Fitchburg State’s School of Graduate, Online and Continuing Education (SGOCE) held its second annual Graduate Education Celebration on April 3, highlighting the accomplishments of its students and faculty.

Alpha Sigma Tau are holding their yearly Swing-a-Thon fundraiser on the quad, they have been swinging since 8 a.m. yesterday, and will continue until 8 p.m. tonight for a total of 36 hours. They are swinging to raise money for the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). RAINN helps people who experienced sexual assault get the help they need to support them and give them a voice. Stop by and  join them on the quad. Fill out a rain drop or do some art and crafts, and even some outdoor games! Learn more about Alpha Sigma Tau and Greek Life here.

Fitchburg State University Student Government Association (SGA)  held a Senate & Cotton Candy session on the street level of the Hammond Building, Students could stop by, grab some cotton candy, and learn about the SGA Senate. 

Last week, Professor Elizabeth Krause from the Department of Anthropology at UMass Amherst  presented this talk that drew on ethnographic research in the Made in Italy arena across two different sectors - slow figs and fast fashion - to theorize authenticity. Presented as part of the Center for Italian Culture's "Made in Italy" series.

Fitchburg State University welcomed hundreds of prospective students and guests for this season’s Future Falcon Day events on Saturday, March 18th, and Saturday April 1st.

Our Women's History Month celebration capped off with the Student Government Association (SGA) sponsored  Women's Leadership Conference Friday afternoon in the Hammond Maine Lounge. After a welcome from SGA President Miranda Guston, attendees participated in break out sessions hosted by Fitchburg State University women from all different backgrounds; Provost Patricia Marshall, Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course Academy Director Lisa Lane, Asst. Professor Rachelle Dermer, and Vice President for Student Affairs Laura Bayless. These sessions were followed by a student panel, dinner, and a keynote address by Angela Batista.

Recently, Provost Patricia Marshall welcomed those gathered in the Presidents' Hall for English Studies Professor Elise Takehana who presented her Harrod Lecture "Database and Algorithm as Literary Infrastructure", after an introduction by Acting English Studies Department Chair Lisa Gim.

In the lecture, Dr. Takehana discussed the conflicts and overlaps between storytelling and data analysis by exploring examples in experimental literature, interactive fiction, portraiture, and quantitative approaches to studying language and literature. The talk offered several reflections on the nature of human expression in the age of big data and how that might color what we think of as "human."

Students in Earth and Geographic Sciences Professor Reid Parsons' Earth Systems Science class test the affect of temperature on ocean current in their lab. This course gives students a holistic view of Earth and the spatial relationships between its physical, chemical, geological, and biological systems. Students are taught  fundamental scientific principles of physical geography and discuss human-earth interactions. 

As the semester reaches its mid-point, the always popular therapy dogs paid a visit to campus yesterday afternoon, Students got a little break from classes, tests and projects by spending a little time with Daisy, Moka, Penny, and  Fitchburg State University Police's own Odin in the Hammond Main Lounge.

This Afternoon, Our Women's History Month celebration continued with a Women in Law Enforcement panel discussion in the Falcon Hub. The Criminal Justice Club hosted this panel discussion with four female-identified individuals working in law enforcement: Chief Cara Rossi (Ashland PD), Lt. Alfreda Cromwell (Shirley PD), Mental Health Clinician and Co-Responder Jennifer Previti (Tufts University Police Dept.), and an alumna of Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course 4th ROC. After introductions from Criminal Justice Club Faculty Advisor Kathrine Hazen and Police Program Academy Director Lisa Lane, attendees got to hear about their career paths and unique experiences in a profession that is only 13% female.