Adam Smith

Dr. Rosner

GEN 1033-003

9/22/15

Freshman Blogging Project: Day of Service

Service is a vital part of becoming a competent citizen. By providing service to others, one may learn new things, not only about those being served, but about oneself. On September 12th, I attended Stockton University’s 12th Annual Day of Service. The purpose of this event was to enlighten students about the benefits of community service and provide them with opportunities in which to donate their time and effort. The Day of Service started at eight o’clock in the morning, where students ate breakfast and registered for the day. Like most students attending the event, I was eager to dive into “hands on” community service that would hopefully fulfill one of my requirements for service learning, but as I began talking to my peers, I realized that not many students knew what the itinerary entailed. We shrugged our shoulders, finished breakfast, and waited for the first lecture to begin.

What struck me as odd, when I first sat down in the event room, was that it seemed as if the day was not going to revolve around physical community service at all. It became evident, however, that the student body would be lectured for a majority of the day about the benefits of service. Although this may have seemed disappointing at the time, I believe it was a smart decision on behalf of the planning board. Without the information sessions about organizations such as“Books Without Borders”, students would not know where to volunteer, let alone how. For a short while, I assisted a few members of the “Books Without Borders” organization in the packing and arranging of books that would be sent to the less fortunate. This was the extent of the physical service that many students took part in. What I realize now is that this Day of Service, in particular, served as stepping stone for students, and provided them with the necessary information to take part in community service in the future.

Another aspect about the Day of Service that I am impressed with is the wide variety of opportunities that the students were presented with. While I was sitting in the information sessions, listening to the speakers, I could not help but wonder, “What do these lectures have to do with each other.” I am now aware, looking back at the event, that the planning board used varying organizations as a means to show students that they can volunteer in many aspects of society, whether it be homeless shelters or  book organizations.

Although I may not have been enthusiastic about how the Day of Service played out while I was there, I now realize the importance of the event. It was more of an informational service to us, than a community service interaction. I now feel more knowledgeable about the various community service opportunities in the area and would not hesitate to sign up again for the next Day of Service. I believe that Stockton University’s 12th Annual Day of Service prepared students to take action in the community, while also providing them with information that will further benefit their time at the university.

Saturday, September 12th I was reluctant to arise for a full day of service learning. Lacking sleep and motivation, as most college students are, I rolled out of bed for free breakfast. My buddies and I all joined the red team and waited anxiously to be informed as to what we would be accomplishing that day. After keynote speaker Todd Bernstein got us committed to participating in the activities we were assigned to aid Books Without Borders. In this segment we physically aided Books Without Borders in unloading, sorting, and repackaging books for donation. We were informed about their goal of donating recycled books to school libraries that are less fortunate than most. I eventually ended up signing up for the club at the Get Involved Fair.
Our next station is where I experienced service learning for the first time here at Stockton, or maybe in my life. Excepting to accomplish labor-based tasks I was caught off guard by the servicer learning portions of the day. However, after thinking about it, I came to the conclusion that service learning is more beneficial to the community than one-and-done volunteer opportunities. I could tell many people were bored by the lectures, but they didn’t understand that if everyone was informed of things, such as why it’s better to drink from a refillable container and not bottled water, or that they have to ability to impact their environment through speaking their opinion, writing letters to government officials, and voting, then no one would have to provide service hours as a special event. These services would be completed naturally by citizens if they were informed and motivated. For example, roadside cleanups would become less necessary if people converted to the use of refillable containers.
As an environmentalist I’ll admit that hearing from Water Watch and a representative from the sustainable farm were my favorite lectures. However, I also felt that the Green Dot spokesman was trying to teach an important message. That is that if oneis a bystander to an event, such as seeing someone pocket goods from a supermarket, or are witness to domestic abuse, it is the job of said bystander to speak up and take action. It may be hard to approach the situation without support of others to take a stand, but taking action can take many forms, such as calling the authorities, getting the attention of other bystanders, or intervening through rhetoric rather than physical contact. Unfortunately there are “red dots” out there, but the number of people who are bystanders and take action, or green dots, against this one person can make a huge difference.
Whether everyone at Day of Service enjoyed the service learning or not, we hope that they at least gained knowledge from it. Every bit of service learning helps; such as the bettering of one’s knowledge about drinking from a reusable water bottles. Day of Service helped to shape Stockton as a community. We all got to know more about one another and gained service opportunities. When this knowledge is put to work it will benefit our community as a whole

