The transition from living at home to an independent lifestyle at college is a big change for students, and one of the biggest hurdles is creating a healthy food balance. Living independently means making your own food options and providing your body with the food it needs.  Shifting from a life where meals are already on the table (for some, not all), can be overwhelming when moving directly into a dorm, where there is typically no kitchen and the meal options consist of whatever is available on-campus that day. Dorms generally don’t accommodate a lifestyle fit for nutritional meals. From the shared mini-fridge to the lack of kitchen appliances, there isn’t much room to cook up a hearty and satisfying meal. These conditions can lead to an unhealthy relationship with food, and in crucial circumstances lead to eating disorders. 

   In a study done by NEDA (National Eating Disorder Association) eating disorders tend to arise between the ages of 18-21. Further research states that approximately 10-20% of college students suffer from eating disorders, with a higher number for women. 

   Eating disorder culture on college campuses arises for several reasons. The school may not be providing enough nutritional options, but they can also result from an unhealthy diet culture or body image issues. SLU’s Dietetic Internship Director and Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics, Rabia Rahman, Ph.D, shared her thoughts on the issue impacting college students everywhere:  “Oftentimes, when the stress of college and being away from home feels like a lot, eating disorders become a coping mechanism and a way to control something when other aspects of life feel more out of their hands.” This cycle of eating disorders can be difficult to break once started. That being said, is there a way that colleges can stop it before it starts, and should colleges be responsible for providing an environment where this doesn’t arise?

   Many in the SLU community have voiced their concern regarding food-related issues on campus. An anonymous survey posted by the University News Instagram asked the question,” Does SLU provide a healthy balance with their food options on campus?” The results, unsurprisingly, revealed that 79% said no. In a further anonymous questionnaire, students detail the struggles they have encountered with campus-food difficulties. One response stated, “I feel gross when I eat on campus, and it makes me sad.” For many with eating disorders, calorie counting is a trigger and often releases negative thoughts in an individual’s brain that can stop them from fully indulging in deserved meals. One individual’s response pointed out, “I hate that most vending machines have (a) calorie count on them. Also, the Sodexo app showing calories is frustrating. I wish I could turn it off.” Calorie counting further pushes dangerous eating-disorder-related behavior. 

   Although SLU is a predominantly white institution there is still a population of students that have religious and cultural dietary needs. Many Muslims have had trouble finding Halal meat options and many Hindus struggle with vegan/vegetarian options. One response from the questionnaire said, “As a POC/non-cis afab [assigned female at birth] being on campus has made my ED worse, and other POC agree.” There is an understanding that accommodating every single culture’s food can be difficult, but changes should be made to better meet the culinary needs of SLU’s student body. 

   Lastly, a number of responses repeated the same concern of skipping meals to avoid the options provided. One individual responded, “More people are choosing not to eat period than to go to Grand.” Another individual says, “I went from three meals at home to eating one that’s barely a meal while living on campus.”

These concerns have been heard and SLU is working to address them. Rahman added, “I feel a registered dietician in the dining halls is also helpful. I have always felt that a registered dietician should be part of first-year orientation where they walk through the dining halls and help students evaluate how to make healthier choices or make the most of their meal plans. I also feel there should be regularly scheduled dining hall “tours” with the dietician to answer questions students might have.” 

   SLU can also work with the student body to distinguish what the true needs of the students are. SLU students should always remember that cultivating a healthy relationship with food is strenuous, and doing so in the unfamiliar environment of college is exponentially more difficult. What you eat does not define you. The guilt will pass, and your body deserves to be fed.

