The Medallion #42, April 2024

THE MEDALLION april 2024 / volume 42

History of Landis Hall, Mental Health Resources on Campus, Honors in D.C., and more

DISCLAIMER 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: FIONA ADAIR HANNAH NICHOLS KELLAN KISSINGER MADELYN LUTHER

CONTENTS PAGE 04 letter from the editor

PAGES 5-6 history of landis hall

PAGES 7-9 the international english honor society: a guide and review

PAGES 10-12 study abroad guide: florence travel, food, and course recommendations

PAGE 13 how new anti-DEI legislation is impacting the honors community

PAGES 14-16 mental health resources on campus

PAGE 17 donald j. weidner summer for undergraduates program

PAGE 20 honors legal scholars

PAGES18-19 honors in DC: a recap

From the Editor Welcome back to another exciting edition of The Medallion! As we dive into the latest issue, I am thrilled to share with you the exciting new articles our amazing writers have been working on.

In the Honors Program at FSU, we are privileged to be surrounded by a diverse community of students, each with their own unique perspectives, experiences, and voices. This magazine serves as a platform for those voices to be heard, celebrated, and shared with the world.

I hope you enjoy this edition as much as we enjoyed creating it. Happy reading!

Molly Lambert EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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THE HISTORY OF LANDIS HALL

By Hannah Nichols PICTURED: A LANDIS FOURTH FLOOR DORM – TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA, 1988.

CREDIT TO LISA NICHOLS

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One of the best perks of being an Honors student is the chance to live in Landis Hall during your time at Florida State University. This beautiful, U-shaped brick building sits in the heart of campus, on the north side of Landis Green.

Housing about 400 students per year, Landis is a community for Honors students to live, work, and hang out alongside their peers.

As one of the oldest dorms on campus, Landis has a long history of changing rules and renovation.

Construction on Landis hall began in 1938 and was completed in 1939. Named after Carey Landis, a 1930s attorney general, it was originally designated as an allfemale seniors dorm. These senior students enjoyed privileges such as a later curfew and even a smoking parlor located in the dorm.

While times have obviously changed since then, an interview with Vangie Carruthers Rich, who lived in Landis in the 1950s, details out

that the rooms were more or less the same.

“Well, it was very plain. It had space for two beds that were like cots, and we could change the position of those beds occasionally, if we got bored with the way we were. It had two desks that were back-toback. We put the desks in front of the windows… we had a bookshelf that had drawers under it, and each of us had a closet. And in the bookcase we kept the books we weren’t currently using in our studies.”

Back in these times, men weren’t allowed in the rooms, but could come into the common spaces like the kitchen and TV room. Each floor had a communal bathroom, where the women in the dorm would have to walk down the hall to shower or brush their teeth. The dorm also had a house mother, which is essentially a stricter, adult RA. The residents also had to maintain a curfew back then!

Sometime in the 70s-80s, Landis was switched to be a

coed dorm for Honors students. My mother lived in the dorm in the late 80s, and she has explained to me all the significant changes made since 1988. Back in her day, there was an area on the roof in which students could sunbathe. Also, there was a mural of a roach using the toilet by the bathrooms!

70 years later, in 2006, Landis was renovated to be the dorm we know and love today.

Communal bathrooms were removed and replaced with suite-style arrangements.

Things like windows, floors, and showers were upgraded to newer material. While the interior layout of Landis is wildly different from the smoking-parlor days, the hall still maintains all of its original outside architecture, and some of the inside decorative features too. The same red brick, stone carvings, and archways have been on the building since its inception, and they serve as a beautiful reminder of the history of the dorm.

PICTURED: LANDIS HALL AT FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE FOR WOMEN, TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA. 1930 (CIRCA). STATE ARCHIVES OF FLORIDA, FLORIDA MEMORY.

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The International English Honor Society: A Guide and Review

By Fiona Adair

WHILE THE HONORS STUDENT ASSOCIATION IS A GREAT STUDENT ORGANIZATION FOR HONORS STUDENTS OF ALL FIELDS, THERE ARE SMALLER HONORS GROUPS AROUND CAMPUS THAT SPECIALIZE IN CERTAIN TOPICS OR MAJORS. ONE OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS IS SIGMA TAU DELTA/INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH HONOR SOCIETY (IEHS).

