Panther Prints | Issue 4 | May 2020

10 • Feature PESHPRINTS.COM
Coronavirus culture
COVID-19 leaves social impact, challenges cultural norms
by Makayla Herron
n a typical day during social isolation,
Oa student plays a board game with
their family. Another goes on a walk. Another
refines their baking skills. Another
tunes in to a religious service via Zoom.
Another picks up a paint brush for the
first time. Another binge-watches their
favorite TV show.
With a significant spike in cases of
COVID-19 in the U.S. mid-March and
The Center for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC)’s warning to stay at
home March 17, the district turned to
remote learning plans, causing students
to adapt to new norms. In the
past, infectious diseases have impacted
cultures socially, such as how the
1918 flu resulted in difficulties coping
at work, sleep disturbances and higher
rates of depression, according to Psychiatric
Times. Likewise, COVID-19 will
affect students through a variety of
social outlets.
Shifts in spirituality
istorically, traumatic events spur
Hchanges in the way people view religion;
according to the Pew Research
Center, the Glorious Revolution of 1688
led to the Great Awakening and 9/11
made the American public increasingly
religious. According to the Mayo Clinic,
spirituality can help individuals relinquish
control and feel more connected
to the world. Many students believe the
current pandemic will increase overall
religiosity throughout the country.
“I think that people, because of [the
pandemic], are going to become more
spiritual,” senior Lauren Morris said.
“Other people who aren’t necessarily religious
might turn to other practices like
meditating or just being thoughtful and
aware of the present.”
Nadim Bashir, Imam at East Plano
Islamic Center, says the mosque
has seen an exponential increase
in video views
from thousands
to over a
million. Bashir utilizes the growth to emphasize
the importance of being optimistic
in Islam.
“[People have] become more religiously
conscious,” Bashir said. “That’s
why I always try to preach to my community
to always keep their chin up —
[because] we’re all in this together.”
A 2019 Vox survey identified religion
and spirituality as the second biggest
source of community. Without being
able to attend their place of worship,
some students feel they’ve lost a sense
of community.
“I feel like going to the mosque is a
good way to get out of the house, see
new faces and interact with people you
don’t interact with on a daily basis,” senior
Fatima Sayyed said. “I haven’t been
able to do that and I wish I could. I think
after coming out of this I’ll make more of
an effort to be a positive contribution to
the mosque community.”
Yvette Burlew, life group leader at
Lake Pointe Church, says COVID-19 has
given its members an opportunity to
serve their neighbors, making the church
community more connected.
“I think of it more like we’re physically
distancing but socially, in some ways,
we’re coming together better,” Burlew
said. “It’s really hard when you’re going
through something that’s tragic, [but] in
the midst of [that] we’re seeing little bits
of good break through in the way people
serve each other.”
Changes in communication
andshakes originated in
Hthe ninth century
B.C. to show the
sealing of an
alliance
and a display of trust between rulers, according
to Daily Break. People of ancient
Greek and Roman cultures also used the
gesture to show an eternal bond. Now,
handshakes are a common greeting in
both casual and formal instances. The
CDC, however, advises against being in
close contact of others, which includes
shaking hands or high-fiving.
“I feel like it’s more of a western thing
to shake hands,” Sayyed said. “With
Americans, it’s seen as very rude [to not
shake hands], like [when someone] says
hi to you or gives you your diploma.”
Director of the Masters of Public
Health in Epidemiology at the University
of North Texas Health Science Center
Services Diana Cervantes hopes people
will be more conscious of spreading
germs through touching others’ hands.
“I think in general people don’t wash
their hands, [but] I think people are going
to think about it a little bit more,” Cervantes
said. “I would hope they’ll have a
little more awareness of how diseases
are transmitted.”
According to Greater Good, human
touch is a fundamental part of communication
and spreading compassion, and
an absence of it can lead to
loneliness. With social
distancing measures
limiting