How we Spend our Time During COVID-19 • Productivity is a Shamhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1965/thumbnail.jp

Leon, Kevin

Vila Licht, Lillian

English

Ursinus College

Ursinus College Digital Commons @ Ursinus College Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper, 1978 to Present Newspapers 5-7-2020 The Grizzly, May 7, 2020 Kevin Leon Ursinus College Lillian Vila Licht Ursinus College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews  Part of the Cultural History Commons, Higher Education Commons, Liberal Studies Commons, Social History Commons, and the United States History Commons Click here to let us know how access to this document benefits you. Recommended Citation Leon, Kevin and Vila Licht, Lillian, "The Grizzly, May 7, 2020" (2020). Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper, 1978 to Present. 962. https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/962 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Newspapers at Digital Commons @ Ursinus College. It has been accepted for inclusion in Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper, 1978 to Present by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Ursinus College. For more information, please contact aprock@ursinus.edu. How we spend our time during COVID-19 May 6, 2020   Kevin Leon   Features   0Photograph Courtesy of Kevin LeonLillian Vila Lichtlivilalicht@ursinus.eduAcross the world people have been asked to social-distance and self-quarantine during thepandemic of COVID-19. In interviews about how Ursinus students are passing their time in self-quarantine, they griped about lack of motivation while feeling overwhelmed. But there were alsoobservations about how students are relaxing, connecting with their loved ones in different ways,and investing in old and new interests.In their downtime students have been watching Netflix shows like Sex Education, The Office, BoJack Horseman, and Tiger King. And of course, with that comes re-watching favorite shows fromThe Witcher to Rick and Morty. Some have become enveloped in cooking. “I’ve been relaxing bywatching Bon Appetit’s YouTube channel,” sophomore Sarah Thompson said. “There’s justsomething about watching people make food that is super calming to me.” Another student said, “Ialso smoke a lot of weed, and I tend to cook or bake before or while I smoke.”Many students incorporate exercise into their lives through daily workouts or simply taking walksthrough nature. According to Morgan Laster, “During self-quarantine, my goal has been toreconnect with nature and to also work on exercising more. Every day, weather permitting, I walkaround my neighborhood and take time to appreciate how pretty all of the trees and flowers are. Ihave to power through my allergies, but it is worth it to feel the sun and the breeze, things I havecome to really appreciate since I am now at home.” Another student discussed how staying activehelps clear her head. She explains, “Because of the pandemic, I have been able to hike much moreand to explore new trails in my area. On this hike, I saw four deer, a pileated woodpecker, and atimber rattlesnake, but I got insanely lost. So lost that I ended up wandering onto a game preserveEmbed View on TwitterTweets by  @UrsinusGrizzlyApr 4, 2020Apr 3, 2020 Class of 2020 will have a virtual commencement this Mayursinusgrizzly.com/the-canvas-com…    Ursinus Grizzly@UrsinusGrizzlyHow we spend our time during COVID-19Productivity is a shamWays campus has continued to stay connectedvirtuallyThank you, GymnasticsTwo seniors awarded Watson FellowshipUrsinus Grizzly1 month agoThere will be a virtual commencementthis MayThe Canvas Commencement? –The GrizzlyTHE GRIZZLYSTUDENT NEWSPAPER OF URSINUS COLLEGEHOME NEWS FEATURES OPINIONS SPORTS WEB EXCLUSIVE STAFF ARCHIVE RECENT POSTSTWEETSFACEBOOK PREVIOUSProductivity is a sham… A hunter found me while he was driving his cart/fourwheeler, and I ended up hitchhiking with thisdude with a shotgun as he drove me to a path that could lead me out of the woods.”Old interests and new skills have kept students busy. Sophomore Julia Eckels said, “I’ve picked upembroidery and sewing because my aunt is a nurse, so I’ve been keeping myself busy sewing herand the rest of my family face masks. I’ve also began making jewelry and other crafty things.”Senior Marisa Spiegel has been “playing with my Perler Beads and building stuff for myself andfriends.”Some relationships have persist through alternative means, and others have been strengthened byquarantine-enforced close quarters. From Zoom, Facetime, Microsoft Teams, Netflix Party, totexting, students have stayed in contact with friends, significant others, and extended family. SarahThompson talked about how she’s been spending time with her family. “My mom and I just finisheddoing a 1,000-piece puzzle together. It was a good way to take our minds off things. My mom and Ialso try to go on walks together, or take a ride just to get out of the house. My family and I alsoorganized a ‘parade’ a couple of weeks ago as a surprise for my grandmom since we all can’t betogether.” Sophomore Andrew Moore explained, “With my family we watch shows together, or cooktogether, but beyond that we do our own things.”Our relationships with our family and loved ones has also been a source of inspiration for studentsduring these difficult times. Julia Eckels said, “My family is really what keeps me going. My family ismy heart and soul and they are my motivation. I’m very family-oriented and I love being with them.My best friend has also been very