How are we already one month into the fall semester?
Is it just me or is the semester speeding by? It’s definitely been a busy and exciting time on campus. I wrapped up my first in-person student office hours last week, and I am looking forward to hosting, along with Lauren, my first Ask Me Anything session in the DiGs lobby on Thursday, Sept. 15, from 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Stop by and say “Hi!” if you have a chance.
There’s a lot going on, so please take a moment to note the following:
Washington Monthly Student Voting Accolade
In addition to yesterday’s U.S. News “Best Colleges” announcement, I’m happy to share that Winthrop has been included, for the fifth year in a row, in Washington Monthly’s “Best Colleges for Student Voting” rankings. This emphasizes Winthrop’s commitment to civic engagement, and I thank Katarina Moyon for her leadership as well as each of you who had a part in helping us achieve this important recognition. I encourage you to read more about our inclusion in this press release.
Constitution Day Event
Each September, Winthrop observes Constitution Day, and this year, on Sept. 15, at 11 a.m. in Dina’s Place, the John C. West Forum on Politics and Policy and the Department of Political Science will host the non-partisan event, “The Dobbs Decision and the Changing Constitutional Right to Privacy,” featuring University of South Carolina Law Professor Thomas Crocker. A Constitutional scholar, Crocker will share the legal arguments used in the Dobbs case and how they differ from legal arguments used in previous privacy cases. Learn more about the event here.
Newly Approved COVID-19 Boosters
SC DHEC representatives will be on campus Tuesday, Sept. 27, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in McBryde Hall to administer the newly approved COVID-19 bivalent boosters (Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech). The event also will provide free COVID-19 test kits. This is a free, walk-in event for students, faculty and staff, and attendees will need to bring their vaccine cards to show they are at least two months past a primary or booster vaccination. Thanks to Jackie Concodora, director of the Center for Student Wellness, and her staff for coordinating this clinic. This is a convenient, and free, way to help keep our campus community healthy during the upcoming fall/winter months. Find out more about the bivalent boosters here.
Mental Health Programming for Students
An important initiative is helping our newest students focus on their mental health. Thanks to the work of Gloria Jones, professor emerita of English and now student advocate, Liz Moore, academic advisor within the Richard W. Riley College of Education, and others, our students are accessing on-campus programming provided by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). ACAD 101 students are attending at least one NAMI session, which counts for cultural event credit, this semester. There are two more upcoming sessions – “In Our Own Voice” at 11 a.m. on Sept. 20 and “Ending the Silence” at 7 p.m. on Sept. 22 – that will be held in Dina’s Place. Please encourage your students to attend these approved cultural events. We know that the pandemic and other stressors have had an impact on mental health across our society in recent years, and young people increasingly are in need of support.
Free Admission to Fall Athletic Events
Like many of you, Lauren, the girls and I are excited about Winthrop’s fall athletic events. We attended recent soccer and volleyball games and loved them! Did you know that Winthrop employees and their immediate family members can attend all regular season home sports events for free? Simply show your valid Winthrop ID to gain admission. Family members need an ID? They can be made at the Technology Services Office (1 McBryde Hall) or requested via e-mail by sending a photo of your family member, along with their name and mailing address, to servicedesk@winthrop.edu. I look forward to seeing you cheering on our teams and supporting our student-athletes this fall. Go Eagles!
Thanks to each of you for everything that you are doing to ensure that we have a successful fall semester. We’re off to a great start!
Edward
Edward Serna
President
