Greetings Vols!
Thank you for all your work as we all try to make the best of this strange and challenging time. I know the shift to online coursework hasn’t always been easy.
I imagine many of you are home with your parents during this time. If you are missing the autonomy of being on your own at college, remember this won’t last forever, and maybe even try to embrace the circumstances. As the parent of early teenagers who already resist talking about anything they are doing in school, I bet some of you have parents who would love a chance to get a better sense of what your classes are like. Who knows, talking with them about a paper you are writing or what you are studying for an exam may even be helpful.
I’m missing sports terribly (well, mostly missing watching sports), and I’m sure all of you have activities that are suddenly absent and leaving a similar void. I recently read an interview with one of the economists I most admire, Joseph Stiglitz, that reminded me of the insights that can be gained from reading fiction—something I don’t often find time to do. Good books are one thing that is easy to get right now without ever leaving our homes and can fill some of the void, so I’m determined to read some good literature.
In this newsletter you’ll see a link to a conversation I recorded with Marianne Wanamaker about the policy response to the pandemic. It will give you a sense of the kind of conversations we are having about the pandemic and response. I’d love to hear from you if there are questions you have about the economic impact and policy challenges we face.
Scott M. Gilpatric
Professor and Department Head
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