Florida State University brought a colorful piece of Spanish culture to Tallahassee on Thursday, unveiling a traditional Valencian sculpture in the Student Union that celebrates the university’s global connections.

FSU President Richard McCullough unveiled the sculpture, known as a “falla,” during a ceremony attended by students, faculty and staff representing FSU’s study centers in Valencia, Florence, London and Panama.

“When you learn about other cultures, that really changes you as a person,” McCullough said. “I hope that this sculpture will be a wonderful memory for those of you who have studied abroad and had these international experiences.”

Las Fallas is an annual cultural festival held each March in Valencia, featuring elaborate sculptures made of papier-mâché, wood and other materials. Known as “fallas,” the sculptures often depict satirical scenes, public figures and cultural themes. They are displayed throughout the city during the weeklong festival before they are burned at midnight on March 19, the feast day of St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters.

The festival grew out of a tradition in which carpenters burned leftover materials from their workshops to honor their patron saint. Today, the tradition symbolizes renewal and the arrival of spring. In 2016, UNESCO recognized the festival as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.

With donor support, FSU launched the project in 2025 with the installation of three bronze statues in the Student Union titled “Vires, Artes, Mores,” representing the university’s core values of strength, skill and character. The statues were cast from the same molds as those displayed at the FSU Florence Study Center. The fallas is the second of four planned installations in the Student Union, with artwork representing FSU Panama and FSU London to follow.

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Florida State University’s Garnet Gaming Lounge (GGL), the campus’s premier destination for PC, console and tabletop gaming, will celebrate its official grand opening from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, at the Askew Student Life Center. The event is free and open to the public, offering an opportunity to experience the lounge and try out its games at no cost.

“The Garnet Gaming Lounge isn’t just about playing games, it’s about creating a space where students and the community can come together,” said Matthew Nelson, program manager of GGL and Esports. “We’re excited to welcome everyone to explore this new facility and experience everything it has to offer.”

The GGL is a state-of-the-art facility featuring 41 high-performance gaming computers, a dedicated tabletop gaming area, and a mix of both modern and retro consoles. The lounge also serves as the home arena for the FSU Esports team, which competes nationally in more than 15 different games each year.

“This space has been years in the making, and we’re thrilled to finally open the doors,” said Michael Fine, associate director of the Student Union. “The Garnet Gaming Lounge reflects our commitment to innovation and student life at Florida State. It is more than a lounge, it is a hub where creativity, competition and connection can thrive.”

The grand opening celebration will include:

• Opening remarks from campus leadership
• Prize drawings, including t-shirts and exclusive GGL merchandise
• Free play on high-performance PCs and drop-in servers
• Special membership giveaway and pre-purchase specials
• Console tournaments with Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart
• Esports and game committee showcases
• Tabletop and retro gaming stations

The Garnet Gaming Lounge is made possible through support from the FSU Student Union, the Division of Students Affairs and Information Technology Services.

For more information, visit ggl.union.fsu.edu or follow @fsugglounge on Instagram.

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Elgin Jumper, renowned Seminole artist and poet, put his artistic curiosity and array of mediums on display during a showcase Oct. 22 at Florida State University’s Club Downunder. Jumper captivated the audience in a multi-sensory immersive performance that included his latest film “The Project,” a variety of musical instruments to create soundscapes, poetry, personal stories and paintings.

“It’s like taking a journey every time you do a painting or a poem or a piece of nonfiction,” Jumper said in the film. “I try not to do the same thing over and over.”

The event was a collaboration between FSU’s Club Downunder and Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) Center.

“Every time I see (Elgin) he adds another instrument, another skill set,” said Andrew Frank, director of the NAIS.

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Florida State University is the best university in the state of Florida for student life, according to Niche, a research company that produces an annual ranking of colleges and universities.

Based on federal data and student reviews, FSU earned the No. 6 spot for Niche’s Best Student Life in America. Niche also placed FSU No. 11 among the nation’s top public universities, moving up two spots from last year.

“We are thrilled that Niche ranked FSU No. 6 in the nation and No. 1 in Florida for Best Student Life based on FSU’s ‘positive, fun, and friendly student culture and vibrant campus community,’” said Amy Hecht, vice president for student affairs. “From the time we welcome our students at orientation to the milestone moment when they cross the graduation stage, the Division of Student Affairs provides intentional and robust student services and engagement focused on student success. FSU is truly a special place!”

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