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(09/30/07 10:00pm)
College students across America are often stereotyped by others as being rowdy, rambunctious and only concerned with "partying". Many of us cringe at this label as we strive to obtain good grades and show leadership at Kean. Unfortunately some college students engage in "stereotypical" behavior. Many factors account for students' behavior at college, such as a new sense of freedom, new experiences and no parental guidance. Along with the new sense of freedom often comes experimenting with drugs and alcohol. All students, regardless of age, are to adhere to Kean University's dry campus policies. Alcohol and drugs are strictly forbidden on Kean property. The Guide explains Kean's Drug and Alcohol Policy in pages 23-28.It is not necessary to have drugs/alcohol to have fun. Those who feel as though consuming drugs or alcohol is the only way to have fun may have an abuse problem and need to seek counseling. Kean University views violations of drug and alcohol codes as compromising the dignity of the University. Those who violate the rules will be sanctioned accordingly. The Office of Student Conduct wants to get away from the term "sanction" for every instance and create "remedies" for some violations such as drug and alcohol related offenses where someone may need help.
However, sanctions for violating alcohol polices typically are as follows: the first offense is a $50 fine and attendance at an alcohol awareness program; the second offense is a $100 fine, mandatory attendance at an alcohol awareness program, and parental notification; while the last offense can result in a $200 dollar fine and loss of housing if you are a resident student. The penalties for drug offenses, however, are far more severe and may be handled by officials outside of Kean since the use of illicit drugs violates the law.
Students don't feel picked on, because the Alcohol Policy applies to all members of the Kean community such as faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and even your outside guests. The University is not just protecting itself, but also, you.
This information is not to scare you or try and limit your social interaction, but inform you the University does not take drug and alcohol use lightly. The rules are to better your safety and enable students to have a good experience without causing harm to themselves or others. When you have drugs and alcohol in any environment, you can not ensure safety. However, if you do have a substance abuse or alcohol problem, you should not fear being able to talk to someone at the Kean Counseling Center. Your information there is confidential and you can seek help for any problem. The Guide is simply there as a reference stating the engaging in illegal activities on campus is not acceptable.
As students, how much do you know about Academic Integrity? Do you know what it is? Do you have it? Well you will gain knowledge about the Academic Integrity Policy in next week's issue of The Cougar's Byte.
(09/23/07 10:00pm)
Last week you were introduced to The Guide and learned how it affects you as a student. If you missed last week's issue, The Guide is a comprehensive booklet which is an examination of campus life and public safety at the University is addressed. This week, since all those students who live on campus are probably still getting adjusted to their living arrangements, we want to concentrate on campus living and see if you know all that you think you may know. Campus Living: What's It All About? is a section in The Guide on pages. 8-11.
Resident students might think they already know everything about campus, but how many of you know the roommate bill of rights, or that resident students are statistically more likely to achieve higher GPA's than commuters and complete their degree in four years? The Guide has all of that information and more about Campus Living. Factors which lead to a successful college experience is accessibility, personal development, and exploring diversity. Living on campus is a privilege, and plenty of students who would love the chance to live on campus will tell you that. Sometimes we take things, such as safety, for granted. To ensure a safe environment, we should develop habits to maintain safety. Some tips in The Guide include preventing unknown people from entering buildings, locking all doors, alerting the proper people if there is a violation and abiding by procedures. You may be thinking all of this is a given, but unfortunately incidents happen when people do not follow the expected behavior policies.
Ensuring safety also indicates ensuring trust. Once someone trusts, they begin to respect the rules. To make sure Residence Life is safe there are fire precautions taken every year. These precautions include mandatory fire training for Residence Life Staff and making sure they understand fire procedures and how to use fire extinguishers. Fire safety is not the only thing Residence Life staff is informed about. There are also other issues which may arise in the residential living setting they must be prepared for. Staff workers go through a rigorous but well needed training sessions to make sure that they can be trusted by residents to provide for accurate information and directions.
Mentioned within The Guide are the Roommate Bill of Rights. These rights are things you automatically agree to by becoming a resident. Things expected of you include undisturbed study time, respect for belongings, personal privacy, and freedom from physical and emotional assault, just to name a few. For a complete list you can look online.
Campus Living is also meant to be educational. Here at Kean University, throughout the year there are several awareness and recreational programs presented for residents. The reason for programming is due to the fact the Office of Residence Life realizes students who live on campus become part of a community. By creating informative programs for students, residents will have a better understanding of their place in the Kean community.
Now that you know a little bit about what is expected of you for campus living, be prepared for next week's Guide excerpt where The Cougar's Byte talks about the Drug and Alcohol Policy Statement Kean University upholds. As always, if you just can't wait until next week you can view The Guide online at www.kean.edu/publications/TheGuideFall2006.pdf or visit the Office of Student Conduct for more information.
(09/23/07 10:00pm)
Back by popular demand is the annual Campus Awareness Festival. Campus Awareness is an event presented by the Office of Student Life and Leadership Development. It is something to look forward to every year, but this year we will be seeing things in whole different light. This year's theme is "Dive Into the Ocean of Activities". The play on words is intended to represent diving into activities as freshmen, which is the key to having a well rounded academic and social experience. Campus Awareness will take place Wednesday, September 26th in the University Center from 1:00 - 4:30 p.m. Various student leader groups, organizations, and departments from all over campus will have tables set up. The goal of Campus Awareness is to provide incoming students as well as upperclassmen the chance to gain insight into the prospects of getting involved. There are around 130 recognized groups on campus, so the probability of finding something you like is very high.From academic groups, to dance teams, to cultural organizations, to Greek Life; there is something for everyone. Guaranteed, just by visiting the tables you can find an activity you would like to devote your time to. There will be free giveaways and lots of fun activities to engage in. Don't be afraid; this event is for all students who may want to learn more about recognized groups or Kean in general. There are representatives at every table whose main goal is to inform new students and others about what their organization/department stands for.
