The Bridge - May 2020

Foreword

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irst and foremost I have to thank all of The Bridge staff for all of the tremendous work they do. We have an amazing and dedicated team of photographers and graphic designers that create visually stunning work, along with writers, a copy editor and an associate editor that conjure words in a comprehensive and compelling manner.

Of course, we all owe a great deal of respect and gratitude to our amazing Advisor Louise Jett for her sage advice.

Obviously, none of this would be possible without the support of Lewis and Clark Community College, because it provides us with the opportunity to publish outstanding material in both our monthly PDF edition and on our website. To allow us to work in a creative and professional manner is such an incredible chance for us to grow and learn both as individuals and as a united force.

I feel like this has been a strong year, and since this has been my first year not just as Editor-in-Chief, but in a newspaper in general, I could not have done this without such a tenacious staff. Since the beginning, everyone has proven themselves to be determined, dedicated, eager to learn and highly adaptive.

These traits really shined when we had to make the transition from a print edition to online in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have all had to adjust and find new and creative ways to continue publishing, and I think I speak for all of The Bridge when I say we are immensely grateful to the college for allowing us to continue on during these unprecedented times.

With all this being considered I am deeply proud to present to you this enthralling magazine edition of The Bridge.

Dillon Neibel Editor-In-Chief

The Bridge is...

Dillon Neibel

Nathan Tucker

Editor-in-Chief/Writer dneibel@lc.edu

Sports Editor/ Writer nrtucker@lc.edu

Gary Chapman

Alexandra Blockton

Associate Editor/Writer gchapman@lc.edu

Krystie Morrison

Web Editor/Photographer kemorrison@lc.edu

Alex Johnson

Writer ablockton@lc.edu

Olivia Bettorf

Graphic Designer ombettorf@lc.edu

Lance Snow

Layout Editor/Graphic Designer amjohnson@lc.edu

Graphic Designer/Photographer lsnow@lc.edu

Ashtyn Britt

Lena Greeling

Ad Manager/ Writer abritt@lc.edu

Hannah Kahl Copy Editor hakahl@lc.edu

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Madeline Critchfield Graphic Designer macritchfield@lc.edu

David Tupper Photographer dtupper@lc.edu

Jen Miller

Photographer jenmmiller@lc.edu

Adrienne M Lane

Megan Lanham Graphic Designer mrlanham@lc.edu

Kelly Anderson Podcaster kcanderson@lc.edu

Samantha Bauer

Graphic Designer/ Photographer amlane@lc.edu

Podcaster/ Photographer scbauer@lc.edu

Chris Thomas

Jordan McDonough

Graphic Designer/ Writer cthomas55614@gmail.com

Graphic Designer jmcdonough@lc.edu

Graphic Designer lennance@lc.edu

Graphic Designer/Illustrator mrhall@lc.edu

Moreena Hall

Jenna Shelton Writer jshelton@lc.edu

Donnie Becker

Dakota A Redditt

Louise Jett

Photographer Dobecker@lc.edu

Graphic Designer daredditt@lc.edu

Advisor ljett@lc.edu

Table of Contents

Op-Ed, pg. 4-5 Campus News, pg. 6-11

•Perspectives Offered on How the Pandemic has Impacted Lewis and Clark Community College •Interim President Lori Artis Ensures that L&C is on top of the Pandemic Response •Hackers Snake into Illinois Community College’s Software Sytems, Taking Advantage of the COVID-19 Pandemic •L&C’s Student Newspaper Racks Up 17 ICCJA Awards

News, pg. 12-14

•Do Not go Hungry •The Exigency of Law Enforcement During Quarantine for Domestic Violence Disputes •Amazon’s Shipping Times Heavily Affected by the Coronavirus Outbreak

Cooking Feature, pg. 15 Opinions, pg. 16-24

•Virtual Student Activities During Self-Isolation •Adjusting to School at Home •The Planned Online Classes Happening Throughout the United States •Fear and Loathing in St. Louis; the Life and Times of an “Essential Employee” •How To Self-Care While Practicing Self-Isolation •Furloughed During a Pandemic: How the Virus Has Caused the Largest Unemployment Spike in U.S. History •Shopping during Covid-19 •Cutting Distractions While Working From Home •I Never Realized How Much I Would Miss Leaving My House

Entertainment, pg. 25

•Top 5 Books to Re-Read During Quarantine

Sports, pg. 26

•Is COVID-19 A Blessing In Disguise for MLB?

Cartoons, pg. 27-29 Closing Statements/Editorial, pg. 30-31 Photo by David Tupper.

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L&C Reinventing Itself in its 50th Year in the Face of COVID-19 Lewis and Clark Op-Ed

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ewis and Clark Community College has been honored to serve and be a part of the communities that make up District 536 for the past 50 years. The college district was given the opportunity to purchase the historically significant Monticello College campus in 1970. The all-female college was established in 1838 and saw its last graduating class in 1971. The Monticello College Foundation continues to support Lewis and Clark today through financial contributions and scholarship support.

Although 2020 hasn’t shaped up to be the 50th anniversary celebration we envisioned, we’re here to weather the storm alongside our communities, and we’re reinventing ourselves to serve our students and others in a time of great need.

The college is currently conducting instruction online, in lieu of face-to-face meetings, and preparing for online instruction through the summer. We’ve added extra supports to help transition academic and student services to a virtual environment to keep our constituents safe and at the same time, empower students to overcome obstacles and achieve academic success.

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Photo from L&C Flickr.

Current students will soon be able to access more than $1 million in emergency federal aid to help with education and training at Lewis and Clark through the CARES Act. The Lewis and Clark Community College Foundation is also raising money to create a Student Emergency Relief Fund for additional support.

The college strives to be a good neighbor and community partner as well. We are working with our area healthcare providers to understand their needs at this time and to develop ways we can be a support for those on the front lines of COVID-19.

We are proud that many of those on the front lines are Lewis and Clark alumni – nurses, EMTs, paramedics, law enforcement, firefighters and more – all working harder than ever to keep our communities safe. We’re beyond proud of their contributions and honored to call them fellow Trailblazers.

We know that many in our communities are struggling and perhaps rethinking their future in the wake of this pandemic. Lewis and Clark is here to help.

Students eager to retrain quickly or join the workforce sooner can earn a certificate or a degree and get started in a new career in just two years or less. Transfer students can save an average of $18,396 on their bachelor’s degree if they come to Lewis and Clark for two years before moving to a four-year institution.

In addition to numerous two-year transfer degree options, Lewis and Clark also offers more than 40 career and technical education programs from Dental Hygiene to Truck Driver Training.

Many of our career programs offer students the opportunity to earn competitive salaries upon completion of their certificate or degree. Starting salaries for some programs can be as high as $50,000-100,000 annually. We also offer adult education programs and other non-credit continuing education offerings for everyone from infants to senior citizens.

April is Community College Month. Now more than ever, Lewis and Clark remains committed

to making high quality education and career training opportunities not only affordable, but also accessible, to any and all students who wish to pursue their dreams or change their course in life.

