One city: two pandemics

 After submitting a large midterm paper last Friday, I determined I needed to go home. Home for me is Louisville, Kentucky. Prior to going to the University of Kentucky, I attended a school located in the downtown area (called Presentation). This being said, downtown Louisville has become a second home for me. So of course, on my way home, I had to drive through the area. My heart has been absolutely broken. I've known the protests occurring here have been extensive, and I've heard they've been increasingly destructive, but words can not match up to the sights I saw. Every single business, house, car, and restaurant had been boarded up with the remains of their shattered windows on the ground beneath them. The trash cans charred, showing remnants of flames. Scattered flyers and posters lay discarded in random places, all reading "Say her name". The once vibrant 4th street live is boarded up and quiet, as if it's trying to hide. I received an alert Friday night saying someone had set off some type of small, home made bomb in my high school's parking lot. They had shattered the glass doors and broken the beautiful stained glass windows that have been there for over a century. I'm not discrediting the cause, nor am I speaking in hate, but I'm speaking in pain for the city I love. It seems as though we truly are facing a second pandemic, and If I'm being truly honest, I don't know which is more looming. 

In reference to COVID-19, I think these large massed protests, in which many are not wearing masks, pose a threat to public health. Once again, not discrediting the cause, but from a public safety stand-point, it rises many COVID related risks. Some individuals I know that live in Louisville and participate in these protests have said, "Yes we are aware there is a pandemic going on. But are you aware there has been one happening for centuries? COVID-19 MIGHT kill us, but I KNOW racism will kill me." While there is a lot to be unpacked in this statement, it allows for an insight on the mindset of those participating. So often you set back and wonder how are they not concerned for their health and safety? and reading that statement allows you to see that they really are. 

A response to the mandated Flu vaccine for the University of Kentucky

 Last week, every student at the University of Kentucky was sent an email from President Eli Capilouto. In this email we were told that it was mandatory for every student to receive a Flu vaccination. It being my first year as a student, I'm unsure if this has been mandated every year prior, or if it's only required due to the pandemic. This being stated, this post will be examining this requirement in the pretense of it being mandated due to COVID-19. In my Bio 101 class, we're currently doing an assignment on the myths and facts of COVID-19. One of the myths presented is that getting a Flu vaccination will aid you in defense against the virus. This is false, as the strands targeted for Flu vaccinations are different than those found in COVID-19. While Influenza and COVID-19 are both types coronaviruses, they have different affects on the body, as they target different functions. COVID-19 will typically affect multiple areas of the respiratory tract, such as the alveoli sacs of the lungs, while the Flu predominately affects the columnar epithelial cells. The major difference between the two are the originating viruses. COVID-19 generates from SARS-CoV-2, and the Flu generates from an Influenza virus. Another difference between the two is that COVID-19 is quickly mutating and changing, we don't have an understanding of it yet. While the strands of the Flu vary every year, we have an understanding about the infection and are able to predict those strands. This information being provided and understood, allows for it to be concluded that an influenza vaccine would be inefficient and unnecessary in preventing COVID-19.

Midterms during an educational emphasis on online format

 The week of October 12-17 is The University of Kentucky's universal midterm week. While tensions and stress are typically high during this time, the air around campus seems more tight than normal. When walking through Willy T. earlier today, I passed a girl sitting a table crying into her open textbook. Instead of thinking, "She must be struggling with studying," I was left thinking, "I bet she's lost because she doesn't understand online lectures." This is a theme I think is present for a lot of students right now. We've made it through papers, assignments, quizzes, tests, etc... but now it's time for a cumulative exam on what we've learned. That's what makes this midterm season so frightening, what have we learned? As I've stated in other blog posts, I'll be the first to tell you I haven't actually learned much at all this year. At my high-school last year, finals during an online format were easy. Most teachers were understanding, allowing for them to be open note, or simply regurgitated information. That's where the line is drawn. College professors don't give this leeway. Not only are we expected to fully understand the information we're given, we're expected to be able to apply it abstractly. We've been taught how to study and we've been taught how to take tests. But we have never been taught how to efficiently do online school, and how to take tests based off limited understanding. I think it would beneficial if professors could realize this challenge and offer more aid to students in these areas. I also think it would be helpful if there were university made opportunities in order to help teach students how to do online school most efficiently. 

Online Learning: The Double-Edged Sword

Online education, in itself, does provide equal opportunity for those to learn during COVID. It allows individuals to make the decision of staying safe at home vs. taking the risk of living on campus. That opportunity extends to students who live out of country, or across seas, so that they do not have to fight the battle that is entering the country (due to COVID) right now. It allows for many students to have a greater opportunity to go to school, with online education being dominant, instead of an occasional option. For individuals that have to work, take care of children, or maintain other duties besides being a student, it provides a new opportunity. Where online learning falls short, is that it is not equitable. Yes, students may be able to stay home or learn wherever they please, but what if they don't have access to WiFi? What if these students depend on issued dining plans for meals? What if these students do not have a safe place to attend class - and further that, what if their environment would be an embarrassment for them? For individuals that have learning disabilities, and other such academic inhibitors, how can they get adequate help through a computer? With these issues being stated, I think a hardship clause for those impacted by COVID-19 would be beneficial. While online school aims to put everyone on the same field, it puts everyone in different positions on that field. There are too many uncontrollable variables and contexts that result not only because of online based education, but due to life during a pandemic. With these things being taken into consideration, in order to fairly begin this clause, those who believe it applies to them - should apply for the clause. After reviewing the applications, it can be decided who should receive the clause. 