As an English major myself, this society has always been on my radar, and I took writing for this issue of The Medallion as an opportunity to do some indepth research about it. I even reached out to Kennedy Lora,

who is the current president of the English Honor Society and a classmate of mine, to learn more about the organization through her. Before getting into the interview with her, though, here are some basics about Sigma Tau Delta and IEHS that you should know: - The Difference Between Sigma Tau Delta and IEHS: When you first google “FSU English Honor Society”, you’re greeted with the two titles of Sigma Tau Delta and the International English Honor Society. They are described in a few places as being two different names for one thing, but that is only a slightly accurate description.

Sigma Tau Delta has been

FSU’s (Rho Epsilon chapter) English honor society for over fifty years, but there are a few barriers to joining it. First and foremost, you have to be an English major and have completed at least 12 credit hours of English courses. In addition to this, there is a onetime membership fee of $50.

While these requirements should not be reasons to not join Sigma Tau Delta, they can limit the amount of people who can participate in the organization and its events.

That’s where IEHS comes in.

While very much intertwined with Sigma Tau Delta, IEHS is a separate RSO (recognized student organization) at FSU, and it is free for anyone from

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any major to join. Those who are a part of IEHS but not Sigma Tau Delta can participate in all of the free events that the organization hosts, but they do not get all of the benefits of those in Sigma Tau Delta.

- Benefits of Sigma Tau Delta: The three main benefits of a Sigma Tau Delta membership are scholarships, internships, and publications. By being a part of this national chapter, students will get limited access to multiple scholarships, up to $6,000 each. As far as internships go, Sigma Tau Delta not only offers its own internship with the Sigma Tau Delta Journals, but it also cosponsors some internships with other organizations like Penguin Random House. If a Sigma Tau Delta member gets a non- or low-paying internship, they can also apply for an internship stipend of up to $1,500. Finally, Sigma Tau Delta members can submit critical or creative work to Sigma Tau Delta Review or Sigma Tau Delta Rectangle. If neither of these journals is a good fit for your work, or if there is another topic you wish to speak about, another place to consider submitting to is WORDY by Nature, the official blog of Sigma Tau Delta.

- Types of Events Hosted by IEHS: In addition to the monthly General Body Meetings, which are typical of an RSO, IEHS hosts several other types of events frequently. A frequent type of event that they organize is the movie nights,

where students can take a break from classes and work by watching a movie with other members. Another major event hosted by IEHS is the book club; they have even offered free copies of the book being read in the past. In addition to those, IEHS has hosted and will continue to host writing workshops, literary open mics, study nights, potlucks, tea parties, webinars, trivia, and more.

There is no shortage of things to do when you’re a part of IEHS. And, as Kennedy talks about in her interview, you can always introduce new ideas to the organization.

Interview with Kennedy Lora, IEHS President: What inspired you to join IEHS/Sigma Tau Delta?

“To be frank, I was jealous of all the accounting and biology and engineering majors that had ten events they had to go to each week. I wanted a sense of community and a space to continue my academic studies.

Also, quite honestly, I wanted bragging rights. How could I ever be a great writer or professor if I wasn’t part of the International English Honor Society? I’d be a fraud! So, when I found the society, I joined immediately.”

How would you describe the honor society to somebody who knows nothing about it?

“When people ask me about it, I usually say a combination of three things. The first: it is completely free and open to all

students regardless of major and standing. The second: we host events and organizations like book club, movie nights, trivia, and open mic. Third: there are opportunities for scholarships, internships, and publications within our national chapter.”

What was the process of becoming IEHS’s president like, and what does your role as president look like on a daily basis?

“I was sort of thrust into the position in a whirlwind of Zoom meetings. Originally, I applied to be secretary because I was weary of the time commitment that the position of president might require.

Kristy, our old graduate advisor, had other plans for me. She liked my ideas for the organization, so she tossed me in. Since then, it’s certainly been a learning experience. I spent the first few weeks of the fall semester glued to my laptop and just trying to keep up with the sheer volume of applications we had coming in.

