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Title: Ashlie Gorman Interview, October 18, 2020
Date: October 18, 2020
Creator: Ashlie Gorman; Alexis Zilen
Description: The idea of a “new normal” has become common rhetoric within the United States as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This new normal includes not only updated health consciousness but larger structural transformations in economics and politics. This project will focus on a few microcosms of transformation; the rise of unemployment and the impact of the creative arts, and the effects of mental health during the ongoing pandemic. Overall, this interview between Ashlie Gorman and Alexis Zilen will provide insight into the new normal and the transformation of American creative culture during the pandemic.
Subject: COVID-19; pandemic; entertainment; performing arts; Gilbertsville, PA; Disney Parks; cast member; employment; Coronavirus; Orlando, FL; Boyertown Area School District; Youtube; mental health; Disney College Program; social media; quarantine
Country: United States
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/humanitiestruck:2521
Rights statement: Copyright, including the right to publicity, has been transferred to American University via the Humanities Truck release form. There are no modifications to the agreement.

Title: Cedric Burgess Interview, March 19, 2020
Date: March 19, 2020
Creator: Cedric Burgess; Kai Walther
Description: Cedric Burgess speaks with Kai Walther about his activism around AIDS as a self-described Black gay man. Burgess describes the numerous volunteering efforts in which he is currently involved as well as what he did in the past. He discusses being diagnosed with HIV, how he came to be involved in activism around that subject, his struggles with mental health, and moving away from AIDS-specific activism. Additionally, Burgess speaks a bit about gay social life during the “disco days,” including time he spent at the Clubhouse and other gay bars and clubs.
Subject: HIV; AIDS; activism; Washington, DC; The Clubhouse; Names Project; mental health; Inner-City AIDS Network; LGBT seniors; Whitman Walker; Paradise Garage; Washington Blade; Bishop Rainey Cheeks; Black Light; DC Department on Aging and Community Living; AIDS Memorial Quilt; Us Helping Us
Country: United States
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/humanitiestruck:2378
Rights statement: Copyright for this object is held by American University and does not preclude any use the co-interviewee(s) may want to make of the information in the recordings themselves. This object is made available through the American University Digital Research Archive for research and educational purposes. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the object beyond the bounds of Fair Use must be obtained from the American University Library -- Archives and Special Collections.

Title: Jack Klitgaard Interview, October 28, 2020
Date: October 28, 2020
Creator: Jack Klitgaard; Emily Lefeber
Description: Jack Klitgaard is a current high school senior at the Harlan Community High School (HCHS) in Harlan, IA. Located in rural western Iowa, the Harlan Community is feeling the effects of the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic. In this interview, Jack discusses his experiences as HCHS was forced to shut down at the beginning of the pandemic, going to 100% virtual learning due to concerns about his family’s health, and his plans to become a doctor in the future. This interview was conducted virtually using TheirStory.io software.
Subject: Harlan, IA; Iowa; rural; small town; Harlan Community High School; COVID-19; Coronavirus; pandemic; media perception; politics; public health; masks; mental health; student; teenager; childhood; remote learning; cancer; college; Coolidge Scholar; Boy Scouts; music; jazz band; travel; faith; video games
Country: United States
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/humanitiestruck:2506
Rights statement: Interview contents have been given to the Public Domain through the Humanities Truck Oral History Project at American University.

Title: Jess Dawson Interview, December 2, 2021
Date: December 2, 2021
Creator: Jess Dawson; Maddie Tinsley
Description: This interview was conducted on December 2, 2021 using the Their Story platform. The interview was intended to get Jess Dawson’s perspective on the topic of medical school applications and how the criteria of those applications affect medical students from minority communities. In this interview, Dawson discusses her perspective on the judgment of medical school applications and describes how most of the emphasis is placed on applicant’s work and volunteer experiences. Dawson describes how her personal work and research experiences prior to medical school set her application apart but also how the pressure to get so many experiences was ultimately damaging to her mental health. In an academic context, Dawson discusses her experiences taking the MCAT, the impact these tests have on medical students, and how recent changes to the STEP One exam have altered the medical school experience. Dawson describes how the importance of previous experience often disadvantages applicants from minority communities who don't have as many connections. She also described the privilege experienced by medical students who are children of doctors and thus have more connections and less barriers. She also discusses how she feels medical schools favor individuals from economically privileged backgrounds. She concludes the interview by describing her experience working to get some new questions on her medical school application and her perspective on how medical schools are pursuing a limited form of diversity.
Subject: medical students; medical school; public health; Indian-American; immigrant; first-generation immigrant; University of Washington Medical School; Seattle, WA; medical school application; MCAT; Step 1 Exam; mental health; privilege; diversity
Country: United States
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/humanitiestruck:3666
Rights statement: This interview’s legal title, rights of publicity, and all literary rights were donated at no cost to American University.

