The night of October 4th was an exciting time for many Stockton residents, due to the free showing of the highly acclaimed Ted movie in the Campus Center. But, for a small group of students and staff, the real thrill of the night was being featured in Alton Auditorium. The event was the fifth annual Myths and Legends session, and seemed to be a much better learning experience than a talking teddy bear.
As in previous years, Myths and Legends featured a panel of past Stockton professors who have been with the school since it’s founding. These men and women were kind enough to donate their time and knowledge, but they seemed to enjoy the experience just as much as the listeners. In fact, it seemed that they cherished their visit here, using the time for reminiscing and bonding with long-time friends. They almost seemed to forget the audience was present at some points, but that just added to the magic of the occasion; it was an honor to be listening in on such a personal conversation. Their words flowed effortlessly between topics, interrupting and supporting each other as best friends do.
A recurring theme was the informality of the school in the past. They mentioned living and working in the Mayflower hotel, partying with students, interacting with bums, drunks, and hookers, classes dedicated to sex, UFOs, and Ouija boards, and skinny dipping in Lake Fred. And, rather than being ashamed of these possible felonies and questionable morals, the elders displayed a clear sense of pride at the history that they helped form.
This knowledge rattled me, for obvious reasons. Until that day, I never truly pondered the origins of Richard Stockton College. But now I look at the school I currently attend and think about the madness that it once was. Despite everything, it is with a sense of pride that I ponder the intricate past of this seemingly innocent college. Naturally I consider the reverse situation, as if it was I who was on stage, talking lovingly about my cherished undergrad years. Should such a situation ever arise, I hope that my stories are half as interesting as those heard on October 4th.