Jessica Klein

The event I attended this week was the first of the four presidential debate-watching parties hosted by the Political Engagement & American Democracy Project.

The event started about an hour before the actual debate did to allow everyone time to find a seat and enjoy the refreshments that were provided to us. Shortly before the debate began, everyone was given debate bingo cards. The first five to fill two rows would win a door prize.

We watched the debate online on CNN. It was projected onto a large screen, so visibility wasn’t an issue. There was also a secondary, smaller projection screen in the room projecting the popular tweets about the debate.

Overall I really enjoyed the debate-watching party. It was nice to be surrounded by other students who were politically active and shared similar views on the candidates. It was comforting to know how many people wanted to be informed about politics. My only complaint is that it seemed the organization underestimated how many students were going to attend. There were not enough tables, which meant many people needed to find chairs or just sit on the floor.

How To Survive Cross Country Preseason

My name is Destiny Foster, and I am a Cross Country preseason camp survivor.
Okay, so it wasn’t bad enough to actually kill me, but let me explain something to you. There are two things I genuinely dislike and sometimes even fear: clowns and cross country. I know exactly what you’re going to say, and I’ll respond in the phrase that I have a feeling will get me through college all in itself. “Why do you do cross country if you don’t like it?” My answer: “I don’t know; I’m crazy.” That being said, I can only hope that many other lunatics like myself partake in the hellish 9 days that is preseason camp. This is how to survive preseason.
You’re going to move into the on campus apartments, with your parents nipping at your heels and acting one of two ways: as if you’re moving away for good, completely ignoring the fact that you’ll be home in a week and a half, or as if they can’t wait to get rid of you. When you get into your room, there’s going to be another athlete who you’re going to size up by the looks of her leg muscles – don’t hesitate to tell her you’ve already stalked her Milesplit.com stats and that you know what she ran on May 26th, 2014. You’ll also notice upon your walk to your room that the average person on the team probably weighs about 110 pounds soaking wet. Keep walking, lie to yourself by saying you’re going to have a salad for dinner, and move on.
Your first unofficial practice will be the sketchiest thing you’ll ever take part in. You’ll have to spread out in small, insignificant-looking groups to hide from the athletic department, because you’re technically not supposed to start inflicting massive amounts of pain on your body until Monday. Find out who the fastest girls on your team are, and do not, I repeat DO NOT run with them on this day, or any day during preseason. As friendly as they are, and believe me they are sweethearts, the worst possible thing you could do is go for a 5 mile run at the same pace as the NJAC Rookie of the Year title holder. You’re going to look up mid-run and think to yourself: “Why does it feel like I’m having a heart attack?” Keep running, and cherish this first run, because it’ll be the easiest one of your whole preseason.
You’ll meet a couple of your coaches, but not all of them. Coach Curll will most likely be stranded in another state because his RV gave him trouble. Your first impression of coach Resch, which will definitely be a good one, will uphold itself forever – he is as friendly, sarcastic, and inwardly tough as he seems. You’ll receive your first of many motivational speeches from coach Parker, and you’ll immediately feel as if you can easily bench press a medium-sized car the second she finishes. Her words will get you through every workout, every meet, and every mile.
You’re going to sit through seemingly endless seminars about topics ranging from the importance of drinking excessive amounts of water to a thousand reasons why salt is a good thing. You’re going to register yourself as an official NCAA athlete, and you’re going to feel an unexplainable sense of entitlement while doing so. However, this process entails writing your name so many times that it looks like it’s spelled wrong after a while. Keep writing; it’ll be over soon. On the bright side, your privileges as an athlete include waving off the front desk workers at Big Blue when they ask for your ID because, “I’m with Cross Country,” is code for, “I’m not just a sporadic gymgoer.”
There will come a day when you have to do “bowl repeats” at Holmdel. If you don’t know what the Holmdel bowl is, try to visualize a right angle covered in rocks and dirt. Now, imagine running up that right angle multiple times in one morning. If you’re not scared yet, you should know that you’re about 87% more likely to twist your ankle running on this course than you are at any other time. That being said, the Holmdel workout will be one of the best ones of your life. You’re going to leave with pain in muscles you weren’t even aware you had, but you’re going to limp away with a sense of accomplishment and knowledge that you, my sweaty friend, have just dominated the bowl. No worries, the Osprey bus is air conditioned. However, do the others around you a favor and always have deodorant in your bag. No amount of central air can remedy the damage 40 plus runners post-workout will do to your nostrils.
You’re also going to partake in a lip sync battle. Do what I did: dress up as Lil Wayne (cornrows, grills, and a permanent snarling lip) and rap explicit material in front of your coaches and their children. This, by the way, will be the first time coach Curll will see you, in all your pretentious thug-looking glory, and he will never forget you henceforth.
You will discover random little things about yourself that you either didn’t previously know or didn’t care to find out. For example, you actually do enjoy high socks with sarcastic phrases or woodland creatures embroidered on them. You’re going to be physically and emotionally exhausted by 7 PM every evening, and there is no more effective way to reach your social limit for the day than to spend 18 hours straight with people just as extroverted as yourself – or better yet, trying to coax the introverted out of their shells. You’ll have at least twelve missed messages by the end of every day, and you’re going to be way too exhausted to answer these people. Unless they gave birth to you, do not answer them. Enjoy the company of those physically within proximity of your aching body.
Finally, on the last day of preseason, you’re going to be subjected to possible death by time trial. Coach Resch will have made up his mind 16 different times about the length and location of this course. There will be whispers of the top 18 making the team, and talk of cutting the unfortunate stragglers. Just run your race, and enjoy the free bagels afterwards.
Preseason was both a challenge and an adventure. The idea of subjecting young adults to a certain amount of pain daily to ween out the weakest seems like an initial step toward genocide, but I guarantee the pain is worth the memories you’ll make. My apologies for the cliché. You’re going to be stronger, faster, and significantly more exhausted upon leaving camp than you were when you first walked in. More importantly, you’re going to leave with 40 more friends than you had before, even if you don’t realize it right then. The team is there to help you and provide dry humor in times of need. Take advantage of their constant availability to you – not everybody gets to call these people their teammates. You will survive preseason if you follow all of my advice. Happy running!