Title: Julia Renkly Interview, November 25, 2020
Date: November 25, 2020
Creator: Julia Renkly; Emily Lefeber
Description: Julia Renkly is a current high school senior at the Harlan Community High School (HCHS) in Harlan, IA. Located in rural western Iowa, the Harlan Community is feeling the effects of the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic. In this interview, Julia discusses her experiences as HCHS was forced to shut down at the beginning of the pandemic, going online for the rest of Spring 2020, returning to school in Fall 2020, and her plans to become a scientific illustrator in the future.
Subject: Harlan, IA; Iowa; rural Iowa; small town; Harlan Community High School; COVID-19; Coronavirus; pandemic; media perception; politics; public health; masks; mental health; student; teenager; jazz band; art; video games; Hy-Vee; Snapchat; education; Joe Biden; Buena Vista University
Country: United States
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/humanitiestruck:2509
Rights statement: Interview contents have been given to the Public Domain through the Humanities Truck Oral History Project at American University.

Title: Kim Clemens Interview, November 12, 2020
Date: November 12, 2020
Creator: Kim Clemens; Laura Sislen
Description: Kim is a trauma, addictions, and art therapist in Annapolis, Maryland. She talks about her experiences both personally and professionally, and overall has cultivated a sense of gratitude and awareness throughout the pandemic. She talks about the many positive things that have happened to her: engagement, buying her first house, and accomplishing professional endeavors, while noticing the heavier side of peoples' decline in mental health, stressors, and trauma around her. She talks about noticing the collective grief and loss within this pandemic and wants an increase in the promotion and accessibility for mental health services, self-care, and what it means to connect. She is hopeful for increased mental health care, empathy, and connection to come out of this experience.
Subject: COVID-19; Therapist; collective grief; gratitude; Annapolis, Maryland; COVID; mental health; self-care; Zoom
Country: United States
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/humanitiestruck:2341
Rights statement: Copyright for this object is held by American University and does not preclude any use the co-interviewee(s) may want to make of the information in the recordings themselves. This object is made available through the American University Digital Research Archive for research and educational purposes. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the object beyond the bounds of Fair Use must be obtained from the American University Library -- Archives and Special Collections.

Title: Liz Interview, October 6, 2020
Date: October 6, 2020
Creator: Rosie Cain; Liz
Description: Rosie Cain interviews narrator Liz about their identity as non-binary and fat. Liz discusses their process coming to and sharing their identity as non-binary with others in their life. Liz also discusses identifying as fat, what the term fat means to them and how they came to identify as fat. Liz shares their experiences clothing shopping, being in online community groups and visiting a health care practitioner. They also discuss topics of disordered eating, social media and the influence of non-binary YouTubers.
Subject: fat; fat acceptance; non-binary; gender; androgynous; identity; friends; uni; university; fatness; fit; weight; body positivity; advice; Health at Every Size; health; doctor; mental health
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/humanitiestruck:2490
Rights statement: Interview contents have been given to the Public Domain through the Humanities Truck Oral History Project at American University.

Title: Nicholas Anderson Interview, October 2, 2020
Date: October 2, 2020
Creator: Nicholas Anderson; Emily Lefeber
Description: Nicholas Anderson is a current high school senior at the Harlan Community High School (HCHS) in Harlan, Iowa. Located in rural western Iowa, the Harlan Community is feeling the effects of the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic. In this interview, Nicholas discusses his experiences as HCHS was forced to shut down at the beginning of the pandemic, returning to school in the spring, and his plans to become a lineman in the future.
Subject: Harlan, IA; Iowa; rural Iowa; Harlan Community High School; COVID-19; Coronavirus; pandemic; CDC restrictions; Center for Disease Control; media perception; politics; public health; masks; mental health; student; teenagers; childhood; Fareway Grocery Stores; education; social media; Donald Trump; apprenticeship
Country: United States
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/humanitiestruck:2512
Rights statement: Interview contents have been given to the Public Domain through the Humanities Truck Oral History Project at American University.

Title: Nicole Williams Interview, November 10, 2020
Date: November 10, 2020
Creator: Nicole Williams; Alexis Zilen
Description: The idea of a “new normal” has become common rhetoric within the United States as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This new normal includes not only updated health consciousness but larger structural transformations in economics and politics. This project will focus on a few microcosms of transformation; the rise of unemployment and the impact of the creative arts, and the effects of mental health during the ongoing pandemic. Overall, Alexis Zilen's interview with Nicole Williams will provide insight into the new normal and the transformation of American creative culture during the pandemic. This interview was completed virtually.
Subject: Cherry Hill, NJ; divorced parents; Cherry Hill High School; mental health; Ithaca, NY; coping mechanism; escape; Seattle, WA; summer camp; nanny; social media; quarantine; mental illness; therapy; community college; COVID-19; Coronavirus; pandemic; unemployment; writing
Country: United States
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/humanitiestruck:2525
Rights statement: Copyright, including the right to publicity, has been transferred to American University via the Humanities Truck release form. There are no modifications to the agreement.