Category Archives: First Year Experience

Day of Service

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Today was the day of service. I was unsure about the outcome as I had not pre-registered and did not know what my service project would be. When I arrived I discovered that I had several service projects to chose from. I could also decide whether I wanted to stay on campus or go off campus. I found this a bit unfair because those that pre- registered did not have a choice and were assigned to certain projects. Hence, not pre-registering was actually better. I was glad that a clean-up of Lake Fred was an option, as doing clean-ups are often something I enjoy and participate in often. S.H.A.P.E. (Students Helping Animals, Plants, and the Environment) was a club I was very active in in high school and I am very passionate about the environment, hence this was the perfect project for me!

After we registered we all gathered in the Event Room to have breakfast and listen to speakers. When the President spoke he read a letter from his daughter about her experience on September Eleventh. She closed her letter with the statement that many want to respond in rage, but we really need to respond with compassion. That is exactly what we did today. Even though we were commemorating September Eleventh we were also celebrating service. We turned the sadness of the worst attack to occur on American soil (as the E.M.S officer stated) into productively helping others.

From that point on it only improved. The project leaders were extremely friendly, witty, and kind. We also picked up trash at an fairly rapid rate. There were about three bags of trash and two and a half bag of recyclables. I am not sure if these amounts are correct but I believe it was close to that. The club that was in charge of the clean-up was “Water Watch.” They said there are internships and volunteer work that are available through the club. I am very interested in volunteering, since helping the environment is very important to me. They also spoke of Ameri-Corps. One of the projects they are involved in is going to elementary schools and educating students about the environment. This definitely sparked my interest and convinced me to join the club!

Not only did I enjoy helping the environment but I also enjoyed connecting to nature. Walking around the lake was so relaxing. As I looked out onto the lake I totally forgot about all the litter we were picking up and just enjoyed nature in it’s pure form.  I was able to forget about all the problems in the world, such as terrorism and the attacks of September Eleventh, as I stared at the reflection of the sun off of the water. It was so serene and it made me even happier that I chose that service project.

It was so reassuring to see how many people came to participate in the day of service. The event room was full of people! The only people who were obligated to do it were those in the honors program, I believe everyone else did it on their own accord. Further, these people did not seem like they dreaded being there, but seemed rather excited for the day ahead. What was also great was the fact that after the E.M.S. officer spoke to us, everyone stood up and applauded him. That is one thing that is so great about college: people actually want to help and respect others. People are here because they want to better themselves, not because the law forces them to (like high school). There are so many great people who really care about others and want to make a difference. I know that I want to join clubs that are involved in volunteer work and meet even more people who care about making a difference like I do.

Participating in the day of service reaffirmed my desire to make a difference while at Stockton. I do no want my time at Stockton to be simply about me. Yes, I do want to gain knowledge but I do not want this time to only be about my academics. I want to grow as a person by helping others. I want to make a difference! I know this environment gives me the perfect opportunity to help others. There are numerous clubs and organizations willing to help others or I can start my own club! This year has so much in store for me.There are so many opportunities and activities here. I hope to participate in many of them and make the most of my time at Stockton!

-McKenzie Lillia

 

Welcome Week Volleyball Tournament

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Welcome Week Volleyball Tournament

The first event that I ever encountered at Stockton as a student was the “Welcome Week” volleyball tournament. I figured there was no better way to make friends than to bump, set, and spike as a team. I was slightly nervous attending an event where I would not know anyone, but within minutes of arriving the counselors made me feel like family.

I didn’t have a pre-registered team, but I met five freshmen that were in the same boat as I. A perfect six! We decided to call our team, “ Team Zebras”, based on the fact a few of us were wearing zebra printed clothing. Before the events began, we met a new group of friends who invited us to practice with them. We practiced right up until the first game started. As “Team Zebras” we lost both of our games, but we enjoyed ourselves in the process. After all winning isn’t everything!

During the tournament, there was a huge, delicious barbeque filled with great food and snacks. One item that raised a few questions was the vegetable hotdogs. They looked like raw hotdogs, but someone explained that the chefs went out of their way and prepared a meal for the vegetarians. I thought that was very thoughtful of the chefs to do that. My favorite item was the macadamia nut cookies. I couldn’t stop myself from getting another of a newfound love on campus.

Overall, attending the “Welcome Week” volleyball tournament was an awesome way to meet new friends, eat a large portion of great food, and get acquainted with Stockton.

