Anna Margaret Foster

Final Feature story link: https://medium.com/@smfoster/an-ole-miss-professor-covid-19-and-the-importance-of-saying-goodbye-c1deaecf3e0c?source=friends_link&sk=02de9d4f932bc3221c03ff5a4e3c5473

 

View at Medium.com

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View at Medium.com

 

View at Medium.com

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals globally have been forced to die alone in hospitals as the nation has gone under quarantine to stop the rapidly spreading coronavirus from infecting thousands of others. As a rippling effect of maintaining social distancing measures, the United States government has also put restrictions on funeral services, allowing for no more than ten people to be present at the gathering at once, and some states have even gone as far as forbidding the services all together.

James Kevin Malloy, Instructor in Speech at the University of Mississippi, passed away from COVID-19 on Tuesday, April 14, in Oxford, Mississippi, bringing to light just one local family who has been shaken to the core by the virus. Sadly, there is no shortage of stories similar to this across the country, and because funeral homes must adhere to the nationwide implication of social distancing measures, many families such as Malloy’s have been unable to gather and mourn the loss of their loved ones, changing how families grieve.

*****Info about the local funeral home and how they continue to hold services even though they must adhere to social distancing measures goes here. (I have spoken with Coleman Funeral Home three times but am still waiting on them to get back to me with this information.) These quotes and info will help a lot with tying the whole story together.******

To all around him, Kevin Malloy was known as a gentle soul whose Zen-calm presence could lighten anyone’s spirits. Malloy worked tirelessly within the University of Mississippi and the Oxford community to ensure that those around him felt welcome, and his soft laughter and jovial mood are what attracted most everyone to him.

Malloy served on several University committees and was a consistent volunteer for local speech events, including high school debate tournaments and the University of Mississippi’s School of Business Administration Speaker’s Edge Competition, which challenges Ole Miss students to express their ideas, knowledge, and understanding of a topic and adapt their messages to various audiences and situations. Prior to joining the speech faculty, Malloy worked in the university’s J. D. Williams Library. His knowledge of the library and extensive research methods contributed substantively to a speech textbook, which featured several University of Mississippi speech faculty.

Kate Hooper, Lecturer in Speech at the University of Mississippi, first knew Kevin Malloy as an actor in the Oxford theater scene, where they met when volunteering for Theater Oxford and working for the Oxford Shakespeare Festival. The two discovered that they shared common acquaintances- having worked with some of the same people in regional theaters before both settling in Oxford. In 2008, Malloy reached out to Hooper, suggesting she apply for a newly opened speech position at the University of Mississippi, and for more than a decade, the two worked alongside one another.

For the first eight years that Malloy and Hooper worked in the University of Mississippi’s Department of Writing and Rhetoric, there were only four speech instructors. Malloy and Hooper became remarkably close during these early years of Hooper’s career as an instructor, often exploring miles of conversation topics and growing to understand each other more fully.

“That suggestion [to apply for a position alongside Kevin Malloy] changed the trajectory of my life,” Hooper said. “The solid foundation I enjoyed with a small group of peers in those early years helped me transition from one career to another successfully,” she continued. “Instead of the Four Musketeers, we were like the Four Instructor Peers—100% about supporting one another and students. We shared ideas freely, coached each other through challenges, and engaged in rigorous professional development together,” Hooper said.

Angela Green, Core Lecturer of Writing at the University of Mississippi says that Malloy fostered independence in his students, a cornerstone of his professional career as an instructor. When conducting a classroom observation on Malloy in 2007, Green said that he was a calm individual whose students adored his approachable demeanor and she shared with me the verbatim comments they gave about his teachings.

“Professor Malloy sat a good example for us,” said a student of Malloy’s in 2007. “He put the responsibility on the student to figure things out, but he was willing to meet and talk whenever someone needed help or did not understand an assignment.”

“He gave us useful feedback on speeches and tips to improve the way we present our ideas,” said another student. “I struggle with public speaking, and Professor Malloy knew just how to calm me down and relieve my anxiety when talking in front of others.”