The shaking legs, the rapid heartbeat and the knot in your chest: I can assure you they’re not in your head. Academic anxiety is a term under the umbrella of anxiety experienced by many college students. Anxiety, in general, is the leading mental health concern amongst college students. Approximately 41.6% of students have anxiety, according to the American Psychological Association. This isn’t something you are going through alone. Academic anxiety can be brought on by numerous factors and it’s not always in our control. A study done by Cornell University in 2015 addresses the four components of academic anxiety. The first one is labeled as worry. Worry doesn’t just mean that you feel a sense of uneasiness looming in the back of your head; it’s overwhelming thoughts that can prevent you from completing work, staying focused and exhibiting motivation. These thoughts can consist of anything self-degrading or the consequences of not reaching an academic-related goal. The second component is emotionality. Emotionality is concerned with the physical or biological symptoms that occur when experiencing academic anxiety. This encompasses a quickened heartbeat, muscle tension or sweaty palms. The third component acknowledges task-generated interference. This covers behaviors that are related to the task at hand and have the potential to prevent successful performance. Task-generated interference behaviors can be checking the clock consistently throughout an exam, or repeatedly re-reading a question out of doubt. The last component consists of study skills deficits. These are the problems that could trigger academic anxiety related to study methods such as last-minute cramming or poor note-taking skills. Although these four components emphasize things that may be preventable, a significant amount of it is out of our control. You can have strong note-taking skills or you can study for an exam weeks ahead of time, but sometimes the overbearing feeling can still come and your progress may seem like it’s crumbling. This does not mean you are abnormal. Mental health is not a linear journey with an endpoint of recovery. There are times when you might fall and have to pick yourself up, but you are most certainly not alone and your journey is still valid.

With midterms around the corner, these emotions may seem to be making their way back up, but there are ways to cope. 

Create a plan: outline the assignment, essays or exams that you need to have completed and create a schedule that will allow you to have enough time for healthy breaks in between. Now, what is a healthy break? The main component of a healthy break is to take a step away from your work. You can’t continue to work if your brain is already exhausted. This is psychologically proven in a study published by PLOS ONE, a multidisciplinary peer-reviewed journal, to cause burnout which, in turn, can result in physical consequences. 

Self-Care: it’s easier said than done, but prioritize yourself, allow yourself to think in a way that emphasizes that you are worth more than your grades or GPA. Don’t use your academic performance as a scale to determine self-worth; you deserve more than that. An aspect of self-care is to find your comfort. Comfort can be found in your friends, family, or hobbies. Comfort looks different for everyone but when you find the thing that brings you peace and ease, it will change you. 

Reward: after all is said and done, and you’ve submitted that essay or assignment, or walked out of that test, reward yourself. I don’t mean go back to your desk and work on the next big thing that’s coming up. Celebrate the small victories all the way to the large victories. Regardless of your result, you still checked one thing off that checklist. Celebrate yourself and all that you have achieved.

Now, this isn’t just a call to students but this is a call to faculty as well. Everyone goes into college with uncertainty in their ability to handle their coursework, but as a professor, you have the ability to ease their worries. This doesn’t mean abolish tests and homework, but work with your students rather than against them. Identify the methods that will allow your students to reach their full potential. Push when you need to push but also allow your class to be one that students enjoy, even if it is a required course. Students aren’t learning anything if the only thing they gain from your class is credit at the cost of  their mental health. Teaching methods may differ, but take a step back and look at your syllabus—are your students benefiting from your class?

I hope what you’ve gained from this isn’t just what is entailed in academic anxiety, but that you are more than what it makes you feel. Each step is still a step, whether big or small, and you are worthy of recovery. In the midst of all the academic chaos, take a second to acknowledge how far you have already made it, and how far you are going to make it.

After COVID-19 halted the filming process for the new Marvel movie in February 2020, the anticipated “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” finally hit theaters Labor Day weekend. The talented cast—consisting of Simu Liu, Akwafina, Meng’er Zhang, and many more—received countless positive reviews from critics and hit a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film follows Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) as he is forced to face his traumatic past after he is ambushed by his father. Shang-Chi faces many internal and external struggles as he works together with his sister Xu Xialing (Meng’er Zhang), to fight the evils from their childhood all while uncovering secrets of the past. 

There were a few aspects to this film that made it stand out from the rest of the Marvel lineup. First, this movie is a big step toward Asian representation in film, and more specifically the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Simu Liu is the first to play an Asian superhero lead, and Marvel recently announced that he is the first Asian Avenger. Aside from Simu Liu’s impact on representation for this film, the director, Destin Daniel Cretton, also made it a point to include Mandarin in scenes of the film. In the film, both Shang-Chi and Xu Xialing are raised learning to speak multiple languages, so it was only fair that Mandarin was able to make its way into multiple scenes (with English subtitles for the non-Mandarin speakers). 