 

 

 

 

Blood Drive

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On September 19th and 20th, 2012, Stockton College opened its doors to the Red Cross Foundation, who was in need of as much blood as the school was willing to offer. This event ended up being a resounding success, as they managed to collect an exciting amount of blood and plasma donations from both students and faculty.

I was not able to go to the actual blood drive, but I can proudly claim partial credit for the great turnout that occurred.  This claim is justified by my actions on September 13, 2012, from 2:15 to 5:10.  During this time, my only goals were to inform and convince, in relation to the blood drive.  I would wave people down, call over to them, or meet them in the hallway.  I soon discovered which quickly- blurted lines were the most persuasive, and used this information to its full potential. Even those who were unable to donate promised to tell others about our cause; many of them followed through.  Multiple students approached the table (a pleasant change!), already convinced by their friends. We soon had a steady stream of students at the sign up sheets, and the empty spots gradually turned into reservations.

It was truly gratifying to be working for such a noble cause. I knew that every passerby had the capability of being a lifesaver, and it was up to me to help them to their potential.  With the right explanation and a smile, it became a simple task. They could tell how strongly I felt about the Drive, and so they took it as a serious consideration.

This experience was not only beneficial for the Red Cross and the blood-recipients, but for me as well.  I learned to better understand people, and how to use this in a positive way.  This will surely be useful in Stockton and beyond, and I’ll forever be grateful for the knowledge opportunity.  Needless to say, this was not my last time tabling for volunteer purposes.

 

 

My Day of Service

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Dan McGowan 9/17/2011

The event I attended was the volunteer service at ARCH, or Atlantic Riding Center for
Health. I went on the day of service on September 10 2011. For me the
experience gave me a variety of things including hands on work but also an
inside view as to how ARCH helps people and what they focus on as a group. ARCH
is a horse stable that works with disabled children and other less fortunate
people to help them ride as a way to relax and learn basic skills. They are a
non-profit organization, and are in desperate need of funding. My assignment at
Arch was to help clean the grounds for a fundraiser they were holding the next
week. This was a onetime event where I volunteered my services but there is the
option to pursue additional trips over should someone be interested.
While volunteering I worked with the shift advisor Dave. It was an interesting experience as Dave gave insight to how things were run and how life was like working with horses every day. He loves what he does and it was refreshing to find someone who was so
passionate about the work they do. He understands that with a group such as
ARCH there are shortages on equipment and that sometimes the tasks at hand are
daunting because the group cannot afford needed material. But he never talks
down about the group, it’s just understood that it needs to be done one way or
another. While we worked on such things as making a wooden bridge, or cleaning
up branches from Hurricane Irene Dave explained more to me about actually
working with horses and how he wants to be able to do this his whole life.
Working at ARCH was similar to my summer job where I work at a horse farm as a hand. It was all very similar to me, because around a farm there is always something that needs
to be done. The days are never the same and sometimes you are faced with challenges
you never expected to come across. I found the activity rewarding because
whenever I physically get involved it feels like I accomplished something and
that my day was put to good use. The people at ARCH are a  extremely nice and caring group and it was an honor to be able to work with them for a day and learn about their lives and ambitions for ARCH.

A Day of Surprises

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A single voice addressed the crowd at the Stockton Day of Service announcing, “I need volunteers to go off campus.”  Hardly any eyes from the students congregated in the room looked up front as Daniel Tome, the program coordinator for the Office of Service Learning, addressed the room. The Stockton Day of Service was not starting off in the spirit of volunteering as many students waited for someone else to volunteer to venture off campus.  The group of students had gathered on September 8th for a day of working with service projects on and off campus organized by the Office of Service Learning.  Students were asked to designate interests at registration and then they were supposed to be sorted into service projects that fit those interests. According to the amount of people in the Event Room for Girl Scouts and Circle K, a ton of students had the same interests.  It seemed that, although it was a good idea to place students by interest in the different service projects, the even distribution of students among service projects was lacking greatly.

I was among the students designated to stay on campus that volunteered to rush onto a bus at the last minute and be whisked away to some unknown place.  I had no clue what service project I was going to be working with until I walked through the doors of the Martin Luther King Jr. School in Atlantic City to be introduced to A.H.E.A.R.T. Ministries. A.H.E.A.R.T Ministries is an organization that helps at risk infants and their families who are in dire situations.  The volunteer group I had been haphazardly put in was assisting with the Infant Mortality event where mothers came in with their infants to gather clothes and supplies they desperately needed. With winter looming, we piled onesies and miniature flannels into bags for the mothers to take home. When it was time to board the bus at the end of the day, I did not want to depart.

