September鈥檚 conversation, taking place on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. in Moseley 217, will focus on generative artificial intelligence. Participants will think about the presence of artificial intelligence in their lives and how it impacts building genuine relationships with others.

On Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. in Moseley 217, members of the 乱伦视频 community will come together to discuss the current state of collegiate athletics. Participants will discuss issues like Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), the transfer portal and the rise of gambling.

The last dialogue of the semester on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. in Moseley 217 will be a chance for members of the 乱伦视频 community to debrief the 2026 midterm elections and think about what comes next.聽Please visit this webpage for information about other dialogue events on campus.

All events are sponsored by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life

Together with AJ Smith ’29 and Sam McCusker Alvarez ’26, the team launched a uniquely creative approach to combining fun engagement with memorable safety info and prizes. The sponsoring staff member for 乱伦视频’s first time participating was the new Environmental Health and Safety Specialist for Academic Affairs, Melinda Box, who contributed funding and coordination.

The sponsoring association, CSHEMA, supports this nationwide event in February of each year by providing the theme, resources and professional community support. Participants include students and lab safety professionals on campuses of all sizes across the nation. Participants submit summaries of what they rolled out and are judged based on clarity, originality, creativity, quality, messaging, marketing, branding and impact. 乱伦视频 competed against five other entrants in the small institution category and won first prize. Winners were announced on July 19 at the award ceremony that was part of the annual CSHEMA conference.

To win, the team of students at 乱伦视频 went above and beyond the resources CSHEMA provided in their event organization. They put together a film festival, website, bingo night, tabling event with hands-on activities, scavenger hunt, and a lab mystery game night. They also created collectable prizes including hazard symbol dice, buttons, plaques, and parody-labeled Flubber. In addition, they contributed to International Coffee with safety-themed cookies and film festival discussion. For this major undertaking, they were also awarded a Residential Campus Advisory Committee Living & Learning Grant and received funding from 乱伦视频’s Belk Library.

“I’m so proud of all the phenomenally creative ideas this team generated and made happen,” said Box. “They poured their hearts and souls into something they value greatly, generating and sustaining a culture of safety in their community.”

鈥淭he magic of 乱伦视频 College lies in the people who teach our students,鈥� said Hilton Kelly, Dean of 乱伦视频 College, the College of Arts and Sciences. 鈥淥ur new faculty members embody a commitment to the liberal arts. They are curious, inspiring and interdisciplinary thinkers. We are delighted to welcome them to our community.鈥�

New Professors for 2026-27 in 乱伦视频 College, the College of Arts and Sciences

• Jackson Cooper, assistant professor of arts administration, earned an MFA from Seattle University. He will teach Arts Administration and Community, Legal Aspects of Art and Entertainment and COR 1100: The Global Experience.
• Joseph Frey, assistant teaching professor of human service studies, earned a PhD from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. He will teach Social Policy and Inequality and The Art and Science of Human Service Studies.
• Rachel Johnson, assistant professor of biochemistry, earned a PhD from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. She will teach General Chemistry and Biochemistry.聽She will join in the Winter Term to teach General Chemistry and Biochemistry.
• Ariana Montoya-Lozano, assistant professor of political science and public policy and environmental studies, earned a PhD from Purdue University. She will teach Introduction to Environmental Science 1150 and Environmental Policy 3230.
• Aditi Vyas, assistant professor of biology, earned a PhD from Ohio University. She will teach Cell Biology and Genetics.
• Danny Frye, interim director of bands, earned a DMA from University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

About 乱伦视频 College, the College of Arts and Sciences

乱伦视频 College, the College of Arts and Sciences provides the foundation for the study of the liberal arts and sciences at 乱伦视频. The college is comprised of 19 departments across three branches: the arts and humanities; natural, mathematical and computational sciences; and social and behavioral sciences. It hosts 乱伦视频鈥檚 chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation鈥檚 oldest honor society celebrating excellence in the liberal arts and sciences.

