Page 21 - Luce 2020

S enior C o mmon Ro om

Zoom – a lifesaver

Whether you love it or hate it, it’s clear
that, last year, we couldn’t live without
Zoom. As a community of one hundred
or so residents in a building designed
to connect, not segregate, it simply
would not have been possible to keep
the College running in a COVID world
without the magic of video conferencing
(and the willpower of our IT Manager).

Lectures, labs, practicals, music lessons,
tutorials, mentor meetings, AGMs,
graduate research presentations and
telehealth sessions all moved online, our Zoom became the new normal for bringing guests into the life of the College
screens connecting us to many of the during COVID
people and services normally just a short
walk away, given our fortunate inner-city families be invited in to experience hybrid online/offline Valedictory Dinner
lifestyles. the magnificence of the building, the also felt like a ‘Victory Dinner’; the tone
warmth of our crackling fires or the taste of the evening acknowledging all that
Online yoga, tutor-led fitness classes, of a hearty slice of lasagne in the Dining we had been through and celebrating
virtual crafting sessions, book clubs, Hall. What we could still do though, all that we had achieved by working
Netflix parties, alternate Minecraft was invite them online to experience together.
universes and countless other multiplayer the friendliness and hospitality of our
games and activities via Zoom helped community. With the magic of pre- As I write this, the Victorian Government
keep the students entertained and recorded tour footage and a team of has just announced a snap five-day
connected in between their studies. enthusiastic JCHers on hand to answer lockdown after a relatively COVID-
Likewise, staff came to cherish the live questions, the College’s spirit normal summer. We are less than one
weekly ‘Friday Afternoon Social Zooms’, still clearly resonated with our guests week out from Welcome Week 2021.
a chance to get to know colleagues Zooming in that day – many of whom Dr Powell is gathering staff and student
beyond their formal roles by sharing went on to apply for residence in 2021. leaders alike on Zoom to discuss
reflections on a different question each logistics and collectively problem solve.
week – ranging from ‘describe your Despite the many gifts of connectivity, While the world is shifting around us,
perfect summer holiday’ to ‘tell us about there’s no denying how exhausting a we are strong and we are one. We slip
someone in your life who inspires you.’ life lived online can be. Whenever the into our old rhythm like no time has
phrase ‘Zoom fatigue’ was muttered passed: camera on, mic off, raise hand
Indeed, if there’s one thing JCH loves, in the hallways throughout last year, it emoji, DHHS website on screen share
it’s rich discussion and debate amongst was often followed by a big sigh, the and pivot, pivot, pivot. Love it or hate
good company. The government closing of a laptop lid and the seeking it....
restrictions on gatherings didn’t stop our out of small offline joys: anything from
much beloved ‘Thursday Night Forums’ a lunch with friends in the courtyard to Briana Ellis
– it transformed them. No longer bound a physically distanced walk in the park. Dean of Studies
by borders or time zones (or the size As we reached the end of the year our
of the SCR), guest
speakers – including
a Young Australian
of the Year, a Nobel
Prize Winner and a
handful of Rhodes
Scholars for good
measure – Zoomed in
from all over the world
to reflect earnestly on
topics ranging far and
wide, resilience being
a common theme
throughout.

One of the bigger
challenges of the year
was moving Open
Day online. No longer
could prospective
students and their
J anet Clarke Hall 21