Hosted by Student Organization, the sophomore class, the junior class and P.U.L.S.E, Kean Karnival took place Monday, April 29 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the Miron Student Center (MSC) Patio. The event was filled with music, carnival games, food and activities for students to enjoy right before the finals season hits.
Student Organization prides itself on serving as the voice of the students of Kean University. They listen and utilize student voices for activities and maintaining a healthy environment on campus. Student Organization funded this event and many others on campus. In fact, many of the activities offered are coordinated with their funding including bus trips, stress relievers and movie nights.
P.U.L.S.E. stands for Programming for a Unique and Lively Student Experience, and they work to create activities for student entertainment on campus. Their goal is to create and promote student involvement and community.
"Student Organization is a community where a group of students have come together to come up with ideas to make the school better. This event was designed to get students to participate and get people to be involved with activities and be a part of Student Government," said Brittiney Arthur, education major and junior class vice president.
The event scattered different activities and attractions throughout the MSC Patio.The Kean Karnival served as an opportunity for Kean students to take a step back from the stress of the upcoming finals week and enjoy fun carnival inspired games and food. Students could play a basketball mini game or compete against one another in a water gun race to the top.
One of the attractions at the carnival event was a bounce house for students to have fun and jump around. In front of the bounce house was a table with representatives from Student Health Services. At this table, the students were welcome to participate in a trivia game about their own personal health. Students were asked to toss a die two times. The first of the tosses would choose one of the six categories: sexual health, student health, domestic violence and sexual assault, summer safety, healthy living and common complaints. The second one would select the question students would be asked to answer. Even if they did not answer the question correctly, they would receive a snack or hygiene item from the box of healthy snacks that included Kind granola bars, almonds, chap sticks and tissue packs.
Kean Student Health Services is an office on campus available to all students both commuters and residents alike. They are able to provide nearly every service a doctor's office could, completely free or charged through an insurance. Student should be aware of its benefits to them instead of opting for an urgent care facility for something the Health Services could have helped them with. What students may not know is that Student Health Services are able to prescribe and give medication that they already have in stock in the office. What may cost money from a student is the sending out of lab results for certain tests, these lab results would of course need to be charged through an insurance.
"Students should know what Student Health Services can offer them. Everything from a cold, strep throat, certain sexually transmitted infections and more can be treated within health services for free or at a charge to an insurance company," said Joseph Henson, MSN, FNP-Associate Director with Health Services.
Free food, treats and music was available to students who attended the Kean Karnival. The food ranged from fresh fruit, hot dogs, salads, chicken wings and burgers. There was a popcorn machine and a cotton candy machine for students to feel the carnival vibes. Also available, fresh funnel cakes and zeppoles.
The music was provided by DJ Wallah who took the time to thank the hosts of the event Student Organization and P.U.L.S.E. He also took a moment to honor the Haitian Student Association (HSA) who held a flag raising to honor Haitian Heritage Month, which is throughout the month of May.
The Kean Karnival was an event for students to appreciate their community and enjoy their day before the stress of finals hits in the next couple of weeks.
"I love that Student Org holds events like this. It's really refreshing and helps me relax right before finals," said Tanvi Tandan, sophomore public administration major.
Another student, Melanie Ferraz, sophomore management major said "This is a really great way to end the semester on a good note."