Another impressive aspect of the film was the incorporation of martial arts and its authenticity. Prior to this role, Liu had little experience with kung fu, but he partook in rigorous training so he was able to play his role with full authenticity. Kung fu is one of the richest parts of Chinese culture, so it was phenomenal to see a Marvel movie bring its importance to the big screen.

Some people could argue that the best part of the film was the relationship between Shang-Chi and Katy (Akwafina). Akwafina has previously been praised for humorous roles in “Crazy Rich Asians,” “Jumanji: The Next Level,” and the recent Disney movie, “Raya and the Last Dragon.” Her part as the amusing best friend was played perfectly. Although it’s typical to see superhero movies end with a love interest, the relationship between the two remained platonic. Even though Katy served as the sidekick who helped Shang-Chi in his familial struggles, she was also able to grow into herself and shape her identity, considering it was something she had struggled with in the past. 

All in all, the inclusivity, representation and overall cultural themes were eye-catching throughout the whole of the film. The film most certainly exceeded all expectations for Marvel fans and is definitely a must-see in theaters. 

As we approach the end of the 2020-2021 school year, let us take a moment to reflect on the hardships that we’ve gone through, as a community and as individuals. Each undergraduate student had a different experience but everyone was affected. It’s important to acknowledge the obstacles we overcame and remind ourselves of the many things to look forward to. 

Dear Freshman,

This is your first year in college and you don’t even know the “real” experience. You’ve heard phrases from upperclassmen saying, “before Covid we used to…” and “before the pandemic there used to be…” but you don’t even know what you missed out on. Instead of attending in-person freshman move-in events, you Zoomed in from your dorm. For those that chose to move in, this was the first time you were living independently, all amidst a pandemic. It can be lonely to leave your family, but even lonelier when the first friendships you make are from a six-foot distance. Luckily, you have three more years to make the most of your college experience. Although you won’t be able to relive your freshman year again, you have the opportunity to live in every moment for the rest of your undergraduate experience and take advantage of the time you do have.

Dear Sophomores,

Just when you were getting adjusted to college life as a freshman, the urgency to move out and continue the semester virtually hit. Your first semester was spent getting to know your roommates and campus life, so you could be prepared for next semester, but at the end of the day, nothing could prepare you for a pandemic. The roommates you were supposed to be sharing a room with, you ended up sharing Facetime calls with, and the walks to classes ended up being walks to your laptop to “Zoom” into class. Sophomore Melissa Holland shares her experience, “It’s really hard because not only has the pandemic taken away a lot of the social aspects, but it also took a lot of my motivation for doing school and completing assignments. Since many of my classes were online, it became difficult to create a set schedule and to do my homework on time, and this damaged my time management skills. However, with the recent news that classes are possibly going to be close-to-normal in the fall, this makes me excited and hopeful that my studying habits will also go back to the way they were pre-covid.” You’ve already made it halfway through your college career, but the other half is still there for you to grow through, learn through and enjoy to the fullest. 

Dear Juniors,

At this point you have all hit 20; you’re no longer in your teenage years. Sophomore year was supposed to be spent preparing  your career plans, solidifying your major and taking the steps to gain experience in your intended field. Everything was pushed to the side and before you knew it, you’ve now made it to the end of your junior year. Just a few more months and you’ll be a senior. Your plans may have shifted and the senior year may still seem unknown, but the shift to “normalcy” in terms of campus life is slowly coming back. There is light at the end of the tunnel and you have one last summer in college to look forward to. Make the most of it!

Dear Seniors, 

First of all, congratulations. Not only did you just earn a degree, but you did so amid a pandemic. Although you were over halfway done with your undergraduate college experience when the pandemic hit, your senior year still doesn’t look the same. Some consider their senior year to be the most special. This is the year you figure out your plans, enjoy your last few months with friends that could be departing on a new journey of their life and reflecting on the past four years. For some, this is your last year being a student or having a roommate, while others may go off to graduate school or take a gap year. Regardless, the undergraduate college experience is still a memorable one. Now, what is there to look forward to? Although there are still several uncertainties in regards to graduation arrangements, it’s time to celebrate you and what you have achieved. Soak in these last few weeks and take advantage of the limited time you have as an undergraduate student while continuing to look forward to the future. If you can take on the challenges of senior year through a pandemic, you can face post-grad life head-on, even with so much unknown. 