The Stockton Day of Service, though it had some organization problems in the beginning, turned out to be a success for Stockton students. Enough students braved the blind volunteering for an off campus project and each service project was successfully completed.  All of the students who participated learned that taking the initiative to step up in the community leads to pleasant surprises. Some found themselves painting at the Covenant House while also discovering the talents of the people who reside there.  Others ventured to the South Shore Thrift Shop, the Atlantic City Rescue Mission and other locations for more eye opening experiences. Ultimately, the students who had originally had reservations about going off campus were buzzing with excitement over the new experiences the day had given them.

I am thrilled that I made the decision to step onto a bus and let the driver take me out into the community to help.  I was able to unearth a gem of the Atlantic City community I would not have found without the Stockton Day of Service.  A.H.E.A.R.T. Ministries is an inspiring group that I hope to volunteer with in the future. As I think back to it, my Day of Service is filled with fond memories of the people I was able to assist and of the strong leaders of A.H.E.A.R.T. Ministries who run the amazing organization. I am looking forward to the next Stockton Day of Service, ready to discover another wonderful service project in the community and learn how Stockton students can make a difference being involved with it.

“… and Justice for All.”

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Almost two weeks ago today on September 14, 2012, I attended a lecture called ‘Sex and Justice’ in the Campus Center theater. It’s not exactly the title of a lecture I could really see myself going to a year ago, so initially I wasn’t sure what to expect by going to the event, I honestly planned to go because I knew I would get extra credit for a class! I assumed that it would be kind of boring, since Anita Hill wasn’t going to be there and it would only be a video that would make me sleepy and possibly cranky before my next class.

As part of the Constitution Day Series 2012, it was obvious that the issue being discussed would have something to do with our nation’s government. However, until I saw the actual video, I never knew how much of an impact Anita Hill’s accusations against Justice Clarence Thomas had on the nation. After watching the video, a step by step documentary of the testimonies themselves, it was really evident that Professor Hill put a lot on the line accusing Justice Thomas so very publicly. It was also apparent that regardless of whom the hearings turned in favor to, the issue of sexual harassment in a workplace would never go back to where it was before.

So as I sat there for an hour and half watching the actual Supreme Court hearing that made history, I slowly forgot about how cold the theater was or how the camera close-ups in Professor Hill and Justice Thomas’ faces really bothered me. I really got into the actual context of what was being said. Anita Hill made bold accusations against Clarence Thomas; saying that he repeatedly asked her out, spoke to her of detailed pornographic visuals, and gave her vivid accounts of his own sexual life. In retaliation, Clarence Thomas opted to the use of pathos, stating he had worked for 40+ years to get to where he was and that not only was his nomination into the Supreme Court suffering, but the integrity of his name and his family were taking a toll as well.

The testimony of both parties was intense, emotional and drove nearly all watching to the edge of their seats.  Anita Hill gained a plethora of followers with the help of Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts and Clarence Thomas was a prominent and well known political figure with an army of followers. The decision was too almost too close to call. In the end, the Senate ruled 52-48 in favor of Clarence Thomas and he succeeded in obtaining his position in the Supreme Court of the United States.

Many people even today are upset by the decision of the Senate when they stop to think of it.. Some people believe that Anita didn’t win because she was a woman, some believe she didn’t win because she wasn’t as well connected as Clarence Thomas, and some people believe she didn’t win because she was lying the whole time. Regardless of Anita Hill’s defeat, the blurry lines of sexual harassment became more distinct after this historic event.

I wasn’t able to attend Anita Hill’s keynote lecture, but I know that she had a lot of courage to project her accusations so vocally. I believe that everyone has a voice and the choice to use it and because of Anita’s courage, the workplaces of America are a lot more safe and people have more courage themselves to speak up when they don’t feel safe. The Pledge of Allegiance states “Liberty and Justice for all,” and the testimony between Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas certainly played to that.

