When you think of autumn, you might picture crisp air and colorful leaves. But in Lakeland, fall brings its own flavor, slightly cooler days, a burst of community energy and plenty of outdoor festivals, Halloween thrills and harvest-style fun.

The Office of Student Disability Services has built several sensory rooms across campus to accommodate all students. They incorporate their spaces into campus events, like Convocation, and provide a variety of quiet spaces to work at.

Katrina Fink, better known as Kat to her friends, always knew she loved theater. The only problem? She did not like being the center of attention. She did not like having lines and she definitely did not like acting. However, never one to back down from a challenge, Kat set out to find a way to remain involved in the world of the stage that she loved so much.

Passions are found in many different outlets at FSC, whether that be exercising at the wellness center, reading books in your dorm or keying in on your future outside of college. For the members of the Florida Southern Smash Bros. club, it’s in the Snake Pit.

Every fall, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Hispanic Heritage Month serves as a nationwide celebration of culture, history and identity. On college campuses, the celebration carries a powerful meaning, highlighting the importance of diversity, inclusion and cultural pride among students of all backgrounds.

Between Happy Gilmore 2 and Joker: Folie à Deux, there have been some pretty massive sequel flops as of late. 

I am not a fan of this new convocation system. What used to be an occasional, yet meaningful event has now turned into a frequently mandatory lecture that could have truly been an email.

Sequels are being released at astronomical rates. Hollywood has become creatively bankrupt, reaching for low hanging cash grabs in the form of making a sequel to a recent successful film.

The lucky number is 36. That’s how many different variations of Taylor Swift’s new album, The Life of a Showgirl, has. The separation of content done by Swift is unprecedented, forcing fans to literally create google spreadsheets to keep track of how many different album versions there are.

On Sept. 30, OpenAI unleashed the latest terrifying advancement in generative AI technology. Sora is a new social media app meant solely to host AI-generated videos.

At FSC, students are encouraged to explore their passions beyond their major. The campus offers a wide variety of clubs and organizations, each providing something unique for students to get involved in and enjoy.

Over the years, the core method of promoting music has shifted from live performances to radio play to MTV, and now we have streaming platforms to add to the mix, but most importantly, TikTok, to help promote upcoming or existing songs.

Reality television has maintained a widespread global presence for decades, with many series continuing for multiple seasons until viewer interest declines, though overall viewership has decreased in recent years. Dancing with the Stars premiered in 2005, starring only six celebrities such as Joey Mcintyre, New Kids on the Block singer and Kelly Monaco, actress on Good Hospital, who ultimately took home the very first mirrorball award.

With all four nighs sold out, Florida Southern College’s Theatre Department presented “Passion of Dracula” on Oct. 30 through Nov. 1. with this classic brought to the stage, the department displayed the true essence of Dracula to our campus with stunning stage techniques, fantastic acting and a new perspective on what a freshman theatre major in the department had to say while playing a lead in the show. 

FSC is home to many different majors and programs. The department of Theatre Arts and Dance is a program that allows aspiring performers to prepare for a professional career in the arts. In this program, it allows performers to experience real performance and an opportunity to showcase their skills. The Florida Southern Dance program is ranked #6 in Florida for dance schools.