Thanksgiving break approaches and Southeastern students will have plenty of activities to stay occupied in its lead up. Events throughout the month of November will keep traditions alive, mouths fed, and students entertained.
Starting with one of the biggest events this month, Friday, November 14 is True Blue Friday. This day will be incredibly busy, with on campus events lasting from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The first event will be the fourth First-Generation Celebration in the Student Union Loft. Students are invited to use the photo booth, affirmation walls, and collect Southeastern swag. A pizza lunch, provided by First United Bank, will be available concurrently.
Following these activities, First-Generation presentations will be held in the Liz Cobb McGraw Auditorium. Sessions will feature speakers such as O.L. Kelly, David Penn, Dr. Jeremy Blackwood, and representatives from Student Wellness, and First United Bank.
Anyone looking for a sweet treat for cheap is encouraged to place pre-orders with Phi Alpha Theta’s History Bites Fundraiser, as the deadline is November 14. Any orders placed on time will be delivered by November 21.
At 7 p.m., Peter and the Starcatcher will be performed at the Visual and Performing Arts Center, and the Men’s Basketball team will be playing against Minot State at the Bloomer Sullivan Arena at 7:30 p.m.
On top of all of the activities, students and community members are greatly encouraged to show their school spirit by dressing up as blue as possible.
“It’s about spirit and visibility, it’s not merely a contest. It is not about who is “more Southeastern” or “most blue.” said David Penn, Director of Student Engagement. “It is a weekly invitation to make our shared identity visible, students, faculty, and staff together.”
Though students can wear whatever blue items they please, there will be opportunities to level up and earn swag through tagging posts with #TrueBlueFriday, or checking flyers for the chance to email instead.
True Blue Friday is not exclusive to November, as we will see another in December, but this one is particularly packed with events due to the line-up of games and being in the wake of Homecoming.
The next Southeastern football home game will be the season finale on November 15, at 12 p.m. against East Central, at the Paul Laird Field at Spend Life Wisely Stadium. The Chili Cook-Off will begin at 9 a.m. before the game in Tailgate Alley.
This Saturday will see another performance of Peter and the Starcatcher at the Visual and Performing Arts Center, as well as another Men’s Basketball game against Minnesota Duluth in the Bloomer Sullivan Arena.
Southeastern has seen a plethora of events throughout the month in celebration of Native November, which brings light to the traditions, language and history of Native American cultures. November 17 is next in the series of Native November activities, with a Choctaw dancing class in the Student Union Loft at 12 p.m.
A connection between administration and the student population is crucial to our sense of community, and this connection is being fostered through the Student Coffee and Conversations with the Administration event held in the Student Union Atrium on November 18.
This event is meant to build relationships with students through open ended discussion, and drive home that administration is approachable and available. Though this is one scheduled instance, students are always welcome to email and communicate with administrators.
“At Southeastern, we aim for eye-level conversations with students and each other rather than a vertical hierarchy.” Penn said, and said this sentiment extends to the rest of Southeastern’s administration. Penn said he hopes that official titles will never deter students from engaging with administration.
Following the Student Coffee and Conversations with the Administration, November 18 will also feature the Southeastern Jazz Ensemble at the Montgomery Auditorium at 7:30 p.m.
Native November events continue, with Chickasaw Cultural Archery on the Front Lawn, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on November 19.
Women’s Basketball begins to take the forefront of student sports on November 20, with a game against Cameron at the Bloomer Sullivan Arena at 5:30 p.m.
The Symphonic Wind Ensemble will perform shortly after at 7:30 p.m. at the Montgomery Auditorium.
November events will start to wrap up on November 22, the Saturday leading into the Thanksgiving break. At 1 p.m., the Women’s Basketball team will be playing another game in the Bloomer Sullivan Arena, this time against Arkansas-Fort Smith. The Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival, featuring The Jungle Book Kids, will be performed twice at the Visual and Performing Arts Center – first at 2 p.m., then at 7 p.m.
With the varying experiences of November and the holidays, Southeastern does what it can to help by running food security drives with campus and community partners. On top of these drives, Olivia Franceskini and the rest of her team will be hard at work in the cafeteria. The annual luncheon will be on the Thursday before Thanksgiving break from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., as well as a lunch on the following Friday. The cafeteria will be closed throughout the break, from November 24-28, but the campus Einstein Brothers will remain open.
“November lands differently for everyone,” Penn said. “Not everyone observes the same holidays, and the season can hold both celebration and hardship. Here, we try to make room for all of it: everyday gratitude, human-sized connection, and the simple reminder to step outside, touch grass, make a connection and know yourself.”
With the hectic schedule of events throughout the entire month of November, it is important that students check with their professors about their schedules and finals to ensure a satisfying break.
