Two hundred twelve positive coronavirus cases were recorded in the USC community last week, compared to 140 positive cases the week before, according to the University’s coronavirus dashboard. 

“While we are seeing an increase, it’s not an exponential increase,” said Chief Health Officer Dr. Sarah Van Orman at a student media  briefing Tuesday. “We do believe that most of this was related to spring break travel.”

USC Student Health continues to closely track positivity rates and USC community members previously in contact with people who have tested positive, Van Orman said. 

On Monday, Trojan Check validations were no longer required for all campus access points. Student Health made the change to align with Los Angeles County practices, including no longer requiring proof of vaccination for public areas like gyms, restaurants and events.

“Our campus … is over 95% vaccinated and over 86% boosted,” Van Orman said. “We have a community that’s very well protected against this illness”

Student Health plans to individually contact all students, staff and faculty who are eligible to receive their second booster shot, and those who are still in need of their first booster. 

“Despite all of the conversation about vaccines and people still getting infected, the vaccines really do what we want them to do, which is to prevent individuals from suffering the worst consequences of this virus,” Van Orman said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently recommended that adults over 50 receive their second booster shot. Additionally, those who received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine as their first dose should receive their second booster. 

Approximately 85% of students and faculty are boosted, and Student Health urges those who aren’t boosted to get their shot. Vaccines are continually proven to prevent severe disease, hospitalization and death, Van Orman said. 

The coronavirus has also directly spread among people living together, influencing the increase in cases. Despite this, Student Health has not seen significant outbreaks. 

Cases in L.A. County also remain very low, Van Orman said. Positive cases have plateaued, with only minimal rises.

Additionally, the aftermath of spring break travel has caused a drastic increase in the percentage of BA.2 coronavirus cases. Before spring break, the percentage was about 25%; however, the variant now makes up close to 90% of USC cases.

Van Orman said BA.2 has not appeared to display any more significant symptoms than other strands, despite its more infectious nature and encourages vaccinations to prevent hospitalization, severe disease and death. 

Student Health encourages any students with symptoms to get tested immediately, including all students who have come in contact with people who have tested positive. Student Health also recommends students wear masks indoors, despite the removal of the mask mandate March 7. 

“[For] most of the cases we’re seeing, people are symptomatic, so that remains the best indicator for someone that they could be infected and they need to get tested,” Van Orman said. 

Quarantines have increased through USC at local hotels. Student Health estimates 100 to 150 students currently in quarantine, compared to less than 50 before spring break. However, the current number of students quarantining is nowhere near the level it was at in January, Van Orman said.

“We hope this was related to travel,” Van Orman said. “We were anticipating an uptick in cases seven to 14 days post-spring break, but we’re watching very closely this week to see if cases start to come back down.”

If cases do not go down, Student Health will start working with the county to see if mask mandates and surveillance testing need to be reinstated. These requirements may not come into effect across campus, but perhaps in specific areas, Van Orman said. 

“What we’re trying to do at USC is prevent the spread so that we can protect our health for both our vulnerable faculty, staff and students, but also to protect the community around us and protect our healthcare system,” Van Orman said. 

The post Cases higher than before break appeared first on Daily Trojan.

(Pixabay / dimitrisvetsikas1969)

Powerlessness is pervasive. On those days where you feel like you can only exist in the spaces between meetings, appointments and lectures, the world seems like it moves too fast to find meaning in anything. Especially when coupled with burnout, a painful reality for many students, reclaiming a sense of control in the rush of the world becomes very difficult. 

If this sounds like you, you’re not thriving. You’re just seeking self-preservation. It is far too easy to get lost in the motions of life and much harder to make sense of reality when your grasp on your surroundings is weak. 

In a 2005 study by the University of California, Riverside professor Sonja Lyubomirsky and her colleagues proposed that overall happiness is determined by three primary factors. Beyond a “genetically determined set point for happiness,” a biologically determined and fixed limit, our happiness is measured by external circumstances as well as relevant activities and practices that make us happy. According to their work, about half of the variance in our happiness relies on choices we make. The central idea of the study, however, is contingent on the idea that humans have free will. Thus, we can acknowledge that difficult situations harm our happiness while also recognizing that our actions can change our outlook, however small they may be. One such choice that we can make is mindfulness. 