Committed to the growth of students鈥� intellectual curiosity, intercultural competence and critical thinking, the college champions disciplinary knowledge and interdisciplinary applications to reflect upon, respond to and offer solutions to complex problems in an interconnected and changing world.

With more than 45 majors and 65 minors, the college is 乱伦视频鈥檚 largest academic division. Two-thirds of the nearly 1,600 students who graduate from 乱伦视频 annually do so with at least one major or minor in the college. Within a year, over 90% of college graduates report employment in their chosen field or enrollment in top post-graduate programs.

College faculty are prolific and preeminent scholars and creators in their fields, recognized for expertise at national and international levels. Each year, its more than 300 full-time faculty publish hundreds of articles, chapters, and books, and they present at scores of conferences and events. Their scholarship results in grants and fellowships from the National Science Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Institutes of Health and other prominent centers of research.

The emotions of that moment were felt in a deeply personal way on Aug. 21, 2026, as Bird and his family unloaded boxes and moved his daughter, Lydia, into her new home at 乱伦视频.

As someone who guides campus life at Queens, Adrian knows firsthand how crucial that first day can be. Experiencing it as a parent offered a fresh perspective.

“I have always known the importance of receiving new students and their families with generous hospitality,” Adrian shared. “Often times staff and students show up to share the load of move-in. What struck me at 乱伦视频 was the joy and energy that move-in helpers showed up with as they greeted new students and their families鈥攊ncluding me! That energy, sincerity, and willingness to assist was so welcome, taking the pressure off what is already an emotionally charged move-in moment.”

For Lydia, stepping onto campus marks the beginning of a long-awaited independence balanced by a comforting closeness to home.

“I had a lot of dreams as a kid of going way up north or going back to Europe for college, but when I found 乱伦视频, it felt like such a perfect spot ” Lydia shared. “It was close enough to where if I wanted to pop down and see my family or my friends for a weekend, I could, but also where I felt far enough away that I could start my own journey and begin my own chapter.”

As the 乱伦视频 and Queens merger progresses, Adrian noted an undeniable personal perk: built-in opportunities to visit. “The selfish reality that I might be going up to 乱伦视频 for work meetings and can take Lydia out for lunch is a real treat,” he said with a smile.

Born in Scotland, Lydia brings a global perspective to campus. Early in her childhood, the Birds moved to Columbia, South Carolina. There, Lydia spent her weekends wandering around the South Carolina State Museum, sparking a lifelong fascination with history, reading and writing.

Lydia notes that while some humanities majors default to teaching or law, she has her heart set on curated history.

“I want to work in a museum. That鈥檚 always been something I鈥檝e been really fascinated by,” Lydia said. ” I want to be in a place where people actively study history and make them come to life through exhibits.鈥�

That career path came into focus during a campus tour when she learned about 乱伦视频’s museum studies and public history minor and an archaeology program that spent July conducting field research in Belize.

“That was actually one of those real anchor points of, ‘Wow, maybe this is more of a fit than I thought it would be,'” Adrian recalled.

For Adrian, whose career is built around serving students and fostering multi-faith communities, experiencing this transition as a father is both overwhelming and profoundly rewarding.

“Everybody told us that it would be the blink of an eye, and it certainly has been,” he said. “I love what higher education offers to young people. It鈥檚 that growth dimension that happens when students are curious and want to be empowered. I鈥檓 thrilled Lydia will get to experience that at 乱伦视频, and I will be close enough to see her thrive.”

“Earth Day Every Day programming provides an exciting opportunity for the 乱伦视频 Community to learn about sustainability, take action and connect with others looking for change,” said Sophia Remisio 鈥�27. “Planting for the Planet has a special place in my heart, as it was one of the first Office of Sustainability events I ever attended and it introduced me to a community of people on campus with a passion for sustainability!