*******Information about Ashlee Nance organizing the drive-by parade shortly after the passing of Professor Malloy to honor Malloy and his wife’s 41^st wedding anniversary. (I have contacted her I am just waiting to get a reply.)***********

Upon Malloy’s passing, individuals in both the University of Mississippi’s Department of Writing and Rhetoric and the Department of Theatre have expressed shock, followed by an outpouring of support for his family and friends.

“I am processing the event by sharing memories and collecting stories—reconstructing a narrative of Kevin to help me define and understand the void left in the wake of his passing,” said Hooper. “Many of us have expressed the wish to do more to recognize Kevin and to support Kevin’s family. I wish I could generate for his family the human comfort Kevin would provide if he were here,” Hooper continued.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, people globally have been forced to die alone in hospitals as the nation has gone under lockdown to stop the rapidly spreading virus from infecting millions of others. As a rippling effect of maintaining social distancing measures, the government has also put restrictions on funeral services, allowing for no more than 10 people to be at the gathering at once, and some states have gone as far as forbidding the services all together.

James Kevin Malloy, Instructor in Speech at the University of Mississippi passed away on Tuesday, April 14 in Oxford, Mississippi due to COVID-19, bringing to light just one local example of an individual’s family who has been shaken to the core by the pandemic. Sadly, there is no shortage of stories like this across the country as families are being forced to bury their loved ones with little to no one present in order to uphold social distancing measures.

I think that this is an important topic to discuss, as many individuals across the country are being forced to live with this reality every day, as their loved ones continue to die from both the pandemic and other causes in general. I will link to other articles throughout the story on people who have had to die alone and how their families have gone about their funeral arrangements and the grieving process. I will also include statistics and information about what funeral homes and hospitals are doing in the wake of this crisis to ensure social distancing measures. As for media content, I plan to include photos of Kevin Malloy and any others who have had to die alone during the COVID-19 pandemic (if the family permits) and a timeline of how COVID-19 has progressed in the last month. I will interview the families and friends of people who have been forced to die alone and had to alter their funeral plans in order to meet social distancing regulations. I will also interview funeral home directors about what they are doing locally about funerals at the time. What have

As if the COVID-19 pandemic itself is not enough of a threat to billions of individuals across the world, the shelter in place order implemented globally to stop the rapid spread of the virus has put one vulnerable group more at risk.

According to the World Health Organization, natural disasters aggravate domestic violence situations and in February 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic was at its’ peak in China, a police station in Jianli County, near Wuhan, the location where the coronavirus first broke out, reported three times more accounts of domestic violence than before the pandemic began.

Domestic violence in itself is an epidemic, and according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 10 million people are abused by an intimate partner in the United States each year.

Since the nationwide shelter in place order was implemented to stop the spread of COVID-19, being stuck inside during an already unhealthy relationship, is now exactly what an abuser wants- power and control over their victim 24 hours a day. A victim of domestic violence no longer has a daily outlet of school or work to escape to for a sense of identity and time away from their abuser.

Cyrena Martin, Executive Director of the non-profit 501c3 organization Mahogany CARES (Community~Awareness~Recources~Education~Support) Foundation Inc., and certified advocate for domestic violence and sexual assault, is an admin of the Abuse and Trauma Survivors Support Group for Women on Facebook, where she aids victims of domestic violence with safety plans and works with them throughout the healing process. Martin says that social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic has added more stress and anxiety to households across the country, leaving victims of domestic violence at the forefront of abuse.

“The tensions in every household are heightened right now. Family members are out of work, kids are at home, financial responsibilities are bearing down on everyone,” said Martin. “Many abusers know there is no escape for the victim and are choosing to use the isolation to violate and abuse their partners or family members,” she said.

Signs of domestic abuse or violence can include possessiveness, exhibiting unexpected and underlying tones of anger towards the victim, being controlling, and talking down on the victim. Physical evidence such as bruising on the victim and reactions through facial and body language are also indicating signs for concern and fear.

Kristen Faith, Founder and CEO of the national non-profit organization Break the Silence Against Domestic Violence (BTSADV), based out of Colorado Springs, Colorado, created the group as a college student in 2011.

