In light of recent developments (namely, the spread of COVID-19 and the unprecedented actions taken by university, state and national administrations, I thought it would be useful (or at least slightly entertaining) to keep a record of my day-to-day feelings and activities throughout this tumultuous time. Below is a small amount of my thoughts, actions and reflections during the first week of this new normal.

Wednesday, March 11: Day T-2

I went to class like normal, although the atmosphere was anything but. My professors mostly just went over how to access the online class forum. My one Spanish professor was especially undaunted: “We use Blackboard Collaborate, if that crashes we go to Google share, if that crashes we go to Zoom, if that crashes I call you all individually, make sure you pick up.” My political science professor who always cancels his 7:10 p.m. class naturally cancelled, so at 6:45 p.m. I was out with nothing to do but think about the impending end of life as we know it. I made plans to go back to my parents’ house in D.C. with my other roommate, Michelle, since her late-stay application had been denied. Then I went to sleep. 

Thursday, March 12: Day T-1

I woke up late and started packing. I couldn’t decide what to bring and what to leave. How long would we be away from campus? When would we be allowed back? I tried to pack my heavier winter clothes to leave at my house as well as what I thought I would need for the coming weeks. Which shoes? What would I be doing? Have to bring all my medicine, but how many face products? Do I have room for my moisturizer AND toner? And what about my things? My books and pictures and writings? My jewelry? Should I pack like I’m fleeing a tragedy? Or will I be back on campus for classes in less than a month?

Around 4:00 p.m., one of my roommates received a call from her mother. From what I heard on one side of an animated conversation, the mother was convinced we were hours away from a full-on state-wide quarantine and had sent my roommate’s brother to pick her up immediately. Within the half hour she was packed and gone, leaving me and Michelle with a growing uneasy feeling. 

Friday, March 13: Day 0

Maryland weather is anything but predictable, but the mid-70 degree heat did nothing to offset the whole palpable weirdness of packing the car to flee a pandemic.

Around lunchtime, Michelle and I decided to take a break. I wanted to eat food out of the refrigerator since we either had to bring it with us or throw it out, but Michelle pointed out there was little in there that was ready to eat. We decided to screw it and ordered a pizza and wings. Again, an unsettling feeling covered the entirety of the apartment as we ate in almost silence. It almost seemed sacrilegious to turn on our usual YouTube meal entertainment. We finished, threw out our trash and got back to packing. 

By 5:00 p.m. we were all set. Everything was in the car, the apartment was more or less clean and we had nothing left to do. We looked around. We had spent the last seven months making this our home and it felt so…  off to be so unceremoniously leaving it. The three lamps I had insisted we bring because the central lighting was so bad, the television where we watched Love Island and Letterkenny and some truly awful true crime documentaries, the patchwork wall of quotes and funny things that happened in our apartment, the Mr. Robot poster of Rami Malek’s face…  no, wait, we need to bring Rami Malek’s face with us. 

After Rami was safely packed away, we took another look around. Michelle and I each wrote a note on our large blackboard to our other roommate, the last remaining resident of the apartment. We walked down the stairs and got into our cars. Michelle followed me in her car as we said goodbye to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and turned out onto 95 South. 

Saturday, March 14: Day 1

Being home went about as well as I expected. I woke up, got yelled at, had breakfast, drank coffee, played with my dog, etc. My aunt, who lived next door to us, had shaken hands with some government official who had later tested positive for coronavirus, so she, my uncle and my cousin were in a self-quarantine until March 17, St. Patrick’s Day. We had a nice conversation on our respective sides of the driveway. 

After a slight altercation with my mother involving buttered toast, I fled the house with Michelle and my younger brother to downtown Silver Spring in an effort to continue my search for Bruce Springsteen albums. It wasn’t empty, but there was a different feeling in the air. We came home to my mother and father talking about what would happen if the state closed all restaurants. My father, a restaurant owner, remarked that there would be nothing to do except “sit back and watch our money hemorrhage.” Not to be incredibly narcissistic, but I’m starting to think law school might be more than a few years away after this fiasco. 

Sunday, March 15: Day 2

Church was naturally cancelled, but my Catholic mother insisted we have a service of our own. It was a bit like pulling metaphorical teeth, since no one really wanted to be there and the dog kept going haywire when anyone walked in front of our yard. 

After properly reflecting on the gospel, Michelle and I decided it was time to leave. We packed up her tiny car and fled the state to my parent’s house in Delaware, which is usually unoccupied at this time of the year. After a trip that took far too long (we had to stop for gas, a burrito and groceries), we arrived at an empty beach town in the evening. 