Planting for the Planet | Friday, Sept. 4 from 3-5 p.m. at 乱伦视频 Community Garden
Are you interested in getting involved with sustainability at 乱伦视频? Join us at the 乱伦视频 Community Garden to connect with like-minded individuals and enjoy potting your own houseplant to take home.聽 We鈥檒l provide plants, soil, and pots.聽, but drop-ins are always welcome!

Steeped in Sustainability | Monday, Sept. 7 from 1:30-2:30 pm on Medallion Plaza
Come to Medallion Plaza and leave with your very own sustainable iced drink kit! Sample refreshing sparkling 鈥淪crappy Sodas鈥� made with upcycled fruit syrups and sparkling water, then take home your own mason jar, reusable straw, recipe card and sustainably made syrup to recreate the drinks yourself. Decorate a reusable tote bag to carry it all home, and enjoy fresh flower bouquets from Loy Farm to celebrate the season. Join us for a fun and tasty time!

Sustainability Stewards Meeting |Wednesday, Sept. 9 from 7-8 p.m. in Moseley 215
Interested in getting involved in sustainability at 乱伦视频?聽聽Join the Sustainability Stewards program to connect with like-minded individuals and promote sustainability throughout campus.聽, but drop-ins are always welcome.

Coffeehouse Coffee Scrub with SUB | Thursday, Sept. 10 from 10-11 p.m. in Irazu
Enjoy SUB鈥檚 Coffeehouse, then give those coffee grounds a second life! Join the Eco-Reps to create your own all-natural body scrub using spent coffee grounds and discover an easy way to turn waste into something useful.

乱伦视频 Farmer鈥檚 Market | Thursday, Sept. 17 from 3-6 p.m. at 乱伦视频 Community Church
Join us to support local farmers, enjoy fresh seasonal produce and find unique handmade goods! Stop by the Office of Sustainability鈥檚 table to taste delicious 鈥渦gly鈥� produce and learn how embracing imperfect fruits and veggies helps fight food waste.聽 The 乱伦视频 Farmer鈥檚 Market runs every April- October 3-6 p.m. at the 乱伦视频 Community Church.

Autumn Swap Shop | Friday, September 25 from 4-6 p.m. in downstairs Moseley
Fall into sustainable fashion!聽 Bring gently used clothing to swap for cozy sweaters, scarves, and more at our autumn-themed Pop-Up Swap Shop. Find something new-to-you聽and learn how swapping can save money and reduce waste.

Star Gazing for Mental Health | Thursday, Oct. 1 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. on the Daniel Commons Patio
Take a break, look up and reconnect with the night sky! Enjoy stargazing, cosmic-inspired snacks, and learn how time spent outdoors can help reduce stress and improve well-being. Attend for a chance to win a telescope to continue exploring the night sky!

Sponsored by the Astronomy Club, Counseling Services, the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and the Office of Sustainability.

Coffeehouse Coffee Scrub with SUB | Thursday, October 8 from 10-11 p.m. in Irazu
Enjoy SUB鈥檚 Coffeehouse, then give those coffee grounds a second life! Join the Eco-Reps to create your own all-natural body scrub using spent coffee grounds and discover an easy way to turn waste into something useful.

Tree Walk | Friday, October 9 from 12-1 p.m. at Fonville Fountain (in front of Alamance)
Join 乱伦视频鈥檚 Arborist Wendy Williams on a walk around 乱伦视频鈥檚 beautiful campus to learn about 乱伦视频鈥檚 trees, including the Tree Trail on campus, Wendy鈥檚 favorite trees, and insider information on the maintenance and sustainability of the 乱伦视频 urban forest. .

Earth Day Every Day directly supports the Engagement Goal in 乱伦视频’s Sustainability Master Plan 2025.聽 Learn more about the Sustainability Master Plan 2025.聽 聽

In 2019, she also joined Scouting America (formerly the Boy Scouts of America), as a pioneer in Troop 233, one of Charlotte鈥檚 largest all-female troops. There, she embraced the outdoors, learned important life skills, and took on the responsibility of serving as a mentor for younger girls.