Destiny Foster

Kate Doherty

Lisa Rosner

Honors Freshman Seminar

30 September 2016

Making Memories: Blog Post

“Oh look! The Student Digest email just came through!” My roommate and I call what we do “utilizing our tuition”. We always check the student digest emails to see what activities are going on around campus. We attend as many of the Stockton events as we can. There are events in the campus center coffeehouse each week hosted by different organizations like the Stockton Entertainment Team or Get Centered, an initiative to get students involved on campus.  On Monday, September 19, we attended the memory board do-it-yourself craft activity sponsored by Get Centered. Everyone lined up and received a piece of plywood, a sheet of cotton batting, and the fabric color of our choice.

Participating in crafts is therapeutic for me and I enjoy taking the time to do these events. Since moving into college I have become accustomed to staying up later at night; therefore, I start my homework around 9 or 10 p.m. Being able to relax at the evening events helps me unwind from my day of classes and mentally prepares me to sit down and do my homework. These evening events are a great opportunity for students to get involved with their friends and make new connections while bonding over how hard the craft is or how fun the events are. I enjoyed attending this event. My roommate and I were able to add décor to our room—something we are always trying to do! At home I have similar memory boards that I keep all of my pictures and tickets on. It was too much to bring them to school because of all of the things attached to them, but it is nice to be able to start fresh on a new board for college memories!

Over two hundred members of the Class of 2020 made their first memories as Ospreys during the 2016 Stockton Outdoor Adventure Retreat (S.O.A.R.). From August 30-September 1, The Activity Leaders of New Students (T.A.L.O.N.S.) guided Stockton University’s freshman class through the winding dirt paths of Camp Ockanickon to help prepare them for the twists and turns of life in college.

Before the journey to camp began, Stockton’s newest students moved into their dorm rooms and were sorted into their tribe colors (although some think it is up for debate, Sky is in fact a color). After some emotional goodbyes, the students were eager to meet their new classmates. While waiting for the buses, the T.A.L.O.N.S. helped minimize the awkwardness of mingling by introducing icebreakers to play and mind games to go insane over. I still don’t know why I’m the broom.

There was SOAR much to do over the next few days, with a favorite being the never-ending list of S.O.A.R. puns. From relaxing swims in the lake to pushing personal limits on the Project Adventure course, Camp Ockanickon was filled with fun opportunities. In addition to the recreational activities, the Stockton and YMCA staff also held a variety of dialogue sessions throughout the trip. These activities focused on topics like getting involved on campus and becoming more empathetic. Strategies to be successful in college and beyond were also incorporated into exciting games and challenges.