So, as you "swim" from table to table, be sure to ask questions and gather all the information you need. If you want to see more of what Kean University has to offer, definitely join the fun and take control of your campus life. "Sea" you there!
(09/16/07 10:00pm)
When you think of an adjective to describe Kean University, one word that comes in mind is diversity. We even celebrated our diversity as the theme last year for Homecoming with "Proud of our Diversity". Diversity does not come in just race, gender, ethnicity or religion, but also in needs. Some people may differ in other ways and need special resources. The Office of Disability Services (ODS) at Kean is dedicated to functioning as a source of guidance for Kean students that may have learning, physical or any other disabilities.These students are active members of Kean, participate in activities, and have on campus jobs, but they just simply require additional assistance to get them through a successful college education. The office's goal is to provide these students with the tools necessary to become successful and have a memorable college experience free of difficulties. All students at Kean University are entitled to the same rights. Kean cooperates with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which prohibits discriminating against people with disabilities. At Kean there are many resources that are offered to our student population.
Services are offered based on the contingency that they are admitted into Kean University, have interviewed with Victor Esquilin, Director of the Kean Counseling Center and Office of Disability Services, and provide documentation of their disability. Students that are disabled have several options to accommodate their needs. In the classroom they can receive extra time on tests, enlarged font tests, special software to help with course work and even tape recorders, if necessary.
However, students that use ODS resources should know their personal information and disability is confidential. If they have a reason for needing extra time during exams or being late or absent from class frequently, their instructor will not be informed of the student's disability, unless they decide to tell them. Some students do not need many accommodations, while others need extra assistance, such as note-takers. Note-takers are student workers that are paid to take notes for students in classes that may be disabled. In some cases, some of these students may have a physical handicap which prevents them from taking notes at a fast rate or difficulty seeing the board.
The main goal, Maria Pitts, Administrative Assistant of the Office of Disability Services, reminds is to accommodate the needs of the students in any way possible, such as on campus housing adjustments, "In the evening, if a student needs to stay and speak with us we try to stay late to accommodate them, anyway to make their lives easier."
In the future, the ODS does want to provide even more resources, such as CD programs, and more software for the visually impaired. Kean makes sure it provides a safe and enriching environment for all students. Any student that needs to get in touch with someone to learn about services or wants to become a note taker can contact Maria Pitts, or the Office of Disability Services.
(09/16/07 10:00pm)
Rules are meant to be broken, right? Everyone has heard that phrase before or even said it. However, breaking any rules or policies, especially as a student here at Kean University can have serious repercussions. We're no strangers to the fun events Kean has such as concerts, comedy shows, picnics etc; but if there were no rules how safe would you actually feel around your campus?The Guide is a publication which is dedicated to educating students about their rights as students; some of the topics covered include academic integrity, violence and abuse, drug and alcohol policies, judicial proceedings and more. The Cougar's Byte will be featuring certain sections from the Guide weekly until students have more of an awareness of the rules and regulations the University has. By the end of the series, students will be more aware of certain procedures and policies. This information can be essential to you knowing your rights in the event you are found in violation of a code or if you are unjustly accused of being in violation.
Contrary to popular belief, rules are not to make your life harder, but to make it a better environment for everyone here. If you are not aware of rules and policies you may make the mistake of doing something which you may be held accountable for. It is also important to know your rights in case you feel violated or need to report something.
Closely related to the Guide is the Student Code of Conduct. The Student Code of Conduct is a document which highlights Kean's beliefs in integrity; community; fairness; respect and responsibility. The code is something all students and visitors to our University automatically agree to by being on the campus. A complete overview of the Code of Conduct is available on www.kean.edu/conduct. So, make sure to pick up the Cougar's Byte next week to read the first feature about The Guide and about the safety the university provides for you.
(09/09/07 10:00pm)
On September 6th, you probably saw a sea of students wandering around Kean in awe of all the University has to offer. While you could identify most of them as incoming undergraduate students, there were also incoming graduate students around as well. At 5:30 p.m. in the University Little Theater, the Graduate Student Orientation took place. The Graduate Student Orientation is a short, but informative program which helps introduce graduate students to their life as a grad student at Kean University. It is a very important event, because graduate students may have more demanding work and personal schedules than undergraduates preventing them from learning as much about all the services; the orientation helps the graduate student gain a better perspective on the University. Before the program, graduate students were welcomed with a blue bag with the graduate school name imprinted on them, and tons of handouts about services available to all Kean students.
Graduate Orientation commenced as the students received a warm welcome from Kean University President, Dr. Dawood Farahi, and welcoming remarks from Dr. Vinton Thompson, Vice President of Academic Affairs. It was evident after hearing words from Dr. Farahi and Dr. Thompson the graduate students began to feel a bit more at ease with the promise of Kean excellence. There also were announcements regarding issues concerning graduate students by Phillip Lloyd, President of Graduate Student Government Association (GSGA) and Ann Marie Hummel, Director of Health Services.
