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Traditional events launch ECU fall semester

East Carolina University launched its 2012 fall semester Aug. 20 with traditional events welcoming both seasoned and fledgling Pirates. Students energized by convocation and a pep rally poured into Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium Monday evening for the ever-popular Pirate Palooza celebration, which included free food and activities, inflatables, rock wall climbing, a dunking booth and Pirate Football Challenge.

The annual fall faculty convocation earlier in the day featured remarks by ECU Chancellor Steve Ballard; Mark Sprague, Physics Department, chair of the faculty; and Ravi Paul, College of Business, recipient of the 2012 Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching.

The afternoon student convocation included live entertainment, an appearance by Pirate cheerleaders and PeeDee the Pirate and music from the ECU Marching Pirates. Convocation speakers included accounting professor Cal Christian and ECU student Jordan Lynn Jordan, recipient of the Walter and Marie Williams Leadership Awards Program Scholarship.

(Photos by Cliff Hollis)