Category Archives: First Year Experience

Amazing Race Treasure Hunt

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Nube Airiana Munoz

 

The Amazing Race Treasure Hunt took place on August 31st of 2015 and was sponsored by the Stockton Entertainment Team. This event took place later in the day and would prove to be a solid and exciting challenge. First, students had to get into groups of four. Once the teams were set and the creative group names were chosen the rules for the Amazing Race Treasure Hunt were provided by members of S.E.T. Every team had to come up with correct answers to various and clever descriptions of different locations and offices located at Stockton University. Once the team was finished brainstorming for a solution to the description, the entire team would have to go to that location and have a student who was running the event verify that the group was indeed correct.

Indeed the event had students work up a sweat as they speed walked all over campus in an extraordinary effort to solve as many descriptions as possible in the given and limited time frame set by the Stockton Entertainment Team. There were more than forty places to visit. Isn’t that crazy?

Behind every awesome event lies a purpose. The Amazing Race Treasure Hunt wasn’t just another fun activity for students to participate in. It was a learning experience for incoming freshmen and transfer students of Stockton University. This event allowed students to find out where different offices and buildings were located on campus. People found out about many things that they simply did not know about before, everything from the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities all the way to the Richard E. Bjork Library. The special quality of the Amazing Race Treasure Hunt has to do with how it turned something ordinary into a fun event. Upperclassmen could have just shown us around campus just like a standard and basic high school or middle school orientation, but instead a considerable amount of time was taken to plan an event where students could discover where their classes were located while still having some good fun and competition.

RHA Building Community Battles

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Nube Airiana Munoz

 

The RHA Building Community Battles took place on August 30th of 2015. This event was sponsored by the Residence Hall Association. This four hour event brought on stellar competition. Residents from both Housing two and Housing three buildings would compete against each other in various activities. The intensity would increase from one activity to the next. Everyone was giving their absolute all in every activity that they participated in.

Before all the action took place there was preparation to be done. After getting dressed in the color assigned to their building, each team created a poster with a slogan to represent their building. This was a great way for students to bond with one another.

One of the activities during this event was a watermelon eating contest. Students sunk their teeth into the watermelon so quickly that it would lead anyone to believe that there was a recent food shortage. People watched teammates eat as their hands were behind their backs. Participants pulled through and devoured the watermelon after being supported and motivated by their team.

Another exciting activity was the inflatable obstacle course. This course was made for students who were up for a challenge. Each team selected one member that would race against another person from the other team. The participant would first climb up the steep entrance of the inflatable obstacle course and then deal with the rest of the course. It turned out to be a great competition.

Hence, the RHA Building Community Battles provided students with a place where they could push their limits and compete. These battles brought each building closer together. It was four hours of fun and excitement.

 

 

 

Serving the Community

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As many of you may already know, Stockton recently held it’s 10th annual Day of Service.  I, like many others, attended.  Being a freshman and not having any sort of idea what was going on made the whole process slightly confusing.  I completely forgot that I had pre-registered, so when I walked in the door and saw a huge line of people I was, at the very least, confused.  Asking around, only a few people realized that they were in fact standing in line for a reason.  When I asked why we were in line, most people just looked at me and shrugged.

After getting my sheet of paper and “signing in,” we were all off to breakfast! Yay breakfast! There was such a lovely array of scrumptious foods that I didn’t really know what to pick.  But that’s beside the point.  Once breakfast was finished, all of us service people traveled up to the event room and started to find groups which we were interested in devoting our day to.  We tried to find groups who were doing things that were fun or high up on our list of okay things to do in life rather than at the top of our hate list.

I decided to work with the Covenant House service group for the day.  The description of our activities soon to come included but was certainly not limited to yard work.  Once I read the sign in which the description was posted, I cringed slightly inside.  Yard work is definitely not something I love to do.  So, I was fairly skeptical but I mean really, how much yard work can anybody actually do in Atlantic City?  Where is there yard to work on there anyway?  So I sat down and waited to start the journey.

After we got to Covenant House, we put all of our stuff down and the woman in charge of volunteer work gave us an overview of what Covenant House stands for and why they do what they do.  Basically they take in 18 to 21-year-old men and women who came from a bad place or don’t exactly have the best past and give them the opportunity to become educated and get their lives back on track.  Everything is free for the men and women who stay there; all that is asked of these men and women is that they become what they want to become.  After she finished giving us this message, she sent us to work.

We went out to the courtyard with shovels, rakes, gloves, mulch, and garbage bags and picked up all of the trash that was lying around and under the bushed and then we laid down mulch to make the area look nicer. Then we weeded the gardens around the perimeter so that there were only flowers and shrubs left.  Once we finished that we moved dirt from a flower tier that had started to fall apart into four others to fill the four other tiers and take down the one that was starting to fall apart.  After we finished, we ate our lunch and had a reflection session where we talked about what our service means to others and why it’s such a nice thing to do.

