In order to spread some happiness around campus, I went looking for some university students with pet pals of their own. Pets have a special meaning to us pet owners, and many animal choices can speak to our personalities. There are the reptilian lovers, the farm animal experts and the domesticated fur parents. With so many animals to buy and so many to save, it is always a joy to bring someone new into the family. The quarantine has given many people the opportunity to discover a new part of themselves, and a new side to their pets.

Throughout the pandemic, we have all tried new things in an attempt to rid ourselves of boredom. A few of us might have tried puzzles, board games, technology, or some of us got the trifecta. Learning how to handle our kids, work and school. One thing is for sure though, our pets at times, don’t make it easy.

We have to remember that this has been an adjustment for our pets, too. I spoke to Micah Rodriguez about her three cats. The black one is named Jasper, the gray one is named Little Bit, and the tabby one cat is named Tuck. While cats are known for their attitude and sass, it seems like there is never a dull moment in this house of three.

“Jasper tends to think Zoom calls are his time to shine,” Rodriguez said. “He normally likes to yowl or flash his fanny like it’s his Only Fans page.”

The gentle side note gives us a great idea as to what we should expect from this cat. He spends most of his time with Micah while she works, but they all take care of their human.

“They have a way of sensing when I am stressed and tend to cuddle up to me,” Rodriguez said. “They also provide company and entertainment.”

In our world, any form of entertainment will do. Having a pet can be a job in itself. There is a lot to handle with them when they destroy everything, but they seem to always think of us in the end. Even if that means barking during our online meetings and flashing their tail ends now and again during a Zoom call.

Luckily, online calls and virtual meetings have allowed for more schedule freedom. While in the past there was always a time for the commute, for class, for food and for work; we find ourselves having more free time.

For Danielle O’Brien, her pets have encouraged her to go outside more during her time at home.

“With the lockdown, it was hard to find moments to leave the house and staying inside all day, every day was damaging our physical and mental health,” O’Brien said. “Beanie and Kota love going on walks and playing in the backyard, so they kept us out in the sun and moving.”

Walking your pet is a task that can be burdensome at the end of a long day. Quarantine has allowed us to not only gain more chances to play and exercise our pets but ourselves as well. Going out and trying new things is a great way to make it through quarantine with your pet. Take an extra walk or two and get a little extra sunshine.

At the end of the day, whether we are working from home or not, our pets are the loyal ground for us to stand on. Never wavering and always caring.

“Zoe is my best friend and I know she’ll always be there for me through my ups and downs. She’ll always hold a special place in my heart,” Brittany Christian said.

Her dog seems like a handful but is quite the opposite.

“She’s very quiet and aloof so I don’t have too many problems with her,” Christian said. “She has my back and I have hers, even when she misbehaves.”

While many of our pets have their moments of destruction or bad habit, we always get through it with them. We have a new opportunity to train our animals, but other times we take it in stride. In other words, we pet owners learn to put up with it.

This is what Jason Davis has learned to do with his dog, Nike. His worst habit is one that was rather hard to break—digging. Throughout the pandemic, we have had snow and rain, but it never stopped this dog. Quarantine has given Jason the perfect chance to fix up the yard and manage the grass, but he has come to leave one particular spot in his yard alone. This has been known as the “No-Go Zone” in his household.

The places every dog must bury their favorite toy or bone they will finish later.

“There is no point in trying to fix a broken clock,” Davis said. “Eventually, I’ll get around to making him move holes, but it isn’t too much of a concern. It is a pain, but he is a happy dog and I love him, even if he tracks dirt everywhere.”

We all come in a little dirty, and some pets more than most.

One thing is for certain, the pandemic has been colorful with our pets around. Whether they are showing off in Zoom calls, getting us in the sun, helping us get out and about or being our number one companions, everyone’s pets are unique, and each has its own stories to tell. They are our emotional support, our backbone, the thorn in our side and our best friends. At least they always manage to keep us entertained.

Consider how COVID-19 has affected your pets and how. Just remember to give them all the attention you can for now, who knows how long quarantine will last. Your pet will miss you, so give them plenty of treats and spoil them while you’re still stuck socially distancing from people. Animals are way cooler anyway.

