Several WORD reporters writing about them and classmates dealing with the Pandemic
An Hunter student who is an internationally known competitive ballroom dancer balances rehearsals, studies, work, internships while inspiring young kids to use dance to soothe the Ills of a savage beast.
Article by Sima Sadykhov
WORD reporter Niamh McAuliffe writes: Hunter hasn’t decided, as I’m wrapping up this article, about how classes are to be taught in fall, 2021; yet, I see this as the step in the right direction and a real sign that I and other students could be returning to what student life was like before we ever heard of the Coronavirus.
Marlena Freitas was assigned to document her vaccination experience. She is a second semester senior expecting to graduate this June with a media studies major and a focus in journalism and a minor in history. Marlena Freitas did her ZOOM bivouac at her parents home in Stonington, CT AKA the Stonington Borough, after the Hunter College campus closed. When not ZOOM-ing for classes, following up with studies, she worked two part-time jobs, one as a barista in a local café and the other as a nanny for two young kids. She is tri-lingual, as in Danish, Portuguese and English.
On a cloudy day, the whop-whop-whopping of a helicopter could be heard along the shoreline of Stonington Borough, Connecticut. The sound, referred to as blade slapping by aeronautical experts, caught the attention of the WORD’sMarlena Freitas. Pictures © Copyright 2021 Marlena Freitas
Alexis Fowler, an Urban Studies major minoring in Africana and Puerto Rican/Latino Studies, and Ike Brown, studying social work, open up to WORD journalist Rebecca Simeon about the Pandemic’s effect on their lives. Fowler is interested in learning how various infrastructures effect communities of color. “Being aware of what is occurring in our communities and communities across the world and how we can create change for everyone is important to me,” she said in her interview. Brown, 24, an immigrant from Trinidad who lives in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, said he decided on social work because he wanted to help people connect with their best selves through understanding and empathy.
“I fought off the virus several months ago but was almost floored by the news that the last semesters of my college years would be remote and online. We were told that we would have to miss commencement as screeching headlines and “breaking news” reports, rumors – as well as bad and fake news – about rogue variants and flawed vaccines taunted us about our survival” – By WORD reporter Anissa Zibo.
The severity of the pandemic took millions of everyday people by surprise – even more so, I think, college students; maybe even more so for seniors like me being menaced by what CNN reported as “The deepest recession since the great depression.” – Article by Diana Olivares.
I’m a competitive ballroom dancer. A national champion three times and a world championship semi-finalist. I’ve traveled internationally for competitions to represent this country and have placed in finals, semifinals, and quarterfinals as well. I am accustomed to facing challenges. But remote learning has been a real bête noire
Article by Sima Sadykhov
After Hunter announced plans for remote learning and shut down its campuses, there were days I sat in the window of the second-floor apartment I share with my roommates in Queens and watched the M trains pass by. For me the world was at a halt and the trains were the small glimpses that life was still happening outside my apartment.
Article by Chloe Williams