The Department kicked off the new academic year on September 6 with a festive gathering at the Campus Club. The reception, took place on a beautiful, sunny day, with a hint of brisk fall air. Guests enjoyed delicious brick oven pizza from the Nomad Pizza Truck. Acting Chair, Serguei Oushakine, greeted the faculty, staff and returning graduate students and welcomed the first-year graduate students and new postdoctoral fellows, as well as the visiting scholars. Each of the incoming graduate students took time to read a piece of poetry or to tell a story as a way of introduction. It was a wonderful evening of new faces, happy reunions and lively conversations.