September 7th was Stockton’s Annual Day of Service. The day started out with signing in before getting breakfast at the Campus Center cafeteria. After grabbing a bite to eat, I rushed to the Event Room to sign up for the day’s activity. I went with the Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society to assist in a back-to-school recreational event in Atlantic City alongside the Peacekeepers.

We arrived at the small park before the Peacekeepers did, so we scoped out the place and cleaned up the area a bit. When they arrived, we helped them unload donated gym bags full of school supplies to be given out to the children during the event. The children slowly arrived, and we set up a game of kickball and made sure the kids were having fun. We also spun jump ropes, and a few children even tried their hand at double dutch, or maybe they already knew how to, because they were pretty good.

The day closed up with a barbeque for the children and school-oriented prizes being handed out to them to ensure they had enough school supplies for the coming year. The Peacekeepers also spoke of the meaning of the entire get-together: to make sure that the children stay in school and do their best in hopes for a brighter future for them. To enforce this, they had some of us Stockton Students participate in small skits, mainly focusing on bullying.

It was on a cold Thursday, November 21st, when the PAC stage at the Stockton College was filled to the brim with song and dance. The Stockton Entertainment Team was performing Broadway in the Box, a collection of various numbers from several famous plays and musicals. The catch? There was no charge for admission, only donations being accepted for Atlantic City Rescue Mission. Entrance could be gained by writing out a check to the program or by depositing nonperishable cans of food at the doors.
The Atlantic City Rescue Mission is an organization whose goal is to provide sustenance to the less fortunate residents of Atlantic City. Its call for help was sent out with emphasis due to the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, and the Stockton Entertainment Team answered with gusto.
When I shuffled into my seat, I did not know what to expect. My friend had told me about the event, and though I was more than happy to contribute I had no idea what “Broadway in the Box” would entail. What ensued was an excellent collaboration of performances. Almost every thespian involved had their own individual song, ranging from pieces of Les Miserables to The Little Shop of Horrors. Everyone performed wonderfully, and the spectrum of musical numbers was strung together with the comical theme of getting out of the house.
Without a doubt, the Stockton Entertainment Team put on a fantastic show. What was even more important was what they did for their community. It would have been easy to raise their own funds, or even perform just for fun, but instead they took the initiative to reach out to an outstanding organization and help those who truly needed it. That is why this performance was truly a five-star act.

No one wants to look over his or her shoulder in fear of what might lay ahead. Still, eyes glance backwards, periodically checking for movement and a flash of bright green. It is Humans Versus Zombies week at Stockton, and the paranoia has set in.
The objective of the game is simple, but is entirely dependent on which side the player is on. Humans simply need to survive the week, and complete a mission from the moderators each night. They are identified by wearing green bands around their upper arms and are armed to the teeth with Nerf guns and balled up socks. Such devices can “kill” a zombie for a short amount of time when used with precision. Zombies are branded by wearing green headbands and can turn a human into a zombie by tagging them. Gameplay is only legal outside of buildings, but that is enough to make travel to class or meals nerve-wracking.
Being a human may be one of life’s most horrifying experiences, but it is also one of the best. Students found themselves bonding with one another, planning safe routes and organizing survival teams. I was a part of the Funky Bunch, best human squad this side of the Mississippi. Do not be mistaken, even though humans broke into groups we all worked together. Every time a human was in need, another five would materialize to take care of the attacking zombies. At least, that was what it was like for a short while.
During the second day of gameplay, things started to go downhill. The number of zombies was growing exponentially, and we had to venture out for the night’s mission. Everything went smoothly, as the numbers were still on our side, but the return home was doomed from the offset. We took a back route after meeting up with some fellow residents, and everything seemed fine as we entered my housing wing. But there was one bit of unfinished business. Two members of our group lived in different wings, and making the trip alone would be suicide. So we all set out to get them home.
The first run was quick and clean. With only one member left to escort, we emerged from cover with weapons drawn and eyes open. A dozen or more zombies were waiting for us. It was the largest cluster we had seen yet, and they had the doorway surrounded, so we fell back inside. The battle of patience commenced, and after long minutes of waiting it seemed as if we had won. I leaned out of the doorway, looked left, then right. It seemed the coast was clear, but I never heard the footsteps that marked my death. I only felt the tag that hit the center of my chest. The last thing I remember as a human was stumbling back inside, and saying goodbye to my friends before my green band was moved from my arm to around my head.
Life is different as a zombie. They do not fear being outside, but immerse themselves in it. Frantic eyes do not search for cover, but for prey. It was not long before my companions joined me in death, each from their own demise, and we hunted as a pack once more. Some of our best times were had as the undead: setting up an ambush at the observatory, chasing stragglers into hiding, and giving the survivors dirty looks through glass windows. Overall, there was fun to be had on both sides of the fight.
A lot can be said about Stockton’s Humans Versus Zombies. It certainly is a fun experience, and one that draws all of its participants closer together. From sneaking to class on Monday morning to chasing down the stragglers on Friday evening, we did not spend a minute sitting restless. No matter what, both sides win in this game, except for the humans, who had no survivors.

