By Jonathan Meilaender
I would like to extend to you all my sincerest wishes for a joyful Easter. Last year’s Easter was, for many, a time of sorrow rather than rebirth: an extended Lent. And this year we certainly remain mindful of the many lives that have been lost over the past year. But remember: the hope of Easter comes from suffering. Without Good Friday, there is no Easter, no rebirth. This Easter is an Easter of hope because the strife is almost over, the victory at hand, for we are closer than ever to a kind of normal life (whatever that looks like).
I was volunteering at the vaccine clinic down at the Fred Rogers Center last Friday, and it was wonderful to see how many other students, professors, and community members gave up their time to help end this plague. I think many of those scheduled to receive the vaccine were amazed as well: amazed at the sheer scale of the clinic, the number of volunteers, the speed and efficiency. It was an example of America at its best: ordinary people coming together of their own free will in order to help those who need assistance.
But I think that Covid should teach us two lessons. The first is one of pride in human ingenuity: we found a way to conquer a deadly disease, and we did it in record time. That was very much on display at the clinic. But the second lesson? Humility. This most recent “conquest” of nature resulted from a terrible setback, one we never deemed possible (or relegated to third-world countries). Our science and our achievements are amazing, but we are not invincible. We are still just tiny creatures on a tiny planet in a vast world of otherness.
Anyway, enough of the reflections. You will not see a new issue on April 14th. Don’t worry, we haven’t vanished. The Review’s writers will simply be taking an Easter break, as we do in years with a standard academic calendar. (They deserve it—we are on pace to publish more issues than any year of which I have a record!)
The same is not true, though, for many others on campus. Given that Saint Vincent has no real Easter break this year, many people will need to remain on campus to keep things running, among them Dining Services workers and (some) residence life staff. When you see them, tell them thank you. It isn’t fun to stay on campus over Easter, but it is even less fun to work over Easter.
That’s all for now. Happy Easter!