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COVID-19

Park closures, job cuts and masks: Tourism industry changes in the face of COVID-19

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Ethan Qualle | Staff Writer

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented changes to hospitality and tourism attractions around the country. The state of Florida is home to world-renowned theme parks, hundreds of miles of public beaches, the Kennedy Space Center, and the Brevard Zoo, all of which have had to adapt due to COVID-19.

The Walt Disney Company has cut 28,000 jobs, or a quarter of their domestic work force, as a result of the pandemic. The announcement came from chairman of Disney’s parks department, Josh D’Amaro. Many of these “cast members,” as Disney refers to employees, were employed part-time. 

Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando closed its theme parks on March 16, following suit of other Disney parks around the world, such as Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland in California. Disney World in Florida reopened its gates in a phased reopening to annual passholders and guests with pre-existing reservations in late July. 

Disneyland, including resorts and parks, in California remains closed. The state’s tourism industry is set to lose $72 billion by the end of the year. Aerospace engineering junior and California native Nico Colomer, observed that tourism was  “significantly reduced this summer” in southern California. Colomer, who works as a lifeguard in Huntington Beach, Calif. on summer breaks, said that the beaches were closed for the majority of the summer season, including for major holidays such as the Fourth of July. 

Universal Studios shut down on March 16 of this year and reopened on June 5, with new safety guidelines. Universal Studios’ website displays a banner stating: “Exposure to COVID-19 is an inherent risk in any public location where people are present; we cannot guarantee you will not be exposed during your visit.”

Brevard County Parks and Recreation has also seen changes in the face of COVID-19. According to Shay Saldana of the Brevard County Parks and Recreation Department, facilities were closed briefly at the start of the pandemic, but opened shortly after, with mask requirements and social distancing measures in place. 

The Brevard Zoo closed its doors to the public on March 16, before opening with new operating guidelines in May. Andrea Hill, a representative of the Brevard Zoo, stated that the zoo provides timed entry tickets, which limits the number of people that can enter the zoo at any given time. She also stated that they require facial coverings, and have social distancing markers on the ground.

The Kennedy Space Center, which opened in May, has implemented similar guidelines. Visitors are limited, and center hours have been reduced to increase time for cleaning.

Increase in COVID-19 cases among Florida Tech students, weekly update says

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In an Oct. 9 update to the campus community, Florida Tech President T. Dwayne McCay reported 10 new cases of COVID-19 among students at Florida Tech. 

“This increase in cases highlights the continuing need to limit off-campus exposure that could spread the virus when returning to campus,” McCay stated in the email.

One Florida Tech employee has tested positive, with two employees quarantined as a precaution. 

Eight weeks into the semester, McCay emphasized continuing to follow COVID-19 protocols and precautions. 

Updates on COVID-19 case numbers are emailed to the Florida Tech community every Friday. 

Testing and isolating: COVID-19 protocols on Florida Tech’s campus

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Tessa Dury | Staff Writer

“The pandemic response team reports that since the start of the semester to Sept. 23, three students who live on campus have tested positive for COVID-19 and seven students off campus have tested positive,” Krishna Patel, director of student wellness and programming at Florida Tech said.

Students who test positive for COVID-19 that live on the Florida Tech campus must isolate in specific dorms in Southgate or move off campus and back to their homes to isolate. 

Students should decide on their accommodation plans at the time they receive their positive test results, as isolation should begin without interruption.

The campus response team encourages students that must travel by plane to get to their homes to stay in the Southgate dorms.

“I’m not a fan about it because they are not constantly monitored and could leave their rooms,” said Southgate resident Daniel Liyuan, a senior studying mechanical engineering, “I feel okay about it though, because I know I can take care of myself.” 

Liyuan said that is both the responsibility of the school as a whole, and of individual students to be responsible and safe. 

Patel said that the Holzer Health Center has new protocols in place for the protection of students, as well as the Health Center staff.  