If you need access, support services, or are looking for information on our online classes, please visit www.lc.edu/ coronavirus Although our campuses remain physically closed, Lewis and Clark remains focused on providing our district residents with these valuable academic and training opportunities. We are here for you during these very challenging times, and reaffirm our commitment to helping our community heal during and beyond this pandemic.

We look forward to the day we can reopen our campuses and welcome everyone back. Until then, we encourage everyone to continue to stay home and stay well during this time.

On behalf of the entire Lewis and Clark Team, we thank the community for its continued support of Lewis and Clark. We look forward to serving you now and in the future.

Sincerely, David L. Heyen Lewis and Clark Board Chairman Dr. Lori Artis Interim President Brett Reinert Assistant Interim President This is a Lewis and Clark Op-Ed piece originally published at www.thelcbridge.com.

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IMPACTED Perspectives Offered on How the Pandemic has

Lewis and Clark Community College

By Dillon Neibel dneibel@lc.edu

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n the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic life has changed quite drastically, and while that change has impacted some more than others, it has undoubtedly impacted Lewis and Clark Community College (L&C).

With the conversion to online taking place over a two-week period and the state of Illinois going under lockdown, faculty, administration, staff and students all had to adjust accordingly and swiftly. L&C’s Interim President Lori Artis has been a part of the coordinated efforts to ensure student success during trying times.

“I can’t say enough with how collaborative everyone has been. Our faculty had just two weeks to completely shift everything they were doing into an online format. They’ve had to think critically and creatively with how to handle not just instruction, but skill development and assessment – things that are challenging in an online environment. Our administration has been listening to the concerns of stu-

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dents and faculty, and working together to respond to their needs. For example, we purchased Zoom to provide a secondary online instruction platform that ensures privacy for our students and faculty. We also created a Wifi parking lot for those with internet connectivity concerns, and we are actively trying to connect students with resources to help them stay enrolled and successful. I can’t say enough about the collaboration that takes place daily – and it’s all been in support of our students,” said Artis.

Vocal Performance Major Tyler Reynolds, who is in his final semester here at L&C and is likely to transfer to The University of Colorado Denver is frustrated by the situation and the adjustments to online classes.

“The adjustment has been really hard.

Some of my teachers never respond to my emails and leave me completely in the dark. Overall I’m just saddened by what my last semester at L&C has become,” said Reynolds.

Campus News

Artis offered some perspective as to how it has been for instructors to make this conversion to online.

“Mentally, it’s really hard to do school during this. It’s hard to find motivation to finish my classes.”

“All of our faculty are being challenged in new ways, but everything I have been told from the deans and the Vice President of Academic Affairs is that our faculty have rolled up their sleeves and are doing everything they can to work with students in this new environment. Obviously, there are areas that are just simply impossible to teach entirely online, such as nursing skills, dental skills, welding, and automotive to name a few. Those faculty are working with students on a plan to help them complete these hands-on skills once the shutdown is over. We are planning to work with each student who is willing to help them complete as planned,” said Artis.

Reynolds said he faces other difficulties while completing his schooling in the face of the pandemic.

“Mentally, it’s really hard to do school during this. It’s hard to find motivation to finish my classes,” said Reynolds.

For students who feel like they can relate to Reynolds difficulties with completing their work, Artis has some words of encouragement.

“We recognize that most students did not sign up to take courses in an online environment. We are doing our best to encourage and support our students ongoing. I encourage students to work with their faculty members closely. Stay in constant contact. Ask questions and share concerns. Our number one goal is to not just provide academic instruction, but provide quality academic instruction. We also encourage our students to contact their advisor, or work with one of our counselors in Student Development and Counseling if they

Campus News

is lifted and public spaces become open again.

“Once the stay-at-home order has been lifted, the college will make a local assessment of who should return to campus. Our first priority will be to work with those students who were not able to complete their learning Tyler Reynolds in an online environment. As you can imagine there are certain courses in the career and are struggling either with coursework technical education arena that require or with mental health issues. We are hands-on learning and assessments. providing all of our student services in Getting those students and faculty a virtual format. We want students to back on campus in a safe way will be know we are available and we are our first priority,” said Artis. here to help them during these changing times,” said Artis.

Reynolds has his own plans for when Artis said a lot can be learned from this it is safe to gather with others after situation.

Governor JB Pritzker’s Stay at Home Order expires.

“This has definitely been a learning experience for everyone – adminis- “I just am hoping that the lockdown is trators, faculty, and students. Our goal lifted before I leave the Godfrey area. when this crisis has passed is to reflect If it is, I want to be able to make a – what did we do well, where do we few more memories before I go,” said have room for improvement, what are Reynolds. our strengths, what are our weaknesses. This is a really challenging time for Artis said plans for celebrating L&C’s everyone, but when we are pushed 50th anniversary are still underway. outside our comfort zones, this is where growth and development happen. We “As you know, it’s our 50th anniversaare all outside our comfort zones these ry, and we are really hoping to condays, so I know we will all grow from tinue the planning for our Homecomthis experience. It will make us all stron- ing Celebration we were planning for ger than we were before,” said Artis.

September. I think all of us will have a knee-jerk reaction when the order Reynolds feels some things were taken is lifted to want to congregate. I think for granted before the Stay at Home we need to be careful and think about Order was issued. how we might be able to socialize, without going all out right away. We “The main thing I took for granted was want everyone safe. I know student all the distractions I had that helped me activities will be anxious to start planget through each day. It’s so easy to ning events for our students again. get lost in my own mind during all of They are also working on some onthis,” said Reyolds. line ways to engage students, so stay tuned to your Lewis and Clark email Many students are wondering what will accounts for some announcements happen once the Stay at Home Order there,” said Artis.

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Interim President Lori Artis Ensures that L&C is on Top of the Pandemic Response

By Dillon Neibel dneibel@lc.edu

With the stay-at-home-order in effect, the April 14 Lewis and Clark Community College Board of Trustees meeting was held virtually on ZOOM. Although it was a relatively short meeting, it allowed the Interim President of Lewis and Clark Community College, Lori Artis, to give the Board and others some updates on the current situation in regards to the pandemic.

“Everyone is playing an integral role in keeping the college moving forward,” said Artis.

Courses have been moved to online and anyone who can work from home is. As for the courses and programs that require hands-on interaction, they are postponed until it is deemed safe for a return to campus.

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“We recognize online learning is not what most of our students signed up to do, and not all students can be successful in an online environment, so we are working with support staff and faculty to do everything we can to support student learning. We have moved all of our student support services online as well and are communicating with students how they can access those services remotely,” said Artis.

board of trustees

Artis recognized the faculty for all of the work they did in converting to an online environment and to the security and staff who continue to work on campus and practice the guidelines of the Center of Disease and Control (CDC).

“We have been challenged to think creatively about how to serve students, and we want to thank the Board for their support of our needs in order to move into this remote environment.” These are definitely unprecedented times. No one could have predicted the challenges we are encountering daily, but I have to commend the administration for their daily leadership to help us find solutions to the issues our campus community is encountering,” said Artis.

Artis explained that summer classes will be held online and the graduation ceremony will be moved to Dec. 20.

The Board went into executive session to discuss the college’s presidential search and upcoming interviews.