Since then, it’s certainly been a learning experience. I spent the first few weeks of the fall semester glued to my laptop and just trying to keep up with the sheer volume of applications we had coming in.

I was, and remain to this day, living in my Outlook inbox, reserving rooms and spaces in FSU events and answering questions from members and faculty. I think the most IEHS emails that I’ve sent in a day is something like 25. Aside from the solitary labor, I am constantly setting agendas for

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executive meetings and checking in on my officers to make sure they have everything they need. I am always making one promotional graphic or another, be it PowerPoint slides or flyers. I also act as liaison between the RSO (IEHS) and the national chapter (Sigma Tau Delta) which is mainly supervised (paperwork and all) by our graduate advisor. I deliver information and assistance between the two groups and make sure that everybody has all the information they need to make the most of the opportunities that both organizations afford them. These days, I’ve certainly gotten better at balancing my schedule. I have set blocks of time to update the Excel sheets and MS Teams members and I try my best not to answer my email out of normal operating hours (mine being about 7:45a-8p). Alas, the emails don’t stop, the events keep coming, and the questions only multiply. It’s a good thing that I absolutely adore my job and all of my officers and advisors, or I might be underwater by now!”

What can someone interested in joining IEHS/Sigma Tau Delta expect from the organization and their involvement in it?

“I like to tell members that their experience will be what they make it. If they just want a cozy environment to be in on Wednesday evenings, then that is what we can give them. If they want a medium through

which to execute their ideas and passion projects, then we can give them that space as well. If they want help, if they want friends, if they want free food and movies, if they merely want something nice and impressive to put on their resume, we can give them all of that. When I came into this society, we were 17 members meeting once a month on Zoom. I wanted more, though, so I created more. Any one of our members can do exactly that.”

How can someone join, and when is the best time to do so?

“The best time to join is at the beginning of a semester. If you can make it to the first general body meeting of the semester, then you’re unlikely to miss any special or singular events.

To join, you can scan the QR code on one of our many, many flyers throughout Williams, or you can scan the QR code in the highlight on our Instagram. If you have trouble with either of those, no worries! You can DM our Instagram and one of our social media co-directors will be in touch with you to get you into our forums. Once you’ve filled out the application, it will be processed, and you will be added to our roster as well as Microsoft Teams which is our primary form of communication. From there on, it’s smooth sailing.”

As we’re approaching the end of the spring semester, do you have any summer break book recommendations?

“Oh, I have a hundred. I’ve been trying to finish ‘The Maidens’ by Alex Michaelides for seven months now! I haven’t had the time between my literature courses, book club reads, and other obligations, so that will be my first completed read of the summer. It’s been so good so far, but not nearly as good as Alex Michaelides’s second novel, ‘The Silent Patient.’ That book is a must-read! I finished it in two sessions and my jaw was on. The. Floor. Some other suggestions: for science fiction, I’d recommend ‘Babel-17’ by Samual Delaney; for fantasy, I’d recommend ‘Mistborn’ by Brandon Sanderson; for philosophy or general speculative fiction, I’d recommend ‘Notes From Underground’ by Fyodor Dostoyevsky; and finally, for nonfiction, I’d recommend ‘In the Dream House’ by Carmen Machado. (Honorable mention: for guilty pleasures, I’d recommend ‘A Touch of Darkness’ by Scarlett St. Clair).”

If all of this information doesn’t inspire you to become a part of IEHS, I don’t know what will. A great way to stay in the loop with what the organization is doing is to follow them on Instagram @iehsfsu. Otherwise, as Kennedy has stated, pay a visit to the Williams building and walk through the halls to find one of their flyers, which they update frequently with upcoming events.

