Gender in Gaming - Let's Talk About It

Here is a short bio, so you know a bit more about Ro before we get started… 

Vol 5 No 7

This Monday at 3:00 (password 2020), I’d like you all to come to a talk wherein my good friend and fellow nerd Ro will be virtually piping in to us from California to talk about Marginalized Genders in Gaming. Ro has been actively working in the gaming community for over six years. Prior to that, they studied English at California State University, Northridge. I have to point that out, because I may be a little biased when it comes to English degrees!

Rowan is a narrative writer for Legends of Runeterra, responsible for expanding on Runeterran lore and making a whole lot of new characters tied to the champs people love from League!

Rowan's first endeavor at Riot just went live with the release of the Targon set, Call of the Mountain. Prior to working at Riot, they were a narrative designer at Telltale Games working on branching narrative. Some of Rowan's more notable titles include Batman: The Enemy Within and Minecraft: Story Mode for Netflix. 

As part of the LGBTQ+ community, diversity and inclusion is a big part of Rowan's day-to-day. They are always striving to include more and more diverse voices in LoR and bringing authenticity to the work they create.

Outside of work, Ro is an active gamer, including tabletops and board games. They dabble in some arts and crafts on the side, but haven't taken too many embarrassing WIP pictures to show their progress along the way. 

With Great Power....Physics Power!

 Vol 5 No 6

Our talk this week is taking a much different turn!  This is what Dr. Johnson-Steigelman has to say about the topic…

(Classic) Spider-Man is known to be an excellent chemist, producing the formula for web fluid on his own.  His physical strength and agility came from a radioactive spider bite.

However, he learned physics the hard way.

In this presentation, you will learn about kinetic energy, potential energy, impulse, and momentum using examples from comic books and movies featuring Spider-Man.

This should be an amazing talk with lots of opportunity to learn new things and ask questions.  Our speaker certainly knows what he’s talking about….

Dr. Trevor Johnson-Steigelman received a B.S.Ed. degree from Clarion University of Pennsylvania.  After teaching high school physics and working at a private tutoring center for several years, he received his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2004 and 2007, respectively.  His work for his master’s degree included research on high dielectric insulators. He was awarded a patent for a method of producing hafnium silicate by depositing Hf metal on silicon oxide.  For his doctorate, he studied the growth of cobalt thin films on magnesium oxide.   

He uses examples from both real-life and comic books to illustrate physics principles in his classes at Finger Lakes Community College.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12 from 11:30am to 12:30pm. (password 2020)

My God... and Yours...

Vol. 5 No. 6

We are on the verge of an election which is perhaps more divisive than any other presidential election in the history of our country. We are in the midst of a pandemic that is raging across the globe. Our children are staring at screens trying to learn and our teachers and parents are struggling to maintain education in a time of crisis. Civil unrest is rocking our cities and it feels like nothing will ever be the same again.

And maybe it shouldn’t be.

As we look ahead to the future, it may sound irrational to say, but one of the things which should not be dividing us is religion. As strange as it may sound, religious beliefs should not be something that separates us, because at their core, many (if not all) of the world’s religions share the same basic tenets. Somewhere along the line, we have forgotten that. Religion is used is so many detrimental ways and belief systems are attacked and weaponized in ways that threaten to tear us apart as painfully as any other form of intolerance. And it should not be this way.

It just shouldn’t.

Lori Vail, Associate Professor of English, holds a Masters of Arts Degree from Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity school, invites us to a conversation about how “God is Not One.” Perhaps, in the process, we can all be reminded of our own humanity and the humanity of those around us. We need unity now more than ever and if we can set aside some of the most powerful barriers that separate us, maybe we can move forward together to ease the ills of the world and improve the human condition for all. Our gods, our beliefs, and our spirituality can, and should, be used to heal all the world instead of adding to its division. There is strength and power if we work together and this conversation will highlight why this is not outside the realm of possibility.

I will be there not just because I’m hosting, but because I want to learn. Join me.

Friday, October 30th from 6:00 – 7:00

(password: 2020)

Note: I reserve the right to remove anyone from the WebEx room who is clearly not there in good faith. FLCC and FLCC’s Honors Studies strives to be an open, inclusive, welcoming, and judgement free space and we will not tolerate the presence of those who are counter to that.

You know what they say...

 Vol 5 No 5

Three things to talk about this week.