On Tuesday, November 19, 2013 the Office of Service Learning held a showing of a documentary called Girl Rising in the Alton Auditorium. This short film followed the stories of four girls from all around the world and their struggle to overcome the obstacles of poverty, lack of education, and general sexism and oppression of women. The girls whose stories we saw were Suma from Nepal, Azmera from Ethiopia, Yasmin from Egypt, Senna from Peru, and Ruksana from India. Each of these girls has a very unique story and struggle and their fights to overcome them are inspirational to say the least.

To begin with, Suma from Nepal was born into an impoverished family and was unfortunately sold into slavery very quickly because the family needed the money to pay for her brother’s education. Suma went from master to master when eventually she was set free by a social worker who threatened to have her last master arrested because slavery of young girls was illegal in Nepal. She escaped and is now trying to be independent and help women attain equal rights in Nepal. Then Azmera from Ethiopia was around the age of thirteen and lived with her mother, father, and brother until her father passed and eventually her mother tried to sell her into an early marriage because school was getting to be too much to pay for, but Amzera and her older brother stopped this agreement from going through and Azmera was able to continue her education. Additionally, Yasmin from Egypt was living with her mom and one day she was taken by a man who promised to buy her some juice and then raped. She fought back against the man and she was brought to the police station for questioning where the cops tell her and her mom that justice may never be won for Yasmin and what happened to her because rape against young girls in Egypt is hard to prove and is, in some cases, acceptable. Senna from Peru is another teen girl facing impoverished conditions who is trying to make something of herself. Her father worked in gold mines until an accident after which her mother took his place. Senna’s father always wanted her to become something successful like an engineer so Senna tries her hardest to make her father proud even after his death. Finally, Ruksana from India is among the youngest of the girls we saw in the film and also the strongest. She dreams of better days in India and she loves to draw and unlike many girls in India, Ruksana’s father supports his daughter and wants her to be educated and to be successful. Unfortunately, the family almost leaves the city they live in for the village when their house is torn down by a brutal police force. In the end, though, they are able to rebuild their home so they can live in the city and the girls can finish their education.

After the film, there was a panel discussion that included four successful female professors, mostly from Stockton. They talked about things such as educating girls, economics, and how sexism and poverty could be helped in these countries. They said that as soon as people start realizing that educating girls is the way to a better economy and a better life, countries will find themselves in better economic states. Overall, I found this event to be very educational and something that everyone, especially all young girls, should be required to see.

On Tuesday, November 12, 2013, the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy and the Stockton School of Health Sciences hosted an event called “Forum: Affordable Care Act, Marketplace, and Exchanges.” Students, faculty, and citizens were encouraged to either attend the event in person or watch live online. Since I was feeling under the weather, I choose to watch it online. This made it so much easier to enjoy the event in the comfort of my bed. This also benefited many elders or others who are not physically able to come out for the event, but are in need of information for the new healthcare policy.

