At the beginning of the 2021 fall semester, Dining Services announced an upcoming partnership with USEFULL, a company run by a Mount Holyoke alumna, Alison Rogers ’12. USEFULL works to reduce waste and positively impact consumption patterns by providing a sustainable, reusable alternative to single-use takeout products. USEFULL claims that switching to their reusable containers can save colleges an estimated 50 - 84 percent on the cost of single-use to-go packaging
by Cayley Delancy ’21
Since Mount Holyoke closed its campus in March, students have returned to homes in locations ranging from the rural mountains to major urban hubs. Despite social distancing recommendations, many municipalities have accommodated and even encouraged the need to go outdoors for exercise and sunlight. For example, Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York stated on Thursday March 19, “If you have to get outside of the house to exercise, to get some fresh air, which is 100 percent necessary for a lot of people in a lot of circumstances, then do it." Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts said on Monday March 23, “I do not believe I can or should order U.S. citizens to be confined to their homes for days on end. It doesn’t make sense from a public health point of view, and it’s not realistic.” However, access and limitations to outdoor spaces plays out differently in urban areas than it might in the Pioneer Valley.
Jackie Park ’21 is at home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Park said it's been challenging for her to go outdoors during social distancing because, “there are some days where there are a lot of people outside, and some aren’t wearing masks or seem very nonchalant about the idea of social distancing and how precautions should still be implemented even during short walks.” Park said she wished she could spend more time outside, but is afraid to venture outside on nice days since there tend to be a lot of people.
Although Sidney Boker ’21 lives in the suburbs of Long Island, New York, she has experienced similar complacency among other pedestrians. “There are people who don’t seem to care and don’t make room when you pass by and that is upsetting, but it’s also really annoying when people get aggressive about social distancing. Sometimes, instead of both passers-by moving away from each other while they pass, I’ve been yelled at to stay 6 feet away even when they have room to move over on their end and I’d have to step into traffic.”
“The lakefront paths and parks have been closed because the first nice day outside during social distancing, the parks were overcrowded with people exercising,” said Hope Rogers, ’22 who lives in Chicago. “This has made it slightly more challenging to find open spaces that are empty enough on warm days, but my family is in a privileged position because there are still large, well-maintained parks in our neighborhood that we can spend time in, which is not the case across the city.”
Trinity Kendrick ’21 has also experienced difficulties in Houston, Texas. “I have a large backyard area that I can hang out in but I can’t really walk around my neighborhood because there’s no sidewalks and my area’s not the safest,” she said. “If my family and I want to walk long distances we would have to drive to a park, but the parks have been closed for the time being, so being outdoors besides my backyard hasn’t been very accessible to me.”
Beata Garrett ’20, of Mill Basin, Brooklyn, New York, spoke about different accessibility concerns that have been highlighted by the virus. Garrett said that they’re lucky enough to live in a less crowded neighborhood and have access to a park next door and a backyard. “Even on busy days, the park [doesn’t] have a lot of people. So I haven't felt the strain of accessibility as others have and have felt pretty safe going out, leaving aside the fact that I'm Chinese.” However, Garrett underscored that doing things like buying groceries has become more challenging for those with disabilities who have to wait in line or who have to take transportation to get to the nearest grocery store. “I haven't really seen measures addressing this,” said Garrett. “If anything the virus has shown us the necessity of funding more public places like public libraries where people can stay there for free.”
In addition to accessibility concerns, environmental inequalities in cities have been exacerbated with COVID-19 and stay-at-home orders. Rogers highlighted negative environmental factors like pollution in Chicago which disproportionately affects people of color and people from low-income backgrounds, making it harder for them to spend time outside safely. “[Chicago] recently made the decision to begin the demolition process on an old coal plant and air pollution spread throughout the surrounding area, which is a neighborhood of predominantly people of color,” said Rogers. “A local organization fought back and the demolition process stopped after a day, but particles remained in the air, making breathing conditions worse at a time when a disease that affects the lungs is already spreading.” Rogers highlights how environmental injustice and unequal access to outdoor spaces doesn’t stop being a problem when the brunt of the pandemic is over. “[In Chicago], access to outdoor spaces was already a privilege rather than a universal right in many parts of the city before the pandemic started, so the shelter-in-place order has brought to the surface issues that were already there.”