When my days seem to blur and my ability to deal with run-of-the-mill challenges becomes compromised, I often realize that my sense of powerlessness often stems from a lack of mindfulness. The word gets thrown around a lot – a simple Google search reveals millions of results in a matter of seconds – but to me, it means simply being present in whatever I’m doing. I often find my mind wandering or becoming preoccupied with issues not relevant to what I am doing at that moment. When I find myself losing touch with the present, I ground myself in my surroundings. It can be something as simple as noticing how your clothes feel against your skin or indulging in the sensation of a cool sip of water during a study break. I use this technique when the stress of the incessant to-do list plays in my head on repeat to the point where I cannot fathom starting it. This physical sense of awareness allows for a sense of connection beyond the physical; it reminds me that I must also check in with my mind and spirit, which allows me to move forward. In these moments of presence, I experience life beyond an endless to-do list, and I am able to flourish. 

Mindfulness gives life meaning. In his magnum opus “Man’s Search for Meaning,” psychotherapist Viktor Frankl, drew on his experiences as an inmate in a Nazi concentration camp to devise his own theory of the meaning of life. His experiences led him to the hopeful conclusion that humans can find meaning in the most abhorrent, painful circumstances. Frankl’s hope in sharing his story is that the reader apply his philosophy of finding meaning throughout life, and try to make a sense of meaning out of their own. And even though you may feel like you have a broader objective that you’re working toward by enduring four arduous years at college, it becomes incredibly easy to lose sight of why you’re working hard in the first place. So, we must find a new way to make meaning as we work toward our objectives and be mindful through every moment. By embracing college as an experience and not as a forced stepping stone on the path of life, we are able to reclaim autonomy over even the most difficult parts of it. 

Along with a sense of hope that came when I first read the book, I felt a sense of dread. The idea of finding meaning seems like one big, lofty goal that often takes the form of academic or professional achievement as college students enter a cutthroat workforce. We can get lost in the process of navigating lofty goals, whether making sure we ace our next test or finding our next internship, objectives which often have no clear cut paths The mission of finding meaning through our accomplishments becomes so large that instead, I find that focusing on the smallest parts of my reality and perception. The purpose of life, then, becomes savoring the full range of human emotions and experiences which are at our disposal at any given moment instead of unnecessarily focusing on aspects of a future that we are already working toward.

My defense of mindfulness as a small practice with a large impact does not come from a place of minimizing other stressors in life. Rather, it acts a tool that better equips us with the fulfillment to better tackle them. It allows for life to be experienced more richly, and helps me reclaim experiences that I feel often get lost when life begins to move too fast. 

Check in with your surroundings. Are you really there?

Dani Parra del Riego (25C) is from Miami, Florida.

The post Reclaim your life, be present appeared first on The Emory Wheel.

Part of what makes a vacation destination refreshing is the unique layout of unfamiliar shops and restaurants. The convenient mediocrity provided by fast food chains and so called “formula stores” is useful for saving time, but not for enjoying your time.

The University of Minnesota Medical School is responding to the nationwide physician shortage through the Rural Physician Associate Program (RPAP), a program that trains students to practice as physicians in rural areas across Minnesota.

The physician shortage in Minnesota has worsened throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, but ultimately stems from the uneven distribution of physicians between rural and metro areas in Minnesota, according to Medical School Vice Dean of Education Dr. Mark Rosenberg.

Finding students to work and live in these areas is difficult, because most universities and graduate schools where students receive training are located in bigger cities, according to RPAP Director Dr. Kirby Clark.

Predictions suggest the shortage will continue on a national scale too, as increasing numbers of physicians will retire in the near future, Rosenberg said.

Although the physician shortage has highlighted the need for workers in rural communities, the University has trained medical students to work in these areas for more than 50 years. Through the RPAP program, third-year medical students at the University spend nine months working and studying in rural locations in Minnesota, such as Staples and Hastings.

After completing the experience, students are more likely to work in rural practices after graduation, Rosenberg said.

“RPAP and other programs like the Metropolitan Physician Associate Program (MetroPAP) are designed to encourage students to serve these populations before committing to a career and learn what it’s like to be a part of the community,” Clark said.

The program gives students experience outside of the traditional medical setting, allowing them to interact with patients in other geographic areas, according to Rosenberg.

As a result of the shortage, patients in rural communities may not have the same access to healthcare as patients in heavily resourced areas. Financial constraints, proximity to healthcare services, lack of insurance, medical literacy and internet access also contribute to this, Clark said.

Clinics have also closed during the pandemic, meaning patients may have to travel further to receive care, according to Medical School alumni Allicen Waxlax, who completed the RPAP program in 2020 at the Riverwood Healthcare Center.

“I always knew I wanted to practice in a rural setting,” Waxlax said. “Participating in RPAP helped me grow in nine months and make connections by staying in one community.”

