CSUN On Point

Higher education institutions have been conducting classes virtually for almost a year, but with COVID-19 vaccinations now being distributed, how close are colleges and universities to resuming in-person instruction?

Governor Gavin Newsom and state legislative leaders have already reached a deal aimed at encouraging K-12 schools to reopen this school year. The CDC has also released information that advises schools on how to prepare for reopening.

At the college level, California State University  Chancellor Joseph Castro stated that the system’s campuses are planning to return by fall of this year. He says each campus will have an individualized reopening plan.

Like a number of other schools, Cal State Northridge officials will not require students or faculty to get vaccinated. 

Maurice Walker, a student at College of the Canyons who is immunocompromised, says he does not feel ready to return to campus. He would want to wait at least another six months.

“It will be a while before I feel comfortable being on campus, but I can’t let my paranoia get the best of me,” Walker said.

CSUN nursing student Samuel Sherry says it is natural for people to be concerned about getting the COVID-19 vaccine, considering that it was created so quickly.

“I am hopeful, for the most part,  that over time people will realize that [the vaccine] is for the best,” Sherry said. “The side effects are minimal. Everybody needs to do their part and get vaccinated if they can, and when they can to get to that level of herd immunity.”

Matthew Cahn, CSUN Vice Provost of Academic Affairs, says university officials aim to have at least 30 to 50 percent of classes back on campus. Most of these classes will be hybrid, meaning that they will meet both on campus and virtually.

“The idea is to get as many students as possible to have the opportunity to have some kind of campus experience in Fall ‘21,” Cahn said.

If in-person instruction does resume, staff and students are not required to return if they feel their safety is at risk. 

“We are not creating any expectations that students must be on campus.” Cahn said. “We hope that those who want to [return] will have the opportunity to do so.”

CSUN marketing professor Mariam Beruchashvili said she believes  students and staff should be vaccinated before campus operations fully return to normal, but she understands that there are a lot of people who want to wait some time before receiving the vaccine. 

“It’s a very complex issue with multiple layers, and it will be a challenge.” Beruchashvili said. “I don’t think that many people will volunteer to be vaccinated and that means that we might not be able to go back to full capacity.”

“A place like a college university is probably not one of the safest places to reopen,” added Sherry, “just because it has so many individuals in it.”

The pandemic has also taken a toll on the social lives of many students, so a return to campus could help bring back that missing interaction.

“Even with the six foot rule, I think we’ll have an inclination for [social life] to flourish.” Walker said. “We’re deprived of true intimate communication and interaction. We desire it.”

Students and staff that decide to return to campus must follow all safety protocols, such as wearing masks and maintaining physical distance from others.

This story was reported by the following team:

• Angela Gonzalez
• Kristyn Karmazyn
• Elizabeth Medina
• Daniela Torres
• Bryce Wayne

CORRECTION (Tues., March 2): Due to an editing error, an earlier video version of this show included an on-screen graphic in which guest Samuel Sherry’s name was misspelled. We’ve since corrected the video. CSUN On Point regrets the error.

According to a recent survey conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, nearly three out of five small business owners fear the COVID-19 pandemic may force them to shut down permanently.

Back in March, Blazin’ Burgers, the Karmazyn family’s new vegan fast food restaurant, was set to open for the very first time. Then, the local public health officials declared the lock-down of most businesses due to COVID-19.

“We were on the verge of getting our permits,” said co-owner Marilyn Karmazyn, “and so that sort of came to an abrupt stop and that was probably the most challenging part of all this because we still had all of our expenses to pay.”

Blazin’ Burgers was among the many start-up businesses that had to go back to the drawing board with its financial plans, before it got the chance to open its doors.

But Karmazyn, who runs the restaurant with her daughters Kathryn and Kris, was able to open Blazin’ Burgers in July, and was able to succeed despite the turbulent economy.

Co-owner Kathryn Karmazyn says they owe their success and recovery to online delivery services such as DoorDash, Postmates, and Uber Eats.

In March, Congress created the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, to provide low-interest loans to help small businesses stay afloat. But surveys from both the America’s Recovery Fund Coalition as well as Save Small Businesses Coalition showed nearly half of these businesses said their PPP loan was not enough to keep them operative.

Nancy Hoffman Vanyek, president and CEO of the San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce, compared PPP toanother form of unemployment that ultimately small businesses use to keep their workforce on their payroll during the coronavirus crisis — particularly businesses like restaurants that are not able to open.

Small businesses are disappearing at a staggering rate, according to Hoffman Vanyek, who doubts 2021 will bring economic recovery.

Small businesses are not only vital to the economy, but they’re important parts of communities.

“We really work with our clients very closely,” said Brian Wisdom, an executive with IT firm Datalinks Networks, “and having that as a small business gives you that opportunity to build those relationships where as a larger business you are treated as a number.”

In mid-September, the San Fernando Valley Chamber met with the Department of Public Health. The chamber is maintaining a website for businesses with the latest updates and information on health orders at sfvresource.com. This website also contains information on business counseling, information on how and where to get loans and grants for your business.