First, tomorrow is Laker Day and I encourage everyone to do something for yourself that might fall under the category of self-care.  In my classes, I’m inviting students to participate in a Laker Day activity if they can, and if they can’t, to engage in something they don’t always make time to do.  Bake cookies, read a book, talk a walk, go for a drive, draw a picture, call a friend, paint, draw, compose, sculpt, go to a pumpkin patch and pick out a pumpkin, meditate, practice yoga.  Something that doesn’t involve WebEx or homework, school or work.  Take time for you.  Celebrate who YOU are and recharge your internal batteries.  The world is demanding so much strength and resilience and persistence from us right now and I hope you are all doing that each and every day.  But we must remember to also breathe and relax.  It is so important to our ability to sustain our strength.  Time off can help you make the most of the times you have to be on task.  Here’s a few ideas…

• Free online yoga classes – for all levels and body types
• De-stressing activities - compiled by our own FLCC library
• Sepiatown – Go explore your local history via old photos.

Second, last week Vera led five students, myself, and AVP Cassy Kent in a fascinating discussion about all the things that ‘coming out’ might mean to those in the LGBTQ+ community.  We chatted from multiple perspectives and I, personally, learned some very important things about how to be a better Ally to my friends in the queer community.  Including the friends I have not yet met!  It was a great conversation and I think those who were there would agree with me.  It was the first major talk in our series this semester and that leads to the third thing.

Third, this week’s talk is on Wednesday from 5:00 – 6:00 (password 2020).  Invitations have gone out and I hope that we will see lots of faces that evening.  April is a librarian here at FLCC and, specifically, they are the Honors librarian.  There has been much made of pronoun usage of late and many who bristle at the use of ‘they’ as a singular pronoun.  Many of those who bristle are my own colleagues in the world of English education.  I myself am someone who had to train myself to stop ‘correcting’ student papers when I saw ‘they’ used in the singular.  I am happy to say that I learned, somewhere along the way, that they as a singular pronoun has been around for….well…come to the talk to find out!  You may be surprised!  I have retrained myself and broken the habit and I can’t wait to talk about that and other things at our gathering.  I bet I will learn even more things that will help in my ever-continuing quest to be a better member of the world around me.  Things are changing – and some things that never should have changed are changing BACK and it is a wonderful thing.  We may still have a long way to go, but we are making strides forward and talks like this will only help.  And so, I encourage you to join us for an hour and feel free to bring a friend.  Furry friends also welcome (so long as they are not too disruptive to our chat!).  I cannot wait for this one as I know that April not only has anecdotal and lived experience to share, but they also have that librarian’s love of great information and resources!  Oh, and it is not accident that this talk is taking place on International Pronouns Day.

International Pronouns Day

Note:  I reserve the right to remove anyone from the WebEx room who is clearly not there in good faith. FLCC and FLCC’s Honors Studies strives to be an open, inclusive, welcoming, and judgement free space and we will not tolerate the presence of those who are counter to that. 

 

Annie Talks and Our Next Talk...

 Vol 5 No 4

Hi there!  A two part blog this week - the first part is from Annie Black, an FLCC Honors Studies student who wants to share a few words with you.  Read on for what she has to say - and who she is!  Then read about our next talk - next week!

Annie Talks!

Hello everyone!

For those of you that do not know me, allow me to introduce myself.

My name is Annie Black and I’m about a full semester away from graduating from FLCC with my Nutrition and Dietetics A.A.S. Honors has been apart of my life since beginning at FLCC. No matter how far I am from campus, Honors has been there for me.

Earlier this year I had to take a break from academics for my mental health. It has been a long year full of all kinds of change and growth. I am anxious to be back in classes this Spring 2020 semester, and to get back to some sort of normal since this pandemic began.

So what does FLCC Honors mean to me?

Honors is knowing I’m not alone, no matter how isolated the pandemic has made me feel. Honors is knowing that I still have even more support from my FLCC family. Breaks from anything can be difficult, but for me it’s school. It’s something that

Annie and I, Pre-COVID

challenges me like no other, and something that I can proudly say is earned through my hard work and dedication. Honor’s helps give me that sense of pride and adds to the challenge in all the best ways. Honors is why I know I’ll be able to get back on track with my education and continue to learn and grow. Honors teaches me that there is a place for me, and it’s the most amazing place to be. There’s going to be a lot of roads to travel down throughout my educational path. I’m going to be working for a Master’s degree. Honors program, at FLCC is preparing me for this journey, and I couldn’t ask for better help. Honors is home to me, like I hope it is for you. 

I want to wish everyone good luck on their journeys in life.

Stay healthy and safe my friends!
-Annie Black

Our Next Talk!

Second, our next talk is Wednesday, October 14 from 3:00 - 4:00.  Entitled "'Hi, I'm gay' - Coming out in 2020," this talk will be hosted by Sociology professor Vera Whisman.  Come along whether you are out, not, curious, or just want to learn more about what this even means. Click here for the meeting link - password is 2020.  Feel free to bring your friends!