Shortly after, Toni Battisella, Assistant Director of Graduate Student Services made sure all students received their graduate student handbooks and agenda books - both which will be a great help to guide graduate students throughout the year. Battisella also reminded all students that as a Kean student they need a Cougar ID to take full advantage of all the services the university has to offer.
Last, but not least, Patricia Gruytch welcomed the students again and spoke about the importance of making sure students are aware of their academic rights as graduate students. She urged students to always communicate with their program coordinators and to fill out the appropriate paperwork when necessary. She wished everyone a great year at the University and good luck becoming successful as a Graduate Student at Kean.
The Pre-Function Lobby was available afterwards for everyone to get something to eat, chat and find out any information they may have missed at the orientation. Many of the incoming graduate students felt the orientation was the answer to all their concerns and questions. Laura Napolitano, a Graduate Student in the Occupational Therapy Program stated, "The orientation was very helpful, because this is my first year at Kean University. It really provided useful information that hopefully allows me to have a successful year here!"
Should any graduate students or any current undergraduates interested in learning more about Kean's graduate school, contact Graduate Student Services at 908) 737-3449.
(09/09/07 10:00pm)
On August 31st, while the majority of students were relaxing at home and finishing up their vacations, some of us had already returned to Kean University. The returnees were ready to prepare for the new year by attending the Student Employee Training Program. There were a swarm of different colored shirts - most of them blue - which represented various departments within Kean's Division of Student Affairs. Downs Hall filled with student employees from the University Center, Office of Residence Life, The Counseling Center, Office of Student Life and Leadership Development, Health Services, Office of Disability Services, and Vice President for Student Affairs Office.
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The attendees chatted for awhile over breakfast, until the program began with words from the Vice President of Student Affairs, Janice Murray-Laury. She brought some life into the attendees with her warm and welcoming aura as she offered a few words reiterating the importance of student employees. Murray-Laury reminded students leadership is not granted; it is earned and by choosing to become a student employee or choosing to become involved at Kean you are also choosing to become a leader.
Following, was a brief, but full of life speech from the President of Kean University, Dr. Dawood Farahi. Like always, he said a few jokes to lighten up the mood and then proceeded to give encouraging words regarding Kean University. Dr. Farahi expanded about Kean's growing goals to uplift the university for all students and how each student was a part of it.
Training has a lot of aspects. It is about learning, ensuring quality employee performance, and also information. All students have value to Kean, but student employees serve a specific function and should always be up to date with the latest information.To dull down any rumors or misconceptions, Maximina Rivera, Director of Residence Life then took the floor to give a demonstration of the new residence halls. Students were all but quiet, as they viewed slides of the new buildings and asked a variety of questions pertaining to the new residence halls such as safety, room selection, and the new buildings' effect on the current ones. The program also was filled with valuable and new university information from Campus Safety Technology and the new emergency registering system by Joe Marinello and advice on how to use your best judgment when dealing with risky situations from the Coordinator of Substance Abuse Services, Kimberly Quinn and the Director of the Office of Student Conduct, Joe DiMichele.
Being a college student implies you should be aware of issues affecting you even when they are not on your campus. An example is last spring, when the entire nation was concerned about the Virginia Tech incident and campus safety. Brett Sokolow, J.D., a risk management consulter and author, was a guest invited to the program. He discussed the event and more controversial cases which have happened recently on colleges campuses. As expected, students had a series of valid questions regarding students' liability and concerns regarding mental health and violence - all of which he tried his best to answer.
After a series of presentations, the students had a familiar, but well welcomed guest. Newton Kaneshiro, an energetic member of Playfair returned for an interactive activity session which is designed for fun and stress releasing. Playfair, the most popular campus attraction for orientation programs, was a variety of exercises where students had to mingle with others who they have never met. Any anxiety anyone felt by being asked to stand and do activities with others melted away as soon as they saw how fun it was!
Training was a reality check. Summer is officially over, but the program a very positive day made to increase students' awareness of the University and the consistent strides it takes to improve all aspects of student life.
(09/04/07 10:00pm)
Where else on campus can you find a career center, state of the art media equipment, a speech presentation center, a cozy area to hang out at before classes and a Starbucks? No where else but the Center for Academic Success (CAS). Those of us who have been at Kean for a while can remember a time when there was no CAS building, and there was just a construction site. Now, that very same spot which used to be empty has transformed into one of Kean's newest, technologically equipped and multi-purposed places on campus and has been a part of Kean since Spring 2005.CAS is more than just a building; it is the home to many services in which all Kean students will need at some point. Just to name a few there is the First Year Center, Career Services, Transfer Admissions, the Passport Program and also the English, Communications, Media/Film, and General Education Departments. There also is a myriad of computer labs in the building (13 to be exact), and 20 seminar rooms making the building a great center for technology and lectures.
The entire fourth floor is dedicated towards Communications and Media/Film students. There are special computer labs loaded with computer technology for media students to experience doing projects in their field. The third floor of the building is home to the English Department, faculty offices, and is also where the majority of English classes are held. The Starbucks students usually count on to get something to eat or drink before classes is also located on this floor.
If you are curious as to what the General Education department is about, it is designed to provide Kean students with valuable courses and to prepare you for upper level classes, and it can also be found here.
