Chants of protestors fighting for all charges against the ‘Tampa 5’ to be dropped echoed down Memory Mall through misty rain and wind in the final days of the group’s national speaking tour on Monday.

"When students' rights are under attack, what do we do?” Jacob Muldoon, Orlando for Gender Equality member, loudly asked protestors.

He was met with a collective chant: "Stand up, fight back!"

Thousands of people, covered in rainbow, lined the streets surrounding Lake Eola in anticipation of Come Out With Pride Orlando’s annual The Most Colorful Parade, on Saturday.

Last year’s festival and parade gathered over 200,000 people, according to Come Out With Pride. This year people gathered for a new addition to the yearly tradition, the Trans Rally and the Trans March put on by Trans Pride, which is back for their second year.

“It’s so important just because that joy has just been taken away in so many different places and it’s been shunned honestly,” said Tyler Jones, member of the Come Out With Pride Trans and Non-binary Taskforce. “So, it’s important to have trans people lifted up, especially.”

Snaps and cheers filled the Pegasus Ballroom as guest speakers shared their stories, despite over half of the seats being open, at the College Democrats at UCF Drag Him Out event on Monday.

“I feel like I’m making a difference,” said Maxine Ramirez, Orlando for Gender Equality member and Drag Him Out guest speaker. “I feel like I’m taking the action that I’ve been wanting to take for such a long time. I’m getting my voice out there to important people.”

Students gathered at Memory Mall on Friday to relax and enjoy the beautiful fall weather at the UCF Global ‘Giving Thanks’ Picnic Celebration.

“What we wanted to do is have a moment to pause, give thanks and just enjoy each other,” Jennifer Haddad said, the program director of engagement for UCF Global.

Cadyn Horton, a UCF student who received the $1,000 Ferrante Family LGBTQ Scholarship, said she felt it was important that she gave a voice to people who could not have their own.

"I come from a family that is very accepting of my sexuality. So, I feel comfortable speaking about it and advocating for it, but I know that plenty of people don't have the same luxury," senior psychology major Horton said.

Former and current faculty members roared with excitement in the Burnett Honors College lobby on Friday evening as they awaited UCF President Alexander Cartwright’s speech to commemorate 40 years of honors education.

“We get students from all around the country interested in coming here. They could go anywhere in the country," Cartwright said during his speech on Friday. "They can go to any institution in the country, but they choose to come here and be a part of the Burnett Honors College.”

UCF’s Burnett Honors College hosted its first ever Study Abroad Showcase on Wednesday where students discussed their experiences while studying overseas.

Julianna Merotto, a senior political science major, said she realized how much she takes for granted while studying abroad in Guatemala this summer.

“What would it be like to like to be a woman and have a child here and go through the process of giving birth?" Merotto said. "Cause here, an ambulance, a hospital … you have all those resources to you. But we were talking; we were like ‘we haven’t seen a hospital since we got here.’"

For the first time since the coronavirus pandemic hit, the Student Union's Cape Florida Ballroom was transformed into Japan Saturday evening, with traditional dances, performances and games.

The traditional Japanese festival, known as the Autumn Ball, was held by UCF's Asian Student Association. ASA President Athalee Reyes said she wanted to bring aspects of her hometown, a small town in Tokyo named Fussa, to UCF.

"Growing up, my parents would always take me to matsuri (festivals)," Reyes said. "I would always go to the games ... and go home with tons of prizes. That's what really made my nights in Japan memorable, so I really wanted to bring that here."