St. Kate's communities stay active while staying apart

The act of being in community is something that is central to the identity of St. Catherine University. St. Kate’s communities are important in different ways, providing networks of support and solidarity during difficult times . They serve as a source of joy and distraction from the stress of school, and often became catalysts for bigger initiatives to advocate for group wellness. 

But what happens when those communities can’t come together? 

The second floor of the Couer de Catherine (CDC), is often the nexus for community gatherings. Walking from one end to the other, students pass the Multicultural and International Programs and Services Office (MIPS), the Information Desk, the Student Organization Center, the Center for Women, the Peer Money Mentors Office, Career Development, the Office for Community Work and Learning, and the Honors Hub before finally reaching the new Dew Drop Lounge. These places are all teeming with community, and it is easy to see multiple familiar faces within the span of just a few minutes.

It can be jarring for students to have this suddenly robbed from them. Many rely on these communities for support and comfort in times of stress, so it is extra painful that they are unable to come together to grieve the global COVID-19 crisis.

Many centers and offices at St. Kate’s have allowed time for their members to reflect and reactivate to adapt to community building from afar. In the last weeks, they have launched initiatives to continue to support students.

SEEK (Social Events and Experiences for Katies) Team Development Coordinator Anna Foster (Social Work, 20’) shared that, “Over spring break, a lot of SEEK members worked on thinking about how to transition their events online . For example, you will see on social media that a lot of people are hosting engagement opportunities such as crafts, group movie nights and also just sharing different virtual events that students can do on their own time.”

“I know that I’ve been struggling with finding fun things to do,” said Foster. “Keeping these opportunities accessible can be really helpful for students to have something positive in their day when the world is social distancing. The normal interactions that students would have on campus are all missing now — we’re taking the opportunity to schedule fun when we can.”

Some examples of virtual events that SEEK has coordinated thus far include an at home bean growing craft, and yoga classes hosted by Associate Dean for Students and Retention Ellen Richtor-Norgel. “We have tried to design activities with materials that students can access easily,” says Foster.

Starting today (4/20), SEEK is launching a series of activities focused on mental health including meditation techniques. Check the SEEK Team’s social media to get involved.

MIPS is also staying in touch with students in various ways, namely through the Virtual Couch, which starts today (4/20.)

“The Virtual Couch was created to nurture an online community with MIPS, and just like the in-person office couch, this space is meant for you to drop in, hang out, have discussions, build community and help each other through this challenging time,” read a MIPS email recently sent out to community members. 

Spaces like the MIPS office are perhaps one of the greatest losses associated with the COVID19 shut-down, as the many resources that they provide are hard to quantify and impossible to transfer online.

“During this difficult time, students are disconnected from their usual sources of support and are facing isolation, increased stress and uncertainty. Many are facing economic challenges while trying to adjust to new classroom structures and expectations,” says MIPS Assistant Director Kimberly Munoz. “More than ever, it is important to offer spaces centered on relationships and community, where students can come together to share their concerns and triumphs and build solidarity.”

“Here at MIPS we are committed to continuing to provide resources, and these spaces to our students through creative means, such as the MIPS Virtual Couch. I know these are confusing times and especially when we are enduring something for the first time, being there for each other (even if not in physical proximity), listening to individual and unique concerns, owning what we do and don’t know, and showing up in whatever way makes sense is as powerful as ever,” she concludes.

MIPS Assistant Director Amal Warsame says that, “during this pandemic, students have had so many changes to their lives and we are now in a new ‘normal.’ [...] This pandemic has exacerbated issues around equity and has showcased the need for all of us to consistently think about people in our communities and the things that they may need.”

Of these inequities, she says that, “access to resources is a privilege not many people have and offering resources to students is one way we can be intentional and think of the well being and safety of our students.”

Warsame concludes with a quote that she recently heard: “Without the survival of people, institutions can't survive. We should always be thinking about how to provide resources for our students not just during this pandemic but in the future as well. Although this pandemic has created hardships for many of our students, for some, it has just heightened hardships they were already facing and will likely continue to face after COVID-19. I think we need to even re-imagine what resources we provide and how we provide it and we need to do this as a community.”

Students can visit the MIPS virtual couch every day of the week between 7:00 AM and 10:00 PM using this link.

SEEK and MIPS are just two of many St. Kate’s community resources that have had to adjust to meet student needs from a distance. This has proven to be a challenge but has also offered opportunities for growth as we adapt to this new way of being.

St. Kate’s community leaders are still thinking of students during this time. If anything, they are thinking of students more than ever.