This morning, Somerville Police Department Detective Mario Oliveira (Ret.) shared his poignant story, “Surviving the Unthinkable”, with the 6th Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course (ROC). On November 2, 2010, while assigned to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives Boston Field office as a Task Force Agent, Detective Oliveira was shot six times at point blank range while serving a Federal arrest warrant. 

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Patricia Marshall stopped into this afternoon's Career Services and Advising (CSA) New Transfer Student Meet-Up in the Welcome Center at our Admissions Office. This served as an opportunity to meet fellow transfer students, learn about Fitchburg State resources, and get any questions  answered.

This afternoon, Chief of University Police Michael Cloutier conducted a Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) for Teacher Candidates in our Education Programs. The course, designed and built on the Avoid, Deny, Defend (ADD) strategy developed by Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) in 2004, provides strategies, guidance, and a proven plan for surviving an active shooter event. 

Students, along with Assistant Professor, Film and Video, Rachelle A. Dermer, had a boisterous discussion during their Short Film Story Development course. The course is an intensive film/video course that examines short film story development in detail. Students will work to gain a solid understanding of the principles of cinematic storytelling and put that knowledge into practice by writing several short screenplays. Specifically, students will study short screenplay plot structure, character development, writing for mise-en-scéne, and dialogue.

Today, President Lapidus hosted a Welcome Back & Recognition Day for our returning faculty.  The day began with colleagues gathering outside the Antonucci Science Complex, where they had the opportunity to reconnect after the summer, and before the start of the fall semester tomorrow.

Director for Student Diversity, Equity, and Belonging Programs Junior Peña, and Student Leaders in the Center for Diversity and Inclusiveness (CDI) facilitated the “I am Fitchburg State” student panel during fall orientation this morning and afternoon. Students spoke about their fears before getting to campus, overcoming challenges, and managing the stresses of college life.

Before Student Orientation, University President Dr. Richard Lapidus welcomed the newest Falcons this morning in the Holmes Dining Commons. Associate Dean for Student Development Hank Parkinson, and Vice President for Student Affairs Laura Bayless also greeted the students before our Orientation Leaders unveiled their own welcome video and began orientation.

After a brief Get to Know You activity, and an introduction by Director of International Education Nelly Wadsworth,  President Lapidus, along with Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Franca Barricelli welcomed our newest cohort of International students at their orientation in the Hammond Maine Lounge.