Living through COVID-19 is a blur. We remember some moments vividly. But it’s easy to forget the chronology of events and how we felt along the way. To make sure our collective memory doesn’t vanish, students in a narrative podcasting course at Towson University conducted an oral history of what it was like to be a student, parent, faculty member, staff member, administrator or coach at Towson during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
This seven-part podcast was produced for The Baltimore Watchdog and the Towson University Special Collections and University Archives. Executive producer: Elia Powers, associate professor of journalism. Consultants: Joyce Garczynski, assistant university librarian for development and communication; and Ashley Todd-Diaz, assistant university librarian for Special Collections and University Archives.
Part 1: Pandemic panoramic
COVID-19 disrupted everything in 2020. Part 1 introduces us to the voices and stories we’ll hear throughout the series. Narrated and produced by Elia Powers.
Part 2: COVID-19 comes into focus
Almost no one saw this coming. Part 2 explores the history of pandemics at Towson and the early days of COVID-19. Narrated by Colin Schraudner. Produced by Schraudner, Eden Armstead and Liam Helms.
Part 3: The week when everything changed
There were classes. Then there weren’t. There was spring break. But it didn’t feel right. And after that, no one would return to campus. Part 3 focuses on a crazy week in March when everything began to shut down. Narrated by Erin Conahan. Produced by Conahan, McKenzie Perrow and Laura Lydic.
Part 4: Everything goes online
Through February, few people had spent much time on Zoom. That would soon change. Part 4 chronicles how the rest of a chaotic and unprecedented spring semester played out online. Narrated by Klia Trintis. Produced by Trintis, Oz Asante and Aaron Smith.
Part 5: A summer of unknowns
Summer started without a graduation ceremony and ended with plans to reopen to campus in August. Part 5 examines what happened during the dog days of a COVID-19 summer. Narrated by Ryan Leshko. Produced by Leshko, Ashley de Sampaio Ferraz and LaRon Richardson.
Part 6: Return to TU falls through
After months of preparation, the return to campus was short-lived. The start of fall semester was frantic, and the rest was much like the end of spring. Part 6 looks at how it all played out. Narrated by Deja Williams. Produced by Williams, Olivia Walther and Kareem Press.
Part 7: Reflections
How do you put into words what living through more than half of year of a global pandemic feels like? In part 7, people take their best shot. Narrated and produced by Elia Powers.