Get Comfy, Get Inspired...

Vol 15 No 3

Honors Talk Series

Get Comfy, Get Inspired. Stay Home. Stay Informed.

More information on each talk as we get closer...events can be used to earn Honors points.  trista.merrill@flcc.edu for more information

These events will be offered via WebEx.  Links to come!

TBA : 

An Evening with Brockport Honors - early to mid-November.  Stay tuned!

Survey Says...

Vol 5 No 2

Hi there, folks.

In this blog - and via email - you are being invited to complete a survey that asks you some short questions about your semester and your experiences with Honors.  I really hope that you will take the time to complete it. 

Image by geralt via Pixabay

One of the questions in it is about a Penpal Project that I’m hoping to put in place this semester.  I’d like to create groups within Honors and invite you to keep in touch with one another throughout the semester.  This can be via email or social media, and the intent is to give you someone to talk to who is sharing some of the same experiences you are, though in a different way.  We can’t really chat casually as easily as we have in the past since we are all rather sequestered in our homes and workplaces.  Sometimes, it can be nice to have someone to just say hello to, tell them about your day or your pets or your big dreams.  I loved the Living History project that some of you engaged in last semester, but it felt, in some ways, very isolated.  I like this idea because it doesn’t have to cost anyone any money, and it can be done quickly and easily.  And it helps us to make connections.  Maybe you’ll find a best friend.  Maybe you’ll never chat again – but, at least for a little while, you will have the chance to have a conversation with someone you may not have otherwise come into contact with.  I’ll have more details once I see if anyone is interested, but I need to first figure out if anyone else finds this as intriguing an idea as I do.  I could even provide ‘conversation cards’ to give you a place to start in your conversations.  We will figure it out once I see if anyone is interested.

Other questions are designed to help get a sense of your connection with Honors and what it means to you.  As you might imagine, everything is different these days and so it’s tough to get a sense of were we all stand as Honors students.  So, what a better way to find out than by asking!  One question tries to get at why students enroll in Honors classes in the first place.  Some of the responses seem funny, but they are all ones I’ve heard before!  Sometimes, students end up in Honors classes and don’t even know it until after the class starts.  There are lots of reasons why a student ends up in Honors and I’m hoping to get some idea as to why YOU chose.  The other one is about describing Honors as you see it.  I plan to use the words you use to create some sort of cool visual that I can share with everyone.

There are a series of questions about the blog – which will help me as I look ahead to the coming weeks.  I’ve always loved the title because Honors DOES matter to me.. and it’s about things (matters) related to Honors.  But, I want to also make sure it matters to YOU.  So, I’m asking for your input so I can make our online spaces as useful and interesting as I can for everyone.

I ask your shirt size because I’m trying to get us shirts.  No promises, though.

Last, but not least, I am using this survey to check in with you and see how you are doing.  The world is such an uncertain and difficult places and I want to make sure that all of you are doing okay and that you have what you need to be successful as students, but also as citizens of the world.  We can’t always easily solve everyone’s problems, but we CAN listen and we can be there for one another.  I want you to feel like someone cares … because I do.

Honors Matters.  And so do you.  Please complete the survey!  You can find it here.

Image by Quicksandala via Pixabay

Fall 2020 - Let's Connect

Vol 5 No 1

Welcome and Welcome Back!

Things look very different this fall, and it can be a bit of a struggle and a challenge to feel the same excitement about a new semester as when we are part of the hustle and bustle of the hallways.  But, we will not be deterred!  We are all in this together and that means we will do what we can to make this a happy, healthy, and successful semester for all.  If you are new to Honors, we are so happy to have you here.  If you are returning – welcome back, friends.  It may look and feel different, but at its core, Honors is still here and still celebrating curiosity. 

There are seven Honors courses running this semester – Environmental Science, Composition I (two full sections!), Introduction to Reading Literature, Perspectives on Tolkien, Mathematics of Money, and Race & Ethnicity.  That’s a pretty nice spectrum of subjects and I’m happy to report that so far, we have three contracts in place.  Remember – if you’ve taken an Honors class prior to this semester, you can turn a course into Honors via a contract.  You can find more information here.

We have plans in the works to have Honors Events this semester – notably a talk series on WebEx on a number of topics that will hopefully be of interest.  If you have a topic you’d like us to cover – let me know!  We will find someone to host one if at all possible.  These talks can be reflected upon and then gathered together in a reflective essay at the end of the semester for Honors points, though I hope you will attend even if points are not your goal.  We are currently booking topics relating to gender identity, LGBTQ+ issues, nutrition for everyday folks, girls+ in gaming, a discussion about God across varying religions (a sneak peek at next semester’s seminar!), and more!  We will host these events on WebEx at varying days and times throughout the semester, so hopefully you can make it to one or more.  Stay tuned!

