Items

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  2021-04-13

  Camp Wolfeboro Status Update Monday, April 13, 2020

  This is a letter from Monday, April 13, 2020 that was sent out by the Mt. Diablo Silverado Council of the Boy Scouts of America outlining three possibilities for the 2021 Camp Wolfeboro season, depending on when California lifted its stay-at-home orders. The letter also discusses an online opportunity to earn merit badges that would be hosted in the summer of 2020 if camp could not occur in person or if it only occurred for a reduced amount of time in person. The letter discusses how refunds would be handled if camp was canceled. Camp was canceled entirely in 2020 because the stay-at-home order extended past June 1, 2020, which is stated in the letter.
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  2020-06-05

  The Collapse of the Concert Industry

  On June 5, 2020, I was scheduled to attend a concert to see The Lumineers at BB&T Pavilion in Camden, New Jersey. As an avid concert-goer, I would regularly attend music festivals, live performances, and music events throughout the year to view my favorite performers. From Radiohead and Lana Del Rey to Post Malone and Pearl Jam, the amount of musicians that I have yet to see is limited. My experience at music festivals speaks to the love and appreciation I have for the concert industry; spending a week outside in the blazing heat surrounded by thousands of other concertgoers (who are usually drenched in sweat and dehydrated) are moments that I cherish year after year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, I was unable to see any concerts, music festivals, or performances because of CDC health restrictions and the threat of the virus. In June, I received an email detailing that my concert tickets to see The Lumineers were cancelled and my money would be refunded. An option that the event company provided was to donate concert tickets to healthcare workers serving in hospitals, nursing homes, and other essential workspaces. The inclusion of this option struck me as a compassionate and empathetic gesture towards recognizing the essential workers of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a college student, I do not bear witness to the firsthand account of serving sick patients and being exposed to a deadly virus. Providing healthcare workers, who are risking their lives to keep the majority of the population safe, concert tickets to enjoy when the pandemic ends is a wonderful gesture and reminds me to celebrate local healthcare workers in my community. Despite the positive tone of the cancellation email, I am saddened to reflect on the future of the concert industry. Health restrictions caused many local concert venues to close and left many struggling musicians and artists to find other means of work instead of pursuing a music career. Concerts are a means of bringing diverse communities together to celebrate a singular thing: the power of music in providing healing, love, and joy. During adversities, I turn to music to find solace and comfort, as do others, and the absence of live performances in the future gives me anguish knowing that I may never see Vampire Weekend on stage, attend Lollapalooza Music Festival, or dance to Tame Impala’s music ever again. However, I love seeing the creation of alternative options to live music, such as neighborhood concerts and rooftop performances where viewers can distance themselves from others and wear masks while enjoying the atmosphere of a concert-like setting. Once the COVID-19 pandemic ends, I am anxiously awaiting the return of the concert industry so I can continue to sing and dance to my favorite bands! The image I have concluded is a screenshot of the email that I received from BB&T Pavilion detailing that the concert was cancelled, but I had the option to donate my tickets to healthcare workers on the frontline. While I am upset that I was not able to attend the concert in June, I believe that healthcare workers should be compensated for their time, sacrifice, and devotion to the betterment of our society through their tireless efforts in healthcare. This option is a perfect example of how individuals can give back to members of our society that are fighting to end the COVID-19 pandemic and to acknowledge their progress and effort to keep every person safe from sickness.
• 2020-05-05

  Schools sued for tuition refunds

  Students from many different colleges have filed lawsuits asking for refunds for tuition because of the switch to remote learning.
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  2020-05-04

  Refund

  This took place earlier this week as the Cares Act refunded college students a certain dollar amount based on the amount of class we missed due to Covid-19. This was was especially great for me as money is tight and this will be put to good use to pay off student loans starting in the fall. *Belmont Abbey (my college) Financial Aid
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  2020-03-10

  Suffolk University to hold classes online, send home students for rest of semester due to coronavirus outbreak

  The Suffolk Journal, Suffolk University's student run newspaper, reports on Suffolk's decisions around campus during the pandemic.
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  03/13/2020

  Field Museum cancellations

  The Field Museum cancelled all events until May.
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  03/24/2020

  Ventra Pass Refunds and Account Tips for CTA Riders

  Reminder that CTA is serve the public.