Broncos Come Together

Santa Clara Community remains connected despite coronavirus 

 Community Conversations, a space for students, staff and alumni to come together, normally meets in person but shifted to using the Zoom platform to provide a continued sense of community. 

The effort to shift the conversation online provided a space for Santa Clara community members to share their experiences and feel supported. 

By providing remote access to the conversation, people located far from Santa Clara could participate when they would not have been able to otherwise. The conversation attracted 44 Broncos looking to check-in and share their perspectives. 

Margaret Russell and Raymond Plaza from the Office of Diversity and Inclusion launched the meeting. The conversation centered around coronavirus and revealed though people have been impacted in different ways, there are lifestyle shifts that many have experienced.  

Participants reflected on what community means for them right now and praised Santa Clara for striving to maintain a supportive network. 

“The SCU community is very tight kit and we are all willing to check in with one another,”  recent graduate Kayla Williams said. 

Community Conversations provides an outlet to reflect on what has been difficult. Several people expressed they have struggled with the inability to see students in person, feeling isolated, handling long-distance relationships and the challenge of grieving for lost family and loved ones while in isolation. 

“My oldest brother passed away, not from Covid,” faculty member Pat McBride said. “Not being able to be with family and grieve is really strange. My family is not into Zoom. If someone has a medical issue that comes up, the Covid thing adds a whole other layer that you have to consider.” 

In response to challenges, people spoke out about their hopes for the Santa Clara community at this time. 

“This is a really good time to be self-reflecting and learning about ourselves,” Mae-Ling Tien said. “It is through challenging times that we grow. Personal development is one of my top values. My wish for the community is that we can grow and think about what is meaningful for us.”

Despite experiencing difficulties, many people demonstrated an optimistic attitude and shared ways they have found effective for keeping spirits up. Santa Clara community members advised leaning on faith, maintaining daily routines, and embracing new ways to interact with friends, such as the virtual Pictionary app Skribbl.io, to stay positive.

 Wellness Center representative, Tiger Simpson, concluded the conversation by presenting an image of a wellness wheel. The wheel depicted each level of health including spiritual, emotional, physical, social, environmental, and financial.  

“What works for one person is not a one size fits all,” said Simpson, “I’m giving you a bunch of tools and if that tool doesn’t work for you that is fine. There are other options.” 

The presentation encouraged community members to consciously make decisions to better themselves and continue honing their holistic selves. 

Throughout the discussion, the desire to hear from students and provide support was strong. In attempt to gain more participation from students, the Diversity and Inclusion Office is hoping to host a student-focused community conversation to gain a better understanding of students’ voices in early May. 

The next Community Conversation will be held May 5 from 12:15-1:15 p.m. through Zoom. A link to the meeting can be found in event emails from Margaret Russell.