Thursday, April 23, 2020
Volume 154 No. 37 SERVING SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1934
WWW.SJSUNEWS.COM/SPARTAN_DAILY
COVID-19
Arts, crafts and face masks Psychology student answers call to action after learning to sew protective gear By Vicente Vera SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR
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h mother using the Spanish term for gossiper. “Shee was, like, telling familyy friends, like, ‘Oh, myy daughter’s doing this.’ ” One of those family friends was Clementina Hoffman, who owns the Larson Packaging Company in Milpitas with her husband. Hoffman said she saw Craig’s post on Facebook while looking to purchase face masks for her dozens of employees working in the company’s factory which is not equipped with personal protective equipment. “Right when I saw the post on Facebook that she was doing that, we had one of our employees complain of a sore throat and a mild fever . . . Obviously, we sent him home,” Hoffman said. “We have families who are working for us. So when one is considered a risk, we send the whole family home.” Hoffman got in contact with Craig who agreed to dedicate an entire weekend to crafting masks for Hoffman’s employees. “I told her I’ll deliver a little bit every day, so I was dropping off, like, 15 a day,” she said. “I still
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psychology senior or
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what a needle was until, like, a month ago to be honest,” she said. “I talked to my grandma and said, ‘Hey grandma, would you be able to show me how to use a sewing machine?’ ” Spending so much time with her abuelita also meant having to take more precautions to protect her health, Craig said, so she took a leave of absence from her job working with children on the autism spectrum. She said she had to find a new source of income. “[My abuelit a’s] immuno compromis ed,” she said. “She has cancer, so for me the benefits of going to work do not outweigh the risks.” Craig sold her first three homemade face masks within a day of posting them for $14 each on Etsy. Without hesitation she got to work on her next set of custom face masks. Her number one cheerleader, Craig’s mother bears witness to the long hours Craig spends on the sewing process. “So my mom is very ‘chismosa,’ ” Craig said, describing her
Elizabeth Craig ig
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I’m a huge fan of Etsy. I’m always getting shit on Etsy that I don’t really need and I saw that people were making masks and I was, like, ‘Oh I can do that too.’
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She started off threading together miniature stuffed animals she dubbed “yarn critters,” with aspirations to knit baby clothes. But just as psychology senior Elizabeth Craig contemplated selling them, the COVID-19 pandemic forced a change in all aspects of her world, especially arts and crafts. “I was like, ‘This isn’t going to really sell and during this time no one’s really concerned about having a cute little figurine,’ ” she said. “I changed gears and said, ‘Before I start that, let me do something that’s more needed right now.’ ” Craig said she noticed face masks becoming increasingly popular on Etsy, an online marketplace for creators and buyers of handmade crafts and jewelry. “I’m a huge fan of Etsy,” she said. “I’m always getting shit on Etsy that I don’t really need and I saw that people were making masks and I was, like, ‘Oh I can do that too.’ ” So she went to the local JOANN Fabric and Craft store and bought a sewing machine. At what Craig described as “price-gouging” rates, she bought cloth and elastic online to craft her custom face masks. Her grandmother, who she calls “abuelita,” was even more valuable in her journey than her sewing machine, she said. “I didn’t even know
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had d people l buying or requesting [on Etsy], so I said, ‘Give me a week and I will get back to you guys.’ ” Craig created 50 masks for the employees over four days using elastic, copper and cloth, some of which was provided by Hoffman’s company. Hoffman said that Craig provided a life-saving service so that workers wouldn’t have to call in
sick for fear of contracting COVID-19. “Right before I saw the post on Facebook, I spent probably an hour and a half online trying to find reusable masks and the delivery time for anything on Etsy was delivered by the end of this month,” she said. “[Craig] saved the day.” Even after helping a company in need and collecting some extra income for herself, Craig