Anthony Gingerelli

S.O.A.R was an event offered to incoming freshmen to allow them to get to know other freshmen.  S.O.A.R took an interesting perspective on how to make unfamiliar freshmen bond with each other.  Even though it seemed as if there would be an endless amount of ice breakers, the Talons lead many other meaningful and fun activities.  We learned how to trust and rely on others to complete activities that we were unable to do alone.  Along with the Talons leading activities, the people working at the camp also initiated many activities as well.  We were able to participate in games and trusting exercises, similar to what the Talons had been teaching us. The difference was the camp leaders brought the experiences to a whole new level.

The workers at the camp gave us challenges as simple as untying a rope with no hands to the extreme challenge of having several people holding a rope and supporting you, as you scaled a rock wall.  Trust was a big factor in many of our activities and sometimes difficult to hand over to a complete stranger.  After realizing that there were so many friends that could be trusted, we were able to break down barriers and create new bonds and friendships.  Many of us would not take that initial step on our own, so this was a great way to bond and break away from our “freshman shell.” The S.O.A.R. experience was a unique one that will never be forgotten for me personally.  This is not only because of the bonding exercises we participated in, it was the free time and other opportunities that were available.  During free time there were many fun activities to choose from and participate in. The activities included archery, swimming, canoeing, community service, and freedom to just walk and explore the campsite.  I would have not chosen this type of trip if given a choice, but for sure, I am glad to have had the opportunity to participate.  It opened my eyes to new activities, new endeavors and new friendships.  Trying to immerse myself in all that was offered allowed me to step out of my comfort zone, along with many other freshmen, creating conversation, alliances and comradely.

While all this was enjoyable, there is nothing like a little friendly competition. The students were broken up into eight different tribes. These tribes would create chants, dance and compete against each other in games. To determine the winner, each tribe was scored for each activity performed.  Also in the competition, each tribe had flags which were occasionally stolen from another tribe to assert dominance.  These competitions gave everyone more motivation to compete and try a little bit harder.  Adrenaline was surely pumping!  It created unity, teamwork and strategies for each tribe.  Tribe members grew stronger in their competition against one another.

The S.O.A.R. experience is an opportunity every freshman should take advantage because it is a great time and a great place to make lots of friends.  It was a wonderful way to start my journey at Stockton University. Starting my freshman year with this much fun and excitement only makes me look forward to what else Stockton has to offer me and the many other incoming freshman.

Richard Stockton University welcome week is an amazing time for not just residential freshmen, but also the freshmen that commute. It is a wonderful time where not only do you get to bond with others and make countless new friends, but you also get to learn all about the different opportunities available, where everything is located on campus, and how it works. There were countless, different, mandatory events that the students were required to attend; however, one event was more memorable then all the rest. This event was the Warrior Champions movie.

It was an hour long movie that followed four different people who lost their limbs or function of their limbs in war. They all shared the similar goal of trying to make it to the Paralympics. Two of them were men who lost movement from the waist down. They were both throwers and amazingly both qualified to compete in the Paralympics. The one female had lost her leg. She was a swimmer and also qualified to compete. The final man had also lost one of his legs, but he was a runner. Sadly, he did not qualify to compete. Out of the three athletes who did go to the Paralympics, none of them medaled. Even though they didn’t win a medal, it was still an inspiration to see how they overcame major obstacles in their lives. It taught the lesson that nothing can stand in the way of anyone’s success.  It was very moving and even brought some to tears.

After the movie was over, they had us watch a shorter video. One of the soldiers in this video had been hit by a rocket. He lost his arm and had major damage to his abdomen. It was amazing to see how badly he was injured and then how he recovered and became skilled in martial arts. Then everyone was surprised to see that, when the video concluded, we actually got to talk to the man. It was inspirational hearing the challenges he had to go through and how he persevered. It proved the point of never letting life get you down and that you can overcome anything you put your mind to. Overall, this was by far the most memorable event at welcome week.

On a week in September, the Red Cross held one of its many blood drives. People from all walks of life came to donate blood. It didn’t matter if you were a student or an outsider, all blood was accepted. There were people there who donated for the first time, and others who had donated 100 times. These unsung heroes came together for one purpose. They wanted to help people. To donate blood is not something everyone can do. But these people willingly handed a part of themselves over, in order to save another. It is an act that is not easily done.

