ANY THOUGHTS, OPINIONS, POLITICAL BELIEFS, OR OTHERWISE PERSONAL IDEAS ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STUDENT WRITER AND NOT OF THE HONORS PROGRAM ITSELF.
THE HONORS STUDENT ASSOCIATION STRIVES TO OFFER PLATFORMS FOR DISCUSSION AND CRITICAL THOUGHT FOR ITS MEMBERS, AND THE MEDALLION IS HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THAT. WRITERS FOR THIS EDITION INCLUDE:
Dear readers, Welcome back! I hope you’ve all had a refreshing and fun summer. We are thrilled to bring you the 43rd edition of The Medallion, the first edition of this academic year.
In this edition, our writers aim to share their unique perspectives, experiences, and voices. This magazine serves as a platform for those voices to be heard, celebrated, and shared with the Florida State honors community.
I hope you enjoy this edition as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you. Happy reading!
Editor-in-Chief MollyLambert
BY HANNAH NICHOLS
This summer, I was fortunate enough to be able to spend a month in London, England taking a class through the communications program. It was one of the best experiences of my life, and I would recommend it a thousand times over However, I would be lying if I said it was not nerve-wracking; I was flying alone for the first time, over 4000 miles away from everyone I know. As excited as I was for my adventures ahead, I was filled with anxiety about what was to come and whether or not I was going to find a community abroad.
I did not know it at first, but my Honors community had flown across the ocean with me! As I took a few days to adjust to jet lag and new surroundings, I began meeting people in my program and I was overjoyed to run into Marissa Vargas, who has been on the Honors Student Association
executive board with me for the past two years. Despite not formally meeting until then, we recognized each other and were able to connect, quickly becoming good friends Throughout the next month, Marissa and I – along with our other friends – made countless incredible memories exploring the city of London, traveling on weekend trips, and even just hanging out in our flats. Meeting Marissa helped make London a home away from home, and it also made me realize that being a part of Honors is more than just a title It is a community that will make you feel supported whenever, wherever you need it – even 4000 miles away from Tallahassee. “As an Honors student, I’m always trying to broaden my scope on the world and have as many experiences and views as possible,” said Marissa, HSA Director of Events. “By studying abroad, I could learn a lot by immersing myself in another culture and way of life. It also presents you with opportunities to learn about yourself and how you interact with others that come from a different background ”
When asked about her favorite part of studying abroad, she stated that the people she met along the way produced the best experiences
“My favorite memories come from the people I was with Anytime we
were hanging out, walking around the city was a notable memory They made the experience what it was ”
As a digital media production major, Marissa chose to study in London because of the documentary filmmaking program offered through the study center This month-long program was focused on the process of making a documentary, even challenging students to create their own projects
“In class, we had a mixture of learning the history of documentary and important figures in that field We also learned different camera techniques and would practice them during our excursions We went to see documentaries, met with directors and filmmakers to ask questions, and learned firsthand the different facets of a documentary, from production to editing.”
However, Marissa could not have done it without her support system. Being able to connect with her peers helped Marissa find her place as she went about her adventures
“The Honors program impacted my study abroad experience because I felt like I had members of my community in Tallahassee along with me in my journey abroad.”
BY KELLAN KISSINGER
Calvin’s Coffee House is a fantastic study spot very close to campus that caters towards people who want cozy, comfortable seating and costeffective prices Calvin’s is located in the basement of UKirk and sports a lounge area with lots of tables, couches, comfy chairs, string lights, and lanterns to create the ultimate relaxed study space Their menu prices range from a $2 00 tea to a $5 00 signature drink of the month and they also provide bagels, vegan bars, various pastries, and humongous muffins.