As always, I invite Honor students to be a guest blogger for Honors Matters.  Another way to earn a point if you’d like, you can blog about anything relating to your studies in Honors (and hopefully how those studies connect to other aspects of your life).

Last but not least, I just want to end this first blog of the new academic year by reminding all of you that you are not alone.  Many are struggling right now in the face of what seem like insurmountable odds.  Civil unrest, racial injustice, political upheaval, and the pandemic are all pushing against us at every turn.  But none of us are alone.  We are as strong as we are united – so stay connected, stay together, and stay healthy.  And if you need us, reach out.  I’ll find you folks to connect with and talk to, even if it’s ‘just’ about your favorite movie or your cats.  We got you.

-T

Image taken from Pixabay

Be Heard

The following is a call for those creative among us.  When the world spins out of control, sometimes the best thing we can do is control the things we can control.  And sometimes that means crafting language to share your voice and your message.  What has your world been like?  What story can you tell others about the experiences you are having?

Deadline:  June 15th

Submissions:  voices.in.isolation@flcc.edu

Information:  beth.johnson@flcc.edu

We Gathered and It was Good

We had a party.

In attendance was a number of students, plus Assistant Vice President Cassy Kent, Provost Jonathan Keiser, President Robert Nye, Board of Trustee Member Donna Mihalik, and Chemical Dependency Counseling Coordinator and Professor Mary Murphy, Access Services & Resource Sharing Librarian April Broughton, Admissions and Financial Aid Counselor Katia Chapman.

Sound intimidating?

It wasn't.

Most of them showed us a pet.  Dr. Nye chatted with us as his dog sat on his lap.  Cassy turned her camera to show us her beautiful Golden Retriever named Pearl.  April went outside to show us a turkey, a parade of chickens, and their alpacas.

And there were students with us, too, of course.  Robin, Bucket, Sierra, Cambrie, Laura, Rebecca, Emma, Heidi.

Oh, the pets.  That was the moment I stopped being nervous about how it would go.  How can we be nervous or anxious when we are holding cats and dogs and even a tortoise up to our cameras?

How could I worry that it would go well when we are all laughing and can HEAR the laughter of multiple people coming from our computer speakers. 

There was serious conversation, too, as we got asked about our general well being and how we were managing in these strange times.  We got to pick the brain of the president and ask questions that were on our minds about what is happening at FLCC now and in the future.  It was open, candid, and honest.  It was heartfelt and it mattered.

One student almost didn't go.  Earlier in the afternoon, when I asked if they were ready for our party, said "I'm gonna try. This has been a rough day."  They were there.  They laughed, too.  We got to support each other and there was nothing specific anyone had to plan or do.  Just being there and seeing faces, hearing voices, sharing silly stories and serious thoughts. 

Thank you, Honors Friends.  It did my heart good and I think it helped everyone else who was there as well.  Perhaps we can meet again and you will join us.

Just look at these smiles....

The heart of Honors is beating and it is strong.

Standing Together While Apart

Meeting Link:  HONORS PARTY!

Password:  curious

What strange times we live in.

Once again, I'm not going to talk much about the pressures facing us all - because we know them.  No matter your situation, you have challenges facing you in these strange times and it may sometimes feel like you're alone.

Once again, I'm going to remind you that you aren't.

There are so many ways to stay in touch with folks and that's one way that technology is actually helping us.  Technology can often be a double-edged sword, but right now, it's the best way to stay in touch.  Whether it be text messages, Facebook messages, Zoom, Webex, Facetime, TikTok, phone calls, or even letters - there are ways.  If you are feeling like you aren't sure how to reach out, please tell me.  Let's find a way for you to get in touch with other folks who might need or want someone to chat with.  We can try to recreate the casual conversations that happened in the hallways, in the cafe, in the classrooms before and after class started, or even random greetings in the restroom as you waiting in line or washed your hands.

It's true that we are all getting inundated with meeting requests, emails, Blackboard announcements, and media reminders of how much things have changed in the last month or so.  It makes a lot of us tired and it can feel completely overwhelming.  But, we can also control some of it.  We can find ways to use technology to help us feel connected with those around us.  We are all in similar boats and there's no reason why we can't exert a little effort to row those boats a little closer to one another so we aren't just shouting into the fog and hoping for a reply.

Come to our Webex party next week and let's make some connections.  Doesn't have to be about school or homework - we can talk about gardening and cats, Netflix shows and nature walks, where we scored some hand sanitizer or what baking fail we just had in the kitchen.  And we can ask how each is doing.  And maybe you can make a connection with someone there and so that you have someone you can reach out to if you need a friend.

