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Localize it: coronavirus in a college town

Like I have said before, each national story tends to have a local impact. As journalists it is important to understand that these large breaking news stories ultimately trickle down and affect our communities. 

The last time I “localized” the coronavirus, I spoke about the significance of the disease and what precautions Troy University was putting in place to prevent its spread. At that time, the thought of the virus popping up in our small, rural college town was unthinkable for some. 

On Wednesday, as students were brewing their morning coffee or working on assignments from home, the Troy Messenger broke the news that a confirmed case of COVID-19 had made its way into Pike County. The unthinkable, for some, had just became a reality. 

Right now, the public has been encouraged to continue practicing social distancing. People should only leave their home for necessities. When leaving your home, you should leave a six-foot distance between yourself and others.

For Troy University students, the concept of social distancing is not a new one, as the university has moved all classes online until at least April 6. On Tuesday, the Office of the Chancellor sent an update to students, faculty and staff regarding an announcement on whether the school will continue online learning for the rest of the semester. 

“The next steps we take are significant ones in the life of the University, and so we are carefully evaluating our options for how to proceed with the remainder of the Spring semester,” Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr. wrote. “We will monitor developments over the coming days and announce on Tuesday, March 31, our plans for the rest of the semester.”

Students are continuing to use Canvas to access assignments and view course material uploaded by their instructors. Students are now also using Zoom, an online live streaming service, to listen to lectures and ask their professors questions in real time. 

“It makes me happy to go to a university right now that cares so much about students still learning, even if the learning environment looks a little different,” sophomore Bailey Bennett told me. “Our professors have been working tirelessly to make sure we’re still getting information.” 

For some nursing majors, the transition to online learning has been a little trickier. Reid Reddish is a sophomore who just got accepted into the nursing program. 

“The only problem that I do have is that we aren’t allowed to access the lab to practice skills; and we won’t always have all the tools that we need to practice those skills at home,” Reddish said. 

Journalists, through this tough time remember that the information you are sharing is impactful. Stay safe! 

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