Items

• 
  2020-11-01

  Cough Drops

  A comic strip about Covid-19
• 
  2020-11-01

  Concrete Engineering at Home

  In 2020, the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Melbourne posted a tiny bag of cement to each second-year engineering student to create a miniature concrete column for their final assessment. In ordinary times, these students would have visited one of the city’s megaprojects to watch a concrete pour, but with construction barely operating and site visits banned, this was how the theory of the concrete mix was put into practice. There was a “slump test” to gauge the pliability of the mix and then the finished product could be assessed for its strength. My slump was good; my column, I suspect, would have failed at its base due to an overabundance of aggregate. For me, it was the highlight of a year of online study, and perhaps even more rewarding than it might have been in ordinary times. Now, I have a treasured (and very heavy) paperweight by which to remember my experience. Submitted for University of Melbourne HIST30060, Semester 2 2021.
• 
  2020-11-01

  Informal Graduation Congratulations – HIST30060

  With the cancellation of mass gatherings during the lockdown periods, many university students completing their final semester were sadly unable to attend their formal graduation ceremonies. This photograph, taken in November 2020, shows a congratulatory card and gift which were given to a friend after completing her Bachelor of Agriculture degree. University is a difficult time, and was made even more difficult by the unprecedented pandemic regulations. While very different from the traditional formalities, we still wanted to add a bit of excitement with this token of our appreciation. Small gestures such as this are an example of the innovation and creativity which many had to utilise, once denied access to many regular systems. Furthermore, it represents the importance of reaching out to friends and family whilst in isolation. Something as simple as a card acts as a reminder that there are people who support, care about and are proud of them. HIST30060.
• 
  2020-11-01

  Homemade Mask Meme

  I took this photo of my brother when I went to visit him while he was living in Concord, Massachusetts, and I was studying remotely at home in West Springfield, Massachusetts. We had just come back from visiting Walden Pond for the first time. My brother was living with his best friend's grandfather at the time, and even though my brother did not leave the house much, he still wore a mask inside the house as a precaution. After he finished eating, my brother went to put his mask on again, except he aimed a little high. Thinking it looked funny, I took a picture and made it into a meme. I felt like having the mask cover his entire face was similar to a face-palm or banging one's head against the wall, somehow symbolic of the grind that pandemic life had become.
• 
  2020-11-01

  Melaine Robinson Oral History, 2020/11/01

  Hello, My name is Melaine, I live in Hughesdale, Victoria, Australia and I would like to share this story of subtle community spirit that came through during the COVID-19 Pandemic of 2020. I am also legally blind. Thank you for your time. Melaine
• 
  2020-11-01

  Volunteer work during a pandemic

  Not only was 2020 the year of the pandemic, it was also the year of one of the biggest elections in history. I am a political science and history major at ASU and I wanted to volunteer for a campaign. I had a few friends who were working on Mayor Kate Gallego's campaign and through them I was able to volunteer for the mayor herself. Normally you would meet with everyone and do volunteer work together but since it was a pandemic we had to all do it over zoom at home. Most of the volunteer work was making calls and helping voters. I got the opportunity to send my ballot in early and all of us who voted put our stickers on our laptops. Now every time I go to open my computer I am reminded of all the hard work I put in during the pandemic.
• 
  2020-11-01

  “Pandemic Disabled”: The New Disability that was Always There

  The A.D.A needs a new classification of “disabled”: Pandemic Disabled.
• 
  2020-11-01

  Re-entry of foreign nationals with the status of residence

  From November 1st of 2020, foreign residents who have valid residency in Japan who currently are outside finally can come into Japan just like normal citizens. Before this regulation, foreign residents such as permanent residence holders had to get this “the Letter of Confirmation of Submitting Required Documentation for Re-entry into Japan” or “Receipt for Request of Re-entry” from the closest Japanese embassy. On the other hand, Japanese citizen just need to come in with a valid negative result. This applied to me, where I could not go back because that would mean I had to go to LA’s Japanese embassy to get the form, and then go back to Japan. Now, I could go back to japan, if I have a “certificate of negative result”. However, I opened the file, and it turns out I would need a signature from a medical institution and a doctor. All students from ASU can get free test from ASU, but it is not a medical institution. This means I would have to go to other places that can give me this signature, which is not that easy for me.
• 
  2020-11-01

