From news coverage to internet memes, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has disseminated throughout our global network and has affected most of everyone’s time, energy and stress levels this past week. This unprecedented virus has shifted the norm of various sectors worldwide including health, media, travel, transportation, and AAP NYC.
The students studying at the Cornell AAP NYC campus have been given a three-day notice to pack up their studio space and forfeit access cards.
Since the institutions statement released by President Pollack earlier this week, AAP NYC students have been scrambling to figure out what is best for their community without sacrificing their most experiential, immersive, and expensive semesters at Cornell. Most of us are stuck in a legal housing bind paying high rent costs with no yearn to ruin credit scores as a result of breaking a lease. With coronavirus cases growing in metropolitan areas, many students are stressed with the decision of returning to their primary residence.
Of all of the difficulties associated with the situation so far, one of the most notable high points was the attention given by our Program Director, Robert (Bob) Balder. He has gone through extreme measures to ensure that we are safe, healthy, and equipped with supplies for the remaining virtual semester. All weekend long, he has coordinated picking up desks from IKEA to distribute them to those of us lacking a workspace. Students have been helpful by volunteering their time to aid in the coordination; making phone calls and excel sheets while Bob delivers these desks on his own dime and in his personal vehicle.
A lot has changed in a very short while. We are doing our best to keep high hopes for the new reality of our education and will no doubt learn new skills as a result of all of the precautions put into practice, although with some expensive and unfortunate caveats.