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Campus News

Hackers

Hackers Hackers Snake into Illinois Community College’s Software

Sytems, Taking Advantage of the COVID-19 Pandemic

By Dillon Neibel dneibel@lc.edu

Hackers are targeting Illinois community colleges and have taken over two Illinois community college systems through a ransomware attack, in one instance causing a complete outage of all IT services.

On Saturday, April 25 an emergency special meeting was held with the Illinois Valley Community College Board in order to authorize and secure a contract that would allow an outside consultant to unlock their servers and perform a forensic audit on their system.

IVCC board chair Jane Goetz said, “Time is of the essence. It is crucial we move as quickly as possible to restore full operations.”

It is estimated that the audit could take 9-10 days and that without the administrative program day-to-day operations are at a standstill.

Chief Information Officer of Lewis and Clark Community College Jeff Watson sent a notifying email pertaining to the potential threat.

Watson explains ways that the hackers attack.

“Malicious spam uses social engineering in order to trick people into opening attachments or clicking on links by appearing as legitimate— whether that’s by seeming to be from a trusted institution or a friend. A common method of infecting a computer or network with ransomware is through malicious spam which is unsolicited email that is used to deliver malware. The email might include booby-trapped attachments, such as PDFs or Word documents.

It might also contain links to malicious websites asking you to login with your credentials,” said Watson.

Campus News

Watson also explained the technique known as phishing.

Phishing is a form, Watson said, of identity theft that attempts to trick people into revealing personal or financial information online. Phishers use phony websites or e-mail messages that appear to be from trusted businesses and brands in order to steal personal information such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers or Social Security numbers.

Watson warns that the messages can be hard to recognize as fake, saying that the more familiar the source appears, the more susceptible people are to falling into the hackers’ traps. He urges students and employees to “Pay attention to the warning headers on your emails.”

“Do NOT respond to e-mail messages that ask you to provide or verify your personal information,” Watson said.

“Be extremely careful about clicking links in an email. Do not give out your credentials unless you are sure of the system you are authenticating,” he said.

“IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBT ABOUT ANY EMAIL OR LOGGING INTO ANY SYSTEM, STOP AND CHECK BY CONTACTING THE HELPDESK BY EMAIL OR PHONE. YOU MAY ALSO CALL OR EMAIL MYSELF, OR ANY OTHER IT EMPLOYEE,” said Jeff Watson.

People can reach the Helpdesk at 468-4357 or helpdesk@lc.edu or Watson by calling his office phone or emailing jwatson@lc.edu. Watson’s office phone is forwarded to his cellphone: 618-468-3800.

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er Racks U

ent Newspaper Rac L&C’s Student Newspaper

By Jenna Shelton jshelton@lc.edu

The 2020 Spring conference to announce the winners of the Illinois Community College Journalism Association’s annual newspaper contest may have been canceled due to COVID-19, but it didn’t stop the ICCJA from awarding the talented students throughout Illinois for their hard work in 2019.

Lewis and Clark Community College’s student run newspaper, The Bridge was one of the Illinois community colleges that participated in the contest.

“I am beyond proud of the Bridge staff,” Bridge Advisor Louise Jett said, “I was recently asked what one of my greatest accomplishments has been, and I immediately said ‘Advising the Bridge.’ To have once been editor and to now advise this award-winning staff is my greatest accomplishment. Helping students earn much deserved accolades feels amazing.”

Under Jett’s tutelage, L&C’s student run newspaper, The Bridge, was able to achieve 17 awards out of the 359 total submissions.

With 17 being a lucky number, L&C won 17 awards out of the 17 schools participating, which in itself was a record breaking number of school participation for the last 5 years.

The Bridge competed with the entirety of Illinois community colleges in the Open Division, which has 9 different categories to enter, winning 6 awards out of a total of 75 submissions. The Bridge also qualified in Division 2, a division that has 14 separate categories to enter that is based upon the number of enrolled students at the school, with L&C winning 11 awards out of a total

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Campus News

Up 17 IC

cks 17 ICCJA Aw RacksUp Up 17 ICCJA Awards of 152 submissions and going up against 7 other community colleges. Division 1 had 10 Illinois community colleges participating with a total of 132 submissions for that category.

With the ability to compete in the Open Division against colleges that may have twice the size of the student body, winning a large number of awards in this category is a big deal and a great victory for The Bridge.

“I am extremely impressed by how many awards the staff earned in the Open Division,” Jett said. “Due to our school size, we compete in Division 2 with the other smaller schools, but all the community colleges go head-to-head in the open categories. Earning six Open Division awards is amazing!”

The Bridge Editor-in-Chief and Occupational Therapy student, Dillon Neibel, had the same sentiments, saying, “ Being that this is my first year as Editor-in-Chief, I am both proud, and honored to be a part of The Bridge. To win as many awards as we did is quite a feat, and I am confident that we will do even better next year.”

Neibel, winner of multiple awards including an Honorable Mention for Report of the Year in the Open Division said, “I am deeply honored to be a part of such a talented group of individuals, I am also appreciative of our incredible advisor Louise Jett. Without her, I would not have been able to accomplish what I have, and I’m sure many, if not all of The Bridge, feels the same way.”

For more information on The Bridge or how to join the ranks of these talented and outstanding individuals, please contact Louise Jett at ljett@lc.edu.

Campus News

To see the judges comments visit www.thelcbridge.com.

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Go Hung

Do Not Go Hungry Do Not Go Hungry Donald Becker dobecker@lc.edu

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ou do not have to go hungry during the COVID-19 outbreak. As stated in The New York Times, “Feeding America, the nation’s largest network of food banks, with more than 200 affiliates, has projected a $1.4 billion shortfall in the next 6 months alone.” Here in the Riverbend Area we have a community that has come together to ensure that no one goes hungry.

Many pantries in our community have remained open during this time and have put into place new practices that allow for social distancing and reduce risk of transmission, such as curb side pick-up and limiting how many people can enter the building at a given time. Some of these Riverbend Area pantries include Catholic Charities, House of Victory,

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Crisis Food Pantry, Hope Center, and Operation Blessing. Please call to verify any new hours or changes in operating procedures as things are changing quickly as our community learns to adjust to these unprecedented times.

List of food pantries in the Riverbend area. Infographic by Donnie Becker.

One organization, Alton Works, is offering contactless delivery for those who cannot make it to the physical food pantries available in the community. You can reach Alton Works by calling 618433-9214 and following the prompts.

Friday, April 24: Madison County Urban League is hosting a drive thru food and toiletries distribution on a first come, first serve basis. This event takes places 12 p.m.- 3p.m. at 501 Landmark Blvd in Alton. You can also check

with your local church to stay up to date on efforts the church community are making, many have hosted drive up food giveaways.

Many SNAP recipients will notice that as of April 8, they are receiving the max snap benefit. Recipients cards were automatically loaded with the additional funds.

Max benefits are as follows: one person – $194, two people $355, three people $509, four people $646, five people $768, six people $921, seven people $1,018, eightpeople $1,164.

Each additional person over eight, add $146. If you did not receive your increased benefit amount, please contact your local Dept. of Human Services office.

