Welcome back, Owls!

This is an exciting time for Florida Atlantic University. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of FAU, when the state legislature granted funding to build Florida’s fifth public university in Boca Raton. This fall also is the first time we will be back together since March 2020. I hope you are as happy as I am to return for a traditional in-person instruction and campus experience.

In early August, I sent an email recommending that everyone wear face coverings when inside our buildings or when outside in large groups. I also requested that everyone get vaccinated. I want to reiterate the importance of both of these efforts in ensuring a safe and healthy campus environment this fall. We can move forward together  if we work together to help stop the spread of this virus. For information about the vaccines, please visit www.fau.edu/coronavirus/vaccine.

I know you’ve missed out on a lot over the past year and a half, and I want to assure you that the faculty, staff and I are dedicated to providing you with the most engaging collegiate experience possible. Our offices, classrooms and other facilities are open, and we are ready to make it a great year.

I look forward to seeing you on campus as we move forward together.

Go Owls!

John Kelly

President

The concept of the college experience is a long-held tale permeated with ideas of long-lasting memories, friendships, and academic achievements.

Whether it was pulling an all-nighter in a dorm room or studying alongside a cup of overpriced Starbucks coffee, the promise of new experiences and opportunities emerged with each day. However, the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic have transformed the concept of the common college experience from in-person meetings to virtual lectures and lessons.

To commemorate the upcoming arrival of the new students, members of the campus community had a few words of advice as students navigate their academic and personal journeys once arriving on campus at FAU for the first time.

> Continue reading about advice for new on-campus students.

Kathryn Kominars is going to start making home visits in the fall. The director of FAU’s counseling center won’t be knocking on your door, but she and her staff will sit in the lobby of your residence halls – willing to talk for free about whatever bothers you.

Kominars has been leading FAU’s Counseling And Psychological Services center, better known as CAPS, since 2019. She knew one of the big problems with campus counseling centers is that students think they only exist to handle big problems.

Kominars wants to sweat the small stuff.

Why? Because she believes no problem is too small for CAPS.

> Continue reading about how CAPS will be there for students this fall.

When students arrive on campus, one thing they may notice is Greek organizations tabling during Club Week. FAU is home to 27 Greek chapters which are broken down into 12 sororities and 15 fraternities.

Valerie Malfa, president of the College Panhellenic Association, said that a sorority offers more than just opportunities.

“Genuine lifelong friendships, networking opportunities inside and outside of FAU, exciting leadership opportunities of different levels, fun philanthropy events, and mentorship are just some of the amazing benefits of joining a sorority,” said Malfa. “Sisterhood is forever; there are even alumni membership opportunities in the local area and across the country for individual organizations.”

> Continue reading about FAU’s Greek chapters.

College isn’t only about homework and exams, it’s also about making friends and finding who you truly are. FAU offers a variety of clubs for students who want to get involved. Here is a look at three of those clubs. Students can visit the Owl Central website to see a variety of other on-campus clubs!

Foam Fighting Club

The Foam Fighting club welcomes all walks of life, whether you’re someone who’s serious about the sport or just looking to hit some people with foam weapons.

The on-campus organization is located primarily on the housing lawn or the Henderson field, according to club President Hadley Biederman. The Foam Fighting club serves as a way for students to destress as well as experience a new sport.

> Continue reading about the Foam Fighting Club, Surf Club, and Fencing Club.

In his first season as head coach at FAU, Willie Taggart and his Owls endured a chaotic 2020 season which initially had 12 scheduled games yet only eight regular-season games were played.

Following a topsy-turvy start to the season in which the Owls began with a 5-1 record amidst four games being canceled due to COVID-19 protocols, they lost their final three games which concluded with a tough 25-10 defeat to Memphis in the Montgomery Bowl.

Taggart and his Owls have since brought in some new faces, both within the coaching staff and the playing roster.

> Continue reading about the Fall 2021 football season.

After one year of being unable to tailgate due to COVID-19, FAU is allowing it to return for the 2021 football season.

While the protocols have yet to be confirmed, students have plenty of reason to be excited to see it return this year.

Donyell Davis, vice-president of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., said that the fraternity is looking forward to tailgating during the fall semester.

> Continue reading about students’ tailgating opinions.

Flickering glows begin to dance onto Melania Zilo’s hands while she adjusts her delicate gold chain as it catches light from her phone screen.

Wearing a multicolored pastel pullover, Zilo, the editor-in-chief of FAU’s Strike Magazine, begins telling me about her first in-person meeting on Aug. 23.

“Things are going good. I’m excited to go back and have a real college experience again. We have our first [Strike Magazine] meeting next week, in-person finally,” said Zilo.

> Continue reading about fall fashion trends.

Healthy eating strengthens people’s muscles and bones, boosts immunity, and may even cause people to live longer, according to the CDC.

As students move onto campus this semester, Student Health Services wants to help students utilize the resources FAU offers to maintain a healthy diet.

“The beautiful thing about being a young adult is that you have more time to establish a foundation of balanced eating habits to encourage longevity and health prosperity,” registered dietitian at Student Health Services Noah Warren said.

> Continue reading about healthy habits.