Monday, March 16

Michelle and I woke up late. Why not? It’s like there’s a schedule to be followed here. We spent most of the day cleaning or surfing the internet. We organized the pantry, went through the fridge and freezer, cleaned both bathrooms, made food, did homework. At least my mother will be happy when she comes down. 

Tuesday, March 17: Day 4 

St. Patrick’s Day. My aunt was out of quarantine. Wawa is still open, though. 

In more personal news, I’ve given up on physical appearance. I’ve got wispy baby hairs around my temples, and an almost undercut-type style going on in the back, which means that the best hairstyle to keep everything out of my face is a very high ponytail as well as a very low ponytail. Ann Weisgerber Scout

This is slowly turning into the new normal. I don’t know how I feel about it yet, but it doesn’t matter. At least the weird feeling has somewhat worn away. It’s since been replaced with a feeling of interest in the way we’re all going to look back on this time in the future.

Who knows what’s going to happen? Definitely not me. I’m just gonna sit here and pet my dog for a minute.

Hurry and enter The UMBC Financial Literacy Enthusiast Contest before time runs out! 

The deadline to enter the contest has officially been EXTENDED to April 1st! Only 10 days away!

Click on the link to learn more about this amazing opportunity!

StoryCenter to Offer Online Training in Digital Video in Collaboration with WeVideo.com
Free orientation Trainings for Educators This Friday!

Hello,

I am looking for renting my fully furnished room during this summer semester. The house is located at Westland garden apartment near UMBC. Which is one of the best off-campus housings for UMBC students. Its only 5 minutes drive. Also, you can use UMBC shuttle, which comes around every 30 minutes.

I will be relocating during summer for my internship. So, decided to rent my beautiful room with all of my furniture during that time. 

Room Facilities:

1.  Queen size bed with new mattress
2.  2 Dresser - (8 +4) compartment
3.  1 closet
4.  55 inch 4K UHD Television
5.  27 inch external monitor (can be used with your laptop)

6.  6:1 Home theater Sound system

7.  1 Fold able table desk
8.  1 Comfortable swing chair
9.  Big Mirror
10.  Google home 
11.  Whole room is decorated with lighting system (any color with remote)
12.  Personal AC
13.  Humidifier

** Hi spreed Wifi
**Shared kitchen (All kitchen stuff available)
**Shared Restroom 
** Good parking space
** Washing machine and dryer is located downstairs

Its an one bed room apartment. My housemate lives in the separated living room.

***Female is preferred but not mandatory*** 
** No pet please**

Rent is : 451$ / month + (Net+Electricity = around 50$) 
(Only the charges by rental services no extra charge for the furniture)

Please feel free to contact me.
Phone: 443 529 7321
email: toufiqhanik@umbc.edu

March 20, 2020

Dear Members of the UMBC Community,

Many are calling this period a defining moment for humankind, and history will judge us by how we respond. As the COVID-19 crisis continues to unfold, we want you to know how proud we are of the ways that our community of inquiring minds has already been adapting. Thank you for all that you are doing to support one another, your families, and fellow citizens during these challenging times.

Campus leaders are meeting daily to navigate this rapidly changing reality, and we are working closely with USM Chancellor Jay Perman, other System campuses, and shared governance groups to plan necessary transitions in teaching, learning, research, and the daily life of our campus community. 

We have had difficult decisions to make, and we have made them with the understanding that the health and safety of our community must be our top priority. In partnership with the University System of Maryland, we have determined that this means extending distance learning for the remainder of the spring semester. During this time, UMBC will remain open for student support services and business operations. In accordance with guidance provided by the Governor, employees will continue to work remotely whenever possible.

To our undergraduate and graduate students: We know you have been concerned with what happens next, and we are all feeling for you and with you. There is so much you hoped to do this semester, and it is such a disappointment to have these plans interrupted. Online instruction begins on Monday, March 23, and will continue throughout the semester. Faculty have been working with the Division of Information Technology and each other to ensure the highest quality of instruction. 

To the Class of 2020, in particular, please know we recognize how hard you have worked to achieve your goals. We are very sorry that we will not be holding in-person Commencement ceremonies this spring. We know how difficult this is for you, your families, and your friends. Just know this is not the end. We may not be having the in-person ceremony, but we will find ways of recognizing you and celebrating your achievements.

