The Current | Vol. 31 Issue 24

March 2, 2021 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 10 Opinions A year into a pandemic as a hypochondriac I may or may not be a little paranoid over getting sick. Okay, okay. Maybe, I’m more than a little paranoid over getting sick. Even before COVID-19, I carried hand sanitizer around with me everywhere and I tried my best not to come into physical contact with anyone. I did everything I could to avoid sick people. Even when my family got even something as insignificant as sniffles, I would wear a surgical mask any time I was around them. I can remember following my little sister around when she had the flu and obsessively sanitizing anything she got close to. As you can imagine, I have been a little overboard with following CDC guidelines for staying safe, and a little overboard on reminding everyone around me of those same safety precautions. So, when I am on campus, I find it infuriating that people still do everything they can to get around following safety precautions. How can someone not be doing everything they can to keep themselves safe during a pandemic? When I go into work in the morning and see people sitting in the University Center with their masks hanging from one ear or sitting on the table next to their laptop. Then, when I am getting ready to leave and I see the same people, still not wearing their masks hours later. I get stressed out since I’m only taking off my mask to take a quick drink of water in an empty room. I have no idea how someone can sit in the middle of the University Center in a group of more than six people, all of which are not wearing masks, for hours and not have a panic attack. The mere thought of that makes me want to curl up into a ball and cry. Then, there is the fact that I freak out any time I feel even remotely sick, even worse back when the pandemic started last year, which was also the time that just so happened to be the start of my allergy season, and just a year later it was time for hay fever. So, anytime I cough, my first thought is “Uh oh, is this COVID?” Even if the CDC and the World Health Organization came out today and said that the pandemic is over and there is no need to wear masks anymore, I am not sure if everybody is ready to hear this, but I have something to say that has been a big topic of debate on this campus. I feed the stray cats. I know, I know. Just let me explain. When I am walking around on campus, I will usually have a bag of cat treats in my pocket that I purchased from Dollar Tree, and when I see a cat just chilling on campus minding its own business, I feed them a couple of treats. Usually, I can get them to eat the treats out of my hand. At this point, some of you reading this are probably thinking “So what, who cares?” However, I know a large portion of you think I am some monster ruining the South Florida ecosystem. To those who think that, just stop. I know that cats in this area are considered feral invasive species bymany environmentalists due to their harmful impact on the ecosystem. I care about the environment, I really do, but I also love cats. Even the school has gone as far as to say don’t feed the “feral” animals, but they cannot be considered feral if I know them. They are friends of mine. I honestly cannot see how feeding the cats on campus some yummy treats every once and a while would hurt the ecosystem so much. Maybe I am selfish, but even if that is the case, I do not care. Feeding those stray cats brings me so much joy, and I am willing to bet the cats are having a good time, too. I have even heard of friends of mine getting reprimanded for feeding some of the cats by area coordinators of the dorms. That is honestly ridiculous. I do not care for whatever aesthetic NSU is trying to fulfill with these weird rules around feeding these precious animals because I know very well that it is not because of the environment. If that were the case, we would probably at least have a more adequate recycling program on campus. Try and stop me. I dare you. I will continue feeding my furry friends. Here’s an insider tip, if you are nice enough, some of the cats will even let you pet them even if you are not carrying any treats. By: Alexander Martinie Opinions Editor I’m sorry, but I won’t stop By: Rick Esner News Editor I’d probably keep wearing a mask for a few months. I might be more than a little bit paranoid, but at least I’ll be safe. PHOTO PRINTED PERMISSION BY UNSPLASHED.COM A man washing his hands PHOTO PRINTED PERMISSION BY UNSPLASHED.COM A cat.