Do not go hungry – there is help, and in these times, we can rest assured many helpers in our community are here to extend a hand where needed.

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The Exigency of Law Enforcement During Quarantine for Domestic Violence Disputes Alexandra Blockton ablockton@lc.edu

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uring this time of quarantine due to the pandemic of the coronavirus, many families feel as if they are closed inside their homes and have short patience with being around one another 24/7. Without being able to have alone time, maybe causing drama, leading to fights with each other, as well as, abusers trying to invade victim’s homes by trying to re-enter into their lives unwanted.

According to an article by David Jackson titled, “A Coronavirus Case Curtails Some Operations at Domestic Violence Court, Even as Hotline Calls Increase”, which was published in the Chicago Tribune, during this time many advocates for domestic violence in Cook County are being swapped with reports from multiple incidents, while the calls are being brought to their attention.

Attorney Kim Foxx announced she was “removing prosecutors from the domestic violence courthouse for 14 days after an employee tested positive for Coronavirus.”

At this time, many prosecutors have been able to put a stop to the ultimate violent cases from individuals looking to have their alleged abusers arrested. Currently, the office is trying its best to set up a way where all the cases involving Domestic Violence can be handled by phone, but no further information has been presented at this point.

Prosecutors believe the majority of the incidents are occurring because of all the stress that has been brought upon from the Coronavirus Outbreak.

Aileen Robinson, who is the coordinator of the Chicago Police Department’s domestic violence program, said, “She and others were working

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with the state’s attorney’s office late into the evening on Wednesday to find a way to restore full services to the Cook County Domestic Violence Courthouse at 555 W. Harrison Street.”

But at the time of calls, many officers were able to help victims obtain safety information to be able to follow the guidelines, so they can stay safe from their abuser.

2,946 domestic calls were recorded the week of March 29, 2020, by the Chicago Police Department. With comparison back on March 29, 2019, with having only 2,629 calls. Chicago police departments are definitely in a state of shock with the number of Domestic Violence calls during this time.

2,946 domestic calls were recorded the week of March 29, 2020 One caller mentioned her partner was “laid off due to the pandemic. Violence had increased in the home, so she was living in her car and feeling ‘safer,’” said Amanda Pyron, who runs the Network, Advocating Against Domestic Violence, which operates as a statewide hotline.

Just in the month of March alone this year it has been noted of 1,972 hotline calls compared to last year calls at 1,895. March 30 was the busiest day ever with 104 call-in disputes.

“The outbacks by prosecutors were made without the knowledge and input of first responders who should be aware that you are closing screening for two weeks,” said Pyron.

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Amazon’s Shipping Times Heavily Affected by the Coronavirus Outbreak

By Gary Chapman gchapman@lc.edu

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he shipping times for tech giant Amazon (which for their Prime service has promised to have twoday shipping) has jumped dramatically because of the recent outbreak of COVID-19.

The shipping times for most “non-essential” items (e.g. a dog harness) has jumped from a few days to mid-late April.

Jeff Bezos said in an email published by Amazon, “We’ve changed our logistics, transportation, supply chain, purchasing, and third party seller processes to prioritize stocking and delivering essential items like household staples, sanitizers, baby formula, and medical supplies. We’re providing a vital service to people everywhere, especially to those, like the elderly, who are most vulnerable. People are depending on us.”

According to an article by Jason Del Ray for Recode, a spokesperson for Amazon said, “To serve our customers in need while also helping to ensure the safety of our associates, we’ve changed our logistics, transportation, supply chain, purchasing,

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and third-party seller processes to prioritize stocking and delivering items that are a higher priority for our customers.”

Note that items that are shipped by third parties are not affected and can ship most items in a few days or more. This has caused a few problems for those sellers though.

Del Ray said, “products ranging from printers to child safety locks where Amazon was highlighting its own item — or those of sellers using its Fulfillment by Amazon warehousing service — that had slower delivery speeds” and that the ones who do store in their warehouses cannot access and retract their inventory from there “because warehouse staff is so focused on getting high-demand products out the door.”

Essential items do include other things like printer paper, ink and some tech (for instance, a Western Digital 1TB hard drive) has two-to five-day shipping.

This, of course, does make some people who purchase items regularly sad. Jeremiah Turner, a warehouse worker from Bethalto, said, “It’s depressing, but I do understand why they’re doing it.”

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Virtual Student Activities During Self-Isolation

By Jenna Shelton jshelton@lc.edu

As many of you may already know, I am the current Student Activities President at Lewis and Clark Community College (L&C). I was pretty bummed to find out that all of the fun activities we had worked so hard for were going to be canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. We had been looking forward to a spacethemed Spring Fest, a swimming party and a Roaring ’20s party, along with many other fun and free events.

Since everything was canceled and class was turned into online formats, I had a brainstorming session with a few students and advisors, and we decided that we needed to continue to reach out in order to socialize and have some fun with students online as well. With social media, Blackboard, and resources like Zoom, Netflix Party, and HouseParty, there is still the opportunity to connect, play some games and give out some gift cards or prizes.

The L&C Student Activities FaceBook page and the Student Government Association and Activities Organization on Blackboard are being updated with information almost daily about the current schedule for virtual student events. Currently, there is a weekly Zoom Chat event scheduled for every Monday at 2 p.m., where students can visit and talk about varied subjects that interest them. There will be a randomly selected winner from each Zoom Chat event from the April 20 and April 27 participants. Each winner will receive a gift card that will be mailed to them as a participation prize.

will be having a pet contest where students can send pictures of their pets to the L&C Student Activities FaceBook page, where they will be judged in various categories, such as cutest and ugliest. Again, winning student pet owners will receive a gift card via mail.

If you are like me and are completely addicted to TikTok, then you will be excited to find out L&C will be hosting a TikTok Challenge. Wearing L&C merchandise or clothes, make the best TikTok you can while tagging the L&C Student Activities page using #TrailblazersTogether. Singing, dancing, lip syncing or whatever else you want is allowed, just make sure its school appropriate. The top three winners will receive $50 gas or grocery gift cards. This is hopefully a great way to connect with the students using some of the more popular social media apps.

As excited as I am for the TikTok, I think I am looking forward to Scary Stories Night, where students can log on to hear faculty and staff tell their favorite scary stories or maybe the Friday night Netflix Party movie nights. Students can log onto Netflix through a Google Chrome extension called Netflix Party, where they can watch a movie or program at the same time and can even chat during it. We’ll host a theme with every movie night and will post ideas and recipes for snacks that may enhance your viewing pleasure.

It is important to us to maintain our relationships with the students and make sure they are doing as well as can be while we struggle to live in a world that has been completely changed. For a complete list of scheduled events and more information on how to get connected, please check the L&C Student Activities Facebook page. For questions or concerns contact Jared Hennings or Jenna Shelton.

There will be a selection of activities ranging from games like bingo and Jeopardy played on Zoom to a weekly “Learn That Thing…” on Facebook Live. We

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Opinion

to in her IEP (individualized education plan).

