As a quick reminder, all students are eligible for Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) funds. If you haven’t received yours yet, be sure to contact the Business Office. The amounts range from $800 to $1,500 per student.

October is going to be a busy month. I’ll be attending my first in-person Board of Trustees meeting—it’s hard to believe we have worked together for over a year now and haven’t shared the same physical space! We are also welcoming alumni and parents to campus for Homecoming. As I recently learned, Southwestern was the very first university in the country to hold a Homecoming. You could say we invented it, and I’ve heard a great deal from alumni about how much they enjoy it. My family and I are also looking forward to my inauguration on October 15, an event a year in the making.

Remember, if you are not feeling well, please do not attend classes or meetings or go to work. By staying in your room, you will be keeping your friends, staff, and faculty safe. We all want to stop the spread of COVID (and I’m more than happy to contain all the other common winter viruses like the flu as well). If you’re worried that not attending class may affect your grade, please reach out to your professor.

I’ve started to hear murmurs that some of you are worried about the possibility of returning to remote instruction if COVID cases increase on campus. Let’s all agree: that’s not going to happen on our watch! I want you to be able to have an in-person college experience. In order to achieve that, here’s the recipe: wear your mask indoors (with your nose and chin tucked inside) unless you are actively eating and drinking and, if possible, please get vaccinated. You are very close to reaching the magic 90% vaccination rate, and I’m rooting for you!

Vaccination Updates (as of September 28, 2021)

• Student vaccination rate: 88.9%
• Faculty vaccination rate: 90.4%
• Staff vaccination rate: 82.9%
• University cumulative vaccination rate: 87.9%

Student testing happens every Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Robertson Center. Everyone is welcome to get tested. On-campus testing is free to all students who have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The Georgetown Public Library also provides free testing. Visit the Health Center to find other off-campus testing locations (please note we only accept the results of PCR tests). If you are vaccinated but still worried, feel free to go and get swabbed. We have vaccinated faculty and staff doing the same.

If you choose to test off-campus, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, don’t forget to report your results to the Health Center at covidtesting@southwestern.edu.

Sweet Surprise

The Sweet Surprise returns this Wednesday from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Captain will be back on the Academic Mall by the flagpoles. What will the sweet surprise be? Baked Alaska? Jell-O molds? Deep-fried Snickers bars (hint, hint)? Sadly, it is still an iron-clad secret as the committee refuses to divulge its plans despite my constant cajoling. I can promise, it will be something delicious!

Take a Deep Breath

We’ve reached that time in the semester when we are all feeling overwhelmed. Take a deep breath. Did you take one? I’m serious. Pause for a moment and take three super deep yoga breaths. Breathe in and out slowly. Feel better? I do.

Constantly juggling school, work, and family obligations while navigating the stressors of the world today is exhausting. It’s important to take care of yourself. Here are two easy ways to start. First, join us for Self-Care Saturdays. This Saturday at 2:00 p.m., ​​Purna Bajekal from the Counseling and Health Center will lead us in exploring how to use meditation as a mindfulness practice. Second, Twinkles and I invite all walkers to join us at 7:30 a.m. on Monday mornings at our home on campus! We’ll have treats for all.

Athletics