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!

Last night, the Office of International Education (OIE) and the Fitchburg Indian Student Association observed Diwali in the Main Lounge of Hammond Hall. Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights with its variations also celebrated in other Indian religions. It symbolizes the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, 
and knowledge over ignorance". The event, including dinner, dancing and an educational portion, was generously funded by ITInduct.

This afternoon, the Career Services and Advising Center held an  Exploration Fair in the Hammond Main Lounge.  Fitchburg State University's School of Graduate, Online and Continuing Education (SGOCE) along with local university's graduate school programs, provided this as opportunity for schools to meet the talented students at Fitchburg State University, and connect with potential graduate students. This was an opportunity for our students to learn about graduate school programs, and receive information about the application process.

The Center for Faculty Scholarship featured Professor Teresa Fava Thomas of the Economics, History and Political Science Department for a conversation about her new book, The Allied Bombing of Central Italy: The Restoration of the Nile Mosaic and Sanctuary of Fortuna at Palestrina. Dr. Thomas's book "explores the pressure by the Mussolini regime to control the Barberini family's art collection, the uses of cultural materials for propaganda purposes, the Allied use of airpower in the Italian theater of war, the postwar decision-making and recovery process. The book is one of the very few long-range studies of the war's impact on a single Italian town."

The Center for Italian Culture's Nuovo Mondo series continues with the Dr. Joseph Luzzi Residency Keynote Address: "My Two Italies: A Personal and Cultural History." Dr. Luzzi, the Asher B. Edelman Professor of Literature at Bard College, is the child of Italian immigrants and an award-winning scholar of Italian literature. In this talk, Dr. Luzzi discussed the subject of Italian immigration to American, with special reference to his 2014 memoir, My Two Italies: A Personal and Cultural History. Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Franca Barricelli introduced Dr. Luzzi utilizing her collection of books he authored.

Our English Studies faculty recently invited Interested students to join them, and  English Studies majors and minors  to mix and mingle in the Miller Oval. 

Yesterday, as part of their First Thursday event series, InTown Fitchburg held the North County Harvest Festival at the Upper Common in Fitchburg. This free event included their Fitchburg Farmers Market with local vendors My County Mushrooms, Growing Places, and more. Baked goods from Mera's Cakes,  crafts from Westminster Hill Crafters, Hollis Hills Farm's pumpkins for painting  - with  painting supplies provided by Fitchburg Cultural Alliance. Entertainment included a live digital art presentation by Monique Reverie, and Hannah Bitterman, Noel Plouffe, and Laurie Strubbe of the  Thurston Consort performed. 

Dr. Jennifer Hanselman, Ph.D., Dean of Business and Technology & Dean of Health and Natural Sciences held the first All Schools meeting of the Fall semester yesterday afternoon in the Hammond Main Hall. Early on the agenda was the introduction of the newest Student Ambassadors for the schools, and a celebratory "champagne" toast to acknowledge all of the grant work, and grants awarded since last year. 

This afternoon at the Hammond Hall Art Gallery, there was an artist talk and reception featuring Hanna Melnyczuk’s “Don’t Close Your Eyes: Reactions to the War in Ukraine” which will be on display through Sunday, Oct. 15,