The Medallion #43, August 2024

HONORS STUDENT ASSOCIATION

SPECIAL ISSUE: ABROAD WITH HSA

HONORS COURSE OFFERINGS FALL ‘24

Issue No.43

The Medallion

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

Table of Contents

04

07

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

VOLUNTEERING TO EARN HONORS POINTS

05

09

STUDYING ABROAD WITH HSA

A BRIEF REVIEW OF SELECTED HONORS COURSE OFFERINGS FOR FALL 2024

06 OFF CAMPUS STUDY SPOTS FOR THE CAFEEINE ADDICTED ACADEMIC WEAPONS

From the Editor 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!

Molly Lambert Editor-in-Chief

Issue No.43

04

Studying Abroad with HSA

BY HANNAH NICHOLS

College is all about seeking out enriching experiences, and one of the best opportunities to do this is by studying abroad.

executive board with me for the

were hanging out, walking around

past two years. Despite not

the city was a notable memory.

formally meeting until then, we

They made the experience what it

recognized each other and were

was.”

able to connect, quickly becoming

As a digital media production

good friends. Throughout the next

major, Marissa chose to study in

month, Marissa and I – along with

London because of the

our other friends – made countless

documentary filmmaking program

incredible memories exploring the

offered through the study center.

city of London, traveling on

This month-long program was

weekend trips, and even just

focused on the process of making

hanging out in our flats. Meeting

a documentary, even challenging

Marissa helped make London a

students to create their own

home away from home, and it also

projects.

This summer, I was fortunate

made me realize that being a part

“In class, we had a mixture of

enough to be able to spend a

of Honors is more than just a title.

learning the history of

month in London, England taking a

It is a community that will make

documentary and important

class through the communications

you feel supported whenever,

figures in that field. We also

program. It was one of the best

wherever you need it – even 4000

learned different camera

experiences of my life, and I would

techniques and would practice

recommend it a thousand times

miles away from Tallahassee.

“As an Honors student, I’m always

over. However, I would be lying if I

trying to broaden my scope on the

went to see documentaries, met

said it was not nerve-wracking; I

world and have as many

with directors and filmmakers to

was flying alone for the first time,

experiences and views as

ask questions, and learned

over 4000 miles away from

possible,” said Marissa, HSA

firsthand the different facets of a

everyone I know. As excited as I

Director of Events. “By studying

documentary, from production to

was for my adventures ahead, I

abroad, I could learn a lot by

editing.”

was filled with anxiety about what

immersing myself in another

However, Marissa could not have

was to come and whether or not I

culture and way of life. It also

done it without her support

was going to find a community

presents you with opportunities to

system. Being able to connect

abroad.

learn about yourself and how you

with her peers helped Marissa find

I did not know it at first, but my

interact with others that come

her place as she went about her

Honors community had flown

from a different background.”

adventures.

across the ocean with me! As I

When asked about her favorite

“The Honors program impacted

took a few days to adjust to jet lag

part of studying abroad, she

my study abroad experience

and new surroundings, I began

stated that the people she met

because I felt like I had members

meeting people in my program and

along the way produced the best

of my community in Tallahassee

I was overjoyed to run into Marissa

experiences.

along with me in my journey

Vargas, who has been on the

“My favorite memories come from

abroad.”

Honors Student Association

the people I was with. Anytime we

Issue No.43

them during our excursions. We

05

Off-Campus Study Spots for Caffeine Addicted Academic Weapons

BY KELLAN KISSINGER Calvin’s Coffee House is a

tcafé au lait, espresso, chai, and

for coffee at all, they sell different

fantastic study spot very close to

different “fancy drinks'' that

specialty iced teas, hot chocolate,

campus that caters towards

change every month. For food they

and matcha.

people who want cozy,

serve various pastries, stuffed

Here are some honorable

comfortable seating and cost-

croissants, muffins, maamoul

mentions that are great places to

effective prices. Calvin’s is located

cookies, pound cake, gluten free

get some good drinks and study.

in the basement of UKirk and

cookies, and more. Their menu is a

While Tally Cat Café probably

sports a lounge area with lots of

little bit for drinks other than

wouldn’t be the first place that

tables, couches, comfy chairs,

coffee, so keep that in mind when

comes to mind when you think of

string lights, and lanterns to create

you go.

cafés to study in, it is definitely an

the ultimate relaxed study space.

RedEye Coffee is more of a

option for any cat loving academic

Their menu prices range from a

traditional café with rustic

weapons! You can sit and study in

$2.00 tea to a $5.00 signature

decorations, seating with smaller

a separate seating area while

drink of the month and they also

tables fit for one to three study

drinking a cat-themed latte from

provide bagels, vegan bars,

buddies, and some of the

the coffee bar. They also have

various pastries, and humongous

smoothest coffee I’ve ever had.

boba drinks and teas for those

muffins.

