Apart but Together

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Since March, as we’ve transitioned to a virtual workplace, my day-to-day routine as the editor of Barnard Magazine has operated a little differently. From our homes, my colleagues and I brainstorm story ideas, share news, and plan our upcoming issues on video calls. But even as the communication channels have changed, we’ve maintained the same lively exchange of viewpoints that we had when we were on campus. The current moment has certainly called on all of us — the College, alumnae, faculty, and students — to get creative and work collaboratively. And in doing so, the Barnard community has managed to not only band together but also foster meaningful connections and dialogue. I’ve witnessed this on several occasions, from our Reunion Reimagined, where generations of Barnard alums convened for virtual workshops and spirited conversation, to regional book club gatherings over Zoom.

As I read through Summer’s Class Notes, I was impressed though not surprised to learn about all the ways that Barnard women have demonstrated fortitude, resourcefulness, and yes, connectivity, during these difficult times. Two former roommates — one in New York, the other in Jerusalem — are putting those extra hours at home to good use by taking an online Israeli poetry class together. Several alums are completing long-term book projects. Teachers are hard at work preparing their courses for online learning. And there are countless stories of alums who’ve contributed their knowledge and expertise as frontline responders during the pandemic (stay tuned for our upcoming feature on Barnard’s health care frontliners in the Fall issue). I urge you to read through the Class Notes, even beyond your year, because they are a time capsule of this challenging moment in our history and, above all, the kindness and ingenuity of the Barnard community.

On a separate note, you’ve likely noticed, the Magazine is reaching you in a digital format only. In the past few months, Barnard has had to make some difficult decisions in response to COVID-19, including a number of cost-cutting measures in order to ensure that the needs of students are met while mitigating the financial impact of the pandemic on the College. Given the current challenges, the Magazine has produced a leaner, digital only summer issue to eliminate the considerable expense of printing and postage. We will resume our print editions with the Fall 2020 issue.

In the meantime, we have launched a redesign of the Magazine’s web page, which will help us tell stories in a more visual and dynamic fashion. You can access our archives and search for articles more easily. Our goal is to continue to deliver engaging content across both print and digital. And as the fall term nears, I know there will be much for us to cover, and I look forward to bringing you these stories in the issues to come.

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