A Letter from the Cities and to Its Beloved Readers
Where there is life and love, there is something to be written about
By Nina Raemont
Dear Cities Reader,
It comes as no surprise that the world we currently reside in is far different than that of yesterday, and even more staggering than tomorrow. It is a world that has been, within the last couple of months, riddled with ambiguity and uncertainty, as well as anxiety and dread.
In these moments when we are stunned by the insanity of our reality, we look to the future as a beacon of hope. We look to the outside world and the opportunities it offers. We look to our favorite bands visiting our favorite venues, or the café with the latte that puts a spring in our step on those lousy days, or the art exhibits at our local museums that take us out of our crowded minds and place us within an epicenter of creation and comfort. We look to the cities.
The Cities section is not only a hub of the Twin Cities happenings, but it also acts as your fortnightly tap on the shoulder to be a tourist in your own city and explore the funk and quirk that the Twin Cities provides. It poses as a reminder that there is more to a college than just its campus.
Although the University emergency protocols temporarily pulled you away from your home on campus, memorable events will still continue. We urge you to consider the life in your own community. In each household, there is a new TED-talk being watched, a new recipe being consumed, a new scarf being knitted, a new sentence being written. Although these activities don’t take the form of grand events, they are not to be underestimated. The sheer volume of attendees of an experience does not always signify validity. There remains value in small gatherings, like a family dinner where stories of the past are shared, or an 11 p.m. dance session that involves yourself, your roommates, and that almost-empty bag of Franzia. Where there is life and love, there is something to be written about.
For many of you, however, this time spent “sheltering in place” brings upon another layer of stress and worry as you may be in the midst of caring for a loved one or lacking a necessary paycheck. We realize that a portion of our readers will face extreme circumstances because of the impact of COVID-19. Our hearts are with yours while you endure this difficult period of sickness or economic instability. The world is, at times, terribly unkind, but hope cannot be lost.
As the devoted reader is presumably aware, our section shines light on activities and gatherings around the Twin Cities. You can only imagine how impractical it would be, in light of recent gathering restrictions, to report upon events that no longer exist. So, we must change.
As we transition to a quarantine-friendly, online platform, The Cities section will change with the current times and take a different shape. The articles previously written revolving around outings and gatherings will now become articles touching upon UMN student’s communities outside of the greater Minneapolis-St Paul area, discussions about how the situation affects our local communities within the Twin Cities, stories of virtual worlds, and experiences that we share while sheltering in place. We graciously accept your input and any ideas to enhance this section as it undergoes a transformation of content. Despite the (social) distance, our community still proudly stands, welcoming stories of the cities, so keep reading.
Stay happy and healthy,
Nina Raemont