On the night of October 17th, 2017, the office of Residential Life and Live Learn Lead program had Joseph Thompson, Stockton Assistant Director of Student Development, put on an hour long presentation about what it means to be privileged in the United States, particularly being white, straight, and male. Being a straight, white male myself, I went into the TRLC event room under the assumption I was going to be lectured about my privileges and the guilt I should feel for being so lucky in the world we live in. There weren’t many people who showed up for the event; however, with the dozen or so students present the program went on.

As expected, I did learn a great deal about the privileges I have been given, without my knowledge, just for being born who I am. What took me by surprise was the tone Thompson used throughout the presentation. While still being affirmative about the extent of privileges white males have, it was also apparent that he was not trying to make me, or anyone else similar to me, feel ashamed for what we are. He even said, “you don’t have to feel guilty for your privileges,” but instead “be aware of them”. It is important to have awareness and understanding of how you got to where you are in society as a result of your privileges. A privileged human being has not done anything inherently wrong by having those privileges, but continuing to force the system of racism and discrimination, giving those same unfair privileges to the next generation is wrong.

Major takeaways from the event include that everyone has privilege, somehow, someway, and in different quantities. Privilege should not make you feel guilty, but instead should be embraced and utilized so that it can be changed for future generations. Speak out, stand up, and listen. This short, hour-long presentation was not only informational, but made you reflect on how exactly you got to where you are today. Overall it was a good dialogue, with a pleasant speaker, and a supportive environment that didn’t shame you for having privilege and was welcoming to people of all types. I hope to see him speak again about issues like these.

To fulfill one of my two volunteer positions for the Honors program, I committed to serving at the Toms River chapter of the People’s Food Pantry. I opted for this charitable organization because it is very community based. The volunteers, donations, and food is acquired and distributed locally. The Toms River chapter of the Pantry began after Superstorm Sandy revealed the severity of food insecurity in Ocean County. The chapter distributes 1.2 million pounds of food every month.

I had never volunteered at a food pantry before, so was unsure what my job would be. I walked into the pantry, which resembled a miniaturized super market. Five rows of shoulder height shelves, stuffed with olives, tuna, cake mix, and other non-perishables, ran through the center of the room. The east wall displayed a rainbow of fresh produce and a freezer nicknamed “The Coffin,” stuffed with chicken cuts, Bubba Burgers, and sausage links. The north wall was floor-to-ceiling fridges stocked with eggs, yogurt, and boxed milk. It also contained leftover individual Wawa sandwiches that hadn’t sold at their respective stores. The west wall contained every type of bread imaginable and a variety of Goya products.  

I wrote my clock-in time on a notepad and was introduced to one of the greeters. She explained to me that greeters assist customers with the shopping process and inform them how many items they are entitled to. Depending on the family size, each customer is entitled to a limited number of dairy, meat, and bakery items. That day also featured a heap of bananas that were in danger of going brown, which customers were encouraged to take in unlimited quantities.

I was assigned to my job as a shelf stocker. The director of the Pantry showed me an approximately three-three-five foot cardboard box, filled with white dinner rolls. I transported the rolls from the box to the west wall, organizing them to resemble a real supermarket. I lugged crates of boxed 2% milk from the metal shelves of the dim storage room to the fridges of the north wall. I arranged the milk boxes in neat rows on the fridge shelves. I transported the empty milk crates outside and flattened them in the grey drizzle, which prepared them to be hauled away for recycling.

The work was mundane, but gave me a chance to observe the customers and greeters. There were never less than 5 customers shopping at a time for the entire period I volunteered. The greeters in front of the room remarked to me that there was very little to do today because there were so few people. Few people? I was shocked how constant the flow of customers was, even on a slow day, just in Toms River. I was unaware how many people needed additional support due to food insecurity just in my own town.

The Honors Program motivated me to seek out and volunteer at an organization I may have otherwise not considered. The experience enlightened me about the severity of food insecurity in my own town, and how many people benefit from the Pantry’s invaluable resources.

The phrase “you are what you eat” is an interesting concept that is tricky to wrap one’s head around. When taken literally, it would imply that taking vitamin supplements makes the consumer a walking, talking Vitamin D pill. Of course, the phrase is only an expression to promote the idea that healthy eating choices will result in healthier individuals and to discourage the consumption of unhealthy foods, but it also emphasizes the importance of what consumers are putting into their body.

On October 10, 2017 an Interprofessional Education (IPE) Panel Discussion took place in the Campus Center Theater to discuss dietary supplements and how its role in today’s society can be interpreted from many different fields in the professional world. The panel was composed of Mr. Anthony Dissen from the School of Health Sciences, Dr. Priti Haria, from the School of Education, Dr. Jennifer Barr from the School of Business, Mr. Ray Cheung, a consumer safety officer from the FDA, Dr. Mary Lou Gelantino from the School of Health Sciences, and Dr. Kelly Keenan from the School of Natural Sciences and Math. The members of the panel first introduced themselves and how their career or research related to the topic of dietary supplements. Following the introductions, there was an explanation that further emphasized how different fields such as business, marketing, health science, and research are interrelated when it comes to nutrition.

The panel discussed how the way that dietary supplements are marketed or presented, an example being the advertisement of some drugs or supplements on talk shows like Dr. Oz, have a great effect on the amount of it purchased and consumed by the public. This type of endorsement by Dr. Oz, for example, even has a name: the Dr. Oz effect. The effect that these public figures have on the sales of these drugs and supplements must not be overlooked. To expand on this idea, the power of doctors must also be recognized. The panel stressed how doctors on television have the ability to influence the viewers decision on the types of drugs or supplements that they buy because people have a high trust in doctors. This in turn brought about a discussion on the reliability of said promoters of the drug or supplement and how consumers should check where they were getting their information and research, and think about potential exterior motives that these television figures may have.

This does not mean that people should stop trusting their doctors or physicians, but it asks of them to refrain from blindly trusting their doctors and instead be more open to the idea of questioning the medical recommendations enough to encourage self-research on the issue or condition at hand. The panel discussed how in different self-conducted tests and experiments, some drugs did not contain some of the ingredients that were listed on the labels of the bottles. Going off of this point, Mr. Cheung from the FDA stressed the importance of making sure that consumers are buying FDA approved drugs and that they are aware that sometimes people illegally copy and paste the logo on their products to increase sales. This once again ties into the idea of self-research and being responsible to be selective of what one puts in one’s body.

The IPE panel discussion initially makes consumers wonder whether anything is really safe to consume. Taking excessive amounts of a ¨good¨ vitamin, mineral or drug can have negative consequences because too much of anything is not good, there are scammers who try to trick people into buying products with as much medicinal value as dirt (perhaps it is dirt), there are well-trusted public figures that promote drugs they know nothing about, and big unchecked claims are found on many of these products. However, the panel assured the people in the room that there is a solution to safe and beneficial consumption of dietary supplements, and that is to be involved in the research and practice the concept of “buyer beware.” Although the idea of having to do self-research and being responsible for checking the information on the labels of the bottles is a daunting prospect, the panel discussion makes one realize the importance of such acts and how it is all worth it for one’s own health. Education of this topic of being aware of the potential untruths behind claims and being aware of the effects of public figures on consumers is crucial to the betterment of one’s personal health. Being smart about purchases of dietary supplements or any kind of drug or food is important to be able to lead a safe and healthy life. In other words, taking a few minutes to make sure that one is not paying a lot of money to consume substances with little to no nutritional value (like dirt), or substances that may even be hazardous to one’s health, seems worth it in the long run.

Back in September, I reluctantly attended the Meet the Greeks event along with a few other girls on my floor. I was hesitant to attend because I did not know much about Greek life in general or at Stockton specifically. I had, of course, heard many of the stereotypes surrounding members of Greek life but was interested in finding out for myself what it was about.
Upon arriving, there was a long line just to enter the campus center event room. I was surprised to see how many people attended. The room was packed with people, which made it hard to walk from one spot to another. There were also so many different tables to stop at that it was hard to tell which tables I would be interested in. It was easy to differentiate the sorority and fraternities members based on either their formal attire or matching shirts. I surprised to see that there were so many different sorority and fraternity organizations at Stockton. I had not previously realized that Greek life was so prominent on campus. I was glad to have a large variety of choices if I ever decided to become a part of Greek life on campus.
I soon realized that there did not appear to be enough members of each sorority to accommodate the large crowd that the event had attracted. There were long lines to talk to most of the sorority members, and it was hard to hear what they were saying once you finally had a chance. Due to the large crowd, there were often lines at different tables to talk to the sorority members. This did not leave a lot of time to spend at the different tables since there were many people waiting, which resulted in not getting a lot of information.
Despite these circumstances, I was still able to learn a lot about Greek life at Stockton. Most sororities had a large focus on community service, which is a large part of being in the honors program at Stockton. Meet the Greeks definitely made me check the misconceptions due to societal stereotyping of those often involved in greek life. I was able to learn how to get involved and what the sororities dedicate their time to doing and their mission goals. While I am still not sure whether I will join in the future, I am still glad that I went to this event so I have this information in case I become interested in the future.

On October 19th, during the internet safety week at Stockton University, I attended a small group discussion and presentation with a few other freshman honors students. I heard of this discussion through friends within my honors seminar class, we wanted to attend an event together to get more involved around campus and take part in the overall theme of the week. We were expecting to be in a large group of people watching a presentation, but what we found were fellow students who wanted to share their research on Net Neutrality. The students told us at the beginning of the event that they hoped to open up a discussion of internet laws and guidelines that are going to shape the way we use technology as a whole in the future.

They first asked us about the topic of Net Neutrality and what it meant to us and as a whole. According to the information they provided us, Net Neutrality is the ability one company has over another to speed up, slow down, or block content. An example one of the students used was concerning Comcast and how they wanted to make a deal with Netflix. When the two companies did not agree, Comcast made the downloading speeds of shows on Netflix extremely slow. Once a deal was made, the speed of Comcast internet while using Netflix went from being the second slowest to the third fastest, with only two other companies downloading faster. We then discussed how these cable companies act as monopolies, buying and owning certain parts of land that they then sell to, not allowing other companies to steal their customers. Startups and other companies are overrun by these few giant companies that all have deals with each other to share resources such as satellites and cell towers.  Laws such as Net Neutrality hope to either counteract these monopolies or encourage them. We explored different benefits and downsides to each side of the law, but ultimately agreed as a group that these monopolies are in no way helping the actual consumer of the product. The customer is not only being given just two companies to choose from, they are also not receiving the customer support they deserve. The population of the United States pays more for the same amount or slower internet service than almost anyone else with an internet connection.

Having this small group discussion seemed intimidating at first, but having only a few people helped the conversation merge into more complicated and controversial opinions and topics. There was no exact layout for the presentation, as a group we were able to learn and discover our own opinions on the topic and ask any immediate questions we had without interrupting. I also learned many facts about America’s internet usage that I had not known before, such as America only being in 31st place for download speed in the world. This small and short presentation not only informed me about a worldly issue that will affect my everyday life, it helped introduce me into getting involved on campus and the many ways I can learn not only from my professors, but from my peers.