Navigating the early days in her troop meant overcoming some challenges and prejudices within the broader scouting community. Horneman and her peers persevered and, by June 2025, she achieved the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout.

“Women have established themselves as important figures in the scouting community,” Horneman said. “We are now very much a foundational point in scouting.”

Today, her leadership spans multiple roles serving as vice chief of inductions for the Order of the Arrow, Scouting鈥檚 Honor Society, while holding leadership positions in two Venturing Crews. She recently completed her fourth year as a camp staff member at BSA Camp Grimes.

It was at a Scout meeting that Horneman learned of her acceptance to Queens University as a Presidential Scholar. 鈥淚t was phenomenal and I really felt that it was an affirming moment that I was meant to be a Royal,鈥� Horneman said.

Horneman鈥檚 commitment to serving the community also directly feeds her second great passion: creative writing. To her, crafting stories is more than an artistic outlet – it is a tool for human connection.

Horneman realized the power of storytelling during a 2025 mission trip to Spain, where she volunteered at an English language camp for Ukrainian refugees. Standing before a group of young people who had fled war and lost their homes, Horneman felt the daunting weight of trying to connect with them.

As she shared her personal testimony, the young audience listened intently.

“I have never seen a group of kids so engaged,” Horneman said. “The ability of words to connect people with such different backgrounds just absolutely astounded me. I knew then it was in my future to be a writer.”

At Queens, Horneman plans to double major in creative writing and business, with goals to launch new campus initiatives, like an Ultimate Frisbee club on the quad. She also wants to dive deeper into short story fiction inspired by classic authors such as Edgar Allan Poe.

“I very much believe there’s a reason that I’m going to Queens,” Horneman says. “I want to inspire people when I can and make their lives better in some way, shape, or form.”

Related Articles

• New beginnings, familiar reminders mark Class of 2030鈥檚 arrival at 乱伦视频
• Class of 2030 reminded of the 鈥榚normous opportunity鈥� of an 乱伦视频 education at New Student Convocation

乱伦视频鈥檚 Class of 2030 committed to uphold the university鈥檚 core values of honesty, integrity, responsibility and respect during the annual Call to Honor ceremony Monday, Aug. 24, in Alumni Gym.

Student Government Association President Michael Swartz 鈥�27 opened the ceremony by reminding students that the Honor Code extends to all aspects of life at 乱伦视频.

鈥淭hese are more than just four words; they are a guiding star for every decision we make throughout life,” Swartz said.

As part of the ceremony, student leaders representing each class signed the Honor Code book, symbolizing their commitment to the four values.

Swartz encouraged students to view honesty as more than avoiding academic misconduct, noting that the relationships students build with peers, faculty and staff depend on fulfilling commitments and remaining true to their word.

鈥楬onor matters鈥�

Emily Elrod, assistant teaching professor of mathematics and statistics, reflected on how honor has shaped her 20-year career in education, from public K-12 schools and community colleges to public and private universities.

鈥淗onor matters,鈥� Elrod told students. 鈥淭o me, honor is reflected through honesty, integrity, responsibility, and respect. It matters in the classroom, in our professional relationships, and in the trust that others place in us as individuals and leaders.鈥�

Elrod, who is beginning her fifth year at 乱伦视频, said the opportunities she has received throughout her career have been rooted in relationships built on trust. She encouraged students to think about academic honor not simply as a set of rules designed to prevent misconduct, but as an important part of the learning process and developing character.

Elrod said students can sometimes feel pressure to immediately have the correct answer or succeed from the beginning. Instead, she encouraged them to embrace mistakes, reflection and improvement as essential parts of learning.

鈥淢y hope is that students leave the classroom not only with stronger content knowledge, but also with a deeper understanding that honor is not simply about following rules, it is about becoming the kind of person others can trust, respect, and rely on throughout a lifetime,鈥� Elrod said.

