This past week, the Center For Diversity And Inclusiveness took over our art gallery in Hammond to set up their own exhibit. It was an a very important display of photographs that really took people by surprise. The photographs showed some of the intolerance and prejudice that our students had endured in their lives. This powerful show really provoked a lot of good discussion about how we as a university can stop this.

There is a multitude of opportunities to expand yourself while at college. Of course, one of the best ways to do this is through signing up for classes that you are interested in. I believe that college is one of the best places to try and learn new things. It is here that you are surrounded by peers who are eager to learn and faculty who are excited to teach.

Where did you complete your academic studies?

I received my Bachelor of Science degree from St. Thomas Aquinas College, my master's degree from Bowling Green State University, and my PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

What are your research interests?

My interests focus on two broad topics of fish biology: adaptation and breeding behavior. These are important topics to study because they are two key aspects when trying to understand how organisms and species persist in their environment.

I've mentioned before that I'm involved in a lot of things at Fitchburg State. One of the things I am most proud to be a part of is Greek life.

It's funny to think about when I came to Fitchburg State as a freshman, I was sure of one thing; I was not joining a fraternity. In my mind, that kind of organization just wasn't for someone like me. I was independent and didn't need something like "brotherhood" or any of that stuff. It just wasn't for me. Now, having become involved with a fraternity, I cannot imagine my life without it.

John Honeycutt always loved making television. As a student at Medford High School, he was active in the school’s cable access TV studio, and figured he may be able to transfer the experience into a job someday.

“That’s what led me to Fitchburg State,” he recalled. “I didn’t know it was going to take me down this road.”

This past weekend I was given the distinct pleasure of participating in the the third annual Center For Diversity And Inclusiveness (CDI) Retreat at Camp Woodstock in Woodstock, CT. CDI oversees the Latin American Student Organization (LASO), Black Student Union (BSU), Asian Culture Society (ACS), Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) and World Integrated Nations (WIN).

The center is expanding soon, creating Chaverim, a Jewish student society and Focus On Faith, an interfaith organization that looks to discuss religions in all forms. CDI is run by Jamie Cochran, a wonderful woman who always greets with hugs, not handshakes.

SAT or ACT, that is the question.

Which leads to another question. What are the application requirements of the colleges you’re thinking about applying to? Most will accept either test score, but it’s definitely something you should look into before deciding which test to take. 

Let's see how the tests stack up: 

Here at Fitchburg State, I am an English major. For a lot of people, that merits a few different responses. One of them is "good for you doing what you want to do." Another is "So when did you decide you wanted to be unemployed?" The latter annoys me to no end as you can imagine. Most people imagine English majors to skip around, quoting poems and drinking copious amounts of coffee/tea in shops. The reality is that Fitchburg State's English program is wonderfully quirky and educational!

Choosing a college is a big decision and can be overwhelming for many people. Students want to make sure they are going to fit in, feel comfortable, get a good education and graduate with a degree that will help them get a good job when they enter the job market.

To help in this decision making process, here are 10 questions you should ask yourself when choosing a college: 

Hello again! I am incredibly happy to be back and I look forward to everything that I will write about this year. I had a wonderful summer working at a camp that taught me so much and I look forward to bringing some of those lessons into play here at Fitchburg State!