Running from September 3rd to September 6^th, Chrysalis Staging and the Stockton University School of Arts and Humanities Theatre Program proudly presented Promised Land in the Experimental Theatre. After volunteering to usher on opening night, I was invited back the next night to view the show. The play, written and directed by Lane McLeod Jackson, took place in a post-apocalyptic world where climate change has wreaked havoc and left the earth barely able to support human life. Abraham, played by Rodger Jackson, is a farmer/scientist trying to help move humanity forward. He has built a community with strict laws, such as when and how much people can eat and when couples are allowed to have children. Although his community is thriving (as best they can in this destroyed world) Abraham constantly feels conflicted over the amount of power and control he has over others. His wife Ester, played by Melanie McLeod, is always supporting him and reminding him of how the decisions he’s made, though harsh, have helped keep them all alive and fed. She supports Abraham in his work to move forward towards a better future. However, their daughter Rebbecca, played by Carla Gamarra, does not share their hopeful thinking and thinks that they should just accept the present reality and try to make the best of it. As things are starting to look bleak, in walks a smooth talking salesman named Elliot, played by Evan Williamson, who may have the key to what Abraham and Ester need – if they can trust him. This play causes people to question the morality in the way these characters are surviving. In a world where the end has already happened and people are struggling to survive, is there truly good and bad? Or does survival become the only thing that matters? The play puts its characters in a permanent grey zone, leaving the question of whether they are good or bad totally up to you.

Brittany Holmes

Lenard

Life of the Mind

14 September 2015

Blog #1

Now soar like an Osprey! I had the pleasure of attending the Student Outdoor Adventure Retreat (S.O.A.R.) the week before classes started.

On the morning of August 25^th I left home and drove to Stockton to formally move in to my dorm, so that I could attend S.O.A.R at Camp Ockanickon. All the new freshman students who were accepted and paid $250 for this unique program were put in different colored tribes. I was assigned to the “red” tribe. Tribes made it easier to keep track of the 238 students that attended S.O.A.R. I moved into my dorm and had lunch with my family. After lunch was finished, I was called to my tribe and we did many ice breakers and got to know each other. Then the T.A.L.O.N.S. which were assigned to each tribe told us to board the buses and we were off. After an hour or so of driving, we finally arrived at the camp. We gathered our belongings and were directed to the cabins we would be staying in for the next two nights.

The following morning, August 26^th, we woke up bright and early and ate breakfast which started the day. Let the activities begin! My red tribe started off with an activity that was called “Low Elements.” This was not just one activity, but multiple activities that were designed for team building. One activity was called “Lava Rocks” where we had to get a group of 14 people from point A to point B by using only seven small carpets. There were certain rules; for example, someone always had to have a body part on the carpet or else it would be taken away. Another rule was that we couldn’t touch the ground, or what was called the “lava” or we would have to start over again. My group was able to get everyone across the “lava” successfully! The second part of the day we went to a presentation on the many different ways that a student could get involved on campus.

On the third and final day we woke up early and started our day. The first activity was a board game called “Keep it Real” that was designed to get to know people I played the game with. I enjoyed this game because we got to really know the people we were playing with a little better than just knowing their favorite color. I got to know if they have ever experienced someone being racist, how they felt about certain topics like bullying, and what they feel most strongly about in their life. After we finished all the morning activities, we ate lunch, and then we continued on to the next and final activity, the high ropes course. The high ropes course was a course in which I climbed up a wooden pole and walked across to the other side and then came back, and it also had a rock climbing wall. That was not my favorite, it was scary.

When it was time to pack up and leave I was excited to start the school year, but also sad I had to leave Camp Ockanickon because I had so much fun with everyone. S.O.A.R. was a great experience, I made tons of new friends, experienced many fun activities, and did things outside of my comfort zone. I am glad that I got to participate in S.O.A.R. and would recommend it to any incoming freshman!

On Thursday, September 10, I attended the “Meet the Greeks” event hosted by the Greek Council. This event was a one time event and was located in the Campus Center Event Room from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Inside of the room, each organization had their own table set up. There was music playing; it was a fun and inviting atmosphere.

Entering the event, I was uncertain about my opinion on fraternities. I decided to go to the event just to open my mind to different things. Although I had no interest in joining a frat, I figured it could gain something just by attending. I walked in and approached the first Fraternity that caught my eye. I spoke with representatives from the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. They gave me many impressive statistics about their organization and showed me a myriad of awards that they received, many of which were from volunteering and service to the community. I even spoke with the President of the fraternity, who gave me his business card with his contact information.

Overall, the event was very informative and well organized. Not only was I able to speak with members of each fraternity, I was able to speak with the leaders of each fraternity. I left the event with a much different feeling than I had when I entered. My opinion on fraternities had completely changed. I had a newfound respect for the service and academic achievement that some of them were capable of. The event had me wondering if I should join one of the many fine fraternities that Stockton has. I applaud the Greek Council for putting together such a great event and making it so easy for me to acquire helpful information about Greek Life at Stockton University.

