Host intro: The coronavirus has caused over 5,000 deaths in New York City so far, and the number of new cases continues to rise. Like most institutions of higher learning, the City University of New York transitioned to remote learning last month. CUNY is the largest public university system in the country, and many of the students at its 26 campuses around the five boroughs work to support themselves and their families. Many have been impacted not just by the switch to online lessons, but also by the loss of jobs and internship opportunities as all nonessential businesses have been closed. M’Niyah Lynn has more on this story.
AMBI: Nat sound of street showing how empty streets are (FADES AS TRACK BEGINS)
TRACK: Hear that? No…you don’t. Normally, the NYC streets would be bustling with activity, but today it is almost deserted. Here on the Upper East Side, few cars drive past 1st Avenue. What you don’t hear are the kids chasing each other in the park or the sound of heavy chatter at the local mall.
AMBI: Room tone (LAYER UNDER TRACK)
TRACK: I’m here with Adonia Smith over a video chat, listening to her speak as she prepares for another day of sitting at home to complete assignments. She’s a CUNY undergraduate student at LaGuardia Community College who is planning to transfer to John Jay after she graduates at the end of the semester. She would usually be at school working in the financial aid office.
ACT: ADONIA: Because the Federal Work Study office is physical and they are not moving electronically like other resources on campus, it has affected my ability to work because I cannot work currently, and as a result nobody that works in the work study office is working and we are all collecting our paychecks.
TRACK: Although CUNY has insisted that their community practice safe protocols, they have allowed internships and jobs to “use their best judgement” when it comes to deciding how work will be given out and deciding if people can still go to work sites. Smith says that LaGuardia is still paying Federal Work Study students as long as their worksite is closed, but some students are unable to have the same opportunity.
ACT: ADONIA: My employer stated that because of federal work study closing, there are no students that could submit their working papers and there’s no students that could apply for work study.
AMBI: Nat sounds of email notifications (FADES INTO TRACK)
TRACK: Student’s emails are being flooded with information from the CUNY chancellor, their professors, and their individual institutions, as both students and professors struggle transitioning. Angelica Tejada, Baruch College junior, was supposed to begin her first journalism internship the day after CUNY announced they would go remote. Now, she’s forced to delay her internship, that she worked so hard to get, for college credit.
ACT: ANGELICA: The position itself kind of requires in person because you know it’s about hosting events and interviewing people and obviously that’s like something that is traditionally done in person. I mean, we have come a long way where you can call someone and interview them or you can host like an online like via Skype party you know? But, it’s not the traditional way of doing it, and also the role that I was gonna be in that company it wasn’t supposed to be like remote.
TRACK: Fortunately, her supervisor postponed the internship until the fall. However, having to wait to pursue her opportunity has diminished her usually positive attitude.
ACT: ANGELICA: I feel like I’m fortunate and I really cannot complain because there’s people who are in like very unfortunate situations. But, for me, you know I did feel like pretty bummed out you know I was really excited for this internship and to finally you know work and feel like I was doing something important you know for the projects that the company presented to me and everything, so I just felt kind of like unmotivated now and uninspired in a way and you know, cuz’ I was really pumped and now they just like bursted my bubble.
AMBI: Gov. Cuomo’s press conference from March 20th, announcing the closing of non-essential businesses. CUOMO: Only essential businesses will be functioning. People can work at home, god bless you, but only essential businesses can have workers commuting. (FADES INTO TRACK)
TRACK: Non-essential businesses, like clothing stores and barber shops have been closed to curb the spread of COVID-19. This means many students are screwed because “42% of students have household incomes less than $20,000,” according to the State of CUNY 2017 report. Students seek work to help pay for college expenses that PELL grants and TAP don’t cover, if they receive anything. In a video posted to the CUNY website last month, Chancellor Matos Rodriguez said he’s working to make sure students can thrive in school and work from home.
ACT: MATOS: If we don’t do something to help them, those students will lose their semester. Those are our most vulnerable students, and it wouldn’t be CUNY if we just said that we’re not going to help you.
TRACK: CUNY continues to keep students posted with updates, including implementing a recalibration period to hopefully equip everyone for distance learning and running spring break from April 8th to the 11th. For Baruch College, I’m M’Niyah Lynn.