioritizing virtual and remote options.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has and will continue to impact how Seawolves experience daily life,” the Office of Student Life and the Department of Student Engagement and Activities said in an email to clubs and organizations on Aug. 27. “We have a shared commitment to a community of care and ensuring we have a safe and vibrant student life this semester.”

According to Stony Brook University officials, they are putting together various virtual events to help create a campus community between both new and returning students. The university is setting out to make sure that campus life is not lost in the shuffle.

“We’re planning lots of large virtual and small in-person events to keep our campus community connected and engaged,” Rick Gatteau, vice president of student affairs said.

The New York State Guidelines for Sports and Recreation also classify competitive and group dance as higher-risk activities. According to Stony Brook University’s guidelines, higher risk activities that are allowed include both individual and small group rehearsals with no contact. Individual and small group performances are considered allowable lower and moderate risk activities. To ensure a safe student life, performance groups on campus have been met with many limits. Some groups have said that the new guidelines make it challenging for them to do what they do best — perform for people.

For instance, Deja Vu Dance Team relies on teamwork during dancing and performing for big audiences.

“I feel like the coronavirus is the complete antithesis of dance teams,” Merlissa Alexandre, a sophomore applied mathematics and economics major and treasurer of the Deja Vu Dance Team said. “We literally thrive off of tight group formations and having large audiences

view our craft. Not to mention our practices will most definitely require some form of human contact.”

For the Stony Brook University Ballroom Dance Team, dancing lessons with partners are a vital part of their practices, but that no longer is an option.

“In ballroom, partner connection plays a big role and in quarantine a lot of that connection is lost,” Leela Sotsky, a sophomore chemical and molecular engineering major and treasurer of the Ballroom Dance Team, said. “Initially, losing the social aspect of our club made it very difficult to stay motivated and dance.”

A benefit of moving to remote practices was an increase in flexibility when scheduling lessons with their coach, as well as having the ability to hold more lessons virtually through Zoom.

The Stony Brook University Belly Dancing Team, has also found the switch to remote practices challenging.

“With the switch to online, we lost the ability to meet in person in a large practice space like the Recreation Center or the Staller Center, which affects our ability to practice and choreograph more complicated dances,” Brooke Osekoski, a sophomore marine vertebrate biology major and treasurer of the Belly Dance Team, said.

For the African Student Union, the remote experience changes the way they run, since their organization is about interaction, experience and sharing different cultures. In a normal semester, the club would host in-person cultural programs, collaborate with other cultural organizations and host large on-campus events.

“With everything going remote, people cannot build the same connections and relationships online because it promotes less focus and more distancing,” Abdoulaye Barry, a junior business management major and treasurer of the African Student Union, said.

In addition to the struggles of the remote experience, clubs and organizations are also facing financial restraints.

Even as COVID-19 has caused major budget issues for Stony Brook University, the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) decreased the student activity fee (SAF) from $99.50 to $40 for the Fall 2020 semester.

The SAF financially supports more than 120 clubs and organizations at Stony Brook University, and provides them grants for training and event planning services.

“Going into the Fall 2020 semester, we recognize that the presence of clubs and organizations, whether in person or virtually is vital to keeping the student experience as enjoyable and meaningful as possible,” Shaheer Khan, president of the USG and a senior political science major, said.

Khan said that the fee also gives USG the opportunity to employ more than 80 students and financially support the Academic Success & Tutoring Center, the Division of Student Affairs, the Stony Brook Volunteer Ambulance Corps, the Commuter Student Association and the Residential Hall Council Association, among other groups.

USG decided to lower the SAF in order to accommodate both student and organizational needs while reducing financial strains on the student body, Khan said.

For the Summer 2020 session, USG reduced the fee by 40%. The price went from $16 per summer session to $10.

According to the State University of New York’s Student Activity Fee policy, the SAF goes through a mandatory referendum vote every two years. This September, students will have the opportunity to vote between making the fee mandatory or voluntary.

The student activity fee is the only fee that gives students the option to vote on payment, unlike transportation or athletic fees.

“If the Student Activities Fee Referendum fails and becomes voluntary, all the services [that the fee funds] will cease to exist, or be extremely limited in what they will actually be able to provide for the students,” Khan said.

The 2020-2021 USG academic year budget projected what their revenue should be based on the decreased SAF. Deja Vu Dance Team saw a reduction in their 20202021 budget, which did not come as a surprise to them, Alexandre said. Their budget went from $5,850 in 2019-2020 to a current budget of $5,050 without fall revisions, which will most likely bring it down once again if enrollment has also decreased.

“I’m just glad they didn’t cut the whole foot, maybe just a toe,” Alexandre said. She believes that the new budget did not hurt the team, as the loss is the same amount of money that would have been used to travel to competitions.

After months of planning, the African Student Union canceled its annual fashion show last spring semester in the wake of COVID-19. ASU had an annual budget of $28,700, and had planned to spend more than $24,000 in projected expenses solely on the fashion show.

“Due to the budget cuts SBU has faced and the Student Activity Fee being decreased, the money that our organization usually receives has decreased,” Barry said.

ASU’s budget for the current academic year is $26,600, without the anticipated fall revisions.

Revisions to the 2020-2021 budget will be made after the Fall 2020 USG elections are held, according to Khan.

A New Campus Look

By Rabia Gursoy

Anyone on campus this past week may have noticed new signs, less chairs and more hand sanitizier dispensers. Each building and shared space has been revamped for social distancing protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic. The following pictures are from some popular places on campus that follow new rules.