BRICK is taking a break from our regular scheduled posting as COVID-19 sweeps across the globe.
With some of our writers currently in self-isolation and the pressures of the pandemic taking their toll on the rest of us, we believe it is best to take a break from being Sussex’s student voice. We are a very small team of students here at Sussex who are experiencing the same stresses and anxieties as all of us. Helping maintain BRICK is a massive commitment and we don’t feel like it would be appropriate to prioritise it over self-care and looking after our loved ones. There is a potential for sporadic posting, but in any official capacity, we are on hiatus.
This is not a decision that is taken lightly. We are a relatively new publication and we’re aware of the precarious position our hiatus will put us in. And we are so proud of this amazing audience we have built up over the last few weeks. Every share means the world to us and we’re glad to have been able to share our world with you. BRICK has been a learning curve and there have been a lot of mistakes made, but overall, we’re really proud of what we’ve achieved so far. To be given the space to hold Sussex University accountable and envision a better, cooler Sussex has been so fantastic and we thank you all for giving us your time. Not to mention the incredible friendships we’ve forged. We hope to return after the pandemic is over, because we have so much more to say.
The University has closed for now. That’s good. And we recommend that our readers spend as little time on campus as possible. However, in having delayed the shutting down of the University until so late, management have risked not only the wellbeing of all their students, but the wellbeing of everyone in Brighton as well. The university’s negligent attitude toward students in recent times is best highlighted in their lack of consideration for the wellbeing of international students, with many in a state of limbo due to the university’s failure to make a fast decision regarding COVID-19.
We recognise that all the contact hours lost this term has jeopardised your exams and assessments, but we urge you to consider the wellbeing of your loved ones first. I hope any anxieties about your degree can be mitigated by your tutors - most of whom will be happy to talk to you about your assessments via email. Your education is important, and it is unfortunate to be denied it. However, whilst university is cancelled, there’s still plenty of time to do some learning from home. Purchase a book. Watch a movie. Learn to play the guitar. We can certainly make up for our lost contact hours, by educating ourselves in other ways.
One final note: we want to extend our support to all those in our student community and in our wider society. Be wary of the xenophobia and nationalism that always accompanies troubled times and let us not succumb to bigotry and hatred. This is a time to practice kindness, to offer support to those who need it, and put individualistic tendencies aside. We are all in this fight together. Do not forget those who are vulnerable.
Solidarity in these trying times,
The BRICK team