  Stocking Up

  A lighthearted photo that pokes fun at people's obsession with toilet paper during the initial lockdown that occurred in the Spring.
• 
  2020-11-01

  Cancelled due to Covid: the project mapping the abandoned arts events of 2020

  COVID-19 has caused many performing art shows to be closed around the world. Artist Anna Tregloan made a branch of her already established Impossible Project to track what shows by Australian artists that have been cancelled or postponed.
• 
  2020-11-01

  How I’m Baking and Drawing My Way Through Quarantine

  An essay I've written that talks about how I am coping with the pandemic, as well as some of the things I am struggling with.
• 
  2020-11-01

  North Carolina rally organizer plans Election Day march

  The story describes an antiracism march that was permitted to rally in the streets according to the rally leader. However, the article also explains that the police said they did not have permission to block the street, but that they escorted the marchers through the streets. It is important because it shows both sides of the story, even though they are conflicting. I do not see any blind spots in this, but I would be curious to see the proof of who was right. The reason I decided to blur the faces in this image as well as the officer’s badges is to hide their identities as the article states that “later 8 people were arrested”. By doing this, it protects the officer’s from any backlash of the arrestees or their families and friends. Hiding the faces of the arrestees protects them from repercussions of their employers using the image against them or any backlash they would receive from others, typically on social media.
• 
  2020-11-01

  The mental health toll of COVID-19

  The stress and isolation caused by COVID-19 have had adverse effects on people. Many of those with mental health issues have seen their conditions while others are suffering from heightened stress. Mental health clinics have seen an increased demand that has led to week-long wait times and minorities are having a harder time getting help.
• 2020-11-01

  Covid-19 in One Word V: Introspective

  This word comes from a motivated woman, a photographer, and a traveller. Introspective: characterized by examination of one's own thoughts and feelings Most people, in times of trouble, look outward for support--or blame. But when everyone is kept more than an arm’s length away, the only person close enough to seek answers from is yourself. So when Covid-19 shut the world down, it brought the focus to a more internal source. During this time of uneasiness, the only comfort we could find had to be within ourselves. This means we became self-aware, and some started self-growth. Without others to rely on, we had to strengthen ourselves to be the shoulder we cry on. This means we reevaluated our values and if changes needed to be made, we started on those. It’s not like we didn’t have extra time to kill. With this new perspective, a forced perspective, much change occurred in almost everyone, good or bad, intentional or unintentional. But no matter where it came from, all of this change came from covid. Because when we are isolated, it’s important to acknowledge whether we like our company or not.
• 2020-11-01

  Covid-19 in One Word IV: Enlightening

  This word comes from a woman who lost her job and found a new one. Enlightening: give greater knowledge and understanding about a subject or situation Now, this may initially seem backwards, but maybe it is on track. While many bad things came out of having Covid-19 around, not all things were bad. Having the whole world stop forced people to stop as well. Things slowed down, if only for a small moment of time. But in that slowing, when the outside world seemed to go quiet, the inside world had time to be heard. This pause, for some, became a time of self-reflection, a time of learning more about the one you see in the mirror, or learning more about a range of other things. In any sense, it became a time where knowledge was expanded. We better understand what matters to us and what things are worth our time. We forgot about pleasantries and moved into making connections beyond a smile, because those can’t be seen. While some may argue that putting distance created emotional differences, others have found that in this time of being apart, some things came together with more understanding of yourself and the world around you. So while the times of this virus have been undeniably dark, there may have been some light as well.
• 2020-11-01

  Covid-19 in One Word III: Consuming

  This word comes from someone who lost their graduation, a new adult. Consuming: completely filling one's mind and attention; absorbing A pandemic. We are in a pandemic. How could you think of anything else? When a bustling world came to a jolting stop, almost everyone was forced to reevaluate their priorities and what they place focus on. In the settling of this, most find one thing constantly at the front of their minds, Covid-19. With businesses closed, schools online, and people dying, it is hard to ignore the impact this virus has had. Although it has been much talked about and maybe even tried, returning to “normal” has proven to be a possibly impossible endeavor. It almost feels as if we are drowning in covid and all of its implications. If you feel this way, you are not alone. It can be a daunting task attempting to find the light in this tunnel, but we will and one day it will all be okay again, even if it is not “normal”.
• 2020-11-01

