This month’s Office Hours is a conversation with Sarah Damaske, author of The Tolls of Uncertainty. Damaske is a professor of sociology and labor and employment relations at Pennsylvania State University. She shares some good reasons to be hopeful about the future of sociology and also reminds us of the potential for profound and surprising moments during interviews.
Childcare is a necessity. Columbia isn’t treating it as one.
Childcare is a necessity. Columbia isn’t treating it as one. Kate Della Pietra / Senior Staff Photographer
As both parents and scientific researchers at Columbia, we are panicked by New York’s surging COVID-19 infection rates. Since March, no student has completely returned to school. Some students are in blended schooling in person a few days a week while others are learning fully remotely at home. Most after-school programs have not reopened since closing in March. The pandemic has led to serious scheduling and financial pressures on families with children, and uncertainty around when schools will open again makes it impossible to plan ahead. While some can afford to hire a nanny, many parents, and especially scientific researchers cannot.