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(02/21/05 11:00pm)
Megan Beck was an incredible person who was always optimistic. As a junior attending Kean University, Megan majored in Communications. She was President of Theta Phi Alpha and worked for Kean University's Athletic Department. For anyone who has ever had the pleasure of meeting Megan, she was an incredible person not to mention a true leader. Megan had a spunky unique personality that everyone just loved. She never left her house without her spiked belt and converse sneakers, there's no wonder her sorority nicknamed her Punky Brewster. Megan had a strong belief in philanthropies and did a lot for the St. Jude's Foundation. She impacted the lives of anyone she's ever met and will be strongly missed. If anyone is interested in making contributions in honor of Megan, they may be made in her name to: St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105-1905 or if you would like to send cards and condolences to Megan's family you can send it to: Theta Phi Alpha Fraternity - Beta Omega, Kean University, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083.
(02/07/05 11:00pm)
Kean Music Department is one the most alienated departments on this campus but is filled with probably the most talented individuals to ever have attended this University. Joel Tomko is one of these best kept secrets. As a junior Music Education major, Joel is an aspiring songwriter. By day, Joel lurks the halls of the music department, but by night he sits in his home studio, Intimate Studios, and records his very own works of soul soothing music. "He has a way of sucking you in," says Carli Hench, a sophomore Theater Major. When Joel first started learning music, his intentions were to be a rock star, like Guns or Roses. At 15, he started playing in a band called 'Child Nation', and made the decision that this is what he really wanted to do with his life. He was not good in school, mediocre at sports and this was the only thing Joel really excelled at and loved. "It occupied my mind completely," says Joel. For 9 years, Joel played as a bass player in the Philadelphia area until he made the switch to an independent songwriter 3 years ago.Joel really loves the natural sounds of classical music and artists such as Cory Harris, Ben Harper and Jeff Buckley. "I try to create a realistic and true musical quality when I write. The warmth of the strings when plucked, it is what music is supposed to sound like." He does not use any type of computer effects or digital enhancements in his music. Joel tries to learn something new everyday. He feels that if he can expand on the knowledge that he already has then he is one step closer to being the best songwriter he possibly can. When asked, What would he do if he ever made it? he responded, "I've already made it. When I write a song and it is finished there is no amount of money that could make it more rewarding. If I am ever lucky enough to be extremely wealthy, my first goal would be to begin a homeless rehabilitation facility in every major city." Joel was awarded the BCC Civility Award in May 2003 for his passionate acts of charity.
Joel is expecting to release his solo debut in April 2005. Free copies will be available for anyone who is interested. Keep a look out and do not miss your opportunity to witness music at its finest.
(12/06/04 11:00pm)
"It's never too late to change your major" says Chrissy Davies an Art Education Major with a minor in Photography. Chrissy knows this all too well, as a transfer student from Union County College. Chrissy was fed up and not happy as a business major, so she dropped out of county college to start her own business. That summer, Chrissy worked with the Rainbow Group in Elizabeth, NJ. The Rainbow Group is a program that works with children who come from homes with divorced or lost parents. Coming from a divorced home herself, she was able to relate with these children. That's when Chrissy decided to attend Kean University as a Social Work major.In her first year at Kean University, she took a photography class, which covered her Art general requirement. This class really changed her life. She took a job at the Photo Lab on campus and fell in love with the students of the Art department. This is when Chrissy decided to change her major for the last time. However, her mom would only give her blessing if Chrissy majored in Art Education and minored in Photography. Chrissy is extremely happy with her decision. "Don't be afraid to change your major!" says Chrissy, because if she didn't, she would have never found her place in society.
Chrissy has really changed her outlook with school. She is not only the Secretary of the Fine Arts Student Association (FASA) and an employee of the Photo Lab on campus, but she also arranges displays of her own personal art work. Chrissy just recently had an exhibit "Purpose Realized" in the Little Gallery, located at Vaughn Eames, of her paintings along with the paintings of fellow classmate, Lauren DeMary. And, she's not done. Keep your eye out for a two (2) week exhibit of Chrissy's abstract paintings during the Spring Semester.
(11/29/04 11:00pm)
Finally, an exciting program comes to Kean University's students who are seriously interested in a career with the performing arts. John Wooten brings his experience as a Producing Artistic Director to Kean University with the development of Premiere Stages, a new professional actor equity association theater program. This amazing program consists of four components and provides opportunities for Kean Students to work with professional actors, playwrights and designers.An excellent chance for students to gain exposure, the Premiere Stages Play Festival, gives students the opportunity to submit original un-produced and unpublished scripts, and have them publicly read. Some of these scripts will be chosen for continued development, while other opportunities include student readings, staged reading and world premiere stage opportunities with professionals for students with potential.
Another wonderful component is the Premiere Stages Intern Program. This portion provides internship opportunities in stage management, new play development, audience services, administration, education and theater teaching and design. Interns can earn college credit along with a weekly stipend of $150 and FREE housing.
And if those portions of the program aren't exciting enough, the Premiere Artist Series provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend a master class with high profile professional artists. Artists spend a one-day residency at Kean University teaching a master class in the afternoon and then participating in a question/answer session for students and the general public alike.
And finally, the program also allows at risk and special needs New Jersey high school students to experience the arts through summer camps, residencies and musical fun with the Premiere Stages Play Factory.
