The Student Newspaper of Highline College

Watercooler

‘Weak’ social ties can have a strong impact; wifi watercoolers bring folks back together

Sue Frantz missed seeing her colleagues around the watercooler.

Frantz, a Highline psychology professor, responded by creating watercooler sessions via Zoom and other platforms, inviting co-workers from all over campus to meet and chat.

Amid the pandemic, with nearly everyone at Highline working from home, students, faculty and staff don’t get much chance to talk to their acquaintances at school.