For physicians and medical students, the shortage has meant they may need to offer more services to patients, Clark said. Rather than having specialized caregivers, a single practitioner’s responsibilities may include delivering babies, performing surgery and operating a family practice.

“These experiences allow you to see how a smaller medical system interacts as a team, rather than a small portion of a unit in an urban area,” Waxlax said.

In a separate effort to combat the physician shortage impacting rural Minnesota, the Medical School is also learning how to predict if a student will choose to practice in a rural area, Rosenberg said.

The Medical School is working with the Minnesota Department of Health to complete a study on the healthcare workforce that collects data on when practitioners will renew their license, where they grew up, loan repayment and questions about how they decided where to practice.

The information from these surveys will help the Medical School learn what makes a student choose to practice in a rural area after graduation and help attract more of these students to University programs, according to Rosenberg.

“We are addressing this shortage by taking advantage of the way we train physicians [through the University Medical School] and designing programs so they will end up in rural practice,” Rosenberg said.

Swedish metal band Ghost released their fifth album on March 11, 2022. This is the band’s most experimental and arguably one of their most entertaining albums to date. The album’s release comes after the band began their 2022 co-headlining tour with rock band “Volbeat” and special guest satanic, doo-wop duo “Twin Temple.”

“Impera” 

Ghost’s latest offering creates a new and innovative experience for fans of the band’s previous works. The Swedish rockers’ occult lyrical influences are still ever-present on this album, masterfully crafted alongside experimental choruses and strangely comical verses. 

“Spillways” is a notable departure from previous sounds for the band. It strikes me as something reminiscent of ABBA, whose song “I’m A Marionette” was covered on the deluxe edition of Ghost’s sophomore album “Infestissumam.” Ghost enjoyed particular success and acclaim for “Hunter’s Moon” when the song was featured in the credits of 2021’s “Halloween Kills.”

While something of a departure from the cinematic transitions between tracks and glamorously grim thematic elements featured on their record “Prequelle” released in 2018, the band steps into a sound with new fire and brimstone that is as enthralling as any bit of their discography on a first listen with “Impera.”

Tracklist

The vibrant instrumental track “Imperium” opens the album. It is full of the incredibly complex and resounding guitar riffs that make Ghost such a joy to listen to and it sets the turbulent, sparingly soft and strange tone for the rest of the album perfectly. “Kaisarion” is an equally energetic follow-up whose lyrics bring the band’s usual religious imagery to the forefront and keep the listener transfixed with its tempo and engaging delivery.

One of the album’s singles, “Twenties,” had a controversial release. It is arguably the most experimental song on the album and its lyrics oscillate between showcasing the band’s first use of curse words and strangely comical phrases in a way that somehow blends with the band’s newly coveted experimental sound.

“Darkness At The Heart Of My Love” marks a return to softer vocals similar to those found in “Life Eternal,” but this track is a notable departure from any sound the band has created before. It is slow and melodic, a beautifully resonant ballad that brings the band to heel with some of their more aggressive riffs and biting lyrics. The track’s unique blend of soft, strange and lyrical sounds makes it one of my favorites. “Griftwood” is a close second with its catchy lyrics and masterful inflections of voice amid engaging riffs and drum beats. Its inclusion of religious imagery is reminiscent of earlier albums and is a beautiful addition to the album. 

The Verdict

Ghost has proven their versatility with “Impera.” The new sound is made rewarding by the familiar crisp instrumentals and catchy bites of sound overlaid with strangely captivating and experimental lyrics. Their typically occult and otherwise religious subject matter may be off-putting for some listeners at first — it certainly was for me — but beneath that lies an intricate sound that makes wonderful use of a unique vocalist and outstanding instrumentation. 

w.fuller@dailyutahchronicle.com

@whit_fuller_

The post Swedish Metal Band Ghost Enthrall and Innovate With ‘Impera’ appeared first on The Daily Utah Chronicle.

Gerald Sastra/The Cougar

In The Cougar’s weekly anonymous advice column, I talk on Houston bars, ways to look amazing for the summer and my favorite workouts. To submit your questions for future issues, click the “Ask Ashley” button on our home page.

Hey Ashley, what are some cool bars that you like to go to?

Ooo, before I dive into this lovely question, anon, let me make a quick disclaimer. Please drink responsibly and make sure you are legally 21 or older to drink. Okay, now that’s over with, I have a couple bars I like to hit up. There’s one called the Holman Draft Bar in midtown. It’s a nice blend of an indoor and outdoor bar, so there’s something for everybody. I personally think the swing concept they have is really cool, and the drinks are really good and affordable. 