The Black Dog Café is a waterfront café at Lake Ella that has limited indoor seating but lots of comfortable outdoor seating and a patio. Black Dog is perfect for cool fall days when it’s too nice to be stuck inside studying. I love going there, studying for a bit, and then walking around the lake before I go back home. They serve traditional mochas, lattes,
tcafé au lait, espresso, chai, and different “fancy drinks'' that change every month For food they serve various pastries, stuffed croissants, muffins, maamoul cookies, pound cake, gluten free cookies, and more. Their menu is a little bit for drinks other than coffee, so keep that in mind when you go
RedEye Coffee is more of a traditional café with rustic decorations, seating with smaller tables fit for one to three study buddies, and some of the smoothest coffee I’ve ever had RedEye is also a great option if you like to eat while studying Their food menu includes sandwiches, wraps, bagels, and toast, and bakery items ranging from about $3.50 for a bagel with cream cheese to $8 50 sandwiches and topped toasts. If you’re looking for stronger coffee, they also sell Cuban style espresso with milk or steamed half and half If you’re not looking
for coffee at all, they sell different specialty iced teas, hot chocolate, and matcha
Here are some honorable mentions that are great places to get some good drinks and study While Tally Cat Café probably wouldn’t be the first place that comes to mind when you think of cafés to study in, it is definitely an option for any cat loving academic weapons! You can sit and study in a separate seating area while drinking a cat-themed latte from the coffee bar They also have boba drinks and teas for those who aren’t big fans of coffee. The Frother’s Daughter is another unconventional source of caffeine in the form of a mobile truck! Last time I was there I got the “¡Qué Rico!” drink, and I cannot recommend it enough These definitely aren’t all of the cafés in Tallahassee, but they are some of my favorites options for people looking to get out of the FSU bubble a little bit Happy studying!
BY FIONA ADAIR
The FSU Honors Program points system can, at times, become a little overwhelming It might feel impossible to fit tons of honors classes into your schedule or commit to becoming a UROP or Honors Colloquium leader, especially if you aren’t personally too eager about such
opportunities Luckily, another way to earn honors points is community service, which is a very customizable and flexible method. As you plan out ways to earn more honors points, whether you’re a senior or a freshman, consider earning some community service hours! Volunteering is an excellent
way to get outside and help others, possibly doing something you love and you can do it with friends, too. You can dedicate as much of your time as you want, depending on what you choose to do, so it doesn’t have to take away from your other everyday activities. If you manage to get 30
hours of community service, that’s one honors point of the 18 that you need to graduate with honors. Even if you don’t quite reach that amount, having those hours of volunteer work on your official FSU transcript will look great to future employers.
Here are some (but not all) of the types of activities that qualify for community service hours with the ServScript Program, according to the Center for Leadership & Service:
Serving in non-religious K through 12 schools
Service to hospitals or nursing homes
On-campus service to benefit the university
Advocacy work for/against a societal issue
Operation/coordination of a donation drive
Directing/Creating a film or documentary about a societal issue
Lab work focused on community needs
As you can see, there is a lot of diversity to the type of work you can do to earn community service hours, as long as it is unpaid, not court or university-ordered and contributes to the solution of a community need To learn more specifics, you can visit the Center for Leadership & Service’s website, where they also list some non-qualifying activities
Taking the above list into consideration, I’ve put together a small list of some specific ways you can earn community service hours
EngageTLH: Keeping yourself updated with EngageTLH is a great way to find volunteer opportunities Their events are easy to sign up for online, and each listing shows the exact date and time you would be needed so it’s easy to make sure the event will fit in your schedule. Just make sure you are signing up on Monday the week of, as volunteer slots are filled up on a first-come, firstserved basis
The Kearney Center: As a part of the Honors Student Association, you will likely be hearing about the Kearney Center soon if you haven’t already. However, you don’t have to wait to volunteer with HSA. It’s easy to sign up for a shift online once you’ve completed the volunteer application. Since there are so many shifts available, you definitely won’t struggle to find one that fits your schedule “Beach” clean-ups: I put beach in quotation marks because it doesn’t really have to be a beach– other places include hiking trails, rivers, or regular streets. You can be on campus with other students or throughout Tallahassee with your community members; look for organizations near you hosting a clean-up event and go join them!
Tutoring: As long as you’re not getting paid and you are doing it through a structured tutoring program, tutoring can get you community service hours, too
A great benefit of this is that you can find programs that allow you to work remotely, so you can volunteer right from home.