We concluded the day with a walk on the boardwalk in search of other service groups in need of assistance.  We came across two other groups but they didn’t really need our help.  So we drove back to Stockton and that concluded the 10th annual Day of Service at Stockton.

Day of Service Sept. 2013

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On Saturday September 7th, Stockton held it’s 10th annual Day of Service. Being a freshman, this was my first time participating in this event. When I first got the email for the Day of Service, I pre-registered right away. I knew it was something I really wanted to be a part of.

Day of Service is sponsored by the Office of Student Development. This year the event would take place in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Besides all the glitz and glamour of the casinos, I knew there was a side of AC that needed help from whoever would give it.

The night before Day of Service, I set my alarm for 6:30am since I commute to school. I wanted to get to school early so I didn’t have to wait in line for long. When I got to school, there was already a crowd. I was in the last group since my last name starts with a “W”. After waiting for about a half hour, I was finally able to sign in. The event leaders provided us breakfast and gave us shirts to wear for the day. So after eating breakfast and throwing on my new shirt over my tank top, I made my way up to the event room. Inside, there were many tables with different club/organization names on them. I browsed around at the different activities but eventually settled with Circle K.

We were taken to the Atlantic City Police Athletic League. We set up shop in one of the event rooms. There was a station making PB&J sandwiches for the homeless, one making dog toys for the Humane Society, and another making cards for terminally ill children. I spent my day sewing blankets for Project Linus. In short, Project Linus makes blankets (Like the one Linus has in the Preanuts) and gives them to ill children. I already knew how to sew, so I figured this would be the best activity for me.

I consider myself socially awkward so I didn’t expect to really talk to anyone or to make any friends. However, I was suprised how welcoming upperclassmen were. They helped me feel comfortable and I had a great time. I made new friends and helped out a great cause. When it came time for us to leave, we found out our bus had broken down on its way to pick us up. So after waiting another twenty minutes or so, we got another bus to take us back to the campus. Overall, I had a great time participating in the Day of Service and I’d definitely do it again.

Poignant Memories of Stockton Soccer

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There is something magical about Stockton’s soccer games. Losing our first game earlier this month to Rensselaer was a hard pill to swallow and left a bitter taste in the mouths of many of the players. This desire for redemption brought a certain flare and cadence onto the field. Victory was already ours before the game began. I could feel it.

I remember this poignant game like it was yesterday. Bright lights contrast the night air, warmth from neighboring bodies radiate in the biting autumn cold, and the animated cheers of Stockton Soccer fans swelled with hope as the countdown to the buzzer beckons us to victory. We were up 2-0 at the beginning of the second half and our rivals seemed to be unraveling. There was electricity in the air and our players were tactful and precise. I felt a sense of expectancy—an urgency watching the game, and I could tell I was not alone. All of a sudden, number 26 charges, striding across the field with the ball. We rise as one in anticipation. With one swift move, he kicks it, making a perfect arc over the goalie’s head and into the goal—Amazing!

When I share a part of myself, even if it’s small, it makes me feel like I’m part of something bigger. I love how people show their true selves at these games, both in frustration and acclamation. Although Stockton University is not known for its abundance of sports, the campus community is eager to support the few we do have! It’s comforting to see familiar and new faces with each game and build a foundation of camaraderie. We rise together or stumble together, but united we will always stand. Our soccer team holds great talent and I find myself in constant awe as the starters show off foot tricks I’ve never seen. We won 3-0 to Mary Washington and I would never had expected to see this much Stockton school spirit at our games, but I aim to go to as many as possible.

Stockton Stand Up!—Justice March

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I rushed to the campus center after my 4:30pm class to join the sea of students and faculty milling in a group, and handing out posters. We wore black and red in unity, for what we were about to do was important. Charged up and ready to go, I grabbed my poster, which read BLACK LIVES MATTER and #HANDSUPDON’TSHOOT, and with my first step, I pledged my solidarity to the University of Missouri.

The University of Missouri have been experiencing extreme racial tensions as blacks and African American students there feel like they aren’t safe on campus. Physical and verbal threats were hurled towards them, yet the administration remained silent. The acquiescence to racial disparity on their campus led to protests not only in Missouri, but universities nationwide.