After enduring years of physical, sexual, financial, and emotional abuse, Faith eventually broke her silence on social media with hopes that her testimony would inspire other victims to speak out against their abusers, and today, the BTSADV Facebook page has over 150,000 followers.

“I think that victims need support now more than ever, so all of our programs have been developed by survivors of domestic violence to ensure that each individual’s experience with us is transformative and memorable,” Faith said. “I wanted to develop a space for people who think they are alone, and during this time when victims are in constant contact with their abusers 24 hours a day with no way to escape, being able to talk to someone is more imperative than ever,” she continued.

Joyce Mitchell, a Licensed Practicing Counselor in Oxford, Mississippi, who began her private practice in 2008, reiterates that the COVID-19 virus has undoubtedly increased the risk of domestic violence with job loss, financial stress, and overall uncertainty of the future playing a significant role in the epidemic.

Mitchell recommends that those who experience domestic violence during quarantine should develop a safety plan for themselves and their children in case the abuse continues or gets worse.

“Keep phone numbers so you will have neighbors, friends, and family whom you can call or go to for help. Have important documents, money, and a few personal things to take with you if you need to leave immediately. Have a plan on how you might exit the house and get help,” said Mitchell. “And finally, remember that there are always people available and willing to help you along the way.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or affected by abuse and needing support call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or if you are unable to speak text LOVEIS to 22522.

If you are in need of assistance locally in Oxford or surrounding areas call the Batesville Women’s Shelter at 662-360-4060, or visit www.batesvillesafeshelter.com

Marty Hermetz is a senior at the University of Mississippi and three year employee at the Chancellor’s House in Oxford, Mississippi who recently lost his job due to the nationwide shutdown of non-essential businesses to ensure social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this video interview, Hermetz discusses how the pandemic has affected his everyday life in many ways & details his stresses about making ends meet, despite lacking a steady income during this time.

As the COVID-19 virus rapidly spreads, individuals across the world have seen their lives flipped upside down in the blink of an eye.  

Jenna Mason, freelance digital editor for the Southern Foodways Alliance at the University of Mississippi and former service industry worker at Proud Larry’s, SoLa, and St. Leo in Oxford, created the Oxford Hospitality Posse Facebook page in September 2019, as a way for members to share information and local resources with service industry workers.

“Oxford’s service industry is the beating heart of our Mississippi town,” Mason said. “We are a tightly knit group of folks who love offering hospitality to locals and visitors alike. We take care of each other in times of need and celebrate together in times of joy,” she said. “This group is designed to be a positive space for folks in the industry here, past or present, and for people who want to support service industry employees,” Mason continued. “This is a place to encourage and care for one another.”

The Oxford Hospitality Posse Facebook page provides industry workers with information on where to get meals and resources locally, discusses the process of filing for unemployment, and shares local job posts that may help bridge the gap while many individuals are out of work.

According to Mason, several local organizations are on the front lines of helping services industry workers during this time. Move on Up Mississippi and United Way of Oxford are providing meals and relief to industry workers and Dodo Pizza Oxford is also collecting donations of food, hygiene, and baby care items specifically for service industry employees.

Alena Tikhova, the owner of Dodo Pizza Oxford, created the Restaurant Workers Relief Center to support local service industry workers who have been laid off due to business closure or a significant drop in revenues.

“Our goal is to provide hot meals, toiletries, cleaning supplies, diapers, personal hygiene items, and more to those who need it the most right now,” Tikhova said.

In a Facebook Q&A for Southern Foodways Alliance hosted by John T. Edge, Edge speaks to Joe Stinchcomb, bar manager at St. Leo and St. Leo Lounge in Oxford, Mississippi, about the future of the restaurant in a post-COVID-19 world.

Stinchcomb emphasizes that the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been challenging for every individual in the service industry. During this time, Stinchcomb is seeking to ensure high spirits in his colleagues at St. Leo, who he mentioned received their last paychecks from the restaurant on Friday, March 27.

