Sweet Surprise

Tomorrow, we’ll be back on the academic mall from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. After running out of sweet treats for a second time this semester, the Captain walked the plank. Good thing he knows how to swim! There’s been a great turnout for the Sweet Surprise every week this semester. This week a double load of something has been ordered and there will be plenty for everyone. Exactly what it is I have no idea.  

Our First Sweet Surprise Guest  

Dr. Saroji Rai will join us for this week’s Sweet Surprise. Dr. Rai is the senior scientific advisor at the Texas Department of State Health Services and is an expert in COVID testing and a Southwestern mother. She is the equivalent of a COVID Google. Ask her anything and everything about COVID, vaccines, positivity rates—she knows it all!

Just Have Fun!

Student Activities and the University Programming Council host many activities on campus to keep the community entertained. Take a break from your studies and the craziness of everyday life to attend one of their events.

Tonight, the Sarofim Music Series is presenting a cello concert with Doug Harvey at 7:30 p.m. in the Alma Thomas Fine Arts Center. I am looking forward to this performance and I invite you all to join me. This Saturday, you can get dinner and a movie for free! Enjoy Black Widow and Freebirds burritos at 6:00 p.m. in the McCombs Ballrooms. Check out more events.

Morning Walk

On Monday morning at 7:30 a.m. I’ll be ready to walk and talk and share some Halloween treats at the end. It was great to see so many students yesterday.

Next Week’s Events

My first in-person Board of Trustees meeting—goodbye Ring Central—Homecoming (Southwestern invented Homecoming BTW), and my Inauguration! On Friday, October 15, head out for live music on the McCombs Campus Center Veranda and Ruter Hall Lawn during Homecoming. Information on this and many more exciting events will be shared over the coming days.

Yesterday, we launched a brand new health and safety website. The new site still features the dashboard, but also Health and Safety policies, procedures, FAQs, and other resources. Now it can all be found in one place. You can view the website here.

Vaccination Updates (as of October 4, 2021)

• Student vaccination rate: 89.4%
• Faculty vaccination rate: 91.5%
• Staff vaccination rate: 83.5%
• University cumulative vaccination rate: 88.5%

You are so, so close to your 90% vaccination goal—less than 1 percentage point away! I’m cheering you on (plus I’m really excited for the Captain to hand out your gift). You got this! If you are vaccinated but still worried, feel free to go and get swabbed during the weekly testing at the Robertson Center. We have vaccinated faculty and staff doing the same.

SU Resources: Internship 101

Looking for an internship? Our new Internships Office is excited to bring you Internships 101, a workshop designed to help you get started on your search. You will learn what a high-quality internship looks like, how you can find one using resources provided by SU, and the steps you should take to land an internship in your field of study. The next session is Thursday, Oct. 7, at 2:00 p.m. in room 233 of the Prothro Center. Register for this event through HireSU.

Athletics