Red Devils’ Advocate October, 2020 Hybrid or Remote? Clarence Students Weigh in by Génia Abbey Junior AP Language students attend classes in a hybrid model COVID-19 has impacted all aspects of life, stuff is already set up in a way that I like. I Maddie, remote: The only thing I don’t like including education. The Clarence school also like not being inside of a glass cubicle is that it’s very easy to get distracted by my district, as everyone knows, is offering with a mask because I feel like I wouldn’t phone, pets, and other things around the both hybrid and remote learning for the be able to concentrate. house. first time ever. I spoke with four upper- classmen about their experiences with Ciara, hybrid: I like that during hybrid Ciara, hybrid: Hybrid learning at home remote and hybrid learning. Here are Bi- learning I can stay home and when I go can be difficult sometimes for me because anca Hossain, Kaitlyn Priset, Ciara Seager, into school I can see all of my friends. It is I can get distracted by activities around and Madeline Call’s impressions of the new easier to learn when I am at school because me. For example, if someone is working on learning styles this year. I can ask questions comfortably without something outside or if my dad is working being nervous. on the house. Also, I feel that teachers What do you like about hybrid/re- sometimes forget that they have students mote learning? What do you dislike about hybrid/re- online too. mote learning? Bianca, remote: I like being at home with It isn’t conclusive whether hybrid or my family and having the knowledge that Bianca, remote: My brother can get pretty remote learning is more advantageous. I’m safe. Also, I am able to learn better distracting at times and I feel isolated from Our hybrid learners like the in-person when I am at home. everything going on at school. I feel like I interaction with their teachers, but remote am losing my senior year. learners feel safe at home. Both types Kaitlyn, hybrid: I like how I’m able to in- of learners feel that they are more easily teract with my teachers more than if I was Kaitlyn, hybrid: I don’t like how some- distracted at home. They also agree that fully remote. I think things are organized times the technology can be really slow technology can be an issue sometimes, a pretty well so things aren’t too difficult to or not work at all. While it can be easier problem that we’ll have to deal with for the access. to interact with teachers, it’s difficult to time being. While there may not be a clear interact with other classmates and the one winner for which learning style is better, it Maddie, remote: I like being at home be- way hallways are incredibly inconvenient is clear that Clarence students are taking cause I can roll out of bed in the morning for everyone. the year in stride and adapting as best they and be ready for school, and my school can to these new styles of learning. Red Devils’ Advocate October 2020 Quarantine and Mental Health by Julia Towne Being isolated for six months has had well as people at high risk for severe illness Columbia University’s Irving Medical several effects on the global population, from COVID-19, those with pre-existing Center (CUIMC) released a comprehen- both mental and physical. High schoolers mental health conditions, those who are sive guide to coping with the stress of a around the globe were united in their lack socially isolated from others, members of pandemic via their student health service. of structure, unwillingly being cast from some minority groups, and others. This mental health guide includes general their schools into the previously unknown Some healthy ways to mitigate the advice including structuring your day, world of distance learning. Grades began stresses of the pandemic and associated connecting with others, setting boundaries to crash as many students lacked the moti- isolation measures are listed in an article regarding consumption of media, attempt- vation or support they needed to get by on by The Lancet, an independent, interna- ing to manage negative thoughts and feel- a daily basis. tional medical journal, published weekly ings, making plans should you fall ill, and According to the American Center for with the goal of making science and med- connecting with mental health services as Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), icine widely accessible to improve health. needed. the pandemic, along with fear surround- Some of these suggestions are feasible for One such resource is the Clarence ing a new disease, the effects it may have, the high school demographic, including to High School Unmastered Minds Club, in and public health actions including social avoid boredom and to become informed which members can discuss mental health distancing, can cause one to feel increased regarding mental health techniques and without fear of judgement, with topics anxiety. This stress can have physical coping mechanisms. The Lancet makes ranging from school stress to anxiety to effects, including changes in eating and the bold claim that “Activating your social body image. This club was founded two sleeping patterns, difficulty concentrating, network, albeit remotely, is not just a key years ago in an attempt to erase the stigma worsening of chronic physical or mental priority, but an inability to do so is associ- surrounding mental illness as well as con- health problems, and relapses in addiction. ated not just with immediate anxiety, but tribute to solving the mental health crisis Teens are at higher risk of being longer- term distress.” in our nation. perceptible to this “pandemic anxiety”, as What Goes Into Making an Effective Vaccine? How are vaccines developed? Can we be by Elena Vallis sion by strengthening a population’s collec- sure they’re safe? What’s taking so long?! tive immune system to impede the virus’s The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed conducted with thousands of volunteers most devastating consequences. these questions to the forefront of every- towards the end of the process, allow However, billions of people worldwide one’s mind as the world waits for a miracle researchers to further study potential would need to receive the vaccine for the COVID treatment that will restore some adverse reactions. desired effect to be realized. According semblance of normalcy to everyday life. According to the New York State De- to BBC News, in order to achieve what First, the basics: What is a vaccine? partment of Health, once it is made avail- is known as “herd immunity,” a state in According to the Centers for Disease able, the Food and Drug Administration which a virus is unable to spread easily Control and Prevention (CDC), a vaccine (FDA) continues to keep a close eye on the within a community, at least 60-70% of is a substance that contains dead and/or production and distribution of the vaccine the population must have an adequate weakened antigen(s) - identifying proteins to ensure standards that protect the public immune response to that virus. found on the surface of specific pathogens are met. However, there is hope within the sci- - designed to “...[stimulate] your immune Realistically, how far away is a reliable entific community that a safe and effective system to produce antibodies, exactly like COVID vaccine? While hundreds of COVID-19 vaccine will protect vulnerable it would if you were exposed to the disease. potential vaccines are in the early research groups, including healthcare workers and After getting vaccinated, you develop stages, nine promising candidates have the elderly, and gradually allow life to immunity to that disease, without having actually entered the final testing phases return to a more familiar rhythm. to get the disease first.” The primary pur- internationally as of late September. pose of vaccination is to teach the body to It is thought that one of these vaccines recognize pathogens that cause disease and will be accessible by the majority of the develop an immune response in advance. population by mid-2021, a little over a year Before being released to the general after the first known coronavirus cases public, a potential vaccine ordinarily goes were recorded (if this timing holds true, it through up to 15 years of testing, broken would represent the most efficient vaccine up into multiple phases, to determine development process in history.) efficacy, dosage, potential side effects, and The goal of formulating and distributing other safety markers. Human clinical trials, a COVID vaccine is to slow viral transmis- Red Devils’ Advocate October 2020 Murder of Middle School Teacher Sparks Islamaphobia in France by Emily Kreher On Friday, October 16th, Professor Times, had previously shown “signals” Samuel Paty, a middle school teacher in his lesson. of radicalization. However, in addition France, was attacked and killed by anoth- Charlie Hebdo has a history of publish- to those people, many Muslims targeted er civilian. He had been recieving death ing similar controversial content and has in the raids were aid organizations who threats following a civics lesson on free- been previously targeted with violence. showed no such signs or were groups dom of expression in which he showed his The killer was identified as 18-year-old involved in improving civic relations. class a caricature of the Prophet Muham- Chechen refugee Abdullakh Anzorov, Tensions between French Muslims and mad from the French satirical newspaper, who was shot and killed by the police after the French far right have risen in response Charlie Hebdo.