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said she won’t be burnt out from crafting face masks any time soon. “I’ve been getting faster and faster because I’ve been trying to see ways to make it go faster because time is money, right?” she said. “I just felt like this was a good way to make it all kind of come together and it’s worked so far.” Follow Vicente on Twitter @VicenteSJSU
Professor talks climate change dangers By Shruthi Lakshmanan STAFF WRITER
William DeVincenzi, director of San Jose State’s Sbona Honors program and Thompson Global Internship program, told students over Zoom about the vast dangers of climate change and proposed possible solutions. “We need to take action now,” DeVincenzi said at the Climate Crisis event held Wednesday. In his three-part presentation, DeVincenzi highlighted the environmental, social and economical effects of climate change and what people must do to combat climate change. He began by discussing the physical effects of global warming that U.S. states are exhibiting because of excessively warm or cold temperatures. According to DeVincenzi, the polar vortex, cold air that swirls around the North Pole that stays in the area, is dividing because of hotter temperatures moving north of Asia. Not only does this cause weather abnormalities such as excessive flooding and frozen environments, but it also influences the lack of abundance in basic necessities, DeVincenzi said. “For each [degree change in] Celsius, there are decreases in [maize, wheat, rice and soy], which is two thirds of the human caloric intake,” he said. Climate change causes loss of
Use your voice. Use your vote. Use your choices and speak truth to power like your world depends on it because your world depends on it. William DeVincenzi director of San Jose State’s Sbona Honors program and Thompson Global Internship program
nutrients and prolonged droughts, which lower the amount of crops produced. DeVincenzi said these phenomena are becoming more of a problem as the global population is “climbing precipitously.” As the demand for crops rises, so does the need for water, which is becoming scarce because of rising sea levels. “Due to heat issues, [there are] more extreme weather events, infectious diseases, air pollution and allergens for people who suffer from asthma,” DeVincenzi said. “We’re at risk of losing up to 50% of all land-based species.” Climate change is not only detrimental to the environment, but also to the world’s economic status, he said.
“Here are some things that you don’t see in the cost: political instability, wildfires, drought, storm damage, climate refugees all over the planet trying to find a place to live and grow crops,” DeVincenzi said. “Effectively the World Economic Forum considers [climate change] to be the number one threat to the global economy.” In November 2019, President Donald Trump announced the U.S.’s formal intent to withdraw from the 2016 Paris Climate Agreement, a United Nations agreement regarding climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. However, the U.S. cannot effectively withdraw before November 4, 2020, four years after the agreement came into effect in the U.S. DeVincenzi said this possible withdrawal would cause devastating environmental consequences and he encouraged those who want to protect the planet to vote for a presidential candidate accordingly. In the case of the U.S. pulling back from the Climate Accord, 25 states led by California, New York and Washington have formed the United States Climate Alliance with goals to “obey and stay within the construct of the Paris Accord,” DeVincenzi said. He also provided insight on how students can take part in protecting the environment by joining environmental organizations and educating themselves on the Green New Deal.
Upcoming earth month events The Silicon Valley Youth Climate Strike will be livestreaming panel discussions on its Instagram account, @svclimatestrike. Today, noon-1 p.m.: Teach-in + Q&A Panel: Capitalism and the Climate Crisis Today, 2-3:30 p.m.: Teach-in + Q&A Panel: COVID-19 vs. Climate Crisis Today, 5-6 p.m.: Ecological Epidemiology Today, 6-7:30 p.m.: How to be an Ally to Indigenous People “So, going solar or driving electric, opt up to 100% renewable energy . . . get involved in a youth strike,” DeVincenzi said. “Use your voice. Use your vote. Use your choices and speak truth to power like your world depends on it because your world depends on it.” Follow Shruthi on Instagram @shruthilakshmanan
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ONLINE LEARNING
THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2020
Tips for success at Zoom University Eight ways to be more productive while learning from home By Kunal Mehta • Science & Tech Editor
Adjusting to studying from home is hard; I get it. You have to learn in an unusual location without educational resources you depend upon and expect. Basic things like raising your hand to ask a question no longer work.
