Stockton had its annual Get Involved Fair September 16^th and 17^th in the main building. There were tables everywhere with welcoming faces. At first, it was a little overwhelming, but once I saw the warm smile on some faces, I was less anxious. I first went to the Pride Alliance table, I promised my friend I would join for support. The girl behind the table, Caltoum, was the most welcoming of the entire day. She was happy to see us signing up to join the group she devoted a lot of her time to. Also, Cal was the only person to ask for our names and be personable. It was a sign that the group would be very welcoming to all.

I was slightly disappointed more groups were not enthusiastic or trying to get people to sign up for their club. Many were socializing with their friends rather than trying to interest the individuals walking by their table. However, I am sure it is boring to sit in a plastic chair for hours waiting for signatures and emails. I signed up for the SET, and I am excited to see what they are going to plan for the upcoming semester. SET had a lot of free things to offer and it was enticing. The free items helped get my attention at the fair, so I think more clubs should have offered them. The fair was well organized, and many of the individuals at the tables were nice and grateful for me signing up.

I signed up for a fair amount of clubs, and I will have a pretty busy schedule this coming semester. I cannot wait to be active in all the clubs I joined, especially Pride Alliance. I am excited to support my friends and see what the club has planned to do this semester!

I opened the door leading to I Wing and was greeted by a mix of loud chatter from people and loud music. My friends and I walked through the halls, looking for what interested us among the throngs of tables and signs. Really, I was excited for the free stuff that was available for students to take, but I was also looking forward to seeing what would interest me.

I dragged my friends along, going to specific clubs that I knew that I would find interesting, but also those that I wasn’t sure whether or not they would pique my interest. I tried to walk slowly so I could really see what clubs were available, but certain clubs just grabbed my attention. I found myself gravitating towards the Newman Club and those clubs that had to do with my major. I also signed up for some clubs so that my friends wouldn’t have to join them by themselves. They all sounded pretty interesting, and I can definitely see myself going to some of these meetings with my friends. As I walked down the hall, I realized that all the clubs had their little quirks that made them interesting, and in the end, I ended up signing up for more than I probably should have. And maybe, I took one too many free pretzels and free lollipops from all the stands.

Walking through the main building and seeing all the clubs and all the people present made me realize how active this school really is. There were so many clubs and organizations present, it was probably impossible to find something that wasn’t interesting. Just the atmosphere made me want to be involved in something in the school. I’m looking forward to attending club meetings and getting to meet new people after being at the Get Involved fair.

    The Stockton Entertainment Team held an open mic night in the Campus Center Coffeehouse on Wednesday September 9, 2015 at 8:00 pm. This open mic night gave students an opportunity to show off some of their musical talents on stage in front of whoever came to watch. Any student was eligible to sign up, all they had to do was speak to Parth, the man in charge of the sign up sheet.

    This was a really great experience, not only for the people watching, but also for the performers. It takes a lot of courage to get up on stage and sing in front of a bunch of strangers. Even with all of that hanging over their heads, every performer, or group of performers, were phenomenal. Each performer gave it all they had, and didn’t show a single ounce of fear, only bravery, ambition, and excitement.         

    The activities SET puts together for the university are always great ways to go out and support not only your friends, but also support your fellow Stockton students. Depending on what the activity is, it can also be a great way to either form a better bond with friends, or create new bonds with people.

    At open mic night, a bunch of the residents in my building, housing 2 F building, along with two of the three residential assistants, decided we were going to go up on stage and all sing a song together, and we did. That time, even though it was only a few minutes, gave us a great opportunity to have fun and strengthen the bond we had already formed up to this point.

    On Sunday, August 30, 2015, The Residence Hall Association (RHA) sponsored a building community battle. All of housing 2 and 3, along with the transfers and commuter students were put against each other in a number of events to see which building would be the best. Each building was given a color to wear that would represent their group in the many different events, which included a bouncy house obstacle course, human foosball, and a scavenger hunt. Not only were the physical abilities of the new students put to the test, but also their minds, in a Stockton trivia contest.   

    The building battles weren’t only to give the new students a good competition against their fellow students. It was also a good bonding experience. Since move-in day was only two days prior to this event, it was a good way for the new students to bond with not only their floor mates and residential assistant (RA), but also with the other students and RAs living in their building. Since all of the events required a team effort, it gave all of the new students a bonding experience and a chance to make new friends within their own building.

    This event was a great experience and a lot of fun. Even though there was competition involved, it added to the fun. Small, fun competitions become helps team bonding and forges friendships, because everyone is so supportive of each other in every event. Even if a team loses, everyone is still supportive of each other and picks each other up.