Throughout the semester sometimes there is a class that
we have problems with no matter how hard we study. For those students who find it hard to grasp certain subjects whether it be Math, English, Spanish, or any other subject can take advantage of the free Tutoring Services available in CAS. There is no need to be embarrassed. We all need help at some point and the tutors at the center are not only skilled in their subject, but are also friendly. During the course of a college students' career, they will have to perform at least one public speaking assignment, if not more. To address this issue the Speech Presentation Lab was opened to help students with one of their biggest fears, public speaking.
Another service which is important for future career skills is the Career Center that can assist students with writing resumes, preparing for interviews, and learning about professionalism.
Some of us have always known what we wanted to do, but for those unsure of what major to choose they can come to this building and visit someone who specializes in the Undecided/Undeclared Student Services for guidance, such as Dr. Stephen Kubow, Jackie Victorero, or Jean Brown.
With everything the CAS has to offer, you will definitely find yourself there whether it be for a class or for a cup of coffee; so make use of everything that CAS can offer!
(06/17/07 10:00pm)
On June 7, 2007, sponsors, faculty and staff, special guests and students attended the 10th Annual Gala. Harwood Arena looked drastically different as guests walked into the amazingly transformed building for the night's event. This year's theme was "Cougars of the Caribbean", and as soon as you walked through the door the room was hypnotizing as it had low blue lighting, walls lined with tapestry with vivid pirate images of ships and treasures on it, mist that lined the balcony stage that resembled a ship and the aura of the Caribbean all around.The event started at 5:30 p.m. with cocktails, while people arrived, socialized, tasted some of the delicious appetizers and were entertained by people, who in the spirit of the theme, were dressed in traditional pirate costumes with pirate hats and plastic swords. At 7:15pm the dinner and dancing portion of the evening began as guests began taking their seats at the carefully decorated tables, which each had a beautiful glass centerpiece filled with shells and sand.
The evening festivities officially began when Doug Nelson, President of the Kean University Foundation, began his introduction speech. He welcomed everyone to the Gala and in traditional Kean manner he expressed a great amount of pride for Kean and all of its' accomplishments. He also encouraged the crowd to give applause for the Kean baseball team and their recent victory as the 2007 NCAA Division III Baseball National Champions.
Of course no event as important as this would be complete without words from the President of Kean University, Dr. Dawood Farahi. He explained the importance funding scholarships for students and stressed the importance of public higher education and generosity. He reflected on his own college experience by saying, so many college students would never have had the opportunity to go to college had it not been for someone they did not know providing money for scholarships. Some statistics he gave to the audience included there are more than 250 scholarships given out to students and 90% of students work to pay their tuition and benefit from all of the sponsors who have it in their hearts to give to Kean.
The evening was filled with speeches from past Gala honorees such as Don Conklin, last year's recipient, Ann Evans Estabrook, Rob Wood, and Jim Hynes, just to name a few. The Gala this year did not have a person selected as an honoree, but it did honor Kean and its 10 year anniversary as a University. John Kean was a special guest at the gala who took the time to speak about the recent partnership between Kean University and Liberty Hall, an essential part of his family history that he is now giving Kean access to.
The night was special for all, including Kean at Ocean County College student, Maureen McCarroll-Scullion, Elementary Education MS major, whose first visit to Kean was for the Gala and who will be attending classes at the Union campus in January. "This is my first time at this campus and it is breath taking", she said about her experience at the gala.
A beautiful night filled with lots of laughs, thankfulness and Cougar pride ended with Kean's very own, alumnae and singer, Jennifer Vaughn singing classic songs with a band which made everyone put their dancing shoes to work. As the night ended, one thing was crystal clear; this ship, known as Kean University, won't be sinking anytime soon as long as sponsors, alumni, and Kean faculty care enough to make sure students have the financial resources to achieve their dreams and goals at Kean.
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(06/17/07 10:00pm)
Summer time is here and as we make plans to have some fun in the sun with people we love, it's also time to clear out anything negative in your life, and that may even include people. You may remember an article in a past issue, which asked, about your friends in which the topic of how to maintain relationships with buddies from high school was discussed. However, let's move on and ask what you do when someone you used to be close to, you no longer feel a connection with. Some people think it will never happen to them and their group of friends, but the truth is, as people change or move on sometimes that can cause a rift in your friendship. It can especially be hard, if at one point you considered yourself best friends and would live, eat, hang out, and laugh together and now you are mere strangers that won't even speak when you pass one another in the cafeteria or your encounters with one another are marked with cold stares and snide remarks. It's enough to make one want to say, "I thought I left all the drama back in high school". One thing you can do is make an effort to repair the situation. If you are at fault, or if you feel the other person is at fault, as corny as it may sound, you need to talk about it. Besides, how many of us have gotten upset at the wrong people over things we "heard" only to find out that it wasn't the truth. And it's not just a female or male thing; whether you're a guy or a girl, we have all experienced shady friends or been betrayed in someway by someone we thought was our friend. And what about relationships? What if you considered your boyfriend or girlfriend your best friend and now the relationship has fallen apart? Well, follow the same suit. If there are issues you can't forgive or get past, leave them alone. Maybe that's easier said than done, but it's better than being miserable.
Summer is also when you see who your true friends are. It's the chance when you get to see if those people you spent endless hours staying up all night in your dorm room with or people you chilled with all semester will even try to keep in contact with you. It's hard; especially when people live in different parts of the state, but there are always text messages, the net, and other ways to easily show someone you care, if you can't do it in person. There is no such thing as "too busy", if someone genuinely is a friend they will make an effort to contact you.
