Category: Recreation, Sport, and Tourism

RST Senior Brendan Ross discusses his alternate internship in wake of COVID-19

July 01, 2020 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

Students in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism in the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois have had to adjust their internships because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Periodically, we will speak with them about how those changes have affected their summer plans and potentially career paths. Brendan Ross was supposed to work for Learfield IMG in its Texas office, but instead was part of the inaugural Illini RST Undergraduate Consulting (IRUC) program, created by RST department head Carla Santos and clinical assistant professor Mike Raycraft. He talked to AHS communications about his experience.

If you encounter Brendan Ross, you’ll discover a couple of things pretty quick: he loves sports and he loves to talk. So when he found out his planned internship at Learfield IMG in Texas was cancelled because of COVID-19, to say he was bummed would be an understatement.

“I was obviously disappointed. It seemed like it was going to be a really just cool and educational experience,” he said. “It would’ve been great to get that experience and get the money I would’ve made from that. But at the same time, I always think of myself as someone who has pretty good perspective … there’s so much worse things than a canceled internship. People are sick. People are passing away.”

With Learfield, Ross would have learned about marketing and multimedia rights for college sports, which includes selling advertising during radio and TV broadcasts as well as in-arena signage and other digital properties. As a big sports fan—especially the NBA—it seemed like a dream job for the gregarious senior. But with that opportunity dashed, Ross needed to find another internship in order to fulfill requirements to graduate this year.

“I obviously needed to find some sort of experience or some sort of something to be involved in that sports industry,” he said, “And that’s where Dr. Raycraft and Dr. Santos’ program came in.”

RST department head Carla Santos and clinical assistant professor Mike Raycraft collaborated to create the Illini RST Undergraduate Consulting (IRUC) program. IRUC is an opportunity for graduating RST students to connect with industry partners and agencies to provide pro bono, (and remote) consultation, and report on a variety of special topics.

The students work with organizations, such as the Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder and Niagara Falls, in three-week cycles and they have a deliverable product at the end of that cycle. Each student must complete two cycles, and the program runs through July 31.

Ross’ first cycle involved working with Illini basketball legend and NBA player Meyers Leonard. Leonard and his wife, Elle Bielfeldt, have a snack food company called Level Foods, and Leonard has an active social media life, which includes his own Twitch channel.

Ross and two fellow students were assigned to work with Leonard on a project called “Increasing Community for Meyers Leonard’s Twitch Stream.” If that sounds something like Kramer’s internship plans for Kramerica Industries on “Seinfeld,” Ross assured that was not the case.

“He’s a professional basketball player, but he has a lot of different entities that he’s involved with professionally, business, and then just kind of for fun. He owns a food company that sells protein bars and healthier side snack foods. He has his own merchandise brand. But his streaming and his video game playing is a huge part of what he’s been doing the last couple of years, but specifically what he’s been doing during this quarantine period when everyone’s been at home.”

Ross and his two classmates met with Leonard and Raycraft via Zoom for about two and a half hours, which Ross said was informative and “awesome.”

“We just got a chance to learn all the operations he’s been doing and everything that (Leonard) balances,” he said. “And then his question for us was, basically, how can I expand my stream? How can I grow my stream while at the same time being an NBA player and managing a snack company and doing all this stuff?”

Ross and his team had a leg up because they knew and used Twitch—a livestreaming platform for gamers and a subsidiary of Amazon—and one member of the team plays video games such as “Call of Duty”—a Leonard staple–as well.

“He understood everything, and he was kind of our go-to guy in terms of video game questions or anything that we wanted to know about how that space operates,” Ross said of one of his groupmates. “So it was a great dynamic of a group, to have those different levels of knowledge, but we were all familiar with Twitch and had used it in the past.”

Ross said it was important for him not to add anything to Leonard’s already full plate, especially with the NBA attempting to restart its season, expected at the end of July. They wanted to present the Miami Heat center with a plan that could be easy for him to understand and implement.

“Meyers Leonard, professional basketball player, hundreds of thousands of followers,” Ross said. “He has access to so many different people and so many different resources. What can we access that he maybe can’t? So we made a survey right away and disseminated it out through our networks. We wanted to just gauge, are people aware of who Meyers is? I think we had, like, 155 respondents. 87 percent were aware of who Meyers was. But only, like, 15 or 16 percent were aware that he even had a streaming channel to begin with. … We made it our goal to educate those people and make them aware of the fact that he is playing “Call of Duty” and streaming basically daily to the group that would be interested in it.”

Ross said the group also found that Leonard has a much larger following on Instagram than on Twitter and that he needed to capitalize on that.

“We really tried to show him things about his Instagram that he can do to use that to reach this market that are people just like me who are sitting around looking for things to do, looking for things to watch. … It was a good balance, our group and how we went about it.”

At the end of that three-week cycle, Ross said he presented the information to Leonard and that he was impressed with how inclusive and collaborative the 7-footer was.

“It was clear that he was really willing to listen to us and trust us and believe us from the survey and just being in the position that we’re in to provide him recommendations,” said Ross, who is now working on cycle two of IRUC with the Chicago White Sox. As much fun as working with an NBA star and the White Sox is, the outgoing Ross maintains some disappointment about missing out on the in-person training.

“Definitely, a huge part of who I am, not only as a person but as a professional, is that face-to-face interaction,” he said. “Being able to gauge how the person I’m in a conversation with is feeling, based on body language and facial reactions. But like I said earlier, perspective is super key to me. I’m trying to have the best possible experience that I can have.”

