free
THURSDAY
oct. 1, 2020 high 66°, low 44°
t h e i n de p e n de n t s t u de n t n e w s pa p e r of s y r a c u s e , n e w yor k |
C • Community coping
N • Wastewater workers
dailyorange.com
During the pandemic, businesses in Syracuse’s Little Italy neighborhood are managing revenue loss, fewer customers and COVID-19 precautions. Page 7
Syracuse University has employed several students to assist in collecting wastewater from residence halls to test for traces of coronavirus. Page 3
S • Beer necessities
For local Syracuse breweries, a fanless Carrier Dome presents challenges, such as tens of thousands of dollars in lost revenue and brand exposure. Page 12
Isolation, virtual classes take toll on students’ mental health
LUCY STOVER (LEFT) AND JENNIFER KIM Students seeking mental health counseling from the Barnes Center say virtual therapy hasn’t helped as much, espeically given the added stress of the pandemic. emily steinberger photo editor
her to dread her Zoom therapy sessions, she said. Barnes Center’s “It’s definitely not what it’s like in person, where you can feel that bond of trust,” said virtual therapy yracuse University’s Barnes Center at Stover, a television, radio and film major. “It’s The Arch began offering virtual therapy very hard to be vulnerable over a screen because to improve students’ mental health durit just feels like you’re talking to a robot and not not effective ing the coronavirus pandemic. But sopha real person.” omore Lucy Stover said the online counseling Administrators at the Barnes Center and Henreplacement for sessions have actually made her anxiety worse. dricks Chapel said they have not seen a decrease Stover has seen the same therapist from the in students seeking mental health counseling Barnes Center since February. She understands in-person counseling, this semester. Several SU students, though, said why SU transitioned to online therapy this semesvirtual therapy hasn’t proved an effective replacestudents say ter to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. But the ment for in-person counseling, especially given By Abby Weiss
asst. digital editor
S
see mental health page 4
resulting lack of personal connection has caused
on campus
SU holds virtual campus tours, recruitment programs By Mira Berenbaum asst. copy editor
Though prospective students can’t visit Syracuse University for in-person tours this semester, SU admissions officials are working to recruit students who are at home. SU’s schools and colleges are appealing to prospective students virtually to accommodate coronavirusrelated health guidelines. Despite the challenges of adapting to online programming, some admissions officials said the new approach had made SU’s
campus more accessible. “I can’t imagine seeing virtual sessions and virtual programming going away,” said Erin Kaminska, recruitment coordinator for the Martin J. Whitman School of Management. “Providing virtual options can be a positive thing for the college search process. It allows for flexibility and convenience.” Kathleen Joyce, assistant dean of student recruitment at the College of Engineering and Computer Science, tries to plan programming that accommodates prospective
Nothing compares to being physically on a campus Erin Kaminska
recruitment coordinator for the martin j. whitman school of management
students’ schedules and takes time zone differences into account. The college used to hold in-person information sessions and tours twice a day. Now, ECS hosts two virtual information sessions twice a week. “We had to really make a quick shift from a very strong focus on in-person visits to virtual recruitment,” Joyce said. “I’m actually really proud of what we’re doing.” Other schools and colleges have also been hosting weekly virtual tours and information sessions. Whitman hosts four virtual information ses-
sions each week, Kaminska said. The Newhouse School of Public Communications has hosted two virtual information sessions and two virtual tours each week, said Wes Whiteside, Newhouse’s associate director of recruitment and diversity. Virtual recruiting efforts mean that many students will apply to SU without seeing the campus in-person. The online format also gives admissions officials the opportunity to connect with students that would not be able to attend an in-person tour under normal see recruitment page 4