Beginning this evening, the Communications Media Department will present its production of Lorraine Hansberry’s celebrated play A Raisin in the Sun. The play tells the story of a lower-class black family’s struggle to gain middle-class acceptance. The university’s production is directed by Professor Kelly Morgan. “It is brutally upsetting that issues presented in this play still resonate with us as a society," Morgan said. A Raisin in the Sun will be performed in the Wallace Theater for the Performing Arts at the McKay Complex at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with matinee performances at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Learn more about the production here.

Yesterday afternoon, the Fitchburg State community gathered to celebrate the 25th anniversary of TRIO Student Support Services here on campus. Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Bayless kicked things off  by welcoming everyone to the event, and thanking some key offices/personnel that helped make the event happen. Next, to honor I Am First Day, Dean of Students Dr. Hank Parkinson enlightened attendees with some "first-gen facts." Lastly, Director of TRIO Student Support Services Elizabeth Swartz thanked both speakers, and invited everyone to look at the four-floors poster-installation in the library, and enjoy cupcakes and refreshments.

Yesterday afternoon, Provost Patricia Marshall welcomed those gathered in the President's Hall for Professor Yasser Derwiche Djazaerly's presentation of  the Harrod Lecture "Art and Populism: On American and European Gothic." After an introduction by David Svolba, Chair of the Humanities Department, Professor Djazaerly argued that populism originated in the late Enlightenment and was manifested in the Gothic Revival. After examining Romanticism in light of the current research on populism, the presentation situated Grant Wood’s American Gothic within the modern European discourse on gothic architecture.

Alumni from the Class of 1972 were invited to join their classmates for a reception
and trip down memory lane in the University Archives at the Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library. Alumni were urged to bring photos and memorabilia, reminisce and reconnect.

Alumni, students, faculty, staff, family, and friends partied the night away with ALL their fellow Falcons at our Homecoming Weekend Semi-formal Dance and Casino Night. Falcons enjoyed dancing, casino games, photo props, food and more!. Alumni were encouraged to dress as they would in the decade they graduated. A fun time was had by all!

Fitchburg State University Alumni from the classes of 1972 and earlier were invited back to campus for their induction into the Gold Key Society as part of Homecoming Weekend. This annual ceremony is held to recognize the collective achievements of all those in the society and to induct the 50th reunion class. Alumni from earlier class years who had not yet received their Gold Key were welcome to receive it at this year's event.

It was a perfect October Saturday for our Homecoming Football Game and Senior Day. Alumni joined their fellow Falcons to cheer on our team, who took on UMASS Dartmouth at the newly renovated Elliot Field.

Last night we kicked off our Homecoming and Reunion Weekend with a Pep rally, Bonfire, and Carnival in a transformed Ross St. Parking Lot. Homecoming is our annual celebration that brings our entire Falcon community together for an amazing fall weekend and the opening night was amazing, we celebrated our athletic teams, and everyone enjoyed  rides, games, food and more!

An inaugural Drag Queen Story Hour was held this afternoon in the Amelia V Gallucci-Cirio Library as part of the university's celebration of LGBTQ+ History Month. Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH) is a children's event that was first started in 2015 by author and activist Michelle Tea in San Francisco with the goal to "inspire a love of reading, while teaching deeper lessons on diversity, self-love and an appreciation of others.

This afternoon, Dean of Health and Natural Sciences Dr. Jennifer Hanselman introduced the panelists for today a discussion entitled, Waste Reduction: Solutions for You, Your Community, Your World, as part of Fitchburg State University's  Massachusetts STEM Week 2022celebration. Panelists were, Rodney Clara of Tough Stuff Recycling, Leah Fernandes of Environmental Health Safety and Risk Management, Fitchburg State University, John Fischer of Mass. Department of Environmental Protection, and Abbie Webb of Casella Waste. Akua Serebou ’23 (Biology major/Health Science concentration and Chemistry minor) served as Moderator.