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STUDYING ABROAD IN FLORENCE? TRAVEL, FOOD, AND COURSE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOUR SUMMER ABROAD

By Madelyn Luther Last summer, I traveled to

must-try dishes, course

travels put you at or near the

Florence and participated in

registration, and travel

Boboli Gardens, be sure to get a

FSU’s Editing, Writing, and

locations. I encourage you to

table at Trattoria Boboli to try

Media in Italy program.

incorporate some of my

their recreation of this classic

During the few weeks I was

recommendations into your

dish! Additionally, gelato is a

there, I made unforgettable

adventures—you won’t regret it!

famous must-try Italian dessert.

memories and friends that will

Food: Florence is located in the

There seems to be a gelateria on

last a lifetime. If you are

Tuscan region of Italy, an area

every corner of the cobblestone

studying abroad in Florence

known for its rich cuisine. One

streets of Florence, so it can be

this summer, I have a few

must-try Florentine dish is wild

overwhelming to decide which

recommendations in terms of

boar pappardelle pasta. If your

one to step into. Look no further

Duomo in Florence, Italy

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than just a few minutes away

classes that are part of the Editing,

from FSU’s Florence Study

Writing, and Media (EWM) in

Center—La Carraia in Santa

Italy program. Even though these

Croce had some of the best

classes focus on writing, editing,

gelato I tried during my time

textuality, and related subjects, the

abroad! And finally, don’t miss

program is not reserved

the amazing red wine and the

exclusively for English majors.

various wine windows of

The courses that are part of FSU’s

Florence. Tuscany is known for

EWM in Italy program offer

its Chianti, a dryer red wine

students hands-on experience

with notes of cherry and earthy,

with the culture of the city itself,

rustic aromas. You can find this

taking a particular interest in how

type of wine and others at wine

food and culture intersect with

windows, or small openings in

English studies. The courses I

the exterior walls of some

completed as part of the program

buildings. While many in the

were ENC 3310: Article and Essay

anniversary celebration last

city aren’t functional anymore,

Technique and ENG 3803: History

year, and I had the honor of

some are, and you can buy a

of Text Technologies, taught by

attending the presentation and

glass of wine from them

the incredible Dr. Judith Pascoe

dinner as a student journalist.

without stepping foot inside a

and Dr. Perry Howell, respectively.

Students in the Archaeology

building!

Students in the EWM in Italy

program study material

Courses: FSU’s Florence Study

program will also produce a

remains, learn how to conduct

Abroad program has a broad

magazine by the end of the

fieldwork, and even engage with

collection of courses to choose

program, called FLOR. I served as

3D printing technologies. If you

from; of these are the English

co-editor-in-chief of FLOR Issue 3

enroll in any of the

and oversaw all stages of the

aforementioned courses, you

publication process.

may be able to augment it to

Other than English-specific

fulfill Honors requirements!

classes, another course of interest

This contract would be decided

offered in Florence includes HFT

on an individual basis between

2876: Wine in Italy. The students

the instructor and student.

enrolled in this class learn all

Travel: During my time abroad,

about each phase of the

I traveled almost exclusively

winemaking process, and it is

inside the country of Italy. The

offered to students in the Food &

country has such a storied

Wine in Tuscany program, part of

history and diverse regional

the Hospitality & Tourism

cuisines that narrowing the

Management major. FSU also has

entire country down into a

an exciting Archaeology program

handful of travel

in Tuscany that is open to all

recommendations is difficult.

majors, and it takes place in

But if pressed, here are my top

Cetamura, Italy. FSU’s Cetamura

two travel adventures I would

program had its fiftieth

recommend. The first would,

Grapevine, presumably for wine production in Monterosso al Mare

Statue at Pitti Palace in Florence

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Basilica di Santa Croce in Florence, Italy

without a doubt, be my

particularly if you are a

the villages by train. Italian

experience attending the Pride

member of the LGBTQIA+

summers are very hot, but you

parade in Rome, Italy. Roma Pride

community, I highly

can cool off in the nearby

is an annual event in which

recommend traveling a few

picturesque Mediterranean

thousands of people take to the

hours south of Florence to

ocean. Be sure to bring a

streets to celebrate the LGBTQIA+

Rome for the experience of a

water bottle, sunscreen, and a

community. While it may seem

lifetime!

camera—the hike is arduous,

idiosyncratic to have attended

Next, if you have an extra

but worth it!