The alternative internship has also led Ross to consider different career options. He has in the past expressed his desire to work for the NBA, which was only fueled by his experience working the All-Star Game this February in Chicago.

“Yeah, I’ve always had a bit of a side passion for esports and video games,” he said. “And I think it’s cool, and there’s so many people in the world who think it’s cool. So while I don’t think I would ever really switch all the way to dive into esports, I do think it’s super important to have a knowledge of that space and carry that into whatever field I do jump into in these next few years, to at least know about it and know how it impacts people and know how it can help develop a personal brand the way Meyers has done it the last few years. I think that’s just a really cool concept. And I think it’s something that I’m definitely going to carry into wherever I end up.”

As for what’s next, Ross admits the shutdown of sports has him concerned about where the job market will end up.

“It’s definitely a discussion that I’ve had with my parents, my friends, my peers, and it’s a tough place to be in and not really desirable. But for me, I would definitely prefer to just jump right in and get a job if I can.

“I’ve always considered being a graduate assistant in an athletic department somewhere as an option, which would hopefully cover that master’s degree and all the costs associated with that. But for me, it’s a boring answer, but I just got to wait and see.”

Editor’s note:

To reach Vince Lara-Cinisomo, email vinlara@illinois.edu.
 

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RST student Matt Maguire talks about alternative internship

June 22, 2020 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

Students in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism in the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois have had to adjust their internships because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Periodically, we will speak with them about how those changes have affected their summer plans and potentially career paths. Matt Maguire was supposed to work for the Chicago Cubs in their premier services department in Chicago, but instead was part of the inaugural Illini RST Undergraduate Consulting (IRUC) program, created by RST department head Carla Santos and clinical assistant professor Mike Raycraft. He talked to AHS communications about his experience.

Matt Maguire, a senior in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism in the College of Applied Health Sciences, loves baseball, especially the Chicago Cubs. So he was eager to begin his internship with the Cubbies for a second year this summer, working in their premier services department in Chicago.

Then, the world stopped. COVID-19, which entered our consciousness in January, was acknowledged as a pandemic in mid-March and resulted in a shutdown of most industries beyond the most essential. Baseball’s spring training was halted March 14, just two weeks before planned Opening Day. 

Maguire knew what was happening, and that his internship being in peril was among the least of his worries. That didn’t temper his disappointment.

“I had to take that time realizing, ‘OK, there’s not really a spot for me right now. They’re definitely not worried about me right now when there’s no baseball going on,'” he said. “So it took a while, but I was finally coming to grips with that as it was coming down to the end. OK. This really isn’t going to happen.”

Maguire needed an internship to graduate, as do all RST students. Luckily, RST department head Carla Santos and clinical assistant professor Mike Raycraft collaborated to create the RST Undergraduate Consulting (IRUC) program. IRUC is an opportunity for graduating RST students to connect with industry partners and agencies to provide pro bono, (and remote) consultation, and report on a variety of special topics. The students work with organizations, such as the Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder and Niagara Falls, in three-week cycles and they have a deliverable product at the end of that cycle. Each student must complete two cycles, and the program runs through July 31.

For Maguire, although he had to work remotely, the IRUC still gave him a chance to work with the Cubs. Grouped with two other students, Maguire worked under Megan Gaesor, manager of event operations for the Cubs and an RST alum, working on marketing research.

“It was kind of, ‘How are we going to bring fans back to Wrigley in a safe way? How are we going to have staff feel safe coming back to Wrigley?,'” Maguire said. “And then also, what type of events that we could put on at Wrigley Field during that time because right now it’s just really an empty space. So they needed to find ways to use Wrigley Field, and they asked us to kind of do some research and figure out what people would want to see what was feasible for them to do.”

Maguire and his fellow interns communicated via text each day, with the project due to Gaesor at the end of the three weeks, and he emailed Gaesor once or twice a week. Ideas included using the marquee outside of Wrigley Field as a message-delivery system for local charities, as well as for thanking first-responders for their efforts fighting COVID-19.

“We came up with ideas like having a high school showcase (at Wrigley) for a lot of the (high school) players that had the season canceled because of the coronavirus,” he said. “So it would just be a nice way to get their recruiting a push, as well as having the local community in Illinois feel like the Cubs are really reaching out to them and supporting them in their endeavors.”

Maguire said the plan he delivered to Gaesor was well-received, and as of June 19, he had finished the first cycle and had moved on to working with another RST alum, Mark Thomas, longtime western district director for State Parks of New York, which includes Niagara Falls.

Maguire describes himself as a positive person, and sees the bright side of this alternative internship.

“I’m definitely more open-minded than I was before,” he said, before adding that he still wants to work in baseball. “But now I’ve come to realize there’s so many different ways that you can really get involved and still learn skills in a different firm that can go ahead and make you better as a person and as a worker and that you can bring to really the organization.”

Still, there is no doubt Maguire missed what he was looking forward to about his traditional internship.

“I’m a hands-on person. I like doing stuff. I like moving around all day.  I’m not really doing much, but it’s still fun. And I’ve had a really good time doing it, but I do miss the hands on experience.”

Editor’s note:

To reach Vince Lara-Cinisomo, email vinlara@illinois.edu.
 

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Illini baseball star talks about RST, and his future

June 18, 2020 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

Ty Weber talked to the AHS communications staff about baseball, his time in RST and his future

Ty Weber was not drafted, but signed as a free agent with the San Francisco Giants.