Building a strong foundation

Kenzi Maness 鈥�27, a history and political science double major and president of 乱伦视频鈥檚 First Generation Society and Phi Alpha Delta, spoke directly to the Class of 2030 about respect, the Honor Code value their class will represent throughout their time at 乱伦视频.

Maness shared how the four values have shaped her own 乱伦视频 experience as she prepares to graduate a year earlier than originally expected. Doing so, she said, required honest conversations with professors, organization, self-reflection and an understanding of how much she could reasonably take on.

鈥淚f you are not honest with yourself, then you cannot be honest with others,鈥� Maness said.

She compared the four Honor Code values to blocks forming a tower: Removing one can weaken the others and eventually destabilize the entire structure.

鈥淭his is a new chapter so build your tower strong and lean on the amazing resources 乱伦视频 has to offer when you need to,鈥� Maness said. 鈥淭he Honor Code sets a standard we are all expected to meet, a standard that strives to make us all better citizens, students, family members, and friends.鈥�

Joining generations of 乱伦视频 students

President Connie Ledoux Book then led students in reciting the Call to Honor.

Today we are entrusted with the honorable legacy of 乱伦视频, dedicated聽to the intellectual, personal and spiritual growth of all its members, to the聽advancement of knowledge for the good of all, and to the service of local, national聽and global communities. To that end, we affirm our commitment to the core values聽of our university:

• We commit ourselves to聽honesty, being truthful in our academic work and in our relationships with others.
• We commit ourselves to show聽integrity, being trustworthy, fair and ethical.
• We commit ourselves to聽responsibility, being accountable for our action and for our learning.
• We commit ourselves to聽respect, being civil, valuing the dignity of each person, and respecting the physical and intellectual property of others.

With these commitments, we join generations of 乱伦视频 students as bearers of its honor.

Book signed the Honor Code book and offered the university鈥檚 commitment in return.

鈥淲e have pledged our commitment to live these 乱伦视频 values,鈥� Book said. 鈥淥n behalf of the university, I pledge to you that 乱伦视频 will do its part to challenge you to grow intellectually, socially and spiritually.鈥�

The ceremony concluded with the singing of 乱伦视频鈥檚 alma mater and a final charge from Swartz to remain committed to honesty, integrity, responsibility and respect throughout their years at 乱伦视频.

As they departed Alumni Gym, students received commemorative coins inscribed with the word 鈥淗onor鈥� and were invited to sign boards displaying the Honor Pledge on Young Commons, making a public commitment to the values they had pledged to uphold.

鈥淲e hope that this coin will help you recall this Honor Code ceremony and your commitment,鈥� Swartz said. 鈥淚t is what makes a community out of individuals and binds us together as 乱伦视频.鈥�

The first Phoenix Five of the year is here! Each Sunday afternoon, I’ll send you a quick email with five things you need to know for the week ahead. This could include important deadlines and campus events or helpful reminders and opportunities to get involved.聽 My goal is simple: keep you as informed as possible with one Sunday email you can use to plan your week ahead.

With classes beginning on Tuesday, here are five things to help you start the semester off right.

Get Connected on Social Media

Social media is one of the easiest ways to stay plugged in at 乱伦视频. If you want to know what鈥檚 happening on campus in real time, here are a few Instagram accounts I recommend:

• 乱伦视频 (main)
• Phoenix Athletics and Phoenix Phanatics
• Student Life
• 乱伦视频 Dining
• Student Union Board
• 乱伦视频 News Network
• HealthEU

Hypnotist

Monday, Aug. 24, 8:30-11 p.m., Alumni Gym

Join the Student Union Board (SUB) for the annual hypnotist show 鈥� a student favorite! Come ready to watch your friends (or maybe even yourself!) take the stage for an unforgettable, hilarious performance. .

乱伦视频 Campus Traditions 鈥� Starting this Week!

