265 days ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 as the first pandemic sparked by a coronavirus. 265 days ago, many of us had to look up the difference between “epidemic” and “pandemic.”

In light of the recent death of George Floyd, multiple petitions surfaced on the internet in order to call for charges against Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who had killed Floyd. Other petitions regarding deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and other deaths from police brutality are being widely spread through social media, reaching over a million signatures each. Petitions are nothing new and are one of the founding rights that Americans have used to induce social change.

When Santa Monica College (SMC) made the decision that the spring semester was going to be completely remote through the summer, some international students made the decision to travel back to their home countries whereas others decided to stay. International students in the United States now lead an uncertain future as SMC among other schools, announced the fall semester will be online and the US borders are still closed due to COVID-19.

When socio-political issues come in the form of a tragedy, such as the evolving Ahmaud Arbery case, colleges and universities often provide a breathing ground for expression and discussion.

Following the recent release of the graphic and disturbing video of Arbery’s killing, media outlets, celebrities, advocates for justice, as well as everyday people, were outraged, with some referring to his murder as, “the modern day lynching.” Thankfully the public outcry and activism made an impact because on Thursday night when the Georgia Bureau of Investigation helped in the arrests of the self-proclaimed vigalante father and son, George and Travis McMichael, for the murder of Arbery.

As colleges across the country close their campus and switch to online format due to COVID-19, many students fear the unknown. International students face an even more unpredictable outlook as they grapple with the choice to stay in America or attempt to rush back home to familiar surroundings.

Director of Budget Management Skander Zmerli during the last week of elections, greeting Associated Students at Santa Monica College, 27 March, 2019. (Tanya Barcessat/The Corsair)

The voting public in America is quite familiar with general election terms such as “popular vote” and the often-debated “electoral college” to elect the President of the United States. However, during primary season, the process becomes a bit more complicated.