Before the start of his senior year, Illini baseball pitcher Ty Weber had two goals: graduate and get into pro ball. He’s on pace to do both.

The 6-foot-4, 215-pound righthander was off to a great start on the diamond, going 2-0 with a 1.31 ERA in four starts. He struck out 15 in 20 2/3 innings and outdueled Texas A&M lefthander Asa Lacy—the fourth overall pick in last week’s MLB Draft—in a game the Illini eventually won, 1-0 at the Frisco Classic in Texas on Feb. 28.

Two weeks later, the burgeoning COVID-19 pandemic struck, and college baseball—and soon the world—came to a halt. The impact of the virus ended Weber’s amateur career, and the shortened season probably contributed to him not getting drafted, especially with MLB cutting the number of draft rounds from 40 to just five. 

Still, teams were interested and following the draft from June 10-12, players who were not drafted but were eligible were allowed to sign pro contracts for $20,000, starting June 14. Weber signed with the San Francisco Giants shortly after the free agency period opened.

Weber, who is scheduled to graduate in August with a bachelor’s degree from the Recreation, Sport and Tourism Department within the College of Applied Health Sciences and was chosen to the spring Academic All-Big Ten team, talked to the AHS communications staff about baseball, his time in RST and his future.

Q: I realize baseball might have been the main reason you picked Illinois, but why did you pick RST?

A: I chose RST because almost every memory I have as a kid, I was always involved in some type of sport. I wanted to choose a degree that I felt I had the most in common with, and hopefully pursue a career after baseball is done in the sports industry. I researched what types of classes I would need to take for RST before declaring my major, and I realized that this would be the perfect route for me. 

Q: Which professor had the biggest impact on you?

A: I really enjoyed Don Hardin’s classes. He was a professor that you knew, every day, he would bring something new to class, and always had the class engaged. I really liked how authentic he was and how he wasn’t afraid to let the class speak their opinions in a group discussion setting. 

Q: What was your favorite course?

A: My favorite course was RST354, Legal Aspects of Sport. That class really opened my eyes as to how deep of an industry sport is, and how law connects to sport. It was a very interesting class, and I really thought Kyle Emkes did a really great job of keeping the class engaged and informed. 

Q: Did it help you lean toward a career that maybe you hadn’t thought about?

A: Not as of now, but I think the wide variety of classes RST offers really allows each student to find what they want to do with their future and run with it. 

Q: Baseball remains the top option, right? But what about beyond that?

A: Yes, baseball is the top option as of right now. I’m going to take the opportunity I have been given with the Giants and try to make the most of it, and if things don’t work out, at least I won’t have any regrets. After baseball, I think a lot is up in the air for me right now. COVID has really taught me to live in the moment more often and not try to plan everything out. I’ve thought about potentially getting into coaching after, but as of now I’m just very focused on improving my baseball skills every day. 

Q: Has COVID-19 affected your baseball options? I know you just signed with the Giants, but do you think you’d have been drafted with a 40-round draft? What about life in general? 

A: My life after we found out college baseball was cancelled was a whirlwind of emotions. Right after coming home, all I could think about was returning to school to finish on a good note the way a four-year senior should. As time went on, and some MLB teams expressed interest, I started to really think I had a chance of getting signed. Being able to sign a contract and finally know what path I’ll be taking for the next few years excites me because for the first time since March 12, I have some direction in my life. I truly believe if we played a normal college baseball season, I would’ve been drafted this year. That was hard to think about after the collegiate season got cancelled because a part of me thought I’d never get a chance to play professional baseball. 

Q: What’s next for you, especially with MLB on hold?
 
A: As of now, my life is very repetitive (like most people). I am working a part-time job as an assistant with a family friend, and giving some pitching lessons to a couple youth players in my town on the side. I try to work out every day, and am throwing five days a week with my dad. Until we find more information out about the future of the MLB, I’m acting as if I was never signed. Part of me has anxiety because I just signed a major league contract, but I also have no idea what my life will be like in a month. What helps me is knowing there are thousands of players just like me in the same boat of never knowing what will be next. 
 

Editor’s note:

To reach Vince Lara-Cinisomo, email vinlara@illinois.edu.
 

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Alumni Spotlight—Grace Merrett

June 09, 2020 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

Alumni of the College of Applied Health Sciences have myriad career options thanks to the tremendous diversity of programs. We periodically will put the spotlight on an alum to find out what they’re doing now, what experiences they had and what AHS means to them. This week, we talk to Grace Merrett, who graduated in 2018 from RST with a focus on recreation management and now works as a garden and cooking educator for two elementary schools in the San Diego area. She is pursuing a Master’s degree in Education at the University of Washington.

Q. Why did you pick AHS?

A. The majors in AHS center around serving others; I picked this college because I knew it would allow me to be surrounded by students and professors that cared deeply about taking care of their people. The small class sizes and ample group projects allowed me to build a deep and wide network of funny, intelligent, and loving friends and mentors that I am super thankful to still have today.

Q. When did you graduate and with what degree?

A. August of 2018 with a degree in Recreation Management, minor in Horticulture, Certificate in Leadership

Q. Which professors had the most impact on you?

A. Robyn Deterding and Jonathan Hicks: These professors really saw their students as people and genuinely cared about my passions and accomplishments. They were incredibly thoughtful and intentional about the content they taught and were able to foster classes that felt more like communities.

