The Medallion #40 Late Spring

the a publication by the FSU Honors Student Association

LATE SPRING 20

Tips 4 Earth Day

30

The Academy Awards

31

Taxes for Dummies

April 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS 04 05 12 19 20 26

Letter from the Editor

Plants Around FSU

Animals you Might See while Walking to Class

Relay for Life

Tips 4 Earth Day

Moriah's Book Corner

A 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:

Letter from

The Editor Dear Reader, This issue is hopefully something fun for you all to enjoy for the spring and summer time. I hope you have a successful finals week and a great summer! Thank you all for reading and being apart of the Honors Student Association this semester. Until next time!

Editor-in-Chief,

Max Mitchell

PLANTS AROUND FSU MORIAH HOUSE

LIVE OAKS FSU’s many sprawling, Spanish-moss cloaked live oak trees are indisputably the most memorable and beloved plants on campus. Live oaks can live for hundreds of years and grow to over 75 feet tall. With branches extending up to 100 feet, they are the broadest spreading oak species. I think we are all grateful for the plentiful shade they provided by their wide canopies!

In 2010, eight of FSU’s live oaks became part of the Leon County Patriarch Oak Program. All of the trees accepted into the program are at least 160 years old, meaning they have been here since before the first buildings of FSU were constructed. They are truly the most original part of FSU, and have played a huge role in shaping our beautiful campus.

One of the most recognizable live oaks on campus is the Love Oak, standing in front of Strozier Library. It is named after James Pasco Love, who served as the FSU Farm and Dairy Operations manager from 1920 until 1958. Love raised his six children in a cottage beside the tree, five of whom went on to graduate from FSU!

ZAMIA INTEGRIFOLIA Ever noticed what looks like giant bright orange corn kernels on the ground? These are actually the seeds of Zamia integrifolia, or the Coontie palm, a low-growing cycad native to the Southeastern US. Cycads have existed for 300 million years, and were particularly abundant during the Jurassic era. That means a T-Rex might have noticed those same bright orange corn kernels! But hopefully neither you or the T-Rex ate them, because the Coontie palm contains a toxin called cycasin which can cause liver failure.

However, Indigenous tribes like the Seminole would grind the roots, soak them overnight, and then rinse them for several hours, dissolving the toxin. The resulting paste would be fermented and dried, creating a powder which could be used to make a “bread-like substance.”

Disclaimer: Please do not try this at home. You can safely obtain a bread-like substance at FSU’s convenient oncampus Panera.

CENTURY PLANT Okay, full disclosure, I’ve been walking around for three years thinking this plant was aloe. Today I learned that it is in fact Agave americana, aka the Century Plant, and is actually more closely related to asparagus than aloe!

It is a monocarpic plant, meaning that at the end of its 20-30 year lifespan it produces a single flower stalk, which can be up to 30 ft tall. So if you see a flowering Century Plant at FSU, it has probably been growing since before you were born!

Also, maybe don’t get too close- the smell of the Century Plant flower has been generously described as “pungent.”

HOUSE PLANTS FOR STUDENTS I think we’ve all experienced the urge to buy a houseplant at some point, and for good reason. Studies have shown that indoor plants can have many benefits, such as improving mood and focus, reducing fatigue, lowering anxiety and stress, and improving air quality. Caring for houseplants can provide a sense of purpose and responsibility, which is important for mental and emotional health. Additionally, having greenery indoors creates a more calming and relaxing atmosphere, and makes living spaces more inviting and comfortable. This is especially beneficial for students who are away from home for the first time. Plus, with displays as adorable as this one (at Greenwise on Gaines Street), how can you resist?

However, college living spaces are often, to put it generously, charmingly compact. Additionally, busy schedules mean that easy to care for plants are a must. Here’s a few of the best lowstress houseplants for college students:

1. Pothos: Pothos is one of the easiest houseplants to care for, and grows well on a table or desk in low to medium indoor light. Studies have shown that having a pothos plant in your living space promotes feelings of calm and relaxation.

Basically, it’s the perfect desk plant! Make sure to allow the soil to dry between waterings (overwatering is a leading cause of houseplant death).

2. Aloe Vera: Aloe needs very little care and thrives well in a variety of conditions. Plus you can use the gel to soothe sunburns, which is especially helpful in Florida! Aloe plants love light and will do best when placed near a window.

3. Succulents: Succulents are cute, compact, and easy to care for. They are perfect for a sunny windowsill and come in tons of fun textures and colors. Just look how adorable the options available at Greenwise on Gaines are!

Here’s a few general tips and best practices for houseplant care: 1.

Find your light: Some plants need lots of light, and some do well in darker spaces. Make sure you know the light level of your space so you can select plants that are a good fit.

2.

Water by feel: It’s tempting to set a schedule for watering. Unfortunately, this tends to lead to overwatering. Think about it- you don’t drink the same exact amount of water every day, so why should your plants? Instead, it’s best to water by feel. The simplest way to do this is to touch the soil. If it’s dry, the plant needs water. If the surface is moist, hold off on watering.

3. Name your plants: This might feel silly, but studies have shown that named plants are more likely to survive and thrive. Once you’ve named a plant, you feel more connected to it, which makes care feel less like a chore. Plus, it’s just fun!

Of course, these are just some basic tips. All kinds of unique situations come up when caring for houseplants. If you have a question about plant care, you can call the U.S. Botanic Garden Plant Hotline at (202) 226-4785 for free advice from a plant professional!

