As I’ve mentioned here before I work at a small Liberal Arts College in Northern California. It has certainly had its struggles this year with Covid-19. We have scaled back in a variety of areas and the college is struggling financially. I support one of the higher ups in the college and I have to say, that person takes a lot of grief. The decisions that are being made are not easy and I constantly see people questioning openly the decision process. This comes from people I wouldn’t expect to question and it just goes to show how communication and society has broken down. So many of us don’t see each other day to day and communicate more often by email then by phone unless of course we are on a Zoom conference.
Most of us work remotely but I do go in once a week. Next week I’ll actually be helping in the Post Office and will be interacting with students, something I haven’t had to do for awhile. I of course have been working at home with my husband and 11 year old daughter, working and going to school as well. Next week though I’ll be working with students. I’m a bit nervous because I have found college students often aren’t as careful as a fifty something year old Mom. I will definitely chat with the students though to see how they are managing.
Most of my communication these days is via email as the forwarding function on my phone doesn’t always work well. I also find it easier to go through communication with more awareness when writing vs. being caught on the phone. That is why I get frustrated by people who think they know what people who have more authority and pay, are doing day to day. See I actually interact with these individuals. Yes, they get paid more than me, by a lot. But they are making so very many decisions on a daily basis, it is mind boggling. They have to balance how to house students, provide classes and technology safely, keep the school afloat with revenue drying up. They take heat from people who believe they don’t know what the students are going through. That may be true but it isn’t because they aren’t listening. They are interacting with staff, faculty, board members, parents, student representatives, the list goes on. They are making daily decisions that aren’t always popular, but they are truly doing the best they can. There are areas that need to be reviewed around race and representation no doubt, but right now, keeping the doors open, lights on and payroll going has to take precedence. I will freely admit the race thing need further review. We have good people at the college for this, but we are also trying to keep things alive. I shouldn’t say we though because I am just a support person. Do I wish I made more? Sure. Do I wish I saw more representation? Yes. But how do you do this and keep a college going? The college is looking for a new President so maybe that will be the answer. A person of color there. But if that happens, it will be because the people who are currently working, taking salary cuts but still working full time, kept the college alive. I just wish that would get recognition as well.
So next week, I’ll go and work with the students. Pray that they are being safe and I don’t get exposed. I’ve been fortunate so far. Let’s hope my time doesn’t run out.