Fear and misinformation online around coronavirus are having real-world effects for students at Memorial University.
Emma Troake, a MUN English student, wrote an article for the Gazette speaking about the importance of assessing critical situations by being armed with facts.
(Illustration of ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses—such as the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19. Image courtesy CDC.)
She says even though the risk of the virus here is extremely low, she has seen misinformation spread on social media, turning fear of illness into lashing out.
Troake says it’s heartbreaking to see people turn to racism at a time when they should help each other out to ensure safety.
Social media, she says, makes it easy to see something happening in a country different from yours and amplify offensive remarks.
(Dr. Gary Kachanoski, file photo.)
Troake’s article attracted praise from MUN President Gary Kachanoski, who expressed concern that some members of the university community had been singled out and felt ostracized and mistreated by others.
He states racism and xenophobia will not be tolerated on Memorial campuses.
Kachanoski says students should refrain from making assumptions and judgments based on the virus.
Emma Troake spoke on the VOCM Morning Show. Listen below:
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