encouraging during this time, and he makes everything easier.”Junior Elizabeth Burke echoed this sentiment. “My friends and professors have kept me motivated.Each time I talk with any of them, I feel rejuvenated and hopeful.”This is all to say that yes, without a doubt these are difficult times, but the company of loved ones,support of those we can’t physically be with, an interest and appreciation for the things that wehave in our present moment, and the thought that we will get through this together are giving us theinspiration and strength to keep going.ursinusgrizzly.comThe Canvas Commencement? April 2,2020 Kevin Leon News 0 PhotographCourtesy of Kevin Leon Kim Coronakicorona@ursinus.edu With theremainder of spring semester movedonline due to the COVID-19pandemic, Ursinus College isscrambling to figure out what to dodi t f thCONTACT USFirst NameLast NameEmailSubjectMessageSENDRESETSEARCH …Copyright © 2020 | WordPress Theme by MH ThemesProductivity is a sham May 2, 2020   Kevin Leon   Opinions   0Kevin Leonkeleon@ursinus.eduThe sun goes up and down every day. This routine strings itself intoweeks, which have now blurred into months. The last day of in-personclasses was on March 6. The online-classroom that supplantedtraditional college learning gave people more free time. No longerworried about having to show up to classes or club meetings, it becamethe perfect opportunity to take advantage of the new-found liberty, atleast on paper. But it’s become obvious that the underlying issue at hand,the whole covid-19 pandemic, isn’t really the best backdrop for workingor learning.Productivity is a shamWays campus has continued tostay connected virtuallyThank you, GymnasticsTwo seniors awarded WatsonFellowshipNew UCSG president electedTHE GRIZZLYSTUDENT NEWSPAPER OF URSINUS COLLEGEHOME NEWS FEATURES OPINIONS SPORTS WEB EXCLUSIVE STAFFARCHIVE RECENT POSTSTWEETSA lot of people have stuff that they want to learn or work on, but lack thetime during normal, day-to-day life. Jobs or school take precedent overany creative outlets. And with all the new time that comes withunemployment and online-school, people should have the time to workon that stuff, right? I should be able to work on any art projects now,since I have the time. We should all be more productive with this time.Learn a new skill. Get into gardening. All that. But, I don’t believe that’sthe right way to look at any of this.When we think that, if only we had more time we’d work on these sideprojects, it assumes that everything is normal. A pandemic is anythingbut. Processing the changes that have and are occurring has a mentaland emotional cost.Our understanding of the world is shifting and giving in to the pressure ofwhat? Not having to work? Of being shown that everything society hastold us is required, like commuting to work every day, isn’t actuallynecessary? And while I’m glad that this is exposing how broken ournational routine was, it still damages the psyche of everyone who isbearing the brunt of this, everyone who isn’t rich.Wealthy people can stay in their big houses, not worried about payingrent or having the lights cut out or risking their health to grocery shop.Everyone else is thinking of these issues while worrying about what theirproblems will be in a week or two. And to expect people to be productivewhile mulling these risks shows a lack of empathy.People shouldn’t feel like they’re failing to take advantage of this time bynot picking up hobbies or new languages. It’s beyond that. Whenemployers lack lenience, that’s a symptom of our productive meritocracyillusion. When universities don’t listen to students who want universalpass/fail, or even just universal pass, they too are continuing the fantasyof persevering through “hardship.”And even those workers labelled as “essential,” who still have to show upto work, show why centering ourselves around productivity works againstus. Videos of people in New York and Los Angeles clapping at the end ofthe day to extend gratitude for these workers is, on the surface, a goodgesture. But when you start to consider how these people are required towork during a pandemic, risking their health and their families, clappingfor them while in the safety of your home rings hollow.I suppose the overarching point is that we are not living through a normaltime, so expecting productivity to be equal to that of a pre-Covid world issilly. Empathy is more than just surface-level gestures. And you shouldn’tEmbed View on TwitterTweets by  @UrsinusGrizzlyApr 14, 2020Softball player Heather Lazer '21 had her historic start cut shortursinusgrizzly.com/lazer-start-cu…    Ursinus outlined it's decision on reimbursements for room and board costsursinusgrizzly.com/ursinus-announ…   Ursinus Grizzly@UrsinusGrizzlyUrsinus Grizzly@UrsinusGrizzlyUrsinus Grizzly1 month agoThere will be a virtualcommencement this MayThe CanvasCommencement? – TheGrizzlyursinusgrizzly.comThe CanvasCommencement? April 2,2020 Kevin Leon News 0Photograph Courtesy ofKevin Leon Kim Coronakicorona@ursinus.eduWith the remainder ofspring semester movedFACEBOOK PREVIOUSWays campus hascontinued to stayconnected virtuallybeat yourself up for not maximizing your time. Society’s shifting, andhopefully this helps to change things in the future when the pandemicends.CONTACT USFirst NameLast NameEmailSubjectMessageSENDRESETSEARCH …Copyright © 2020 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes

The Grizzly, May 7, 2020

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The Grizzly, May 7, 2020

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