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At �Ը������� University, the leaves are changing, a crisp breeze is in the air, and the anticipated autumn season has finally arrived. As the season changes, students, faculty and staff have an opportunity to explore fall activities both on campus and throughout downtown Kent. 

A senior at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Kent, Ohio, Eli Barkley arrived at �Ը������� University’s Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center for Preview KSU, joining hundreds of prospective students and their families for a day designed to help them picture their future as Golden Flashes.

Dirty hands and laughter were some of the results of an hour’s work at the Herrick Conservatory as �Ը������� University students rolling a rich mixture of clay, compost and native flower seeds into seedballs, a simple yet effective method for planting native plants and wildflowers that were then thrown into fields to enhance pollinator habitats across campus.

The Carbon Copy Collective is a new student organization dedicated to creating zines and community through art. �Ը������� Today joins them to learn more about the new club.

Forget the old-school college open house. More than 2,000 prospective students and families from 13 states will experience �Ը������� University during Preview KSU on Friday, Oct. 16, through an arena kickoff, hands-on demonstrations and a day exploring college life. High school seniors who attend and later enroll will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

As election season approaches, first-time voters at �Ը������� University are preparing to make their voices heard. Whether registering at events like Democracy Fest or researching candidates in their residence halls, students across campus are taking their first steps toward casting their votes.

In the week leading up to Homecoming, �Ը������� University brought the nostalgic experience of field day to students with a variety of classic games, including tug-of-war, parachute games, and sack races.

Students participating in education abroad may be new to a country and may not know much about the campus or community around them. At �Ը������� University, international students have an opportunity to connect with domestic students through a program called FRIEND.

When �Ը������� University celebrates Homecoming Week, the spotlight often falls on the parade, the game and the crowning of the Homecoming Court. Meet the 12 student leaders selected for the 2026 Homecoming Court, for whom the experience represents much more than a campaign for a crown. 

This year’s Homecoming theme, “Every Flash Has a Story,” marks the 100th anniversary of The �Ը�������r, and former staff members of the student newspaper will serve as Homecoming Parade Grand Marshals on Oct. 3.

Following the lead from its international nonprofit, the �Ը������� chapter of Best Buddies is forming friendships and giving support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Ahead of the November election, �Ը������� University’s Undergraduate Student Government hosted its annual Democracy Fest on Risman Plaza to celebrate National Voter Registration Day, giving first-time voters a chance to register and everyone a chance to learn about the democratic process. 

Once a month, �Ը������� University’s International Student and Scholar Services presents the Cultural Cafe. Abisola Mohammed, a graduate student in emerging media and technology who hails from Nigeria, started this year’s schedule with this simple question: “How far?”

The Flash Activities Board, known as FAB, is usually a student’s first introduction to the �Ը������� University community. Whether a student is looking for a quick evening activity, roaring crowds or somewhere to meet new friends in general, an event by the FAB should be their first stop.

Before Pinterest boards and TikTok DIYs, there was “Design on a Dime.” Now, 2019 �Ը������� University graduate Maddie Scalzi is bringing the 2000s HGTV show back to life, one DIY and thrifted find at a time.

�Ը������� University offers a variety of resources to help parents and families stay engaged with their students and the greater �Ը������� community. Parents and Families Appreciation Weekend, coming up on Sept. 25-26, will feature many events across campus and downtown.

When Lillian Glaze, a junior visual communication design major, opened the “WNBA Launch” email, she immediately realized the assignment was much bigger than she expected. She would be the technical director for the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) brand reveal at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, helping bring the city’s newest professional sports team to life for thousands of viewers.  

�Ը������� University’s Center for Student Involvement hosted its first Leaders Lunch Club of the semester at the Pepsi Leadership Center on Sept. 2 with Sarah Spinner, Ph.D., J.D., director of the �Ը������� University Museum, as its first featured speaker to kick off the fall event series. “Leadership is not a title that’s given to you,” Spinner said. “Someone doesn’t make you a leader. Leadership is how you choose to act.”

�Ը������� Dodgeball enters its 25th season ranked fourth nationally and third in the Ohio Region. Team leaders and members describe a close-knit community built on Wednesday and Friday practices, with the squad eyeing a rematch against rival Ohio State University after a semifinal loss last year.