I also like McIntyre’s Downtown, which has arcade games, live music and food. This place is perfect for those who want a variety of things to do aside from sitting and drinking. Similar to McIntyre’s Downtown, there is Truck Yard, which is in east downtown. This place doesn’t have arcade games, but it does have a massive ferris wheel that is approximately 10 dollars for two people! And due to its name, Truck Yard has different food trucks constantly serving food. Make sure you try their frozen cocktail drink, Trash Can Punch. 

These bars are pretty fun to go to for any occasion such as celebrating somebody’s birthday! Hope this helps.

Ashley, hot girl summer is approaching! What are some summer outfits I can wear?

Omg, I am so excited for the summer anon. Especially with that new Jack Harlow coming out this Friday. My hot girl persona is currently 50 percent defrosted as I write! 

The first items you want in your closet this summer are sundresses and maxi dresses. They are so simple to style, and I love wearing them in warm, summer colors like orange, yellow and red. 

The next thing you should have are swimsuits. I love a bright, high-cut bikini topped with a complementary sarong or kimono. Some of my favorite swimwear shops are Monday Swimwear, Melissa Simone, Dos Swim and Triangl. 

I also like shopping from ASOS and Icon Swim if I’m really on a budget or I need something quickly. Most of these shops have trendy swimwear designs that are definitely in season.

And finally, you need cute shoes. As a fellow shopaholic, fill your closet with sandals, flip flops, strappy heels and more. I like finding my shoes from DSW, ASOS, Public Desire and Nordstrom. However, you’re likely to find trendy shoes on a friendly budget from ASOS and Public Desire. 

Wear what you feel comfortable in, and be sure to take a lot of pictures in your cute fits. Be sure to tag me for credit, of course.

Ashley, do you like working out? If so, what do you like to do? I need inspiration.

Hmm, I’m not sure I’m the best to answer this question. But to answer your question, yes, I do enjoy working out. I like doing the HIIT workouts as compared to running on a treadmill or elliptical. 

With HIIT, I feel more focused on what I’m doing and I think it’s a lot of fun depending on the intensity. I don’t mind the treadmill and elliptical, it’s just that I get bored easily on it. While still boring, I do find that upping the incline makes the treadmill a little more fun to use. 

Although I like doing these activities, I don’t do them often. But that’s mostly due to poor time management and laziness. I think the closest thing to working out I’ve done recently was walking from the University Lofts to TDECU stadium for Frontier Fiesta and back. 

So I don’t have a complete workout plan to give you. Be sure to eat healthily by getting a balanced meal of your core macronutrients and drinking a lot of water. I know the girlies say you have to cut a drastic amount of carbs out to lose weight, but y’all it’s a macronutrient. You quite literally need it to survive.

 Anyways, consult with a licensed dietitian to see what you need diet-wise. Hope this helps!

arts@thedailycougar.com

—
“Ask Ashley: Advice on bars, summer fits, more” was originally posted on The Cougar

This week, Rhett Report interviews its very own Chloe Patel! Chloe gives us some insight into the women’s lacrosse season and what some realistic goals could be as the season comes to an end. Thanks for listening! Click here to stream this episode of “Rhett Report” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your streaming platform of your choice.

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The seventh annual ACT Human Rights Film Festival was a reminder and example of the importance of conversation, learning and understanding the issues many face. The festival offered insight into the complexities of society’s history and present through 12 in-person film screenings, a short-film session and an ongoing virtual encore. 

For the past two years, the festival took place virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While this didn’t stop the festival from being able to showcase powerful films, the in-person experience of this event allows for a much greater sense of community along with meaningful connections and conversations. 

“It’s really an irreplaceable experience to sit in a theater and watch movies all together,” said Beth Seymour, ACT Human Rights Film Festival managing director. “And I think with two years of being prominently and predominantly online, most of us have forgotten that it’s really fun to watch a movie with other people around.” 

The festival showcased 19 films from 16 different countries, focusing on the importance of diversity and solidarity. In addition to showing films, the festival hosted activities focused on conversation, processing emotions and healing. 

“The films ACT selection screens pretty much require conversation after to talk about the issues and to share thoughts on the film,” Seymour said. “We are a program of communication studies, so part of our festival’s emphasis is on promoting conversation.”

The final film of the in-person section of the festival, “Firestarter: The Story of Bangarra,” was a powerful way to end the weekend. The film follows the story of three Aboriginal brothers and their roles in creating and shaping the Bangarra Dance Theatre. 

“It was made for the 30th anniversary of the dance company, and actually some of the most prominent Australian directors and producers were involved in the project, which just goes to show how impressive and important this cultural institution is,” Seymour said.

