Our campus is buzzing. Students are back â walking the same paths many of us walked over the decades. There is nothing quite like the first week of classes â watching Vandals come together inside the classroom, where great ideas begin, to remind us why we are here. The growth of knowledge, expansion of experiences and personal development introduce this new class to what is possible. This, coupled with the friendships built from a shared experience, makes us Vandals of today and tomorrow. We are, of course, watching the movement of the Delta variant of the coronavirus as it moves swiftly around the world. We remain committed to our community and know Vandals will do what is right for their fellow Vandals. Vaccination is the only way to finally move our university back into a more normal life. I look forward to a day without masks, and I am sure our students and employees do, as well. But most events and activities on our campus will look more normal this fall. Football kicks off Saturday, Sept. 4 against Simon Fraser. Join us for the return of fall football. Then mark your calendars for Oct. 7-9. You wonât want to miss Vandal Fest â celebrating our students and their paths to success. A new Community Concert Series sponsored by ICCU brings big names to the stage for students and the community this fall including Kip Moore, AJR and Third Eye Blind. Being able to bring events like this to spur tourism and economic recovery for our local businesses is an important benefit the new ICCU Arena provides our community. Within our buildings, research continues as students engage with faculty to make the next big discovery. Students are trading stocks, intercepting cyberattacks and learning how to provide healthcare in our rural communities. Vandals make a difference every day. Times are certainly uncertain, but the possibilities are endless. We know that as Vandals we will succeed â not only at getting past the pandemic, but far beyond. We will do it together â as only the Vandal Family can. |