“This is kind of a bittersweet moment,” Stinchcomb said. “It is exciting to catch up with friends and see colleagues, but at the same time, it is sobering to give someone their last paycheck in this environment and atmosphere,” he said. “We are just trying to keep our spirits lifted, which is a difficult thing to do right now when no one knows when we are going to be able to go back to work, if at all, and how this is going to impact business and overall affect the town,” he continued.

St. Leo and St. Leo Lounge has begun a fund to aid employees after checks end and are working with the local restaurant community to find common purpose and lend aid to the service industry workers who are genuinely in need.

A website has also been created, where individuals can directly donate to local industry workers via Cash App or Venmo. To access the website, visit https://serviceindustry.tips/en/ms/oxford.

The Restaurant Workers Relief Center in Oxford is open from 4 to 9 p.m. daily to assist laid-off service industry workers of all local restaurants. If you would like to donate, non-perishable food, various hygiene items, baby care products such as diapers and formula, and monetary donations can be dropped off on the porch of DoDo Pizza Oxford at 614 Jackson Avenue East at any time of the day.

“This is one of the bright spots in this very bleak time, to see local restaurants coming together as a family,” Stinchomb said.

From being in the same room with others to going to what seems like a routine trip to the grocery store, in the blink of an eye, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is drastically changing the lives of individuals across the world. People everywhere are stuck inside of their homes when a mere four weeks ago, the talk of the novel virus did not seem like a real threat to many individuals living in the United States. Now across the country, the virus has rapidly spread rising by the hundreds overnight.

In the wake of these uncertain times and with the access of face to face contact strictly limited due to the spread of the virus, many Americans are now getting therapy remotely through teletherapy services to help with the many mental health issues that can arise while in quarantine.

The University of Mississippi’s Counseling Center is currently providing clinical services to patients through an online option, which in counseling is called Tele-Mental Health Therapy (TMHT).

Senior Staff Counselor at the University of Mississippi Counseling Center, Katie Harrison explains how Tele-Mental health therapy works mostly the same as person to person therapy with a few slight modifications due to remote access to the client.

“Clients are sent a private invitation link to each session by the clinician, and the session begins once the client and clinician are both logged on,” Harrison said. “There are measures put in place by the clinician for a crisis, emergency contact person, and if technology fails,” she added.

Implementing Tele-Mental health services on college campuses has been on the rise across the country, and the University of Mississippi Counseling Center has been working for months to apply this service on our campus while still maintaining best practices for students, faculty, and staff of the university.

“The unfortunate introduction of COVID-19 has sped up the implementation of Tele-Mental health as a way for us to continue to care for our clients,” Harrison said. “We have purchased extra equipment and programming as well as training for all our full-time staff in the span of only a few weeks in order to continue to provide the best care for our clients.”

The Clinic for Outreach and Personal Enrichment (COPE) is a part of the University of Mississippi Counselor Education Clinic, which allows master’s, specialist, and doctoral students training on how to provide counseling services to children, adolescents, college students, and adults. They treat a variety of issues such as depression and anxiety, and the University of Mississippi’s Counseling Center will typically refer clients to COPE when needed.

Dr. Alex Kerwin, Clinical Coordinator for COPE, is leading efforts to offer counselors-in-training the ability to get their clinical hours through online Tele-Mental services. Tele-Mental Health is a new service that COPE will implement on April 1^st in reaction to the recent COVID-19 crisis.

“All counselors-in-training and supervisors at COPE are required to take a 12-hour online training regarding Tele-Mental Health before they are permitted to see clients using this modality,” said Kerwin. “It’s imperative for us to address the training piece before moving forward with any new service.”

Dr. Kerwin explained that on top of the already present daily struggles of life, social isolation during quarantine could lead to negative impacts on mental health with feelings of loneliness and depression often occurring.

“The uncertainty of the current crisis has everyone feeling anxious for a number of reasons: health, safety, finances, children, and more. It seems like every aspect of life is being impacted right now,” Kerwin said. “The situation can also exacerbate unhealthy coping mechanisms like substance abuse, overeating, and excessive screen time,” she continued.

