Fisher Celebrates First-Generation Students with Activities, Events

The week of Monday, Nov. 6, St. John Fisher University will celebrate its first-generation students and alumni with a week full of lectures and events.

At Fisher, 17 percent of students are first-generation, as identified by the FAFSA. While First-Gen Week celebrates those students, all members of the campus community are welcome to attend events.

“What is unique about Fisher is that our first-generation population is significant,” said Gabe Iturbides, director of the TRIO Student Support Services and CSTEP programs. “We often mention the students first, but many staff and faculty were first-generation students, including President Rooney, and most of the president’s cabinet.”

Events around First-Gen Week include:

Speaker: Lydia X.Z. Brown
5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 6, in Basil 135
Lydia X. Z. Brown, a queer, disabled, and East Asian advocate, organizer, attorney, strategist, and writer, will present, “A Discussion About the Deep Interconnections Between Ableism and Other Forms of Systemic Discrimination, Marginalization, and Oppression.” The lecture, which is open to all, is sponsored by the Office of Student Accessibility Services and TRIO Student Support Services.

Annual First-Gen Celebration
4:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7, Golisano Gateway Midlevel
Enjoy snacks and celebrate the first-gen community on campus!

Speaker: Richard Taylor
5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 8, Basil 135
TRIO alumnus and national speaker Richard Taylor will deliver his lecture, Taylormade Empowerment: Empowerment and Resilience. Sponsored by Fisher’s TRIO SSS program, this event is open to all.

Wear Blue or Yellow to Celebrate First-Gen Week!
All day, Thursday, Nov. 9
Paint the campus blue and yellow by wearing a shirt that celebrates First-Gen Week!

Paradigm Shift Workshop
Friday, Nov. 10
This event is for members of the First-Generation Scholarship, HEOP, TRIO SSS, and CSTEP programs.

The First-Gen Week Planning Committee includes Dr. Jennifer Pluretti, Center for Career and Academic Services; Gabe Iturbides, TRIO SSS and CSTEP; Emily Colliss, Institute for Civic and Community Engagement; Chelsea Marshall, Multicultural Student Affairs; Brittany Zeager, Higher Education Opportunity Program; Yodit Ghebrezgabiher, undergraduate student; Dr. Tim Madigan, Philosophy Department; and Laura Fitzgerald, Office of Student Engagement and Leadership.