Using both new and old footage of interviews, performances and home videos, the story is told through the lens of the three brothers — Stephen, Dave and Russell Page — and current and former members of the dance company. 

“The film definitely has some mental health, behavioral health and suicide themes,” Seymour said. “But I would say, overall, the film is more a story of sort of identity and racial justice, intergenerational trauma, but also using storytelling and dance and art to heal, to create community, to create identity and to forge forward.”

The film shows the struggles of intergenerational trauma and connecting to your culture while dealing with the effects of colonization and assimilation. Many Aboriginal Australians are affected by the Stolen Generations, which refers to Aboriginal children forcefully removed from their families from roughly 1910-70. They were forced to assimilate into white culture, forbidden from speaking their language and often given new names. 

The brothers found a way to reconnect to their culture through dance, embracing their traditions through contemporary dance performances. The Bangarra Dance Theatre, founded in 1989, is now one of the leading dance companies in Australia and still focuses on connecting Indigenous people to their cultures. 

As the Bangarra Dance Theatre rose to success, the Page family experienced multiple losses to suicide, which deeply impacted them and the community of dance. Following the film was a panel of local experts to discuss suicide prevention, intergenerational trauma, racial justice, dance and whatever else the audience felt they needed to talk about. 

Panelists included Scott Smith, executive director for the Alliance for Suicide Prevention of Larimer County; Lisa Morgan, instructor of dance at Colorado State University and Chloe Wright, senior staff psychologist for Colorado State University Health Network. 

The discussion, moderated by Shannon Quist, director for community connections for the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, focused on the complexity of intergenerational trauma and identity. When asked for advice on how to navigate the themes of the film, panelists talked about the importance of being aware of yourself and your connection to history or lack of history. They also discussed being authentic to who you are. 

The panel was followed by a closing reception in the lobby, where people were able to continue discussing the films they saw over the festival’s duration with a performance by Colorado State University musicians and free dessert. 

The festival will be hosting a virtual encore April 4-10 for those who missed the in-person screenings or want to rewatch. 

Reach Maddy Erskine at entertainment@collegian.com or on Twitter @maddyerskine_.

Acting Gov. Eleni Kounalakis passes bill to extend eviction protection

Ben Mefford/Staff

Acting Gov. Eleni Kounalakis signs AB 2179, a bill that extends eviction protections for Californians in rental assistance programs, into law.

Acting Gov. Eleni Kounalakis became the first woman in California’s history to sign a piece of legislation into law when she signed AB 2179 Thursday, extending eviction protections for Californians in rental assistance programs.

The bill, which was authored by Assemblymember Tim Grayson, D-Concord, and Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, ensures housing stability for eligible tenants through June 30, given that they applied for assistance by March 31, according to a press release from the governor’s office.

“California’s nation-leading rent relief program has provided much needed relief for more than 220,000 households across the state,” Kounalakis said in the press release. “Today’s action will provide additional time to thousands more who are in the process of acquiring emergency relief.”

AB 2179 follows a slew of preexisting eviction moratoriums placed by local governments such as Alameda, Los Angeles and San Francisco, according to Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board vice chair Soli Alpert.

Alpert added that the local protections were stronger and more extensive than the state’s.

Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín also noted the bill preempts many of these moratoriums, prohibiting local action over the following months. However, he added that Alameda County’s moratorium predates the state’s original proposal, allowing it to be grandfathered into the bill.

“Over and over, we’ve seen the state preempt stronger tenant protections in local jurisdictions,” said City Councilmember Rigel Robinson in an email. “One step forward, two steps back. At the end of the day, we need more renters in the state legislature.”

Alpert said the bill was intended to be a compromise between tenants and landlords.

However, according to Alpert, California’s legislature is largely constituted of landlords, with only two people representing tenants.

“(Tenants) were not at the table for negotiations and they were not included in those conversations,” Alpert said.

Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board Commissioner John Selawsky voiced his support for the bill, noting it provides both tenants and landlords with the opportunity to claim financial relief. He added the bill protects tenants who may have faced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, Dan Lindheim, a campus public policy professor, noted the bill is applicable only to people who had already applied for rent relief, but had not received it due to backlogged processing by the state.

“In the short term, all State and Federal funds that have been allocated for rent relief need to reach those in need,” Lindheim said in an email. “Despite the urgency, counties have been insanely slow in processing these funds.”

Lindheim added the state should also accelerate the creation of new affordable housing and jobs that pay livable wages in order to equitably provide for tenants.

Contact Kavya Gupta at kgupta@dailycal.org, and follow her on Twitter at @kavyaguptta.

The Daily Californian