As Election Day nears and numbers of coronavirus cases rise in the U.S., many find themselves anxious and frustrated. The writers of the journal entries for this week, October 18^th to October 24^th, 2020, voiced concerns and reflect this worry as the future of the nation is unknown. -Nicole Arena, journal curator 

On Thursday, October 22, 2020, the final presidential debate took place. With the first debate being widely criticized due to numerous interruptions by Trump, and the second debate being cancelled due to Trump contracting the virus in early October, this was the only and final debate with the modification that the candidates microphones were to be muted during their opponent’s time to speak. As November 3^rd approaches, voting, the candidates, and the election has been on the minds of these writers. -Nicole Arena, journal curator 

“Something I’ve been wondering about since the presidential debate is if there is any real reason to hold it anymore. Yes I get that it's vital to democracy…But the vast majority of people have already made up their minds, the debates largely leave most people unmoved, especially the most recent, and I can’t help but feel that it’s almost theater at this point.” -Nemo, October 24, 2020

“I think a lot of the anxiety is tied up in the election.  I know every election is the most important election ever, but this really feels like that.  The 2AM phone call was the pandemic and the President flubbed the response… A petty reality TV star who bankrupted a casino flubbed the response.  I know, surprising.” -David, October 21, 2020

“Tonight we had the second presidential debate. It was definitely much better than the first one…I hope Biden wins in a landslide. I want to have faith in the American people. I want those who abstained from voting in 2016 to make sure they vote this time. I want off the Trump train, I just want off this ride.” -Varoon Phondge, October 22, 2020

“In my opinion, the other debate was funnier - I watch it very much like a comedy show as there is very little substance or detailed policy. While this one was better, maybe because of the mic muting deterrence or very powerful moderator, I still found very little substantial information, and was left worrying how many of both Trump and Biden’s lies that the audience was led to believing in the end.” -A.W., October 22, 2020

Article on presidential debates and their lack of impact on polling

“After the first presidential debate, which was a clusterfuck, I begrudgingly watched the second debate this evening…I just have to say, I AM SO SICK AND TIRED OF LISTENING TO WHINEY BABY-BOOMERS DEBATE POLITICS…NEWS FLASH: THE WORLD HAS CHANGED, AND IT'S NEVER BEEN BLACK AND WHITE! It seems obvious to me that both candidates refuse to recognize this simple fact.” -Dominic Putko, October 22, 2020

“I’ve been seeing people post pictures of themselves posing with their ballots at ballot drop boxes…I think people for some reason want to be praised for doing the most basic thing a US citizen can do. But then again so long as it gets people voting I don't care” -Steph, October 21, 2020

“Trump said that if Biden is elected, Biden will listen to the scientists. Yes. Is it actually the case that there are people who believe this and brandish it as a reason to vote for Trump? Amazing, in a bad way.” -AT, October 19, 2020

“therefore I started having a conversation with my mother about the upcoming presidential election…She anticipated that bad times are ahead as both candidates lack quality. It is very ironic that an average American bears the same opinions as her.” -Can, October 20, 2020

As the number of coronavirus cases rises rapidly, many worry about entering the second wave of Covid-19 that scientists predicted earlier this year. Given that the seasonal flu has the potential to surge at the same time, this can prove problematic for a number of reasons. Frustrations are also running higher, as numbers rise and many refuse to follow the CDC’s safety guidelines and act selfishly by putting other’s lives at risk. -Nicole Arena, journal curator

Trends in the number of Covid-19 Cases in the US reported to the CDC

“The infection rate has gotten so bad that it is modeling the rates as we first hit the pandemic, seemingly erasing all of the “hard work” and effects of quarantining. This is not unprecedented however, it represents the beginning of the second wave exacerbated by the climate that we had predicted and been waiting for a very long time.”-A.W., October 24, 2020

“My parents and I both have pre-existing conditions which would likely become death sentences if we were to contract COVID-19.  My brother caught COVID back in March and it nearly killed him.  I lost several colleagues at work/school and a few friends.  When people spout numbers or try to use math to rationalize their selfish attitudes, it hits me as a personal attack.  My experience with the pandemic has been made more difficult by selfish people who seem, to me, like they are actively trying to kill me or my parents.  Some of the people I have had to talk to have tried to downplay the dangers of the pandemic or at times, openly admit that they believe vulnerable people like myself are simply expendable. I envy the folks who have not been directly touched by the virus, and I am exhausted from people making me feel bad for trying to keep my parents safe.” -Joe Bagod, October 19, 2020

“now that the weather is getting colder as we move deeper into the fall, people are going to be moving increasingly indoors. This will create a scenario where the virus can easily spread from person to person in a confined place. The US is already beginning to experience this “2nd Wave.” I read a CNN article yesterday that reported that the 7 day average of COVID-19 cases was up to 58,300 people, the highest since the first week of July. It looks like we may be heading toward a 2nd shutdown if these numbers don’t change.” -Kenneth, October 21, 2020

“Last night, while we slept in North America, the world hit 40 million cases of coronavirus, as per Johns Hopkins. Our cases have risen steeply here in the US and in New Jersey over the last week or so. I remember feeling overwhelmed by the numbers in the early days of the pandemic, in March. It is so much worse now. I truly fear the next wave.” -AT, October 19, 2020