As we hit the one-year mark since the beginning of lockdown, students look back at how they spent their time in quarantine. For some, this was a time for personal growth and reflection, but it was also a time period that took a toll on them mentally and physically. Not everyone’s experience was the same and each individual was faced with different challenges outside the realm of their past experiences.

When asked about any regrets they had post-lockdown experience, many students considered what they could have done differently. Sophomore Melissa Holland shares, “If I could redo quarantine, I would probably have tried to encourage myself to have a healthy daily routine. Looking back on it, I wasn’t very productive and the days seemed to blend together so that it felt like I wasn’t making any real progress. I think quarantine would have been much better if I had a set schedule that I maintained.” 

The sudden rush to isolate caused many peoples’ daily schedules to flip and resulted in a routine, or lack thereof, that was not suitable for many. Senior Beatrice Berne adds, “If I could redo my quarantine I would focus more on what I was doing and less on waiting for it to be over. I spent so much time anticipating going back to doing things that I forgot to set up good social, mental, and physical health structures. I wish I started adapting to my situation earlier, instead of wishing it was different.” 

One common theme amongst many students is the drastic impact the first quarantine took on their mental health. Sophomore Kenya Reeves says, “I spent more time alone doing nothing than I ever had before and I got medication for my depression and anxiety. Also, I got a new therapist and have been growing as a person.” 

Prior to the pandemic, many people were overwhelmed by their fast-paced lives, and this was their opportunity to realize changes they wanted to make within themselves. Freshman Abby Minc adds, “The past year has been pretty difficult for me and I didn’t want to complain when everyone else was going through just as much, if not more. I’m just now getting to a point where I feel like I can talk to my parents about how I’m feeling and [have] them actually listen. As for if everything has helped me grow or not, quarantine definitely has.” The process of addressing mental health begins with oneself and for some, this step began in quarantine. Whether it was acknowledging that you needed help or taking the steps to get help, each stride should be celebrated, the little victories are still victories. 

Many students also shared their experiences of growth within themselves. “We were all going through a lot and I think I did the best I could at the time,” remembers Sophomore Audrey Kelly. “I definitely think quarantine helped me grow. It gave me an opportunity to learn more about myself and take a step back from a lot of things.” 

Berne notes, “Although I, like everyone, had some not-great times during quarantine, those moments of frustration, pain, and, yes, loneliness helped me grow. You have to take care of yourself. Even though I’ve heard it, and said it, so many times, I didn’t realize that the extenuating circumstances of quarantining required me to do more in-depth, challenging, and reflective forms of self-care.” Although many students would have preferred to start their self-growth journey under different circumstances, at least the steps were taken that could positively impact the rest of their lives.

A mere 29 days are devoted every year to acknowledge and recognize the experiences of  Black and African people. A month dedicated to these individuals is not nearly long enough for one to truly understand the struggles and reality still faced by them to this day. However, these 29 days could be a step into educating oneself, not only this month but every single day moving forward. 

When it comes to finding ways to educate yourself it is crucial to grasp that it is a process, and it most certainly is not an easy one. Dr. Christopher Tinson, the head of the African American Studies department at SLU shares his advice.

 “Educating oneself about Black peoples’ role in shaping American society should be an ongoing process,” says Tinson. “It should also be one that is shaped by a commitment to a broad and deep understanding of how we got here”… (they) should know that they are embarking on a journey of social awareness but also self-awareness. I would tell them to get ready for that journey.” 

In the words of Angela Davis, a political activist, “In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist.” To be anti-racist means to show conscious efforts in order to push for an equitable future amongst all, no matter the color of their skin. To truly understand the complexities of U.S. racial issues, we must educate ourselves on the history of racism— and there is an endless amount of education resources to choose from. 

While this is by no means exhaustive, when it comes to seeking out films, TV shows, books and plays that challenge your individual perceptions of race and culture in today’s society, this is a good place to start.