But it’s totally doable to adjust – the key is creating a good physical space. After a year of struggling to be productive at my job, I’ve now spent more than five years working remotely. These are the tips that have worked for me:
Limit all the interruptions
Get out of bed, find a desk
Extra motivation for extra pep
Don’t let days blend together
Make sure your family knows when it’s OK and not OK to interrupt you. Leave a sock on the doorknob when you’re in class . . . or some other indicator. My sister tapes a sign on her door when she’s busy so we know whether she’s in class, doing homework or just hanging out with friends.
Find a place with decent lighting where you’ll do most of your work. As tempting as it might be to sit on your bed with a laptop – don’t. Staying on your bed just leaves you lethargic rather than productive. If you don’t have a usable desk, consider your dining table or something similar.
It sounds cheesy, but motivational quotes are motivational for a reason. Put up a poster that energizes you, whether it’s a quote from a person or from your favorite TV show. COVID-19 really sucks and messed up our lives. A little extra inspiration and positivity will always be helpful.
If you haven’t already, it’s likely you’ll start to forget which day of the week it is. Keep a calendar on your desk or use some other technique to distinguish the days, helping you meet your due dates. I look forward to watching a different TV show every night and use that to keep the days apart.
Start sitting up straight
You don’t have to wear pants
Stay hydrated, avoid snacking
A lightweight distraction
I always slouch during classes — it’s a bad habit, I know. But it’s even worse when I’m spending the entire day sitting and drooping in my chair. I try and make an effort to at least start the day with good posture so I can afford to have slouching breaks when I need them.
Screw it, wear your pajamas! Other people recommend changing into your everyday clothes to bring back some sense of normalcy, but let’s face it: during COVID-19 things simply aren’t normal. Pajamas are fun and comfortable to wear – embrace them.
Keep water on your desk to stay hydrated, but skip the snacks. It’s easy to lose track of time and eat lunch and dinner late. Having convenient snacks on your desk is just going to ruin your appetite. If I do want a snack, I just take the bare minimum I need to my desk.
Online classes can get boring and it’s tempting to start scrolling on your phone. But when your professor starts saying something interesting again, you might be too sucked into your device. Having a toy to keep you entertained but not too entrapped can come in handy. PAGE DESIGN AND ILLUSTRATION BY MARCI SUELA
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COUNTERPOINTS
THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2020
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ILLUSTRATION BY JOHN BRICKER
Is Credit/No Credit grading worth it? No, it negates hard work Yes, it relieves stress
Bryanna Bartlett STAFF WRITER
President Mary Papazian took the pressure off San Jose State students when she approved Credit/No Credit classes for the 2020 Spring Semester, but students should tread lightly. Students now have the option to change their grade format in a particular class from a letter grade to Credit/No Credit because of the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. The process essentially works by changing a letter grade “A” into the equivalent of a “C-” which drops the value of the grade overall. The Credit/No Credit classes jeopardize the integrity of college classes as a whole. If students pounce on this opportunity to convert their grades, they will also be diminishing their semesterlong work efforts. Approaching the new grade policy with anything but caution would be a mistake. Hunter College, a university in New York City, approved the Credit/No Credit option for their students during the COVID-19 pandemic with a warning sign at the end of its C/NC form to caution students.
The form reads, “Other colleges, graduate schools, professional schools, services and employers may look with disfavor upon the use of the Credit/No Credit grading option and may even convert Credit to ‘C’ grade and No Credit to an ‘F’ grade for their purposes.” Students who convert most of their grades to the Credit/ No Credit option will quickly differentiate themselves from students who minimally use the option in the eyes of universities and employers. Hunter College is warning its students that their credited classes may be automatically treated as a ‘C’ letter grade, no matter what the letter grade will actually be. The Credit/No Credit option is less accurate than the letter grade option and it might be detrimental in the end. Students who stick with the letter grade system will produce a more accurate record of their work ethic and academic performance. SJSU’s Credit/No Credit FAQ form said Credit/No Credit classes have no factor in grade point average. If a student took six units out of 15 as Credit/No Credit, then only nine units would be earned toward their GPA. Grade Point Average is a number that indicates how well you scored in your courses on average, so Credit/ No Credit classes count toward credits earned. Therefore, students on
academic probation who might need to raise their GPA, should be wary of the option because a satisfied class credit will not boost their GPA and a no credit class would not pull it down, leaving those students where they started in the first place. Despite SJSU’s acceptance of the Credit/No Credit option because of the instability of the semester, this option is not as honest as letter grades and employers are going to recognize that. Students who put in considerable effort to improve or maintain their strong academic standing shouldn’t have the inherent value of their work diminished by others who choose the Credit/ No Credit option, marring the value of the entire system. Students had no choice in following national and local shelter-in-place orders and as a result have shouldered the economic and social consequences. However, students can control their efforts in online learning now that there is nothing else to do with their free time. Before choosing what appears to be an easy and carefree solution to the stress of online classes, students should assess their progress and apply themselves to coursework with a resilient attitude.
