Panel: COVID-19 and UCR Student Perspectives

In this episode, various UCR students talk with students from the UC Riverside School of Public Policy about their unique perspectives in regards to motivation, policies and more during COVID-19. COVID-19 has impacted college students across the nation, and the world. The overnight transition to online learning has left some students vulnerable and worried about what is to come. These four students shine a light on their specific situations, and how they are coping during this crisis. Podcast Highlights: “For meetings it’s holding things through Zoom or a Group FaceTime and such, so you could always be in touch with familiar faces and not feel like you’re completely isolated. While still keeping yourself, your friends, and all relatives involved safe and healthy.” -       Carolina Cardenas on the topic of giving advice to her fellow colleagues on how to stay safe during COVID-19. “What keeps me grounding is I would say thinking that I’ve done so much hard work during my undergraduate studies, it’s just not worth it to throw it all away...we all have future prospects as of now so we need to have that power within us to look forward.” -       Edoardo Melchiori on the topic of staying motivated to continue academic coursework. “The idea and the intent of the social distancing order policy, I would say, is definitely a good idea. Something as simple as literally don’t hang out with one another, can decrease the contractions of COVID-19.” -       Luis Huerta on the topic of support of the social distancing orders to slow the spread of COVID-19. “I think they are necessary because this virus does have a higher death rate for people who are immunocompromised and people that are older. I do think some younger, healthier people are taking for granted that they don’t have to worry about the threat as much.” -       Julian Bell on the topic of implemented policies that are reducing the transmission of COVID-19. Guests: Carolina Cardenas (Political Science Major, Sophomore) Edoardo Melchiori (UCR Business Major, Senior) Julian Bell (UCR Electrical Engineer Major, Senior) Luis Huerta (UCR Political Science Major, Junior) Interviewer: Samuel Roberts (UCR Public Policy Major, Dean’s Ambassador) Music by: Samuel Roberts (UCR Public Policy ‘20) This is a production of the UCR School of Public Policy: https://spp.ucr.edu/ Subscribe to this podcast so you don’t miss an episode. Learn more about the series and other episodes via https://spp.ucr.edu/podcast.