COVID plus 2020-2021
Title
COVID plus 2020-2021
Description
During East Campus Discovery Days, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries invited visitors to the newly renovated Dinsdale Family Learning Commons and asked them to share their COVID-19 experiences by making videos in the one-button studio. In this video, Mike Boehm reflects on 2020-2021.
Creator
Mike Boehm
Date
6/12/2021
Language
English
Coverage
Lincoln, Nebraska
Transcription
Hi, my name's Mike Boehm, and I have the privilege of serving as the Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska, and also as the Harlan Vice Chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources here at the University of Nebraska Lincoln.
Wow, what a year this has been. Transformational in so many ways, changed by this virus that causes COVID, just incredible.
What would I like future generations to know about this time period? Well, I'd like you to know that true to the grit and tenacity that Nebraskans have always exhibited from the indigenous tribal people that once called this place home to here today in 2020 and 2020, and 2021, when COVID hit in March and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln made that pivot. The faculty, students, and staff, just did an extraordinary job--no complaining no whining, just tenacity and grit--stepped up to the plate and transformed the whole spring semester into a virtual platform. Campus was closed down, thankfully for only a short three week period. And, then through our leadership of chancellor Ronnie Green and president Ted Carter, and the team within CASNR, the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, we worked our way through it using common sense and Nebraska grit, and really figured out how to have county fairs, figured out how to keep our field seasons going, figured out what a fall would look like in a hybrid mode. It really was an extraordinary time. It was hard for a lot of people, so that's what I think I'd like you to remember when Nebraska was challenged, when people at UNL were challenged, they stepped up, they worked together, they cared for each other with compassion and got the job done.
What will I remember about this period in my life? Well, I will never forget, this is not only did we have COVID, but we also had the senseless murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, and so many others rekindled or kindled the conversation in this country, the likes of which I had not seen 'cause I was just a little kid in the 1960s. It really was a transformative event and the conversation is far from over but the journey continues. And then it was a politically polarized dynamic that enveloped the country with the presidential election that was contentious, and again, tested the fiber and the fabric of Nebraskans and Americans to come together look for commonalities and a common sense of purpose rather than a divisive, polarized approach. And Nebraska made it through I think those are the things that I'll remember.
How has COVID 19 pandemic challenged or changed me? I think it just reinforces that every day is a gift and that it's a blessing, and so I appreciate so much the people that I get to work with. I appreciate every day, the privilege that I have in so many ways, the blessings that me and my family have and couldn't be more proud, I think, that's proud to be a Nebraskan and proud to be a part of UNL and the Institute of Ag and Natural Resources. I think that's what I'm gonna remember the most.
Wow, what a year this has been. Transformational in so many ways, changed by this virus that causes COVID, just incredible.
What would I like future generations to know about this time period? Well, I'd like you to know that true to the grit and tenacity that Nebraskans have always exhibited from the indigenous tribal people that once called this place home to here today in 2020 and 2020, and 2021, when COVID hit in March and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln made that pivot. The faculty, students, and staff, just did an extraordinary job--no complaining no whining, just tenacity and grit--stepped up to the plate and transformed the whole spring semester into a virtual platform. Campus was closed down, thankfully for only a short three week period. And, then through our leadership of chancellor Ronnie Green and president Ted Carter, and the team within CASNR, the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, we worked our way through it using common sense and Nebraska grit, and really figured out how to have county fairs, figured out how to keep our field seasons going, figured out what a fall would look like in a hybrid mode. It really was an extraordinary time. It was hard for a lot of people, so that's what I think I'd like you to remember when Nebraska was challenged, when people at UNL were challenged, they stepped up, they worked together, they cared for each other with compassion and got the job done.
What will I remember about this period in my life? Well, I will never forget, this is not only did we have COVID, but we also had the senseless murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, and so many others rekindled or kindled the conversation in this country, the likes of which I had not seen 'cause I was just a little kid in the 1960s. It really was a transformative event and the conversation is far from over but the journey continues. And then it was a politically polarized dynamic that enveloped the country with the presidential election that was contentious, and again, tested the fiber and the fabric of Nebraskans and Americans to come together look for commonalities and a common sense of purpose rather than a divisive, polarized approach. And Nebraska made it through I think those are the things that I'll remember.
How has COVID 19 pandemic challenged or changed me? I think it just reinforces that every day is a gift and that it's a blessing, and so I appreciate so much the people that I get to work with. I appreciate every day, the privilege that I have in so many ways, the blessings that me and my family have and couldn't be more proud, I think, that's proud to be a Nebraskan and proud to be a part of UNL and the Institute of Ag and Natural Resources. I think that's what I'm gonna remember the most.
Original Format
mp4
Duration
3 minutes, 41 seconds
Creator designation
Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources and Harlan Vice Chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resource
Collection
Citation
Mike Boehm, “COVID plus 2020-2021,” University of Nebraska-Lincoln COVID-19 Digital Archive, accessed December 21, 2024, https://covid19-unlhistory.unl.edu/items/show/82.