The program began with an introduction from the director of the Center for Public Policy, Daniel Douglas, and The Richard Stockton President, Dr. Herman Saatkamp.  Both explained their excitement for this program and thanked everyone for attending. Dr. Saatkamp explained the importance of learning about the Affordable Care Act. This act primarily takes affect in 2014, which is approaching very soon, and will change many the lives of many American citizens. He informed the audience how America may have the best doctors and treatment in the world, but it does not have the best healthcare system available. Millions of Americans are either bankrupt because of high healthcare costs or living without health insurance. After some background information, Dr. Saatkamp welcomed Dr. Jaime Torres to explain America’s healthcare problem and its solution more in depth.

Dr. Jaime Torres started by explaining the troubles of our current healthcare system including: the ability of insurance companies to take advantage of and discriminate against citizens, how premiums have doubled over the last decade, and that fifty million Americans are uninsured. Obama signed the Affordable Care Act in March 2010 in order to make healthcare more affordable and accessible to the American public. Many benefits of this Act include: protecting all Americans from insurance abuse and poor coverage, strengthening Medicare, and improving the quality of all care.

Dr. Jaime Torres proceeded to inform the audience of many other benefits the public may not be aware of. For example, previously insurance companies were mandated to spend at least  sixty cents of every premium dollar on healthcare as apposed to marketing. Now insurance companies must spend at least eighty cents of every premium dollar on healthcare. Also, the Affordable Care Act is closing the “donut hole,” which is the gap of drug coverage for Medicare patients. This has saved patients about $299 million on prescription drugs since 2012. Finally, the act has expanded coverage for Medicaid patients. A family of four can now make about $30,600 a year instead of  $23,500. This income eligibility is expected to increase over time.

As a public health major with a concentration in healthcare administration, I found this event to be extremely interesting. There are many rumors about the Affordable Care Act, and it is great that Stockton provided this event to give the public the truth. Dr. Jaime Torres was an excellent speaker and interacted frequently with the audience to make the presentation more personal and enjoyable. This event was very successful in aiding the public on need-to-know facts of the Affordable Care Act. Six-hundred people attended the forum, not including the online viewers. I encourage anyone who has yet to experience this event watch it online at http://new.livestream.com/StocktonCollege/AffordableCareActForum.

On August 31^st, during Stockton’s Freshmen Welcome Week, the Stockton Entertainment Team (SET) hosted a nighttime event called the Amazing Race Treasure Hunt. Upon arrival, teams of four signed in at a table and received a closed envelope with the team’s name on the outside. All the teams filtered into the Campus Center Event Room to await further instruction. Once everyone arrived, a SET member gave us the basic rules of the game: solve the riddles to find the next location, find the most locations within the hour-an-fifteen-minute time frame, and don’t run. The prizes at stake for the first place team were individual tickets to Six Flags Great Adventure and Hurricane Harbor, which were pretty enticing to my team, Team Yik Yak.

Immediately after the instructions were given, all the teams solved their first clue and walked speedily towards their first location. Since each team’s clue order was scrambled, no two teams were headed to the same locations in the same order. My team benefited from the fact that one of our members attended the Educational Opportunity Fund this summer; thus, she was able to guide us to many of the locations around campus that were involved in the Amazing Race. As time drew to a close, Team Yik Yak headed back to the Campus Center to arrive before the 9:45pm deadline. Originally, we thought solving 22 out of the 38 clues would have awarded us at least third place. Once we started talking to other teams, we realized we would have needed all 38 locations to win. The only reasonable conclusion as to how the winning team made it to all 38 locations: they ran.

Overall, the Amazing Race was a great Welcome Week event that allowed students to become more familiar with the campus in an entertaining way. It also helped students to bond with new people by exchanging clue answers and working together to achieve a common goal.