Follow Bryanna on Twitter @brybartlett
Austin Turner SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Unless you own a crystal ball or you’re a certified witch, you have no idea what the days ahead are going to bring. During this pandemic, situations change seemingly by the hour. Information is simply evolving too quickly to keep up with at this time. That’s why San Jose State’s decision to allow students to opt into Credit/No Credit grading was an absolute no-brainer. Contrary to what we’ve been told our whole lives, there are more important things than school, especially right now. According to SJSU, about 36,000 people attend the school. That’s 36,000 different situations. As of publication time, only one student has tested positive for COVID-19. According to Santa Clara County Public Health, there are 1,302 cases confirmed in the City of San Jose as of April 22. With the lack of adequate testing in America at the moment, that number is sure to be an extreme underrepresentation. Do the math. There’s little doubt that there’s more than one SJSU student with the coronavirus and there are
surely countless students that have family members afflicted. That number is unquantifiable, and thus will remain unknown. That’s why SJSU needed to give students an option to switch to Credit/No Credit. There’s also an economic toll this pandemic is taking. SJSU is a commuter school. Commuting means you have to find transportation to school. It means you have to have a place to live. It means you might have a family, with a spouse and children. What do those situations have in common? It all costs an exorbitant amount of money. To have money, you obviously need a job. The longest-lasting impact of the pandemic will be the economic ramifications. According to The Mercury News, the Bay Area lost more than 27,000 jobs in March. So in addition to sitting in on Zoom lectures and doing group homework over Google Docs, a great number of students have to deal with suddenly becoming unemployed. While there are students that are living peacefully in their parents’ house just waiting for society to go back to normal, there are others whose lives are on the verge of falling apart. Despite being told that college is the most important thing they could do in life, that reality is now shattered for many. Allowing those students’ GPAs to tank while there are real problems going
on in their lives would exhibit a complete lack of empathy from the university. It’s simply not fair to judge students based on criteria given to them before the world was turned on its head. Students are adapting, so the schooling system needs to as well. Some students are obviously able to adapt to the “new normal” easier than others. If those students choose to stick with traditional grading for GPA reasons, that’s fine. Those that hope to attend graduate school or enter competitive job markets should probably stick with letter grading. Holding everybody to that standard, however, would be completely unreasonable. In unprecedented situations, we need to remind ourselves that we are all human. We are resilient creatures and we will get through this. But we need to get through it together. If a university was to force a single mother to decide between putting food on the table or studying for her online psychology exam, then we would need to remind those making the decisions of their humanity. If there’s one thing we need right now, it’s compassion, and SJSU should be commended for showing some humanity when it’s so desperately needed.
Follow Austin on Twitter @AustinTurner_
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EL ESPARTANO NOTICIAS
JUEVES 23 DE ABRIL 2020
OPINIÓN
AMLO tiene una indiferencia letal al virus
Jovanna Olivares REPORTERA
Los mexicanos están preocupados por los posibles cambios y peligros que la propagación del coronavirus puede causar en su país. Sin embargo, el presidente de México Andrés Manuel López Obrador ha ignorado la gravedad de la pandemia de COVID-19. Hasta en un momento, dijo que la gente se abrazara en estas circunstancias para curar la tristeza. Este virus ha afectado a miles de familias a nivel mundial durante los últimos meses. Por lo cual, líderes de distintos países han hecho cambios para proteger a sus ciudadanos. Es extremadamente frustrante ver al líder de un país que influye a su gente tan fuertemente tomar un camino de ignorancia e incomprensión. La arrogancia de López Obrador empeorará el daño causado por la pandemia. Desde las últimas declaraciones, el número de casos ha incrementado significadamente. El número actual de casos positivos de COVID-19 es 10,544, según el departamento de salud mexicano. López Obrador sigue sin brindar ayuda inmediata y sin informar al público de las medidas adecuadas.