At this time, students who are presenting symptoms can be tested while remaining in their vehicles outside of the center or in an isolated area inside of the building. 

Health Center staff wear full personal protective equipment, or PPE, for any COVID-19 related visits. 

Before a student can schedule a time to be tested for COVID-19 at the Health Center, they must record specific symptoms to the CampusClear app.

Patel views the CampusClear results and follows up with students who indicate any results other than “no symptoms.”

“Our student body has been doing an amazing job adhering to our safety protocols, and we want to provide that recognition,” Patel said.

Editor’s note: This story has been altered from the original version. A previous version stated that the Health Center viewed CampusClear results. This has been corrected to state that Patel views the results. Additional information regarding accommodation plans was added to this story after publishing.

Safety takes the lead in campus organization planning

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By Johnny O’Brien

Campus organizations at Florida Tech have commenced with the start of the school year, with organization leaders prioritizing safety as they plan their events. 

Florida Tech’s First Year Experience, spearheaded by Jessica Ha Bittner, offers a 1000-level university experience course, with the purpose of helping out new students during their initial academic and social transitions to Florida Tech. Their office offers educational and social programming throughout the year. The first program in their lineup debuts on Sept. 18, with Oscar-winning film Parasite for the FYE Film Series.

Ha Bittner says that FYE is following all protocols outlined in the Florida Tech Safe: Return to Learn plan. 

“We require masks for anyone to enter our office space, and we also offer in-person appointments for students who are on campus this fall, but highly encourage all students to meet with us virtually through Microsoft Teams meetings or via phone conferences,” Ha Bittner said.

The FYE office works primarily with incoming students who transfer in less than 30 credits and are considered first year students. Ha Bittner mentioned the office is not only providing students with resources and knowledge for first year at Florida Tech, but also ensuring they understand the safety measures in place at the university. 

“All FYE advisees are encouraged to speak with their advisor if they have any questions or concerns about Florida Tech, the transition to college life, or our pandemic response,” Ha Bittner said. “We promise to assist students with any questions they may have, including connecting the student with the appropriate resource needed to provide that assistance.”

The Homecoming committee is also having to adjust with all things COVID, as homecoming committee head Samara Gallion is taking precautions to ensure a fun and safe gathering for this year’s event. Gallion said that last year’s events were extended by a day and a half and the committee plans on doing the same for this year.

“Last year our events included Kick-off, Fall Earth Day, Big Night Out 2.0, Talent Show, Downtown Fest, Homecoming Football game, and Homecoming Carnival,” Gallion said. “These activities provide a lot of diversity for all students to find something to enjoy during the week and also gives them an outlet to destress.”

With COVID-19 still a major concern, the homecoming committee made an executive decision to move homecoming to the spring semester. 

“All of our plans have been shifted back and we will be working diligently to make Homecoming possible this year in an environment where everyone can feel safe,” Gallion said.

Gallion said she cannot make any statement yet if the school will have any limits to who can attend Homecoming activities this year, but the homecoming committee will be thoroughly discussing the implications of the population and safety adjustments that the school will be implementing come spring semester.

“The policies that we set in place this year might not occur in the following, but they are something that should be kept around as a baseline for any event such as COVID,” Gallion said. 

Nicolette Murphey, president of the Marine Biological Society at Florida Tech, and treasurer Erika Kurtzweil said that the organization is unable to gather large groups for their beach cleanups due to COVID-19.

“We’re strongly encouraging people to still go to the beach independently and pick up any trash they find, but it’s not the same group effort we’ve been able to have in the past,” Murphey said.

Kurtzweil said the group is hopeful that they will be able to pick events back up in the spring semester. 

Murphey said the organization has had to make some changes to adapt to the new normal, including cancelling their spring snorkeling trip and placing many plans on hold to keep members safe.

