Tell Us About Yourself and We’ll Tell You Your Perfect Zoom Virtual Background

SHAMYA ZINDANI

By GRACE GETMAN, ALISON ETTINGER-DELONG, SHAMYA ZINDANI, and ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS
April 9, 2020

What’s your go-to stay-at-home snack?

Strawberries

Pretzels

Oreos

Pringles

Where do you sit for your Zoom classes?

At a table. I’m civilized.

I go outside to get a better Wi-Fi connection.

With my pet in my lap.

In bed. I’m not ashamed.

How have you been passing the time at home?

Obsessively refreshing my Twitter feed to see the latest coronavirus memes.

Spending time with family, and then hiding in my room after spending too much time with family.

Stress-baking.

Sleeping, and then sleeping some more.

What have you been binge-watching lately?

Catching up on all the PBS documentaries that I’ve missed.

Tiger King all the way, baby.

Re-watching all the Disney princess movies.

Wait, Joe Exotic is a real person?

What do you most want to do when you're allowed to be outside in New York City again?

Visit art museums and breathe fresh air.

Picnic with my friends in Central Park.

Go to a concert in Brooklyn and stay out all night.

Sleep, but with less fear about a global pandemic.

Tell Us About Yourself and We’ll Tell You Your Perfect Zoom Virtual Background

The Beach

Virtual Zoom backgrounds are for children and you would never use one. If it’s late at night and you’re with your friends and use one to place yourself at the beach, well, that’s your secret.

Your Pet

Something classy. Something elegant. You’d know what it’d be? A picture of your cat (or dog!). You are supported and loved in this venture.

A Sitcom Screenshot

Your Zoom background is always the height of comedy — a disco show, or maybe even a screenshot of “The Office.” Your mom will definitely laugh.

No Background

Tough luck, kid. Your computer isn’t strong enough to process a Zoom virtual background. Go back to sleep, and try to remember to do that reading for Friday.

A Split Screen Background

You’re not like other Fordham Lincoln Center students — you’re indecisive. You do a split screen, a picture of Fr. McShane on the left and one of Anthony Fauci on the right.

About the Contributors

GRACE GETMAN, Managing Editor

Grace Getman, FCLC ’22, is the managing editor for The Observer. A dual urban studies and environmental studies major, she likes trees, buildings and trees on the top of buildings (jury’s out on buildings on top of trees). Previously, she worked as an editor in the Social Media and Opinions sections.

ALISON ETTINGER-DELONG, Multimedia Editor

Alison Ettinger-DeLong, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’23, is a multimedia editor for The Observer. She is a dual sociology and urban studies major. Alison’s favorite part of creating multimedia content is making graphics and editing videos. She also loves discussing intersecting social demographics, caring too much about fonts and eating lots of vegetarian sushi.

SHAMYA ZINDANI, Social Media Editor and Newsletter Editor Emerita

Shamya Zindani, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’22, is the social media editor, newsletter editor and assistant photo editor emerita for The Observer. She is majoring in new media and digital design. She's interested in learning about the different ways in which design and culture intersect to create a harmonious experience. Her other interests include politics, art and journalism.

ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS, Fun & Games Editor and Assistant Photo Editor

Esmé Bleecker-Adams, FCLC ’21, is a visual arts major and (oh-so-jaded) New Yorker who is incredibly grateful for her time at The Observer and for all the lovely people she has met there! Favorite hobbies include sewing, playing table tennis and ignoring her alarm clock.