Graphic by Olivia Bettorf Jenna Shelton jshelton@lc.edu

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ith the changes and busy schedule most college students have, suddenly not being able to go out and having to finish the semester by computer has been a huge adjustment for most. I am a homebody, a person who enjoys being home and would most times prefer being home than others, so I have, for the most part, liked being home more often.

I am saving gas and mileage on my car, getting a prorated refund from my insurance carrier and can still do everything that I am required to do.

I also have experience taking courses online, although I do prefer the in-person setting.

What I was not expecting, however, was how difficult it is to be a teacher. I have a 13-year-old daughter who sometimes struggles with certain lessons due to dyslexia. To be brutally honest, I have not done a math lesson with this child since she was in second grade. I know that sounds bad, do not get me wrong, I have helped her learn her multiplication and division tables and stuff like

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that, but if she wants me to help her with her math homework, it is a no go. She believes I should follow the way her teacher taught her to do, but when we would try it that way, the answer would be wrong. She would say, “Mom, I have to do it the way the teacher says or I’ll get in trouble,” to which I would always respond, “Tell the teacher the answer’s correct and that you know how to get to the correct answer and to call me if they have a problem.” The night would always end with one or both of us crying, thus the reason why she is required to finish her math homework during study hall, where she can get a teacher’s help if needed.

Now, I am expected to be her teacher in math, language arts, science, social studies, and all the other wonderful courses required in eighth grade. That alone is a full time job, literally, but I am expected to also keep up with my full-time student status and work part-time as well. She gets emails multiple times every day reminding her to check her online classroom and when a new assignment gets posted, but she has not gotten the support that she is entitled

At Lewis and Clark Community College (L&C), I feel fully supported by not only my instructors right now, but one’s that I have had in the past, along with other staff and faculty.

While the campus is closed right now, almost everyone is still available via email or Zoom and can help with just about any problem I could encounter.

I have had multiple people from L&C reach out to me, check on how I was doing and if I needed anything. My current teachers are loosening up the strictness on late assignments and are available to help me at the drop of a hat. I could not believe that I was getting more support and guidance than my middle schooler.

Even with the fact that L&C teachers and staff now are going through some of the same stuff that I am with having to not only do their jobs from home but teach their own children as well. They may be struggling as much as we all may be, so make sure to give them some slack considering they had only days to figure out how to convert their entire lesson plans over to online learning plans or how to make sure that the students currently enrolled are able to complete this semester without fault. Now that we are a few weeks into this work/ school at home situation, and after asking and receiving help, I am grateful to say I am finally starting to find my footing. My suggestion to all of you is to reach out if you are struggling, no matter how big or small, there is someone that can help and they will not know to help unless you ask for it!

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Onlin Online Online

The Planned Online Classes Happening Throughout the United States

Alexandra Blockton ablockton@lc.edu

ccording to lc.edu, since March 20, 2020 the governor ordered the state of Illinois, including Lewis and Clark Community College (L&C) to close at 5 p.m. on Saturday March 21, 2020 and will not be able to reopen until after the statewide “shelter-inplace” order is lifted. All academic instruction will be moving online or rescheduled to a later date. Students, faculty and staff are highly encouraged to check their L&C email account for further information.

was not an online class prior to this pandemic, it is now online. All students should be able to log into Blackboard on L&C’s website. This may be a difficult time for some students especially if they do not have the electronic devices to be able to attend their online classes and students having to transition from being an in-class student to going online for class. It is best for students to email their instructors to be able to receive the accurate route to go in obtaining the tools you need to become successful. Each department is different and instructors will be able to guide students.

As of Monday March 30, all classes have resumed online. Even if the class

As a result of the pandemic, more than 118,000 public and private schools

A

in 45 states have closed, affecting 53 million students, according to a tally kept by Education Week.

“We’re about to go into the very big unknown, but we’re excited,” New York City schools chancellor Richard Carranza said Friday on March 23, 2020 in an article named “The COVID-19’s Impact in the U.S.” by The Associated Press. To him, it is an opportunity to take the concept to a grand scale.

In the meantime, other experts do not seem to be so optimistic. It is only a small amount of U.S. educators that have been trained to teach effective online learning. This is a very stressful time for teachers, families and students.

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ne

Fear

and

Loathing in St Louis

The Life and Times of an "Essential Employee” Gary Chapman gchapman@lc.edu

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n March 20, Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued his necessary stay-at-home order for the state of Illinois, which closed all nonessential businesses throughout the state to stop the spread of COVID-19. Shortly after this on March 21, St. Louis City and County made their own. The problem with theirs is their definition of “essential” is extremely vague, with only closing some places, but the order has 24 designations for essential businesses, and the county’s list has 40 different designations, including hotels.

There are a lot of people who are designated “essential” one way or another. I asked some people in the St. Louis subreddit about it and got 40 different responses.

Reddit user BurnOverride, who is a Fireman/ Paramedic, stated,“We consider it likely that many of us will become infected. Most of us are concerned about spreading it to our families. No revelations here, just writing to share that we’ll be there for STL.” Some people did complain about the conditions of their workplace while cleanliness and hygiene are being promoted heavily.

ChrisVolume, who works for an undisclosed delivery company, lamented that there were “No masks. No sanitizer. I can’t exactly stay 6 feet from people at all times in our filthy warehouse. We have been given cheap plastic gloves. The only place to wash hands is in

Opinion

the 1 bathroom at the end of the warehouse,” and, “They gave us a small bag of chips and a granola bar [on] Friday to ‘thank us during this unprecedented time.’”

Other users are feeling that it is blursed (a common portmanteau of blessed and cursed) with them feeling okay that they are happy for the paycheck, but are afraid of how they have been put in a bad spot.

On a macabre note, HouseOfUrchins, who is a grave digger, said simply, “Not looking forward to this summer at all.”

People who work in the retail realm noted the number of people who went somewhere just to get out, and as Boatman666 said, “decided to risk [their] health and anyone else who has a legitimate need to be at the hardware store because [they] were bored?” I agree with the workers because that is not a good thing to do, I would not want to get COVID and possibly die because some bloke was bored and decided to go to Schnucks one day.

There does need to be some tightening of the law because I do not want this to be “The Black Plague 2:Electric Boogaloo.”

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How To Self-Care While Practicing Self-Isolation

By Jenna Shelton jshelton@lc.edu

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hen the order to stay at home was set to begin Friday, March 20 at 5 p.m., there was a panic that rolled throughout the state. People rushed to stock up on essentials, and most students celebrated an extended spring break and the possibility of canceled classes. After a couple of days of binge watching Netflix and sleeping, the boredom set in and a lot of people started going stir crazy from the cabin fever, hoping the end of this time of self-isolation is near.

Now reports are showing that the stay-at-home orders will most likely be extended until at least the end of April. This is an extremely stressful time for anyone, but college students already face stress as they encounter everyday life as they transition from adolescence to adulthood. It is important for everyone to practice self-care on a normal basis to help with everyday stressors, but especially during this novel coronavirus pandemic.

The Oxford Dictionary defines self-care as the practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness, in particular, during periods of stress. Of course, in a pandemic like this, self-hygiene is very important, and everyone should be taking precautions to not spread germs.