Q. What course did you most enjoy?

A. I found so much joy in a course called “Children and Nature,” which focused on the importance of green space for kids. Our final project was to create a program for kids in the outdoors. Mine was creating a garden bed that included all of the ingredients you would need to make salad (tomatoes, cilantro, garlic, onion, jalapeños). Fast-forward three years, and I was able to actually facilitate this lesson as a garden educator! Over the course of three months, we learned about what seeds need to grow, parts of the plant that we eat (did you know the part of celery that we eat is actually the stem?!), and gained knife skills in cutting our tomatoes and de-seeding our jalapenos to create what was seriously the most delicious salsa I’ve ever had. I was smacked in the face with real world experience during my time in the Community Recreation Planning course. We were tasked with partnering with a small town to facilitate a SWOT (strengths/weaknesses/opportunities/threats) analysis, and then put together a proposal to the town’s mayor on our recommendations. I was part of the leadership team for a parking lot-to-park renovation. Through this, I was able to explore my passion for graphic design by creating a digital 3-D model of our vision, and I lived out my once-dream of being a landscape architect, as I was responsible for choosing the specific trees and flowers that would best flourish in the space. AHS allows for so many opportunities for cross-discipline exploration!!

Q. Did you enter AHS knowing your career path, or did AHS help you decide?

A. I did not enter AHS knowing my career path—all I knew is that I liked being outside and working with people. My professors and advisors (shout out Patty and Lori Kay Paden!) encouraged me to reflect on other aspects of work I enjoy and I included “creating programs” and “hands-on work” to my list of things I like. Because of their encouragement to self-reflect, I sought out work with the National Park Service and worked 2 seasons as a park ranger and fell in love with informal education in the outdoors. I plan to go to graduate school in the fall to develop my educational philosophy and techniques.

Q. What is your current job?

A. After being a park ranger at Canyonlands National Park, I made my way to San Diego, Calif., where I work as a garden and cooking educator for two elementary schools. This upcoming fall I will be pursuing a Master’s degree in Education at the University of Washington to develop my educational philosophy and techniques.

Q. What was your favorite on-campus experience?

A. I have super-fond memories of eating Auntie Anne pretzels on the blue tables outside of the union, laughing the days away with my friends while colorful leaves sweeping across the union patio.

Q. What does AHS mean to you?

A. To me, AHS means dedication to improving communities through providing essential wellness opportunities.

Editor’s note:

To reach Vince Lara-Cinisomo, email vinlara@illinois.edu.
 

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Expert Q&A: RST’s Laura Payne on COVID-19 and Recreation

May 18, 2020 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

The College of Applied Health Sciences has experts in many areas that have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Periodically we will ask these experts about how their areas of expertise have been impacted and what we can expect in a post-COVID-19 world. Today, we ask Laura Payne, professor and director of graduate studies in Recreation, Sport and Tourism, about how COVID-19 affects local parks and recreation.

Q: Which parts of the recreation industry are feeling the most pain now, and which will be the ones that are slowest to come back online when social distancing guidelines are eased or lifted?

A: Community recreation and parks agencies have been hit hard by COVID-19. Summer is the busy season for parks and recreation, and with the ongoing threat posed by the pandemic, many agencies have had to cancel or postpone programs and events such as sport leagues, fitness and arts programs, camps, and special events. Many agencies have moved to online fitness, arts, and e-sports programs. Youth and adult sports programs are likely to come back most slowly—this is due to the fact that many sport programs involve contact. Also, it is hard to say when playgrounds will be open again. A positive trend is that more, now than ever, people are drawn to parks for their physical, social and mental health benefits. Maintaining six feet of distance is vital for safe park use and as observed by my colleague Dr. Kim Shinew, this is difficult to practice consistently, especially on nice days when more people are outside.

Q: What will be the probable impact of COVID-19 on park and recreation agencies?

A: Some agencies have postponed capital projects such as construction of new and remodeled facilities and others have decided to continue some of their programming online, even after restrictions start easing. I have also heard of some agencies furloughing staff and re-organizing.

Q: What steps should agencies and employees be taking now?

A: Most agencies have pivoted to limited online programming. Much of this programming is free, with some more extensive programs being fee-based such as e-learning pre-school programs. They should also start planning for re-opening some of their facilities, but with different use guidelines. For example, when fitness and recreation centers re-open, they will clean and disinfect their facilities several times per day.

Q: What resources are available for agencies to utilize now?

A: The Illinois Park and Recreation Association is hosting Virtual Community Talks once per week—this is an online forum where professionals can share resources, ask and answer questions, and support each other. Each call is recorded so they can be played back. They can be accessed here. Also, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) provides guidance for parks and recreation spaces, facilities and programs. They offer specific guidance and links to additional information.

Q: What measures can recreation sites, such as parks, take that allow them to re-open in a modified fashion but still assure the public?

A: Many parks never closed—and agencies have placed signs in parks with guidance for maintaining six-foot distance and remind people that courts and playgrounds are not available for use. When facilities re-open, they will follow capacity guidelines, which means only the facility can be occupied up to 50 percent of its capacity and staff and patrons will wear masks. The facilities will also be cleaned and disinfected regularly.

Q: How does COVID-19 compare to other recent events such as SARS and 9/11 in terms of economic impact upon the recreation industry?

A: SARS was nothing compared to COVID-19; Also, 9/11 impacted the travel and tourism industry more than the local parks and recreation industry. If anything, community recreation and parks probably benefitted from 9/11 in that more people planned stay-cations and used their local parks and recreation agencies even more because it was comfortable and familiar. 