If you do not have a pet and are thinking of getting one, please consider visiting the many animal shelters in Little Rock when looking for one. Little Rock Animal Village, North Little Rock Animal Shelter and Humane Society of Pulaski County are all wonderful options to choose from in the Little Rock area.

Every animal needs a forever home and you never know what animal you could end up saving.

The post The Pet Pandemic appeared first on The Forum.

During the Feb. 27th event, almost 50 volunteers from the various community partners worked the drive-through clinic. They surpassed their goal by vaccinating almost 550 people. The event for the second dose was held Mar. 20th.

“It was truly a community effort,” said Dr. Creshelle Nash, M.D., Medical Director of Public Programs for Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield. Dr. Nash went on to say that “Arkansas Blue Cross has been involved in more than 35 COVID-19 vaccination events since the first vaccine arrived in Arkansas just a few months ago.” There are 33 future events scheduled, joining the hundreds of events throughout Arkansas that are listed on the Arkansas Department of Health’s website.

“There is a lot of misinformation that we hope to correct through ‘Vaccinate the Natural State,'” said Dr. Nash. “The health of our communities relies on every eligible Arkansan getting the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it becomes available to them. Vaccinations offer our best path for eliminating the virus, ending the suffering, and starting the process of returning our lives back to some sense of normal. The organizations that have come together to fuel this movement represent best-of-class knowledge coupled with connected networks that can ensure the word gets out that Vaccinate the Natural State can be life-changing for all of us.”

Regarding vaccines at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Sharon Ann Downs, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, and W. Cody Decker, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Chief Data Officer, have released a statement as of Mar. 25th about the ways that students can receive the vaccine, including an on-campus vaccination clinic and an off-campus vaccination option. According to the release, “Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson has opened COVID-19 vaccination phase 1-C,” which includes students “who reside in campus housing” and students “who have a condition that puts them at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.” Cornerstone Pharmacy, who is a partner of Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield, will be administrating the vaccine to residential students at ĚÇĐÄVlog´ŤĂ˝ Little Rock on Apr. 5th at DSC Ledbetter Rooms.

Students may sign up for the vaccination and future vaccinations through a portal from the release. As Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield, their community partners and ĚÇĐÄVlog´ŤĂ˝ Little Rock work together to provide and administer vaccines to Arkansans, you too can do your part by educating, engaging and encouraging one another to join the fight against COVID-19.

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Gage Pipkin, a junior at ĚÇĐÄVlog´ŤĂ˝ Little Rock, didn’t have many plans previous to COVID-19. However, he might still go out of town. 

“I didn’t plan anything because of COVID,” said Pipkin. “I was contemplating going to the beach because I’ve worked there over the summer, but due to everything going on and not trying to go many places, I just told my parents I may come home to say hi.” 

Mikayla Stertmann, a freshman, had COVID-19 put a damper on her plans. 

“One of the main people that wanted to go [on our trip], her parents said no because of COVID-19, and they didn’t know the house we were going to, so that sucks,” said Stertmann. 

A typical vacation college students take is spring break at the beach but many will not be doing that because of the pandemic. There are other more safe activities that can still keep with the Center for Disease and Control guidelines. 

Susan Schade, a graduate student, is going to use this time to relax and plan ahead due to her graduating in May. 

“My plans for spring break are to rest, work on my research and wait to hear back on a job,” said Schade. “I may try to go hiking, so I may have to take precautions for that activity.” 

The natural state has a lot to offer when it comes to outdoor activities such as lakes, hiking, parks and more. Having these options is vital especially during this pandemic because it allows you to be active while still enjoying yourself in a safe manner. Vaccines are rolling around Arkansas but many college students might be the last to be eligible so opting out of spring break plans seems to be the safest option for ĚÇĐÄVlog´ŤĂ˝ Little Rock students. 

Some students, like senior Jasmine Pugh, are trying to see the positive side of this pandemic.