College Coffee

Tuesdays, 9:40-10:20 a.m., Alumni Gym

College Coffee is one of 乱伦视频鈥檚 most beloved traditions. Every Tuesday morning, the entire campus gathers for coffee, treats and conversation. It鈥檚 a chance to meet people, connect with faculty and staff, and hear about what鈥檚 happening around campus. If your student organization wants to host an information table at College Coffee, information on .

Numen Lumen: A Thursday Inspiration

Thursdays, 9:50-10:20 a.m., Numen Lumen Pavilion

On Thursday mornings, we pause for a moment of reflection and inspiration. You鈥檒l hear music from student, faculty, and staff performers and reflections from members of our community. This year鈥檚 theme is and the first Numen Lumen of the year will be held this Thursday.

Getting Started with Canvas

Beginning with the Fall 2026 semester, 乱伦视频 is using Canvas instead of Moodle. You鈥檒l use it to access course materials, submit assignments, communicate with your instructors, and view your grades. Before classes begin:

• Log in to Canvas using your 乱伦视频 account.
• After logging in for the first time, as part of setting up your Canvas account. Your account will not be fully functional until you do.
• Visit the for student guides, FAQs and support resources.
• Learn the basics by enrolling in the course.

When you log in, you may not see all of your Fall courses immediately. Your instructors will make courses available before or on the first day of class.

Cheer on Phoenix at First Home Football Game

Thursday, Aug. 27

Student Tailgate

2-7 p.m., Hunt B (back parking lot of the Schar Center)

Before football kickoff, get ready to ignite your game day with Phoenix spirit at the student tailgate. Parking passes are available in Student Involvement and are limited to one pass per student and three passes per student organization or group.

乱伦视频 v. Glenville State

7 p.m., Rhodes Stadium

Start off the fall semester by cheering on the Phoenix as 乱伦视频 opens the football season against Glenville State. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. in Rhodes Stadium.

“Human* Being: On Otherkin Identity and Digital Community”聽is an ethnographic exploration of the Otherkin鈥攁 technologically mediated community whose members identify as other-than-human鈥攂reaking down barriers of identity and calling into question assumptions about what it means to be a human. The book argues that the internet-saturated communities of the industrialized Global North have become open to a relationship for sociality beyond the human, something that might be called 鈥渁nimism鈥� in many parts of the world.

The book approaches this phenomenon through the lens of the Otherkin and their practices of digitally mediated identity and community construction. They recognize their biological humanness, but nonetheless experience the non-human memories, urges, and sensations of animals and mythological creatures: wolves, dragons, tigers, elves and so on. The Otherkin represent a larger shift in body identity, shown by increasing numbers of people identifying as trans, nonbinary, fluid, and neurodiverse; bodies open to nuance, complication, and multiplicity. However anomalistic, even fantastical they may seem, the Otherkin offer a window into our own complex notions of bodies, Selves, and technologies. They experience an incongruence, i.e., 鈥渕isfit鈥� in the relationship between聽their corporeal bodies and their Selves, so they turn to internet technologies to facilitate negotiation between the two.

Based on a decade of ethnographic research, Human* Being examines Otherkin engagement with the techno-virtuality afforded by the internet鈥攖hrough chat forums, personal blogs, 3D virtual worlds, Facebook, YouTube, Tumblr, Discord, TikTok and Reddit鈥攖roubling conventional notions about our relationships with the virtual and our understandings of the Self. Through an analysis of 鈥渁wakening narratives鈥� wherein the Otherkin describe the realization of their own non-human natures, a reader comes to know a core group of interlocutors who act as guides through the world of the Otherkin. The book closely聽examines internal community debates about the limits of non-human identity, avatar creation practices in virtual worlds to approximate inner realities and the policing of identity constructs toward a stable definition of the phenomenon.聽All told, the result is what anthropologist Katrin Tiidenberg calls, 鈥淪uch a nerdy book, in the absolute best way.鈥�

Human* Being is published fully open access by : a university press supported by a consortium of institutions including Amherst, Bowdoin, Yale, UT Austin, Vassar, and Claremont, among others. Lever puts all monographs鈥� full manuscripts through a single blind peer-review process and publishes at platinum access, meaning that the books are all digital-native and free to the public. Physical copies are also available.