Editor’s note:

To reach Vince Lara-Cinisomo, email vinlara@illinois.edu. 

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Expert Q&A: Jay Lopez on COVID-19 and Event Management

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May 24, 2020 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

The College of Applied Health Sciences has experts in many areas that have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Periodically we will ask these experts about how their areas of expertise have been impacted and what we can expect in a post-COVID-19 world. Today, we ask Jay Lopez, an RST graduate student and event manager for the City of Long Beach (Calif.), about how COVID-19 affects the event management industry.

Q: What alternative event formats could you use in the wake of COVID-19?

A: The leading thought process for controlled venue events, (ticketed with a perimeter fence) is to increase the venue size and lower capacity. This increases the square footage and the reduction in attendees allows for social distancing. Event managers will incur additional costs with lower revenue, which could affect how events do business. However, city agencies and event venues will prioritize safety and to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

Q: How do you handle a crisis at the event?

A: If a crisis were to arise, there are measures implemented prior to the event. All large events are mandated to have Fire and Police department personnel staffed on site. Additionally, staff and security are hired by the event. A command post is established by the City of Long Beach and is manned with fire, police and city staff. The command post staff can hear all communications via radios. If a crises arises, all communications and coordination is immediately handed off to the command post. If necessary, additional city services can be requested and diverted to the event to address any issues on site.

Q: How do you reassure event visitors about safety?

A: Effective marketing is essential and additional messaging is needed with the rise of COVID-19. Marketing will be critical to ease the concerns of the general public. Marketing materials should accurately depict the new policies and procedures implemented to abate the spread of germs. Safety visuals when arriving on site will play a vital role. In order for this to be successful, measures expressed via marketing must be present and visually represented on site. Marketing can assist to foster a sense of safety prior to arriving.

Q: What can you do when things happen beyond your control (flights cancelled, etc.)?

A: In the event industry, we always say, “Prepare for the unexpected.” Event managers can prepare and plan for months to ensure operations and logistics are correct and roll out smoothly. Sometimes, situations arise that were not accounted for, or are completely out of anyone’s control. Event managers think on their feet when problems arise and it derives from experience. Every situation is different as are events. Frankly, you deal with the problem when it occurs. There is no one size-fits-all solution. You cope and adjust with what you have.

Q: What are some best practices you recommend for event planners during a crisis like this? 

A: Always consult your local health department and local authorities. Currently, the City of Long Beach is in the process of developing policies and producers relating to COVID-19. Events will be mandated to implement new policies and procedures in order to host an event in Long Beach.  Additionally, event managers will need to conduct a throughout review of their operations. Inevitably, costs will increase due to the required policies and procedures. They will need to change operations and revise the scope of their events to make the necessary accommodations. Some events may not be able to cope with the additional items required of them due to costs, venue, operations, etc. Cancellation of the event may be the only viable option.

Q: What lessons can event planners take from previous situations, such as 9/11, Swine flu, H1N1, etc?

A: The event industry has not encountered a threat in the past such as COVID-19. Each and every situation calls for different accommodations. Event managers can study past situations and pull items that reflect current events. However, events by nature concentrate thousands of people in one location with close proximity to one another. Only time will tell if the implemented measures undertaken have a true effect on limiting the spread of COVID-19.

Q: What do you need to do after the event?

A: Post-event evaluations are critical to measure event participant’s comfort with new policies and procedures. Event managers need to take into account how participants felt on site. Did they feel there was enough handwashing stations? Was there enough hand-sanitizer dispensers? Did they feel social distancing was accommodated? Did people follow the facemask requirement?

Event managers shall also provide feedback on how well the new policies were implemented. Were the lines long stations? Do we need additional staff for future events to manage? Did people follow the rules on personal protective equipment? Revenue must be measured. Did the event make sense to hold in terms of expenditures and revenue?

Comprehensive evaluations are critical in the new era of events. Costs associated with COVID-19 will be the guiding factor on how events cope moving forward. This will be the new norm until/if a vaccine is created and we can reach herd immunity.

Editor’s note:

To reach Vince Lara-Cinisomo, email vinlara@illinois.edu.

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Expert Q&A: RST’s Sharon Zou on tourism and COVID-19

May 10, 2020 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

The College of Applied Health Sciences has experts in many areas that have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Periodically we will ask these experts about how their areas of expertise have been impacted and what we can expect in a post-COVID-19 world. Today, we ask Suiwen (Sharon) Zou, an assistant professor in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism, about the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism industry.

Q: Which parts of the tourism industry are feeling the most pain now, and which will be the ones that are slowest to come back online when social distancing guidelines are eased or lifted?

A: The airlines and cruise industry are likely the worst affected by COVID-19. I would expect airlines, especially the international routes, and the cruise industry to be the ones that are slowest to come back. Once social distancing guidelines are lifted, people will be eager to travel but with caution. I expect most of these trips will be local or regional, and travelers will be more likely to travel by car. For the cruise industry, cruise companies will need to make heavy investments and substantial efforts to save their reputations affected by several outbreaks onboard. It will take a while before travelers feel comfortable traveling on the seas with several thousand people in one ship.

Q: How can cities and states that depend on tourism for large parts of their revenue adjust, if social distancing guidelines remain in place through 2022, as reported?