Get sunshine and fresh air.  Stretch your legs and fill your lungs.  And then remember that technology can bring us together at time when we have to be a little farther apart in person.

You see, it's not REALLY social distancing.  It's physical distancing.

We need each other.

We just need each other from a bit of a physical distance right now.  But that doesn't mean we have to be alone.

Physical distancing.

Word cloud created at Word It Out using the article "Maintaining Relationships While Practicing Social Distancing" at Psychology Today.

Party Time!

Honors Studies Event!

Come chat with friends and share a laugh or two.  Honors Studies and Honors Club invite you to drop in for a chat.

Meeting Link:  HONORS PARTY!

Password:  curious

And who knows....Cowcat may even make a PERSONAL APPEARANCE!!

If you have an Honors T-Shirt - WEAR IT.  :)

Something Uplifting

Hello, Honors Friends, and happy spring.

There are so many things I could talk about right now and it has taken me some time to figure out how to blog for Honors now that Spring Break is over and we are learning our new normal, so to speak.  I know many of our Honors folks have various mental health challenges and so I wanted to tread carefully.  This should be a place of support and comfort.  Because that's what Honors is.

I was so uncertain that I asked an Honors Student what she would do if it were her blog.  This particular student was one that I knew would have a good answer and one that would make this blog easier to write because she is one of those who struggles.  She would know what to say. 

Or, rather, what not to say.

One thing she said that keeps running through my head as I draft and re-draft this is "Because it’s an honors blog, I’d be hoping for an uplifting statement near the end, as there usually is."

But you know what?  I'd rather be uplifting throughout.  We know what is going on.  We know the grim realities of the world right now.  We don't need reminding of that...but we might want reminding about things that are constants and things that we can rely on in these uncertain times.  Honors.  Even as our Honors community and experiences have been upturned, some things do not and will not change.

So, this is a blog of reminders and of hope.  You are part of Honors.  That means, you are still part of the Honors family.  Honors is still (another) home for you.  Honors is everything it should be for you - it just looks a little different right now.  But that's okay, because Honors is not only home - Honors is about innovation, curiosity, and forging ahead in spite of and because of challenges and obstacles.

You are not alone and you are not forgotten.  Honors is not forgotten.  It has moved and changed like everything else, but my 'Honors kids' are still my Honors kids.  You know how I know?

A decent number of you elected to take part in the Honors Living History Project**.  That project idea came from Vera Whisman - longtime Honors faculty who saw someone talk about a similar idea in a tweet.  A day later, the project was born.  A day after that, a survey was made.  Two days later, people were signing up.  Honors means reflecting on what's around us and figuring things out through thinking and writing.

Some of you have emailed or Facebook-messaged me.  Some asking school questions, but sometimes just seeing how I was doing.  Honors students are still looking after one another.  Even from a distance, we are still doing that.  I asked some Honors students for help recently and it was amazing how quickly I got answers in the affirmative.

FLCC has an amazing community and Honors is an amazing community within that community.  We got this.  And, to that end, Honors Club and I want you to stay tuned for a Zoom party for Honors and  Friends of Honors.  Let's get together and laugh and tell stories and check in with one another.  If it goes well, perhaps we can do it regularly.  Let's keep the Honors heart beating together.  We are NOT alone.  Any of us.

And so, I leave you with messages of hope and support.  Find me if you need me and I will help however I can.  And I will also leave you with one more uplifting thought, messaged to me by another student as we checked in with one another.

"Honors is strong and passionate; we will all get through this."

**Want in?  You still can.  Email me at trista.merrill@flcc.edu

Unjudge Someone

The following blog was written by April Broughton, who is (among other things) the Honors Studies Librarian.  They are also the organizer behind Human Library, which will take place on Laker Day.  Read on for more information and to learn what it is and why it is so important.  Remember, you can earn an Honors point for attending Human Library and reflecting on it afterwards.  Write a journal about the experience and then a reflective essay at the end of the semester and you can quantify the experience as part of the requirements for becoming an Honors Study Scholar.

April Broughton, Human Librarian

Those of you who have met me know that I am a story teller. And a story collector. Stories are how we stretch curiosity into acceptance, how we learn and grow. Conversations are the medium for some of the most startling and beautiful and impactful stories I have experienced. As a teller and collector and lover of stories, the Human Library is a global project I have been deeply involved in for some time, both as volunteer and event organizer. It is an event that facilitates conversations that might not happen naturally, and through that fosters diversity and inclusion and understanding. 

