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.
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.”
Delivery drivers everywhere have found themselves to be more in demand
than ever amid the COVID-19 crisis.
As restaurants and bars remain closed, drivers have been forced to put in
more work in half the time, while maintaining new sanitary standards to keep
themselves and their customers safe. With less staff and more regulations,
drivers have found themselves facing their share of challenges while doing
their best to serve the community as essential workers.