A: I hope we will not get to the point where social distancing lasts into 2022. However, if that’s the case, people’s lives will become very digital. Cities and states should consider offering various forms of virtual tour. Although virtual tour won’t bring in revenues, it can be a viable way to keep in touch with potential visitors and maintain travel interest and confidence. This type of virtual tourism can help keep the destination brands afloat. Also, the idea of virtual tourism is to bring the destination to travelers when they cannot come. To capitalize on virtual tourism, destinations can develop some virtual vacation experience featuring local products (e.g., local artifacts, agriculture products) as a way to promote the local economy.

Q: What measures can tourism sites, such as the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls, take that allow them to re-open in a modified fashion but still assure the public?

A: Reopening tourism sites should be a slow process, and only areas/activities (e.g., hiking, fishing) in which tourists can easily follow social distancing guidelines should be open first. Activities or operations that encourage public congregation and interaction, such as shuttle bus and indoor interpretive programs, should remain closed until it is completely safe to reopen. Work closely with health officials and local/state level governments and strictly follow guidelines provided by health authorities such as The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Staff training is critical to the success of the implementation of these measures. Clear and effective communication and information transparency are the key to assure the public and restore travel confidence. All the measures taken to ensure a safe travel experience should be documented and communicated with the public. Leverage local and state destination management/marketing organizations’ communication platforms (e.g., websites, social media sites) as they are seen as a trusted source of information by travelers.

Q: How does COVID-19 compare to other recent events such as SARS and 9/11 in terms of economic impact upon the tourism industry?

A: The economic impact of COVID-19 on the tourism industry will be more significant than the 9/11 tragedy and the 2003 SARS outbreak, mostly because the magnitude and the scale of COVID-19 are unprecedented. During the 2003 SARS outbreak, the tourism industry was hit hard in affected regions (mainly in Asia). The current pandemic, however, has been crushing the global tourism industry, as various parts of the world are closing borders, and most states in the U.S. have placed a stay-at-home order. Moreover, unlike SARS and 9/11 whose economic impacts were relatively short term, COVID-19 is expected to last until late summer or even longer, which means that the disruption will last for at least two quarters. The economic impacts on the tourism industry will be longer and greater.

Q: Do you agree with national parks allowing visitors without fees, and how does that impact their resources going forward?

A: I agree with national parks allowing visitors without fees for a short period after travel is resumed. Entrance fees usually have more impacts on local residents and frequent visitors from nearby areas. As I mentioned, trips after COVID-19 will be mostly local and regional, and thus free entrance for, say three to six months, will encourage local residents and nearby visitors to come and visit the park. Free entrance for a short period will have a minor impact on national parks’ resources, but the visitors it brings to the gateway communities will likely help the local businesses such as restaurants and retailers.

Q: What would you advise a tourism company, such as a travel agency, to do at this time in order to survive?

A: I would advise tourism businesses, particularly small local businesses, to seek support from the local or state authorities such as interest-free short-term loans, and keep an eye on the financial support from the federal government. At the same time, find ways to cut back on unnecessary operational expenses while employees are working from home—suspend recurring office supplies, negotiate the lease with the landlord, freeze utilities, and adjust rental insurance. As for marketing, adjust marketing strategies to adapt to consumers’ new normal such as cutting offline advertising, utilizing social media, and targeting the local tourist market. Marketing messages should be redesigned to focus on maintaining travelers’ confidence and interest to visit once the crisis is over.

Editor’s note:

To reach Vince Lara-Cinisomo, email vinlara@illinois.edu. 

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Alumni Spotlight: Anne Murphy

May 02, 2020 | Ethan Simmons

Alumni of the College of Applied Health Sciences have myriad career options thanks to the tremendous diversity of programs. We periodically will put the spotlight on an alum to find out what they’re doing now, what experiences they had and what AHS means to them. This week, we talk to Anne Murphy, who got her bachelor of science in 1996 and her master’s degree in 2002 in what was then known as Leisure Studies and is now known as RST. She is now senior director of development at the College of Engineering at Oregon State University.

Q: Why did you pick AHS?

A: I grew up in a suburb of Chicago and had the opportunity to visit the Illinois campus several times during K-8. To be honest, I grew up with the impression that all universities were just like Illinois! The Georgian architecture, the Quad, the academic rigor—all of that. I spent my first three years of college as a student-athlete at another university and when I decided to transfer, the first and only place I looked was UIUC. I followed the advice of advisors in AHS and applied my existing credits toward a degree in Leisure Studies (now RST).

Q. Which professors had the most impact on you?

A: Dr. (Kimberly) Shinew was one of my first professors at UIUC. She impressed me as an intellectual and human. Her leadership in the Department and academic field was clear. Dr. (Lynn) Barnett-Morris also had a positive impact. I took a course in programming for people with disabilities—I don’t remember my professor’s name but I can see her face—and I learned a lot about working with people with different backgrounds and abilities. That has served me well. An especially meaningful assignment was to spend a day using a wheelchair. I felt invisible for the first time in my life. Knowing what that’s like has helped me be more inclusive in my approach to working with people. Dr. (Bruce) Wicks arranged an amazing “field trip” to the Kentucky Derby and I met the leadership team who planned this amazing event. That made an impression on my leadership skills. Importantly, throughout my time in the Department I knew that my professors and the administrators expected all of us to go out into the world and lead. Learning and growing while surrounded by people who had high expectations of me helped me become an asset in my industry and community.

Q: What course did you most enjoy?

A: I don’t remember taking a course I didn’t enjoy. My graduate work was especially interesting. Statistics was super-challenging but I am so glad I took it. My professor granted me a good grade, mostly for being “most improved” I think. ?

