COVID-19 in Champaign

  • COVID-19 in Champaign-Urbana community
    • Energy
      • How has the change in campus behavior affected the school’s energy output?
        • Abbot Power Plant supplies our entire campus with energy
        • There has been a push for years to get Abbott off of coal and on to more sustainable energy sources
        • How has behavior since quarantine began affected the energy usage of our campus?
        • Has our usage gone up or down?
        • How have our needs changed?
      • A lack of students effects all businesses, but how has it specifically affected the community’s energy output as a whole?
        • Does an online University lead to a leaner carbon foot print in the area?
        • What has Mass Transit looked like over quarantine?
          • If people aren’t traveling as much (or there are just less people in the area) should buses be running on a different schedule?
          • Talk to bus drivers: are they driving empty buses?
    • Greek Life
      • Where do these organizations stand in the middle of their usual rush process?
      • Is it worth joining these organizations in the midst of a pandemic?
        • How limited are the activities that normally draw in rushes/pledges?
        • Many houses are fully canceling their rush process in fear of the virus/crackdown from the University
        • Number of rushes and accepted bids in fraternities on campus are way down compared to previous years
      • Talking to members of houses has been/will be difficult. It might be easier to try and speak with freshmen who were interested in rushing/did or have been rushing.
      • Dues for many houses, especially sororities, is expensive. Are members of these organizations still paying the same in dues even though many activities and events have been restricted?
      • Could be easier to talk to greek organizations if it is framed in a neutral sense, allowing them to tell their side of the story amidst accusations and pandemics, while also highlighting other students’ views of the organizations
    • Student Life
      • Interesting chance for profiles
      • Urbana used to have a lively music scene with many house/basement rock shows
        • Has COVID effectively killed the music scene for this side of campus?
        • Contact bands/band members that were previously active
          • Do they plan to continue playing shows or figure out how to play their music for others safely?
          • Has the culture changed at all?
          • Profile of a singular band might be interesting
      • What are students doing to pass the time?
      • Profile of a student who has been quarantined with COVID
      • What is it like to live with a roommate who has contracted the virus?

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