Welcome to 乱伦视频! Welcome first years, welcome back returning students, and welcome families. We are so very glad that you have chosen to be here with us.

This week鈥檚 Torah portion (parshah) is called . Ki Teitzei means 鈥渨hen you go out鈥�. In the parshah, this going out refers to war and is immediately followed by laws governing the taking of captives. The parshah then provides an extensive collection of commandments.

I鈥檓 going to go out on a limb and say that while I imagine that moving into 乱伦视频 may have been a rough or challenging experience for many of you, it probably didn鈥檛 feel like going to war. At the very least, I hope it did not! However, I imagine that going out from the homes and families you have grown up in has also involved taking care of an extensive list of seemingly unconnected details, just like the parshah.

In looking over these detailed commandments, one struck me as essential to thriving here at 乱伦视频. says 鈥淚f you see your brother鈥檚 [or your fellow鈥檚] donkey or ox fallen on the road, do not ignore it; you must raise it together.鈥�
At first glance, this verse may not appear to be relevant to our lives. I am unaware of any donkeys or oxen present on 乱伦视频鈥檚 campus, although if senior administrators know differently, please let me know! [Correction: apparently have been an issue!] However, if you bear with me, I will show you why this verse still matters for us here today.

The Talmud () 鈥� an ancient collection of commentary on rabbinic law considered authoritative for traditional observance even today 鈥� connects this passage with a similar passage from : 鈥淲hen you see a donkey of your enemy lying under its burden and would refrain from raising it, you must nevertheless help raise it.鈥�

According to traditional rabbinic interpretation (), the verse from Exodus commands us to remove undue burdens from animals, even animals belonging to people who hate us. This command shows us that we should alleviate animal suffering whenever possible.

However, the verse from this week鈥檚 parsha in Deuteronomy is understood to command us to put a load back onto an animal if its load has fallen off. This verse teaches us that we should not just care for the animal, but also for the owner of the animal, honoring their intentions to build a secure life for themselves. The verse also clarifies that we are meant to put the load back onto the animal with the owner. We are meant to care for the economic success and flourishing of our fellows with our fellows.

So why does this matter? These laws in these verses matter in three ways.

First, many of us live our lives carrying heavy emotional burdens. We are not donkeys or oxen, but college life can sometimes be a lot to bear. If the Torah asks us to alleviate animal suffering, how much more so would it want us to assist each other in relieving our own suffering? We at Jewish Life (Betsy, Boaz, Jay, Sarah, Tal, and myself) want you to know that we are here for you and will be here for you whenever you need us.

Second, college is also a time of growth and opportunity. There are some burdens (such as the responsibilities and privileges of adulthood) you will want to take on! Classes, internships, study abroad, leadership experiences, Greek life, clubs 鈥� these are aspects of college life that I know many of you are already excited about! We are also here to help you grow in the ways you want to grow and support your flourishing!

Finally, you may have heard the phrase 鈥� all of the Jewish people are responsible for one another. I believe that forming relationships 鈥� with mentors and with each other 鈥� is the most important part of the college experience. I know that it can sometimes take time to make friends at college and to find your place. It is totally normal to feel anxious about making friends. If you do feel this way, know you鈥檙e not alone!

As you and your families adjust your being in college, I hope all of you gathered here today know that you will always have a home with Jewish Life at 乱伦视频. We鈥檙e here to help you let go of or manage the burdens you don鈥檛 want, take on the burdens you do want, and help you form the relationships with one another that will sustain you through college and beyond. We are so happy that you have chosen to make your home with us. Kol yisrael arevim zeh bazeh. Let us all take care of one another. Shabbat shalom.