Yesterday afternoon, Student Success held the Falcon Support Ice Cream Social in the Hammond Main Lounge. The event offered an opportunity for students to learn more about support services available to them, engage with the community, get any questions answered, meet new people and departments, and of course, enjoy some ice cream with staff, students and Freddy the Falcon.

Fitchburg State University is marking Constitution Day 2025 with a week full of events organized by the General Education Program co-sponsored with the Office of Student Development and the Student Government Association will focus on the topic of the due process of law. Yesterday afternoon, English Studies Professor Kisha Tracy  and President Hodge welcomed the first speaker, Fitchburg State Board of Trustees Member Shane Rodriguez a '94 Alum, Attorney, Assistant Professor at MA School of Law, and former Leominster Police Department Officer who presented "Rights, Wrongs, and the Rule of Law: Understanding Due Process."

Krysta López, Program Coordinator of our Center for Diversity and Inclusiveness hosted a Flag Raising Ceremony on the Alumni Quad (between Hammond Hall and Thompson Hall) this afternoon in to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month. Our annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration of the contributions and influence of the Hispanic and Latinx/a/o community to our history and culture is observed with a series of entertaining and informative events September 15 - October 15.

With the help of our good friends at Fitchburg Access Television (FATV) including Executive Director Nathan Glenny, and Operations Manager Travis Falk, students in Professor Kevin McCarthy's Multi-Camera Television Production course got to see what it's like to set up a remote multi-camera production at Elliot Field. From set-up to break-down, teams of students got to operate the cameras, act as subjects, and see how to put the final production together in real time in the FATV remote production truck.

The 13 members of the 8th Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course (ROC) at Fitchburg State were sworn in as police officers on Friday September 12, 2025 before an audience of family, friends, elected leaders and public safety professionals. All of the graduates of our groundbreaking program have already been hired by police departments across the state. As President Donna Hodge told the assembled graduates and audience, “This academy is more than a program, It is a promise. A promise that public higher education and public safety can work hand in hand. A promise that innovation and integrity can meet in the same training ground. A promise that Massachusetts can lead the nation in preparing those who serve and protect." Read the full article here.

Director of Early College Dual Enrollment, Fernando Garcia-Rodriguez an Assistant Director of Admissions Eliezer Rivera were at Fitchburg High School where they worked with students at the orientation for their Fundamentals of Marketing course taught in Spanish. The purpose of the Early College Initiative is to create and maintain partnerships connecting our state’s districts and high schools with our state’s colleges in order to give thousands of Massachusetts students, especially first-generation college-goers, access to college completion and career success.

Director of Bands & Creative Arts Therapies Program Director, Professor Amy McGlothlin was on hand as Percussion Instructor Lydia Lucas ran try outs for our drumline, a new addition this fall outside of Landry Arena. This group will perform at Home Football games, other university sporting events, pep rallies, community outreach events, local parades and other campus wide events.

This morning President Hodge, Fitchburg State University Police Chief Michael Cloutier, members of the University Police, Military and Veteran Services Director Nolan Buck, university faculty and staff, local dignitaries, and more joined with Fitchburg Fire Department (FFD) at their North Street Headquarters, adjacent to the university, to commemorate lives lost during the attacks on 9/11/2001. The ceremony was held at the 9/11 memorial outside Fire Department headquarters - a piece of a steel beam from the North Tower of the World Trade Center anchors the memorial.

 Cillea Houghton a writer, storyteller and 2015 Fitchburg State University graduate visited Dr. Robert Carr's Marketing Communication course yesterday to discuss a project she will be working on with the class. The Marketing Communications class is going to help her produce the first issue of the No One Is Listening Journal, which is centered around the theme of peace, in addition to a Pay It Forward challenge that connects to the theme of the issue. No One Is Listening is a new media platform Cillea founded with the mission to connect people across cultures through the power of voice. This will be accomplished through 3 pillars: On the Page (written and print pieces), In the World (live events) and On the Screen (video content). Cillea discussed her journey as a Writer from second grade, to High School, through Fitchburg State University, Nashville and now Italy.

This afternoon, Student Development held Rock the Block XXVI on Highland Ave & on the Main Quad. Rock the Block gives students a chance to connect with over 150 Clubs, Organizations, Departments and Non-Profits. There are a plethora of activities, including rock climbing, dinner, club demonstrations, free stuff, and so much more!