The Fitchburg State University Communications Media Department presents the timely romantic drama, “ Stop Kiss” by Diana Son in November. " Stop Kiss" will be performed at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12 and 19; Thursday, Nov. 13 and 20; Friday, Nov. 14 and 21; and Saturday, Nov. 15 and 22. There will be matinee performances at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15 and 22. All shows are at the Wallace Theater for Performing Arts (McKay Complex) at 67 Rindge Road. Performances are free and open to the public. The elevator in the McKay building is currently out of service. To accommodate guests who cannot access the theater on the second floor, we will be simulcasting the performances of "Stop Kiss" at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14; and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15 in Room C-165 of the McKay building. This drama about two young women in New York City is a powerful story that you won’t want to miss. “ Stop Kiss” is set in New York City in 1998. Callie is a traffic reporter who has grown tired of New York City. Sara is a fresh face from St. Louis, hoping to make a difference as a school teacher in the Bronx. Both women have boyfriends, but as their friendship develops into something more, they begin to question what they really want in life. Their first kiss provokes a violent attack that transforms their lives in surprising ways. “Callie experiences a blend of anger, sadness, and guilt as she confronts her own identity and the world’s shifting perceptions of her,” said director Denise Alexander. Alexander said she was drawn to the play by its ability to spark important conversations about LGBTQ+ rights and the importance of telling stories from marginalized communities. While the play grapples with serious themes, the story is full of laughter and tender moments. When it first premiered, audiences were won over by the love story at the heart of the drama. One reviewer from The Star-Ledger said, “something as thought-provoking and ultimately moving as STOP KISS is a joy to experience.” The cast includes: Emerson DiSalle, Julia Dufresne, Hunter Whitehead, Noah Barnes, Thomas Meehan, and Lina Kherallah. The Understudy cast features Sebastian Desumas, Jaylis Lopez, Keren Noonan, and Nicolas Salamack. Technical crew includes: Ryan Barker, Alyssa Brayley, Payton Kut, Jo Nazro, Adam Post, and David Allen Prescott. For more information, please contact director Denise Alexander at dalexan8@fitchburgstate.edu or 978-868-3554. Photo by Fitchburg State Student Photographer Katharine Nizwantowski. The “Stop Kiss” cast and crew.

The first winter sports pep rally “Falcons Cold Rush” was a tremendous success on Thursday night at the Rec Center. The gymnasium exploded with Green and Gold pride and unmistakable electricity, putting the winter student-athletes on full display and celebrating them in front of an enthusiastic crowd of fellow students, faculty, and staff. “The energy in that gym was absolutely incredible,” said Fitchburg Athletic Director Matt Burke. “It was a phenomenal night to honor our winter student-athletes. That level of support truly shows the strength of our campus spirit.” Representatives from all the winter athletic teams – men’s ice hockey, women’s club ice hockey, men’s and women’s indoor track, and men’s and women’s basketball – were part of the event, which also included performances by the Cheer Team, Dance Club and first-year Falcons Drumline. For additional, heart-thumping excitement, the evening featured an unforgettable moment when one lucky student earned the chance to take a single half-court shot for the ultimate prize: tuition and fees for the Spring 2026 semester. Taking the spotlight, freshman softball player Kiley Connors was selected and stepped up for the half-court shot. “I was definitely nervous when getting selected,” said Connors. “I only signed up since my friends were. I was not expecting to be picked.” While Connors’ shot missed the hoop, the excitement continued. For participating in the challenge, Connors received a $1,000 scholarship for the upcoming semester. “We are incredibly proud of Kiley for stepping up and demonstrating such fantastic school spirit during the half-court challenge,” said Fitchburg State President Donna Hodge. “While she didn't sink the basket, her willingness to take that high-pressure shot embodies the courage and determination we celebrate in all of our students. We are absolutely thrilled to award her a $1,000 scholarship for the spring semester.” Connors said that she was surprised to win anything. “It is very much appreciated,” Connors said. “That caught me off guard and it means a lot.” Keep up with all the university’s teams by visiting fitchburgfalcons.com. Photo by Student Photographer Kaleigh Papierski.

Fitchburg State University music faculty presents its annual faculty recital on Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 4-5:30 p.m., in the Western Auditorium. University music faculty members include: Jonathan Harvey, Justin Casinghino, Jane Fiske, Alanna Rantala, Eddy Troxler and Amy McGlothlin. Guests Cindy Liu, Kris Layton and Christina Wright-Ivanova will also be featured at the recital. “The music faculty is excited to present creative projects to the Fitchburg State community,” said McGlothlin. “There is a wide variety of different types of music.” This recital is free and open to the public. To learn more about Fitchburg State’s instrumental and choral groups, visit fitchburgstate.edu/music.

