As both society and the Law School adapt to the new realities and challenges that coronavirus brings, many aspects of life that once seemed a given are in flux. From online classes and grocery shopping to grabbing a drink with friends and hitting the gym, activities as we know them are changing before our eyes due to quarantining and social distancing. So too are love and modern romance. In this serious and anxious time, the staff at the Law Weekly thought it would be intriguing, pleasantly distracting, and (dare we say it) heartwarming to hear how couples and singles alike are handling romance in light of all these changes. You've heard of Love in the Time of Cholera, but get ready for Love in the Time of Corona.
This week’s guests are a gaggle of 3Ls, reflecting on their #love for each other and this place.
Hey y’all! Thanks for coming on Love in the Time of Corona. Let’s get some basics: Who are you and how do you know each other?
The Landing Crew: Nellie Black, Manal Cheema, and Eleanor Schmalzl. We were all section-mates and live together now. Since we’re in quarantine together (but also because we absolutely adore each other), we decided to answer these questions as a group. While some members of the Landing Crew cannot be with us (shout-out to Jordin Dickerson!), they are with us in spirit.
Anna and Kareem: Anna Noone and Kareem Ramadan. We met at a party (yeah, we partied) when Anna was a sophomore in high school, and Kareem was a junior. Eight years later, we reconnected when we were living and working and committed to coming to UVA Law. We ended up in the same section, sitting next to each other in pretty much every class. We started dating in October of 1L.
The Strong, Beautiful Men: We are the Strong, Beautiful Men–Ben Cabranes, Scott Caravello, Sam Connor, Zach Gaver, Jeremy Gordon, Taz Jones, Kevin Leitao, Michael McQueeney, Read Mills, and David Wang. We met in an online chatroom. We then consolidated into two houses, united by Taz’s occasionally irritating social enthusiasm, but pushed apart by Zach’s poorly behaved Husky. [Zach disagrees and insists that Fletcher is a nice boy.]
Some deep 1L roots here! Any favorite memories from your 1L section?
A&K: The very first week of class 1L, one of our professors just failed to show up for class. They barely acknowledged it next time we saw them, just saying “that was weird, hope that doesn’t happen again.” Our section stayed in the room for at least twenty-five minutes before we gave up. It was really unexpected and funny!
TSBM: Not from 1L sections, but learning that Ben does not understand iPhone keyboard shortcuts. Also, storming the Corner after the Wahoos swept the NCAA Tourney in 2019.
Let’s pivot for a second to address the elephant in the room. What do you consider to be the biggest disruption that coronavirus has caused for the Class of 2020?
TLC: The cancellation of everything. In-person classes, everything we were looking forward to, the bar exam, saying goodbye to people who we won’t see for a long time.
A&K: Probably postponing the bar. Other than that, not getting to see our friends again and say bye to them, especially the ones practicing in different jurisdictions than us. We also wanted to go to beach week!
TSBM: Since Bilt and Virg have closed down, no one can go back to get their phones, wallets, or keys.
Have you found any creative ways to deal with these disruptions?
TLC: We all uniformly hate Zoom, so we use it sparingly. We have been working out more to pass the time and get outside, and have been watching lots of Netflix and eating group dinners. We try to stay in touch with people outside the apartment by texting and calling, but it’s weirdly hard to do these days. Maybe it’s too much screen time.
A&K: We won’t get to take grad pictures with our friends…other than that, we have done Zoom happy hours and game nights to keep up with everyone. For people still in town, we have found that going on walks with folks is a responsible way to see each other but stay six feet apart.
TSBM: Well, over on Huntwood Lane, Scott is blasting the heat and audibly doing hot yoga in the living room while Read and Jeremy are in their Zoom class. At JPA, Zach’s Husky, Fletcher, is slowly adjusting to life with Taz’s Husky, Levon, but Michael has moved out for fear of getting caught up in a dogfight. Sam has been hiding out on the beach for weeks now, and David won’t stop throttling the fog machine(s). So no, Law Weekly, we haven’t “found creative ways to deal with the disruptions.” But we have learned to coexist without burning our houses down.
Walking: America’s newest and favorite pastime. Let’s go back down memory lane and do a lightning round. Favorite class/professor?
TLC: Criminal Law with Professor Bonnie.
A&K: We are both Gilbert fans; between us, we have taken a total of six Gilbert classes.
TSBM: Local Business Dynamics and Emerging Craft Brew Technologies, taught by Professor Sheri at Durty Nelly’s.
Favorite experience/involvement at the Law School?
TLC: Our ScoCo monitoring. We had our table of authority. You all know what we’re talking about.
A&K: We were on an inner tube water polo team with a bunch of our friends–shoutout Trent, Laura, Vik, Carter, Henry, Caroline, Ryan, Jordan, Maureen, Megan, and Amanda! We had varying success (the UVA swim team had a terrifying team), but always had a great time.
TSBM: Monthly excursions to Fellini’s for our favorite local band, Chickenhead. Additionally, being the liveliest folks in the building for WWE Live at JPJ [which Law Weekly rightfully noted in a previous ANG column on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, Vol. 71, No. 7].
What will you miss most about your time at UVA Law?
TLC: Our friends, all the good food, hiking trails, Bilt, the snack room, Mandy, the Civil Procedure lunch crew, and just the beauty of this place. It’s a one-of-a-kind city.
A&K: This is the last time we will all be students, so we will miss seeing all of our friends every day. Also, all the food (see: Bang, Thai Fresh, etc.). Also, free polo at King Family Vineyards! As a horse girl, that never got old for Anna.
TSBM: First, our fog machines, and second, our service to the VJIL Editorial Board.
Funniest story?
TLC: Sydney Mark ’20 twerking at every softball game, and screaming at the other team for not playing enough Pitbull. And our section team beating the mercenary team in the fall NGSL playoffs. We can take anybody on a good day.
A&K: We were total Gunners ‘n Roses groupies—we will both miss seeing them at our favorite local bars. Mostly when they sang ABBA.
TSBM: That one time we got on base in softball!
Nicely done! We have one question from our readership directly for the Strong, Beautiful Men: Is it true that at night all ten of you climb into one giant t-shirt and use it as a sleeping bag?
TSBM: No comment.
Pictured: The Strong, Beautiful Men discussing the possibility of finding a t-shirt large enough to use as a communal sleeping bag while still maintaining social distancing guidelines. Photo Courtesy of Ben Stievater ‘22.
I guess we’ll never know, UVA Law. Let’s end on some sap. What has UVA Law meant to you and is there anything you’d like to say to the Law School community at large?
TLC: *sobs uncontrollably* HAGS!
A&K: It will always hold a special place with us, and we can’t wait to come back and enjoy all the places we expected to go this spring. See you guys on the flip side.
TSBM: [UVA Law has meant] learning how to work as a team, like when we all split fried chicken buckets at Wayside; figuring out how to make Scott really angry, as we’ve come to master; watching Michael grow from a boy into a man; and long and romantic Lime rides together in the warm summer breeze.
And that’s a wrap, folks. Many thanks to the Landing Crew, Anna and Kareem, and the Strong, Beautiful Men for helping to spread the love on Love in the Time of Corona! Congratulations to the Class of 2020 on their graduation—we love you, we will miss you, and we are so thankful for everything you brought to this community. This column may be ending with the school year, but be sure to make like The Black Eyed Peas and keep asking yourself “Where is the Love?” during these troubled times. Stay safe, buckle down to round up those Ds on your finals, and cross your fingers that this column doesn’t need to continue this fall. @bes4cf@virginia.edu.
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bes4cf@virginia.edu