Pride just minutes from the

weekend during your time

Catholic capital of the world, I

abroad, try to make it out to

found that the collection of queer

Cinque Terre! This gem of the

individuals and allies alike that

Mediterranean coastline is a

surrounded me that day was

system of five villages, which

diverse and accepting. This, to me,

include Monterosso al Mare,

just went to show that centuries

Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola,

of history and religious tradition

and Riomaggiore, and it is

does not have to exist at the

connected by train and by

expense of the queer community.

hiking paths. But be warned—

After the parade, there was a

the paths are not easy by any

block party to commemorate

means. As you travel by foot

Pride at a historically gay and

from town to town, you are

lesbian neighborhood near the

literally hiking up the side of a

Colosseum. If you are lucky

mountain. If you are not feeling

enough to be in Italy during June,

up to the hike, you can navigate

Roma Pride in Rome, Italy

Riomaggiore, Italy

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How New Anti-DEI Legislation Is Impacting the Honors Community

By Madelyn Luther EARLIER THIS SEMESTER, THE FLORIDA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION PASSED A RULE THAT PERMANENTLY PROHIBITS DEI INITIATIVES IN THE FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM (FCS).

Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr stated that this ruling will help “ensure that we will not spend taxpayers’ money supporting DEI and radical indoctrination that promotes division in our society.” In the wake of this ruling, the University of Florida terminated all positions associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion, firing 15 faculty members. Sociology is no longer a core course within the higher education system of Florida. This decision was made even after large protests in support of DEI initiatives were held on college campuses throughout Florida. At a Florida Board of Governor’s meeting on January 24, students from across the state made their way to Tallahassee as a display of protest against the rule, which was being heard before the Board that day. The protestors demanded that Florida universities preserve all multicultural studies, protect queer students

and students of color, and more. They accused the Board of eradicating the full history of marginalized groups.

The Board’s controversial opinion is a continuation of conservative attacks on what they perceive as “wokeism.”

Florida Governor Ron Desantis, who entered the Republican presidential primary as the biggest threat to former President Donald Trump, suspended his campaign earlier this year in the face of dwindling support and poor polling. But on the campaign trail, one of Desantis’ biggest policy standpoints was his persistent attacks on the left and DEI initiatives. As Governor, he has implemented many of these anti-DEI regulations in the state of Florida. The effects of this “anti-woke” rhetoric are beginning to be seen in Florida State University’s academic and student programs. Within the Honors Student Association, however, DEI initiatives have not been suspended. In fact, HSA’s EDI team was established last year and frequently hosts social and educational events that are open to the Honors community.

Aside from extracurriculars, some students have wondered whether honors coursework, such as Honors Signature Courses, are at risk because of the new anti-DEI rule. A definitive answer to this question remains to be seen as the rule becomes further implemented in Florida universities. One course in particular, Race and Religion in America Today: Civil Rights and Black Power, is no longer offered at FSU. I used it to help fill my Liberal Studies Diversity and my Oral Communication Competency requirements and I thoroughly enjoyed all our readings and class projects. I was dismayed to see that it was no longer offered as an Honors Signature Course. However, regardless of what anti-DEI initiatives are pushed on college campuses, student organizations such as HSA’s EDI team, the Pride Student Union, the Black Student Union, and others have and will continue to promote community and inclusivity within their organizations.

Faculty, staff, and students of color, those who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community, and other marginalized groups will not be erased.

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MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES ON CAMPUS

By Madelyn Luther and Hannah Nichols As busy college students, there is a lot on our plates at all times. Balancing coursework and on-campus involvements while facing new situations and social pressures is challenging, but doing all of this while planning out our future can be outright

overwhelming. It is difficult to find time to focus on ourselves when we are constantly on the move—stressing over the next exam, hurrying from meeting to meeting, or racing out of class to get to a job interview on time.

Fortunately, Florida State has a

ton of campus and community resources available to help you through the toughest of times.