The Human Library brings together a collection of human Book volunteers who are willing to share their story with visitors, Readers, at the event. It sparks conversations that are interesting and fun and deep and really hard, all in equal measure. And it is magnificent.

I could sing out my love of the Human Library fairly endlessly.

Non Binary Lesbian Book, 2019

This semester, on Thursday April 9^th from 12pm- 4pm, the Library here at FLCC will be hosting its fourth Human Library event. In the past, our Book volunteers have been staff, faculty, community members, and students. Book titles have included Depression/Anxiety, Blind, Borderline Personality Disorder, Tattoos, Burned, Drug Use, Transgender, Muslim Peace Advocate, Veteran, Jewish, Asexual, and more. It is so important that these voices are present to engage in candid conversation with the college community so that we can listen and ask and learn. The Human Library asks us to unjudge our community, and provides a safe space to do so.

Borderline Personality Disorder Book, 2019

The Human Library is an event that has always radiated so much of what it means, to me, to be a part of Honors. It is a space to stretch beyond your comfort zone to accommodate curiosity. A place to listen and learn and add to the conversation all while supporting the community around you. It is a space to be unabashedly you and welcome others into that space with you. It’s a hard event, don’t get me wrong. It’s hard to be so honest like that, walls down and engaged. But it is absolutely beautiful to watch the Books all support each other, to watch the Readers learn and laugh and cry right along with the volunteers. It’s the same feeling I have gotten, often, after leading a really involved Honors seminar- exhausted but also really excited and ready for more.  I love it. And I think you will too.

Human Library Bookshelf, 2019

So consider this your invitation to stop by the Human Library on Laker Day, April 9^th. Listen to the stories we will have collected here, and add in your own voice as you question and explore and learn. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at april.broughton@flcc.edu.

I am looking forward to hearing your story.

LFG: Salamander Quest!

Vol 14 No 15

The blog below speaks for itself.  I hope you can join the quest!

Hi all!  

                My name is John Bateman and I am an instructor in the Department of Environmental Conservation.  I’m in my second year at FLCC, and currently teach an honors section of   I’m a herpetologist by trade (herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians), and I specialize in salamanders and frogs.  Outside of the classroom, I organize a large volunteer effort to help save amphibians down at FLCC’s Muller Field Station on Honeoye Lake, and this is the reason I am reaching out to you.

                The frogs and salamanders I work with endure winter underground, with some of them spending that time completely frozen.  When March arrives and signs of spring start showing up (warm days and rainy nights), they thaw out or awake from their sleep, and begin their migration to their breeding grounds to complete their life cycle.  Down at Muller Field Station, this is quite the treacherous journey for them as County Road 36 bisects their path.  It turns into a real-life game of “Frogger” (some of you may have to Google that game), and many don’t make it.  There is a larger issue at play here, too.   Globally, amphibians are experiencing significant declines.  There are more species of amphibians threatened by extinction than those of birds and mammals combined, and this is why I work with these animals.  In 2019, we moved close to 4,000 frogs and salamanders across the road over four nights and had less than a 5% mortality rate.  That total number moved is actually low compared to past years.  There have been single nights where more than 5,000 were moved in just a few hours!  As for the roadkill, my goal is to get that 5% even closer to zero, but I need your help.  The amphibians make their crossing over about a ¾-mile stretch of road, so I need a lot of people to cover that large of an area.   Don’t feel like you need to be an expert in amphibians to help, as I will cover the basics on proper handling and ID techniques.  And no, they do not bite.  While you may not be crazy about the idea of handling something that is wet, cold, and most likely unappreciative, it is a noble cause.  Without our help there would be carnage on the road, and we’re not sure how long their populations would persist without our intervention.

                While you might not be keen on amphibians (yet…), they play a vital role in the environment.  They are eating the insects that you consider pests, and are also food for the more charismatic birds and mammals you might be fond of.  Perhaps, too, you’ll gain an appreciation for these critters.  These animals rarely evoke enthusiasm, are often misunderstood, and deemed insignificant or persecuted by humans (heck – the word herpetology is based off the Greek herpes, meaning a creeping thing), but their lives have value.  I’ve been fortunate to have crossed paths with a few students who share my passion for these creatures.  Some of them shared that they found a love for amphibians because they, too, felt society viewed them in these negative ways and were able to draw parallels between their lives and that of a toad.  I hope you might be willing to look past any inherent fear or preconceived notions you might have of these creatures as they will not hurt you.  I promise.  Plus, there’s the possibility of seeing some other cool animals, like screech owls and flying squirrels.  Memories will be made, selfies will be taken, and you’ll go to bed that night knowing that you did a good deed.

