In the past two weeks, the coronavirus toll in the U.S. surpassed
100,000 deaths, people around the world protested against the killing of George
Floyd, and more than 400 journalists have had their First Amendment rights
infringed upon.
The unjustified deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud
Arbery, sparked a series of protests beginning on May 26 all over the country and
the world. Since that first day, journalists have had their voices and their
rights stripped away as police officers everywhere threaten, arrest, and
physically attack them for covering these protests.
As the pandemic continues, people have been forced to be creative
and develop new ways to get together apart.
In an effort to stay connected and ditch the gloomy COVID
cloud hanging over everyone’s head, Kulshan Brewing Co. has moved its regular
trivia night online.
While veterans of this weekly tradition have the in-person
application down, the transition to online has proved to be somewhat difficult.
“There have been some kinks to work out,” said Whatcom Community
College student and Kulshan trivia host Dylan Albrecht.
Imagine you are facing a
wall with two friends. This wall is 7 feet tall. You are about 6-foot-2 and
your friends are 5-foot-10 and 5-foot-2. You need a stool to see over the wall,
so you get yourself a box that is 10 inches tall. The principle of equality
would say that this same box should be provided for your two friends as well,
and that is sufficient. You all are provided the same materials to do the same
task. Is this not fair?
This method of doling out
boxes according to the principle of equality does not work. Clearly, if you are
any good at mental math, you know that it is only you who can see over the wall.
Your friends, having different needs in accordance with their heights, are still
stuck staring at bricks.
Whatcom
Community College’s Health and Wellness Committee will not be meeting this
quarter due to necessary social distancing, but this does not mean the end of
student aimed resources, says a partner and developer of Whatcom’s Orca Food
Pantry.
Catherine Chambers is an AmeriCorps Vista who has been partnered with
Whatcom’s Student Life and Development Office, working to explore what student
hunger means for our college community.
As conditions with the Covid-19
virus took the world by storm, all non-essential local businesses have been
ordered closed.
This immediate change left little time for any transition, and
students were thrown right into it. Teachers were not immune.
“I’m learning from the experience,” said Whatcom
Community College drama instructor Gerald Large. “One thing, for instance, is the Drama 110 Production
class. Live on stage, I’m focused on getting the play on its feet for
performing in front of a live audience. Putting it online, I’m forced to focus
more on analysis.”