One must also take steps to keep their minds and spirits healthy during periods like this. Here are some ideas to help perform self-care while we are all stuck in our homes.

Enjoy the outdoors by taking walks or bike rides on your street, but make sure to continue to practice social distancing! Sit outside and read a book or set an alarm and get up about 30 minutes before the sun rises and go watch the sun greet a new day with a cup of coffee and a blanket to ward off that early spring chill. On the other side of the spectrum, go outside for the sun to set and watch the beautiful colors in the sky as the sun says goodnight. Spend these times being aware of your surroundings and of your breathing, using conscious breathing techniques like those taught in meditation. Make sure to exclude the electronics, like the cell phone, even if the sky is Instagram perfect.

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Make a date to pamper yourself by taking a long, relaxing bubble bath. (Shampoo works great if there is no bubble bath.) Make a DIY face mask, paint your nails or fix your hair like one might if they were getting ready for a night out. Even if there is nowhere to go, sometimes getting out of those three-day-old sweats will make anyone feel better. Exercise even if the gym is closed by making up a home routine. Grab a couple of the big soup or vegetable cans and use those as weights. Walk up and down the stairs multiple times for some cardio.

Take a notebook and start a journal, writing all of the things done in a day or thoughts and emotions. Journaling allows an opportunity to keep thoughts organized, set and track goals, relieve stress, allow self-reflection, and can even inspire creativity. Starting a journal or any other hobby that one is passionate about is a great way to keep busy while relieving stress and anxiety.

There are times when the cellphone is helpful in practicing self-care. There are many wonderful applications that offer meditation and yoga, and other activities that are helpful in reducing stress. Make sure to check if there is a subscription price or any additional charges before downloading any applications, though. There are options to continue or start therapy or counseling via video chat or over the phone. There are resources available through L&C to help with stress and anxiety on a normal basis or now during this time. There are Counseling Services that assists students with counseling on an appointment basis, as well as in the case of an emergency. Counseling Services can be reached at (618) 468-4121 or (618) 468-4125 or by email at rbauer@lc.edu. There is the organization called Active MInds, a national nonprofit that supports mental health awareness and education for students. For more information on Active Minds, please contact Alice Bunjan at abunjan@lc.edu or by leaving a message at (618) 468-2730.

Opinion

Furloughed During a Pandemic: How the Virus Has Caused the Largest Unemployment Spike in U.S. History

By Gary Chapman gchapman@lc.edu

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ue to the stay-at-home orders and voluntary shutdowns, over three million people claimed unemployment for the week of March 21. Over 10 million people claimed unemployment for the month of March, according to the Washington Post.

Most of these people were furloughed, which is different from being laid off. Furloughing means a leave of absence due to the needs of the employer, while a lay off means that your job is terminated. A furlough also means you do not get paid.

When I asked the St. Louis subreddit, some people responded with their thoughts.

Reddit user ihaveacatnamedwally said that it is “Not great. Having a job would be a nice distraction at [a] minimum right now. I have way too much time on my hands to think and worry. Plus financially I’m making peanuts with unemployment, and I

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won’t see that money for weeks, best case scenario. I work for a smaller business, and I’m hoping I even have a job to come back to after this.”

Another user jayeedoubleeff wrote, “I’m having the time of my life. I’m more of an introvert, so I am loving the peace and quiet. I bake bread for all my friends and coworkers, work on other food projects, go on super early morning walks before everyone else gets up now that I go to bed before 2 AM, I forage in low population areas now that it’s extremely close to mushroom season, and read a lot more. I’d like to work more on gardening, but it’s certainly not the best idea to spend a lot of time at the garden shops and Home Depot.”

So while some people may be having a good time with this, hundreds of thousands are not having the pinnacle staycation that they think. Isolation and cabin fever are not your friends, but we are kind of forced into this situation. So be calm, stay at home, eat some Cheez-Its and read a book.

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Shopping During Covid-19

By Jenna Shelton jshelton@lc.edu

T

here has been an excessive amount of worry, fear, mis-information and rumors surrounding the novel coronavirus, called Covid-19.

While this extremely infectious disease is spreading rapidly around the world, one thing is for sure— those with health issues, the elderly and the young are at the most risk for contracting and possibly dying from the complications of Covid-19.

I am a non-traditional student at Lewis and Clark Community College (L&C) who is in a weird age where I am considered a “sandwich caregiver.” I care for my 90-yearold grandmother, my 62-yearold mother, and my 13-year-old daughter, all of whom have some health issues. While my grandmother is very frail, she is also very stubborn and determined to maintain whatever independence and autonomy as she can, which means she lives alone with her cat, Nicky, who was named after the Adam Sandler movie of the same name, implying he looks like an angel, but is truly a little devil.

My grandmother gave up her license a few years ago due to vision issues, and depends on family and friends to normally take her out to run errands or bring her supplies. I normally visit once a week and take her to get groceries and medica-

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tion. With this pandemic rapidly spreading throughout Illinois, and having been ordered to school and work from home if possible has really thrown a kink in our normal lives and routines.

While my health is not perfect, I am the least at risk out of our large extended family members, meaning I have been elected to be the one who goes out and runs errands for everyone. I have organized my shopping lists and family members’ needs so that I only have to go out once per week, and with proper precautions, limiting my families risk of contracting the novel coronavirus.

I am going to share some of the tips and tricks that I have picked up while attempting to shop during a time when the fear of contracting Covid-19 is heightened. First off, before I even leave the house, I make sure that I have a list of exactly where I am going and what I am getting. Because I have family members that have critical medical conditions, I have been instructed by the doctor to make sure that I only leave when I absolutely must, and I have to take certain precautions, like wearing a mask and gloves.

When I get to the store, I make sure I have my list and I put the card or

cash I am using in my pocket and leave my phone and purse in the car—out of sight and in a locked vehicle, of course. I utilize the cleansing wipes when I enter the store for the cart even if I am wearing gloves.

I make sure not to touch my face and am careful to not be close to others in the aisles and in the checkout lines. When I get into my vehicle, I throw away the gloves and use hand sanitizer. When I get to my grandma’s house, I wash up as soon as I get there, drop off her supplies and redo this process over and over until it is time to head home to wash up again and to change my clothing and shoes as soon as I get home.

Is this overkill? While some may say yes, I do not really care and will follow my family members’ doctor, who recommended these precautions. I would rather be too careful than not careful enough and end up with a family member, who had not been out of the house in the last 2-3 weeks, get sick because of my carelessness. So if you happen to see me at the store with a cart full of toilet paper or bleach or a lot of food, know that it is not me hoarding supplies, but I am purchasing these supplies for multiple households. Stay safe and please practice social distancing while limiting your exposure to public spaces.

Opinion

e l i h W s n o i t c a r t s i D g n i t t Cu e m o H m o r F g n i Work By: Jenna Shelton jshelton@lc.edu

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ith the current number of global confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, Covid-19, already past 1.5 million and deaths swiftly rising to 100,000, it is extremely important to limit exposure by remaining at home. This quickly became a governmental order, requiring billions of people to stay at home, closing unessential businesses and schools.