“[COVID-19] hasn’t really had an effect on any plans for me,” said Pugh. “I was actually able to accomplish a lot more due to [the pandemic]. I’m looking forward to protecting my craft and exploring my options in different fields.” 

Regardless of plans or no plans, some ĚÇĐÄVlog´ŤĂ˝ Little Rock students are hoping that those who are moving on with their normal plans are either vaccinated or are being responsible for their actions.

“I feel like we live in a state of constant rule-bending,” said Pipkin. “It really is up to people what they feel comfortable with and what their safety standard is. I don’t really blame anyone. It’s more are [they] acting and doing things in a responsible way.” 

Schade is staying home with her family and relaxing, but similar to Pipkin, she hopes people can take their precautions because she does understand that the vaccine isn’t the end all be all. 

“When it comes to regular plans for others I just hope they are being smart,” said Schade. “If they do have the vaccine, people can still get sick if too many people are together.” 

Stertmann understands that some situations are more acceptable than others when in public during a pandemic. 

“It depends,” said Stertmann. “If it is a friend group you hang out with all the time and you go out and have a trip, that’s fine. Now if it’s going to a party with multiple people you don’t know, no, I do not agree with that.” 

The world has been indoors for too long and most are itching to get out and travel. If that is your plan, be as safe as possible to try and slow the spread of COVID-19. For those deciding to stay home or don’t have extensive travel plans, hopefully, you find peace in knowing that the spread is slowing down. It is important to find positivity within every little win that you can achieve.

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He also announced Arkansas’ mask mandate will end on March 31 if the state reached certain goals.

The new order changes the directives into “guidance” which he defined as a “strong recommendation.” At the news conference, he and Health Secretary Dr. Jose Romero said they don’t expect Arkansans behavior to change, as mask-wearing, hand washing and social distancing is still necessary.

On CNN’s ‘State of the Union,’ Hutchinson said goals announced in February to lift the mask mandate, which include the 7-day rolling average of testing positivity rate remains below 10 percent after an average of 7,500 people tested daily, or fewer than 750 hospitalizations, are being met and he believes the mask requirement will be lifted. 

“You can’t keep directives in place forever,” Hutchinson said. “This gives us a safe path to move forward following the guidelines. And if a business believes that they can keep their customers safe and their employees safe and they want to tweak it … then there’s more flexibility.”

Former ĚÇĐÄVlog´ŤĂ˝ Little Rock student, Jeffery Huber said the way Gov. Hutchinson has handled the pandemic is the best job he’s done since he’s been in office. “He’s put together a really smart team to surround and advise him,” he said.

When asked how he thinks business will handle the restriction being lifted he responded, “People need to understand that each business has the right to require you to wear a mask.”

He said he doesn’t think the restriction being lifted will set Arkansas back in the progress made since the pandemic started last March. 

Veronica Lindsey, a senior from Philander Smith has a different take on the proposal. “I feel the governor is a little more relaxed than he should be with the mask mandate,” Lindsey said. “In my opinion, it is still a little too early to let individuals walk around or go into various businesses without a mask on because the coronavirus is still prevalent and a big concern to many individuals around the world and even in this state.”

Lindsey said that she thinks the restriction being lifted will set us back in our progress. 

“The cases are still high and prevalent in Arkansas, and everyone has not been allowed to receive the vaccination yet,” Lindsey said. “Even though we will be able to go out without a mask, I will continue to wear mine until I feel more comfortable being without it in a public setting.”

On March 24, a week before the mask mandate is expected to be lifted, Arkansas had 231 new positive cases and 172 active hospitalizations.

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Several international students have been stuck in the United States for a year now and most of them will be staying here a lot longer. Borders are closed to the US or the US won’t allow people from other countries to enter.

Brazil is one of the most impacted countries. The US won’t allow Brazilian students in the country unless they quarantine in a different country for two weeks.

Two volleyball players at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock got stuck in Brazil and couldn’t participate in the volleyball season.

“It was a very difficult time because I was very anxious to go to a new university and with COVID-19, everything became complicated,” Livia Kimura expressed.

Eager students try to find solutions to be able to get back in the country to finish their education, but the process isn’t easy especially when things don’t go as planned. Victoria Silva’s process was scarier because she almost got stuck in Chile without a passport.

