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.