Q: Did you enter AHS knowing your career path, or did AHS help you decide?

A: I would be a leader in the non-profit sector, but that was as far as I’d gotten. The internship I had while in RST helped me discover my talents and passion for higher education advancement. Mentors and champions along the way inspired me to seek bigger and bigger opportunities in my educational and career path.

Q: Did your AHS experience lead to your current job? Career? Community?

A: Yes. What I learned about how people self-identify through what they do in their unpaid time has been a critical component to my successful leadership in higher education fundraising. I’m working with people who are striving to self-actualize through giving and volunteering. I learned how important it is to understand why people do what they do for play, for leisure, and for recreation rather than what they do for work/career. This has been a huge advantage in my work with donors and their families. My coursework in research design, mega-events, programming for people with disabilities, and marketing have contributed to my career as well. When I was at Illinois, I had the impression that it was expected of me and my classmates that we would go out into the world and lead. I took that to heart. When I arrived in Champaign-Urbana, I didn’t feel particularly remarkable. When I departed, I knew that my future was bright and I’d go on to make a difference in the world.

I did my thesis with Dr. Wicks on philanthropy and public parks. It was about why people would want to contribute to a cause that’s ostensibly funded through taxes, and parks at that. I haven’t thought of my thesis in years. In February I was approached to chair a committee to raise funds for a major park renewal in my community and I said yes right away. I couldn’t quite figure out why it resonated with me, and then I remembered my thesis. It comes full circle.

Q: What is your current job?

A: I lead a unit of fundraisers who attract $25 million a year in philanthropic support for students, faculty, facilities, and programs. Serving on the leadership team of the College of Engineering and the OSU Foundation, I contribute to the strategic plans for both organizations. I love my job. It’s rare that someone in my industry begins their career in development—usually they fall into it down the road. I was fortunate to have an internship at Illinois that set me on this path!

Q: What was your favorite on-campus experience?

There was a particularly unique highlight from my experience in ALS that I’ll share. Due to a terminal illness in my family I was not planning to attend convocation. But my boss in the development office and the Dean of the College, Mike Ellis, decided that they would make it possible for me to have a ceremony nonetheless. They called my dad, brother, best friend, and boyfriend and invited them to campus. When Huff Hall was fully set up for the AHS graduation ceremony, they invited me into the gym, cued the graduation music, helped me get into full regalia (which they were also wearing!!), and proceeded to have a graduation ceremony just for me. The valedictorian practiced her speech, Mike made remarks, and he gave me a diploma. Afterward we had a little party in the Dean’s office. How amazing is that?

Q: What does AHS mean to you?

This is a thought-provoking question. I feel like I’m still learning what it meant to me. Even as I’ve been answering these questions, it’s becoming clear that the experiences in RST had an even bigger impact on my life than I’d estimated.

Editor’s note:

To reach Vince Lara-Cinisomo, email vinlara@illinois.edu.
 

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Expert Q&A: RST’s Kim Shinew on trails and COVID-19

April 27, 2020 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

The College of Applied Health Sciences has experts in many areas that have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Periodically we will ask these experts about how their areas of expertise have been impacted and what we can expect in a post-COVID-19 world. Today, we ask Kimberly Shinew, a professor in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism, about her research about exercising on trails during the current COVID-19 crisis.

Photo by caption

Q: Are you finding that people are obeying social distancing guidelines on trails?

A: It has been mixed. Although the analysis has not been run, my estimation would be about 50 percent make an effort to social distance. I am doing observations at a trail in Champaign. My colleagues are doing observations at trails in Colorado, Texas, Florida, Minnesota and California. When people meet along the trail, typically no effort is made to move off the trail to allow for the recommended six feet. That said, it is also common to see one party move so as to avoid getting too close to the other party.

Something many of us have noticed is that it is difficult for people to maintain social distancing while on the trail. For example, most people arrive at the trails with others, and it is clear that those groups are not trying to maintain social distancing (e.g., with family members). However, other times you will see people meet up at the trail, and may even comment about making sure they maintain social distancing. However, after a lap or two, the distance narrows and they walk as we normally would around the trail.

Q: What steps should organizations take to ensure that people obey the guidelines?

A: Many agencies, including the Champaign Park District, have encouraged safe use of the trails and parks. There are now signs along the trail that read:

  • Remember Stay Home if Sick
  • Maintain Six Feet Between Yourself and Others
  • Wear Face Masks in Public (as Recommended by CDC) 

Some of the other sites across the country have gone to one-way routes. Although this can be helpful, it causes people passing others and this also creates distancing problems.

The National Recreation and Park Association have offered guidelines for trail users on observing physical distancing minimums. For example, some of their recommendations include:

  • Follow CDC’s guidance on personal hygiene prior to heading to trails—wash hands, carry hand sanitizer, do not use trails if you have symptoms, cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, etc.
  • Observe at all times the CDC’s minimum recommended physical distancing of six feet from other people. Practice it and know what it looks like. Keep it as you walk, bike or hike.
  • Warn other trail users of your presence and as you pass to allow proper distance and step off trails to allow others to pass, keeping minimum recommended distances at all times.
  • Signal your presence with your voice, bell or horn.

Additionally, I have noticed an increase in people wearing masks on the trail. This increase coincided with the CDC recommendation. In the beginning of the data collection process, I rarely saw people with masks on the trail. Now, it would be rare for me NOT see people with masks. It is certainly not the majority of people, but there are always a couple of people.

