Events

Messages That Mend: Program in recognition of Cougars for Hope Week 2025

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 2:00pm EST in the MSC Atrium

Write a message of support, reflection, or remembrance on an index card, sticky note, or letter. Add it to our Compassion Wall or keep it for yourself.

Sabor Latino

Monday, September 15 - Wednesday, October 15 

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month, Cougars!

Come join the celebration with your own culture and indulge in the culture of your peers for some food-filled fun while learning about why we celebrate.

Heroes of the Holocaust: Artist Talk and Opening Reception

Thursday, September 18, 2025 

Artist Talk: 3:15pm EST in VISER LAB 

Opening Reception: 5pm EST in HRI Gallery

Heroes of the Holocaust is a series of fabric assemblage portraits honoring stories of creative resilience during one of the darkest chapters in human history. These works pay tribute to artists who, despite enduring unimaginable hardship, found solace, strength, and voice through their art. After years of research into the lives of artists persecuted during the Holocaust, Lettire came to see their work not only as expressions of survival but as acts of resistance—powerful affirmations of their humanity.

Each portrait is constructed from layered textiles, drawing on the narrative traditions of African American quilting and the collage techniques of Romare Bearden. Lettire applied tiny pieces of fabric to the canvas like strokes of paint—each scrap chosen for its color, tone, and texture—blending together to form an expressionist whole. From a distance, the portraits resemble paintings; up close, they reveal the intricate detail and physical labor that mirror the endurance of the stories they represent.

Through these portraits, Lettire hopes viewers not only remember the individuals portrayed but also see themselves in these stories—and feel moved to resist hatred in all its forms. Let these works serve as both memorial and call to action: to preserve memory, to resist dehumanization, and to advocate for a more just and compassionate world.