S.O.A.R. is unlike any pre-college program seen at other universities. Stockton’s freshman retreat encouraged emotional growth during the transition into college. Students had the opportunity to think deeply about what they want out of these next four years; furthermore, the high-ropes course challenged students in new ways and instilled mental toughness. The first day of S.O.A.R. was really awkward, but by the end of it, I felt more prepared than ever to start college. I was put at ease when I recognized so many faces at Welcome Week; being in on all of the inside jokes from Camp Ockanickon was SOAR much fun.

Lily Davis

On September 26, I watched a Presidential debate at the school’s viewing party in the event room.  This was the first time I have ever watched a televised debate, so this was pretty interesting for me, and this is also my first time voting in a Presidential election.  This election is a pivotal one, and it feels like my entire future is resting on it.

It was really fascinating to me to be able to watch the debate in real time, and thinking that the candidates were actually discussing these topics in real time was very amusing to me.  What peeved me about the debate was the lack of actual answers to the given questions.  Personally, I think that the moderator asked fitting questions, but they were not targeted towards the younger crowd of voters.  For example, one topic was about the security of America, especially relating to the cyber protection and defense. While this is a very important issue, I feel that this was probably not the issue that most millennials care about.   Instead of discussing  who is behind  the country’s cyber attacks, they could have spent the time talking about how to make college more affordable, or discuss the changing healthcare system and what they would do what they would do if they became president.  

Another thing that I did not appreciate about the debate is that Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton almost never really ever answered the questions that were provided.  When a question would be asked, the Presidential Candidates would dodge the actual point, and pretty much just blame the the other candidate for something they did many years ago.

I turned eighteen in April, and this is my first time voting for the President of the United States. This has been really a very interesting experience for me, because I feel like I actually will have a say in what will happen in this country. Even though I am one of two hundred million or so people that are able to vote, I believe that every person’s vote counts.  

After watching this debate, I am actually really excited to watch the next Presidential Debate, because I want to see how the next moderator deals with the constant interruptions, and hopefully  asks some different questions.  I cannot wait to cast my vote in November!

   By Kenzie Hoinkis

    This past Monday, the 26th of September, was the much anticipated 2016 Presidential Debate, and what better way to celebrate than a Presidential Debate Watching Party? This event was sponsored by Stockton University’s Political Engagement & American Democracy Project and was held in the Board of Trustees Room. This party, which was accompanied with complementary popcorn and soda, began at 8 o’clock but had a steady flow of students entering the room until a few minutes after nine. As the number of people grew, extra chairs had to be placed out; it was obvious this was a bigger event than initially thought and the original guess of people attending had been greatly underestimated.

    As we settled in, the event’s organizers handed out Democracy Bingo Cards. Each block of the cards was a common phrase that would be crossed off if and when one of the candidates said it during the debate. There were some phrases that were virtual giveaways, like the “make America great again” block. This bingo was a great idea for getting people involved and encouraging us to pay close attention to what was being said in the debate.

    Another interesting aspect of this event was a large screen off to the side of the room; a livestream of tweets from people across the country about the debate were projected onto the screen. It was a cool way to feel connected, and it felt like the whole country was watching this debate together. The livestream of tweets was definitely an example of the beneficial uses of social media, a platform that usually receives harsh criticism.

    I really enjoyed this event that encouraged us to get involved and pay attention to the politics that will largely impact our lives. There will be future Debate Parties for the rest of this Presidential campaign and I can’t wait to attend them.

Eryn Swineford

Presidential Debate

    It was Monday, September 26th. I filed into the small room and glanced around, noticing that the room was much too small for the number of honors kids who pledged their attendance previously. I sat down, dismayed by the fact that we were told to arrive a full hour before the debate was to begin. The giant screen portrayed a panel of people, presumably speaking, however all i could hear was the noise of Stockton students conversing all at once. Food was shoved into our hands and presidential debate bingo. Second Amendment, national security, temperament, child care, all made appearances on the various boards passed about. By the end of the debate, 14 out of my 25 blocks would be filled. I passed the following hour drawing the exit in my notebook and drinking my complimentary Brisk tea as slowly as possible.

    Finally, silence fell and Lester Holt took the stage. He explained that the debate would be comprised of three sections, achieving prosperity, securing america, and america’s direction. After niceties were exchanged, Secretary Clinton, as Donald Trump took such pains to call her, was given the first question. She opened by thanking Hofstra University and diving into a deeply political answer to a seemingly simple question. Accusations were thrown mercilessly throughout the remainder of the debate, most hilariously that Trump “doesn’t do” bad commercials, when I had seen one a few days prior.