Despite the pouring rain outside, we decided to continue with our march, protesting against the racial injustice and tensions that are present in the very fabric of American values. “NO JUSTICE! NO PEACE!” I yelled, leading the chant. “KNOW JUSTICE! KNOW PEACE!” they responded in unison. I remember seeing teachers, students, and other faculty walking alongside me, basking in the joy of doing something meaningful and with depth on our campus. While walking I conversed with Mrs. McLeod, a philosophy teacher at Stockton University, who spoke at a panel discussion earlier this month on institutionalized racism, the black lives matter movement, and white privilege. We both expressed a shared appreciation that we were using our voice to speak about the true problems on campus, instead of shallow concerns like unpredictable WIFI on campus. In that moment the color of our skin didn’t matter—we looked so different yet we were the same.

After taking pictures for the ARGO, Stockton’s newspaper, I was able to reflect on the importance of standing up for what you believe in, especially when people are trying to keep you down. This protest was my first, but I know for the rest of my life I will keep speaking out to the multitude about any injustice perverting the American Dream. My voice will not be muffled. A poster read, “Will you stand if we walk for justice?” I feel empowered to do and be anything. To rise when society tries to pull me down and be a light in the darkness so that all might see what true freedom means. To be free at last and break the chains of discrimination and institutionalized racism is a dream I will keep fighting for with each step I take. My question to you is: Will you walk with me?

Canvas Night: Bringing Awareness to Domestic Violence

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Canvas night was hosted by the Focused Educated Motivated Aspiring Ladies Empowering Society (F.E.M.A.L.E.S.) at Lakeside, and was truly an event I’ll remember throughout my stay at Stockton. Although my friend and I were one hour late to the event, there was still a multitude of paint, supplies, and blank canvases to make use of. The purpose was to bring awareness to how common domestic violence is, and the discussions that came up at my table were quite informative, and even sobering. For instance, I learned that every 107 seconds someone in sexually assaulted in the United States—that is less than two minutes!

Each of us were given a statistic or fact to paint on a canvas; mine was that sexual, psychological, emotional, economic, and physical violence are all types of domestic abuse. After painting at least one canvas relating to the theme, we were given creative freedom to paint whatever we pleased. Many of us made up to three or four paintings displaying encouraging quotes, initials, or abstract designs in about a two-hour period. At my table we talked about how stimulating, yet relaxing this activity was. I for one, saw this as a chance to de-stress and take a break from analytical thinking and immerse myself in all things abstract—it was quite liberating!

Despite being apprehensive about using the shuttle so late at night to go all the way to the other side of campus, the bus drivers, going there and back, were extremely friendly and always took the extra mile to help freshmen like me feel comfortable and safe. This event is hands down one of my favorites! I went back to my dorm with three painted mementos to decorate my walls and precious memories I will keep with me for a very long time.

Getting Involved!

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As you all may know, Stockton just recently held it’s latest Get Involved Fair!  As a freshman, it looked like a great opportunity.  So, after some slight begging, I rounded up a few friends and we walked from A to N in search of the coolest clubs on campus.

Each club had it’s own cute little set up going on and everyone at each table was pretty enthusiastic about what they do in their club and how to get involved.  Stockton literally has a little bit of everything for everyone.

While I didn’t have the opportunity to run any of the stands, I did find some really cool clubs and found out that a majority of the clubs on campus aim to serve their community.  Each club does what they can to get involved and help out those around us.  For a college, I’d say that’s pretty good.

So, in our travels, we all signed up for emails and updates about the clubs we found most intriguing and we all made sure to get some souvenirs.  After all, who doesn’t want to join a club that offers free cookies or a real nice bag?  Maybe some pens too, I mean who doesn’t need another pen?

All in all it was a pretty great experience and a fabulous opportunity!  So, if you missed out on this year’s Get Involved Fair then make sure to do your research and don’t miss the next one!  It was really cool and definitely worthwhile to go.  Stockton has so much to offer so if you’re one of those people who says it doesn’t then make sure you go to the next Get Involved Fair!  I promise you’ll find at least one thing to get involved in because let me tell you, there is definitely something for everyone!

The Open Race Panel

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The Open Race Panel was the first dialogue session I attended at Stockton. It took place on November 2, 2015 at the Campus Center Theatre. I am involved with the club F.E.M.A.L.E.S., a student organization dedicated to the empowerment of women, and they directed me to attend the panel in place of our weekly meeting. I do not normally like talking about race because it is a touchy subject, but being an African-American at a white-dominant university, I know I would benefit from addressing the issue head on. The panel featured a diverse mix of six students and faculty representing various backgrounds. It was interesting to see everyone on the panel’s viewpoints on the same topics, viewpoints that were so in sync with those of other civil rights leaders. From the get-go the panel was very thought provoking and it made me feel more cultured and knowledgeable about society.

The first thing they addressed was the offensive discussions on YikYak, an anonymous college campus centered social media outlet, about the role of UBSS. UBSS stands for the Unified Black Student Society. Students at Stockton anonymously posted comments on YikYak questioning the significance of an all-black club, stating that if there was a white student society it would be called racist. I was immediately overjoyed by the powerful responses of the panel as they passionately fought the white privilege induced argument. They clarified that UBSS welcomes all races and has members of various racial backgrounds. Also they made it known that there are numerous white student societies on campus from Student Senate to the Stockton Entertainment Team that are not explicitly exclusive of minorities but rather implicitly unwelcoming. The panel stated that clubs like UBSS and those for Caribbean or Latino or Asian students are especially important to have on white-dominant campuses because they provide safe havens for minority students to interact with people of their kind, enhancing the overall feeling of belonging.

Following that discussion was one on the Black Lives Matter movement. Black Lives Matter is a civil rights movement that highlights the importance of black lives in light of the recent atrocities involving police brutality, racial profiling, and killings of African-Americans. It raises awareness of the fact that media does not cover the murder of people like Trevon Martin and Michael Brown with the same air of importance as whites, suggesting black lives do not matter as much as white lives. The panel discussion focused on the vandalism of a Black Lives Matter sign in front of a nearby church. With white graffiti, someone wrote “All Lives Matter”. This quickly sparked a discussion on the panel who all agreed “All Lives Matter” is a misunderstanding and white privilege concoction. Of course all lives matter but minorities need to be raised up so that it is clear that their cultures are equally as beautiful and important as white culture.

Other topics the panel talked about included: white privilege, culture appropriating, and the history of slavery. I would encourage everyone in the student body to go to the next race panel because race is so necessary to talk about. If we can understand each other’s struggles the world can become a more tolerant and inclusive place.

SOAR

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I am SOAR excited to write this post about the overnight camping experience that kick started my college career. Making the decision to go was hands down the best thing I’ve done in preparation for freshman year. The friends I made and the leadership skills I developed in three days is unmatched to any other thing I have ever done. It has been two months since then and I can honestly say I am still being affected by relationships I built in such a short amount of time.

The first thing that happened for SOAR was check-in which was extremely chaotic. The freshman who went to SOAR had to move in the same day as check-in. Being a commuter, I got to bypass that stressful scene of having to frantically set up my room and say goodbye to my parents. I showed up for the barbeque and at glance, I could feel the community atmosphere and also just knew I would have the time of my life. Everyone was assigned their tribes. I ended up being on sky tribe which was really funny because of all colors, sky? I made fun of it a little in the beginning without fully realizing: a. that would be the premise of my time at SOAR, people saying, “Sky isn’t even a color”; and b. that I would avidly defend the validity of sky being on the visible light spectrum.

It was really awkward at first, meeting my tribe. We all were forced into this disjointed circle by these people called T.A.L.O.N.S. that were W.A.Y. too excited and kept making these weird “SOAR” related puns. No one wanted to talk. Everyone kind of just stared blankly at nearby trees. Then came the icebreakers. And the mind games. And then all hats were off and we bonded. Of course this did not happen as sequentially; there was a bus ride that inadvertently helped break down walls. Since we were already packed like sardines, my tribemates and I were forced to get acquainted for an hour and some on our way to the camping grounds.

There was actually a lot of forced bonding. You were forced to be best friends with your cabin mates who would help you kill spiders in the middle of the night. You were forced to actually eat with people and converse three times a day- one of these family dinners you were forced to host. You were forced to mingle and get to know details about not just the thirty people in your tribe, but about others from the rest of the rainbow. You were forced to open up and contribute to a team and make a chant and skit that you were forced to have pride in. You were forced to have unadulterated fun and stay up way too late. You were forced to identify your lions and take steps toward conquering them. You were forced to take showers with Daddy-Long-Legs and inhale unhealthy quantities of bug spray and sports spray sunscreen. And you loved it.

I encourage all incoming freshman to go because the camp ground was crawling with hot Australians, New Zealanders and beautiful men from the UK, all with panty dropping exotic accents. Seriously though, it was great. I would recite a litany of activities we did but in the end it wasn’t even about what we did but how the experience made us feel, and that is just one of those you-had-to-be-there moments. People who went to SOAR were able to extend the sense of belonging and community to the rest of the freshman class during welcome week who were going through the same anxious, new school, new life jitters we experienced on check-in day. This is because we arrived back on campus with thirty best friends and a hundred other distant-relative-like acquaintances who we were connected to because we shared a super special secret. What secret you ask? That we’re SOAR excited to begin the next chapter of our lives. And we know what a stick really is, how hot is hot, that Johnny likes to whoop, and hopefully by now, who has the magic box.