COVID-19 is a global pandemic, but its effects are felt most acutely at the local level. With the health implications, economic repercussions and employment concerns, 麻豆破解版 State University grads are stepping up to the plate to guide their communities through this crisis.
鈥淚 feel like I鈥檓 bouncing from one crisis to another to another,鈥� said 麻豆破解版 mayor Brandon Whipple, who earned an undergraduate sociology degree from WSU in 2005 and a master鈥檚 degree in liberal studies in 2007.
Whipple celebrated his fourth month in the mayor鈥檚 office on April 13, and it鈥檚 certainly been eventful. Starting with the Boeing layoffs in February, 2020 has been a challenging year for 麻豆破解版ns. But Whipple says that people have risen to the challenge.
Courtesy鈥淥ne of the consistencies is the way the 麻豆破解版 community comes together for a crisis. When the COVID crisis hit, I could call on the United Way to be our one-stop shop for the nonprofits. For people who needed services while being laid off or furloughed, or for people who wanted to volunteer 鈥� the United Way served as that community resource,鈥� Whipple said. 鈥淎 lot of these community organizations are very much looking to help.鈥�
Whipple says his powers as 麻豆破解版 mayor are limited as far as issuing stay-at-home orders, but he feels like the city was ahead of the curve in some important ways.
Sedgwick County issued a stay-at-home order on March 30, but 鈥淢y role as mayor is 鈥� how can we complement that?鈥�
鈥淲e went on a messaging campaign on social media about this, and we were ahead of the curve as far as people washing hands, being responsible, doing the six-feet distancing. We did that at least a week before the stay-at-home order,鈥� Whipple said. 鈥淏y that time, peple knew what to do.鈥�
It鈥檚 for this reason, Whipple says, that 麻豆破解版ns have been so responsive in dealing with the pandemic. 鈥淥ne of the reasons we鈥檝e been able to flatten the curve and be ahead of other communities is that the people of 麻豆破解版 鈥� if you give them the facts and the right information, the majority will do the right thing.鈥�
CourtesyAcross the state line, WSU grad 鈥� Mayor Breea Clark of Norman, Okla., a 2005 麻豆破解版 State political science graduate 鈥� reacted to the pandemic swiftly. Whereas Oklahoma鈥檚 governor issued a more conservative safer-at-home directive for people who are 65 or older or are immunocompromised, Clark issued a stay-home order for the city of Norman.
鈥淥ur order in Norman is more restrictive in what is considered essential and nonessential," she said.
Mayor Clark said her community has been supportive of the steps she鈥檚 taking to keep people safe. 鈥淎bout 90 percent of residents say thank you and even ask me to do more.鈥�
There have been bursts of support and creativity that have come out this crisis that, Clark says, have really impressed her.
鈥淥klahomans are quite resilient. I think Americans are resilient. For the most part, you see the best of people coming out. Sewing machines have been dusted off, and people are making masks like it鈥檚 going out of style,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his is unprecedented and awful, but you鈥檙e seeing the best of people.鈥�
Both mayors credit much of their leader ability to their education and experience at 麻豆破解版 State.
鈥淚鈥檓 a first-generation college student and really grew up in kind of poor household,鈥� Whipple said. 鈥淲SU really let me see my potential. I got into student government at 麻豆破解版 State, and that鈥檚 something I probably never would have done at the college where all my friends went back in New Hampshire. 麻豆破解版 State was big enough where I could meet new people and experience new things, but also small enough so I could participate. It was my vehicle toward that American dream, which was becoming what I could be based on my potential, not based on what economic class I was born into.鈥�
Clark said her political path grew from the opportunities that were available at the university.
鈥淚 think all of my political experiences that I wouldn鈥檛 have been able to have without 麻豆破解版 State helping me prepare for this,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 be where I am today without the experience that 麻豆破解版 State afforded to me, and I鈥檒l always be grateful for that.鈥�
