On September 15, 2016, I attended a panel of students who worked at the July 25-28 Democratic National Convention in Philly and the July 18-20 Republican National Convention In Cleveland. Each of the students were assigned jobs to help run the convention.

Two of the convention’s attendees were part of the checking committee where they would verify visitor’s access passes to see if they were allowed into the convention center.  One of the students said this job could get hectic as some guests didn’t have proper seats. Two of the students worked with news networks including an independent association known as free speech TV, and CNN.  Free speech TV enables students to communicate stories without censorship.  By attending these conventions, the students were able to see beyond the media’s perspective of the presidential campaign. One student was able to meet Corey Booker and Mayor Nutter and an additional student had the opportunity to meet Ben Carson, Donald Trump, and  the Trump children.  Another student worked for the shuttle service at the hotel Trump was staying at.  He mentioned how politicians would, “Call saying they needed to be somewhere five minutes ago even though the place they need to be at is twenty minutes away.”  They each worked very hard while at the convention and were grateful for the free drinks and food at the end of their 15-17 hour days.

It was stated by a member of the panel how the role of conventions, historically, are losing their usefulness.  Due to the advertisement of parties, money is being wasted meanwhile the 3rd party candidates such as Jill Stein and Gary Johnson do not have the opportunity of an organized convention. One of the students mentioned, “The conventions are meant to draw in those on the fence and rally those that are committed.”  They also spoke about how there is much more going on, on the convention floor that is not presented to big news networks.  It was declared repeatedly how young citizens should get involved in politics to at least listen to what the politicians have to say regarding our nation.  Our votes still do matter despite the fact that the electoral college has the upper hand.

Diana Sanchez Zevallos

The Stockton Delegation was a panel of students who attended 12-day seminars. This one-time event took place on September 15, 2016.  Five of them went to the democratic convention and two students went to the republican convention. Each student proceeded to speak about their personal experiences and the responsibilities they had to fulfill. Some students worked alongside news reporters and even got to take selfies with politicians! It was very difficult to get into the convention; therefore, some students where in charge of checking passes. One student had the opportunity to work alongside the CNN crew and interview some important people.
All throughout this panel I learned many interesting facts that I didn’t know prior to attending. I will admit that I’m not as politically aware as others. However, attending this panel shined a bit of light on the ambiguous topic of politics. First I learned that the reason that these conventions are held is primarily for advertisement. Each convention is like a get-together for the supporters of each party to meet up and rejoice in each other’s company. Another reason is to influence those that are in the neutral position to vote for their respected candidates. The dark side to these conventions according to one student is that a lot of the food is not donated afterwards. Millions of dollars are thrown at setting up these conventions which just seem like a bit of waste to me. Also, third-party candidates can’t afford these kind of conventions unless they are wealthy to begin with. Many of these third-party politicians actually attend either the DNC or RNC to promote their own party and ideas. Even when they are successful in gaining entrance, many big-time media platforms don’t even give them 2 minutes of air-time. Rather, news stations like CNN and NBC focus on the bigger profiles and have obvious bias. This makes it very difficult for third-party candidates to achieve anything when the democratic and republican party overshadow their efforts.
If you think these conventions are all rainbows and cupcakes, then you would be wrong. There is a lot of hostility in each convention, especially in the DNC. Multiple students spoke about their experience with protestors rudely chanting “Bernie Bernie Bernie!” while Hillary was trying to give her speech. Also, many of them were yelling profanities at Hillary all throughout her time being on stage. It just goes to show how strongly committed Hillary is for peacefully dealing with these protestors. There were many people kicked out and some had to be restrained. Before this panel I was already aware of the divide between the Hilary supporters and the Bernie supporters although I didn’t think it was that chaotic. On the other hand, the RNC was described as peaceful with good vibes all through out. However, Ted Cruz did get some hostility thrown at him because he apparently refuses to support Trump.
All in all, all the participating students seemed grateful and delighted to have gotten that opportunity. Many of them spoke with such passion and expressed themselves well. I had a wonderful time listening to their interesting experiences. In the future, I would love to attend one of these conventions because I don’t have a clear-cut favorite so I would attend to learn more about their future plans and ideas. Even if I come across ideas that I don’t necessarily agree with, it’s good to be exposed to individuals that have different ways of seeing things so I don’t stay myopic about certain topics

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Jessica Bolich

On Monday, September 26, the first of three presidential debates was held at Hofstra University, in New York. This event was broadcast live, and record numbers tuned in to view it, including many students of Stockton University. We gathered in the Board of Trustees room to attend the first debate watching party, which was sponsored by the Stockton Political Engagement Project. The party included refreshments and a debate-themed bingo game.

The format of the debate was one in which the two candidates were asked specific questions by a moderator in front of a live audience. They were given two minutes each to answer the questions and also had the option to comment on each other’s answers. The questions were divided into three categories: Achieving Prosperity, The Direction of America, and Securing America. Both candidates expressed their views on the different topics that were brought up during the debate. These topics ranged from why the candidates thought that they were better suited for the presidency to Secretary Clinton’s emails and Donald Trump’s tax returns.

The debate started a few minutes late and both candidates had times where they continued to speak beyond the two-minute time limit. Audience members also continued to make noise despite instructions to stay quiet. Viewers also noted the not-so-subtle jabs that the candidates made at each other. These included Donald Trump blaming Hillary Clinton for a myriad of things, and Secretary Clinton telling Trump that he lives in his own world. The candidates also took the debate as an opportunity to promote their individual websites, complete with fact checkers.

For students who were unable to attend the debate on the 26^th but are interested in the current election, there are three more debate watching parties in the future that all are welcome to attend.

Day of Service Review

One event at Stockton University that attracts a diverse crowd is the Day of Service where all sorts of volunteers come together once a semester and not only spend the day working towards benefiting the community, but also are able to work on self-growth and improvement.

The 2016 Fall Day of Service was on September 10, 2016 from 8:30am – 4pm at Stockton and sponsored by Stockton. I, along with my friend, assumed the volunteering was strictly the cliché garbage-cleanup and fundraising that is more often than not associated with the word ‘service’. However, the event was divided into numerous activities that actually made the event enjoyable for the volunteer without eliminating any of the benefits for the community.

The beginning was nice, with breakfast served in the form of a lovely array of food. After everyone settled in and was divided into four groups to help with organization, the first section I attended was one to raise political awareness. I was critical at first, since I never equated politics with serving the community at all. The organizers of this event were knowledgeable, though, and I found that with interactive activities and thorough explanations that it is the individual’s duty to realize their right to vote and have say in the government, and therefore use it, especially young adults like myself. By gaining an understanding of young adults’ effect on politics, I realized that giving my say and voting is a small act of serving the community in and of itself.

My friend and I were also among the few people who signed up and were allowed to receive training from certified EMS workers, where we were taught how to give CPR and where certain resources were around the campus in varying cases of danger. I wish that this event was less of a closed opportunity and that all volunteers could have experienced it, but I was lucky enough to receive the fun and useful training.

The next event my group did was working at individual tables to complete various tasks like making cards for sick patients at hospitals, making craft packets for St. Jude’s children, and creating pillows for those in need. Seeing what small amounts of effort can make various people happy really made me thankful and gave me a new perspective. An even more direct form of service, however, was that with the Stop Hunger Now Organization that had the volunteers putting together bags of essential foods and vitamins for people around the world suffering from hunger. It was an excellent way to promote teamwork amongst the volunteers as well; teams of five were employed to create the bags. Four people were in charge of putting different parts of the bag together; one person was in charge of rice, another in charge of soy, and so on. The fifth person was the one holding the bag under the funnel and switching it out. At first, it was difficult to complete each bag of food and the group was slow, but after we got into a certain pattern it was really easy to complete each bag and we ended up working very quickly. At the end of the event, the entire volunteer population ended up making thousands of bags. This event really put the dangers of hunger into perspective, since hunger is not something most people who attend Stockton have to worry about. After this, there was a brief reflection session, where everyone agreed that the event was run very smoothly and professionally, and was an excellent way to impact the community and the world for the better.

Overall, the event was run very efficiently by the coordinators and everyone else involved. I enjoyed the event as both a volunteer and as an individual as I learned about issues both inside and outside of the community and how to help.

Alexis Franklin

On September 10, I participated in Stockton’s annual Day of Service.  I signed up over the summer because I figured I would need community service projects for the Honors Program, and I was more or less dreading spending all day volunteering.  My dread had lied in the fact that I expected to be cleaning up trash all day or doing something dull, however the different activities were actually really entertaining, and I had a lot of fun!  I did four different events; Text, Talk, Vote; Circle K’s program, where I made cards and project templates for sick children; Green Dot Bystander training; and Stop Hunger Now’s program, where I helped to make a total of 48,000 meals!  My two favorite were definitely the Text, Talk, Vote and the Stop Hunger Now events.

The Text, Talk, Vote program was meant to encourage everyone to vote, especially in the upcoming November presidential election.  I love politics, so this event was right up my alley.  I got to sit around with my friends and discuss how we felt about the different issues and candidates.  Even though the rest of my friends aren’t into politics as much as I am, it was still really fun.  It was, however, upsetting to see that most of the people participating in the program either didn’t really care about the outcome in November or had pretty much lost hope and weren’t planning on voting in the election this year.  I could go on for hours about my own opinions and the candidate I support, but I would definitely prefer for someone to vote for the candidate opposing my own than not vote at all.  I hope the Text, Talk, Vote program really changed people’s minds and encouraged them to vote, because the importance of voting is often undersold.

The Stop Hunger Now program was surprisingly fun and energizing, and even though the actual work I was doing wasn’t very complicated or all that exciting (I just poured dried veggies into a funnel), I really enjoyed it.  The big group I was with danced our way to making 12,000 meals, so in total Stockton made 48,000 meals in one day, which is really impressive.  Normally I wouldn’t have volunteered for an organization like Stop Hunger Now, but I’m glad I was kind of “forced” to try out new things at the Day of Service.  I also was in with a group of people I hadn’t met before, so in addition to making meals for the hungry, I got to meet new people and make new friends too, which was great!

The Day of Service was definitely not what I was expecting it to be, but I’m really happy I participated.  Not only did I get to help people, but I got pushed out of my comfort zone and found new things that I enjoy doing.  I even got a selfie with Trump and Clinton cutouts.  Overall, it was a great day and I’m looking forward to the next Day of Service!

Amidst the numerous assignments, projects, and papers that need completion, first-year college students can easily gain the dreaded “Freshmen 15” if they neglect to fit exercise into their academic schedules. However, with the availability of free fitness classes offered by the Wellness Center in Stockton University, freshmen don’t have to worry about going off-campus to stay in shape.

Every week, students can look forward to Monday and Wednesday evening Zumba classes in the I-Wing gym, while Tuesday and Thursday evenings offer Boxercise classes. (Beware, the intense cardio and strength training can make you sore for days!) If sweating off stress doesn’t sound appealing, then yoga offered on Tuesday in the Lodge, and Thursday in the TRLC, can also put the mind and body at ease.

Going to these classes helps in many aspects of achieving optimum health. Not only do they aid in staying fit physically, but they also improve emotional health since exercise and meditative techniques in yoga relieve stress. Furthermore, exercising with others also creates a support group who helps sustain motivation throughout the workout session. Rather than focusing on how difficult a Zumba dance may be, or how challenging it is to do one hundred pushups, everyone in the gym can maintain their energy and return every week to repeat the process.

What I like most about Stockton’s fitness classes is that they fit easily into one’s schedule. As long as night classes or sports don’t interfere, there is bound to be at least one weekly fitness class that will suit almost everyone’s schedule. Even just attending Boxercise once or twice a week is better than not going at all. Plus, based on the past two weeks I have been going to Boxercise, my body has felt stronger and healthier since I first arrived on campus.

Additionally, fitness classes can vary the activity of a previously established exercise routine. For example, I regularly use the Nike+ Run Club app to track my runs around campus. But with the addition of Stockton’s fitness classes, my exercise routine benefits from a number of activities other than just running. These fitness classes have helped add more structure to my routine, allowing me to actually look forward to my evenings—rather than contemplating about what to do. Especially with the immense amount of free time after academic classes, they help me stay on my feet and maintain an active lifestyle.

Since the start of fall fitness classes on September 12, my attendance at most of them has provided me with many more reasons as to why I love it here at Stockton. My days are filled with academic rigor, while my nights are filled with either upbeat dance combinations, intense ab workouts, or relaxed breathing. Altogether these free activities make me feel content with my choice to attend this college, and I can’t imagine going anywhere else. I haven’t felt this productive with my daily routines in a very long time, and I hope it continues for the years to come.

-Jillian Umali

Flynn Altomare

G T Lenard

Life of the Mind

30 September 2016

Stockton Events 1

I attended the first Presidential Debate Watching Party on Monday, September 26 in the Board of Trustees Room. The event consisted of debate bingo, refreshments, and, of course, a stream of the first Presidential Debate between candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. The debate was projected on a large screen and many Stockton students watched eagerly as the candidates verbally combatted each other on a variety of different topics and issues relevant to our nation. The event started at 8 and lasted a little under three hours. Topics discussed by the candidates included national security, race in America, and the direction the nation was headed in, among many other things. The debate moderator was NBC anchor Lester Holt. Holt was criticized by many in attendance of the event for not being able to control the debate. There seemed to be a pretty clear bias in the room, with most students appearing to favor Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump. Due to this, it was apparent that both during and after the event, many in the Board of Trustees Room thought that it was Hillary’s night. The general consensus appeared to be that Clinton had scored a clear, decisive victory against her opponent.

I enjoyed the event tremendously. As someone who was planning to watch the debate already, it was nice to be able to watch it on a large screen with other interested members of the Stockton community. Everyone was very respectful, which was important because if attendees became too loud no one would be able to hear what the candidates were saying. I believe watching the debates is very important for those who plan to vote, so it was great being able to go to an event screening it. It was well run, a lot of fun, and I definitely plan on going to future debate watching parties at Stockton University.

Amanda Romeiser

One quaffle, three chasers, two bludgers, two beaters, one keeper, one snitch, one seeker, and most importantly seven brooms, also known as PVC pipes to Muggles, are the necessary positions and equipment to field a Quidditch team. Muggle Quidditch is a co-ed full contact sport, which has its origins in J.K. Rowling’s thrilling Harry Potter series, that uniquely combines rugby, dodgeball, and tag into one magical game. Here at Stockton the Ospreys embrace the “Three Cs” of Quidditch: competition, creativity, and community, which were all evident during their first official United States Quidditch tournament of the season and first annual Pumpkin Spice Cup, held on Sunday, October 25, 2016. This tournament successfully brought together the local community and families into one entertaining event replete with crowd-pleasing games.

I experienced this event as both a player and an observer. As a first year Quidditch player on the Stockton team I am still very new to the sport. This tournament gave me the opportunity to both compete against and observe teams, like the Warriors and the Honey Badgers, that ranked within the top 50 teams in the nation in the 2015- 2016 season. There was no shortage of competition at this tournament. From full contact tackling to complete shutouts this tournament saw it all. Just as in any other sport Quidditch requires a sense of creativity to achieve success. After each of our four games our captains discussed news ways to handle different situations throughout the games. Although, we were not successful in the traditional sense in this tournament, meaning we did not win, each challenge we faced led us to improvement.

In accordance with the overall atmosphere that Quidditch presents, the Pumpkin Spice Cup had a very strong sense of community. I received an overwhelming amount of support from not only my teammates but from other players and referees, who enabled this tournament to be an incredible learning experience for myself. As a player and an observer the chants were my favorite part of the tournament and are an excellent representation of the Quidditch community. Each team has a unique chant that is performed before each of their games that not only successfully heightens the energy of the team but the crowd as well, drawing them into the magical game.

We as the Stockton Ospreys have a long road of improvement ahead of us. The journey is not going to be easy, but with our brooms in hand we have hope for the rest of the 2016-2017 season.

On September 23^rd, 2016, I had attended an Eid Party hosted by the Muslim Student Association. The group usually held two Eid parties a year to celebrate both Eids that occur throughout the year, typically two months apart. The party was organized beautifully as there were decorations strewn all over the room. Additionally, the food at the party was delicious as they had prepared more cultural items such as biryani, chicken tandoori, and shish kabobs along with a beautiful cake that was baked by one of the officers. The executive board had done an exceptional job in creating a festive event that could be enjoyed by freshmen and upperclassmen alike.

Although I had worn a casual skirt and top, it was nice to see that many of the girls were wearing traditional garments which furthered the festivities. Everyone was having a good time, conversing with their friends, but also meeting new people. Many had not skipped school on the actual day of Eid, so this event clearly made up for that. Personally, I had not been in the mood to attend a party as it was Friday night and the end of a long school week, however, I did not regret attending. Through this event, I had made some new friends, which I was having a difficult time doing in this new place. There were also non-Muslims who had stopped by the event after the Inauguration of the new President such as the Student Senate. I had heard a great deal about them so it was nice to meet a few of them in person. I was already thinking about joining the MSA as it was a club I had heard about from friends who were already attending Stockton. This event left me feeling quite pleased with the group and excited to partake in future events and service projects.

Overall, the party was a good time and a nice opportunity to make new friends. The environment was very relaxed. My only criticism is that the group may have considered having a few more activities during the event as everyone was simply standing or sitting around. This could have also made it easier for everyone to talk to each other as the party was divided into two groups towards the end of it. Also, it would have been informative for the executive to introduce themselves and their positions as this was the first event they had held this semester. However, this was not a big issue and I look forward to future events, and hope to attend general meetings so that I can really get to know the people I met at this party. (Nudar Chowdhury)