This time last year, in mid- to late February, newspapers were just beginning to print about a novel coronavirus that was spreading at a rate of barely one thousand cases globally per day, as astonishing as that was at the time. Today, we see 300,000 to 500,000 cases per day, adding to a cumulative case count that will likely be beyond 112 million by the time this article goes to press.
The Work of Amani ya Juu in Chattanooga
Just a few months ago, a small, beautiful compound in the center of Nairobi, Kenya, was buzzing with activity. The laughter and songs of women could be heard throughout the buildings and gardens as they worked. Customers floated in and out of the shop, the front which was full of the colorful handiwork of these women. Other customers rested in the peaceful garden while they waited for a soup or salad from the cafe.
Read moreFounders Hosts Music Video Competition
As this semester draws to a close, students are mourning the loss of some traditional Covenant College events. Unable to allow crowds of people to make their yearly circuit through its winding halls, Around Founders has been postponed. Carter Hall leaves piles of holiday decor in storage for another year, unable to bring festive cheer to campus through Carter Christmas. Students will also not be able to celebrate the last day of classes this semester with Mistletoe Mingle.
Read moreCOVID-19: Herd Immunity and Local Conditions
As a second installment to this column on pandemic highlights and COVID-19 science, I've chosen to focus on our local outbreak with a few notes about herd immunity.
Admissions Innovating to Keep Attracting Prospective Students to Campus
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the Covenant community, the Admissions Department has indefinitely adjusted their recruitment methods in order to better serve prospective students during these uncertain times, admissions leaders say.
Read moreCovenant Participates in Mayo Health Clinic Study
On August 17, Dean Voyles sent out an email inviting Covenant students, staff and faculty to participate in a study conducted by the Mayo Clinic. The study is measuring the prevalence of COVID-19 on college campuses by taking serology, or antibody, tests at the beginning and end of a six to eight week period of time. Here's an update.
Hall Life in a Pandemic
This year, as many students are battling disappointment from the inability to participate in the hall events and traditions we all enjoy due to COVID-19 regulations, one of the concerns that keeps popping up is this: what will hall cultures look like after the pandemic? And, more importantly, will they suffer?
Read moreCOVID-19: A Deep Dive into the Pandemic
It has been over nine months since the first reports of a novel respiratory illness were first released at the end of the first week in January. Quite a lot has happened in those nine months of living in a pandemic, much of which the media has attempted to cover in newspapers, magazines and live interviews. This column is an attempt to report to you, the Covenant community, on pandemic highlights, especially the technological development of treatments and vaccines, public health responses and related developments in the science of COVID-19.
Read moreFall Apple Picking Traditions Continue
As Covenant College has passed the halfway mark of this unusual fall semester, halls have become more and more creative in keeping their traditions alive in safe ways. Brethren, a hall in Founders, had an outdoor hall date that involved frog-catching and a bonfire. Maclellan/Rymer halls Rowan and Suburbs carried on their brother-sister hall event traditions by playing a campus-wide game of Capture the Flag.
Third Party Voting: Does it Matter?
The upcoming elections have been very discouraging for many Americans. In fact, the American Psychological Association found that “nearly 7 out of 10 Americans are very stressed about the upcoming presidential elections.” NPR reported on this study and discussed the reasons many people are feeling especially anxious about the elections, whether they were concerned about their candidate winning or were simply exhausted by the political climate.
Read moreTeaching During a Pandemic
The various safety protocols maintained on campus this year are unprecedented in the history of the college. Every department has faced challenges because of these protocols. This article highlights the unique experience of three departments in particular: theatre, foreign language and music.
Stress and COVID-19: Students Explain Their De-stressing Techniques
Covenant students have officially reached the halfway point for the fall semester. Some are excited, while others may be dreading the increase in course work as midterms continue, assignments increase, and finals loom ever closer. During an intense semester, it’s important to remain grounded, taking time to relax and de-stress while still remaining diligent and motivated to finish the semester strong.
Chattanooga Entertainment Venues Reopen
In Chattanooga over the past year, many concert venues have struggled to adapt to changes forced into place by COVID-19. There have only been a few events held since March, when the virus became more serious. In an exciting turnaround this month, several attempts at reopening in certain areas are being made with specific attention to distancing rules. For the first time since March of this year, the Tivoli and The Signal will be holding events locally.
Read moreGrad Assistant Aly Faulk Joins the Multicultural Program Team at Covenant
Around a table under the West Pavilion tent sit seven students chatting and laughing amiably. Above them a cloudy, Thursday afternoon sky promises rain, but here in the company of friends, it doesn’t matter. Gradually the small talk around the table dies away, and the students come to order as the eighth member of their party begins handing out a meeting agenda.
“Alright, guys,” Aly Faulk says. “Let’s get started.”
The Ascent: Crafting the Covenant Story
What is the Covenant College vision and journey all about? This question, although seemingly simple enough, is bound to get many different responses depending on who it is posed to. Members of the Bible department might say that the Covenant vision is to help students grow in their faith and become well-rounded theologians as they proceed into the world. Staff members in Student Development might say that Covenant’s goal is to help students learn how to build and live in lasting community with other believers and how to form lasting friendships.
The Passing of Justice Ginsburg and the Future of the Supreme Court
On September 18 Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away at age 87, due to pancreatic cancer. She had been fighting a variety of cancers for over 20 years. The public has grieved Ginsburg’s passing. Despite her occasionally divisive decisions during her time on the Supreme Court, people have mourned her death on both sides of the aisle.
Read moreCovenant Coffee Cartel: the New Pop-up Campus Cafe
Coffee has an amazing ability to bring people together. Whether with studying, conversing or simply enjoying a good latte, coffee produces community. Edoardo Santi ‘22 and Evan Zietlow ‘22 hope to join the Covenant community and contribute to it by providing quality coffee on campus through their business, the Coffee Cartel.
Read moreAtlanta Pastor Running for Georgia Senate Seat in Special Election
On December 31, 2019, Senior U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) announced resignation from his third term as senator. Isakson’s resignation initiated a special election to take place on November 3, 2020, featuring six Republican candidates, eight Democrats, one Libertarian, one from the Green Party and five Independents. Senators hold office for six-year terms. Senate elections take place every two years with one-third of seats up for contest, ensuring routine turnover in the Senate.
Read moreBack to School: How Local Schools are Dealing with the Pandemic
One of the biggest unknowns during the six months of quarantine and lockdown since March was whether schools would open in the fall. Ever since schools shut down in the spring and the world turned upside down, students have been looking forward to returning to school and finding some sense of normalcy. Now, after almost six months of academic break, students are facing a dramatic “summer slide,” which refers to the information students forget over the summer.
Policy Overview of Presidential Candidates
The two candidates in this year's presidential race are familiar faces: President Donald Trump is running for reelection as the Republican nominee, and he is running against Democratic nominee Joe Biden, who was Vice President from 2008-2016. As election day approaches, both candidates have released their plans for the next four years and are preparing for the first presidential debate on September 29. These are their stances on several major policy issues according to their campaign websites.