The Honors Class of 2021 took a trip to the American Revolution Museum in Philadelphia this past Saturday. My own personal experience started off rough. The bus picked us all up at 9:15 am, but I missed my alarm and woke up at 9:05 am. I threw my clothes on and ran to the bus luckily making it there at exactly 9:15! I slept the whole way to Philly, which was about an hour, and we arrived at the Museum. Inside was very impressive, as I expected given all the commercials I heard about the Museum the year prior. In the museum were maps of fighting routes of the British and America and many figurines depicting issues that you don’t always hear about in High School. There were also movies that really sealed the information. Another feature I appreciated about the American Revolution Museum was the interaction. In the Museum were areas where you could actually touch the history and open cabinets to see items from the times (I always find it interesting to see how items of day to day use developed from then to now). Another area of interaction was the dress up section that was equipped with children’s toys of the time, and ciphers for wartime code. I dressed up with my friends and also enjoyed some time playing with a Jacob’s Ladder and a toy where a ball attached to a string must be caught in a cup (this may sound simple but it is much harder than you think!) My favorite was the story of George Washington’s tent. There was a video that told the story of the man of George Washington: how he stayed on the battlefield with his soldiers and went through everything they did. He camped with the soldiers in tents like the soldiers. When needed, his tent was turned into a battle station. This tent is where some of the greatest moments in American history were planned out, and the most amazing thing was, I got to experience it! At the museum at the end of the video presentation, the projector screen rises and you see the actual tent of George Washington. I really felt like ending with this video was the best way to be able to look back at the Museum and be able to actually put myself in that time: that time of struggle where you are fighting for your life, where everyday is a battle, where there is no cell phone to distract you, where human deliberation and agreement of people of some of the nation’s smartest individuals put their minds together always for the greater of the people. I find it so fascinating to try and put myself in that time more than 200 years ago. I find myself so much more grateful and respectful of American history now than ever before. I went to school at Devon Prep which is right down the road from the Valley Forge Battlefield! I never quite appreciated where I was and the men who probably walked where I did! This trip really opened my eyes, I am excited to go back again and share the experience with my family!

On October 7, 2017 Stockton University hosted a parade and Street Fair, which took place behind the campus center on College Walk, as part of University Weekend. University Weekend was held to welcome families and friends to the Stockton community and the street fair was the perfect way to celebrate and display all of the clubs and organizations that make Stockton so diverse. As a member of S.A.V.E (Stockton Action Volunteers for the Environment), I volunteered to help set-up our table and promote our club and its cause. On a beautiful day in October, it seemed as though the Stockton community was entirely focused on celebrating what makes our school unique.

At 11:30, the parade of clubs and organizations, teams, sororities and fraternities sported their elaborately handcrafted floats as they drove through the campus. S.A.V.E’s float, in particular, celebrated Puerto Rico’s biodiversity and sustainability efforts. Students and their families stood on the side cheering them on and getting a taste of what Stockton is all about. As our club’s float passed, we returned to our table to finish any last-minute preparations. The club leaders were very enthusiastic and passionate about spreading the club’s message of promoting a more eco-friendly atmosphere around our school and in our lives and keeping our environment healthy and enjoyable for everyone.

Our table included a pledge for passersby to sign to petition clean energy to our governor, as well as honey sampling from Stockton farm’s very own bees and the fittingly named “smoothie bike”, which (as the name implies) requires pedaling to power a blender that creates a delicious homemade smoothie. Our table provided the perfect opportunity to demonstrate to the family and friends of the Stockton community how easy it is to get involved in taking action for our planet while incorporating a unique and fun experience to tie it all together.

The fair overall was a success. The center of the university was filled with music and conservation, unique vendors and a variety of delicious food. My hour of volunteer service led me to experience the happiness and contentment that comes along with communal events and provided an enjoyable way to spend my weekend at Stockton. It also highlighted the idea that getting involved in clubs and activities allows you to make the most out of your college experience. This fair served as a reminder that Stockton University is unique in its mission of promoting a positive and unified environment not only for its students but for the surrounding communities.