Q: Do you believe COVID-19 will force trails to be redrawn or reimagined to allow for future social distancing guidelines?

A: Honestly, I doubt it. In many cases this would be cost prohibitive. However, I do think that for many of us, our desire to maintain social distancing while in public will continue for quite some time. How long depends, in part, on factors such as availability of testing, effectiveness of contact tracing, quarantine procedures, and possible treatments.

Q: Do you believe this outbreak has forced people to think differently about the importance of trails?

A: Yes, evidence indicates the outbreak has had an impact on attitudes about trails. Several sources have indicated a surge of public use of trails and open outdoor areas of parks over the last month. Many park and recreation agencies have closed facilities, canceled programs, removed nets from tennis courts and basketball courts, and closed playgrounds. However, many agencies have not closed parks and trails. With so many other physical activities being eliminated, people are walking, biking, and jogging so trails are getting more use.

I also think people are appreciating being outdoors. Many of us are spending much more time in our homes due to sheltering-in-place orders. Having an opportunity to get outside (and out of the house) seems to be a welcome distraction right now. Additionally, the weather is improving and that is increasing people’s motivations to be outdoors.

Q: What’s the goal of your observational study, and what is the next step?

A: We started this study quite early, at the beginning stages of the pandemic. We have been collecting data for several weeks and have already noticed quite a few changes (masks and additional signage) just since the start of the project. For example, when I first began my observations the playgrounds were still open. Our plan is to continue to collect data to see what other trends we might observe. With many park and recreation agencies indicating that swimming pools and other facilities and programs will be closed (or will have a delayed opening date) this summer, we anticipate that trails may continue to get increased use in the coming months. Also, once we are feel it is safe, we would like to conduct interviews with the trail users to gain insights into their experiences on the trail.

Editor’s note:

To reach Vince Lara-Cinisomo, email vinlara@illinois.edu.
 

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Expert Q&A: COVID-19’s impact on Green Space

April 20, 2020 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

The College of Applied Health Sciences has experts in many areas that have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Periodically we will ask these experts about how their areas of expertise have been impacted and what we can expect in a post-COVID-19 world. Today, we ask RST professor Bill Stewart about parks and green space.

Parks were shut down earlier in the lockdown phase of COVID-19. (Stock image)

Q: What is the biggest impact of shutting down parks during this outbreak?

A: For many, our mental and physical health has taken a hit. Parks are places that encourage us to exercise, engage with others, and feel relaxed in a natural setting. I think Weight Watchers and therapists will have lots of new clients when we come out of this!

Q: Could this affect green space funding, whether local, state or federal, going forward?

A: The consequences of COVID-19 will likely effect the distribution of green space more than the amount of funding for green space.  There are many under-served populations where green space is scarce, particularly in urban areas.  We are likely to emerge from this crisis with a heightened sensitivity to questions of environmental justice related to park and green space for residents of marginalized communities.

Q: Does COVID-19 affect how future green space models are laid out, in terms of allowing for social distancing?

A: A key factor is related to density of visitors at the park. Current models for urban parks focus on distance and walkability to parks from home, they do not account for density of use on pathways once in the park. There will be renewed interests from park and green space agencies to work closely with local health departments to produce guidelines for operations and designs.

Q: Does COVID-19 actually increase the appeal and need for green space because of limited exercise options?

A: Yes, post-COVID America will likely value our green spaces more than ever.  Along with needing places to exercise, our sheltering-in-place practices have left us missing opportunities to be outdoors in nature, as well as seeing others as part of a community of people larger than ourselves. 

Q: Should parks be open, or is there a danger because of community spread?

A: There are dangers to opening up parks too soon, particularly playgrounds and activity centers that bring people together. Park venues that host community events, festivals, sport competitions, and concerts should be some of the last places to be opening in a post-COVID roll-out. With elderly populations being so vulnerable, recreational programs and facilities that cater to seniors will need to be especially cautious about re-opening. Infectious disease outbreaks should be treated like a natural hazard in terms of the risk posed to human lives.

Q: Waiving fees in parks has increased visitation. Is there a lesson to be learned there?

A: Most municipal and county parks do not have entrance fees and are freely open to the public.  However the policy of the National Park Service is being handled on a park-by-park basis working with the CDC for advice. For example, Indiana Dunes National Park, which is within an hour drive of Chicago’s loop, has closed all its buildings, restrooms and some park areas, however its 50 miles of hiking trails are open and provide safe space for exercise while social distancing—and are free.

Q: Some parks that have stayed open have cut services, to their detriment. Will that increase employment for parks going forward?
 
A: The short term will leave parks with a decrease in staff with severe cutbacks to hiring seasonal help—largely teens and young adults from nearby communities will be left without summer jobs. These seasonal positions are excellent opportunities to learn leadership skills, professional development, and at the same time provide needed services for community residents during summer months. In the long term, employment will increase due to an invigorated public consciousness about an enhanced need for green space and its newly appreciated connections to human mental, physical, social, and spiritual health.

Q: Will park staff now be educated in pandemic response, and do you think they should have been already trained? 

A: Most park staff already have training in various kinds of emergency response situations, however the COVID crisis will likely deepen the commitment for such training, improve the consistency of training across all personnel, and lead to reviewing health and emergency response protocol. In addition, working relationships between local health departments and park agencies will become more common and likely affect daily routines and programming.

Editor’s note:

To reach Vince Lara-Cinisomo, email vinlara@illinois.edu.
 

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