In his celebrated 1916 book Democracy and Education: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Education, philosopher and author John Dewey articulated his vision for the role of education in functional societies. “Democracy must be reborn every generation, and education is its midwife,” Dewey wrote. Dr. John Reiff, Director of Civic Learning and Engagement at the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, quoted Dewey to start a daylong conference on civic discourse in action that drew hundreds of educators to Fitchburg State University. The program was sponsored by Fitchburg State’s Crocker Center for Civic Engagement. Through keynote talks and breakout sessions, educators from colleges and universities across Massachusetts and beyond engaged in thoughtful deliberation on the role of civic discourse in a healthy democracy. The conference explored how faculty and staff can build students’ capacity to engage in three critical forms of civic discourse: principled debate drawing on evidence; dialogue across differences; and deliberation that examines advantages and consequences of proposed actions in response to public problems. “The university is the home of civic discourse,” said Massachusetts Deputy Commissioner for Academic Affairs and Student Success Richard L. Riccardi, who encouraged the attendees to take the lessons from the conference forward in shaping better dialogues tomorrow. “Higher education has long been recognized as the marketplace of ideas—the place where the fundamental questions of our time are debated, discussed, and ultimately, redefined,” Fitchburg State President Donna Hodge said in her welcoming remarks. “Yet, in an era marked by increasing polarization and complexity, our commitment to teaching students how to engage across differences is more critical than ever. This forum is dedicated to advancing three foundational pillars of engagement: debate, dialogue, and deliberation. Perhaps more than ever before, it is our duty to prepare students to engage in the vigorous, evidence-based exchange of ideas, where we test the strength of our own convictions. We must do this while maintaining genuine, empathetic listening, so we may truly understand other perspectives, even those we don’t share. And we must work to strengthen the ability to collectively weigh alternatives in search of common ground.” In his morning keynote, Dr. Martin Carcasson, professor of communication studies and the founding director of the Center for Public Deliberation at Colorado State University, said combating the reality and the perception of “toxic polarization” was one of the biggest challenges facing public discourse. “We’re not nearly as divided as we think,” he said. “The problem is, the perception of polarization is more important than the reality.” College campuses can play a significant role in improving the discourse, he said, by equipping communities to tackle “wicked problems” like our current political dynamic. “Every single issue we deal with, we have to learn how to understand opposing values,” he said. “Campuses need to be the place where the conversation is at its best.” These effective conversations must simultaneously tackle the challenges of polarization, information disorder, and those who seek to profit off conflicts, Carcasson added. The afternoon’s keynote address, “Meeting the Moment: Talking, Teaching, and Uniting in a Democracy in Question,” was given by Dr. Nancy Thomas, Founding Director of the Institute for Democracy in Higher Education with the American Association of Colleges and Universities.

Fitchburg State University, with a comprehensive nursing program steeped in over 60 years of academic excellence, announced recently that its nursing program achieved a perfect pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination ( NCLEX), with 100 percent of the 2025 graduates passing on their first attempt. “It’s hard to put into words the commitment all faculty in this program have to the success of our students,” said Associate Professor Debbie Benes, PhD, RN, PNP-R, chair of the Nursing Department. “The faculty are committed to making sure every student is successful. Since COVID, and through all the barriers nursing education is facing, we haven’t stopped and strive to provide a program that reflects the mission and vision of the university, and our department and meets the needs of our community. We preserve and are so proud of our students and each other.” The NCLEX is the mandatory, standardized test graduates must pass to become licensed registered nurses (NCLEX-RN) or practical/vocational nurses (NCLEX-PN). The exam assesses a candidate's ability to provide safe and effective patient care through critical thinking, serving as the essential gateway to professional practice. "Fitchburg State has prepared outstanding nurses for generations, and this perfect NCLEX pass rate is both a remarkable achievement and a reflection of that tradition of excellence," said Fitchburg State University President Donna Hodge. "Our graduates leave here not only with the knowledge and skill demanded by their profession, but with the resilience, compassion, and commitment to service that define the best of nursing. This milestone affirms the strength of our program and the impact these new nurses will have in healthcare settings across the Commonwealth and beyond." The university’s NCLEX results echo other recent metrics of Fitchburg State’s success. Earlier this fall, Fitchburg State was once again recognized by U.S. News & World Report for supporting the upward social mobility of its students in the publication’s annual rankings of colleges and universities. In addition to being named among the best regional universities in the North and among the top public universities, Fitchburg State was ranked among the highest performing institutions in Massachusetts for social mobility. This category measures how well institutions succeed at enrolling and graduating economically disadvantaged students. To learn more about Fitchburg State’s nursing program, visit fitchburgstate.edu/nursing.