At 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 7th, I met my parents outside my dorm room for University Weekend. It was the first time I had seen my parents for a few weeks, so I was excited to spend some time with them and show them around campus now that I knew it pretty well, whereas last time none of us knew our way around very well. As we were walking around and I was explaining the different parts of campus center and the various parts of the freshman dorms, I realized that even though I had only been here for a month, I already knew the university so well and it hit me that Stockton was now my home.
First on the agenda was breakfast, where we ate a good meal and got ourselves ready for the day. We also used that time to catch up and they asked me how I was doing with college. Much to both of our delight, I could finally be excited about my schoolwork and be passionate about what I’m learning in the classroom.
After breakfast, the parade started and we stood on the side as we watched various groups and organizations pass by in their golf carts. Both my parents and I were impressed by how enthusiastic everyone was about their respective club. I enjoyed how the parade emphasized the true community that Stockton is. So many people were joining together and doing great things together, and I loved it.
The best part of the day happened after the parade, and that was walking around with my parents, browsing the diverse shops lining the walkways. As we walked around I continued to point out details about the campus and continued to amaze myself with how much I already knew about my new home. We pet some stingrays, pied some fraternity members, and shot on a hockey net. This part of University Weekend was very well executed and it did a great job of representing the diversity and community of Stockton. We finished the day off by watching the men’s soccer team face off against Rutgers-Newark. Although they couldn’t pull off a win, I could always appreciate sitting back and watching sports.
University Weekend was a fantastic opportunity to catch up with my parents and spend a meaningful day with them. I thought everything about the weekend was very well executed and my parents will definitely be back for the next one.

I always knew that I wanted to try and be super involved in college. In high school, I only stuck to what I was comfortable with doing; I never really joined clubs or played sports that I was had no prior experience with. So, coming into college, I wanted to challenge myself. I wanted to experience something new. This is actually why I joined the Stockton Action Volunteers for the Environment club, or S.A.V.E for short. This club is centered around helping the environment, and is actually the first and oldest environmental organization on the Pine Lands Reserve. S.A.VE has also been an advocate for environmental awareness, environmental consciousness, and environmental action.

On October 11, 2017, I attended S.A.V.E’s Climate Change Rally, which was hosted in Stockton University’s coffee house. During the start of the event, we all created posters that had to do with the environment. I painted a poster to raise awareness about sea pollution. Across my poster read, “Save The Sea.” After we created a few posters, we listened to speakers while eating free pizza. The speakers spoke of different ways to get involved in protecting the environment and how climate change needs to be an everyday topic that is talked about, we can not continue to ignore the situation.

An important part of the event was that we all grouped together with our posters and marched around campus, chanting about climate change. I believe that this event was important to inform people of climate change and how it is a problem that will not just go away by itself; it is something that we need to act fast to resolve.

On September 14, 2017 I attended the Meet the Greeks event with my roommate and another friend. I have never had an interest in Greek life, but I decided to go anyway because my roommate really wanted to go. I was just hoping that I would get some free food out of it, which I did not end up getting. My plan was to just follow my roommate and friend around the room silently while trying not to get too close to any over-excited sorority member. I did not think Greek life was taken so seriously at Stockton, but all of the sorority and fraternity members seem to be very dedicated to their chapters. I was bored at first, but I decided to actually participate instead of watching and had a lot better of a time.

The first sorority we walked up to was Sigma Sigma Sigma because my roommate’s friend is in the sorority, so it was one of her top choices. The girl we talked to bombarded us with tons of overwhelming information that was not well explained, so we walked away feeling pretty confused and my friends were unsure about whether they still wanted to join a sorority. We decided to move on a talk to a few more sororities and actually ended up learning a lot about pledging, rushing, and just information about sorority life in general. After attending Meet the Greeks my opinion on Greek life has changed. I no longer think of sorority girls as brain-washed party girls, but rather involved students that are passionate and willing to help. Although I respect Greek life now, I still do not want to join one because they take up a lot of time and dedication.

All in all, I would recommend going out of your comfort zone to witness something you may not know a lot about. I was able to learn about Greek life, which I previously had no clue about. If my friends never dragged me there, then I would still be ignorant and judgmental towards sororities.