Yesterday afternoon, students got a little break from classes, tests, and projects by spending a little time with old favorites Moka, and Penny joined by newcomers Silas and Tilley in the Hammond Maine Lounge. These therapy dogs were a welcome respite from early semester stresses.

Fitchburg State University Communications Media faculty held a Meet & Greet with students in the Highland Plaza in front of the Conlon Building. This gave students in and out of the major the opportunity to engage, and have any questions answered.

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.

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.

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.

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!

The Boston Bruins Fan Fest Tour stopped at our Wallace Civic Center today with Bruins -centric fun for all ages. Activities included guest appearance by current and former Bruins players, Bruins mascot Blades and our own Freddy Falcon, interactive hockey games and exhibits, personalized equipment fittings for Learn to Play participants, and much more.

President Donna Hodge and her Cabinet, AKA "The Donut Party Crew", loaded up the Donut Mobile and traveled around campus to hand out doughnuts and connect with students, faculty and staff on this, the first day of class for the fall semester.

It was all hands on deck this morning for the Fitchburg State University Great Move In 2025. Our athletic teams, staff, Clubs, University Police, students, and more were spread out between Check-In at the Wallace Civic Center, and the dormitories on the main campus, all in the effort of making our newest Falcons move in process as smooth as possible. The Great Move In will be  capped off with the Falcon Nest BBQ this afternoon.

Fitchburg State University was honored to be part of the groundbreaking ceremony for the NewVue Communities' Fitchburg Arts Community Ribbon Cutting, a transformative downtown project that has converted long-vacant buildings into new artist live/work space. This project is the culmination of endeavors by local, state, and federal elected officials in addition to grass roots community effort.