On Saturday, September 12th, Stockton held the 12th annual Day of Service to inspire students to serve in the community as well as provide them with information to do so. This year, each student was able to experience every service project. This arrangement gave us the opportunity to decide what we like best, and what we would like to continue in the future.

The first project my team attended was health and wellness in which the team split up into small groups and went to different locations to learn about a variety of health related topics including CPR, green dot, suicide awareness, and prescription drugs. I chose the CPR information session which was taught by Stockton EMS. This was very informative as well as interactive. We watched short videos with step by step instructions on how to perform hands only CPR, and were able to practice these steps on dummies. After this session, I felt that I would be able to help if I were ever in a situation in which someone needed CPR.

We then regrouped and went to the hunger and homelessness session which began with an inspiring introduction from a member of Covenant House. She opened our eyes to the realities of homelessness, especially among people our age. Not only did she share some of her experiences in working with Covenant House, but she made it clear that it is possible for us to help too.

After that, the team went to the civics session where we discussed issues such as frisk and seizure, the death penalty, and student evolvement in politics. I was able to hear my teammates different opinions on these topics, making me think more in depth about them. I was also encouraged to involve myself more in politics when we learned about the lack of participation in people ages 18 to 21. Here, we also learned about the Petey Greene Program which allows volunteers to make a difference in the lives of prisoners by educating them, and helping them get their GEDs.

The day was filled with other services and organizations such as Books Without Borders, Circle K, and the Atlantic City Rescue Mission. Overall, it was a great day to work with new people, and learn about a variety of ways to serve the community in the future.

On Monday, June 22, the incoming freshman and transfer students came with their guests to the orientation. First, everyone was given free bags and T-shirts, then got their pictures taken for their IDs, and then gathered in the Campus Center event room. The students were welcomed by the university faculty and were given an introduction about Stockton. Then, the student leaders introduced themselves to us and held a small and humorous play. At the end of this session, all the students were split from their guests and were divided into different groups according to their schools. Since I’m a NAMS student, I was in group 1.

My group was escorted to a group session meeting room and filled out a survey about our academic backgrounds and expectations about our college careers. Then, we gathered in a classroom and we first watched a short video about a young boy talking about working hard to achieve his dream. Then the orientation leaders answered our questions about student life and academics. They also showed and explained to us how to use the Go Stockton Portal and how to register for classes. Then some NAMS faculty members joined the session and explained the academic system at Stockton and then we were divided into even smaller groups according to our majors and we were advised on which classes to take this semester. Then we had a short lunch break and then registered for classes.

After registration, we gathered in a hallway to play “All My Friends and Neighbors” and “Ships and Sailors.” After that, the commuter and residential students split up. I went with the other commuters and the T.A.L.O.N.S. told us more about commuter resources and opportunities on campus and about the club “Commuters on the Go.” We also played a Jeopardy-like game with questions about the university and the campus and the two teams were the Tributes and the Smarties. Last but not least, we answered another survey about orientation and asked a couple of questions about Welcome Week.

At the end of the orientation, there were some refreshments and gifts given out and there were tables around the campus center with information about campus organizations and facilities. I think that orientation was a wonderful event that I will never forget.

Tasbeeh Muhamed

Maura Twiggs

September 10 2015

Freshman ’15 Blog

Welcome Week: Building Wars

We stared the other team down across the picnic table. Things were getting serious. Each team had put forth their champion to part take in the highest honor of Welcome Week even Building Wars: the Watermelon Eating Contest. Earlier, when our RA Nancy (Mom as we adoring call her on our floor) told us the morning and afternoon would be filled with different events in which we would compete against other freshman dorm buildings, I’ll admit I was weary. However, right from the start the positive attitudes of the other RA’s, SET team members, and workers who brought equipment to the quad for the day, were infectious and I couldn’t help but be completely immersed in the action. Each building was assigned a color to wear. D Building was lime green, and even though its not a color in most people’s wardrobe, everyone had a piece of green to wear. At the sign up table, SET members had colored strips of fabric corresponded with each building. Some kids wore them as headbands, others as ankle or arm bands. This small and seemingly simple idea unified us as a team. From challenge to challenge, it didn’t matter if we won or lost (although we dominated), what mattered most was spending time with each other, getting to know our building better and also meeting other freshman. Some of the people I went toe to toe with that day remain close, I couldn’t be more pleased I attended this event. It not only made me get out there and meet people, it also had activities for a range of skills. There was Stockton trivia, athletic games, ice breakers, scavenger hunts, and my personal favorite, food eating contests. So, here we stand, undefeated green team, our chorus of “D building- YOU BETTER BE LEAF IT” up in the air, ready to face off the grey team in a watermelon eating contest. RA Anthony Thawley tells the eaters to be at the ready-set-go, and a ruckus of egging on and encouragement echoed from both teams. It was both my favorite moment of Building Wars, and a Welcome Week event I will never forget.