2022 was a memorable year to be sure. So many different things happened, like any year, but there was a certain poignancy to 2022, perhaps the first “recovery” year of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have had a steady vaccine rollout, and are now expected to receive second boosters.  We are also just now realizing certain ramifications of contracting the coronavirus, such as long COVID and the lasting effects of the disease. 

2022 was also the second year of Joe Biden’s presidency, and socio-political conversations raged on with the advent of Elon Musk acquiring and becoming CEO of Twitter. What was once an online town hall with lively and sometimes controversial discussions among a community of diverse users became privately owned by a billionaire with explicit political leanings.

While social media users and left-leaning Americans feared Musk would influence the 2022 midterm elections with his right-leaning biases, it was the left-leaning Democrats that gained control of the Senate. Perhaps the most triumphant win of an underdog was that of John Fetterman, who was elected Pennsylvania’s senator, defeating Republican candidate and media personality Dr. Mehmet Oz.

2022 was also the year that the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed legal access to abortions across the country.  The Supreme Court’s decision disturbed and frustrated many, including Guilford sophomore Anna Katz, who said: “I was very upset when I found out. It felt like we were going backward in time. This was a ruling that passed in the 1970s!”  Now individuals with reproductive organs face uncertainty as they may live in a state that criminalizes abortions and other aspects of reproductive healthcare.  

Guilford senior Madison Sugg said he wasn’t aware of the specifics of the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, but added that “the United States is a lost cause. In order to achieve any sort of change on a meaningful level, it would require a complete overhaul of life as we know it as a country.”

In February 2022, Russia invaded its neighboring country Ukraine, causing what has been a continuing war between the two nations. While some were quick to say that Ukraine would be swiftly conquered, they have valiantly defended themselves on the frontlines. Russian President Vladimir Putin is looking to launch another mobilization round of armed forces from Russia to Ukraine, yet whether or not the surge will end the war is unknown.

The advent of 2022 made a huge impact in the entertainment industry as well. During the annual televised Oscars ceremony in March, actor Will Smith walked onstage and slapped comedian and actor Chris Rock in the midst of Rock’s joke about Smith’s wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith. The incident prompted a deep conversation from so many circles about political correctness, what jokes may “cross the line,” and the ramifications of assaulting someone live on stage.

Locally, Guilford College has remained strong despite challenges. 2022 was the first official year when most classes were in-person since the pandemic, with almost every student enrolled either living on campus or being physically present for classes. 

Despite the end of the Zoom era, In October of 2022, tech issues were at the forefront of everyone’s minds, with a cyber incident that caused Wi-Fi outages. For a good two weeks, students had to deal with spotty, if not completely nonexistent internet, lack of access to websites like Canvas necessary for educational purposes, and in some cases, fire alarms being set off in dorm halls with no actual fires. 

The lack of Canvas especially impacted students. “I was frustrated by the lack of access to Canvas,” Katz said. “My professors were disorganized; I was disorganized. It was hard to remain on a track.”

A Nov. 16 statement from Guilford President Kyle Farmbry indicated that an “unauthorized actor” may have accessed valuable data from the College – but luckily, all of that seems to have been resolved. Guilford College has remained steadfast in its determination to help students succeed. 

As we begin to experience 2023, let’s look back on the events of 2022 with hope that this year will be prosperous and memorable.