When it was announced that citizens would need to work and complete school from home, there was a lot of excitement as people imagined the multiple ways that they could enjoy this time off. There was an idea that perhaps it was possible to breeze through their work and be able to have massive amounts of free time to do whatever they wanted.

For most though, the adjustment to working and attending classes online has been a huge adjustment.

There is no particular schedule most of the time, as long as assignments or work is turned in by deadlines, and with warm weather gracing many areas of the country, there has been some procrastination occuring. It is easy to get distracted, especially now when one has so much work to do but is feeling overwhelmed and alone due to the self-isolation being faced. But there are ways to ensure that one stays on top of their work and still has time to enjoy oneself and do the Spring cleaning or other projects they may want to fit in right now.

One thing you can do is to stick to a schedule by getting up and going to sleep around the same times every day. It is so easy to get one’s entire schedule completely out of whack by staying up to watch another movie or season of whatever is on the binge

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list. Make a schedule for work hours and fun hours, ensuring that there is enough time to get work done without it feeling like work was all that was done in the day. Designating a work space specifically where only work is done there and separating the “work” life from the “home” life while they are both at the same location.

Leaving the phone and television turned off can ensure that there are no electronic distractions. Although there are people that cannot concentrate without some kind of sound, perhaps using a work playlist or relaxing nature sound can give one the distraction they need without pulling them out of their focus. Use sound blocking headphones or earbuds that block out the neighbors dog or the television of the beloved family member that always blares it as loud as it can go.

If distractions occur, take a break, but time it out and get back to work after resetting your attention. Take breaks regularly to prevent burnout, there is a possibility this may be how things have to be for a while and burning both ends does no one any good. Make sure to utilize video communication to not only socialize with people but to collaborate on projects and keep from becoming too lonely. Do not let cabin fever set in, get outside, walk down the street or get a bike ride in, maybe have a picnic lunch. It is a normal time to perform some spring cleaning, but it is also entirely possible to take on more than one should. Set limits and pace the process of what is trying to be accomplished, and remember that everyone else is feeling the same way, and reach out for help if needed.

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I Never Realized How Much I Would Miss Leaving My House

By Ashtyn Britt abritt@lc.edu

I

cannot deny how much I have grown into learning about myself during this time in quarantine, and how hard it has been to face these new parts of myself I did not know I had. Specifically, the fact that I am probably an extrovert. In the grand scheme of things, this is clearly severely below what even constitutes a minor issue, but it is interesting how many people have expressed over the internet the same thought. It is both interesting and beautiful how much people really do need each other, and how much we take for granted, even being able to go on a walk with our closest friends.

Personally, I hate not being able to leave my home. Before, I had had a very full schedule that would often leave me up all night to stay caught up with my various jobs and projects, and now I am forced to pause nearly everything important in my life. I think I can speak for a lot of fellow students that when a few weeks ago we expressed being able to take a break for Spring Break, this really is not what we had in mind. This is much different than what we had envisioned, specifically because our extended time at home is involuntary, and instead of sharing our time with loved ones, we are sharing them with our favorite streaming services.

However, even in these hard times, I have grown a new appreciation for all the ways I fill my life when everything is normal. I grow a refreshed love for every minute I spend outside doing my best to help myself and others. Once we are all free again to explore this wonderful world we live in, I will be more careful to not take advantage of its beauty, and I will make the effort to enjoy it. I hope to see everyone else there. Please stay indoors for now, though, wash your hands, and stay safe.

Photo by David Tupper

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Opinion

Graphic by

Top 5 Books to Re-Read During Quarantine

By Ashtyn Britt Abritt@lc.edu

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s we are all forced to remain inside for the better of humanity, it is certainly fair to say that there has been a severe increase in time to catch up on some reading. While most bookstores and libraries will not let you enter in order to gain anything new to read, there is always the chance for a good reread! During this quarantine, I have personally picked the following five.

1. Wayward Son

by Rainbow Rowell The long awaited sequel to Carry On was a very wonderful answer to the “What now?” question after the hero’s chosen one journey was completed in the first novel, as well as setting up the third one for Rainbow Rowell’s loyal fans. For those of you who enjoy LGBTQ+ storylines and worlds of wizardry, I highly recommend this book!

2. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han I will admit that rewatching the Netflix movies based on this series

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is what led me to reread it, and I am glad I did it. There is a beautiful romanticism in Jenny Han’s work that is really easy to get sucked into. Even though I do enjoy the movie, the book was by far a deeper and overall better experience. For those of you who enjoy a good old-fashioned romantic comedy, this book is a wonderful choice!

3. The Hollow Kingdom

by Clare B. Dunkle The Hollow Kingdom is a lesser-known gem by far, but a personal favorite. The Hollow Kingdom follows Kate, a young woman who makes a deal to marry the Goblin King in exchange for him saving her sister from a kidnapper. What makes this book compelling is the world building within it of how Goblin and human interactions work.

You will enjoy this novel if you enjoy storylines about building relationships and secret worlds.

4. Ever by Gail Carson Levine Ever is a story following a young

woman named Kezi, who falls in love with an immortal God named Olus. The issue is however, Kezi has been designated to be sacrificed. So now the two must find a way in order to save her life so that they may be together. Ever is a great book for you if you are interested in mythology and romances, and definitely delivers on the originality.

5. Beautiful Creatures

by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl Beautiful Creatures tells the story of Ethan, a young man who falls in love with a witch he had been literally dreaming about for months. As he becomes more involved in her world, he discovers a dark curse will take her on her sixteenth birthday and may leave her evil. The two set out on an adventure then, attempting to break the curse.

This is a very wonderfully written book with a bit of a southern charm that makes it great for a stormy night in!

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sguise For MLB?C

9 A Blessing In Disguise For MLB? Is COVID-19 A Blessing In Disguise For MLB?

P

Nathan Tucker nrtucker@lc.edu

rior to the outbreak ofthe novel coronavirus, one of the biggest stories around the baseball world was Major League Baseball’s proposal to effectively disband roughly a quarter of Minor League Baseball teams across the country. It had already been a tough 2020 for many around the minors, and that was before a pandemic threatened to cancel the entire 2020 season.

According to JJ Cooper with Baseball America, rumors from within MiLB suggest anywhere from 10 to 40 clubs will struggle to make it through this season, if there even is one. While discussions regarding a new Professional Baseball Agreement for 2021 and beyond are on hold during the outbreak, one thing is certain: teams will need help, and bad.

“The reality is it’s bad. We’re a small business. There are going to be some really hard decisions made in the next 30, 60, 90 days that are very uncomfortable,” Memphis Redbirds owner Peter Freund said to Baseball America. “We are realistically looking at a situation where we may not operate this year. I can’t imagine a scenario where our season begins before June. What are the implications for all the people who work in the ballpark—the ushers, the grounds crews? It’s so upsetting. There is only so much we can do as a small business owner to keep the lights on.

There are some very harsh realities.”

While MLB teams pay players on minor league teams, (for example the aforementioned Memphis Redbirds are the St. Louis Cardinals AAA affiliate) they are not paying the salaries of the grounds crew who keep the field looking sharp yearround and are not paying other valuable employees who are integral to making sure games go smoothly, both around the stadium and organization.