“To be able to enter the USA and get my student visa, I had to do 15 quarantine days in Chile,” Silva said. “It was a very difficult process and a huge expense of money, I had a problem with the return of the passport after my visa was approved and ended up staying in Chile for 26 days.”

Leaving home to go live in a whole different country is difficult for the student but also for the family. The pandemic makes it more difficult for parents, knowing that their child is in a different country with a deadly virus going around but also not knowing when they are going to see them again.

Making life decisions like this as 20 plus year-olds is a big deal. After making decisions, people rethink the situation and wish they would’ve done something different. As Livia said, she would’ve stayed in the US if she knew COVID-19 was going to stay this long.

Silva and Kimura try to find different things that will help them get their minds off of that idea.

“I video call my family a lot and it helps being around people from my country that have been through the same.” Technology nowadays definitely helps.

Kimura has a tip for all international students in these bad situations.

“Be patient, some things we are not able to control,” Kimura said. “It is a stressful and complicated process, but in the end, it will all work out. Stay positive, I think this is the best tip to face this moment. Things will get better little by little, so don’t stress yourself trying to control what doesn’t depend on you.”

Internationals just need to keep in mind that everything will pass and everything will turn back to normal. Everyone will be able to achieve their goals but just have a lot of patience and faith.

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Unequivocally, classes went online or hybrid for the spring of 2020 at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Entire lessons had to be transferred online and students who did not sign up for this style of learning were forced out of the necessity of safety for all.

Sophomore Community Management and Development student Kayla Maxwell describes the effect of switching to virtual learning on her.

“[At] the beginning of this, all online classes didn’t bother me at all,” Maxwell said. “I enjoyed them but now I am starting to feel otherwise.”

She believes that once we are able to go back to being in a classroom with our peers’ coursework will be easier to do. She is thankful for her moms’ support right now and her sister is also at home doing work virtually. She is keeping focus currently with “several calendars, whiteboards, and a list going at a time.”

Senior Professional and Technical Writing student Micah Rodriguez is not impressed with online learning either.

“I prefer physical [classes],” said Rodriguez.“The class interaction is more fun and collaborating on projects is easier.”

Having a set time to be in class helps her balance work and school commitments. At home, Rodriguez has a space in her basement that she utilizes as an office and credits her wife’s support for helping her stay on track.

“My wife has been my biggest cheerleader as I try to finish up my degree,” said Rodriguez. “Making sure I have time to work, have access to snacks or fixing my laptop when it acts possessed…she has kept me sane.” Her routine and schedule are her best assets to stay focused.

Sophomore Mass Communications student Shyanne Kidd does not prefer either method of learning but confesses.

“I used to love in-person classes because you could be hands-on and ask questions and get demonstrations in-person,” Kidd said.

It was tough for her at first to be able to balance her online schoolwork with life but has adapted well. She has found what works best for her.

“Because I have become quite the procrastinator during COVID-19, with the help of writing and scheduling things I have been able to keep on target,” Kidd said. “I also found to not overwhelm myself with school 24/7 and taking time to myself has really helped me in remaining focused.”

Some students continued to work in the public space since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rodriguez was initially furloughed from her job. However, she is thankful for that time because it allowed her to work on school projects. Since then, she has found another job.

“Up until about 5 months ago I was delivering and installing appliances for clients,” said Rodriguez. “We had COVID-19 protocols to keep us safe, I didn’t feel safe. Listening to people complain about masks made me laugh as I was working in the heat and carrying fridges up flights of stairs while wearing a mask, gloves and practically bathing in hand sanitizer.”

She has now been promoted to a stay-at-home job.

Maxwell was working in the childcare center of a gym before they were shut down after spring break in 2020. The gym was unable to keep regular shifts because of their limited capacity, so she had to find other work to keep her hours. She acknowledges that her employers now are trying their best to keep her and fellow essential workers safe but is frustrated by those who don’t feel the need to wear a mask to protect others.