In June 2019, CSUN partnered with the Warbond foundation, founded by Jane Werwand, which supports small to mid-sized business entrepreneurs. Clients involved in the program are welcomed to participate in LA’s Local Business Boost that supports all types of businesses providing individuals access to funding, mentorship and educational resources.

Professor Silvina Bamrungpong directs the Business Honors Program at California State University, Northridge. She advises anyone who aspires to start a business should first focus on developing a sound strategy, while still acquiring the finance skills.

This story was produced by the following:

• Amanda Alvarado, reporter
• Savanna Birchfield, moderator
• Casey Contreras, reporter
• Sophia Lesseos, anchor
• Kimberly Linares, reporter

Students and teachers around the world are adapting to virtual instruction in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CSU system has announced classes at its 23 campuses will remain mostly virtual this fall. The Los Angeles Unified School District is still working on its plans.

Some teachers and their students have adapted well to the use of technology, but others have felt the strain, particularly students who cannot participate due to circumstances beyond their control. Some teachers are finding unique ways to keep students engaged – such as one music teacher who used TikTok.

Many questions loom about special education students in particular, and the challenges of giving them what they need. CSUN Associate Professor Vanessa Goodwin is a special education teacher and program specialist. She is Co-Director of the Special Education Literacy Clinic in the Teaching, Learning, and Counseling Consortium. Goodwin said she is learning a lot through this pandemic, particularly about the ramifications for special needs students at all levels.

For starters, student mentors had a hard time adjusting to virtual learning themselves. For many, the pandemic’s virtual school preparation came during spring break, and Goodwin said student mentors and teachers were left to find the ways to connect with their students at home.

Goodwin said there really was not a mechanism for keeping special education students from regressing during a crisis like this.

But Goodwin said some of the current technology was already in use, and luckily for them, students and teachers were already familiar with it. This technology has given them tools to succeed, and no matter what the fall brings, the summer will provide even more time to prepare.

Phyllis Gudoski has taught at both the university and the K-12 levels. She is currently a lecturer in the Special Education Department at CSUN.  She said educators have concerns about students moving to virtual classes, but there is also concern for instructors. Many educators at the K-12 level have never taught online classes before, and Gudoski said there has been a learning curve for both teachers and students.

Not all students have access to reliable computers, and beyond that, getting internet access can also be an issue. Gudoski said the LAUSD has helped students get access to chromebooks, but that may not be enough. And for students with special needs, it’s even tougher. 

California State University-San Bernardino student Jazmin Leanos-Rodriguez said the transition to virtual learning has been extremely challenging for her. She had developed methods for success at school, after struggling academically, by using study groups and study halls, and taking advantage of professors’ office hours and accessibility after class. But now she said she feels her success diminishing, and she’s discouraged. Leanos-Rodriguez said her home life makes it difficult to study, and she said she is considering taking the next semester off, because she doesn’t feel she’s able to absorb the material she’s learning virtually.

Leanos-Rodriguez said the stress of school and the uncertainty of the times have affected her mental health, and she feels genuinely alone since the shutdown. Seeking help virtually doesn’t work for her. She said the frustration causes her to cry sometimes.

Experts agree social distancing and virtual learning can affect many students in many different ways. Gudoski said social and emotional issues play a huge part in educating a well-rounded child or adult. Social skills are what helps people get jobs, and many social skills are learned in the playground and in the classroom.

Perhaps the biggest questions students, teachers, and the community have are: will they ever return to ‘normal’? And, how long will this go on?

Gudoski said this may be the new normal for a while, and students and faculty should be prepared for that. She said until there is a vaccine, which experts admit could take more than a year, schools and campuses will not be able to guarantee the safety of students or teachers.

Producers: Cindy Rodriguez and Brittany Smith

Reporters: Alex Guerrero, Cindy Rodriguez and Brittany Smith

Adriana Alejandre is a Latinx therapist working with communities to meet their mental health needs, and to assist them specifically during the time of the coronavirus pandemic.

She started Latinx, a directory and podcast, with relatable and bilingual therapists and other mental health resources especially for the Latinx community.

Alejandre said there can be stigmas against therapy in the Latinx community, and her organization works to stop those.

“Minorities overall do have more stressors, because of the collectivist nature of our culture,” she said. The coronavirus and the overall political climate have also made other people hostile, even racist, to minority communities, which adds to the anxiety. “The darker some people are, the meaner society can get during this pandemic,” she said.

Starting next week, amid the COVID-19 lockdown, she is offering pro bono sessions specifically for farm workers, janitorial and maintenance crews. She said many of these people are forgotten, even though, just like first responders, these workers are putting their lives at risk on a daily basis.“I decided to do something for them, so they can have access to mental health resources,” she said. “There is a rise of depression and anxiety among the Latin community due to the coronavirus, and the uncertainty of the future, and applying for unemployment. When a website is only in English, it creates a great deal of anxiety for this community.” 

After she originally launched the site in 2018, she heard from hundreds of people all across the country who were searching for a Latinx therapist. The resources to reach the needs of her clients took nearly six months to organize.

