The Current | Vol. 31 Issue 12

October 27, 2020 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 3 News News Briefs Get the scoop on events happening on campus and around campus Annual ‘Trick to The Treat’ internship experience goes virtual The Center for Academic and Professional Success and the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences will hold their ninth annual “Trick to the Treat of an Internship or Research Experience” via Zoom on Oct. 28 at 11 a.m. NSU students from any college are welcome to join and hear their peers discuss previous biology and medicine internships they have accomplished, as well as how to apply to these internships and research opportunities. To register, students can visit Handshake, contact the Center for Academic and Professional Success at (954) 262-7201 or contact Emily Schmitt at (954) 262-8349. “The Garden” exhibition closing On Nov. 13, “The Garden,” a solo exhibition in the Department of Communication, Media and the Arts’ Gallery 217 by New World School of the Arts alumnus Amanda Madrigal will close. The exhibit, which is 100% virtual due to COVID-19, includes a variety of artwork, all constructed by repurposed materials found in thrift stores. To virtually visit this free exhibition before it closes, visit the live gallery via Zoom at https://nova.zoom. us/j/93136964038 . Do good for your community and receive ExEL credit The Student Site Leader Team is hosting a virtual and in-person session on “A Further Look Into DIS(ABILITIES)” on Oct. 31, Nov. 7 and Nov. 15 at 10 a.m. Students can delve into this riveting topic with three sessions and two service projects that will help the NSU community. Participants will also receive one ExEL unit in Community Engagement. To find out more information, contact Concetta D’Alessio at sharksandservice@nova.edu. Join an open roundtable discussion this month The Multicultural Affairs Committee and the Office of Professional Development and Education are holding a roundtable meeting on diversity on Nov. 2 at 12:10 PM via Zoom. This month’s discussion is “Respect and Religion” and students are welcome to join and listen, reassess their perspectives and interact with their fellow peers in a judgment-free environment. Next month’s meeting, on Dec. 7, is on “Counseling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practice.” To join, use the Zoom link https://zoom.us/j/99902841352. Take part in the Irish Film COVID-19 Update: New cases on campus Give back in October through Socktober Between the new BlendFlex model, classroom capacities, limited gathering sizes and masks covering the faces of every Shark, it’s hard to miss the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on NSU. As of Oct. 22, there were three residential students with active COVID-19 cases at NSU. The cases were reported in Mako Hall, according to an email sent to students living in the building. The students also confirmed that they have been taking their classes online. There was one associated suitemate whodecided to leavecampus toquarantine, but otherwise, as of this time, there are no other students quarantining as a result of exposure to these active cases. The email also stated that the Florida Department of Health is working with these students on contact tracing. This month, NSU has taken part in the Socktober campaign with the help of NSU’s Office of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving. The Socktober campaign targets one of the most requested items in homeless shelters across the nation -- socks. Through the Socktober campaign, NSUhas pledged that, for every $5 donated by members of the NSU community, the university will donate a pair of socks to a local homeless shelter near one of the university’s nine campuses throughout the state of Florida and Puerto Rico. Additionally, all proceeds made through the campaign will go toward the NSU Cares fund, which assists NSU students, alumni, faculty and staff who have been victims of natural disasters. According to Gabriela Alvarado, the assistant director of annual giving of the division of university advancements at NSU, “It’s a win-win from every angle, to be completely honest. For every $5 donation, we give a pair of socks to the homeless, which were provided to [us throughGeico and the] partnershipwe have Beth Welmaker, the executive director of environmental health and safety for NSU, encourages students to remain vigilant and continue to stick to the guidelines set forth by the university and public health officials. Welmaker also stated that, among most individuals and cases shared with her, those who are now reporting positive cases tend to know who they were around that exposed them — getting into a situation wherein individuals are in close proximity to each other can put everyone at risk. “It’s clear at this point that we know what needs to happen to prevent the spread of this virus — it’s keeping distance and wearing a face cover. That seems to be working phenomenally well. People that are around others that have [tested] positive, if they kept their distance and were wearing a face covering, they’re not [testing] positive. Individuals that were in close proximity to with them. The proceeds will go to the NSU Cares fund, which goes back to our NSU community when we need it most.” The Alumni Association set up a link for the Socktober campaign on the Give campus website to make donating as easy and straightforward as possible. The Give campus platform is not only the official crowdfunding site for NSU, but also does not charge any percentages from donors like other popular crowdfunding sites because all upfront costs are fronted by the Office of Alumni Relations andAnnual Giving. When we all together contribute to Socktober, we become a part of something really big that is not only making an impact on our NSU Cares fund, which is important, but also our local shelters around Florida and Puerto Rico. Community and service are values that are a part of NSU and if we can inflict that is positive way in our communities outside of NSU, it is also a great opportunity. So, I think Socktober allows us to do both at the same time,” saidAlvarado. The campaign has a goal of $25,000 that, as of yet, has not been reached -- as the By: Madelyn Rinka Co-Editor-in-Chief Festival From Nov. 5 -15, NSU and professor David Kilroy on the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences will virtually host the 2020 Irish Film Festival. Students are welcome to join at any time, watch the films at their own pace and join special guests via Zoom to discuss each film. For more information and to reserve your spot, visit the Alvin Sherman Library website or https:// nova.libcal.com/event/7141930. Watch your peers in Dance Works On Nov. 3-4, the department of performing and visual arts will hold a socially distanced in-person performance featuring the dance and choreography of NSU students at the Don Taft University Center at 6 p.m. See students perform a variety of dance styles including contemporary, lyrical and modern. Tickets are $7 for students and staff with a valid NSU ID and $12 for the general public. For more information, call (954) 262-7620 or visit http://cahss.nova.edu/departments/ pva/perf-exhib.html. somebody [with COVID-19] — they often [test] positive,” saidWelmaker. Additionally, students who have confirmed or suspected cases are urged to reach out to university officials, not only for tracking purposes, but also to take advantage of the support that can be provided to them. There are resources to help impacted students get extensions on academic deadlines, ensure they get food while isolating or connect them to counselors if isolation is proving to be challenging. “I think it’s really important to let the university know, not only because it’s the right thing to do and it helps contain the spread, but we have established some wonderful resources that support our students when they’re isolating... I just want them to take advantage of the support and resources there for them,” saidWelmaker. campaign comes to an end, Socktober has only reached 10% of its goal. WhileAlvarado mentioned that the goal may have been an overestimate, there will still be over 500 pairs of socks donated to the homeless shelters. Additionally, anyonewho donates aminimum of $25 will receive a complementary NSU If a student is having any symptoms, they are advised to reach out to NSU’s Telehealth line at (954) 262-4100, where they will be connected to a physician who will review their symptoms and, if needed, schedule a COVID-19 test on campus. Additionally, students can email COVIDcase@nova.edu to provide updates on their symptoms and test results, even if the results are still pending, and to get assigned a COVID-19 case manager to oversee the situation and offer assistance, if necessary. Emailing COVIDcase will also immediately provide students with the Telehealth number, as well as links to employee and graduate/professional student report forms, the undergraduate student form and the form to report exposures. Cares lapel pin. Those who are interested in donating to the Socktober campaign or checking out more information can find it online at tinyurl. com/NSUsocktober. Donations can also be made by texting NSUGIFT to 41444. By: Rick Esner News Editor PRINTED WITH PERMISSION BY F. SHABAN Rocking out with a pair of Thriller