Hi there! Since the start of the pandemic, I have been (over)sharing articles, tweets, podcasts and funny gifs with family, friends, and colleagues via text. Several of them gently suggested that I curate these resources, questions, and thinking into a regular note. (They even named it for me; h/t Dave and Jess K). I’m hoping this format will create a space where our Scholars//UMD community can share resources, questions, anxieties, and maybe even some fun, all while supporting the wellbeing of our students and ourselves. And yes, it will cut down on texts from me at all hours and expand the audience. Please drop me a line with resources, ideas, tips, gifs, or feedback -- good and bad. I want to hear from you!
TL;DR: Welcome to this pop-up community newsletter, which, like all of us, is wildy in process. Please slow down and take care. There is fun stuff near the end.
TOP OF MIND
Bursting the College Bubble (The Daily Podcast from the New York Times). Honest conversations with a faculty member and a student on how the coronavirus has reinforced inequalities that campus life can hide.
A plan for resisting zoom bombling (Inside Higher Ed) by Dr. Carlton Green, director of diversity training and education in ODI here at UMD -- and my dear friend <3. “But meeting hosts also need guidance for responding psychologically, emotionally, behaviorally and relationally in real time when such attacks occur. Resisting racism, sexism and other forms of oppression requires intention and planning even in the virtual world.”
UNCERTAIN TIMES
Two articles that really helped me process uncertainty this week include: Three potential futures for Covid-19: recurring small outbreaks, a monster wave, or a persistent crisis (STAT) and
Why the Coronavirus Is So Confusing (The Atlantic).
WELLNESS: WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF?
I have been seated a lot more during the pandemic, so I am more conscious of putting both feet on the ground, sitting up straight and breathing in and out. This allows me to be more present in my body and to feel all the ways that I am carrying stress and feelings as I zoom about. Another way that I am taking care of myself is practicing daily GRATITUDE & INTENTIONS. My partner Alex and I share what we are grateful for at the end of each day (admittedly, some days it may be the meal), and we set our intentions for the following day. I find this simple ritual to be very healing. What are you doing to take care of yourselves? What challenges do you have? I would love to know, and I will share a selection of ideas from our community.
SIGNAL BOOST FROM ODI
From Sika Wheeler: My team at UMD is building a series to foreground the perspectives of folks we most need to be paying attention to in the current moment. First ep is w/ me and Dr. Mimi Khuc at Georgetown University on access, care, and vulnerability (and tarot!) from the instructor perspective (video link).
W2W4 (What to watch for…)
I’ve been thinking a lot about productivity in the context of the pandemic. I am grateful to be in community with some brilliant folx on campus who are thinking critically and deeply about productivity, and (I think) we will have more to share soon to invite y’all into these conversations. In the meantime, I invite us all to SLOW DOWN. Be in touch; I welcome dialogue on this topic.
A PICTURE IS WORTH…
Source: Axios
QUESTIONS OF THE MOMENT
As an educator who values critical reflection, I find concise questions help me make meaning of this time. What should we be thinking about? What is being undercovered? Please let me know what questions are on your mind; I will share in each edition.
How are our students really doing?
What are you learning from your remote teaching this semester? Work? Supervision?
How is the pandemic exacerbating structural inequalities in society? Higher education?
What will a “hybrid” fall semester look like?
How will higher education change? For better -- and worse…
Why the hell are we using language like “reopen”?
The aforementioned piece in The Atlantic provides more questions:
Why do some people get really sick, but others do not?
Are the models too optimistic or too pessimistic?
How many people have actually been infected?
How long must social restrictions go on for?
#NEWNORMAL
The new working world (Axios)
Why the Covid-19 economy is particularly devastating to millennials, in 14 charts (Vox)
Maryland plays an outsized role in worldwide hunt for a coronavirus vaccine (Post)
ANXIETY IS REAL
What Google searches tell us about our coronavirus thoughts and fears (Recode)
Betsy DeVos announces new rules on campus sexual assault, offering more rights to the accused (Post)
TOP TEN LIST
We won’t be able to have therapy dogs for finals this year, so the American Kennel Club's top 10 dog breeds list will have to suffice. Labrador retrievers, German shepherds, Golden retrievers, French bulldogs, Bulldogs, Poodles, Beagles, Rottweilers, German shorthaired pointers, Pembroke Welsh corgis.
I’M OBSESSED WITH...
You made it this far, so you deserve something fun. I’ve been obsessed for a couple of weeks with Room Rater, a twitter account that rates Skype and Zoom rooms of guests as they appear on tv news programs. Do yourself a favor and check out the funny ratings. As an example, here’s an exemplary person -- and exemplary review:
UMD ROOM RATER
My friends, the time has come for a UMD Room Rater account. Tuesday’s Town Hall session provided us with a glimpse of the backgrounds of senior administration. Please send me your best room rater captions for our next edition (anonymity and discretion will be honored).
RELATED:
Social isolation (and video chat) is bringing renewed attention to the art of the bookshelf (Post)
These Zoom Caricatures Are Spot On
A REMINDER FOR US ALL:
Source: umdadvisorevents@umd.edu
CROWDSOURCING: LOGO?
I’m not a logo person, so I welcome contributions for this fine newsletter.
Until next time, be strong and be well.