Florida Tech’s fall sports have also experienced delays and changes due to COVID-19. Daniel Supraner, director of athletic communications, said that the department is doing all they can to make sure student-athletes remain safe on campus, with team practices halted from the start of the semester until Sept. 7.

“We are educating and encouraging student-athletes to wear a mask, social distance, and avoid large gatherings and parties,” Supraner said.

Supraner said that practices will be based around small groups of ten or less athletes. 

On July 18, the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) Presidents Council announced that the 2020 fall sports season was being postponed, which included men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country and volleyball. 

“Right now, the plan is to have fall sports compete during the Spring 2021 semester but the exact start date has yet to be determined,” Supraner said.

Supraner said the start date for winter sports, including men’s and women’s basketball and men’s and women’s swimming, has yet to be announced as well. The normal start time for competition is usually in November. 

According to Supraner, fall sports will do a conference-only schedule and winter sports will likely do the same.

“At this time, none of our teams are able to schedule contests outside the state of Florida,” Supraner said.

Social distancing measures on Florida Tech’s campus

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By Arianna Schuck

Precautionary measures regarding COVID-19 are visible around Florida Tech’s campus, as students attend classes in person or remotely. 

Florida Tech President T. Dwayne McCay announced Friday in the weekly COVID-19 update that there were two new student cases, with no new cases among faculty and staff.

As of Saturday, the Florida Department of Health listed over 640,000 total cases in the state, with 3,773 new cases reported among Florida residents from the previous day. The website features a banner advising social distancing, face coverings, and for individuals concerned about their status, getting tested.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, buildings like Crawford and Skurla were crowded during transition times. Now, instructions are on display directing students to move through the buildings while social distancing. 

Staircases are labeled with decals, instructing students on which side of the staircase can be used to go up or down. Doors are indicated strictly for exiting or entering with signs.

Decals on the main staircase in the Crawford building. Photo |Arianna Schuck

Rosalia Gray, a sophomore majoring in forensic psychology, said it was nerve-wracking at first to hear that Florida Tech would be opening for the fall semester. 

“I believe that the school is handling the situation very well, the university is doing everything in their ability to keep the campus community safe,” Gray said.

Ryan Hayden, a sophomore majoring in business administration with entrepreneurship, said he thinks Florida Tech is doing a good job of keeping on-campus students safe, but that more precautions could be taken such as temperature checks before each class or required testing for the virus.

Doors in Crawford are now marked specifically for entering or exiting. Photo | Arianna Schuck

“I did not have any worries about crowding in lecture halls because all of my classes in previous years were small,” Hayden said.

Students and employees are required to wear face coverings on campus, according to the Florida Tech Safe website. Exceptions apply for individual students in enclosed study rooms or in their residence hall rooms. The question and answer page states that individuals who do not follow the policy will be asked to do so or leave the area, with potential disciplinary action in the case of “repeated refusal” to comply.

International students adjust during COVID-19 restrictions

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by Brianna Forte

Due to the complications related to the COVID-19 pandemic, international students at Florida Tech had major decisions to make when it came to their travel plans and method of learning for the fall semester. 

International students were faced with a series of options for this fall semester as travel restrictions, visa issues, and COVID-19 precautions were taken into consideration. 

When classes switched to online in March, some international students decided to return home. 

“First, I planned to stay until the end of the semester, but when our government announced that they will close the borders of Hungary [my family and I] decided the best for me was to go back home,” explained Liza Lutter, a junior majoring in biology from Budapest, Hungary.

Since returning to their home countries, some students now have to deal with the global travel restrictions that have been installed in response to COVID-19.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, travelers from China, Iran, European Schengen area, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, or Brazil are prohibited from entering the United States.

Students who cannot return to in-person classes for the fall semester have been able to attend online classes synchronously or asynchronously. 

Brian Ehrlich, vice president of enrollment management, reported that as of Aug. 28 there are 381 international students across all levels of learning that have requested remote access.