Kidd responds to a potential lift on the mask mandate with a rhetorical question, “We still have people dying from COVID-19 complications, and the state might lift the mask mandate?” She does not agree with relaxing this preventative measure.

Rodriguez lives with an at-risk individual and agrees with the sentiment.

“I think it is irresponsible,” said Rodriguez. “Even when the mandate is lifted, I am still wearing a mask to not only keep myself safer but my family.”

However, it looks like Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson will let the mandate expire by the end of this month.

The world has changed, and Rodriguez describes this well.

“I remember when my wife and I were visiting our cousins in March of 2020,” Rodriguez said. “The mask mandate was not a thing yet and nothing had actually closed. We made a joke about how this will all blow over and we will be back to normal before we know it. We visited them 5 months later. Social distancing was mandatory, masks were mandatory, some businesses were a thing of the past and were shared a laugh on how that statement didn’t age well.”

Many wonderful people and things have been lost. Maxwell has seen some positives of the slowing-down of the world COVID-19 has forced.

“It has made me explore interest that I typically wouldn’t have stopped to give a chance,” Maxwell said. “I have put a lot more time into thoughts and activities surrounding my future. It has also afforded me great opportunities. While I don’t neglect the bad that has happened during this time, I am so grateful for all the good that is coming.”

Kidd gives this advice, “Wear your mask, and one day we will be able to have our freedoms again. Whatever you do, always remain safe and protecting yourself, family and friends, and strangers.”

The post More Than a Year Into the COVID-19 Pandemic: How are Students Doing? appeared first on The Forum.

The ĚÇĐÄVlog´ŤĂ˝ Little Rock Return to Campus Guide for Students states “Complete the Trojan COVID-19 Screening Tool every time you are coming to campus” as the first step to returning to campus, as well as a mask mandate and social distancing guidelines.

ĚÇĐÄVlog´ŤĂ˝ Little Rock formulated a screening tool where individuals answered a set of three questions to determine whether or not they should come to campus. The screening tool will either produce a green thumbs-up or a red thumbs-down with more information about what actions the individual should take. Red thumbs mean that the user should not return to campus until they could produce a green thumb response from the screening tool.

If a user receives a green thumb the webpage reads: “please show this green symbol when entering any area on campus with signage asking for it to be shown, and upon request.  We appreciate your participation to keep our campus safe.”

Many students considered the focus on the screening tool to mean that it would be an integrated part of daily life. However, most students found that they had only been asked to take it or provide a green thumb a handful of times. Gage Taylor, a junior student resident and a student worker on campus, said he expected the green thumb to be presented often.

“I expected to be asked [to have it] at the entrance of any major building. Like the library, the cafeteria, the DSC,” Taylor said. “These are essential areas of student life. Many students have to travel through these places to get food or sit in-between classes.”

He did not have in-person classes this semester or last semester, but when working or eating on campus he never was asked about his green thumb or to show the screening tool.

However, the screening tool is being utilized in some unexpected areas on campus. Kaitlynn Mitchell was a student working for ĚÇĐÄVlog´ŤĂ˝ Little Rock last semester in the theatre building. Mitchell said her roles were “to make sure everyone had a green screen and was wearing a mask. I also made sure all PPE [Personal Protective Equipment] was stocked throughout the building.” She said many students had their green thumbs ready and that those who didn’t would fill out the survey outside the doors.

As a student, she was only ever asked to present a green COVID-19 screening when entering the theatre building. Mitchell felt that the screening tool was effective in giving the university a count of COVID but felt that she it is not doing any good to the university because of how easy it is to lie on the screening.

Sharon Downs, assistant vice chancellor, commented that “the screening was developed to reduce the number of persons with ILI [influenza-like illness] coming to campus in order to reduce the spread of the virus,” and that she did not have a sense for how often it was used for that purpose.

While students expected to interact with the screening tool frequently, it is rarely used on campus. Mainly, students should use the tool to evaluate their own symptoms and make an educated decision before attending campus.