Sometimes you might need to come to the realization you have outgrown a friendship. This doesn't mean you never have to talk to the person again, but maybe time and experience has changed one of you, the both to the point where you can't relate anymore. No matter which solution you choose remember at the end of the day this is the time to toss out old problems and focus on the goals you have for yourself. If you can't resolve the issues you have with a former best friend, then it's time to move on and appreciate those you do have around you. Forgiving and forgetting is up to you, but the main point is to move on. Summer is the universal season of fun, relaxation and freedom, so loosen those chains of regret and make sure you have a worth while couple of months before it's time to hit the books again.
(04/22/07 10:00pm)
How many times have you seen an ad for a job or an internship you think you are the perfect person for? But there is one problem; you have to write a resume and cover letter and you have no idea of the right way to do it. No matter what your strong point is as future professionals, we will all have to write a resume and cover letter when seeking a job, internship, scholarship or for other reasons. Whether, writing is your strong point or not, writing resumes and cover letters are essential skills you need to have. Even if you are the most charming person in the world, a poorly constructed resume or cover letter will most likely end up at the bottom of the pile; or in the trash can. You want to stand out and you want to be taken seriously, so listen to these tips that can help.Before we look at the examples, lets sum up a resume; your resume is a detailed outline of your work, education and skills. However, it is not an autobiography, so stick to what is important for someone reading it to know; it should have a header with your name, and all of your contact information such as address, phone number and email address. Also keep in mind, your email address can say a lot, make sure you use either your Kean account or create one with a professional user name on another service provider.
There are different types of resumes depending on what you are applying for, but most students have not had extensive work experience, so it is okay to mention any job you have had even if it does not relate to the position to which you are applying. Mention any skills you have such as advanced computer skills, foreign language, or anything else employers may find beneficial. College students who are looking for a foot in the door within a particular field should mention all educational information first; even if they are not finished with their degree they can put in progress to let employers know they are pursuing a degree.
A cover letter is what most people seem to have a problem and although the process can be overwhelming, your cover letter is what can make or break you getting the job or internship you want. Although, you may be an interesting person, no employer wants to read a three page cover letter; keep it short, preferably at one page. Also, you may be tempted to use a generic cover letter to apply for many different jobs, personalize the cover letter and make it specific to the position you want.
After doing all of the following, have someone you trust look it all over and then you will be ready to send your cover letter and resume. The Career Development and Advancement Center can also help you with resume writing and there is even a course at Kean to help prepare students for professional writing entitled Business and Professional Writing. There are also resume writing workshops this semester on Thursdays at 2:30pm in CAS 118. Lastly, remember to tap into your own resources, if you have any older siblings or friends in the workforce, they can probably give you the best tips on how to stand out on paper and get the job or internship you want!
(04/15/07 10:00pm)
Last month was Women's History Month, and what better way to honor the month than to honor the very intelligent, strong-minded, and motivated ladies of Women's Circle. Women's Circle is a group, funded through the Office of Residence Life at Kean University that seeks to unite women through meetings which focus on different topics that are of great importance to today's young women. Anyone that has been to a Women's Circle meeting can tell that the group draws some of its' strength from two women whom are very known at Kean, their advisors Waffiyah Saleem, Residence Hall Director of Dougall and Whiteman halls, and MaryAnn Diaz, Residence Hall Director of Burch Hall. Through wisdom, compassion, and strength the women of Women's Circle try to gain a bigger sense of understanding of themselves, as well as to their male counterparts. The Executive board of the Women's Circle is comprised of some of Kean's most active women student leaders. It is made up of Kemy Clermont, senior Criminal Justice major (President); Sharetta Harrington, senior Criminal Justice major (Treasurer); Gabrielle Kidd, junior Psychology major (Public Relations); Whitney Nichole Stevens, senior Journalism major (Events Coordinator); and Shalumiel Hill, senior Early Childhood Education and Psychology major (Public Relations).
MaryAnn Diaz, an alumna of Kean University and former President of Women's Circle states, "the main mission of Women's Circle is to encourage, empower, and to motivate young women to see their self worth". Following the theme of "each one teach one" Women's Circle tries to close the gap between today's young women. She continues, "Sometimes women are very skeptical of one another. It's eye opening when you realize that you are not the only one dealing with day to day problems." She also notes that through positive experiences with one another it encourages women to trust one another and support one another socially and academically through gaining self esteem and self awareness. Through talking openly, women can view one another as peers, instead of competition or opponents, as they often do.
Some discussions they have held in the past include "Upgrade", which was about upgrading the values and ways in which you think and do things to improve life. Another interesting event was held with the men of Men's Group, in which they brought up the topic, "Are Your Standards Too High?" It was here where men and women talked about their standards for the opposite sex. Another topic that encouraged women to say "So What!" to the things that bothered them about themselves and embrace what makes them who they are, was based off a Tyra Banks show theme. The topic was meant to assist the women in coming to terms with their flaws, and as everyone was sitting in a circle they shared laughs, personal stories, and things they both admired and wanted to change about themselves. But it was amazing how no matter how different each woman was many had the same experiences and could relate to one another. They also branch out and discuss sensitive issues; including one meeting entitled, "It Could Happen to You", on different types of cancers such as breast cancer and cervical cancer which afflict women. They also shared personal stories about women they knew that were affected.