                If you are interested I invite you to reach out to me.  My email is salamanders@flcc.edu, or you can pop by my office (#2238 in the conservation wing) and I can add you to the group chat.  The nights we work depend entirely on the weather (warm and rainy), and I do my best to send alerts out a day in advance.  Carpooling is recommended, and most nights there will be a 15-passenger van bringing folks down and back.  We typically work from 7-10ish.  Hope to see you there!

Transfer Talk

Vol 14 No 14

The advert below was written by Brianna Smith, class of 2019.  Now a Literature major at SUNY Potsdam, Brianna was an active part of Honors at FLCC.  She discovered us in ENG 101 and went on to explore numerous Honors experiences including many other classes in the disciplines, seminars, Honors dinner, being a poster maker and a speaker at Convocation, assistance with FLCC Visit Day, Human library, and even traveling to New Orleans with me to experience the National Collegiate Honors Council annual conference.  All of these experiences put her in a unique position to help other students by answering questions that you might have about transferring and about Honors overall.  Come join us for a chat.

What’s This Whole Transferring Thing About, Anyway? 

Transferring. It’s an important decision, one that requires careful thought and consideration. There are many factors that go into the choice. And even once the decision has been made, the application has been sent and reviewed, and even after you have your acceptance letter in hand, there’s still so much more left to do. 

Being an Honors student can add its own challenges and questions. Questions which I am here to assist in answering. 

Join us in room 2303 on Tuesday, March 10th during college hour for a discussion of transfer related questions from an FLCC alumna and former FLCC Honors Student. 

For students, by students.

Honors Club!

Vol 4 No 13

We have a guest blogger this week with an amazing announcement and some important information...

Hello!

Welcome to the Honors Club!

A place to bring and feed your nerd energy.

Have you ever taken and Honors course or are interested in looking at your education differently then this might be the place for you. In this club we will follow the honors motto “all you have to be is curious”. Our club is all about sharing experiences and things that make us want to learn and do more. We want to encourage everyone to study and do what they love.

To me Honors is a way to get in better touch with my learning process and myself. I hope for this club to take that beyond the classroom and into a less formal setting. I want to form a safe tight knit community of lifelong learners, to help each other grow and succeed in our learning here at FLCC.

I would like to introduce myself and the other leaders of the club:

• My Name is Rebecca and I am one of the co-directors of Honors club. I am a Theatre major and I am a huge film nerd.
• Annie is my co-director of the club. She is a nutrition and dietetics major.
• Emma is the club Treasurer. She is a Creative Writing major and is a self-proclaimed bookworm.
• Heidi is the club Secretary. She studies music performance and composition.

You do not have to have taken an honors class to be in the club, we are an all-inclusive club hoping to fuel each other’s love of learning. If you have any questions feel free to contact me by email rrayne@fingerlakes.edu or stop by our information table today 2/24 between 2:00 and 4:00 in front of Student Life.

Honors Cares

Vol 4 No 11

Honors.

The word brings so many things to mind – not the least of which is a connection to intelligence.  ‘It’s for the smart kids’ is something I’ve heard more than once.  There is some truth to it…but it does not come close to encompassing what Honors really means.  I’m in the middle in visiting all the Honors classes being taught at FLCC this semester.  And soon, I will ask both of my own Honors classes to freewrite about what Honors means to them.  I have expectations, but I’m sure that I will once again be surprised, touched, and humbled by the responses.

We are Honors nestled inside a community college and I think that what we end up building, without an initial intention of doing so, a community within a community.  Students that are already bonded through their experiences at a small two-year college are even further bonded by the things that brought them to – and keep them in – Honors classes and events.

My thoughts below are not intended to be a comparison or a contrast to the rest of the FLCC community in the slightest.  It’s just what I’ve experienced and what I want to share with Honors students who are both new to us as well as those who are returning.

People in Honors care and they have established relationships of trust and openness about difficult topics.  This is not universal, of course, but I am continually reminded that it is a common trend among Honors students.

Students that I have only known for three weeks feel comfortable telling me things about their lives and situations so that I can be better prepared to help them succeed.  Another feels comfortable pointing out that they found the conversation of the day too heavy for them to process an end of class question.  Yet another felt safe enough to point out that they were in recovery and thanked our guest speaker for talking about important things that needed talking about. 

And then there was today.

A student messaged me in minor crisis…sharing their overwhelming fear and anxiety in the moment.  They had already spoken to another Honors instructor before reaching out to me.  As soon as I could, I went to where the student was.  We shared a hug and then talked together about a plan for them to succeed.  I made sure that professional help was being sought out and that the student was safe and okay.  Group hugs were had - for at that point we were joined by the other instructor and another student.  Then, exhausted already for some reason (let us hope I’m not getting sick), I decided to cancel my afternoon class and go home to rest.  It had been a long day for no apparent reason.  I went home and slept for two hours.

