Today the UAE closed down its borders and most public spaces. This is just the latest of lockdowns that have been imposed on entire cities and countries across the planet as humanity struggles to combat the spread of Covid-19. Like every community around the world, ours has felt the impact of this global pandemic: study away semesters have been cancelled, other NYU campuses have closed down and all coursework has been moved online. But apart from the logistical and educational effects of Covid-19, our lives, our livelihoods and our well beings have been rocked by this chaos.

In times like these, it is very tempting to relinquish all our responsibilities, especially when so much feels beyond our control. But during times of chaos, any sense of normality is vital. And to many members of our community, our weekly publications are part of that normality. For that reason, we have decided to continue with our publication. Many of our staff and our fellow NYU Abu Dhabi students are dispersed around the world, sprinkled across different time zones. While this will certainly present a challenge, we believe it is critical that we continue publishing.

Over the past few months, the media has been saturated with news about the growing pandemic. Constant updates about the latest rates of infections and deaths, as well as stories about the most recent government measures to control the spread of the disease, dominate headlines. But there are so many more stories to be told beyond statistics and government circulars. There are our stories. Our stories about how the virus has shown us different sides of humanity and of life. And our stories about our lives beyond the virus.

At a time when mass media is financially driven to offer anxiety-inducing news updates regarding the latest toll of deceased or infected, we believe that The Gazelle, a publication that is not driven by page views or monetary incentives, gains greater relevance. It is of fundamental importance to continue producing nuanced, well reasoned, high quality journalism. We strive to keep on providing a platform where students can share their thoughts and feelings during this time of great uncertainty and distress. The Gazelle should be a solution to the social distancing caused by Covid-19, not its victim.

But to continue in these uncertain times, The Gazelle will have to adapt. For these reasons, we have instituted the following measures. To accommodate the global dispersion of our community, we have decided to publish on a biweekly basis, starting on April 4. All interviews for any pieces will occur online via Zoom, and never in-person. All our staff meetings and the production process will occur remotely via Google Drive and Zoom. By making these changes, we can continue to operate even in these turbulent times.

Through our reporting, we hope to spearhead existing community conversations and provide a platform for new conversations that this pandemic has brought to the fore, while acting as a pillar of strength and normalcy for the NYUAD community. We hope you will join us in this journey.