A special thank you to our faculty and staff who have been doing everything they can to provide emotional, academic, and other types of support to our students.Over the coming weeks, patience and understanding will be essential as all of us adjust to these changes. We know that many students, faculty, and staff have questions, and we are committed to providing information and support. Pressing concerns we have heard include the following.

• We know that the shift to distance learning may have financial implications for students and families. We are working closely with USM to establish a system for refunds. We will announce more details in the days to come. Students with immediate resource concerns are encouraged to contact covid19@umbc.edu.
  
• Students who normally live on campus will soon receive information about the process for safely retrieving their belongings. Until this is established, students who have left campus for spring break will continue to be unable to access their residence halls. Students with an urgent need to retrieve items from their residence halls prior to this announcement may contact Residential Life.

We appreciate your patience and partnership as we move forward together in this new reality. Most important, we hope all of you and your families remain safe and healthy.

We will continue to communicate regularly, and we encourage you to visit UMBC’s COVID-19 website at covid19.umbc.edu for prevention steps, updates, and resources. Urgent questions can be sent to covid19@umbc.edu.

We leave you with these words from Jeanne Rikkers: 

May we who are merely inconvenienced,
Remember those whose lives are at stake.

May we who have no risk factors,
Remember the most vulnerable.

May we who have the luxury of working from home,
Remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent.

May we who have flexibility to care for our children when their schools close,
Remember those who have no options.

May we who have to cancel our trips,
Remember those that have no safe place to go.

May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market,
Remember those who have no margin at all.

May we who settle in for a quarantine at home,
Remember those who have no home.

As fear grips our country,
Let us choose LOVE.

She concludes by noting that this is a time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other, and yet we certainly can find ways of providing a ‘loving embrace’ to our neighbors.

President Freeman Hrabowski and Provost Philip Rous

It is ironic that I found out my spring track season got cancelled while I was walking down to the track to do my Thursday run. As I scrolled through my phone, waiting for my friend and teammate Madison Armonda to meet me, I saw the email notification from Jessica Hammond, Deputy Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator. I immediately opened the email and saw the message I was both dreading and expecting: Athletic Director Brian Barrio suspended all Spring 2020 athletic seasons. 

The message froze me. I reread the words “suspend all Spring 2020 Retriever Athletics practices, meetings, and competitions” over and over, trying to make sure that I read it correctly. 

My friend found me on the last step of the stairs heading down to the track and asked me whether I had seen the email. I nodded.

“So, what do you want to do now?” she asked. 

That question seemed so stupid. Of course, we were going to run. It was what we normally did on Thursdays. We were D1 runners who, before that email, were on our way to having the first outdoor seasons of our collegiate careers. We had to run. Yet, we did not. We were, for the first time in our lives as runners, not in season.

“I think I’m going to cry,” Armonda said, beginning the motions we would have gone through at our normal Thursday practice.

The saddened faces of the men’s lacrosse team greeted us at the track. Almost every player was on their phone, telling their parents the news that their game the following day in Vermont was not going to happen. Despite knowing that their fate was sealed, Armonda and I still could not believe that our season was over. Not knowing what else to do, we started our run.

We pushed ourselves to go fast. Seeing the emotions of other student athletes opened ours up, allowing us to feel more than just disbelief towards our situation. We were sad. We were angry. We were confused. 

This confusion only increased when we got back and saw an email from our coach. In it, he explained that he was made aware of our season being canceled at the same time we had, and was still forming a course of action for the team. 

It was not until the following day, when the National Collegiate Athletic Association announced it was canceling all winter and spring national championships, that I accepted that my season was over. My mix of emotions remains, but a deep guilt and frustration with myself for being sad about my situation replaced my anger and confusion. While I had one of my remaining seasons taken away, my senior teammates had their final, pinnacle season stolen.

Nothing I have felt has compared to my senior teammates. On the day we all found out, my senior teammate and roommate, Bridgett Redding, broke down while I was out running.

The NCAA did give all student athletes an additional year of spring eligibility and are discussing the details about giving an additional year of winter eligibility to D1 student athletes. Despite this decision, many of the seniors have already accepted jobs for the following year and do not currently see a clear path to return to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County to use the extra eligibility. What the NCAA plans to do to help them is yet to be decided.

In this tumultuous time for all athletes, my teammates handle their emotions differently. For one, it has been to throw herself into her art and graphic design, using this as an opportunity to further expand and improve on her portfolio. For another, it has been to spend time with family, using this as a time to catch-up on the things she has missed while being in school. For me, it has been to keep running, using it as a time to remember that not everything in life is certain.