I woke up to find a message on my phone from yet another student who noted that class was canceled and asked if I was okay.

Honors cares.

Annie Says Hello

Vol 4 No 11

I'm always happy to have guest bloggers and it is even better when it is a student.  I'll let Annie introduce herself to you....I just wanted to invite all of YOU to contribute to the blog if you'd like.  Just drop me an email at trista.merrill@flcc.edu.  Happy writing!

Welcome back Curious Creatures!

Annie (right) and Dr. Merrill (left)

Allow me to introduce myself...

My name is Annie Black and I am a Nutrition and Dietetics major. I am in my final semester at FLCC and will surely miss my Honors family. I couldn’t be more grateful for Honors being a part of my time here, as well as our beloved Director Dr. Merrill.

The Spring 2020 semester has much in store for all of us, especially with Honors! I just want to take this time to say welcome back to all students, faculty and staff. We appreciate you all and your contributions to Honors, in whatever way that may be. With our first full week of classes coming to an end, I wanted to take the time to remind everyone of our marvelous Honors librarian, April Broughton. They are a great resource for any of your Honors researching needs, among many other things. If you’re looking for any other academic help the Write Place, Math Center, and Science Incubator are great places to start.

This semester we have THIRTEEN different Honors classes taught by 11 exceptional Professors. Don’t worry if you weren’t able to register for any Honors classes, because you can turn any 2 classes into an HON credit class by utilizing the Honors Contract. Did you know that classes are not the only way to earn Honors points? There will be several events throughout the semester that you will be able to attend to earn points as well. For those of you that would like to be a part of more Honors outside the class room, I encourage you to look into joining Honors club. I look forward to seeing how Honors brings us together this semester.

“All you have to be is curious”

Honors home page https://www.flcc.edu/honors/index.cfm

Contracts https://www.flcc.edu/honors/contracts.cfm

Honors Club https://www.flcc.edu/honors/honors-club.cfm

April Broughton https://library.flcc.edu/welcome.cfm

The Write Place https://www.flcc.edu/offices/writingcenter/

The Math Center https://www.flcc.edu/offices/mathcenter/

The Science Incubator https://www.flcc.edu/incubator/

2020 Vision

Vol 4 No 10

Happy days and warm welcomes to one and all!

If you are new to Honors – we are so glad to have you!  If you’re returning to Honors, we’re glad to have you back.  It’s a new semester and a new year, and that is always a time for reflection and for new beginnings.  We hope everyone has a great 2020 and a wonderful, successful semester.  As we look to the weeks ahead, we know that the newness will wear off and you’ll be inundated with work and obligations of all kinds and yet we hope that a small part of you remembers these early days.  That sense of newness, of hope, of nerves but also excitement.  New courses, new faces, new names, new challenges all sitting in front of you, waiting to become familiar and waiting to be explored. 

We have so many exciting opportunities in regards to Honors this semester.  The Honors dinner, of course.  For new folks, think of this as an opportunity to get a free meal, some great conversation, and perhaps a new perspective on the power of Honors.  We also have a series of talks coming that come from the History folks in the Social Science Department.  Then on Laker Day, we will host the Human Library – an amazing event that lets you ask those questions you’ve always wanted to ask.  We will also have the Convocation – a poster session and a series of talks by Honors students.  You may be one of them!  The semester culminates in our graduation and awards ceremony.  This isn’t an exhaustive list, but it gives you an idea of the kinds of things you can expect this semester.

Most of you know by now that we are in a new place, and I’m sure that I will be writing about that in the near future in more depth.  I just wanted to say that Honors is more than a place, it’s a feeling.  The Owasco building may not be as cozy as the Honors House, and the lack of bathrooms is something of a hassle…but it can be just as important and vital if we make it that way.  Honors is the people, Honors is a feeling, and Honors is more than just what walls are around it.  Make that place your own and let us know if anything is truly lacking.

As for this virtual place, you’ll hear from me quite often on this blog and in other ways.  We have Facebook and Twitter, Flickr and this blog.  I try to be active in them all, and I’m happy to report that we will have some guest bloggers – faculty, staff, and even students who are (or have been) involved in Honors.  If you want to write a blog one week, just let me know and we will work out the details.

And so, there is much to look forward to and many things to experience as we begin this semester.  

Above all, I wish you the very best both in your Honors experience and beyond.  As I told new students at orientation earlier this month, celebrate your #nerdenergy and be proud of who you are.  Support your fellow students, reflect on yourself as a learner, and use all the tools you can to make the world around you a better place.