“I decided to take classes online because I want to see how Florida Tech can control the COVID-19 situation,” said Lutter.

The only issue Lutter has encountered so far is with her internet connection, “but the problem is with my internet usually so it’s not the school’s fault.”

Nicole Rautemberg, a sophomore majoring in business from Asunción, Paraguay shared her difficulties adjusting to online learning. 

“For me it’s hard to understand english, and I feel like I learn more in a classroom setting because I can ask questions and I won’t be afraid of speaking out,” Rautemberg said.

Although Florida Tech has provided many options for international students, there is a decline in enrollment among international students from this fall semester compared to the fall semester of 2019. 

According to Ehrlich, the number of enrolled international students for this year is just over 1,300, which is close to last year’s number of approximately 1,500 students. Ehrlich emphasized that official university numbers don’t come out until the census in September, meaning the numbers may vary.

“I’m positive and encouraged by the number. And I think a lot of that has to do with the offering remote access to people that couldn’t get here,” said Ehlrich.

In addition to those adjusting to online learning, there are also international students who opted to stay within the United States this summer so that they could attend in-person classes. 

Over the summer, junior Marcello Mattei explained that he wanted to go home to Caracas, Venezuela but could not because the COVID-19 pandemic lead to the Venezuelan border being closed. 

Gregory Dunn, a sophomore majoring in aeronautical science with flight from Kingston, Jamaica explained the difficulty of deciding to stay in the United States over the summer.

“That decision to stay in the U.S. means I won’t be able to see my family and friends back home until December and that’s only if the pandemic eases up. This is one that has been made by many other international students as well,” said Dunn.

Another huge issue that international students are running into is obtaining a visa interview among the rising freshmen class. In order to conduct a visa interview, prospective students must go to a U.S. embassy, many which were closed during the summer due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“A number of students that have been admitted are not able to complete the embassy interview process, which is a critical component of receiving a visa,” Ehrlich explained.

Admitted students unable to obtain their visa were instructed to defer their entry into the U.S. to spring 2021, according to Ehrlich.

Erin Graham, from Johannesburg, South Africa, had to defer her entry.

Graham had a visa appointment scheduled for July 6, which was then cancelled and moved to July 30, before it was cancelled again. 

The cancellation “made it impossible for me to make it on time for my fall semester,” Graham said.

Graham explained that COVID-19 may have also affected the attitudes of some international students. 

“I think COVID-19 has made international students a lot more cautious in the idea of going to study abroad, as many of us will have even less time or chances to visit our families due to flight restrictions,” Graham said.

A final farewell: What I have learned as editor-in-chief

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The following is an opinion/editorial piece. 

Being an editor-in-chief is not a job for people pleasing. You do not obtain the position so you can hold hands and become friends with everyone on campus. You are an editor-in-chief because you are there to shed light on the truth, hold people accountable, be an outlet dedicated to informing the Florida Tech community and so much more.

This past semester has been an unprecedented time. I have reported on everything ranging from sexual assault on campus to the COVID-19 pandemic and more. As you read this, I submitted my last final ever at Florida Tech just two days ago. In the absence of classes, I have had time to reflect on the madness and whirlwind constance of news that surrounded me this past semester. This is what I learned:

I have learned what it’s like to be told you’re wrong, over and over again. Voices are powerful, so I have taken in stride criticism and people’s opinions, but over the past four months I had to learn to back myself and trust the facts. When you speak the truth you need to stand by it. People have a right to opinions, but people also don’t always want to accept that truth carries power.

Asking the questions that no else will — this is something I have valued since first getting involved with The Crimson, and have really put into practice this past semester. There’s a balance between being compassionate and knowing when it’s time to ask what no one else has. I expect very few people to understand what it is like to conduct interview after interview with rape survivors. First of all, I applaud those women and their bravery for coming forward, but I also acknowledge that sometimes I myself crumbled. I felt as though I had to count myself lucky to not have to go through something like they did, but also enraged that women have sometimes been told to worry about “what they were wearing when they went out,” or “if they were drinking too much that night.” Consent is powerful, so don’t undermine it. It’s reassuring to know that there has been so much change and support made for those that have been sexually assaulted, but there’s still a lot more work to do. The point here is that I feel for those women. I had to walk a fine line to be supportive of them, but also make sure I got the facts right.