Many of these resources are free and accessible to all students who need them! Here is a rundown of some of FSU’s mental health and wellness programs. The University

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Counseling Center (UCC) is FSU’s main resource for counseling and psychological services. Their licensed and professional staff offers a variety of services, including immediate triage services, oneon-one sessions, couples' sessions, group sessions, and around-the-clock crisis intervention services. You can receive counseling in-person or on Zoom, as they even offer telehealth services. Their website (https://counseling.fsu.edu/) also has online resources and wellness tips that can be accessed at any time. Best of all, there is no out-of-pocket expense for any visit, as the center is funded by your tuition fees! (Note: one exception applies if you are a no-show— the Counseling Center does charge a fee if you do not show up to your appointment. If you find that you cannot make it to a scheduled appointment, be sure to cancel it at least 24 hours before the meeting time). If you have questions about your mental well-being or would like the advice of a licensed professional, the UCC is the place to go. You can get more information from their website linked above or give them a call at 850-644-TALK (8255). Another free resource is the Human Services Center, which provides individual, couples, and family counseling to students as well as youth and adults in the community.

The center’s mission is to help you facilitate psychological health, improve personal

growth, and resolve inner turmoil in a safe and confidential environment.

Their professional staff is available to help you navigate whatever may be affecting you, including depression, anxiety, stress management, motivation, self–esteem, anger management, conflict management, relationship issues, and adjusting to challenges. To make an appointment at the center, visit their website: https://cehhs.fsu.edu/hsc Florida State also has studentrun organizations that are focused on improving campus health and well-being. The FSU Mental Health Council is a bureau of the student government focused on empowering students through destigmatization, community involvement, and advocacy.

They have regular general body meetings, where they discuss mental wellness and at times even invite some guest speakers. Additionally, the council puts on social events for any student to attend. Some recent events have included a Valentine’s Day carnival and a mental health film festival. To keep up with their meetings and events, follow their Instagram page: @mentalhealthcouncilfsu.

FSU Case Management is another health resource available to students who may have immediate needs, and they provide resources such as short-term crisis counseling, advocacy, and emotional and academic support.

Case Management operates on a walk-in basis, with hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. If you find yourself needing support or advocacy after a crisis, the professional case managers in this office are dedicated to helping you be accommodated within the university. For more information, you can check out their website: https://dsst.fsu.edu/cms.

RENEW is a counseling centersponsored peer-education program that provides FSU students with access to individual informational sessions about life transitions, adulting 101, time management, study skills, healthy relationships, and more. RENEW student educators are selected based on academic merit, time management skills, and friendly personalities. The organization also conducts outreach services, presentations, and social events for students on campus.

Student educators also serve as ambassadors for the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services. For more information or if you have any questions, you can contact them via email at renew@fsu.edu, on Instagram at @renewfsu, or through their website at https://counseling.fsu.edu/stu dents/renew.

CHAW is an on-campus organization that advocates for students to make healthy decisions about their nutrition, wellness, sexual health, and relationships. They host

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educational sessions and promote policy reform on campus. They have online support meetings for groups such as Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous and SMART Recovery. They frequently collaborate with other on-campus organizations to promote body positivity, sexual health, mindfulness, and more. They can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok at @fsuchaw or online at https://chaw.fsu.edu/.

Mental well-being is a crucial part of being a successful student and a healthy individual. All the named resources are completely free and designed with student’s interests in mind. As intimidating as conquering mental health can be, it is helpful to know that you have resources and professionals available to help you.

Madelyn was fortunate enough to be able to conduct a Q&A with Karina Shaya, President of RENEW. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What are some resources for students who are experiencing burnout and anxiety during finals?

One resource that is always available to students is RENEW individualinstructional sessions! You can sign up to talk with student representatives about how to handle time management, stress management, burnout, anxiety, or any other variety of topics. Another resource is the

CAPS weekly drop-in workshops that cover mindfulness, anxiety, and depression! These are listed under the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) portion of FSU’s website.

What advice do you have about how students can take care of themselves during finals season?

One thing that I would recommend doing during finals week is to schedule out times in which you can do selfcare activities (eating, showering, resting, journaling) in between studying. I find that rewarding myself in between planned out studying breaks helps keep me motivated and makes me sure that I get the proper care I deserve during stressful times.

What are some efficient study methods that can help with a healthy balance between social life and school?

An efficient study method that has helped me is to do active recall right after a class lecture.

