Hello! We are well into Fall Semester and cooler fall weather is coming. So is Homecoming, which begins next week. One of the highlights of the entire academic year, it includes seven days of pep rallies, student-centered events such as Lip Sync and Headphone Disco, live concerts and much more. It all culminates on Saturday, October 7, when our Mocs football team faces Furman University at Finley Stadium. Have fun during the week’s activities, then come cheer the Mocs to victory. But do not forget the game this Saturday, September 30, when we face Western Carolina University, also at Finley Stadium.
Diversity and inclusion are key components of UTC’s mission and, as part of our drive to that goal, we have an all-day forum set for October 17. Moving Our Campus (MOC) Forward: Inclusive Excellence Conference will feature presentations by more than 20 members of the UTC faculty and community members. They will address subjects that include how to interact with students from other countries, dealing with different ethnicities, women’s issues and cultural differences. For a complete list of topics and speakers, go to https://www.utc.edu/equity-diversity/moc-forward-conference-2017/index.php. The conference is open to faculty, staff, students and community partners. I encourage you to attend.
The new season of the UTC Theatre Company is underway, beginning this week with the dark comedy The Arsonists, which runs through Saturday, September 30. Other productions include the story of 19th-century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt in Silent Sky (November 14-18), the family drama Elemeno Pea (February 13-17), and the famous musical Chicago (April 17-21), which later became an Oscar-winning film. You can find ticket information for all the productions at the Theatre Company’s website.
The Scrappy Cupboard Food Drive is a yearly event that enhances our ongoing connection with the Chattanooga community. From October 2 – October 6, you can drop off donations of food at the Heritage Plaza entrance of the University Center from 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. weekdays. Canned, boxed and packaged foods are needed.