"The great paradox, of course, is that we had to be set apart in order to feel together… Solidarity is not a feeling; it’s an active virtue….It’s solidarity that causes a Marine to risk his life dragging the body of his dead comrade from battle to be returned home. It’s out of solidarity that health care workers stay on their feet amid terror and fatigue. Some things you do not for yourself or another but for the common whole.” – David Brooks, New York Times, March 19, 2020
Our sincere thanks to CSU President Harlan Sands, the CSU Pandemic Response Team, and every member of the CSU Cleveland-Marshall community for the steps that each of you is taking to adapt to these fast-changing circumstances and help minimize the impact of this health crisis. A special thank you to Associate Deans Carolyn Broering-Jacobs and Jonathan Witmer-Rich with whom I am working closely day and night, 7 days a week.
As Coronavirus continues to disrupt our lives, we have never been in more need of uplifting messages and stories. I have seen many of you provide comfort and support to each other, to others in your lives, and to those less fortunate in our community.
Here is one of many examples. Susan Jacobsen, a 3L student, understanding that social distancing is isolating, organized a group text message to provide a platform for people in distress. Susan said, “while this time is difficult for everyone, it is especially difficult for those living alone…..I posted a message on Twitter stating that if anyone was feeling lonely, isolated, anxious, depressed, or just generally stressed out and wanted a daily text email with something cute, funny, and/or uplifting, to please reach out.”
Please continue to send me your stories, messages, ideas, and lessons learned about how we can continue to help, support, and uplift each other and those most vulnerable in our community. I will continue to highlight and encourage acts that lift all of us up during this very challenging time and that fulfill our mission of living justice.
Remote instruction begins today. With each change, our staff and faculty have worked to quickly adapt in order to provide remote services and instruction, and for that I am very grateful. We will continue working to ensure ongoing effective teaching and learning, while also protecting public health and observing effective social distancing.
Students, if you haven't heard from your professors, please reach out to Associate Dean Broering-Jacobs immediately to let her know so that we can touch base with your professor and make sure everything is on track. Please go to CSU’s Keep Learning website for the latest information and available resources.
- Blackboard and Zoom: Zoom and Blackboard are two of the tools that many of our faculty will be using for remote instruction. For issues with Zoom and Blackboard, call CSU IS&T at 687-5050. You can find resources at these two sites:
- Technology Requests: Law IT has had an overwhelming number of tech requests coming in. To allow them to better serve us all, it is imperative that you always send tech requests via www.law.csuohio.edu/techhelp or e-mail to newticketnull@law.csuohio.nulledu.
· Wifi Hot Spot: if you are a student who needs a wifi hot spot, please contact Campus 411. You can reach Campus 411 through live chat here: https://www.csuohio.edu/all-in-1/all-in-1 You can also reach Campus 411 by phone at 687-5411.
The health and safety of the entire campus community – students, faculty, and staff – are our highest priorities and continue to guide all of our decisions.
The most critical starting point is to take care of yourself, and the people around you. If you're feeling alone, it's important to reach out for support, whether that's to trusted friends, family, colleagues, classmates, or a trained professional. There are many resources to meet a variety of needs that may be arising.
CARE Team: The CSU CARE Team is fully operational, working remotely. For assistance with student support services, accessing medical and mental health providers, managing anxiety, and more, you can contact the CARE Team directly using the information on their website. Assistant Dean Sarah Beznoska can also assist you in connecting to the CARE Team.
Counseling/Crisis Services: The CSU Counseling Center is available online and by phone. For more information, see their website or call 216-687-2277. The CSUCARE Team is working remotely. Please contact them for any critical needs or concerns for student well-being by emailing magnusactsnull@csuohio.nulledu. In addition, you can reach the Crisis Text Hotline by texting 741-741. You can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or by visiting their website for a live chat.
SBA Wellness Committee The Student Bar Association has a Facebook group where students can interact. https://www.facebook.com/groups/657447401747074/
Lift-Up Vikes: Lift-Up Vikes has a variety of information on its website identifying resources for students experiencing food insecurity, issues with water, electric, and gas bills, or possible eviction. For questions or concerns, please email liftupvikesnull@csuohio.nulledu.
Internet/Wi-Fi: Charter will offer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription and at any service level up to 100 Mbps. To enroll, call 1-844-488-8395. Installation fees will be waived for new student households.
Resources for Parents and Families: The Ohio Department of Health has a link for resources for parents, including family activity ideas and information about school nutrition programs.
Other Helpful Resources: The Ohio Department of Health call center is operating from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. everyday, 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634). The Ohio Bar Association has a list of resources.
Student Emergency Financial Assistance Grant: Last semester I created a Student Emergency Financial Assistance Grant program, to which our law students may apply for emergency assistance. Little did I know how timely it would be. If a student is experiencing a financial emergency - an unforeseen expense that, if not resolved quickly, could lead to their departure from the law school and loss of momentum toward completion - this grant is designed to provide an opportunity to apply to the law school for some assistance.
This has been an extraordinary three weeks for all of us in the CSU Cleveland-Marshall community. Thank you for your continued flexibility as we adapt to a very fast-changing set of circumstances and for your willingness to do what needs to be done on behalf of our students. This is an unprecedented, fluid, and evolving situation, and requires adaptive leadership by all of us.
CSU Cleveland-Marshall will fully comply with the Ohio Department of Health Stay At Home Order issued yesterday. A complete listing of all CSU campus services under the order, their status, and hours of remote operations can be found here.
If you missed CSU President Harlan Sands’ virtual Town Hall on Friday, March 20, you can see it here.
Please email questions, comments, concerns to: Dean Lee Fisher (lee.fishernull@csuohio.nulledu), Associate Dean Carolyn Broering-Jacobs (c.broeringjacobsnull@csuohio.nulledu), Associate Dean Jonathan Witmer-Rich (j.witmerrichnull@csuohio.nulledu), or Sarah Beznoska, Assistant Dean of Student and Career Services (s.beznoskanull@csuohio.nulledu)
You can also email the university at: coronavirusquestionsnull@csuohio.nulledu
Students may use this link to submit concerns anonymously: https://forms.gle/66qDRPQz9y1wPtjK7
Please regularly check the University’s Coronavirus Updates page and your law school email for further updates. Please see the links beneath my email signature for additional information.
This Week’s Monday Moment: See these three links for some inspiration:
Chino Hills High School Chamber Singers
This Week’s Monday Moment: CDC Coronavirus Information Videos
Have a great day. Have a great week.
For copies of past messages, please go to this link: Monday Morning Messages.
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My views in all my Monday Morning Messages are my personal views alone and do not reflect the views of our law school or our university.
My best,
Lee
Ohio Department of Health Stay At Home Order
CSU C|M|LAW Coronavirus Updates