There is nothing like the season of fall on the East Coast. With the leaves falling and the weather getting cooler, it is apparent that winter is approaching and summer is over. However, with this changing of the seasons comes scenic views, especially around campus. The leaves on the trees are changing color, creating picture-perfect scenery as you walk across campus, which is one of my favorite things about fall here at Iona.

The weather lately has been perfect for being able to sit outside and do work. There are so many great spots around campus to do school work outside, and fall is a great time for students to take advantage of being productive while also enjoying the fresh air. My favorite place on campus to sit and get some work done is outside of Ryan Library. I think it is a great atmosphere to be able to focus and work on assignments while enjoying the scenes of nature that are around you. Fall season also means that popular drinks such as Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte are back, which for some people is very exciting.

Another great thing about fall semester is the variety of events we have on campus. We just celebrated Homecoming weekend and there were a ton of fun activities for Iona students and their family and friends. I love Homecoming weekend here because the whole community of students and alumni come together to show their school spirit.

It was great walking around campus and seeing a sea of maroon and gold with people dressed in their Iona gear. My friends and I spent the day taking advantage of all the activities Homecoming had to offer, from going to the carnival to watching the rugby and soccer game on Mazzella Field. My favorite part of Homecoming weekend is watching the games that take place throughout the day. The field was packed with students and their families and friends, as well as alumni. It was great seeing everyone come to support our fellow Gaels and cheer them on.

With Homecoming having already happened this past weekend, the next event we have to look forward to is our Open House on October 22. This is when all the potential future Gaels can come see our beautiful campus and learn about everything Iona has to offer. Current high school seniors and their families will be lining the sidewalks of our campus as our Gael Guides give them tours and provide them with information. While the campus is packed on Open House, making it hard to get from place to place, it is nice seeing how many people come to see the school and it brings me back to a few years ago when I attended our Open House and realized this was the place I wanted to call home for the next four years. It also gives potential students the chance to see campus when it looks the most picturesque in the fall with the leaves changing color.

I am particularly excited for Open House this year being as a member of the Ionian e-board and getting to meet potential future students. We already have such a great staff of writers and photographers and I am looking forward to being able to show those who attend Open House our work. Hopefully, our members by this time next year will grow when a new group of Gaels join the freshmen class. Open House is yet another great fall event we have at Iona, as it gives all of our clubs and students the chance to show off our school to others, and proves that we as a community truly do know how to move the world.