Despite difficulties, outdoor spaces can provide positive mental relief during social distancing. “I've actually been spending way more time outdoors than I usually do when I'm home because it's the only thing to do,” said Olivia Marble ’21. “I live in a suburban area so I have space to go outside but I’ve never appreciated it before now.” Boker said that she would like to spend more time outdoors, but the constant flow of depressing news, school work and poor weather has made it challenging for her to find the motivation to go outside. Rogers also said that, “Being able to walk to the lakefront or a park really helps my mental health when I start to feel closed-in.”
These experiences certainly do not begin to encompass the range of experiences Mount Holyoke students have faced outdoors in urban environments during social distancing. However, it is apparent that while outdoor spaces can serve as a place of peace during an otherwise stressful time period, pedestrians not abiding by social distancing guidelines and crowding in public spaces can limit accessibility to safe time outdoors.
Hand-sewn masks by Zoe Heard ‘20
by Cayley DeLancey ’21
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises wearing cloth masks when going out into public to avoid transmission of the virus through the air, especially in areas such as the grocery store where social distancing measures are more difficult to maintain. The CDC outlines that all face coverings should fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face, be secured with ties or ear loops, include multiple layers of fabric, allow for breathing without restriction and not get damaged in the laundry.
Many people have taken to making their own masks so that medical masks can be saved for health care providers. Making masks at home with reusable materials is also a way to promote sustainability.
“I think it’s fun because it’s a productive use of my time that takes me away from screens,” said Zoe Heard ’20, who has started making masks while on campus. “Plus, it’s given me a way to feel productive and like I am doing something. I’ve started making masks for other people and I want to make more to donate. There are a lot of uncertainties right now but there is a little comfort in being able to do something proactive.”
Heard said that making masks is not challenging. “My knots can be a little hectic but as long as it’s assembled well, it works, and assembly is not the hard part. I also enjoy taking clothing items that I thought would not have any use, like jeans with holes in places that make them unwearable, but now I get to recycle them into something that can help others.” Heard hand sews their masks following instructions by the CDC.
Reusable cloth masks aren’t the only way to practice staying safe sustainably. Clorox wipes are in high demand right now. They can be hard to find in stores, as cleaning supplies are needed by hospitals and nursing homes, but reusable cleaning wipes can be made from home. All you need is cut-up pieces of fabric (microfiber works best but an old cotton T-shirt works as well) and a mixed cleaning solution made of products you may already have at home. The CDC recommends a cleaning solution of one quart of water to four teaspoons of bleach, which can be sprayed onto a surface and then wiped down. Read more about this recipe here. Disinfectant wipes can also be made using 70% alcohol, and essential oils can be added for fragrance. Read more about this here.
Many people have been making their own hand sanitizer using alcohol and aloe vera gel. According to medical experts, this can be risky due to the careful balance of ingredients that must go into making hand sanitizer. It is easy to make one that isn’t effective enough, or is too strong and may damage your skin. Washing your hands thoroughly, wearing gloves and not touching your face is more effective and safe. Read a New York Times article on this here.
You can also look into getting vegetables from a local farm. Some farms are now bringing pre-packaged boxes of fresh and local produce into urban areas, which can be pre-purchased and picked up with limited contact. Not only does this limit contact with other people while shopping, but it also means you’re eating local vegetables and supporting a local business.
If you’re missing the outdoors, some of the National Parks have created virtual tours. Several environmental film festivals have also moved online due to COVID-19. The Banff Mountain Film Festival has all of their films for this year online to be watched for free. Films vary from 5 to over 60 minutes long and document outdoor activities around the world.
Finally, make sure to do what you can to help your neighbors and community. Donate money to a local food bank, or extra masks to neighbors who can’t make their own. Volunteer at a food drive, or help an elderly person go shopping. Most importantly, stay safe!
“As the pandemic escalates, elections have fallen to the backburner in media coverage. However, a lack of progressive and strong environmental initiative in Washington remains a pressing concern. This is where the Environmental Voter Project comes in to keep environmentally-oriented voters engaged.” Cayley DeLancey ’21 gives her take on how the climate change vote and the pandemic could impact this year’s election.
