Minding the gap

By the time this paper goes to print, we will be 1 week into 6 at Level 5—now exhausted by Heaney quotes and seanfhocails, no longer moved by “if we winter this out, we can summer anywhere” because we are wintering right where we summered: lockdown.We need to be here, and it’s both bizarre and reassuring that we still have a campus to write and collect stories about despite being unable to step foot on it. Being here in shorter, colder, darker days (figuratively and/or literally) is more difficult than the first, because we have cheated ourselves out of only having a first.Here are six pages of news from a campus in lockdown, hopefully it makes things feel more normal for a while—away from the eye-strain and frustration of Microsoft Teams. Online college is tough, it can be nice to see that the real thing is staying standing thanks to students, activists, staff and allies.For this week, I will share less of my own thoughts about lockdown and navigating life until December 1st - because what fits me won’t fit you, and the last thing we need is comparing how our lives in lockdown are best spent. Instead, below are a list of supports you might like to come back to over the next 6 weeks and beyond - it’s good to talk about things, how can we enjoy our summers otherwise (or our hopeful Christmas)?UCC Counselling: counselling@ucc.ieCrisis Text Line: Text UCC to 50808Jigsaw Online: jigsaw.ieSamaritans: 116 123Pieta House: 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444Sexual Violence Centre Cork: 1800 496 496 or text 087 1533 393Women’s Aid: 1800 341 900Stay safe,