Last spring, as the coronavirus outbreak swept the nation and the globe, students in听Assistant Professor Christine Larson's class,听Writing for the Media, jumped into action. From conducting interviews with residents in their communities to combing through government-funded reports, students contributed local and national reporting on a range of pandemic-related topics, from education to business to relationships. We're proud to present their work in this six-part package, Student Reporting: COVID-19.

*Please note that these stories were reported last spring and have been lightly edited and updated for summer publication.

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Photo by Andrew Neel from Pexels
Coronavirus Moves Schools Online, Raising Equity Issues

June 8, 2020

As the coronavirus has shut down the nation and moved schools online, the importance of internet and technological devices continues to grow.

Iowa City, Iowa
Not Business as Usual: In the Wake of Coronavirus, Iowa City Businesses Work to Adapt

June 8, 2020

Local businesses across the nation are suffering from the impacts of COVID-19. Unemployment rates have increased and businesses have found themselves applying for loans and grants to keep their doors open. Even in Iowa City, businesses have had to close their brick and mortar stores and transition into delivery and pick-up options to follow social distancing orders.

Graduation caps in the air
The Graduating Class of COVID-19

June 8, 2020

The class of 2020 was expected to graduate into a very strong job market. Citing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics last February, the White House reported that over the previous year-and-a-half, America saw "the strongest earnings gains since the recession" of 2008. That all changed by March.

Photo by听Gustavo Fring听from听Pexels
Relationships Stand the Test of COVID-19

June 8, 2020

According to a recent study by The Knot, over 40% of couples reported spending at least 20 additional hours together each week due to social distancing guidelines in the U.S. Based on that information, you might think that couples living together 24/7 would report quarantine quarrels. However, young couples鈥撯�揺ngaged and dating alike鈥撯�揳re reporting positive aspects of being quarantined together.

Palisade, Colorado
A Deep Freeze and a Pandemic: How Migrant Workers in Palisade are Coping

June 8, 2020

As of April, the novel coronavirus had not halted most aspects of everyday life in Palisade, Colorado. Instead, the area was left reeling from a 19-degree freeze that killed an estimated 90% of the area's crops, according to the Farm Bureau. While they knew the pandemic would cause difficulties later down the line, the freeze left farmers with the unexpected problem of deciding what would come next for their workers.

Photo by听yousef alfuhigi听on听Unsplash
Study Abroad Students Rush Home, Wonder What's Next

June 8, 2020

During the 2018-19 school year, over 1 million American students studied abroad, including many from CU 麻豆影院. This spring, most found themselves sent home as a result of COVID-19. Now, students who are hoping to study abroad, as well as program administrators, are wondering what the future holds.