           On Thursday, September 3^rd, Promised Land opened in the Stockton Performing Arts Center’s Experimental Theater.  An original play put on by Chrysalis Staging (a group founded by Stockton alumni), Promised Land takes place in the not-so-distant future, where global warming has turned the once-civilized world into one of violence, desperation, and control.  Abraham, a land-owning farmer, struggles to feed the thousands of people who live off his land, while his wife Ester and her “Scarecrows” gather intelligence and maintain order, often through violent means.  Their daughter Rebecca, seemingly innocent, has a dark, rebellious side.  When a traveling salesman named Elliot arrives at Abraham’s doorstep, he brings with him the possibility of reversing the damage done to Abraham’s land…and, perhaps, the rest of the world.

            Promised Land had a four-night run at the Experimental Theater.  Though the Experimental Theater was small, it allowed for an intimacy between the actors and the audience that is rarely experienced in larger productions.  The set – a farm house, barn, and windmill – was versatile and detailed, allowing most of the play’s action to occur in one locale.  What truly took the play to the next level was its use of props and audio.  Throughout the show, gunfire (blanks, of course) and haunting, rumbling transition tracks created a dark and tense atmosphere.  Just as expertly, the comic dialogue between the characters, particularly between Abraham and Ester, provided a brief respite from the sincerity of the plot.

            Without a doubt, Promised Land was one of the best plays I have seen.  Though the story was fiction, it dealt with real issues that our generation will have to resolve: global warming, climate change, a growing global population, food shortages, etc.  The characters stayed with me for days afterward, particularly Elliot, who was lively, driven, and, unfortunately, dead by the end of the play.  The fact that a new group such as Chrysalis Staging could put on such an incredible show is truly inspiring.  Hopefully they will continue to perform here at Stockton University.

On September 12, I attended The Day of Service organized by Service Learning. The event started at 8 o’clock in the morning and went on until about 3 in the afternoon. There was a new format this year; rather than doing one event for the entire day, there were four activities scheduled. To help the event run smoothly, there were four groups categorized by colors.

I was in the red group and went to the volunteer activity presented by Books without Borders. A spokesperson from the Covenant House in Atlantic City spoke about the teens who live there. Her speech impacted me the most out of the entire day. She mentioned that teens from all calibers of life walk through the front door. She mentioned a girl who goes to Kean University who still has nowhere to go during the summer. The girl finds the Covenant House a safe place for her to be. Her speech made me think I should be more grateful for the life I have. I would also like to fundraise for the house to help get the teenagers more beds. The house currently has 27 and over 40 individuals living there. I would like to help raise enough money for at least ten more beds for the house.

The next event was about civic involvement in the community. A representative from Petey Greene, a new organization on campus also sparked my interest. On Friday afternoons she and college students go to local prisons to help tutor inmates. I then learned about Greendot, which is a program to help stop sexual assault. The program helped teach me to be a proactive bystander and help in situations I find uneasy. The last program was an ACUA presentation. The President came in and explained what the company does. Stockton’s Waterwatch had a presentation about water and safety. They informed me about how unhealthy plastic water bottles are. I believe the whole day was informative and helped shape me into a more civic citizen.

The 12^th annual Day of Service project took place on Saturday, September 12, 2015. All volunteers arrived at 8:00 am and after checking in divided into four teams – Red, Purple, Blue and Green

After being assigned a team we were lead to a complimentary breakfast and then ushered into the Campus Center Event Room, where we sat at tables designated by our group color. The program began with an opening session welcome by President Kesselman & Keynote Speaker Todd Bernstein, both giving speeches to inspire us take action after today in local community service. Afterwards, the groups exited the Event Room and began their activities.

Purple group headed toC134 for an hour long session on Environment, with speakers from ACUA, Water Watch, and Stockton University’s Sustainable Farm. ACUA’s (Atlantic County Utilities Authority) President Richard Dovey, who is a Stockton alumnus (class of 1975), spoke about the history of ACUA and how it helps the community. Water Watch gave a presentation on the hazards of bottled water and how tap water is actually safer for consumption. Last, but certainly not least, one of the volunteers from Stockton University’s Sustainable Farm came up and explained all the ways we could volunteer and help out on the farm, such as working on the solar panel or becoming a bee keeper.

