foster-care

In March 2020, the world stood still. What would come next, nobody knew. I watched as a bustling community dispersed from Morningside Heights. Friends I had only just made, friends I had known for years, scattered through the air, over oceans and across state lines.

Columbia and the Graduate Workers of Columbia-United Auto Workers have spent the past two years at the bargaining table, negotiating issues of compensation, neutral arbitration, childcare benefits, and more. As of Monday, over 3,000 GWC-UAW student workers are officially on strike until a labor contract can be agreed upon between the union and the University. Among the 23 tentative agreements already reached between Columbia and the GWC-UAW is one on how the university will subsidize and support caregivers.

You have probably wondered what would happen if you were to contract COVID-19 tomorrow. What kind of care would you require, and would you receive it? And—a question causing as much stress as the illness itself for many—would you be able to pay for it? Unfortunately, if you’re a student who is relying on Columbia for health care this semester, you may be right to worry.

For Columbia’s faculty, COVID-19 comes with more barriers than remote learning; it means a lack of child care, research, and, for some, progress on their tenure track. In the midst of a global pandemic, caretakers and untenured professors are facing a disproportionate number of obstacles to professional growth compared to their peers.

Whether you’re going to class or catching up with friends, video chatting has become part of everyone’s daily routine. However, after many months of working, networking, playing games, and even taking exams over Zoom, many voice the same complaint: an overwhelming feeling of exhaustion. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as Zoom fatigue. Read Spectrum’s tips to find out more about what it is and develop better screen habits during the day.

A recent community health study determined that residents of Community District 9, which encompasses 110th to 155th Street on the West Side of Manhattan, experience significant barriers in access to health care. The study reported that slightly over one-sixth of the CD9 population was unable to get medical attention when they needed it. If there is a world-class hospital located at the center of CD9, why are so many people who desperately need medical attention unable to receive it? As Spectator reported last week, West Harlem residents lack sufficient access to medical facilities and hospitals. This challenge is due to the impoverished state of about one-fifth of CD9 residents, the district’s disproportionate number of people with medical conditions, and the presence of only one hospital in the district.

“We stay here for you. You stay home for us!!!” I see the viral Facebook post for the fourth time today: a photo of 11 doctors in scrubs, gloves, and masks holding signs. The first 10 each have one word; the final doctor has three exclamation points. The message is clear, concise, and necessary: The men and women of the healthcare industry are risking their lives to save those of us who may have chosen to not take precautions during this epidemic, so the least we could do to thank them is heed the government’s warnings.

After my banana bread manifesto on radical empathy was published, I spent the day extremely grateful for the kind responses, especially by those close to me. I spent the rest of the week making wild logical leaps while criticizing myself and my friendships. I started wondering if my most distinct and important personality trait was giving, and if the friends I had were perpetually expecting gifts of care.

Valentine’s Day is coming up this Friday, Feb. 14. If you have a date or a partner, then you may be eagerly looking towards the end of the week. If you’re single, however, you might be feeling indifferent towards the holiday or even feeling self-conscious if you don’t have plans. Well, not to worry; being single on Valentine’s Day is totally fine. Here are just a few reasons why:

Whether in avocado toast or the guacamole at Chipotle, avocados demand high prices at restaurants. The reason those restaurants often charge extra for avocados is that they require a lot of maintenance in comparison to other foods: They require a lot of water to grow, are in high demand and limited supply, and spoil very quickly.