    Trump owned his aggressive business tactics and Hillary agreed that her email fiasco was a mistake, but at the end of the debate I could not have been more excited to leave. While it was obvious that Clinton had won, as she seemed extremely well prepared when compared to her republican counterpart, I was terribly disappointed. While I appreciated Stockton’s Political Engagement Project’s snacks and entertaining bingo, I had hoped to hear something new from our candidates. A definitive plan for the future. Something concrete other than lowering taxes and far fetched theories. As I pushed in my chair and shuffled through the double doors, I couldn’t shake the feeling that while I had heard both candidates speaking for an hour, very little had actually been said. Thankfully, I can hear our presidential candidates argue on national television twice more.

By Emily Calhoun

     On September 28th at 5:30pm, the Animal Friendly Organization held its first meeting for the fall semester.  By the time I arrived, around 5:25pm, the classroom the meeting was held in was already filled to capacity, with some people already sitting on the floor.  The group of students standing in the hallway continued to grow, so much so the president decided to take those of us in the hallway into the classroom next door, which we proceeded to fill.  Each student who went to the meeting was given a survey on a half-piece of paper when they arrived; its questions asked our opinions on where the trip this semester should be, our preference on the main service project, as well as any other ideas we had for the club.

     At 5:30, the president of the AFO began to explain the mission of the club and what membership entails.  She presented a short powerpoint that outlined some of the organizations the AFO is affiliated with and the many projects they lead and are involved in throughout the year.  These projects included bake sales, service projects, and volunteer opportunities.  The volunteer opportunities especially piqued my interest, as the club’s main focus is volunteering at the Atlantic County Animal Shelter.  The first opportunity to volunteer is on Monday, and I hope that I will be able to attend and be an active member of this club.  Finally, the president explained the options for the trip this semester.  We all filled out our preferences on our surveys and the meeting ended.  The meeting was very brief, only fifteen minutes from beginning to end; she explained that meetings are typically short since most of the important information and events are discussed by email and in the Facebook group.

To start, the opening statements from President Harvey Kesselman were inspiring and soothing; he made me feel welcomed immediately! I’ve definitely been enjoying my time at Stockton University so far. After Ellen Forney disclosed that she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I had trouble believing that she could make such amazing and thought provoking comics. This disorder makes it difficult to express feelings so I commend her for finding such an effective way to express herself. Besides her comics in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, her comics in Marbles really sent a powerful message. She talks about feeling vulnerable and alone, which is something I think a lot of freshmen were able to relate to on the first day of college. Junior also is also vulnerable and alone when he switches schools, but he draws comics so that everyone, no matter what language they speak, will be able to understand his state of mind. I think that she’s inspired me to find a channel where I can express myself as well as her. It might be my sport or a club I haven’t joined yet, but I’m definitely looking. This event was useful for me and I’m happy that GT told us to go. I think Ellen’s story relates to more than just people suffering from bipolar disorder. She talks about feeling shameful because she has this baggage that she’s carrying, but it’s all in her head because she’s just a normal human being. I honestly feel like anyone with a mood disorder would be able to gain the courage to accept their lives the way they are from listening to Ellen Forney. (Kristen Russo)

The Stockton Entertainment Team, more commonly known around campus as SET, is one of the most active groups on campus. Almost every day there’s a new event sponsored by SET that any one can go to. Not only that, but all of them are free for students. One of their most popular events is their free movie showings in the Campus Center Theater every Thursday and Saturday at 8:30. Every week is a different film, and all of them are fairly current—the movies showing now were released this past summer in cinemas. Entry is free of charge for students, and they receive a raffle ticket (at the end of the movie, students use these for a chance to receive prizes like free movie tickets and posters) as well as a complimentary snack and drink. I have been to the first two movies, but this review will be about the September 15 showing of Central Intelligence, starring Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart. The movie itself wasn’t one I’d see normally, but all feelings aside, I had a great time. It was well put together and very funny, and the underlying message of embracing yourself and moving forward after trauma was very sweet. Going got me out of my comfort zone, and it was a chance to do something fun with new friends. This is especially important for freshman, as even 2 weeks in we’re still navigating the waters of Stockton. SET has many activities with this aim, and showed this through their multiple events during Welcome Week. The fact that they’re able to provide this for students, especially at no cost, is truly remarkable. This organization really cares about their peers, and realizes the financial and emotional hardships that students have to persevere through. This series gives students a chance to relax with friends and enjoy themselves, even if only for 2 hours. The free snacks and drinks are things you’d actually buy at a cinema, the picture quality of the film was excellent, the facility was clean and comfortable, and the whole theater had an aura of relaxation and pure fun. They put this event together with their peers in mind, and I applaud SET for all the work they do.