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Wash your hands, stay six feet socially distanced from one another, and wear a mask! This is the mantra everyone has been reciting over the past year to stay safe and keep from contracting COVID-19. Practicing these safety measures is important, but it doesn’t mean you will be immune to catching the virus. My testing positive for COVID-19, alongside surviving the virus, left me with a first-hand account and knowledge of the deadly coronavirus strain.

Turning over in the bed at 5:37 a.m. one early January morning, shivering and covered in sweat, I knew that something wasn’t right. This combination of cold sweats and body aches came with a 100.1-degree fever, and a very dreadful case of anxiety. Thirty hours after spiking a fever I was leaving the drive-through testing facility at the big Baptist Hospital in West Little Rock.

Right out of the gate and even before definitively knowing my test results, the coronavirus was disrupting my life and instigating stress.

Once tested, a self-quarantine is required until you receive the results. And once the results are confirmed to be positive, the quarantine is in effect until you are symptom free.

After testing positive for COVID-19, I was bombarded by countless phone calls. The Arkansas Department of Health and Baptist Health reached out first, asking me a specific set of medical questions. The questions varied, relating to my symptoms and how I was feeling at the time.

A few hours later, calls from a contact tracer and my employer really cemented the fact in my brain that I was sick. I really did have COVID-19. While my symptoms evolved into losing my sense of smell and taste, I increasingly became weaker as the hours passed.

Dealing with the ramifications and aftermath of having COVD-19 is almost as detrimental as actually contracting the virus itself. Not only does the required fourteen-day quarantine disrupt daily living, the loss of wages that one would earn from working could be the difference between buying food and paying the water bill.

Life changed for me during and after coming down with COVID-19, in a couple different ways.

After being sick, I still have this ingrained fear of being around other people. An irrational fear, yes, but after being isolated for two weeks straight, the notion of being contagious doesn’t dissipate. The stigma imposed on COVID-19 positive individuals by the rest of society (and even our own selves) causes mental and emotional stress, on top of the physical stress of being sick.

Coming out on top of my battle with the coronavirus, the way I interact with people has forever been changed. I no longer shake hands, and you’re lucky if we bump elbows. When standing next to people I subconsciously distance myself at least six feet, without thinking. And it will be a few years before I feel comfortable touching my face again. Having COVID-19 changes the way you think and interact with people.

According to a research in an article produced by the Pew Research Center, many American’s and global citizens alike state that their lives have been changed due to the coronavirus. 68% of men in the United States claim their lives have been affected by COVID-19, whereas 79% of women claim the same.

I am one of the lucky few who contracted COVID-19, due to the financial and physical assistance from my parents. Most people who do contract the virus don’t have that direct line of support, making it much more difficult (and in some cases impossible) to recover.

With the lack of a national, unified response to the pandemic, mitigating practices, ordinances and guidance came from various different sources. Individual states required masks to be worn in public, while some states held events that would later become known as “super-spreader events”.

Denial of the mere existence of COVID-19 coupled with the poor national response in the U.S. created a vacuum in which the coronavirus was able to multiply, divide, variate and grow.

This coronavirus pandemic has highlighted all sorts of disparities within our government’s systems, from healthcare and the economy, to criminal justice and education. The pandemic has also made an example out of the United States and their less than favorable response to handling the deadly virus.

The same article and its research mentioned earlier by the Pew Research Center shows less than half of the U.S. population approving of the coronavirus response efforts being made. Around 41% of Americans approve of the inadequate response to COVID-19, which is not favorable.

“I’m just lucky I had such a mild experience,” Spencer Hamilton of Little Rock says, “It was still pretty rough, though.”

Hamilton contracted the virus around the same time I tested positive, and experienced a lot of the same symptoms, feelings, and thoughts that I and many other Americans faced while being sick.

“Even after a week or two, I still get chest pains and trouble breathing,” Hamilton says, “now the next step is to get vaccinated!”

As COVID-19 continues to disrupt the lives of everyday people and highlight problem areas within our government and their pandemic response, it is more important than ever to follow healthcare professional’s guidance and advice. Wear a mask, wash your hands, social distance and most importantly, get vaccinated!

Take it from someone who’s temporarily lost two of his senses, being sick from COVID-19 is not something you want to try.

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