COVID-19 - AN EXERCISE IN EMPATHY

JOANNA GU

April 9th, 2020

The spread and emergence of the Coronavirus (also known as COVID-19) in the past few months highlights the cracks within national governments and challenges for governance. The ripple of the Coronavirus has since penetrated the world of higher education where most students around the world are displaced and disrupted by the effects of this pandemic. This has also produced an increased vulnerability to international students as well as a threat to global mobility posed by a virus which knows no bounds.

At the time of writing the number of confirmed cases worldwide of COVID-19 has reached 1,130,576 with 60,147 confirmed deaths. The University of Melbourne community itself has personally been touched, with two staff members testing positive in recent weeks. The severity of the situation on campus, in Australia and around the globe is undeniable. Yet, COVID-19 is still often discussed as a matter of frivolous concern with underlying hints of xenophobia.

As higher education institutions plan their responses, how can the University of Melbourne ensure student mobility flows and wellbeing are sustainable during this pandemic? A QS survey data showed of those respondents whose plans had been impacted by COVID-19, 37% now intend to defer their studies, and 11% said they no longer want to study overseas. [1] Understandably, health concerns are the key reason why students have decided to or been forced to change their study plans. Due to the origin of the virus, recent media reports have shown that people of Asian descent have reported being stigmatised, excluded or discriminated against amidst the chaos. Chinese students are the largest international population in many countries with 152,591 in Australia. [2] Although it may be true that infectious diseases often lead to stigmatisation of the ill, it is intolerable to justify xenophobia or to ostracise as a “normal” or appropriate response. [3]

The heart of Melbourne is a melting pot of culture and diversity, and the University of Melbourne is no different. Built on the principles of diversity and equality, we must tackle these issues. Being socially excluded or ostracised as potential causes or carriers of COVID-19 can be mentally penetrating on any individual as feeling accepted and welcomed within a social group is core to human survival. Often, these global health crises can breed uncertainty and fear. Students may begin experiencing stress, anxiety and a sense of isolation as distance learning slowly becomes the norm for the first half of 2020. As Camus writes in The Plague, we must see ourselves as members of a community, not as atomised actors. We must know the outbreak of this pandemic through a lens of unification rather than ostracisation, and there is no place on our campus or (in the world) for xenophobia.

 We are at a point where this is a public health concern for us all. Even if you are not personally at significant risk, your elderly neighbour or classmate’s family may be ; therefore, it is crucial that young adults should self-isolate as each of our interactions carry significance, we must be conscious of manner and tone when we discuss COVID-19, especially around those students who are particularly vulnerable as they may be dealing with this in isolation and away from family. During this unprecedented time, we urge you to be kind to one another, and especially to students who may be prone to experiencing stigmatisation.

The Government has now advised us to avoid all but essential social contacts. This will mean that more of us will be spending a lot of time indoors procrastinating watching lectures, so during this time why not try some random acts of kindness:

●      Send a motivational text to a friend who is struggling

●      Arrange to watch a film (or lecture) at the same time as a friend and video-call

●      Reach out to call a friend, family member or neighbour who is experiencing loneliness or isolation

●      Offer to send someone a takeaway or a meal

●      Tag each other in any law-related memes on Facebook (Dank Law Memes is a great place to start)

[1] ‘Survey reveals impact of epidemic on study abroad plans’ https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20200228054554409

[2] L Wang, ‘Coronavirus: Universities have duty of care to students’ (2020) https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20200211074804247

[3] L Asemlash, CNN, UC Berkeley faces backlash after stating ‘xenophobia’ is ‘common’ or ‘normal’ reaction to Coronavirus https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/02/02/ucuc-berkeley-faces-backlash-after-stating-xenophobia-is-common-or-normal-reaction-to-coronavirus/