Helping our Community in a Post COVID-19 World
In 2020, the world has turned into what could serve as a backdrop to a dystopian science fiction novel I read in middle school. Unnaturally quiet metropolitan hubs, shuttered retail businesses, and empty school campuses are now the norm, as well as overwhelmed hospitals and long grocery lines. And while there isn’t an alien invasion or major international conflict, the effects of a global pandemic will impact most of us in some way long after the virus is contained.
The news has focused on the health-related impact of the virus: lack of testing, hospitals under strain, and the continued attention on keeping the public home to stop the spread of the virus. This coverage is justified given our country is still in the stage of the outbreak where public health is a priority to flatten the curve. But as the country hunkers down, there are growing concerns about the economy’s resilience and ability to bounce back in the coming months. With a record 22 million unemployment filings in the past four weeks, as well as small businesses struggling to file for the payment protection program, there is growing potential for a weaker post-pandemic economy.
The question remains whether the bubble is popped once a sense of “normalcy” is regained.
It may be more difficult to see this first-hand when most people are stuck at home. Unless we are directly affected by the illness or lost wages, it is likely we’ve only seen the mile-long lines for food banks or shuttered businesses from our screens. The detachment from the outside world has put everyone in a bubble, initially as a public safety measure.
The question remains whether the bubble is popped once a sense of “normalcy” is regained.
From a student’s perspective, a university life post-COVID-19 may have a larger focus on student health and safety. One positive opportunity with this focus may be the impact of mental health in response to a crisis. Hopefully, a greater emphasis is put on students’ emotional well-being; for many of us, it may be the first time experiencing a crisis as impactful as the September 11th attacks, when the oldest of us undergraduates hadn’t started kindergarten yet. But with this care for student health and safety, it may interfere with the university’s interactions with the St. Louis community. It may be possible for large organizations like Campus Y, which host volunteer programs helping children in the greater St. Louis, to integrate health protocols within their programs to allow students to continue their mentorships and volunteering. Campus Y, in partnership with the YMCA, may have a broad network with the resources to safely restart volunteer activities. With the breadth and diversity of service organizations students are members of, it is unknown what guidelines may be put in place in the future and how that impacts participation.
We may be undergraduates at WashU, but we are more than students. We are members of the St. Louis community.
Student outreach, nevertheless, mostly relies on students. And with the news cautioning everyone to limit contact with others, it may be discouraging to venture off-campus as often, assuming we return to campus in the near future at all. This belief is not ill-intentioned, as it is important to consider one’s personal health with the current situation. But it is also a good time to reflect on our position and how privilege plays a factor in life during and after the pandemic. It’s reasonable to infer that the greatest impact that many students will face from the current school closures is one of inconvenience, whether that be having their belongings locked on campus, or missing face-to-face interactions with friends. But for many students, individuals, and families, they are encountering more difficult hardships. The abrupt closure of campus disadvantaged students who did not have residences they could easily return to, with some facing situations where their on-campus residence may be the only place to stay. Loss of compensation also factors in for individuals whether they belong to the WashU community or not.
That’s the situation: the pandemic is limiting our ability to help a community that needs it more than before.
But as schools and businesses have adapted to remote working and online classes, using technology to continue our efforts to impact the community in a good way has manifested itself. Multiple online fundraisers to donate money, food, and personal protective equipment have been able to support those who are food-insecure, healthcare workers, and first responders on the front line against the pandemic. The university said it has pledged $100,000 to the St. Louis Community Foundation, and support for the WashU Crisis Response Fund has grown from several student organizations. Student leaders have worked to have the funds aid both students and employees affected by the pandemic, as it is important to consider the multiple groups that have been negatively impacted. In any case, I am optimistic in seeing what student groups will do in the future to provide support, especially to members outside the WashU community.
We may be undergraduates at WashU, but we are more than students. We are members of the St. Louis community, so thinking about what we can do to aid others in the future is a great way to reflect on how we value each other. Even starting small, like showing gratitude to those helping fight the outbreaks or to the friends helping us fight the boredom, goes a long way. From there, engaging in volunteer efforts can be another way to show support for those who are facing hardships in these times. It is critical that we continue to show our humanity as our community slowly heals.
Photo provided through Wikimedia Commons by Loco Steve, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. Photo was originally posted by Loco Steve on Flickr.