Women's Circle is always welcoming any ladies at Kean that want to come to a meeting and just sit and talk. And its not too late to experience Women's Circle, there are still meetings left this semester. Their meetings are every other week on Wednesdays from 9-11 p.m. in Whiteman Hall lounge.
(04/15/07 10:00pm)
Clear your mind for a second and think of an organization that can prepare you for your future, allow you to learn about the justice system, and help you get involved in the Kean community. If four little letters come to mind and those four letters are CJSA, you would be correct. The Criminal Justice Student Association (CJSA) is just one of the many active, successful and motivated groups here at Kean. Last year, CJSA was named as the funded group of the year and when asked how they plan to continue living up to such a title, President, Shamshadeen Mayers said, "The goal this year is to increase involvement even more by getting more students from all different majors." While the group is formed around the idea of criminal justice, which is the subject of criminal law, policing, corrections, it is open to anyone that wants a better understanding of criminal justice. Their E-board consists of Shamshadeen Mayers, President; Yoshina Moore, Vice President; Chris Kelly,Treasurer; Sergio Mendez, Secretary; and Victor Biaz, Public Relations.
If you think this organization is one that just has bi-weekly meetings, you will find yourself mistaken. CJSA is fully involved with maintaining an active organization and to stay active they often have guest speakers that are professionals in the field of Criminal Justice come to speak during meetings. Last semester they had a crime scene investigator visit, as well as a K-9 unit officer. As a member of the group for two years, current Vice President, senior Criminal Justice major, Yoshina Moore says being involved has increased her understanding of the field, "One good advantage of being in CJSA is that you're more aware of what is going on the field". She also elaborated how helpful the organization is by bringing in people that are already professionals in Criminal Justice careers.
If you find yourself interested in coming to any of their guest speaker programs, you are more than welcome to sit in as a professional visits and talks about the field; and you never know you may get so interested you decide to seek more information about joining CJSA.
Securing a future is a huge obstacle many students may have difficulty with as they leave college, but imagine if you had contacts that could help you out. Shamshadeen also adds, "Many students have gotten internships through our organization through contacts they have made".
Every organization that has an impact at Kean brings a certain something to the University. CJSA brings diversity and opportunity to Kean, and it is open to all students regardless of major. So stop by one of their meetings on Mondays in Hennings Hall from 3:30-4:30 p.m., to see what this group has to offer to the students of Kean University.
(04/15/07 10:00pm)
Everyone give a big round of applause for our new Voting Student Trustee, Mina Kousa, and Alternate Student Trustee, Jennifer Dietrich. The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs received four applications for election candidates for student representatives to the Board of Trustees, but only two of the applicants were eligible resulting in the positions going uncontested.According to dictionary.com, a trustee is a person, usually one of a body of persons, appointed to administer the affairs of a company, institution, etc. With that said, you now may have a better idea of how crucial these newly appointed students are to Kean's student population. The voting trustee, Mina, has one vote during Board of Trustee meetings, while the alternate, Jen, is a non-voting trustee. The student trustees must attend and participate in all meetings the Board of Trustees hold; except for ones where they are prohibited from attending. These two individuals are students who have the influence to speak on the behalf of us- the students. They have the right to bring up concerns from a student point of view directly to the people who have the power to make major decisions regarding the University and students.
Yes, they have the positions, but they also have some strong goals in mind. First let's get a little background on our trustees. Mina, junior Elementary Education major with a minor in History, has had a jump start at being involved by being in Student Org. his freshman and sophomore year, a part of The Library Community and the University Center Advisory Board Committee. Jennifer Dietrich, junior Political Science major, is currently a class representative for Student Org. She also is the president of a political non-funded organization and has an off campus part-time job. She ran because she desired to be a liaison between the students and the Board of Trustees. Mina ran for similar reasons, as he explains he wanted the opportunity to help his fellow students and felt running for the position allowed him to give back to a community which has given him so much.
When asked what three things she wants to achieve during her tenure, Jennifer expressed she wants to fight against cutting the funding of certain academic programs, maintain the affordable tuition that the Board of Trustees has worked to uphold, and work to the expansion of the Nathan Weiss Graduate School.
Both Jen and Mina agree that affordable tuition is the most important issue facing Kean students. Jen says she knows it is important to keep it low, because as a student employee in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, she knows the price is one of the main reasons why students choose Kean.
Already known for her activity on campus, Jen knows that since she is a junior class representative for the full-time undergraduates, "I am already aware of a lot of the concerns that full-time undergraduates have."
Mina stated in the future, he would hope to see Kean be a completely wireless campus and for food services to improve. He also shared, "I expect good results in achieving these goals seeing that I am a determined person and never quit until I achieve my goals".
Ambition seems to be the common link between past student trustees and our two new ones; both Jen and Mina have career goals they hope to achieve in the future. Mina hopes to one day teach at in his hometown of Bayonne, as an elementary school teacher guiding students and teaching them the history of the United States. Jen, on the other hand happens to have global plans and wants to one day travel the world and work for the federal government. After Kean she wants to pursue her masters degree in Public Administration or International Policy, but she admits, "There is so much that I want to accomplish I don't know where to start!"
With all that said, the students are in good hands with Mina and Jen dedicated towards making the students of Kean has happy as possible, while they are pursuing an education. Be on the look out for these two around campus, and make sure to address any of your concerns to the students who have the voice to make a difference.