At 10:30 am we headed over to the Campus Center Meeting Room 2 for the Health & Wellness: Prescription Drugs session, which was presented by JTAC. The JTAC’s (Join Together Atlantic County) “mission is to prevent, reduce and/or delay substance use among youth of Atlantic County in a long term and sustainable manner” (Join). We learned that heroin deaths in NJ are more than triple national rate, surpassing homicides, suicides, car accidents and AIDS. One reason that heroin is such a large problem I NJ is because it is very pure and sold very cheap. A police officer was also there, telling us stories of past drug incidents that he has seen over the years and how the officers are trained to use Narcan, a drug that can reverse the effects of opioids, in case someone is experiencing an overdose.

At the end of that session we headed over to the Campus Center Theatre for lunch and our third session, Hunger & Homelessness. After finishing eating volunteers from Covenant House New Jersey, the nation’s largest privately funded agency serving homeless, runaway & at-risk youth, came on stage and gave a presentation. The volunteers explained how they provide food, shelter, immediate crisis care and an array of other important services to homeless, runaway and trafficked youth between the ages of 18 to 21. The next speaker, however, brought a pleasant change of pace. Books Without Borders, an organization that collects and donates books to libraries, had the teams participate in a service project of packing and loading books into a van to be placed in a storage container for later distribution. Doing hands-on work was a lot of fun, even when it started raining, and I ended up remaining to assist instead of going to the fourth session.

Around 3:00 pm all of the groups met up again in the Campus Center Event Room were we had a quick reflection session and got free t-shirts to commemorate the day. I had a lot of fun at my first Day of Service and now I feel more aware of what service opportunities are available around me. I can’t wait for next years!

Welcome Week brought us students a variety of speakers, with the goal of getting us to branch out and meet new people and to help us transition into college life. We new freshmen would walk around with specific groups led by TALONS and travel to these events called “Passport Events” together.

Troy Stende, an international speaker, came to the university on move in day, August 28^th, and I specifically went to the last session at around 7 P.M in the campus center event room. Once we swiped our ID’s, we were led into the event room and were met with other freshmen, TALONS, and RA’s dancing line dances on the dance floor. One could feel the hype building up for this speaker to come in. After a few minutes of people dancing and people talking on the sides of the event room, we were directed to have a seat on the floor, and the moans and groans of 18 year old college freshmen could be heard echoing around the room.

Once everyone got settled, Troy Stende was introduced, and his energy could really be felt. It was impossible to not be captivated by his speaking skills. He spoke about leadership and building connections with others, and to build these connections, he had us perform a few icebreakers. One of these icebreakers involved us going around to talk to people we have never met before and finding out four things we had in common. This was to be done four times, and our first partner was our high five partner, our second partner was our low five partner, our third partner was our knee to knee partner, and our fourth partner was our toe to toe partner. This was to help us build connections with others, and I still regularly speak to both my low five partner and my knee to knee partner.

We also did another icebreaker where we ended up separating into a large group of about eight to ten people and sitting in a circle and asking each other questions about our interests and how we feel about the school. I met one of my now closest friends in college through this circle icebreaker, which is great because Stende referred to the circle as our “family.” Stende had us play a game with our family to help strengthen our connection by making us work together to find various objects around the room. It really made us work together as a group and helped with leadership because there was always one specific person in charge of telling the group what the objects were and they were also in charge of bringing these objects back to the front of the room. This activity was particularly fun since one could see everyone trying to not get frustrated when they couldn’t find something.

This event with speaker Troy Stende was actually really great and helped create new friendships, which I am thankful for because I now have two good friends and one friend that I am particularly close with now. I’m sure that he will be back next year for the next class of incoming freshmen, and that new friendships and connections will be established through his event.