I have a niece who is six years old. She is in full custody of her grandparents - who are both in their 70's. She is doing full-time online school. She struggles with sitting down in front of a computer screen for hours, and she can't retain what's she's been taught. Her grandparents don't know the material, how to operate her school-issued iPad, or what resources are available to help her. While this is an example of a young child, I think this can be interpreted at a collegiate level as well. I personally struggle with online school. I can not learn through a computer and I think online learning puts too much work on a student. I was always told in high-school that in college it's supposed to be 25% in the classroom and 75% on your own. During this time period, it's 100% on the student. It goes beyond an act of responsibly and relies on a single factor, are you capable of teaching yourself material? For many individuals that answer is no. The ability to learn through a zoom or asynchronous format is a skill most haven't developed yet. It's difficult for an instructor to maintain a classroom environment they have no control over, and putting students into breakout rooms in-order for them to learn the material together, almost never works either. At this point and time, the majority of students are learning nothing and are purely just submitting assignments.

 I think that prior to the pandemic, an online learning background would make an individual less competitive in the job market. This is because an online format has less structure and many view it as an 'easy way' to get a degree. With this being the new normal in education, I don't think it will discredit anyone, especially not with the circumstances involved. On a personal note, in this aspect I feel less qualified when compared to someone who took completely in-person courses. I want to go into the medical field, and I think there are some classes that just can't be taught online, that are being taught online. Having medical based students do online clinicals is the worst idea. Not only would I feel unqualified to do the job asked of me, I don't want someone who learned clinicals online to interact with me at a clinic. I have an experience to back this statement up. A few weeks ago, my roommate decided she needed to go to the E.R.  The nurse intern, who did her I.V told us she had completed most of her prior clinicals online the previous semester (in order to connect with us). The nurse had problems finding obvious veins, stuck my roommate twice in bad places, and when she did find a vein - blood from it went EVERYWHERE. Nothing against the nurse, and I know her schooling was situational, but I think instances like these should be thought about. How qualified can an individual be if they're never given the experiences needed? 

UK Core Issue: How Do We Distribute Covid Vaccines?

At the time a vaccine becomes available, I think it's important to have a relevant and strategic plan. If it begins immediately available to any of the general public at the same time it would result in chaos and possibly further vaccine shortages. The most systematic and beneficial plan of action in distribution is to begin vaccinating those who are the most high-risk, first. For Fayette County, a list of elderly residents should be procured. They will be contacted in order of age (oldest to youngest), alphabetically. This allows for an orderly and logical approach to the vaccine to begin. After all of the elderly have been vaccinated, the vaccine distribution can be moved to the rest of those who are high-risk. Following a similar format, those with the most severe risk will be vaccinated first, and the following individuals will be vaccinated alphabetically. After these individuals have been vaccinated, the distribution can be opened to the rest of the public. With this category having a larger population, random vaccination appointments would be the most fair and orderly process. The governor, will come on twice a week to randomly draw a letter of the alphabet for each county. The letter drawn will be the alphabetical group eligible for that group of testing. This will continue until each letter has been announced, and opportunity has been given to everyone. At this point, the vaccines will be made available by appointment for those unable to receive it when they were supposed to. 

I think this is the most orderly and fair way to do things. Without things being random to the general public, it would result in absolute chaos and riots of enormous amounts of people storming the vaccination centers. The plan detailed above is an entire vaccination plan, rather than for a third of the population. This being stated, the plan would continue until all of the high-risk have been vaccinated. At this time, a re-evaluation of the vaccines available will be conducted, with hope that more have been produced in the mean time of this process. I think it would dangerous to open vaccination to the general public with limited amounts. That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, with riots and people angry that they weren't able to obtain one. The most safe and effective plan of action is to wait until there is enough vaccinations to cover the majority of the Fayette County population. This limits chances for violence, rioting, and extreme upsets. 

 There are many contextual factors that need to be considered: access and ability to go to to vaccination centers, the specific need for a vaccine, and varying ability to be told of vaccination appointments. The best way to address these contexts is as followed. Having vaccination centers available in varying areas of the county, to ensure every individual has a vaccination area within a general walking or bus ride distance. The specific need for a vaccine will be made known to a health official when addressing what defines high-risk (age, health problems, etc..). An official in this position will have access to this type of information - the names, age, and severity of risk for each individual. While it is difficult ensure every individual will be able to make the appointments due to work, school or other factors, they will be given a few days time to make the clinic. If it still is not possible, they can then schedule an individual appointment at a later date. While that might not be an ideal situation for those impacted, it's the best that can be done when trying to mass distribute a vital vaccine. 

Pop Culture and It's influence during the pandemic

 Over the course of time, there has been many pandemics. One thing that separates the COVID-19 pandemic from the others is the global access to communicate with each other, through social media and pop culture. Since the day quarantine began, people have been generating memes and other types of funny content to discuss the things happening. 

The photo on the right illustrates what it was like during the toilet paper shortage in the U.S. I found this meme to be funny because of how realistic it is. I remember when there was still a toilet paper shortage happening, it was trending on every social media platform: Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, etc. 

This meme is from a European perspective. I think it's interesting to see how other countries around the world view how the U.S. is combating  COVID-19. This meme is funny, because it also adds comedy to a realistic situation.