The nurses in the room moved efficiently, gathering the patients one by one for a quick questionnaire. They asked if they had been out of the country or had any diseases. These awkward questions are needed to see if one is fit to donate a pint of blood. From the questionnaire, the subjects are taken to tables where they are laid down and drained of blood. It takes a different amount of time for each person. When done, their blood is take and put in a cooler. From there, the patient is moved to a table and handed sugary foods and drinks to help restore them to health.

When all’s said and done, the patient leaves. They are told not to do strenuous activity for the rest of the day. They are also told to wear a sticker. The sticker tells people that this person gave blood. This person is a hero. That they will save someone’s life one day. As the unsung hero leaves Big Blue to carry out the rest of their day, they feel good, and they know that they made a difference, one blood bag at a time.

The Stockton Entertainment Team (SET) and the Greeks organized a hypnotist even on September 30^th. The event was two hours long and ran over a little bit. However, I am not complaining because the event was very entertaining. I was not hypnotized, but two of my friends were. Not only was it a fun event, but the hypnotist was teaching us all about the effect of alcohol. He chose about twenty individuals who volunteered to get hypnotized. Some were not hypnotized, so he told them to sit back down in the audience. It was a good choice of entertainment by SET and the Greeks. I hope they decide to do it again later in the semester or next semester.

Towards the end of the night, the hypnotist gave all participants a bottle of water. He made them believe they were at a party and the water was actually alcohol. He gave the statistic that about 1 out of 3 do not drink and if any of the individuals participating did not drink they did not have to. However, all participants drank the water and acted as if they were at an actual party. Many of the participants were funny to watch, chugging the water or dancing around having a “good time.” After the hypnotist stopped the music, I realized an individual was passed out on the ground. A few of the participants, still in a trance, helped pick up the passed out guy. The hypnotist then asked if anyone in the audience noticed the two girls in the front and how they were acting. He said that he had “roofied” their drink; they did not even realize. The hypnotist made it obvious how easy it is to get a drink roofied at a party. So much chaos was happening, I did not even notice the two girls acting different. Even though the individuals were simply hypnotized, it was a realization to always protect my drink if I ever decide to party in the future.

The event was fun and I am happy I decided to go and watch my friends get hypnotized. I am happy that it was not just hypnosis, but also a lesson. It was an entertaining way to teach individuals about alcohol safety. I hope SET and the Greeks decide to do it again; I really enjoyed myself.

This semester the Day of Service was held on Saturday September 12^th. It was an all day event starting at 8:30am and lasting till 4:00pm. It is an annual event that occurs once each semester. It is a wonderful event that provides an opportunity for students, faculty, staff and community members to engage in service projects on campus. There were four different colored nametags that determined which grouping you would be placed in. The colors included red, purple, green, and blue.

The day started off with a complimentary breakfast and a variety of speakers. It was intriguing to listen to so many different people talk so passionately about giving back. They explained that the three hundred volunteers would partake in many rewarding projects throughout the day. Each person would rotate through four service projects and all of them would be the same except for the health and wellness project.

The homelessness project incorporated three activities. Some volunteers were making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to be given out at a local shelter for the hungry. Others were making empty birthday cards so homeless families could fill them out and exchange warm thoughts on each other’s birthdays. Finally, bags were being sewed so that the people at the shelter would be able to transport their belongings efficiently. This service project was run by Circle K and it was extremely rewarding.

The civic engagement project incorporated five activities. The first part was filling out an online survey to measure volunteers understanding of civic engagement. The second part was a discussion about the existence of capital punishment. The third part was registering to vote if you wanted to and were not already registered. The fourth part was learning about The Petey Greene Program. This volunteer based program looks for tutors in all subjects willing to visit prisons to help convicts educationally. The final part dealt with writing letters to people in power like Governor Christie to express your ideas or opinions about governmental issues.

The environmental project incorporated three activities. A man spoke about the importance of waste conservation and his life journey after graduating from Stockton and finding his passion. After this a Stockton club known as Water  Watch talked to volunteers about plastic and its harmful effects on humans and the environment. Finally, a student who works on Stockton’s farm spoke about its benefits to the community and the ability to volunteer at the facility if you were interested.