Instead of waiting till the week or even the day before an exam to go over past lectures, I sit down and take a summarized page of notes on what I just learned at the end of each class day. This way it allows me to stay on track with the material and I feel more prepared when creating a study guide for exam days. Another method that has helped me keep a healthy work/life balance is creating study groups with my friends.

Even if my friends aren’t in the same classes as me, I find

setting time aside to do work with them has helped me maintain a social life while working on school. A bonus tip is to teach your friends what you are currently studying, that way you simultaneously review course material and socialize!

What is one piece of advice you’d like to give students?

It is okay to feel burned out or to feel anxious before exams.

The key is to make sure you don’t overwork yourself before test days and make sure to practice self-care. If you are constantly pulling all-nighters and occasionally skipping meals to study, the burnout is going to catch up much more quickly. I find planning out time ahead and making daily schedules to find pockets of time to study and do daily activities helps me maintain my mental state and avoid getting burnt out before the next school day.

Open-ended question: Feel free to speak about any personal challenges you have experienced during stressful times academically.

I know a lot of what I mentioned is harder in practice than it sounds. I still occasionally feel burned out, which only adds to the high levels of stress I experience during finals. However, I find that maintaining my hobbies, like taking a break from studying to read, helps ease this stress. Keeping daily schedules so I can carve out self-care time also helps tremendously!

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Donald J. Weidner Summer for Undergraduates Program

By Kellan Kissinger

One of FSU’s most immersive opportunities for pre-law undergraduate students, the Donal J. Weidner Summer for Undergraduates Program, brings students from different universities around the country to Florida State University’s campus for a four week-long legal study program. This program is one of the oldest and largest programs of its kind in the U.S., as it has been in action for 33 years with over 243 colleges and universities represented. Taking place from May 21st to June 14th, this program covers three primary areas of focus. The first area of focus is the classroom experience; through daily classes taught by FSU law school professors, students experience a stimulation of

first-year law school classes.

They also participate in writing and communication workshops, which allows them to become familiarized with the American legal system.

Next, the program focuses on providing participants with the opportunity to talk to admission staff about the law school application process.

Through working on personal statements, resumes, and cover letters, participants are able to sharpen their materials prior to applying to law school.

Finally, the program concentrates on providing candidates with an immersive experience, and this includes visiting the Florida Supreme Court, debating oral court arguments, and listening to current attorneys and judges.

To be eligible to apply, applicants must be enrolled in a two or four-year institution and be a rising sophomore, junior, or senior. Applicants should provide a completed online application, an up to date resume, a personal statement responding to a provided prompt, and a current transcript. This program is completely free to apply and to participate in. On-campus housing and a meal swipe card will be offered to accepted participants for the entirety of the duration of the program and a 500 dollar stipend is provided to all participants. If you are interested in attending law school after graduation, I highly recommend considering this program!

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HONORS IN DC: A RECAP

By Fiona Adair

IN LATE FEBRUARY, A SELECT NUMBER OF STUDENTS WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO ATTEND A MEDIA FIELD TRIP TO WASHINGTON D.C. WHICH WAS FULLY FUNDED

BY AN FSU HONORS PROGRAM DONOR. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO BE ONE OF THESE STUDENTS, AND HERE, I WILL BE SHARING A BRIEF RECAP OF THE TRIP TO REFLECT ON MY EXPERIENCE AND WHAT I’VE GAINED FROM IT.

Saturday, February 24th: The first day of our trip began bright and early at 4AM, with most of us having never met each other or interacted outside of classes and tripplanning Zoom meetings.

After the perfect bonding experience of sitting in a van that was probably a little too small for all of us, we took an early flight out to D.C. We learned to navigate the metro system and arrived at the National Mall; here, we toured the Capitol Building. This tour was a fascinating and immersive way for me to learn more about our country’s history and about the architecture of the capitol building itself. I especially loved seeing the National Statuary Hall, a collection of noble figures from each of the 50 states. Currently, Florida has John Gorrie and Mary McLeod Bethune representing us in this collection.

