Today, I begin my 17th year as a faculty member at Pasadena City College. When I arrived on campus at 8:15 this morning, the temperature was already well into the 80s and the smoke from the nearby Station Fire was so heavy that my eyes burned and my lungs ached as I walked from the parking lot to my office. My air-conditioned office reeks of smoke, as do the hallways and the classrooms. Perhaps we ought to have cancelled classes today, but perhaps this is the safest place for many San Gabriel Valley and foothill folks to be. On the other hand, with the air nearby officially labelled hazardous, a mass evacuation to the beach might be even more appropriate.
But it is not my job to prescribe remedies, it is my job to teach and comfort. I have found that in times of crisis, some students don’t want — or can’t — come to campus. They need to be accomodated with make-ups and excused absences. But many find reassurance in the routines of school; young people often see educational institutions as safe havens. Come what come may, the familar rhythms of syllabi being distributed, roll being taken, introductory lectures given and so on offers comfort and a sense of normalcy when things seem anything but. I was here for my students on 9/11, keeping my office open and meeting with my classes to talk. In this far more local crisis, where there is no escaping the discomfort, the best I can do is carry on, providing calm.
But perhaps an air filter mask would be helpful.