There are times when you want to pick and choose a side, but as a reporter it’s your job to remain in the middle — objective, unbiased, willing to put beliefs and emotions aside to portray a factual and fair story. This is hard, harder than some may think at times, but it also is what I believe can define a good reporter. I strive to live up to those qualities to this day and continue to do so, and I stand by the fact that I have so far.  

 Since becoming editor-in-chief,  I’ve sat in rooms for important meetings filled with typically all men, many of them seeming to be above the age of 50, and nearly all white. At first, it is intimidating, then the shock hits. To live in an educational environment for the past years where I have been taught that companies and organizations need culture and diversity and it is a changing age, but then to witness the complete opposite of that in reality; it’s disheartening. I’ve learned that some things result to old regimes, even when I thought they didn’t. We are a STEM university and it is still so male dominated, why is that? I hope this changes.  

I also have learned that I cannot do everything on my own. Shocker right? My skills solely cannot capture all the breaking news or follow up on every single lead while also being a full-time student. My backbone has been my extremely amazing and supportive staff. We are small but mighty as I like to say, and I wouldn’t be able to accomplish what I have so far without them. 

I leave Florida Tech incredibly proud of the education I have received. Yet, also a bit disappointed and ashamed by some of the things I heard, some of the things I have been told and some of the things I have witnessed. I’ve come to acknowledge that there are views and opinions on this campus that I thought only a prehistoric world held, yet they still seem to persist in my generation —the supposed generation of acceptance and inclusiveness.

When I viciously slap the buttons on my keyboard as I type, I’m not doing it because stories with my name on them are going to get me a good job or because of a popularity contest; I write and report because I care. I care about the industry and the civic duty that journalists have, I care about free speech and the right for people to know what is going on in the environment around them. I poured my heart and soul into The Crimson, and I leave proud of the work I did and honored to be a part of such an amazing newsroom. With my send off I have one wish— that the paper continues to report on the school, not for it. May its legacy live on. 

Florida Tech receives over $3 million in CARES Act emergency funds, half of which must be distributed to qualifying students

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On March 27, Congress approved a  $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic  Security bill. This bill is known as the CARES Act and aims to provide fast and direct economic assistance for American workers, families and small businesses, as well as to preserve jobs for the American industries.

 According to the stimulus bill, about $12.5 billion will go directly to universities and colleges to help them recover from the financial hit of the pandemic. The bill also requires that half of each institution’s total grant amount go directly to students in the form of emergency financial aid grants.

Florida Tech received roughly $3.6 million from the CARES Act,  meaning that at least about $1.8 million must be allocated for students in need of emergency funds. 

The U.S. Department of Education states only undergraduate and graduate students who are Title IV eligible can be awarded CARES Act emergency funds. This means that students that have filed a 2019-2020 Free Application for Federal Student Aid— FAFSA — are eligible to receive funding. Students who have not filed a FAFSA, but who are eligible to file one, may also receive emergency financial aid grants if they file by June 30, according to the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. Eligibility terms for FAFSA applications can be found here.

Other universities throughout Florida received various amounts of funds from the CARES Act. For example, Saint Leo University received about $4.5 million, Florida Southern College was granted roughly $2.2 million, Lynn University received about $1.9 million and Nova Southeastern University was awarded roughly $7.1 million.  

The Department of Education stated that funds distribution per university was based on 75 percent of the institution’s fulltime in-person Pell grant recipients, and 25 percent of those who are not Pell Grant recipients. The calculation excludes international and online enrolled students. The DoE also states that FAFSA forms are used as the application method to determine which undergraduates, who display exceptional financial need, will be awarded a Pell grant. 