The last project was the health and wellness project and each activity differed. I was part of the Suicide Prevention station and it was extraordinary. The activities were run by Stockton’s Active Minds and I later joined the club. I helped make signs for the Suicide Prevention Walk and decorated pledges for walkers to sign. It was eye opening to read statistics about how many people take their own lives because they feel their problems are permanent. The club’s members were in charge of the activity and spoke to us about suicide and we had a mini reflection session that was really emotional. This was my favorite part of the Day of Service and I can not wait till next year to volunteer again.

The day ended with a reflection survey and discussion in the event room. Volunteers then received free shirts and were able to leave. Overall the Day of Service was a great learning experience and an important opportunity for volunteers to meet new people, become familiar with service learning opportunities, expand their understanding of civic engagement, and make a difference in other people’s lives through service.

On Tuesday, September 15, The Stockton Entertainment Team (SET) put together their own rendition of The Price is Right in the Campus Center Coffeehouse.

From the beginning, this event made a good impression on the average passerby. A considerable amount of students showed up to enjoy the night. Each student was given a raffle ticket. Four students were randomly chosen in a drawing to participate in each round. Then, a common household or cleaning product was described. The student who is closest to the retail price without being over wins that product and has the opportunity to compete in a mini game. The other contestants are given another opportunity to be chosen for the drawing. It seemed that as long as students didn’t win a prize, they can be chosen at any time.

The rules for the mini games were a little more complicated. For some games, contestants could win however many prizes were available for that round until they guessed the wrong price. For other games, if students didn’t guess the right prices for all of the products, they wouldn’t win anything.

This process repeated itself for about two hours. At the end of the night, unclaimed prizes were raffled off to those unfortunate enough to not have had a chance to compete.

The best part of the game would definitely have to be the prizes. Instead of a one-time item like a gift card or movie ticket, students won practical prizes that could be used anytime.

Some won non-perishable items to add to their dorm’s supply; others won laundry detergent or cutlery. I won a packet of microwavable mashed potatoes myself. Not only was the night enjoyable, but people brought home practical prizes.

Blog Post 1

     Recently I attended the Spike Out Cancer event hosted by a few sororities and fraternities on the freshman side of campus. This event was a fundraiser for cancer research, and ultimately was a huge success financially. The rules were simple gym volleyball rules, games to 11 points, three hits per volley and good sportsmanship. The event, in total, raised over $700 for research by selling concessions and bracket positions.

     Another reason I attended this event was to meet the brothers of the several fraternities.  I was able to meet mostly every active brother and get to know them. Many of the brothers also participated in the tournament. The winning team of the tournament was actually AXP, in an effort over APD in the last game. The tournament was fun and relaxing for many people who came to watch, and the event was catered.

     Since this event was at the freshman side of campus many new students were able to socialize and become friendly along with this event. More than 12 teams of 10 players each joined the tournament and competed. Unfortunately, I failed to find an entire team of players to compete in the tournament, however I still made an appearance in the tournament, joining a team that was short 2 players. In conclusion the Spike Out Cancer event was a successful time for Stockton and helped raise a lot of money for research while keeping competition friendly.

In the typical span of a college student’s day, there is little time left to the student to enjoy with friends the luxuries of a board game or a video game. The Stockton Gaming Club, which meets every Wednesday at 8 p.m., tends to be a much appreciated exception to the rule above. The crowd of people that flocks to the Campus Center’s second floor is astonishing – not only in numbers but also in spirit. Indeed many of the games offered at this gathering allow walk-ins and participants are always willing to help new players. Games offered range from Nintendo’s “Super Smash Brothers” to “Magic: The Gathering” to “D&D: Pathfinder,” and seemingly grow at each meeting. Although the meeting’s start time is well defined, there seems to be no official end time, as some games continue late into the night. Every week brings a new host of games and new opportunities to make lasting friendships with fellow gamers. Even if there doesn’t seem to be a desired game present, anyone can bring any game with him and play to his heart’s content. The Stockton Gaming Club every week brings great joy to students on campus – from jolly cooperation to fierce competition, there are no losers and everyone leaves with a smile on their faces. Nobody can understate the air of incredible friendship and fun that emanates from above Dunkin Donuts on Wednesday nights, and everyone is welcome to participate. The Gaming Club invites all people to come and get involved in a game they enjoy – so stay a while and game with us!