RedEye is also a great option if

who aren’t big fans of coffee. The

The Black Dog Café is a

you like to eat while studying.

Frother’s Daughter is another

waterfront café at Lake Ella that

Their food menu includes

unconventional source of caffeine

has limited indoor seating but lots

sandwiches, wraps, bagels, and

in the form of a mobile truck! Last

of comfortable outdoor seating

toast, and bakery items ranging

time I was there I got the “¡Qué

and a patio. Black Dog is perfect

from about $3.50 for a bagel with

Rico!” drink, and I cannot

for cool fall days when it’s too

cream cheese to $8.50

recommend it enough. These

nice to be stuck inside studying. I

sandwiches and topped toasts. If

definitely aren’t all of the cafés in

love going there, studying for a bit,

you’re looking for stronger coffee,

Tallahassee, but they are some of

and then walking around the lake

they also sell Cuban style

my favorites options for people

before I go back home. They

espresso with milk or steamed

looking to get out of the FSU

serve traditional mochas, lattes,

half and half. If you’re not looking

bubble a little bit. Happy studying!

Issue No.43

06

Volunteering to Earn Honors Points

BY FIONA ADAIR

The FSU Honors Program points

opportunities. Luckily, another way

way to get outside and help

system can, at times, become a

to earn honors points is

others, possibly doing something

little overwhelming. It might feel

community service, which is a very

you love— and you can do it with

impossible to fit tons of honors

customizable and flexible method.

friends, too. You can dedicate as

classes into your schedule or

As you plan out ways to earn more

much of your time as you want,

commit to becoming a UROP or

honors points, whether you’re a

depending on what you choose to

Honors Colloquium leader,

senior or a freshman, consider

do, so it doesn’t have to take away

especially if you aren’t personally

earning some community service

from your other everyday

too eager about such

hours! Volunteering is an excellent

activities. If you manage to get 30

Issue No.43

07

hours of community service, that’s

EngageTLH: Keeping yourself

A great benefit of this is that

one honors point of the 18 that you

updated with EngageTLH is a

you can find programs that

need to graduate with honors.

great way to find volunteer

allow you to work remotely, so

Even if you don’t quite reach that

opportunities. Their events are

you can volunteer right from

amount, having those hours of

easy to sign up for online, and

home.

volunteer work on your official FSU

each listing shows the exact

Shelters: Whether it’s for the

transcript will look great to future

date and time you would be

homeless or for rescued

employers.

needed so it’s easy to make

animals, there are not only

Here are some (but not all) of the

sure the event will fit in your

several in and near

types of activities that qualify for

schedule. Just make sure you

Tallahassee, but probably

community service hours with the

are signing up on Monday the

some near your hometown as

ServScript Program, according to

week of, as volunteer slots are

well. It’s also likely that they

the Center for Leadership &

filled up on a first-come, first-

either regularly need

Service:

served basis.

volunteers or host events

Serving in non-religious K

The Kearney Center: As a part

where volunteers are needed,

through 12 schools

of the Honors Student

so you can choose to dedicate

Service to hospitals or nursing

Association, you will likely be

anywhere between just one

homes

hearing about the Kearney

weekend when you don’t have

On-campus service to benefit

Center soon if you haven’t

much else to do or even every

the university

already. However, you don’t

weekend for the rest of your

Advocacy work for/against a

have to wait to volunteer with

time in college. Plan your own

societal issue

HSA. It’s easy to sign up for a

event! If you’re a part of an

Operation/coordination of a

shift online once you’ve

active student organization,

donation drive

completed the volunteer

you can even get community

Directing/Creating a film or

application. Since there are so

service hours for planning or

documentary about a societal

many shifts available, you

coordinating service projects

issue

definitely won’t struggle to find

for that organization. This is a

Lab work focused on

one that fits your schedule.

great way to get yourself and

community needs

“Beach” clean-ups: I put beach

others some community

As you can see, there is a lot of

in quotation marks because it

service hours working for an

diversity to the type of work you

doesn’t really have to be a

organization you care about!

can do to earn community service

beach– other places include

Whatever it is that you end up

hours, as long as it is unpaid, not

hiking trails, rivers, or regular

doing to earn community service

court or university-ordered and

streets. You can be on campus

hours, keep in mind that there is a

contributes to the solution of a

with other students or

deadline to meet when submitting

community need. To learn more

throughout Tallahassee with

your hours on ServScript through

specifics, you can visit the Center

your community members;

MyFSU. While the deadline for the

for Leadership & Service’s

look for organizations near you

fall hasn’t been posted yet as I’m

website, where they also list some

hosting a clean-up event and

writing this, it’s usually at the end

non-qualifying activities.

go join them!

of each semester. You may even

Taking the above list into

Tutoring: As long as you’re not

end up finding a long-term

consideration, I’ve put together a

getting paid and you are doing

volunteer opportunity, which will

small list of some specific ways

it through a structured tutoring

continue to get you experience

you can earn community service

program, tutoring can get you

and service hours in future

hours.

community service hours, too.

semesters.