On behalf of Wes Sumner, Florida Tech’s vice president of marketing and communications, Adam Lowenstein said in an email that Florida Tech plans to distribute the $1.8 million portion of CARES Act funds to students who are eligible as soon as possible. 

“According to our preliminary analysis, Florida Tech currently has 1,940 undergraduates eligible for these relief funds,” Lowenstein, director of media communications, said. “We have emailed an additional 337 undergraduates to encourage them to file for FAFSA as we believe they would also be eligible for CARES Act assistance.”

At this point in time, Lowenstein said that a finalized eligible population of students who can receive CARES Act emergency financial aid is still being determined. Lowenstein added that payment amounts on a student-by-student basis will be known once they finalize the entire eligible population of students. 

When students are able to receive emergency financial grants from the Cares Act, Lowenstein said they can use them to cover any such expense related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus such as food, housing, course materials, technology or health care and child-care expenses.

Juan Merced is a freshman majoring in astrobiology, and is one of the 1,940 Florida Tech undergraduates that are eligible for CARES Act relief funds. Merced said that a good portion of his tuition is paid for from the aid he gets as a Pell grant recipient. 

According to Merced, the coronavirus has impacted his grades especially. He said that it has been harder for him to learn properly with an online only classroom structure, and as a result he said he is failing some courses. 

“Because of how relatively poor I did this semester, I’m at risk for losing some of my scholarships such as my Bright Futures one,” Merced said. 

Merced said that losing those scholarships is going to be a “game changer” in terms of how he pays for college. 

“I would most likely use any funds I receive for textbooks, food and probably a part of tuition payment for the fall,” Merced said.

The native Floridian added that both his parents are not working right now because of the pandemic. While Merced’s father is still receiving pay, his mother is not and has been unsuccessful in trying to claim unemployment.  

“It definitely has been harder lately, ” Merced said. “I didn’t even know I was eligible to receive funds, but if I did get any it would help me pay for my education.”

Lowenstein said that because this funding comes with strict guidelines from the Department of Education, the university wants to deliberate on their distribution while also working as quickly as they can to distribute funds to students who qualify. 

“We are determining the best process to do this based on the requirements and plan to initiate disbursements soon,” Lowenstein said. 

According to the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, institutions may provide emergency financial aid grants to students by using checks, electronic transfer payments, debit cards and payment apps. However, grant payments may not be made to students through the use of a credit card that can be used only on campus or in a retail outlet affiliated with the institution such as Panther Cash or Flex credits.  

Lowenstien added that Florida Tech is evaluating  the best uses for the remaining CARES Act funds, and will be happy to share additional details as they are finalized. 
For more information please see the following helpful links:

Social distancing, isolation and stress: what it’s like and how to manage

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Irritability. Sadness. Loss of appetite. These are a few signs and symptoms individuals may experience due to social distancing and isolation, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 

“Feeling lonely or isolated can be a crippling sensation,” Erika Pobee-Mensah, the outreach coordinator for Florida Tech’s Counseling and Psychological Services, said in an email.

According to the SAMHSA, signs of stress include: increased irritability, trouble sleeping, or having difficulty communicating; physical signs like headaches, loss of appetite, or being easily startled; and emotional signs like feelings of guilt, anger, and overwhelming sadness.

This stress can lead to changes in sleep or eating patterns, worsening of chronic health problems, and increased use of alcohol, tobacco, and other substances, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Pobee-Mensah said that students may alleviate feelings of anxiety by scheduling time to worry, and pursuing alternative behaviors like classwork, exercising, or playing music outside of that scheduled time. 

Gianna Petrazzulo, a junior studying biomedical science, said that it has been difficult to adjust from going out regularly to staying inside most of the time.

