5A: Identifying Local Opportunities
1. “No one is trying to catch students cheating”: ProctorU and Honorlock’s common privacy misconceptions
https://www.alligator.org/news/no-one-is-trying-to-catch-students-cheating-proctoru-and-honorlock-s-common-privacy-misconceptions/article_e1e1879a-a08d-11ea-a511-ff8cac017b13.html
Since UF, as well as many other schools have transitioned to online teaching for the time being, the demand for proctoring and testing services has increased, leading to increased wait times and increasing privacy concerns. UF said the service meets their security and privacy policies.
The Problem and who has it: Students are concerned regarding the privacy and extra wait times for exams and tests. They are concerned regarding the invasive tactics many proctoring services, such as ProctorU and HonorLock, use. This is an issue because the drastic increase of students using these services and the major transition to online classes.
2. “I feel like this is the one most close to my heart”: Gainesville family reflects on the end of the Islamic holy month
Due to COVID-19 social distancing issues, many families are experiencing changing traditions in regards to these new policies, especially one Gainesville family who embraced this change for Eid-al-Fitr, the largest celebration in the Islamic calendar. Many Muslims would dress in their best clothes and gather at a mosque together to celebrate the end of their fast. But this year is different, as many had to celebrate either online or simply with their own families, taking precaution for their health.
The Problem and who has it: Muslim families cannot celebrate Eid-al-Fitr as a social event this year due to COVID-19. Because of this, many families try to celebrate normally within the safety of their homes.
3. UF students weigh in on SG rent relief bill
https://www.alligator.org/covid-19/uf-students-weigh-in-on-sg-rent-relief-bill/article_02551f3c-9b07-11ea-ae20-33b3f5f4d660.html#tncms-source=article-nav-next
Many students had to leave mid-semester to return home, leaving their apartments or dorms unattended, yet paying for them at the same time. Students are struggling to pay due to job losses and extenuating circumstances regarding financial issues with returning home. A rent relief bill was just passed by UF Student Government, alleviating some of the stress, but not all.
The Problem and who has it: Students in the Gainesville area are paying rent when they are no longer living at their apartments and apartment complexes are not offering students relief from this, locking them into their leases.
4. UF online, international and DACA students won’t receive aid from CARES Act
https://www.alligator.org/covid-19/uf-online-international-and-daca-students-won-t-receive-aid-from-cares-act/article_b0ac21dc-9a41-11ea-9437-bfc886f7e200.html#tncms-source=article-nav-next
6000 international students at UF are not eligible for emergency funding due to the pandemic, which includes online, international and DACA students. UF has provided some financial relief with their Aid-A-Gator program, and are looking into other options for the Fall semester. But many of these students are facing financial issues such a buying flights back home or paying for housing that they no longer live in.
The Problem and who has it: Online, international and DACA students at UF are ineligible to receive funding from the CARES Act, forcing them to finance their own expenses or turning to UF for a little financial relief.
5. Food distribution resources available to Gainesville residents
https://www.alligator.org/covid-19/food-distribution-resources-available-to-gainesville-residents/article_2d0ce8d0-9243-11ea-badc-1fea251412e6.html#tncms-source=article-nav-next
Food insecurity is a problem now more than ever, due to COVID-19. Local organizations, such as the Salvation Army and Civic Media Center are hosting food drives and delivery systems to distribute food to many people facing financial hardships during this time, specifically low-income and homebound populations. Renz Torres, a coordinator for the CMC, says they have gone from serving 40 people to about 300 people a week.
The Problem and who has it: Gainesville residents have limited access to food supplies due to financial problems due to COVID-19. They are forced to turn to local organizations to support their basic needs to support themselves and their families.
https://www.alligator.org/news/no-one-is-trying-to-catch-students-cheating-proctoru-and-honorlock-s-common-privacy-misconceptions/article_e1e1879a-a08d-11ea-a511-ff8cac017b13.html
Since UF, as well as many other schools have transitioned to online teaching for the time being, the demand for proctoring and testing services has increased, leading to increased wait times and increasing privacy concerns. UF said the service meets their security and privacy policies.
