The Ferris State Torch NINETY YEARS OF ILLUMINATING THE TRUTH Big Rapids, Michigan Week of April 28 - May 4, 2021 www.fsutorch.com From the perspective of pandemic professors Graphic by: Sienna Parmelee | Production Assistant Ferris staff members share their feelings on a year of remote living and learning Jessica Oakes “All of my assignments were based on “Philosophers are pretty low key; we’re dents that have gone through this... You News Reporter actual observations, making it real and rel- so committed to proper argumentation. guys handled it pretty well. There could have evant for the individual student, wherever We’re used to disagreeing with each other been a lot of anger and lashing out and that Nearly fourteen months have passed they were. And so, I think that really made amicably and just logic shopping. I mean, if sort of thing, but I didn’t see that,” Groves since COVID-19 changed the lives of the it meaningful and doable,” Fitzwilliams-Heck you’re trained as a philosopher, you know a said. Ferris community and beyond. While profes- said. fallacy from a mile away. So, we don’t try to sors were advised to be considerate of their After braving the elements of the Michi- get away with those with each other,” Groves Designing a new normal students, it is time they shared their own gan wilderness, Fitzwilliams-Heck ensures said. thoughts and experiences. sure her empathy is not made a casualty. While he thoroughly enjoys his area of When asked the loaded and nuanced “[It helps] knowing that everybody’s trying study, teaching is somewhat of a day job for question “how are you,” design professor The healing of the outdoors to do the best that they can do. And some- Groves. Come summertime, he looks for- Alison Popp gave an honest “fine.” times just being accepting, which I think I ward to playing live music for the people of As an optimist and self-proclaimed te- Cindy Fitzwilliams-Heck has been teach- am,” Fitzwilliams-Heck said. Big Rapids once again. chie, Popp stays focused on the advantages ing biology for nearly two decades. She is an Even though she misses face-to-face Groves is planning several July gigs with of working remotely in her field. avid member of the local watershed coun- interaction with her students immensely, his eight-piece blues ensemble called Key “I try to look at the bright side of things, I cil, our state’s natural resource agency, and Fitzwilliams-Heck is proud of how well she West Permafrost Blues Band. He is also a feel like there are things that I find beneficial the Michigan Alliance for Environmental and adapted to work in the era of COVID-19. proud member of a quartet called Shannon because of the field I’m in,” Popp said. “De- Outdoor Education. “I’m optimistic about just going forward, and the Professors. sign has been very innovative in the way that As a passionate naturalist, Fitzwil- you know. I feel like I gained, a lot of skills “It’s kind of [an] all-purpose band that designers have been able to work from re- liams-Heck turned to the outdoors for help over the pandemic in my classroom and in does classic rock, jazz, pop music and all mote locations. I worked remotely decades throughout the pandemic. other aspects of my life, professionally and kinds of stuff,” Groves said. ago with clients that were far away.” “I teach Nature Study. so I would kind of personally,” Fitzwilliams-Heck said. When looking to the future of campus life, Some of Popp’s home learning technolo- practice what I preached in my class... So, Fitzwilliams-Heck is keeping her head Groves is most excited for the little things, gy felt even more advanced than her class- in a sense, I was doing what my students and hopes high for a brighter future. such as in person, mask-less lectures. room equipment. She has preferred showing were doing,” Fitzwilliams-Heck said. “That’s the thing, getting back to all the students quick designs via Zoom with her Nature Study is a fully remote course that Dr. Groves gets his groove back normal rhythms of life. You know, going to iPad instead of the classroom projector. required students to draw connections be- talk to people, going to lunch with people, This mastery of new teaching methods tween the many layers of the environment With the pandemic came a harsh political talking about ideas,” Groves said. was useful for Popp, as she felt a disconnect that surround them. climate. Humanities, philosophy and reli- Groves also acknowledged the hardships between herself and her virtual students. Because the effects of self-isolation can gions professor J. Randall Groves appreci- his students have faced and commended “It was unclear to me what the students’ be so damaging, Fitzwilliams-Heck was hap- ated the diplomacy of his colleagues during them for their achievements. expectations were. So, I felt like I had to jus- py to teach a class that encouraged people this time. “I’m glad I wasn’t a student during this Professors| see page 2 to heal through nature. time, you know, so my hat is off to the stu- Got news? Let us know. Like us on facebook Follow us on Twitter Add us on instagram Watch us on tiktok Email: [email protected] Ferris state Torch @fsutorch fsutorch FsuTorch Phone: 231.591.5978 Connect with us on social media - Read articles online at www.fsutorch.com 2 News Week of April 28 - May 4, 2021 Ferris State Torch NEWS Noah Kurkjian| News Editor | [email protected] PROFESSORS Continued from front page tify how I was going to deliver the class, even No vaccine required though I was really confident in my skills and abilities,” Popp said. Having noticed strong pandemic fatigue from her students, Popp tries to keep those around her engaged whether she is teaching or parenting. “I have young kids and I keep saying ‘I know you’re young, but let’s talk about how this is going and how we’re feeling because this is so historic. When you are a teenager, you’re going to talk about this time in your life. I don’t want us to forget about it.’” Popp said. “I think it’s really important for my students to feel that way too. Let’s not forget this, what are we going to learn from this?” Being vaccinated herself, Popp encourag- es all students to contribute to herd immuni- ty in preparation for the fall semester. “I’m worried that we might have some students who aren’t going to get vaccinat- ed. So, I’m hoping that that becomes a clear goal for all of us,” Popp said. Popp feels she did a good job making the most of the pandemic. Still, she is more than ready to begin a safe, new academic year. The Importance of Relationships English professor David Marquard will re- member this year as one of the longest in his life. To him, the most challenging aspect of the pandemic is maintaining relation- ships with his students. “It’s hard to meet your peers. That’s what college is kind of for: building relations. And it’s really hard to build relations,” Marquard said. Marquard appreciates the satisfaction of not only knowing his students but watching them succeed in their careers as well. Stu- dents know that he is always available for Photo by: Cassidy Jessup | Multimedia Editor guidance. Ferris will not be following other universities’ lead in requiring COVID-19 vaccines to live on campus in the fall. “I have students from 10 years ago, 15 years ago that still email me, just asking how I’m doing. I always say at the end of the Ferris strongly encouraging vaccines, but will not mandate semester, ‘if you need anything, my office door’s always open, even after you gradu- for return to in-person clsses ate,’” Marquard said. Marquard has been able to make these Jerry Gaytan “I would not come back if the vaccine is Oakland University is the first of Mich- connections by focusing on the individuality News Reporter required,” heavy equipment junior Quincee igan’s public universities to require the of everyone he teaches. Mahler said. COVID-19 vaccine as reported by MLive. “I treat my students like full human be- With schools planning to return to According to a reentry committee mem- Oakland university’s COVID-19 vaccine ings, for who they are, for their political view- in-person learning, two Michigan universi- ber, the primary reason for the vaccine not page states that their goal is for “every points, their social viewpoint. They teach ties have announced that students living being required is because it was granted member” of the Oakland university com- me, you know. I learn so much about life in on campus will be required to have the an “Emergency Use Authorization” by the munity to receive vaccination by the end of general. And that’s not happening, so it’s COVID-19 vaccine. FDA. their spring semester. They plan on every difficult,” Marquard said. Ferris is not one of these schools, even This authorization makes it so that the student, faculty and staff members to be In order to push through these isolated though the university plans to host 84% of FDA ensures that recipients of the vac- completely immunized before the upcom- times, Marquard reminds himself that every its classes in person for the fall semester.