Sunday, February 25th:

On the second day of our trip, we returned to the National Mall to visit some of the many museums there. The group split up and visited various museums, and I personally got to see the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. While I learned an incredible amount at both of these museums, I could go back to spend several more days at each of the museums and learn even more. The Holocaust Memorial Museum was, of course, very heavy, but I am now much more knowledgeable on the subject matter than I would have been without making the visit.

Additionally, seeing the celebratory pride being showcased at the National Museum of African American History and Culture was beyond inspiring.

That evening after dinner, we paid a late-night visit to the

Lincoln Memorial. The great number of photos I’ve seen of this memorial could not have prepared me for just how grand and moving it is in person!

Monday, February 26th Monday was the most important day of the trip, as it was the whole reason we had traveled to D.C. On this day, we got to meet some very important figures from the journalism world.

The day started with a tour of George Washington University, an urban campus that is very different from what we’re used to here at FSU. Located in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of Washington D.C., it is a private university with many unique experience opportunities as well as an impressive list of faculty and staff. It has many great graduate programs, so make sure to check it out if you are interested in pursuing a graduate degree. After the campus tour of GWU, we

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gathered at the F Street House (GWU president Ellen Granberg and her wife, Sonya Rankin’s, residence) to speak with Kristian Denny Todd, Chuck Todd, Kristen Welker, and Carrie Budoff Brown.

Kristian Denny Todd, who also happens to be the donor making this trip possible, is an FSU alumna who works as a democratic campaign communications strategist in Washington, D.C. She is also a co-founder of Maverick Strategies and Mail. Kristian is married to Chuck Todd, who is the former moderator of the NBC Sunday morning talk show Meet the Press. Todd currently works as the Chief Political Analyst for NBC

News. Kristen Welker is the current moderator for Meet the Press. She was also a former co-anchor for Weekend Today and the NBC News Chief White House Correspondent. Lastly, Carrie Budoff Brown is the Senior Vice President of Politics at NBC News. These very impressive journalists were very genuine and attentive during the time they spent with us. Throughout the conversation, I learned a lot about the dedication and passion of those in the field of journalism. Listening to them speak about their professional journeys was beyond inspiring!

Overall, this trip was one of the many experiences that

makes me grateful to be involved with the Honors Program at FSU. As stated earlier, I hope that reading about my experience inspires you to pursue any opportunities that you are presented with.

This media trip required an application and interview process that I was initially nervous to partake in, but it ultimately led to one of the most memorable weekends of my life. Hopefully, reading this will inspire you to seek out and take advantage of future opportunities within the Honors Program at FSU. This trip was a wonderful learning experience academically and socially, and I hope that you can see that reflected in this recap!

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HONORS LEGAL SCHOLARS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR HONORS STUDENTS INTERESTED IN LAW

By Kellan Kissinger

Honors Legal Scholars (HLS) is a unique opportunity for current and incoming FSU prelaw honors students to involve themselves with FSU’s College of Law. Through a joint effort between the University Honors Program and the College of Law, a small group of motivated students are chosen to participate in different activities, including preprofessional career advising. In addition, they are able to hear advice from law school professors, law students, and alumni, tour the College of Law and observe a law class, and access special law school events and lectures. There are two groups of students eligible

to apply to HLS: incoming freshmen admitted to both FSU and the University Honors Program, and current University Honors students with at least one more year of undergraduate coursework remaining.

A key aspect that draws many undergraduate pre-law students to apply to the program is the prospect of automatic admission to FSU’s College of Law. In order to be considered for this opportunity, a scholar must complete the College of Law’s application for admission by the Priority Deadline during the application cycle they wish to matriculate, obtain an LSAT

score of at least 165, obtain an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.9 or higher as calculated by the Law School Admissions Council, obtain a Bachelor’s degree from FSU, demonstrate good moral character and fitness as expected by a law student, and be an active member or alum in good standing with the HLS program.

If you are a pre-law student looking for a strong connection with FSU’s College of Law, HLS is for you! For more information, contact the Honors Program Office by email at honors@fsu.edu or by phone at (850) 644-1841.

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EDITOR IN CHIEF: MOLLY LAMBERT WRITERS: FIONA ADAIR HANNAH NICHOLS KELLAN KISSINGER MADELYN LUTHER