Join one of the Italian clubs!  Participating in club activities is a great way to meet other students and faculty in an informal, fun setting.

As of Spring 1999 Southern Connecticut State University has two Italian Clubs. Ciao is the older one of the two clubs and its activities are organized and coordinated by the students/members.

In the past year Ciao has organized culturally oriented events among which there was a trip to the Statue of Liberty (NY City). Ciao is also active with NIAF (National Italian American Foundation). Every Fall the officers of the club participate to the annual gala event in Washington D.C. Ciao also organizes dinner-dances and an annual celebration / dance for Carnevale.

The Italian Academic Cultural Club was created in response to those students who expressed a deep interest in Italian cultural and academic oriented activities.

In seeking to familiarize American college students with Italian culture, the Italian Academic Cultural Club sponsors both group activities and trips to places that highlight Italian national culture. During the Spring 1998 this club sponsored a trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see the Versace's exhibit as well as the Etruscan Collection. In the Fall 1998 the Italian Academic Cultural Club sponsored a trip to the Yale Art Gallery to view the collection "Masters of the Renaissance." Professor Silvia Monteleone (Madison-Wisconsin) lectured the participants on the artists whose works are part of the permanent collection. During the same semester the Club organized a trip to see the acclaimed movie "La vita e' bella." In the Spring 1999 the club sponsored a trip to NYC to view Dosso Dossi's exhibit at the Met. Mr. John Sullivan, a local artist and scholar, lectured the participants on the "Differences and Similarities Between Dossi and Caravaggio."

In the Spring 1999 the club and its members were very active on campus as they organized the Italian Table at the International Culture Day. For this occasion members set up a table with Italian foods that were representative of different Italian regions. During the same period the Italian Academic Cultural Club became the sponsor of Gamma Kappa Alpha the National Italian Honor Society.

For the Fall 1999 the club has already scheduled a lecture by professor Leon Yacher (S.C.S.U.) "Early Italian Geographers," and a lecture by Professor Polly Beals (S.C.S.U.) "1860: The Making of Italy." For November 1999 a trip is planned to the Monastery of Our Lady of Grace in Bethlehem, CT to view the renowned Italian Nativity Scene which is on permanent display there. Moreover, every month the Italian Academic Cultural Club will be showing Italian movies which are part of the S.C.S.U. collection. In attempting to bridge the gap between American and Italian culture this event - along with the others mentioned before - will be open to the S.C.S.U. community as well as to the Greater New Haven Community.

Click here to hear the Italian national anthem.