Emersonians Deliver Globe Magazine Cover Package ‘College & COVID’

COVID has impacted the lives of college students like nothing ever seen before. And through Susanne Althoff’s Writing for The Boston Globe Magazine class, 10 Emerson students provided insight into how students’ outlooks and behaviors have forever been changed.

Althoff, assistant professor of writing, literature & publishing, and a former Globe Magazine editor, suggested the idea of the project to Globe Magazine editor Francis Storrs. The students pitched about two dozen ideas, of which 11 were selected.

“Their Emerson experiences inspired the story ideas, of course, but they made sure to reach out to a wide range of students for their reporting. They spoke to students at private and public and two-year and four-year colleges throughout the Boston area, and made sure to interview students from a variety of backgrounds and pursuing a variety of fields of study,” said Althoff. “This to me is the most impressive part — how they were able to capture such a diversity of voices and show how students are having common experiences and very different experiences. They wrote about serious topics like food insecurity and having to leave college because of a lack of money, as well as lighter subjects like dating and socializing. I think this collection of stories will be very eye-opening for Boston Globe readers.”

The students interviewed peers from numerous colleges across the Greater Boston area, including from Wellesley College, Framingham State University, Quincy College, University of Massachusetts Boston, and more.

• David Paradela, ’21 MA in penned What College Students Like Me Have Learned During The COVID Year.
• Molly MacDuff, candidate for MA in Publishing and Writing, wrote about her first hand experience: I’ve Never Set Foot In The College That I Attend 1,000 Miles Away. MacDuff also spoke with four college athletes about the trials and tribulations of playing sports during COVID.
• In a Pandemic Economy, The High Costs of College are Even Higher wrote Mary Mangual ’22 MFA.
• Mitty Mirrer, candidate for MFA in Creative Writing, wrote about How The Pandemic Worsened Food Insecurity Among College Students.
• Making Friends While Attending College Classes on Zoom is Tough wrote Colin Kirkland ’22 MFA.
• Imagine dating during a pandemic? Students Have Found Ways to Keep Romance Alive wrote Jordyn Vasquez ’21.
• College art students have created beautiful work in the face of COVID wrote Jules Struck, candidate for MA in Journalism ’22.
• College students are experiencing pandemic-related stress at higher rates than any other adult age group wrote Katie Powers ’22 MA.
• Maya Gacina ’21 wrote about what it’s like for graduating international students during COVID as they scramble to secure work visas. “Employers are coming to us and telling us that it’s really Americans first right now,” says one student.
• There’s no more casual cafeteria meet-ups. We’re all Zoomed out, and the pandemic has forced students and faculty to find new ways to develop bonds wrote Bree Figueroa, candidate for MA in Publishing and Writing.