“The COVID-19 emergency prompted the program to take a closer look at the mission of COPE. While the clinic is here to serve the community, our primary mission is to train our graduate students,” Kerwin said. “Currently, we are trying to maintain a level of homeostasis before accepting new clients. We want to make sure our students are properly trained and prepared to provide quality Tele-Mental Health services to the Oxford-Lafayette and university community,” Kerwin added.

University of Mississippi alumni and master’s student in Mental Health Counseling at Lipscomb University, Tess Efinger, says that the implementation of Tele-Mental Health will be an essential service in the future of counseling and medicine.

“I believe that tele-mental health and the ability to conduct therapy sessions over the phone are very crucial for many clients. For some, it’s a simple matter of not having transportation to get to a counseling or doctor’s office. Then there are situations such as this COVID-19 pandemic keeping everyone in the safety of their homes for health precautions,” Efinger said.

“I do believe it is not the same thing as meeting with a therapist face-to-face,” Efinger continued. “However, for many people, having an hour of therapy every week or two is necessary to maintain and encourage good mental health. I plan on implementing tele-mental health and phone sessions whenever my clients deem it necessary. I want the best for them and to maintain a positive therapeutic relationship with them all even when we can’t sit in a room together,” she said.

To schedule an appointment with the University of Mississippi’s tele-mental services call the University of Mississippi Counseling Center at 662-915-3784 or email counslg@olemiss.edu. Phone lines are open weekdays from 9 AM to 4 PM.

More than 90,000 people worldwide have been infected with the coronavirus since the first case was diagnosed in December 2019. The virus continues to spread rapidly, recently making its way to the United States.

Across the country, rumors and confusion about the newly found virus are circulating, as many people jolt into panic mode. People who have identified among vulnerable populations, such as the elderly or the immune-suppressed, are trying to prepare for a possible outbreak.

“We are telling everyone the same thing. Wash your hands,” said pharmacist Carrie Cooper at Chaney’s Pharmacy on University Avenue in Oxford, Mississippi. “The virus presents itself just like the flu, so take any normal precautions that you would to try to keep yourself from getting sick,” she added.

The coronavirus virus may present itself as a common cold with fever, runny nose, difficulty breathing, and scratchy throat being the main symptoms. According to a New York Times article, the virus can remain on metal, glass, or plastic from anywhere to two hours or nine days, making it extremely easy to contract in public places. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urges people to stay at least six feet away from anyone with these symptoms.

Although the virus has currently killed more than 3,000 people worldwide, only six of these deaths have been in the United States. All six U.S. deaths have taken place in Washington state, with four of these victims coming from the same assisted living home, Life Care Center of Kirkland.

Epidemiology studies show that the coronavirus belongs to the same virus family as SARS and MERS and is more likely to kill those sixty-five and older.

Maintenance director and life safety coordinator at Hermitage Gardens assisted living home, Allen Blackwelder, says that to keep germs from spreading among elders, he disinfects all areas of the home three times a week.

“Since the virus is more prevalent among the older community, I disinfect the living room and dining areas three times a week,” Blackwelder said. “The formula that is sprayed smells a little like bleach and works the same way, killing 99.99 percent of germs,” he added.

Morgan Walter, executive director, and registered nurse at The Blake assisted living home in Oxford, says that they educate their residents on hand washing to make sure that they aren’t spreading bacteria and germs.

“Educating the staff and residents on the signs and symptoms of the virus is our main goal,” Walter said. “We have had some residents ask questions. We have also had families from out of state contact us about what we are doing regarding the spread of the virus,” she added. “It’s kind of like we’ve already been prepared since we take such strict precautions for the flu.”

Standard medical equipment such as surgical masks and gloves that are made in China have recently been categorized as restricted items, making it hard for some pharmacies, hospitals, and assisted living homes across the country to obtain these basic supplies.

“A lot of people are worried about potentially infected products coming from China, but we cannot get any products from there because their shipping has been restricted since the virus outbreak,” Cooper said.

Although there is currently no cure for the virus, there are certain precautions that can be taken to possibly keep people from contracting the virus. Pharmacists are recommending Tamiflu and Xofluza to prevent the spread of certain coronavirus symptoms.

