November 17, 2025
Newsletter link: https://mailchi.mp/94240e2170d0/this-week-in-honors
Deep Breaths
For us, it feels like we've been running a marathon without water stations this semester, and we don't even have finals! For you, maybe it feels like there's no end in sight or maybe it seems right around the corner. This time of year is pretty good at being a kind of strangely static limbo before things start going very, very fast. It's easy to stress yourself out more than necessary. Take some time in between studying to breathe, join us for a little break at Life of the Mind, and make sure to take care of yourself. You got this!
~V
- Life of the Mind
- This Week in Honors
- Advising Announcements
- Service Announcements
- Self-Care
- HSA
- Neat Stuff
Life of the Mind
The 10 Films Every Honors Student Should Watch event went swimmingly! Our own Dr. Jessica Hutchins won the prize, and we're looking into showing the films she recommended as a bonus event. We've still got one more event, and I know it's going to be great!
AI, Automated Futures, and the Technopolitics of Education in the Algorithmic Age
Which is simultaneously daunting and intriguing to me. Actually, that's kind of how I feel about AI in general. We have AI; we can't go back. Explore how AI is not just automating work, but influencing the way we think, learn, and live.
Time and Location Correction: Tomorrow, November 18 at 4:30pm in SE 3126. (Add to calendar) 
This Week in Honors
The usual suspects.
Learning Lounges
Gaggle
De-Stress Thursday will be board games!
Advising Announcements
We're changing how you show up for your appointment and walk-ins. From now on, DO NOT GO DIRECTLY TO YOUR ADVISOR'S OFFICE. Check in at the front desk, and have a seat in our glorious new reception area. - FYI: Meagan is out until December except for classes
Service Announcements
- The Ethics Bowl approaches! The actual event is January 31, 2026, but there will be many service opportunities in preparation as well: An orientation to what Ethics Bowl is, supporting practices with each of the four schools participating this round, and a dry run training session to get familiar with some of the technology that supports match-running and score-keeping. Sound interesting? For more information, contact Tori Walters.
- Reminder: Service Hours should now be reported through Suitable for all honors students.
- Go to the Suitable app or website.
- Tap the three-lines icon, bottom right or at the website, check the left-side menu for "Forms"
- Go to "Forms"
- Look for the service hours form, and select.
- Follow the directions to submit.
- Once a month, we offer a chance to earn suitable points by submitting service hours through the "Activities" section. It's titled "[Month] Service Hours" and it will take you to the same form you use for regular service submissions, just by way of a points activity. For questions, please contact vhovers@siue.edu.
Health Hacks: Sweater Weather Edition
The holiday season is slowly settling in – along with shorter days, chilly mornings, and the first hints of winter weariness. Before the chaos of finals and travel begins, take this week to slow down, breathe deeply, and care for your body and mind. A little self-care now can make all the difference later.
Honors Student Association
Needing service hours? Feeling the urge to craft? You're in luck! HSA's 3rd community meeting is also a service opportunity! Tomorrow, November 18th, 6-8 pm, (So plenty of time for Life of the Mind first!) come make cards for senior citizens, while also watching the movie you all voted for on Instagram (@siuehsa) and drinking hot chocolate! While basic crafting supplies will be provided, feel free to bring more fun stuff—like stickers, stamps, etc.!
Neat Stuff
- Reminding all that Jon Coulson's (of Retaliaturkey Action fame) Honors class sponsored the Cougar Mini-Cupboard in the library for the rest of the semester, and they're excited to decorate and contribute to it. Jon is extending that invite to you, our JMHP family, both because of our strong volition to support our community, and because the need is going to be greater than normal this month as SNAP benefits have been politicized/delayed. Just in October, the Cougar Cupboards distributed over 3,300 pounds of food! Anyone interesting in contributing can contribute directly to the box near the vending machines on the lower level of the Lovejoy Library. Ideas below:
- cup of noodles
- mac n cheese bowls
- fruit snacks
- granola bars
- peanut butter
- peanut butter crackers
- pasta sauce
- salt & pepper
- flour tortillas
- small snack size cheese and crackers
- can openers
- honey
- oatmeal packets
- trail mix (nuts and seeds)
- canned foods (potatoes, carrots, garbanzo beans, chickpeas, diced tomatoes)
- white rice
- quinoa
- jasmine rice
- dry beans
- canned soups
- dried fruit
- shelf-stable milk (almond, soy, coconut, etc)
- Open to all majors! Join the Criminal Justice Studies department for a trip to Greece this summer, May 17-28, 2026. More info here: https://siue.studioabroad.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=12108
