THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SINCE 1896 • VOLUME CXXVII, NO. 71 • dailycampus.com Monday, February 15, 2021 CONFIRMED 2021 COVID-19 Current Residential Cases Cumulative Cumulative Cumulative CASES AT UCONN STORRS 56 (positive/symptomatic) 85 Residential Cases* 23 Commuter Cases* 175 Staff Cases* as of 11:00 p.m. on Feb. 14 *positive test results UConn students rate experiences with academic advisors by Isabella Warren under the circumstances.” Johnson said. “My advising ses- what their office hours are, go CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT On the UConn Advising web- sions were quick and the classes to the department website,” the [email protected] site, a list of subject matters stu- “It’s easier to talk to were picked for me. The gen-eds website states. “Typically this dents are recommended to dis- someone via a video were basically prescribed to me information is found under such Students at the University of cuss with their advisors is given. call, vs. face to face. In without my input.” headings as ‘Contact Us,’ ‘Fac- Connecticut are impacted by the “General education require- Instructions on scheduling ulty’ or similar. If you cannot COVID-19 pandemic in all as- ments, major requirements, person, I get nervous and advising appointments can be find the information on the web- pects of their academic life. Vir- course planning,” the website forget what I have to say. found on the UConn advising site, email your advisor or go to tual meetings with UConn aca- states. “Note though that no website. the main department office and demic advisors in particular can single advisor has expertise in There are more resources “To find out how your advi- ask.” be either a struggle to adapt to all the areas you may wish to sor schedules appointments or or a chance to more comfortably explore. But advisors can help available online.” direct you to other resources on meet with advisors. SHANTI AMIN Mikayla Williams, a second- campus.” semester geoscience major, said Some students find virtual that she has no negative experi- meetings with their advisors to and political science, gave his ences with her advisor, but as a be enjoyable and even easier to advisor, Marie Shanahan, a jour- freshman, student major advis- manage than in-person advice nalism associate department ing can be difficult. meetings. head and an associate professor, “While meeting over Webex, it Shanti Amin, a fourth semes- a high rating. is difficult to connect with an ad- ter human and family develop- “On a scale of one to ten, nine visor and develop the same kind ment and human rights double or ten. Marie Shanahan has been of connection you might have major, said that she finds it easi- really good,” Swick said. with them in person,” Williams er to work online. Some students rarely speak said. “I’m switching majors. The ad- with their academic advisors, Elizabeth Farrenkoph, a sec- visor I had was from the major and when they do, the meetings ond-semester nursing student, I want, allied health, was great. can feel rushed and inflexible. believes that she would have a It’s easier to talk to someone via Jasmine Johnson, a second-se- better experience without virtu- a video call, vs. face to face,” mester mechanical engineering al meetings, despite her good re- Amin said. “In-person, I get ner- major, said that her experiences lationship with her advisor. vous and forget what I have to with her academic advisor have Centrally located on campus, Oak Hall is home to many of the Univer- “I really like my advisor, but say. There are more resources been limited and slightly con- sity’s social sciences and humanities departments. Though UConn getting acclimated to online available online.” strained. students in these departments could previously meet with their ad- visors in Oak Hall, meetings are now held online due to COVID-19. FILE meetings is difficult,” Farren- Carson Swick, fourth-semes- “The meetings are so outlined. PHOTO/THE DAILY CAMPUS koph said. “She does a good job ter double major in journalism There’s not much freedom,” Recent UConn graduates reflect on academic, career prospects by Thomas Alvarez that a ton of people are having it I recentry switched companies from said. “Luckily, that is not some- pared for a job position after I STAFF WRITER rough,” McNeil said. “For us in thing to worry about for a while graduate. I feel as though we are [email protected] UConn ITS to HubSpot and plan tech, COVID has actually helped to stay here long-term. We just had as I just started a Ph.D. program. losing important social and com- somewhat. I definitely know that However, I do feel if I had to find munication skills