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HISTORY
COVID-19 Journal March 16, 2020
Taking classes online and the beginning of lockdown.
What follows is a lightly edited version of a journal I wrote periodically to document the Coronavirus pandemic as it was developing across the United States and the world. I was working as an Assistant Professor at Glenville State College in Glenville, West Virginia. This is one of seven.
3.16.2020. Here is where we stand so far. The novel coronavirus continues to spread throughout the world. Glenville State College has extended spring break for one week, until March 27, after which administration is preparing to welcome students back to campus. We have been encouraged to move classes online, and that is what I have done. Some of my colleagues cannot teach their classes (speech, acting, forestry) online, and so they will be practicing social distancing. Going online is a problem in this part of West Virginia, because some families don’t have and cannot get Internet service. I have offered to correspond with students through the mail if it becomes necessary.
I was preparing to submit my resignation as Chair of the Department of Language and Literature on Friday, March 13, but I postponed that until things are more stable. Almost everyone I talk to seems to think that this is going to blow over in a few weeks, but…