Mientras las personas comienzan a entrar en pánico, la principal preocupación de López Obrador parece ser el estado de la economía. La Asociación de Bancos de México (ABM) declaró que el plan de López Obrador no considera los daños potenciales que esta pandemia traerá, según un artículo de Animal Político. “El plan que presentó el presidente se queda corto de lo que hace falta en este momento en el país”, declaró un líder de la ABM en el artículo. Explica que el plan general de López Obrador equivale al 2% del Producto Interno Bruto (PIB). En comparación, Estados Unidos ha contribuido con el 10% de su PIB, según el artículo. En los comunicados iniciales, López Obrador no ha recalcado la seriedad e importancia de la pandemia. Esto ha llamado atención mundial, atrayendo crítica por su irresponsabilidad. Este problema puede afectar a mi familia también. En marzo, llamé a mi abuelo para ver cómo estaban él y mi familia en México. Mientras yo expresaba mi angustia con la situación, mi abuelo se escuchaba muy despreocupado aunque según él, estaba informado sobre la situación. El área de la bahía fue uno de los lugares que respondieron más rápidos para reducir el contagio del coronavirus Ordenaron un toque de queda a mediados de marzo. Me enojé cuando ví que
ILUSTRACIÓN FOTOGRÁFICA POR JOHANNA MARTÍN Y MAURICIO LA PLANTE
La arrogancia de López Obrador empeorará el daño causado por la pandemia.
López Obrador declaró que no se realizarán las pruebas de coronavirus. “Porque si se deja en manos de políticos y de politiqueros, que es lo peor, entonces se altera todo,” dijo López Obrador el 4 de marzo durante sus declaraciones en el Palacio Nacional. Expresa que durante esta crisis mundial, es más importante que nunca amar y reunirse con sus amados. Estoy de acuerdo que es valioso demostrar amor y apoyo durante estos tiempos,
pero con las precauciones apropiadas para proteger a todos. El presidente continuó con su gira alrededor de poblaciones rurales donde convive con miles de personas diarias. Subió un video a Twitter donde se miraba él abrazando a personas que se amontonaban a su alrededor en el sur de Guerrero. Esta acción puede tener consecuencias fatales. La gente de México se encuentra muy susceptible
según las indicaciones y instrucciones gobernales. Es probable que en tan solo unos días, la situación de COVID-19 accelere drásticamente y termine en rumbos parecidos a los de Italia. López Obrador afirma que no puede permitir que esta pandemia se interponga en vivir y disfrutar la vida normal. Además, López Obrador publicó un video recomendando que todos continuarán yendo a los trabajos y restaurantes para fortalecer la economía. Estos comentarios se hicieron cuando México estaba en la Fase 1. El país ya está en Fase 3, el punto de de propagación más rápido, según oficiales de salud público en México. Sin importar los mensajes públicos de López Obrador y
su ignorancia, departamentos federales y gobiernos estatales han estado implementando métodos distintos para detener COVID-19. Las autoridades federales de educación cerró escuelas públicas y privadas a nivel nacional. Las autoridades federales de salud inventó una imagen llamada #SusanaDistancia para promover distancia sana ante los ciudadanos. Los gobiernos estatales y el gobierno federal han tenido conflictos sobre las propuestas tan confusas realizadas hacia la gente. Ya se necesita acuerdo entre todos los sectores del gobierno mexicano para proteger la nación de esta enfermedad en unidad. Sigue Jovanna en Twitter @itsJGOZ
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