She is working to recruit around 100 therapists nationwide, and her goal is nearly complete. She plans to put out a link to the application on her instagram, with a referral list to mental health professionals in each state.

But she is worried about the strain on the therapists themselves, too. “There is a limit to a number of sessions, and the number of clients they can bring in for these sessions,” she said. Each therapist is able to set an expiration date for their services.

Two other organizations offering therapy during this stressful time, especially to young people, are Strength United, located in Santa Clarita, Northridge and Van Nuys, and Open Path, which offers a one-time, lifetime membership fee of $60.

Alejandre says she will evaluate the current climate, and consider that in making her decisions for her future campaigns. The virus will end eventually, and the Latin community may still need access to treatment.

“Our next campaign is likely for undocumented folks,” Alejandre said.

Producer: Karina Gutierrez

Video Editor: Cristal Morales Rodriguez

Reporters: Wiam Dahbi, Nicholas Gargiulo, Karina Gutierrez, Ashley Hawn, Cristal Morales Rodriguez and Christian Pineda

The COVID 19 pandemic has forced many businesses and services to shut down in order to cooperate with social distancing and stay-at-home orders, but for some services, like the Los Angeles Public Library, the shutdowns mean even more work.

Librarians have moved books to places where people can get them even during the lockdown, like shelters. And they’ve worked with city officials to help people who relied on the library for internet access find ways to get online.

While library buildings themselves are closed, library staff have been working to upgrade and provide services online through their websites, or through different social media sites like Facebook or Instagram. Another change has been the shift to electronic book checkout. Once libraries open again, readers can also be excited about the elimination of late fees and fines.

Central Library Director Eva Mitnick said she hopes these changes will bring more people back to the library once the lockdowns are over. She says public libraries serve the community in many ways, whether it’s through access to books and the internet, or by being a hub for many other community services.

The move to online resources made the library system make some necessary changes to its website and online services. The website now is much more streamlined and user friendly, and  includes interfaces in six different languages.

Mitnick said that these changes won’t be the last ones though. Library staff and officials will be meeting throughout the pandemic and after, to make sure that the system can stay ahead of the curve once the doors open again.

Producer: Nicholas Gargiulo

Video Editors: Wiam Dahbi and Karina Gutierrez

Reporters: Wiam Dahbi, Nicholas Gargiulo, Karina Gutierrez, Ashley Hawn, Cristal Morales Rodriguez and Christian Pineda

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused closures and postponements for countless performances and productions scheduled throughout the spring and the summer — from Broadway hits to school plays. Among those performances affected, the Cal State Northridge theatre production of Pippin, which came to an abrupt halt about a month before it was scheduled to open.

The CSUN Theater Department had slated its production of the 1972 musical-for a two week run beginning April 3rd. The Spring 2020 production was set to be held at the campus theater in Nordhoff Hall, and it featured a twist to the classic musical that would resonate specifically with CSUN students.

The play’s cast was devastated when they received the news that the production was being cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The cast received the news via the theater department’s Instagram page, @theatrecsun, even before director Garry Lennon was able to tell the cast himself. The cast had already put in 10 weeks of rehearsal at 20 hours a week. 

However, Pippin will be back.

Two weeks into the quarantine, Lennon emailed the cast informing them that the show will be the first show put on by the Department in the Fall 2020 semester. The plan is for rehearsals to resume in August. The graduating seniors in the cast have been invited back, so they will not miss out on their opportunity to take part in the show. 

Excitement had already been building among the cast members eager to put on a show. Ensemble member Angelo Masset spoke with On Point reporter Candice Romero about the amount of work that had gone into rehearsals, and what the cancellation meant to the cast.

Romero also spoke with Cassandra Koukourikos, who was set to play Pippin’s stepmother Fastrada.

Cast member Arden Agos explained what she expects from the fall production, and her excitement moving forward.

Pippin is a Broadway classic, with music and lyrics by composer Stephen Schwartz, and story by Roger Hirson and Bob Fosse. It’s about a prince, named Pippin, who goes to war to get approval from his father.  Later, however, Pippin kills his father, and becomes king. He falls in love, and then finds himself struggling with love, magic and regret.

On Point reporter Preston Mitchell spoke with director Lennon about CSUN’s contemporary adaptation of the musical.

Catherine, played by Rebecca Curci, is Pippin’s love interest, who helps him as he grows into adulthood. Pippin must decide whether he will settle down with his love, or continue to perform magic with a troupe of performers.

Aiden Kastner, who plays Pippin, talked to Mitchell about the lead role, and his thoughts on the modern revisioning of the character.

Director and cast members agreed that although Pippin is set in the Middle Ages, its message holds relevance to today’s audience, especially college students.

The new opening night is scheduled for September 18, 2020.

Moderators: Preston Mitchell and Candice Romero

Producer: Liliana Ramirez

Anchor: Liliana Ramirez

Video Editor: Lilibeth Morales

Reporters: Bea Barros, Manny Luisi, Preston Mitchell, Lilibeth Morales, Liliana Ramirez and Candice Romero