Recorded on 3/20/20, Steve Adubato is joined by Matthew Hale, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Political Science & Public Affairs at Seton Hall University to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 public health crisis on higher education and the 2020 election.

As a professor at Seton Hall University, Matthew Hale explains that many professors have not had experience teaching online courses before, so it posed a series of challenges in the beginning, however, they seem to be “figuring it out,” he says. “We’re trying to figure out the best way to deliver an education, the best way to deliver the content, the best way to have conversations, and the best way to try and take it one step at a time.”

Looking ahead to the 2020 election, Hale says how our government responded to the coronavirus public health crisis will be a fundamental part of any election. “There’s no doubt that this will be the number one issue, it’s just the question of whether it will be the only issue,” he says. He explains that Governor Phil Murphy has been a steady hand during this crisis, where he has a measured process in place and he organizes regional aspects. At local levels, mayors are making specific calls in terms of social distancing as well. Hale says, “History is not written as it’s happening, history is written as you reflect over it. I think there’s going to be a lot of reflection.”

Hale adds that we as citizens are learning that we take care of each other, for instance, offering to grab groceries for the elderly or offering rides. “I genuinely think, that as citizens, we’re all in a position where we’re figuring out how to take care of those people that are most close to us. How to have some sort of a semblance of normalcy with our close friends and family. And that really is one of the strengths of this country, I think, is that we do take care of each other.”