The digital magazine for faculty, staff, students and friends of Pensacola State College
July 28, 2021
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When COVID-19 hit in spring 2020 forcing a shutdown at all Pensacola State College campuses and centers, Caresse Galiza stayed busy.
Galiza was a fitness instructor at the Milton campus’s popular L.I.F.E. Fitness Center and worked side-by-side with Center Coordinator Butch Branch.
Don’t take our word for it. Here’s Milton campus Dean Jennifer Hill Faron:
“When the campus was shut down due to COVID, she came to work every day and helped paint the lines in the parking lot to make sure the campus was in top shape for reopening. She made sure every piece of equipment was thoroughly cleaned and ready to use as soon as the campus reopened.”
And the Milton L.I.F.E. Fitness Center was the first PSC Fitness Center to reopen after the shutdown, largely due to Galiza and Branch formulating and implementing a detailed reopening plan.
Branch retired in April after 23 years at Pensacola State, including 20 at the Milton campus L.I.F.E. Fitness Center. The best qualified person to replace Branch had worked with him for two decades. That’s Galiza, who is now PSC Milton campus L.I.F.E. Fitness Center coordinator and Milton campus Student Activities coordinator.
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PSC returns to mandatory indoor masks beginning Aug. 2 |
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Pensacola State College will reinstate a mandatory indoor mask policy on Monday, Aug. 2, because of rising COVID infections and in accordance with recently released guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The policy applies to both vaccinated and unvaccinated students, faculty, employees and visitors.
PSC President Ed Meadows made the announcement on Wednesday, July 28, soon after the CDC issued guidelines recommending that fully vaccinated people should wear a mask in public indoor settings if they are in areas of substantial or high transmission rates. The CDC was already recommending that those who are unvaccinated should wear a mask indoors. According to the CDC, Pensacola and all of Florida is an area identified as having high COVID transmission rates.
Last week, 14 people – 11 students and three employees – tested positive for COVID, the highest weekly total since the first week of February. According to the CDC, one in five new COVID-19 infections in the United States is in Florida, and 80 percent of those infected are unvaccinated.
— Troy Moon
Here is the text of President Meadows message:
“To All Faculty, Staff, and Students:
Because of the sharp rise in COVID infections, new guidelines were issued by the CDC yesterday. Effective Monday, we are returning to our prior policy of requiring universal indoor masking for everyone on campus, regardless of whether they are vaccinated or unvaccinated. This policy applies to all students, employees, contract workers, and visitors to campus and will be strictly enforced. New signage for our masking requirements will be distributed by the marketing department.
Guidelines for unvaccinated people remain unchanged and require wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing, and frequently washing hands. The guidelines for unvaccinated people can be found on the CDC website at:
Again, I urge all of those who are still unvaccinated to get vaccinated in order to protect yourself and those around you from being infected or required to be quarantined. “
Ed Meadows
President
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PSC History instructor Andrew Barbero talks about slavery
in Florida, from Spanish rule to plantation system
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Pensacola State College History instructor Andrew Barbero recently was a guest on WUWF-FM 88.1, Pensacola’s public radio station, where he discussed the history and evolution of slavery in Florida.
Barbero also will pen an upcoming column for the Pensacola News Journal where he will give more information on slavery in the state and in the South. The article is expected to be published in August.
“I’m not advocating that one form of slavery was more than humane than another,’’ said Barbero, who earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees In History from the University of Southern Illinois, where he is currently working toward his doctorate degree. “But there were differences in the implementation of slavery.”
WUWF invited Barbero to speak to its listeners as part of its observance of the bicentennial of Florida becoming a state and Escambia County becoming one of its first counties, along with St. Johns County.
PSC History professor Brian Rucker is part of the Escambia County 200th Anniversary Committee and has written about aspects of local history in 1821 for the Pensacola News Journal. Escambia County celebrated its bicentennial on July 17.
“I’m talking about how the shift of Florida from Spain to the United States also brought about a shift in slavery and racial dynamics,’’ Barbero said. “Under Spain, there was a lot more autonomy for enslaved people.” He said that, under Spain, some slaves had the ability to earn their freedom, while in the plantation-system South slavery was viewed as a more permanent structure.
Barbero has been a guest on WUWF previously, speaking on topics ranging from the history of the Fourth of July to the history of Labor Day.
— Troy Moon
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PSC CTE welcomes new assistant/retention specialist |
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Chandler White is new to his position as administrative assistant/retention specialist in the Pensacola State College Career and Technical Education Student Resources office.
Still, he’s already committed to a career working in higher education.
White, 24, was hired to a full-time position earlier this month after working part-time since October through Kelly Services.
“I want to be successful and continue working in higher education,’’ White said. “I like working in a position that helps students. But I don’t want to work in a high school. I prefer working with students who are college age and want to be in school.”
White is in his senior year at the University of West Florida, where he is earning a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Psychology. He plans to eventually work in a college or university human relations department or administration. He graduates in December.
“This is a great job for me,’’ he said about his CTE position. “If fits the career path I’m on. I really enjoy it here because people are really helpful, and everyone gets along.”
Deborah Hooks, CTE Student Resources director, said White is a great addition to the team.
“He is young and has some great new ideas," Hooks said. “He’s enthusiastic and a fast learner and he is great with our students.”
— Troy Moon
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Because of the threat of COVID increasing once again, you have only two responsible options: Either continue to mask, social distance, and follow all of the CDC guidelines you have followed for the past year, or you need to get vaccinated now. Doing neither and behaving as if COVID has been eliminated is not a safe option for you or your loved ones. By doing neither, a person is acting irresponsible toward other people.
IF YOU HAVEN’T BEEN VACCINATED FOR COVID, THEN YOU NEED TO VAX UP AND MASK UP!
Vaccinations are literally available all over town. To get a vaccination today, check out www.vaccines.gov to find a location near you.
Ed Meadows
President, Pensacola State College
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Did you know that Pensacola State College has free financial incentives for you to attend college?
In a partnership between the Florida Department of Education and Helios Education Foundation, the Now. Not Tomorrow. initiative was launched to open the door to college for all students. The thoughtful action behind this initiative will jumpstart the future of students and create a pathway to comprehensive success with less debt. The 28 colleges within the Florida College System, including Pensacola State College, have financial incentives available for students to enroll immediately.
Apply Today! More than $30,000 in scholarships is available. 850-484-2000
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