The Problem and who has it: Students are concerned regarding the privacy and extra wait times for exams and tests. They are concerned regarding the invasive tactics many proctoring services, such as ProctorU and HonorLock, use. This is an issue because the drastic increase of students using these services and the major transition to online classes.
2. “I feel like this is the one most close to my heart”: Gainesville family reflects on the end of the Islamic holy month
Due to COVID-19 social distancing issues, many families are experiencing changing traditions in regards to these new policies, especially one Gainesville family who embraced this change for Eid-al-Fitr, the largest celebration in the Islamic calendar. Many Muslims would dress in their best clothes and gather at a mosque together to celebrate the end of their fast. But this year is different, as many had to celebrate either online or simply with their own families, taking precaution for their health.
The Problem and who has it: Muslim families cannot celebrate Eid-al-Fitr as a social event this year due to COVID-19. Because of this, many families try to celebrate normally within the safety of their homes.
3. UF students weigh in on SG rent relief bill
https://www.alligator.org/covid-19/uf-students-weigh-in-on-sg-rent-relief-bill/article_02551f3c-9b07-11ea-ae20-33b3f5f4d660.html#tncms-source=article-nav-next
Many students had to leave mid-semester to return home, leaving their apartments or dorms unattended, yet paying for them at the same time. Students are struggling to pay due to job losses and extenuating circumstances regarding financial issues with returning home. A rent relief bill was just passed by UF Student Government, alleviating some of the stress, but not all.
The Problem and who has it: Students in the Gainesville area are paying rent when they are no longer living at their apartments and apartment complexes are not offering students relief from this, locking them into their leases.
4. UF online, international and DACA students won’t receive aid from CARES Act
https://www.alligator.org/covid-19/uf-online-international-and-daca-students-won-t-receive-aid-from-cares-act/article_b0ac21dc-9a41-11ea-9437-bfc886f7e200.html#tncms-source=article-nav-next
6000 international students at UF are not eligible for emergency funding due to the pandemic, which includes online, international and DACA students. UF has provided some financial relief with their Aid-A-Gator program, and are looking into other options for the Fall semester. But many of these students are facing financial issues such a buying flights back home or paying for housing that they no longer live in.
The Problem and who has it: Online, international and DACA students at UF are ineligible to receive funding from the CARES Act, forcing them to finance their own expenses or turning to UF for a little financial relief.
5. Food distribution resources available to Gainesville residents
https://www.alligator.org/covid-19/food-distribution-resources-available-to-gainesville-residents/article_2d0ce8d0-9243-11ea-badc-1fea251412e6.html#tncms-source=article-nav-next
Food insecurity is a problem now more than ever, due to COVID-19. Local organizations, such as the Salvation Army and Civic Media Center are hosting food drives and delivery systems to distribute food to many people facing financial hardships during this time, specifically low-income and homebound populations. Renz Torres, a coordinator for the CMC, says they have gone from serving 40 people to about 300 people a week.
The Problem and who has it: Gainesville residents have limited access to food supplies due to financial problems due to COVID-19. They are forced to turn to local organizations to support their basic needs to support themselves and their families.
Hi Anisha,
ReplyDeleteI found the article about Proctor U and Honorlock security concerns very interesting, especially since we all have had to use those, especially recently. As an international student, it was great to read an article about how UF is trying to help us financially since we can't receive the CARES act. Also good to read about the student government's rent relief bill.
Hey Anisha,
ReplyDeleteYour articles cover a lot of good local issues for Gainesville, the problem of food distribution is somewhat interesting to me. I think it is at the same time unfortunate because people are being forced to rely on charity because of a national/global crisis, and uplifting that the charity exists to support them during this time. I can also relate to the article about students needing financial support because I was living at home while still paying rent for my off-campus apartment. I have a good amount saved, so I was fine but it was not just fine for many students.
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI could relate to the articles about online schooling and being locked into a lease. I often think about how other people are dealing with these issues, so thank you for bringing them up. I think that Gainesville was a good place to choose for local issues, but what about your hometown? Correct me if you are from Gainesville, but I think it would be interesting to see the differences between my own experiences and yours.