Petrazzulo has found some positivity in social distancing; she’s used her extra time to do things she enjoys, like creating art and playing video games. 

“I feel like I have a lot of time on my hands to focus on myself,”  Petrazzulo said, “it’s rekindled my creative side.”

To alleviate outbreak-related stress, the CDC also recommends establishing a routine of well-balanced meals and regular sleep and exercise. 

Pobee-Mensah stated that many individuals are experiencing feelings of grief during this time of isolation, whether it be due to the loss or illness of a loved one, or the loss of work, income or social interaction. 

“Whatever grief or loss you can identify, it is important to give yourself time to grieve and express these emotions,” Pobee-Mensah said. “Allow yourself to cry, to scream into a pillow, to call up someone and vent, or to write about how this pain feels.”

In addition to reaching out to friends and family, Pobee-Mensah said students may benefit from virtual socialization methods such as group chats, or multiplayer gaming. Gaming engagement has seen an uptick; concurrent users of gaming distribution service Steam exceeded 24 million multiple times between April 12 to 18, according to the Steam Database. 

The CDC advises taking breaks from news consumption relating to the pandemic, including the use of social media. The National Alliance on Mental Illness further advises managing how one consumes information; the organization states that “false information spreads very easily on social media and can have serious consequences for individual and public health.”

The SAMHSA advises making time for conversation unrelated to the outbreak, in addition to sharing emotions related to the outbreak and exchanging reliable health information. 

“Take a moment to put your doubts aside and reach out to friends or family,” Pobee-Mensah said, “Strike up a conversation with an old friend you haven’t spoken to in a while.”

The CDC states that those at higher risk for serious illness, including older adults and people with underlying health conditions, may experience higher stress levels. These individuals may become concerned that regular medical care could be disrupted.

As many individuals experience feelings of anxiety, stress, and grief, Pobee-Mensah advises staying connected: “If you are in need, ask for help from family, friends, or your local community.” 

This article was edited to correct the spelling of a source’s name. The previous version displayed “Petravvulo” where the article now reads “Petrazzulo.”

How COVID-19 has affected mental health

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By Arianna Schuck

According to Mental Health America, the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit in Virginia dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illnesses, there has been a 12 to 19 percent increase in anxiety since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. 

“It is normal to have a lot of big feelings during this very difficult time,” said Victoria Follette, program chair for clinical psychology at Florida Tech. “We need to be able to face and accept these feelings. Everyone is feeling the strain of the quarantine and that means we all are having some strain on our mental health.”  

According to Follette, it is important to find ways to cope during these uncertain times. Some coping mechanisms recommended by Follette include: 

  • Keep a schedule to provide structure 
  • Explore your values. What do you really want your life to be about and where are you going?  Are there things that you can do every day that align with these values?
  • Get creative. Is there something you always wanted to do or learn? Try your hand at something new.  
  • Have a zoom party. Think of games, like having a scavenger hunt or doing a painting together. 

According to Cat Nanney, director of student involvement, the university also provides students with an app called Talkspace —  a service that provides online therapy with licensed therapists. After a brief assessment, students are matched with a licensed therapist and can start messaging them through text or video chat. No appointments are needed for Talkspace, and students have 24/7 access to communicate with a therapist.

“A few national organizations, such as Alpha Tau Omega, have partnerships [with talkspace] that can be used by their members [for free],” Nanney explained. “So, members of our Kappa Eta chapter here on campus can use their services through their partnership with their national office.” 

Joe White, a junior majoring in aviation management with flight, stated that his mental health, despite the quarantine, has been fairly good. 

“I take the time during the day to talk to my friends and family as well as exercise or maybe take a walk outside,” White said. 

According to White, the worst thing about quarantine is having limited options when finding something to keep busy, but he said it’s important to find things to do each day so he doesn’t feel stuck.

Through Follette’s tips and Talkspace, negative thoughts and feelings during this overwhelming time can be put to ease.