(04/08/07 10:00pm)
They say out with the old and in with new; well here at Kean we hold tight to traditions, while also allowing room for the new. For this year's Student Organization of Kean University, Inc.'s election, we see some familiar faces and some new. For the presidential race, we have the current president of Student Org., Kush Parikh and election candidate Whitney Nichole Stevens. Which candidate will you be voting for? Well, if you are having trouble deciding, read on to find out more about the candidates. Whitney Nichole Stevens is a Communications major with a concentration in Print Journalism, also seeking a collateral in Africana Studies. Kush is a Business Management Science major with a minor in Communications. Both of these candidates are two names very well known to the campus community.
Kush reveals the reason he ran for reelection is he enjoys his position and working with the organization and the students. His resume includes class treasurer, President of UAB, Emerging Leaders, the G.O.L.D program, Vice President of Committees for Student Org., and Resident Assistant in Bartlett Hall for the Office of Residence Life, all of which have prepared him for the role of president. If reelected Kush plans to serve as the advocate of students, making sure their voice is heard, keep students first.
Whitney, a well known "busy bee" on campus, is always seeking to get people involved in different things at Kean. She says she is running for president due to an extreme concern expressed by the student body over the way Student Org. has been functioning. Her resume includes, President of the Kean Chapter of NAACP, the Events Coordinator of the Women's Circle, treasurer for the Model U.N, and also an active member of PASU; all activities she has dedicated time and worked hard for. If elected, Whitney intends to work to improve issues between the University and the student body by reaching a common ground, enforcing equal opportunity funding for all non funded groups, and improve the conditions of all recognized funded, non-funded and Greek organizations.
Besides leadership roles, Kush is quite known on campus for being "the man with a plan". His business ethic along with his charismatic personality, make him a versatile leader. As everyone on campus knows, one day you can see Kush walking around casually among his peers, and the next day in business attire on his way to a meeting. The man with a plan states the things he hopes to accomplish as President is increasing awareness of the wonderful opportunities Student Org. has to offer with the selection of newly funded groups, continually providing scholarships to students, and having the satisfaction of knowing that Student Org. is helping the students get the education they desire.
Both of these candidates have a bright future ahead, and they describe their career objectives; Whitney intends on attending graduate school at Columbia University to study Journalism, and eventually wants to write for Vibe or the Ave, while Kush intends to work in corporate American for awhile and then opening up his own business in the near future.
Whitney believes the most important issue facing Kean is the relationship between Student Organization and the students. She says that "Student Org. is designed to serve as a mediator between the students and the University to address issues, concerns, and ideas, however this does not always occur".
While, Kush on the other hand expressed the most important issue facing Kean is the proposed budget cuts. He stresses, "We need to take initiative to prevent issue such as this that can potentially occur ever year. Potential budget cuts can increase tuition and affect student services dramatically".
He also sees strong potential for Student Org. to grow and be successful through the students benefiting from the educational, recreational, and social programs offered and hopes to branch out into continuing to provide scholarships to students.
For any candidate, their plan to represent the student body is important. Whitney says that since a student leader's job is to represent the entire student body, "I plan to efficiently represent the undergraduate student body by simply listening and understanding, and then devise a plan of action to make things happen". Kush thinks that maintaining the mission and accomplishing the goals of the organization are key in representing the undergraduate students of Kean. "The students will have my undivided attention and I will ensure that every single issue or concern is considered and represented correctly".
When asked to describe their opponent in one word, Whitney described Kush as "motivated", while Kush described Whitney as "dedicated", so, as you can see both candidates have already proven they have what it takes to be a leader, but now the choice is up to you as to who will be leading as president of Student Org. next year.
Students can vote this Tuesday, April 10, beginning at 9 a.m. until Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at 6pm. The link to vote is http://www.electionsusainc.com/kean. You will have to enter the username and password that you use for your Kean email and then select the candidates by checking a box next to the officer listed. After selecting your choice, be sure to double check your responses, then you can click submit and it's done! If you have trouble voting call Alexa Cantres at (908) 737-5190.
Keep in mind there are guidelines as to who can vote for certain positions depending on your class ranking. All Kean students can vote for President, and other positions for E-Board on Student Org. However, only students that will have 90 credits or above after this semester can vote for senior class officers, anyone with 56-89 credits can vote for the junior class, and those with 29-55 credits can vote for the sophomore class and anyone with less than 29 credits can only vote for Executive board.
Since, elections are on line this year; it makes it even easier for you to vote. You have a right to make the decision on which candidates you want to represent you, so exercise your right and vote April 10th and April 11th!
(04/01/07 10:00pm)
Standing at around five feet nine inches, with a warm handshake, you would think that Ed Ortega, whose given name is Edison, was a very modest and humble guy - well you would be right. The native of Ecuador, who came to the U.S when he was 13, exhibits an extreme amount of humility, yet he has accomplished something many people have not. He has been bestowed with a New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal. The New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal is the highest military award that can be given and is to show appreciation to combat veterans. The full title of the award is the Distinguished Service Medal for Distinguished Meritorious Service in Combat Ground Operations During Operation Iraqi Freedom in the Southwest Asiatic Theater of Operations. In 1855, the award was originally issued by those that had distinguished themselves within the New Jersey Militia. The award was used off and on for years, until former Governor Thomas H. Kean reestablished it in 1988. The award is for those both serving our nation, as well as our state. More than 10,000 awards have been presented since 1988, and Ed is now a member of the club for his great service in the Army for eight years.
