The Honors Institute
Fall 2025 Events
Honors Institute October Coffee Hour Friday, October 10, 2:00 p.m. Bowie Divinity Hall Lobby. Come by for snacks, coffee, tea and conversation with your colleagues.
Guest Lecture on AI and Transhumanism: Thursday, October 16, 2:00 p.m. Joe Allen, Erskine College’s Garnet & Gold Forum speaker, will lay out the positive case for AI in education: efficiency, customization, and a sense of independence. However, these purported benefits mask the larger system. Allen will explain the deeper dreams of the tech industry—from reckless accelerationism to transhuman ambitions—and lay out the dangers of outsourcing one’s intelligence to machines. He argues that we still have choices in this global experiment: will you go all in or remain in the control group?
Pumpkins and Paint: Friday, October 31st, 2-3 p.m. Outside Bowie Arts Center in Quad. Come join your fellow Honors Scholars (including faculty) for an outdoor painting event. Pumpkins, canvases, brushes, and paints provided. We will hang the paintings around the Honors Institute Seminar room and elsewhere for the remainder of the semester. Pumpkins are yours for the taking! Please RSVP by October 27th to ensure enough pumpkins and paints are provided.
Greenville Symphony Orchestra – An American in Paris Concert, Sunday, November 23, 2025, 3:00 p.m., Greenville Peace Center. A stunning program that begins with the sparkling wit of Leonard Bernstein’s Overture to Candide and the vibrant streetscapes of George Gershwin’s An American in Paris. The evening culminates with Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances, written during his time in California, blending lush melodies with a touch of American influence in his final masterpiece. Please RSVP by November 1st to reserve your ticket
Thanksgiving Coffee Hour: Friday, November 21st,, 2:00 p.m., Bowie Divinity Hall Lobby. Come raise a glass of cider, coffee, or tea alongside faculty and friends before our proper holiday break.
Honors Christmas Party: Wednesday, December 3rd, 2:00 p.m., Bowie Divinity Hall. A festive gathering to celebrate the end of term and the beginning of the Christmas season. Desserts, coffee, and snacks will be provided as well as games and carols. White Elephant gift exchange will also take place for those interested in participating.