Education

covid-19, Education

Forbidden Recreation

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As a result of the guidelines set forth by Santa Clara Country in response to COVID-19, Stanford took drastic measures to limit the temptation to break social distancing rules. A salient example is outdoor recreation: beach volleyball nets removed, outdoor gyms fenced up, indoor gyms and hiking trails closed, and most interestingly, modified basketball courts. I took a walk around campus and found that Stanford either tied-up the net, boarded-over the rim, or removed completely the hoop altogether at nearly every basketball court across the university. Described as “very fun w/ a sprinkle of deep!” in an Instagram comment, this photo series serves as a visual collection of some of…

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A mask is left on the ground outside of Arrillaga dining hall. (Noah Cortez, Peninsula Press)
covid-19, Culture, Education

Fall Quarter in Quarantine

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I have been quarantining at Stanford since March. For the past 9 months, I’ve watched campus adjust to the strict COVID-19 measures set in place by Santa Clara County and settle into the new normal that will continue into the foreseeable future. As an MA Journalism student focusing on visual communication (photography, documentary film, VR/AR journalism), my approach to photography follows a structure that is well-reported and straightforward. I have been documenting life on campus since March through photos – this specific photo series documents Stanford life as of November 2020. Some photographs in this short photo collection depict changes Stanford enacted back in March, while others highlight recent developments….

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covid-19, Culture, Education

Girls Leadership Nonprofit Works to Lessen COVID-strain for Girls of Color

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Senator Kamala Harris embodies many firsts. She is the first Vice President-Elect who identifies as Black, South Asian, a woman, and an ardent fan of Mary J. Blige’s “Work That.” But for a statistically significant number of Black and Latinx girls in the United States, she is not their first leadership role model— and that’s a good thing. As Harris was blazing the campaign trail in August, a non-profit based in her hometown released a study that shows Black and Latinx girls are considerably more likely than their peers to identify as leaders. They are also more likely to have role models in their lives who identify as leaders. The…

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Education, Health, News, Politics

North Bay School District Candidates Grapple with How to Continue to Reopen Schools During Covid-19

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The four candidates campaigning for two open seats in the North Bay’s Reed Union School District’s Board of Trustees are focused on reopening the schools safely and improving communication with the community. The K-8 public school district serving Tiburon, Belvedere, and Corte Madera residents opened its doors to hybrid in-person learning on Oct. 5. The four candidates answered questions related to COVID during a two-hour live webinar, hosted by the League of Women Voters of Marin County. All candidates support the district’s phased reopening plan which intends to guide the district toward a full reopening in five phases. The district is currently operating in phase 2. Under phase 2, half…

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Novak Chernesky
Education, Health

As Schools Stay Remote, Pandemic Adds Barriers to Mental Health Support

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It was as simple as walking down the hall. Before COVID-19 shut down school campuses, if a San Mateo County student felt anxiety welling up in her chest, she could slip out of class and find the school counselor’s office just down the hallway. If a student was hurt by a friend’s put-down at lunch, he could show up unannounced, knowing a mental health professional was on the other side of the door willing to talk it out. With the shift to online instruction, students are saying that they took for granted their ability to get on-campus, immediate counseling support. “Now you have to make an appointment, and they might…

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UC students stock shelves
Education, Food, Health, News

UC Considering Boosting Aid to Most Needy Students Amid Pandemic

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PALO ALTO – As students across the nation grapple with the challenges of a virtual semester, the University of California is considering expanding its definition of basic needs beyond minimal food and shelter. Finances, transportation, health and medical care, emotional and mental wellness, hygiene, sleep, and services for students with dependents are new basic needs areas that were identified in a comprehensive report examining basic needs across the UC’s 10 campuses released in July. “Anyone in higher education right now that is committed to access, affordability, persistence, performance, and graduation needs to understand that basic needs are a huge factor that needs to be addressed,” said Ruben E. Canedo, co-chair…

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