Issue No.43

08

A Brief Review of Selected Honors Course Offerings for Fall 2024

BY MADELYN LUTHER

Scholarship in Practice requirements.

Honors Sections of Non-Signature Courses IDS 3364—Yesses and Noes: The Ethics of Consent Taught by: Tracie Mahaffey This course analyzes the philosophy of consent and how it operates in our daily lives. As an ethics course, students will be exposed to different moral and ethical theories. I have taken an honors philosophy course with Dr. Mahaffey before and I absolutely adored it. She is a very understanding professor and

IDH 2602—Us and Them:

is exceptionally kind and

appreciates in-class participation.

Navigating Disagreements in a

understanding, as long as there is

She is also the advisor for the

Polarized Society

open and respectful

philosophy department, so she is a

Taught by: Ross Moret

communication between him and

great resource for all things

This course takes a close look at

his students. This course can help

related to FSU’s Philosophy

political, cultural, regional,

fulfill your Ethics, Scholarship in

program. Be prepared for the, at

religious, racial, and

Practice, and Oral Communication

times, challenging course

socioeconomic factors that play

Competency requirements.

materials that are present in any

into polarization. As with any

IDH 3118—Utopias/Dystopias: An

philosophy course. I’ve found that

honors signature course, there are

Homage to ‘Social Dreaming’

philosophy is a subject that some

high—yet not unreasonable—

Taught by: Azat Gundogan

people love and others simply

expectations for students to

This course uses utopian and

cannot stand—it depends on how

devote time, hard work, and energy

dystopian thinking to shed light on

your brain is wired. If you are

to course assignments, readings,

the current state of the world.

interested, even vaguely, in ethics

and other projects. A few

Students examine how societies,

or philosophy, I highly suggest

semesters ago, I took a different

institutions, governments, and

taking this course. IDS 3364 can

Honors Signature Course about

individuals interact with one

be used to fulfill your Ethics and

race and religion in America with Dr.

another. Through word of mouth, I

Writing requirements.

Moret, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I

have heard that Dr. G’s courses are

CHM 2210—Organic Chemistry I

learned about various historical

typically heavily discussion-based

Taught by: Jack Saltiel

events and discussed them in a

and that he is a very enthusiastic

I will preface this by stating that I

way I never had before. Dr. Moret is

and kind professor. Again, as with

likely would not pass regular

a professor in the Religion

any honors signature course, it is

organic chemistry, let alone an

department and his areas of study

important to work hard and stay on

honors version of this course. Ask

center on politics, ethics, and

top of your class readings and

me to balance the simplest

philosophy. His background in

assignment due dates. This course

chemical equation and my brain

these subjects adds tremendous

can be used to fulfill your

shuts down. Orgo is already a

value to his course materials and

Humanities and Cultural Practice,

difficult course, so carefully

his style of instruction. Further, he

Upper Division Writing, and

consider if you can handle the

Issue No.43

09

academic rigor and time

med, biology, or other STEM major

dive into academic, research-

commitment that registering for an

students must take. Make sure you

oriented essays and caters to

honors section will bring. If you are

have fulfilled all CHM prerequisite

each student’s major and areas of

up to the challenge, registering for

requirements before taking this

interest. As an English major

and taking the honors section of

course.

myself, I can confidently state that

CHM 2210 offers many benefits.

ENC 2135—Research, Genre, and

English instructors are some of the

Many science prerequisites are

Context

sweetest teachers on campus. I

large classes with hundreds of

Taught by: various instructors

am not sure if the honors section

students, so this may be a

This course is a general education

of this course deviates from this

welcome alternative to being yet

requirement for all FSU students. It

norm, but typically, ENC 2135 is

another nameless student in a

is the second of two required

taught by students in the English

lecture hall. Additionally, the

English composition courses at

graduate department. I believe

smaller class size lets you get to

the university. This course will aid

that, perhaps because they are

know your professor better and

students in developing their critical

students themselves, these

establish a closer relationship with

thinking, analytical reasoning,

English instructors tend to be very

them. As such, this may make it

close reading, and research skills.

empathetic and understanding of

less daunting to ask questions

Like any English course, it will

students’ needs. I highly suggest

during class or go to office hours.

teach you how to read and write

taking the honors version of this

This is a course that many pre-

skillfully. This course takes a deep

course, if you are considering it.

Issue No.43

10

Follow us on

SOCIAL MEDIA!

@FSUHSA

Follow the HSA Instagram (@FSUHSA)

Join the HSA Flare

Issue No.43

11