Animals you might see when walking to class HANNAH NICHOLS

S P I 4 T

EAR

TH

Y A D

Hannah Nichols

April 22nd is Earth Day! Created in 1970, this day is a celebration of the Earth and all its natural beauty. As well, this day serves as a reminder of the resources we get from the planet and helps educate people on why we need to protect it.

Considering the exponential growth in climate change over the past decades, this Earth Day is an important one; some scientists are saying we won’t have many Earth Days left! At this point, according to many environmental researchers, the actions of individuals may not be enough to remediate this climate crisis.

Huge manufacturing corporations contribute tons and tons of pollution every day. One industry in particular, the textile industry, is doing a sizable chunk of the damage.

The textile industry, especially fast fashion, contributes more pollution than international aviation and shipping combined.

Fast fashion is defined as inexpensive and rapid manufacturing of clothes in accordance with trend cycles. Companies will set up factories in underdeveloped nations with little to no labor laws. Due to lack of government regulation, clothing companies often get away with dumping pollutants unsafely, corrupting water and air.

Consumers are also to blame; the average American throws away about 81 pounds of clothing a year. Rapidly evolving trend cycles means that clothing is bought and discarded shortly after for being “out of style.” This increases the need for more manufacturing, and then more consumption; it is a neverending cycle.

So how can one shop for clothing sustainably? How can the individual address fast fashion and lessen their impact?

The biggest, but sometimes most difficult, way is to reduce your consumption levels. Buy quality items of clothing that will last you more than a year. Try not to feed into trend cycles. I know it’s hard, but stop and ask yourself: “Do I actually like this or is it just popular? Will I wear it again in a few months?” Buy less clothing overall, and try to search out ethical brands.

Sometimes, it can be difficult to find affordable brands that use ethical production methods, and many companies use “greenwashing,” which is essentially lying about how their products are made to seem more sustainable. Do research before purchasing.

Small businesses are usually good about being environmentally conscious.

Additionally, try to shop secondhand when you can. Thrifting is a great way to get unique pieces of clothing for relatively cheap.

Big thrift stores like Goodwill are a good place to look, as they usually are bigger and have more items. However, smaller, locally-owned vintage stores are often curated and easier to find things in.

There are some awesome ones in Tallahassee with helpful employees. The Other Side Vintage, Savvy Salvage, and City Walk are some favorites.

There are a lot of vintage sellers who set up shop at Market Wednesday right here on campus. Consignment stores are another good place to look, as they typically only buy quality pieces in good condition.

Shopping secondhand is also really easy online. Websites like eBay, Mercari, and Facebook Marketplace are good places to get cheap vintage, and you can also search for exactly what you want.

Finally, be fun and creative with the stuff you already have! Wear a scarf as a shirt, a shirt as a skirt, or a skirt as a dress.

Upcycling old clothing is not only a fun little activity, it’s a good way to reduce your individual clothing waste. There are tons of free tutorials online.

MORIAH HOUSE

TAXES FOR DUMMIES MORIAH HOUSE

Does the idea of doing your taxes fill you with dread?

You’re definitely not alone. But, at the risk of sounding like your mother, you should do your taxes.

If you received a paycheck last year, that means you had income tax withheld from your pay. And while Florida has no state income tax, everyone pays income tax to the federal government. If you don’t file a tax return, you won’t get that money back. Basically, you’d be letting the government keep your hard earned money, which you could have spent on pizza, or lattes, or shoes, or whatever floats your boat.

Most people with a taxable income under $100,000 are eligible to file for free online through the IRS’s e-file.com.

Additionally, most tax filing companies (Turbotax, Taxact, etc.) offer a free service for simple returns. So unless you are in a complex tax situation (such as earning money from crypto) you should be able to file your taxes online for free, most likely in less than an hour. In fact, Turbotax makes a game out of how fast you can file- who says taxes can’t be fun? Here’s how to get started:

1. Gather your documents: The most important tax document (if you worked in 2022) is your W-2 form. You should receive a W2 from any employer you worked for in 2022. Companies were required to issue these by January 31st, 2023. If you are missing a W-2, check your email and spam folders to make sure you haven’t been sent instructions for accessing it online. If not, you need to contact your employer and ask about the status of your W-2. You will also need your social security number and any documents relating to other income you may be reporting. If you don’t have a social security number, you can find information on receiving a taxpayer ID number on the IRS website.

2. File online for free! If you meet the requirements listed on the IRS website (which most college students do) you can file your 1040EZ for free through E-file.com, or through an online tax service like Taxact or Turbotax. Just create an account and the site will guide you through the process. Once you’re done, it will tell you how much money you’re getting back if you are receiving a return. You can choose to have this money direct-deposited into your bank account or mailed as a check.

3. Sit back, relax, and wait for your refund. You should get confirmation that the IRS has received your return within 24-48 hours. The IRS issues 9 out of 10 refunds in less than 3 weeks, so you should receive your money back pretty soon!

Follow Us on Social Media FACEBOOK: "FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY HONORS PROGRAM" INSTAGRAM: @FSUHSA HONORS PROGRAM: @FSUHONORS TIK TOK: @HSAONTIKTOK

Editor-in-chief: Max Mitchell Content: Brooke Holland Moriah house Hannah Nichols