    I personally enjoyed this event. I thought it was a great way to bond with the students in F building, which are a group of people I will be spending a lot of time with over the next 9 months. I’m really glad I participated in the building battles, and I strongly recommend that all incoming freshman participate if they have the chance to.

Welcome Week was a great way for freshman and transfer students to kick-start their new experience at Stockton University. Many of Welcome Week’s events included speakers, comedians, free samples, and much more. Of all the mandatory Welcome Week events, one of the most important was the Title IX presentation, which was held on the last day of Welcome Week. The event was presented twice during the day, and each time, males and females were separated. By separating the student body by gender, we had access to more individualized information, as well as to a more comfortable environment to discuss such personal topics. The Title IX presentation provided students with important information on how to get help in the face of sexual assault, where to look when in need of support, and much more.

First of all, at the presentation, students learned that the Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on gender. One of the heaviest topics Laurie Dutton, Director of the Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Center, talked about was sexual assault on campus. She mentioned how there is a Red Zone during the first six weeks of school in which individuals are more susceptible to sexual assault. The fact that there even is a proven Red Zone time period really hit me because it makes sense; the start of a new experience, like college, can make anyone vulnerable and likely to do things that he or she normally would not. The most impactful video of the presentation was the “tea” video, which defines consent as asking someone if he or she wants tea. The video was funny and simple, but it made its point of what defines consent and what not to do if someone does not “want tea.” In all, I learned that sexual assault can happen to anyone, but that there is help on campus. The presentation stressed that a victim of assault is not alone, and that there is support and confidentiality.

Overall, the presentation was helpful and matter-of-fact. At the end of the presentation, we were given a list of valuable resources we could contact if we were ever in need of help. Going into the presentation, I thought sexual assault or gender discrimination could never affect me, but I left the presentation realizing that it could happen to me or someone I care about. The Title IX Presentation helped open my eyes to all the support I can find on campus and helped me feel like I am not alone.

On August 31^st 2015, I attended the Lake Fred Nature Tour at 1:00 PM. It was conducted by Stockton staff member Susan Allen and started at the gazebo on the northern side of the campus. We started along the white path, on Lake Fred’s northern banks, where Allen discussed the different types of flora present along the lake’s banks. Several types of plants included many types of grasses, such as Phragmites. Of the species, some were indigenous, some were invasive. The history of Lake Fred was also discussed, and Allen discussed how the lake, which is man-made, was dug in the 19^th century for a local iron smelting plant.

On the western side of Lake Fred, Allen discussed the different types of trees growing on campus, including red cedar, black cherry and numerous species of oaks and pines. The western banks of the lake are home to numerous amphibian species, including the Northern Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) and the New Jersey chorus frog (Pseudacris triseriata kalmi), who use the banks of the lake as a breeding and spawning ground. Further along the banks, Ms. Allen discussed the bird sightings and and biodiversity around the Oasis, which has been occasionally frequented by ospreys and warblers. Great egrets were also known to reside around the western banks of the lake.

On the southern end of Lake Fred, Mrs. Allen explained the different species of algae and turtles that live in and around Lake Fred. Further towards the southeast portion of the lake, Mrs. Allen discussed and vividly explained the birdhouses constructed by several Environmental Science classes on the southeast banks. This birdhouses, she explained provide a refuge for many different species. The tour ended on the dark path with detailed discussions of the different types of reeds found in the southern end of Lake Fred, which is substantially marshier than than the northern end. This tour was of special interest to me, as I have more or less grown up on the Stockton campus and have been interested in the biodiversity of the campus all my life. The tour presented me the opportunity to learn more and to set my sights on future research opportunities I can conduct around campus.

On September 16 and 17, the Offices of Student Development and Service Learning sponsored Stockton University’s Get Involved Fair. Open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, the event spread out through the galleries of A Wing to J Wing. For the unprepared morning visitor, the festive atmosphere was as energizing as a cup of coffee – and nearly as good-smelling, what with the baked goods and soft pretzels.