MLB has stated that it will pay minor league ballplayers’ wages until the start of the 2020 season, but that leaves almost an entire organization of people

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still unpaid. If the MLB follows the trend of many businesses across the US during the pandemic, mass layoffs or furloughs are probably not far away.

Unlike Major League Baseball, who’s money for the season is largely already made through previously agreed television rights contracts, teams in the minor leagues make their money during the season by getting butts in seats. Obviously, without baseball being played, that becomes a bit of a task.

For many teams in the minors, rained out games greatly affect their bottomline, with thousands and thousands of dollars lost between ticket sales, concessions and more. Even if COVID-19 miraculously disappears off the face of the earth by the somewhat optimistically planned start of the baseball season in June or July, it is not an overestimate to say that at least a quarter of minor league teams will be struggling to hang on.

One neutral reader might think, “Well, obviously Major League Baseball has a vested interest in the success of Minor League Baseball and wants it to succeed and will help.” And that is not crazy to think, as it is very true! But, and this is a big “but”, Major League Baseball does not share that same opinion.

Just at the beginning of this article I stated MLB’s proposal to axe a quarter of the minor leagues before a pandemic was even known about. Unless, of course, you were a U.S. politician who was briefed on the effects of coronavirus months ago, and then used said knowledge for insider trading to make money before the stock market plunged at rates not seen since The Great Depression.

Back to MLB, COVID-19 might just do the dirty work of shutting down minor league baseball franchises that they wanted to do in the first place. The MLB’s side of this argument is that the proposal will allow them to free up money to pay remaining minor leaguers a better, living wage.

It is absurd on its face that MLB cannot pay every player playing baseball a living wage. Last season alone MLB’s revenues reached never before seen heights, nearly $11 billion according to Fangraphs.

Major League Baseball has the money to keep every minor league team alive, and money for those teams to pay their employees to avoid layoffs. Unfortunately for those teams, MLB has made it painfully clear that baseball itself comes second, and the bottomline comes first.

Paying a few thousand ballplayers and coaches a living wage would be a drop in MLB’s bucket, but the league is getting a firmer and firmer grip on that bucket in the Rob Manfred era. Hell, they could probably afford to keep those teams fully staffed with employees and paid during the outbreak, but that is not MLB’s modus operandi.

Given the crisis situation many ballclubs will face in the coming months, Manfred and MLB can look like the good guys for paying minor league player wages during the outbreak. If those minor league clubs are forced to cease operations, they can have their cake and eat it too.

If this becomes an unfortunate reality, I do not see how baseball continues to be successful if the biggest league in the world actively kneecaps the sport across the country it is most popular in. Taking live games away from thousands, if not millions, would be largely detrimental to the growth of the sport with new generations.

For baseball’s sake, I hope it does not come to that.

Sports

?Cartoons Cartoons Cartoons Cartoons

Essential

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artoonsC Cartoons Cartoons Cartoons

After Quarantine

After quarantine finally ends...

By:Megan Lanham

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sCartoon Cartoons Cartoons Cartoons Keep Your Distance

Clowning Around I still haven’t figured out magnets and even I know we should stay inside.

E TING TH S E T O R WE’RE P OME ORDER! H STAY AT

DETROIT

Clowning Around

By Alex Johnson

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Here? Here?

WhereWhere DoDoWeWe GoGoFromFrom And, The World Handling of COVID-19

By Dillon Neibel dneibel@lc.edu

Do you remember 9/11? A question that will remain relevant for years to come.

Do you remember the COVID-19 Pandemic? Another question that will remain just as, if not more relevant for the years to come.

For anyone who lived through 9/11, you undoubtedly saw the world we live in change drastically. I myself was only in second grade at the time, but I remember that day quite well given my youth then. I also remember taking note how much the world changed over time as we worked to create a world more readily prepared and combative against terrorists. While I have many conflicting perceptions on how that has been handled, many of the changes were undoubtedly needed.

So, how will the world be changed once life begins returning to normal after this pandemic?

Unfortunately, as of right now, one great difference between now and then is the unity we had after the terrorist attacks. Now, we see a nation greatly divided in regard to the seriousness of COVID-19. Obviously, people are rightfully concerned with the economic effects, but undermining the death toll and the medical severity could have drastic repercussions should we not adhere to the experts.

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This leads me to think that the world after could go in many different directions. With that being said, I will try to formulate my thoughts as to where things could go, and what I would like to see be done.

One major concern, especially from the working class, is retirement. With the severe economic downfall I know that many people, including those close to me, are terribly worried as to whether or not they will ever be able to retire should the economy not recover well enough in the next few years.

In order to boost the economy and still practice social distancing, we might have to consider a drastically higher implementation of automated manufacturing, probably through the use of drone and AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology.

I have a lot of fears about doing this, but as Elon Musk has said, “Adapt or die.”

Musk is quite the innovator of all things technology, and as one of his many projects puts in a lot of work on AI. However, Musk has extensively expressed his fears of a world practically run by AI, and that the only reason he has become a part of it is to oversee it. This scientific approach is quite similar to Einstein’s involvement in Nuclear technology.

“I think AI is something that is risky at the civilization lev-

el, not merely at the individual risk level, and that’s why it really demands a lot of safety research,” Musk.

downturns, mass unemployment, environmental destruction and many other possible crises.

Even with that being said, it might very well be time to implement this technology in a way that we can complete the jobs that are not being done right now, and find jobs for those unemployed to adapt into new roles that fits their skills. We could also use this tech to mass produce things that healthcare workers desperately need to face this virus, such as gloves, masks, gowns and ventilators. A lot of this is being done already, but a more concerted effort might prove fruitful for the future as well as the present.

However, we could also disregard the experts, move too quickly and face an even greater decrease in population. Maybe our economy takes longer to recover because of the potential death toll. We might even be lucky enough to scathe by as we reopen the economy, only to fall victim to another economic crisis for not making these inevitable adaptations.

We might very well use this idea of progress to also make the GREATLY needed transition into a more eco-friendly and self-sustaining world. Especially considering the healing breaths of fresh air that our planet has been taking since the world has gone to a much slower pace, which I find a bit ironic, since COVID-19 makes its victims struggle to breathe.

The possibilities fall on the spectrum to both the most pessimistic and most optimistic.

It is quite possible that the combination of protestors and preemptive reopening will cause the death toll to soar to such severity that we will be forced to adapt into a new way of life.

Has anyone thought about the fact that mosquito season is upon us, and that they could very well transfer the virus to thousands or even millions of more people than the rates we are currently seeing?

This also gives us the possibility of moving to a 30 hour work week versus the standard 40, an idea that has substantial data supporting the increase of productivity, while also bettering the mental and physical health for employees.

The truth is that we do not rightfully know what the future holds, no matter how we approach the current situation.

My only hope is that we start to see this thing collectively in a way that unifies us again.

Adapting and innovating in this fashion would not only help the economy and help combat the virus, but also help us face future pandemics, economic

If any of you readers have questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to email me and maybe I will do a follow up.

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