Shelters: Whether it’s for the homeless or for rescued animals, there are not only several in and near Tallahassee, but probably some near your hometown as well It’s also likely that they either regularly need volunteers or host events where volunteers are needed, so you can choose to dedicate anywhere between just one weekend when you don’t have much else to do or even every weekend for the rest of your time in college Plan your own event! If you’re a part of an active student organization, you can even get community service hours for planning or coordinating service projects for that organization. This is a great way to get yourself and others some community service hours working for an organization you care about! Whatever it is that you end up doing to earn community service hours, keep in mind that there is a deadline to meet when submitting your hours on ServScript through MyFSU. While the deadline for the fall hasn’t been posted yet as I’m writing this, it’s usually at the end of each semester You may even end up finding a long-term volunteer opportunity, which will continue to get you experience and service hours in future semesters
BY MADELYN LUTHER
IDH 2602 Us and Them: Navigating Disagreements in a Polarized Society
Taught by: Ross Moret
This course takes a close look at political, cultural, regional, religious, racial, and socioeconomic factors that play into polarization As with any honors signature course, there are high yet not unreasonable expectations for students to devote time, hard work, and energy to course assignments, readings, and other projects A few semesters ago, I took a different Honors Signature Course about race and religion in America with Dr. Moret, and I thoroughly enjoyed it I learned about various historical events and discussed them in a way I never had before Dr Moret is a professor in the Religion department and his areas of study center on politics, ethics, and philosophy His background in these subjects adds tremendous value to his course materials and his style of instruction Further, he
is exceptionally kind and understanding, as long as there is open and respectful communication between him and his students This course can help fulfill your Ethics, Scholarship in Practice, and Oral Communication Competency requirements.
IDH 3118 Utopias/Dystopias: An Homage to ‘Social Dreaming’
Taught by: Azat Gundogan
This course uses utopian and dystopian thinking to shed light on the current state of the world Students examine how societies, institutions, governments, and individuals interact with one another. Through word of mouth, I have heard that Dr G’s courses are typically heavily discussion-based and that he is a very enthusiastic and kind professor Again, as with any honors signature course, it is important to work hard and stay on top of your class readings and assignment due dates This course can be used to fulfill your Humanities and Cultural Practice, Upper Division Writing, and
ScholarshipinPractice requirements.
HonorsSectionsofNon-Signature Courses
IDS3364—YessesandNoes:The EthicsofConsent
Taughtby:TracieMahaffey
Thiscourseanalyzesthe philosophyofconsentandhowit operatesinourdailylives.Asan ethicscourse,studentswillbe exposedtodifferentmoraland ethicaltheories Ihavetakenan honorsphilosophycoursewithDr MahaffeybeforeandIabsolutely adoredit.Sheisavery understandingprofessorand appreciatesin-classparticipation Sheisalsotheadvisorforthe philosophydepartment,sosheisa greatresourceforallthings relatedtoFSU’sPhilosophy program Bepreparedforthe,at times,challengingcourse materialsthatarepresentinany philosophycourse I’vefoundthat philosophyisasubjectthatsome peopleloveandotherssimply cannotstand itdependsonhow yourbrainiswired.Ifyouare interested,evenvaguely,inethics orphilosophy,Ihighlysuggest takingthiscourse IDS3364can beusedtofulfillyourEthicsand Writingrequirements.
Taughtby:JackSaltiel
IwillprefacethisbystatingthatI likelywouldnotpassregular organicchemistry,letalonean honorsversionofthiscourse Ask metobalancethesimplest chemicalequationandmybrain shutsdown.Orgoisalreadya difficultcourse,socarefully considerifyoucanhandlethe
academic rigor and time commitment that registering for an honors section will bring. If you are up to the challenge, registering for and taking the honors section of CHM 2210 offers many benefits. Many science prerequisites are large classes with hundreds of students, so this may be a welcome alternative to being yet another nameless student in a lecture hall Additionally, the smaller class size lets you get to know your professor better and establish a closer relationship with them. As such, this may make it less daunting to ask questions during class or go to office hours. This is a course that many pre-
med, biology, or other STEM major students must take Make sure you have fulfilled all CHM prerequisite requirements before taking this course
This course is a general education requirement for all FSU students It is the second of two required English composition courses at the university. This course will aid students in developing their critical thinking, analytical reasoning, close reading, and research skills. Like any English course, it will teach you how to read and write skillfully This course takes a deep
dive into academic, researchoriented essays and caters to each student’s major and areas of interest As an English major myself, I can confidently state that English instructors are some of the sweetest teachers on campus I am not sure if the honors section of this course deviates from this norm, but typically, ENC 2135 is taught by students in the English graduate department I believe that, perhaps because they are students themselves, these English instructors tend to be very empathetic and understanding of students’ needs I highly suggest taking the honors version of this course, if you are considering it