Setting up a professional theater will not only increase enrollment but also offer many incredible opportunities for students to implement their passion for writing and the theater - which Kean has never provided in the past. "The mission of Premiere Stages is to celebrate the ideal model for a professional theater in residence at a growing university. I look forward to helping to facilitate President Farahi's goal of making Kean University the cultural hub for the region," says John Wooten. A leg up from other Arts Universities, this program gives Kean students an upper hand by experiencing what it is like to work in a professional union. John Wooten enthusiastically adds "creating an environment with outside professionals allows Kean Students to get an idea of how professional artists work." And to drive this point home, John Wooten has plans to add a Soap Master Class, enabling students to work with daytime drama actors and have their performances taped.
December 1 marks the launch of the Premiere Stages program at Kean. Hand picked Kean students will attend a master class with current artists of Broadway's Rent and associate conductor, David Truskinoff. Following the master class is a question and answer session in Wilkins Theater at 7pm monitored by Dan Higgins, Executive Director of University Relations. Admission for Kean students is free and only $5 for non-Kean students, so don't miss this remarkable opportunity to experience the arts in a whole new light. Purchase your tickets today by calling the Wilkins Theater Box Office at (908) 737-SHOW (7469).
Students interested in the Premiere Stages program should contact John Wooten at jwooten@kean.edu.
(11/01/04 11:00pm)
Several years ago during a trip to Brazil, Dr. Anthony Scelba, Director of the Affiliate Artist program, came upon the performance of an amazing theatrical piece, Cancion Simples, written by the composer Carlos Stasi. Upon returning to the states, Dr. Scelba shared his excitement for this piece with Professor Musto and they immediately began to look for the music from various sources. To their surprise, the music was impossible to find because it was not published in the United States. After a long and vigorous search, Professor Musto was able to obtain the music through a friend who is the Principal Percussionist in the New York Philharmonic. With regained enthusiasm, Professor Musto eagerly began to prepare to bring this entertaining piece to Kean University. But, Professor Musto's eagerness soon came to a halt when he was told that the composer believed his dead uncle had appeared to him in a dream and warned him to not allow the piece to be performed anymore. Uncertain of his sanity at this point, Professor Musto brought this to Dr. Scelba's attention and with a chuckle, Dr. Scelba informed him that this same uncle appeared to himself in a dream and said that it was ok to play the piece again.So, on October 4, 2004, the Affiliate Artist Program brought this brilliant piece of art to Kean! A performance most of us will never forget, Professor Musto played a single instrument, the snare drum, on a stage lit with vibrant colors. The excitement was not that he played a single instrument, but rather it was how he played it. Full of unexpected surprises, Professor Musto's performance included playing the drum with a 12 ft bamboo stick, wire brushes, rolling a ping pong ball along the rim of the drum while playing with his hands, and blowing air through a hole in the drum in a musical manner. On top of this extraordinary composition, the psychedelic colors really brought character to Musto's performance. "People would never think the snare drum could be such a complex instrument. I told my wife, I'll either be a laughing stock or everyone is going to love it," said Musto. He was right about one thing - we all loved it and found it intriguing to see so many different elements used on a simple instrument!
The Affiliate Artist Program is a program started by Dr. Anthony Scelba made up of 10 Kean University Faculty members who have active performing careers and have been Nationally and Internationally honored. They are an extraordinary group of artists that put on remarkable performances. For more information about the Affiliate Artist Program or a schedule of upcoming events, call 908-737-4325.
(11/01/04 11:00pm)
Unfortunately, many adults are facing literacy-related challenges like learning English as a Second Language (ESL) or getting help with the skills they need to succeed in life. The Office of Community and Disability Services, in an effort to help alleviate these challenges, has recently created the Literacy Volunteers of Kean University, a program that involves teaching reading and writing, as well as learning about people and their families.On September 8, International Literacy Day, Laura Pointon, a Psychology major and a member of the Established Leaders Program, walked by a Literacy Campaign display table in the University Center thinking it was a program geared towards education majors. Interested in the possibility of being able to teach people to read, Laura stopped to inquire what the program was about and how she could participate. She was surprised to learn that it was so simple to become involved and that the Literacy Volunteers of Union County offer training right here at Kean. Having always expressed an interest in reading, and astonished to learn that after only a few training sessions she would become certified to teach people to read, Laura instantly signed up to help.
However, before Laura could become an official literacy trainer, she had to attend training sessions to learn how to help adult learners achieve their goals. "The program is easier than I thought," said Laura. "I never thought I would be able to teach someone to read and write." Having learned that many adults have fears and insecurities about their inabilities, Laura asserted "I am amazed at how much courage these individuals display when they come and seek our assistance. It's truly a satisfying and rewarding experience for me to be able to help them work toward the goals that are relevant to their lives."
In addition to Laura's participation, the Literacy Campaign has 8 Kean students and 3 individuals from off-campus. And, because there is a long waiting list of adults who need help, the Office of Community and Disability Services is looking for students who are ready to come out and help. In addition to this small step to promote literacy, the office is also looking to expand this program to include children and additional literacy programs.
The Literacy Volunteer Campaign meet every Monday in the University Center, room 226B from 5:00pm-7:30pm. This is a great way to really help out your community and to better someone's life. If you are interested, please call Joel Thomas at (908) 737-5150, email him at thomasj@kean.edu or see your local library.