Something that recently has affected me and means a lot to me are the protocols Converse has in place this school year for Covid. To begin, as someone who is currently in quarantine, the majority of my professors are not supplying me with zoom codes or class recordings to attend class while in quarantine. As someone who cares greatly about my education, pays a lot of money for my education, and someone who goes to Converse for the small classes and close student-teacher relationships, I am very disappointed that I am not able to continue that while at home. Not only can I not continue to attend class while in quarantine but I was also sent home to quarantine and have little to no resources. I live in the house with my parents who are both full-time employees who can't afford to get sick and quarantined at this time. Both of my parents work 30% at home and 70% on the road, being sales reps. Not only am I risking their safety but know I am causing a disturbance in their work-life. My family home is in the woods in my hometown with poor wifi and located inconveniently to a place with good wifi. With my parents both spending lots of time at home our wifi is barely working along with the minimal space for the three of us to all attend our zoom meetings without being in each other's cameras and having a cluster of voices and static feedback. It is nearly impossible to talk on the phone or on a zoom meeting with all of the noise. I wish that Converse had taken into consideration the student body who would be quarantined due to Covid this school year. Although vaccination does limit the spread of Covid, only 52% of Converse is currently vaccinated, and breakthrough cases are still a possibility. I understand that now that Pfizer is FDA-approved Converse hopes to move forward with making the vaccine mandatory, but until that happens those who aren't vaccinated's education is still important. Even still, for those who are vaccinated who are scared of a breakthrough case, are positive, or who need to be quarantined's education is important. I know COnverse hopes to open up this year but I would rather be in lockdown and receiving the full education I pay for, then be opened up but risk being weeks behind in my class due to Covid. Furthermore, I hope that Converse takes a step back to reinstate different guidelines to handle Covid this school year and, if need be, following school years.