Film/Television

“13th,” “Moonlight,” “The Death & Life of Marsha P. Johnson,” “When They See Us,” “Mississippi Burning,” “Malcolm X,” “42,” “A Raisin in the Sun” and “I am Not Your Negro.”

Books

“The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness,” “The Hate You Give,” “The Autobiography of Malcolm X,” “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings,” “The Souls of Black Folk,” “The Color Purple,” “Incidents in The Lives of a Slave Girl” and “How to be Anti Racist.”

Plays & Black Playwriters

“Pipeline” by Dominique Morisseau, “Funnyhouse of A Negro” by Adrienne Kennedy and “Fences” by August Wilson.

Tinson also adds in a few of his recommendations stating, “One of the spaces I’d recommend is the Black Perspectives blog of the African American Intellectual History Society. The other is The Undefeated. These are two sites that offer a wealth of historical material and conversations on African American historical and contemporary issues written in a digestible manner”…“research(ing) and read(ing) works by W.E.B. Du Bois, Gerald Horne, Leslie Alexander, Dayo Gore, and Jeanne Theoharis”…“Also, there’s a wonderful book called “A Black Women’s History of the United States” by Kali Gross and Daina Ramey Berry.”

When it comes to being actively anti-racist, educating yourself is only part of the process. There are many influential figures in our society today who consistently use their voice to spread this message. Following these activists and learning more about them can, in turn, help you to use your voice to help as well, a few include: Bryan Stevenson, Esmerelda Simmons, Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, Opal Tometti and Nupol Kiazolu. And in our social media-oriented world, one of the quickest ways to educate yourself on a variety of Black individuals’ perspectives and stories is to follow and engage with their content. Here is a list for getting started:

• @rachel.cargle – Rachel Cargle, public academic, founder of @thegreatunlearn, The Loveland Foundation and Elizabeth’s Bookshop & Writing Centre
• @luvvie – Luvvie Ajayi Jones, keynote speaker, podcast host, and NYT bestselling author
• @latashamorrison – Tasha Morrison, speaker, founder and president of Be The Bridge and NYT bestselling author
• @ibramxk – Ibram X. Kendi, director of Boston University Antiracism Center, writer for the Atlantic and NYT bestselling author 
• @ijeomaoluo – Ijeoma Oluo, NYT best-selling author 
• @eji_org – Equal Justice Initiative, led by Bryan Stevenson and working to end mass incarceration, excessive punishment and racial inequality
• @ckyourprivilege – Founded by Myisha Hill, focuses on guiding “white folx on the journey of becoming actively Anti-Racist”
• @berniceaking – Dr. Bernice King, speaker, CEO of The King Center and daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King
• @amandascgorman – Amanda Gorman, inaugural poet
• @blackandembodied – Alishia McCullough, co-founder of #amplifymelanatedvoices and licensed mental health therapist

So, what’s next? While educating yourself, you can also take the next step and act on what you’re learning. The history of Black lives is not just history, it’s the present. The same injustices heard about numerous decades ago are still present today. Tinson states, “The Black present is as important as Black history. Black people are not relics of the past; history is a window into who and where we have been. The present will determine where we’re going and who we’ll be in the future.” 

To make the changes for the future, we have to start now. For the SLU community, we can start on campus and in St. Louis. If you are a student and you ever have an extra slot in your schedule, consider signing up for an African American Studies course. The AAM Studies department at SLU is filled with passionate faculty who not only teach but give their students something they can hold onto for the rest of their lives. Each course focuses on a different topic related to the African American experience and is a great learning opportunity for everyone. For off-campus opportunities, organizations such as Organization for Black Struggle, St. Louis’s Anti-Racism Organizing Collective, HandsUp United and many more are all pushing forward the agenda to be actively anti-racist.

No matter how many resources are handed out, no matter how much advertisement is put towards Black History Month and no matter how many times a professor gives a statement of inclusion on campus while going over the syllabus, the job to educate yourself is exactly that: your job. It is a responsibility to everyone, as an active member of society and our community to take the time to continuously learn, grown and be anti-racist.

Cultural appropriation, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, “is the act of taking or using things from a culture that is not one someone identifies as, especially without showing that you understand or respect this culture.” Cultural appropriation, unfortunately, is present in everyday life.Even more unfortunately, the Halloween season is especially filled with cultural appropriation, as many people incorporate aspects of different cultures into their costumes, sparking a lot of recent controversy. 