  Covid-19 in One Word II: Over-exaggerated

  This word comes from a college student, a peer leader, and a girl who got those taken away this year. Over-exaggerated: to exaggerate (something) to an excessive degree, specifically a threat, danger, risk or its effect, impact, or importance Capturing this opinion of many, over-exaggerated, is meant to label something that misconstrues the truth by making it seem greater in importance than it actually is. Many people consider not the virus, but the media coverage of it, to be doing just that. It has become difficult to see what is true and what is lies. The line between accuracy and entertainment have become intertwined. In the race to reveal numbers and give advice on safety, rash decisions may have been made in what is put out to the public as news. This news informs a major population, and if it is misrepresenting the truth, that could be a very big issue. Now it is important to understand that there are good and true news sources. There are also sources that do the best with what they are given, which may not be pure truth. In this ever-intensifying war of words, citizens seeking to be informed must often sift through loads of over-exaggerated content to uncover the full truth. The situation of Covid-19 is no different.
• 2020-11-01

  Covid-19 in One Word I: Introduction

  Perspective: a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view We can really only see from our eyes, literally. But figuratively, we have unlimited perspectives from which to view the world. The idea of this is what inspired this series. I know how the coronavirus pandemic looks to me, how it affects me, how I feel about it. What I do not know, is how those things look, affect, and feel to others. So, I asked others. Anyone and everyone in my life; family, friends, leaders, peers, strangers. I wanted to know what one word those people would use to describe their experience with Covid-19. This series will be the words they chose and a bit of perspective behind those. So while you may still not be leaving your house, this will take you to the life of another. One word at a time.
• 
  2020-11-01

  A Retiree Initiating Vocational Rehab Benefits

  Going through the process of applying for my Vocational Rehabilitation assistance, I had to complete a job analysis of the degree that I am pursuing. The VA councilor that was assigned to me is very nice and helpful. Her concern to help me was to either qualify me for a job, or training that would help me with finding a career that would work with my disabilities. This email is secondary to an email sent - instructing me to compare three different states that offer careers in Public History. My goal was to show a growing trend in the field, and Texas was showing the highest from the rest of the country. At this time, I have not been accepted into the Vocational Rehab program, but I am registered to start a summer class and the loans pile up.
• 
  2020-11-01

  A Telling Graph...

  This graph illustrates unfortunately the differences in the handling of the Pandemic. When I created this I chose six industrialized nations They have a total of 346 million residents, according to Google. Also according to Google the United States has a population of 331 million residents. Five of the six nations appear on the graph below the figure for the United States. Taiwan did not have enough cases despite a population of 23.5 million to register on the bottom of the graph. So that is six industrialized nations for 77 thousand deaths versus 200 thousand deaths in the United States alone and growing at the world's fastest rate of infection. This is important to me because it illustrates the failure of our government to take the Pandemic seriously enough.
• 
  2020-11-01

  How Will I Pay for My Master’s as a Retired Reservist with No Income?

  After graduating with an undergrad in History in the fall of 2019, my goal was to continue my education in Public History. A Graduate Program had opened recently at St. Mary’s University in my hometown of San Antonio TX. That meant that I did not have to commute to Texas State that was approximately 65 miles away, and an hour drive with no traffic – maybe two hours, or more with traffic. I had exhausted my GI Bill Chapter 33 and did not know how I was supposed to fund my continuing education. My loans were adding up and I was not sure of registering for my master’s degree. Talking with the school’s VA office I was encouraged to contact the Veterans Administration to speak with some one that worked with the Vocational Rehab department; that is something that I had already pursued prior to this event, and I was denied service. This is an email shared between me and a VA representative in the middle of 2020. Communication during the Covid-19 pandemic, and summer vacations was making things tough to complete. With the start of these events I was hoping for financial support for my summer II class.