 

Move In Dates for Fall 2011

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It’s never too early to plan ahead. The nice folks at Residential Life have already posted the move in dates for fall 2011. Here’s the summary:

  • Freshmen who are not attending SOAR or other special programs move in at their assigned times on August 31.
  • Returning Honors students may move in on Thursday, September 1, 2011. Please note that this applies only to those whose names and z-numbers appear on the official Honors Program list.
  • Honors students, like other returning students, may have their keys encoded early and move in any time from September 2-5. Here’s the official notice from the Office of Residential Life: “Attention all returning students: Beat the lines at check-in and have your student ID card encoded early.  On August 22, 23, 29, and 30 from 9:00am to 11:30am and 2:00pm to 4:30pm you can have your student ID card encoded at the Housing 4 Residential Life Office.  This will allow you to move-in anytime on September 2 or after.”

Click here for detailed information from Residential Life on move-in dates and times.

You can find more information on the First Year Residential Experience, and the Upper Class Residential Experience,  at the Residential Life website.

The Honors Experience, Coming Soon to http://www.stockton.edu/honorsovernight

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The Honors Experience is coming soon: on Sunday, July 10, Stockton College will host a special overnight for incoming freshmen to the Honors Program. Meet new and returning students, make friends, explore the campus, learn more about how the Honors Program can benefit you!

For more information visit our webpage, http://www.stockton.edu/honorsovernight

 

Welcome Freshmen!

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Welcome to all our incoming freshmen! Right now we are getting ready to welcome you to the Honors Experience, a special overnight from Sunday, July 10 through Monday morning, July 11. You’ll meet the Honors Counselors, a diverse set of current students who are eager to welcome you to the Honors community. You’ll meet faculty and staff, learn more about what Stockton can offer you, and have a lot of fun in the process. The next morning, you’ll join other incoming freshmen for  Orientation and course registration.

More information will be coming soon. We look forward to meeting you!

 

“There’s a fly in my soup!” Stockton’s E.D.I.B.L

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The kick-off meeting for the Environmental Discourses on the Ingestion of Bugs League (E.D.I.B.L) first caught my attention at a Circle K Meeting. April Hamblin, the president of the club, was dressed as a bumblebee at the time and was very enthusiastic in giving us the details of one of Stockton’s most intriguing clubs. The club has many incentives, but it’s main focus is based on raising awareness of viable protein sources other than beef, pork, and poultry. Not only is it a club that explores the culinary arts, but it also provides us with a hard look into the impact of our eating habits and the environment. The first meeting was Tuesday at 4:30 in the Arts and Sciences building, with the smell of pizza greeting us. Unfortunately, there were no bugs in the pizza. Now, at first, my personal reasons for joining this club was not because I wanted to be more eco-conscious, but rather, I wanted to get over my ridiculous fear of insects. When I say ridiculous, I mean that if I were to see an insect crawl toward me, I would shudder, clutch at my throat, and tell myself not to cry. Going to a college in the middle of a nature reservation has settled my nerves quite a bit, but what better way to get over a fear of something than to voluntarily put it in your mouth and swallow it? I was resolute before entering the meeting.
After briefing us about the club’s message, we were shown a few videos of insect consumption, and yes, I’ll admit that my feet were unconsciously inching toward the exit during the first video. We saw a factory that had drawers upon drawers of live mealworms. Very, very alive. We also saw locusts that were bigger than my hand crawling on top of each other in tanks, their antennas constantly swiveling around. All of this was very unsettling to me, and I couldn’t help but wonder if this was a good choice in coming here. The next video was what saved me. We have an event coming up with chef David Gordon in November. He is a renowned chef who has traveled across the country teaching people of all ages about the tasty world of bugs. We were showed a video of him giving a cooking demonstration to elementary children, and the response was great. A child came up to the camera with a large cricket in his hand and tells us that it didn’t have a head anymore because he ate it and it was really good. If children, who oftentimes turn their noses up at things such as broccoli and peas, can bite the heads off crickets, so can all of us.
Another very important fact to mention is that this club does not entail it’s members to go out and catch themselves a delicious meal. The critters that are eaten will be provided for us from a manufacturer, so there’s no need to worry. The club condones eating insects, but there’s no condemnation for anyone who joins with only a curious mind and not the stomach. If there are any people out there that wonders whether or not they can eat bugs, the only stipulation is that you must not be allergic to shellfish, which means you are mostly likely allergic to all arthropods. Otherwise, this club represents much more than being an adventurous eater and invites all who are interested in the environment to come out and enjoy some “grub”.