To fully understand what cultural appropriation in Halloween costume looks like, there are a few simple guidelines to keep in mind when choosing a costume. First, any costume that reflects someone’s personal identity or culture. For example, in recent years Amazon had a costume of what was labeled as a “Mexican Man” on their website. After this sparked controversy, the costume was removed and similar ones were required to change their names and descriptions. 

Degrading someone’s culture and identity to a costume strips away the importance that it holds to someone who identifies as this culture and lives with it every single day of their life. Not to mention, most of these costumes continuously perpetuate racist stereotypes of the culture. With the “Mexican Man” costume, the use of a sombrero, a mustache and a traditional Mexican poncho directly assume that this is what a typical Mexican man looks like which is not the case. This qualifies for all cultures that are degraded to a costume, including but not limited to Native Americans, African Americans, or Asians. Whether it’s intentional or not, it’s important to be mindful and most importantly educated on what or rather who you are dressed up as and make sure it is not offensive. This may be your costume for one day of the year, but it is somebody else’s identity for a lifetime. 

Aside from educating yourself on what cultural appropriation is, you can also find ways to distinguish cultural appropriation from cultural appreciation. Cultural appreciation means to have true intentions when immersing yourself or educating yourself about another’s culture. It means being welcoming and understanding. The main difference between these two terms and distinguishing them is acknowledging what the intentions are between those who do this. Everyone has different opinions on what is and isn’t cultural appropriation but at the end of the day if you need to ask yourself “Is this cultural appropriation?” or “Will this offend somebody?”, then maybe that costume needs a second thought.

Considering this is the first time many college students have the opportunity to vote in a presidential election, it’s important to know what you’ll see on your ballot. Your vote isn’t just something that affects you, it’s something that affects millions of people. You must be well-informed on your decisions before you place your ballot. If you are registered at SLU, here is a brief rundown of the candidates you can choose to vote for:

Aside from general candidates to choose from there are also a few amendments/propositions that you have to vote for:

Constitutional Amendment 1

The main concept of this amendment determines whether or not the Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor and Attorney General are limited to two terms at a time, before an election. If you vote in favor of Amendment 1, it continues to ensure that all the positions stated previously are given two years at a time. If you vote against Amendment 1 it does not ensure this.

Constitutional Amendment 3

This proposal, if passed, aims to use bipartisan commissions appointed by the governor to draw lines for the statehouse and senate districts. Districts would be made based on eligible voters rather than the whole population. Voting in favor agrees with this and voting against this disagrees.

St. Louis Proposition R

This proposition is pushing for more funding for the Community Children’s Services Fund through taxes. If this is passed, the tax will increase from 19 cents per 100 dollars to 25 cents per 100 dollars. With the money raised, there will be an increase in childhood education services for children under the age of 5 who are unable to attend public or charter schools. Voting in favor supports the tax increase and voting against this opposes the tax increase.

St. Louis Proposition 1

This proposition would require all officers and employers of the city of Saint Louis to reside only within the city boundaries. This forces individuals to fill in the vacant areas of the city. Voting in favor indicates that you agree with the proposition and voting against indicates that you disagree with this.

St. Louis Proposition T

Prop T aims to increase the taxes on fiber networks by the city. Currently, they pay $2.50 per linear foot but if this proposition is passed they would be required to pay a gross receipts tax of 7.5%. Voting in favor approves this proposition, and voting against it disapproves.

St. Louis Proposition D

This proposition is an attempt at giving the people a stronger say in the government. First, it helps create a nonpartisan primary, which allows voters to vote on all candidate positions, not just your designated party. It also implements an approval rating that gives you a say on all the candidates and if you find them to be acceptable in the office rather than just choosing one. It also allows the last two candidates chosen to participate in a run-off race in the general election.