due to most Colin McNeil, a computer sci- this is a blessing and not the nor- an awesome earnings call and the a job now that I would be wor- things being online/remote.” ence major who graduated from mal.” future looks bright! ried.” Looking to the future, Garcia the University of Connecticut McNeil said his current job at Garcia said she is grateful said she hopes to improve the in 2019, and Chelsea Garcia, a HubSpot, a developer of soft- COLIN MCNEIL, UCONN ‘19, for her acceptance to a Ph.D. health of others with her re- nutritional sciences major who ware products for inbound sales COMPUTER SCIENCE program she received before search. Additionally, she hopes graduated in 2020, spoke about and customer service, is one he COVID-19’s effects took hold, to increase minority representa- their future plans and the effects hopes to keep for the foreseeable but she is not without worry. In tion in STEM. of COVID-19. future. Prior to his current po- others may have finding work particular, she worries about the “I am in my first year of my McNeil said he is in a fortu- sition, he said he had worked at right now, but she is not search- interpersonal skills people have Ph.D., so I plan to finish the pro- nate position where COVID-19 UConn’s Information Technolo- ing for jobs right now because lost because of the transfer to an gram and then find a job where I has not seriously affected his ca- gy Services office. she has just begun her Ph.D. online, distanced format. can still conduct research or use reer plans. While he is grateful “I recently switched compa- work. Despite this, she said “Fortunately for me, I had ac- my research expertise to help for the opportunities he has, he nies from UConn ITS to Hub- she would be worried about the cepted my Ph.D. program po- improve the health of others,” recognizes they are not what has Spot and plan to stay here long- job market if she was currently sition before COVID, so I was Garcia said. “In addition, I hope been typically available to grad- term,” McNeil said. “We just had looking for work. relieved that I wouldn’t have to to use my position to try and in- uates. an awesome earnings call and “Although there is a pandemic, worry,” Garcia said. “However, I crease minority representation “I have had good luck with the future looks bright!” I know a lot of people who have do feel as a result of the pandem- in STEM.” my career, but [I] understand Garcia recognized the troubles been starting new jobs,” Garcia ic I will not be as ready or pre- PHOTO GALLERY Mission Impawsible: House cat meets the snow PHOTOS BY SOFIA SAWCHUK, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/THE DAILY CAMPUS For more... dailycampus.com The_DailyCampus The_DailyCampus The Daily Campus Tweet of the Day EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 ONE-TON SUNDAE | PAGE 5 SPRING TRAINING ‘21 | PAGE 9 Plant-based dining options UConn tradition lives on during New year, same COVID-19 coming in Fall 2021 the pandemic protocols 02 Monday, February 15, 2021 • DailyCampus.com News News On Parkland anniversary, Biden calls for tougher gun laws TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — ens of families, and the life of There was no time to wait, the systems at schools across the history of our country. The warn- Sorrow reverberated across the an American community, were president said. “We owe it to all state and to strengthen programs ing signs were there. It was clear country Sunday as Americans, changed forever,” Biden said in a those we’ve lost and to all those meant to prevent violence before the killer had intentions to attack including President Joe Biden, statement released Sunday. left behind to grieve to make a they occur. the school.” joined a Florida community in re- The president used the oc- change. The time to act is now.” The panic alert measure was Petty remembered his daugh- membering the 17 lives lost three casion to call on Congress to Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered dubbed “Alyssa’s Law,” in honor ter as a friend to everyone, and years ago in the Parkland school strengthen gun laws, including flags be lowered to half staff from of 14-year-old Alyssa Alhadeff, recounted how important com- shooting massacre. requiring background checks on sunrise to sunset across the state one of the students killed three munity service was to her. “In seconds, the lives of doz- all gun sales and banning assault to honor those who perished years ago. “For those of us who lost loved weapons. when a former student of Marjo- Parkland parents have been ones that day, it’s pretty much ry Stoneman Douglas opened fire divided over how lawmakers like any other day.