The hallways, so thronged with students it was impossible to walk in a straight line, were bordered with club tables. In addition to displaying interesting posters, many organizations offered bowls of candy and free t-shirts which, as I can personally attest, were quite effective at luring in prospective members. Most impressive was the sheer variety of school groups, ranging from sororities to sports teams. Whether a student came with the hopes of playing the guitar or playing videogames, learning leadership skills or learning about neuroscience, the fair covered it all. There were clubs of art, dance, and theatre. There were societies celebrating culture and societies celebrating religion. There was even a life sized cut-out of the Pope that startled me every time I walked by. A good percentage of the programs were oriented towards service work, including Water Watch, Circle K. International, and the Animal Friendly Organization. Others, such as Campus Philly and the Education Society, served as an outlet for students to experience and connect with jobs. Still others existed for the sole purpose of enabling like-minded individuals to cut loose. Quidditch, anyone?

Then came the hard part: making a decision. With only 24 hours in each day and mounting piles of homework, participating in over 100 clubs is highly impractical. I therefore limited to myself to a handful of tables – The Argo, Stockpot, and a few community service groups. The Get Involved Fair, true to its name, was a fun way to get involved and peruse the endless opportunities offered by Stockton University.

The first event of the 2015 Constitution Day Series took place at Stockton University, on the night of September 16. Sponsored by the Office of Service-Learning, the Office of the Provost, the Political Engagement Project, and the American Democracy Project, the Keynote Address featured Bryan Stevenson. A renowned lawyer, professor, author, activist, and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, Stevenson has saved the lives of countless prisoners on death row.

Unsurprisingly, the Campus Center Event Room soon filled beyond maximum capacity, and overflow audience was redirected to the Campus Center Theater to watch the speech simulcast. On the big screen, Stevenson was literally and figuratively larger than life. Beginning his speech, “Racial Justice and the Constitution,” with an anecdote of his college days, Stevenson explained that he ended up in law school because he wanted to make a difference, and because he clearly did not need to know anything in order to go there.

Throughout his speech, Stevenson focused on four points that we, as citizens, must adopt in order to implement lasting change. We must hold onto hope, change the societal narrative we tell ourselves, get closer to the problem areas of our communities, and finally, learn to be uncomfortable. Drawing off of personal experience, he recounted memories of a child incarcerated and abused in an adult prison, of a man condemned to die in spite of mental illness, and of innumerable prisoners targeted due to age and race. We live in a society where 1 out of every 3 African American males is predicted to serve jail time, and in the backdrop of Alabama, Stevenson was often forced to overcome prejudice himself. He managed to deliver heavy subject matter in a light yet powerful manner, and wove his stories into a cohesive rally for ridding the justice system of injustice. When Stevenson finished, both the event room and theater erupted into applause.

Poignant and funny by turns, the Constitution Day Address was always gripping, and left listeners with a sense of determination to fight for liberty and true justice for all.

At the crack of mid-morning on September 12, Stockton University opened its doors for the 2015 Fall Day of Service. The event, sponsored by the Office of Service Learning, kicked off with rousing speeches by President Kesselman and Todd Bernstein, as well as free doughnuts that seemed to be the main attraction for some volunteers. Then, divided into teams, everyone headed off for scheduled sessions.

Session 1, titled “Health and Wellness,” had a variety of options, ranging from suicide awareness to CPR training. I chose “Prescription Drugs,” which took place in a meeting room that completely ran out of chairs and almost ran out of floor space. Here a professor and a policeman delivered a presentation on drug abuse, focusing especially on heroin, which, due to its purity, accessibility, and cheapness, is spreading across New Jersey like a rash.

Session 2 focused on “Hunger and Homelessness.” In the CC Theatre, we learned about charitable organizations such as Covenant House, which provides shelter for homeless teenagers, and Books Without Borders, which provides donated volumes to impoverished countries. We were then instructed to organize leaning towers of paperbacks stacked at random on stage, and the assembly dissolved into a flurry of chaos, with dozens of students carrying, sorting, and packaging hundreds of novels, magazines, and textbooks.

Session 3, called “Civics,” took place in the C/D Atrium, and to my relief, the first order of business was devouring sandwiches. Smaller groups subsequently rotated through a dizzying assortment of activities which included discussing the rights of police, learning about a program that tutors prisoners, and taking a survey designed to expose how little I know about the Supreme Court/ Judicial Branch/ Government in general.

The final session, “Circle K & BWB,” took us back to the event room. Here we picked from a variety of crafts stations, and I spent the time making cards for terminally ill children with cancer. Decorating folded construction paper for a toddler who might not see next month was heartbreaking, but knowing that this simple gesture could spread a bit of sunshine into the life of someone who needs it was beyond rewarding. The day finished with a period of reflection.

Admittedly, I had been reluctant to roll out of bed on a rainy Saturday, but I left the Day of Service with new friends, an altered perspective, and a free t-shirt. That, to my mind, constitutes a day well spent.