All of this information can be overwhelming to a first-time voter but it is crucial to be aware of what you are voting on in order to make a fully-informed decision. Aside from just who and what you are voting for, there are also a few things that could potentially disqualify your ballot. Here are some tips and things consider:

• When you’re filling out your ballot, make sure you follow directions as precisely as possible. Whether it’s filling it out on a dry surface so you don’t accidentally spill anything on it or avoiding the use of red ink or marker, these simple but silly mistakes can cost you your whole vote.
• Don’t forget your signature! Signing your name on the outside of the envelope is crucial so that you are confirming your identity and your eligibility to vote.
• On the topic of signatures, try to match your signature as closely as possible to your driver’s license or any state-issued ID. This ultimately helps to prove that you’re the same person that the government recognizes you as.
• Be timely. It’s easy to forget to send out your mail, but try to set a reminder that your mail-in ballot cannot be sent late otherwise it won’t count.
• Many states have recently issued a strict warning on taking pictures of your ballot. This can disqualify your vote completely as it hinders with confidentiality policies.

The process may seem overwhelming but once it’s all said and done, it’ll be instant relief. Placing a vote in this 2020 election is a huge step, and it’s a big responsibility for U.S. citizens to take this opportunity to make our voices heard. Putting your vote in for the first time is something to be proud of, so educate yourself and make history. 

When people think of the impact of COVID-19, they typically assume the drastic impact it’s made in the world of medicine. Most often, medicine is seen only as the treatment of human health through scientific protocol. However, there is another side called alternative medicine. Those who practice or rely on alternative medicine tend to use more natural treatments rather than the standard treatments that have more scientific research behind them. After the abrupt arrival of COVID-19, the alternative medicine community has distinguished it’s own methods to deal with the virus. 

Although there is some controversy surrounding the beliefs of some members of the community, some of their practices have actually been deemed helpful during COVID-19. Since a vaccine has not yet been developed to fight against the virus, people are left to use natural methods to try and protect themselves. According to a journal published in Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B., China has been encouraging citizens to follow traditional Chinese and western medicine techniques (a form of alternative medicine). They announce, “Traditional Chinese medicine treatment was included in the third version of integrative treatment protocol…A body of evidence from clinical practice and research has shown that integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine played an important role for China’s successful battle with COVID-19.” One of the recommended methods was taking Forsythia and Honeysuckle flower tablets in order to alleviate the cough or fever symptoms related to the virus. Aside from China, people in America have also begun to follow natural methods in the recovery process from COVID-19, mostly because there is no direct cure as of yet. 

To better understand the stance of alternative medicine supporters, a few institutions have put out their own statements on their protocols amidst COVID-19. A majority of alternative/holistic medicine institutions agree to follow some of the recommendations set out by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), but also provide methods of their own. The British Holistic Medicine Community compiled a list on ways to incorporate healthy living and eating, natural remedies and supplements and other resources to combat COVID-19 and its effects. The St. Louis Institute for Functional Medicine has put out guidelines in regards to how they want to help their patients with COVID-19. According to a post on their Facebook page, they are still providing antibody testing and COVID-19 screenings. They are also providing virtual care to their patients who may not be comfortable going to a doctor who practices science based medicine. 

On another note, after the news of a potential vaccine coming out there has been backlash from the anti-vaccination community (typically a part of the alternative medicine community) and their efforts to oppose it. An article put out by the Washington Post explains that the pandemic has actually caused more people to support the anti-vaccine movement. Supposedly, a viral video released by Judy Mikovits, a discredited scientist, scared many Americans into believing her claims of a “Plandemic.” The video went viral with over eight million views and conspires that the pandemic is a hoax and was created by the government. Ultimately, with the population of the believers of this video and the anti-vaxx community population as well, there is a split on whether Americans will actually take the vaccine. A recent poll done by the Pew Research Center found that,”nearly as many (49 percent) say they definitely or probably would not get vaccinated at this time. Intent to get a COVID-19 vaccine has fallen from 72 percent in May, a 21 percentage point drop.” The drop of those who do not plan on getting vaccinated due to false claims, has ultimately slowed down the pace at which medical professionals are trying to release the vaccine. It has also risked the health of many individuals as many refuse to follow CDC guidelines to promote safe practices amidst a pandemic. 

All in all, the alternative medicine community has found their methods that work for them during the pandemic. Their practices have both positive and negative responses, yet they learn to adapt and progress by gaining knowledge on COVID-19, as we all do.