“In terms of medicine itself, our medicines are still in good shape at this point,” pharmacy manager at G&M pharmacy Brent Sutherland said. “There are a few herbal supplements that people can take to help their immune system, such as Elderberry, which helps promote white blood cell motility.”

Sutherland says that he thinks a lot of the information regarding the coronavirus has been blown out of proportion, pointing out that the already prevalent flu can be as deadly.

“I’m not saying we shouldn’t be concerned about it, or that we should downplay the situation, but I don’t think this should be our main concern in the United States right now,” he said.

The MENT Women’s Conference is set to take place in Oxford, Mississippi, on Friday, February 28 to Saturday, February 29. The first-annual conference has been in planning for over a year and is organized by local Oxford business owners Sarah Smythe of Lagniappe Fine Gifts and Anne-Marie Gordon of Cicada.

According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor, females own close to 10 million businesses in the United States, accounting for over $1.4 trillion in annual sales. These statistics also show that women’s participation in the U.S. labor force has risen since WWII: from 32.7 percent in 1948 to 56.8 percent in 2016. 

For women across the country, these numbers display that female entrepreneurship is at an all-time, and the first annual MENT Women’s Conference in Oxford, Mississippi is here to provide women of diverse age groups with the resources, connections, and inspiration they need to launch their own careers.

The event will be hosted by emcee and comedian Heather McMahan, whose growth on Instagram has more than doubled her following on the platform in just three months. Twenty-five female speakers from various panels including, creative director Venita Aspen, jewelry designer Marla Aaron, and Designer & CEO Kelly Wynne, will be sharing advice about entrepreneurship and the ins and outs of starting your own business. The speakers are broken into four panels, which include mental health and wellness, financials, brand enhancement, and creators.

“My main goal for the conference is to inspire all women to do what they love with their careers,” said Marla Aaron, New York-based jewelry designer.

The acronym MENT came from a 3 a.m. entrepreneurial moment that Smythe shared with Gordon. The two believed that there are so many ways to play off this word that it felt full-circle and can carry on for years to come. MENT can stand for movement, mentorship, achievement, payment, encouragement, and investment, among many other words. The word did not feel limiting to Smythe and Gordon but instead speaks to a variety of women from all walks of life.

Smythe and Gordon share a desire to give back to the Oxford community by creating a space where females can feel connected and empowered. The co-chairs of the conference wanted to craft an event that they thought they would learn from and that in return, would educate and fulfill their female peers.

“We had to ensure that we could convey the right vision, from a panelist standpoint, from a support standpoint, we had to make sure that we were crafting the actual conference that we felt passionate about and not going off in a different direction, due to so many outside voices,” said co-chair of the conference, Sarah Smythe.

It has also been essential to Smythe and Gordon not to limit the conference to a specific branch of business- like retail or creatives. Instead, they wanted the conference to address any woman, at any age, and at any stage in their career.

“We do not just want to give them the tools to inspire their careers, but we wanted to drill down on real information. We want to give the conference attendees substance that they can take home and use,” said Smythe.

“We didn’t want it to be the same ‘Oh, you can do it too’ conference. We truly do want to make sure you hear it firsthand and that we weren’t brushing over the hard parts of running your business,” said Anne-Marie Gordon. “Small-business owners, especially, have to wear so many hats. We wanted to make sure that this was highlighted on-stage and will also continue off-stage,” she added.

The MENT Women’s Conference is expected to host roughly 250 people for its’ first-annual event at the Lyric on Saturday, February 29. Registration is from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, February 28, at the Graduate Hotel Lobby on 400 N Lamar Blvd in Oxford. General admission tickets for February 28-29^th are $250 and include a send-off Sunday Bloody Mary Brunch by Today Show chef and bestselling author, Elizabeth Heiskell.

“I am extremely excited to attend the first-annual MENT conference. The panelists are such strong and inspiring women both in our community and beyond, and to be able to see and hear about what they have accomplished in their careers, I know will spark a desire for me to follow in their footsteps,” said Claire Francis, a University of Mississippi senior double majoring in public policies and southern studies.

For more information about the MENT Women’s Conference or to buy tickets for the event, visit https://www.mentevent.com/