The junior Computer Science major transferred to Kean in the Spring 2006, from Campbell University in North Carolina. Academics are important to him as he has been a recipient of the STEMS scholarship, and says that, "it [education] is really important, there is always something you need to learn". He has a heavy schedule; besides going to Kean full time, he also works full time as an Operations Manager at a company in New York. It is believed New York is the haven for successful people and in five years time Ed hopes to join them by owning an IT company in the Empire State. When he is not doing business, he says he enjoys playing soccer and he volunteers for the Historical Theater Museum by helping them with their web site.
He owes his words of praise to his parents who have made a lot of sacrifices and have succeeded in many ways. Values, education and responsibility are some things Ed seems to embrace as he explains to himself, "the glass is always half full, learn from the past, and do the best you can in the future". While you can never be certain of the future, the past has already happened and it is filled with things he has already accomplished, so there can only be even bigger and better honors for him to encounter in his future.
(03/25/07 10:00pm)
While, everyone is caught up in the media hype of who is running for the 2008 U.S Presidential Elections, Kean has its own production brewing as we come closer to the Student Organization of Kean, Inc. elections. This is the time when students interested in running for student government campaign for the positions available. On April 10th and 11th, you will get your chance to vote for the members of your full-time undergraduate student government! Whether or not, you are a part of Student Org., the anticipation of finding out and choosing who will be representing you along with the rest of the University is exciting. Student Org. representatives are the voice of the student body and each year those who feel they have what it takes to be that voice spend time trying to convince the rest of the students at Kean they are the right ones for the job.
Student Org. elections will be held on April 10th and 11th and for the first time students can vote from the comfort of their own homes, residence halls or computer lab due to the elections being offered online. Hopefully those who think they have what it takes to run for a position have already started and completed their applications because they are due tomorrow, March 27th in the Student Org. office, University Center, Room 321 by 2:00PM!For the upcoming 2007-2008 academic year the positions available are President, VP of Funded Groups, VP of Committees, VP of Student Affairs, Assistant Treasurer, Assistant Secretary, and Director of Public Relations. There are also positions available at the class level for class president and vice president, treasurer, secretary and nine representatives for each class.
Being a member of Student Org. has a certain level of dedication because as any members will tell you, there are requirements and obligations that everyone is responsible for, especially those serving on the Executive Board. Students have to be a matriculated undergraduate student with at least a 2.5 G.P.A, and depending on which position you aspire towards, you may need a certain number of credits completed. All of the basic requirements and rules of the election are explained in the application, which can be found on www.studentorg-ku.org or obtained from the Student Org. office.
Student Org. members graduating this year look back on their years being a part of the organization and express how the experience has prepared them. Ashante Barnes, a senior Public Administration/Training Development and the VP of Funded Groups, reflects on her years in Student Org., "Student Org. has made my last four years at Kean memorable. Getting involved in Student Org is the key to developing strong leadership skills that will prove important in the real world."
"I owe everything that I have learned to Student Organization. Please take advantage of it because it is not [just] a student government it is an organization that instills confidence and skills that students will need in their future endeavors", says graduating senior and current Treasurer of Student Org., Tony Parrales. He is just one of the many students that have gained valuable leadership and business skills by being involved in the organization.
Members of Student Org. gain a sense of leadership that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. If you too think you can fulfill the obligations of any of the positions on Student Org. you must bring the application to the Student Organization Office by tomorrow at 2:00 p.m., sharp, to be considered. Be sure to check out the next issue of The Cougar's Byte which will feature an in depth look at all the candidates and the positions they have hopes of winning.
(03/18/07 11:00pm)
The annual Campus Awareness Festival only happens once a year, but on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 the Kean community had a special treat, when for the first time, the Office of Student Life and Leadership Development (SLLD) offered the KU Student Group Information Fair from 12:30-3:30pm in the University Center Atrium, as well as the 2nd floor, was coordinated by Beverly Desch, Assoicate Director of the Office of Student Life and Leadership Development. The fair came about in response to student groups' requests to have an event similar to Campus Awareness in the spring. The group information fair brought cultural groups, departmental, performance, media, service and religious groups out for all to see.Lined with yellow, blue, and red balloons, University Center had tables from groups and organizations on campus ready to show everyone why they are important to Kean. The atrium was buzzing with representatives from organizations and departments at Kean along with eager students interested in looking into groups to join. .
Seeing all the tables set up earlier in the day was what inticed freshman Public Administrations major, Lilliana Romero, to the event, "I was interested in the Association of Latin American students, and I saw the tables and I knew something was going on, so I came back". February 28 was also the American Heart Association's Wear Red Day in support of fighting heart disease in women. As a part of the Office of Residence Life community service, several brothers from Psi Sigma Phi Multicultural Fraternity, Inc. and several resident assistants sat at the table encouraging people to donate and informing them about what their donation means to research.
Other organizations that were in attendance were the Asian Culture Club, the Pan African Student Union (PASU), the Biology Club, Speech Language and Hearing Association, the Chemistry Club, foosball club, math club, the Elijah Bible Club, Haitian Student Association, P.R.I.D.E, Fusion, the Kean Dance Theater, Club Colombia, the Portuguese Club and more. Student Organization of Kean University, Inc. also had a table that supplied visitors ping pong paddles, Cougar decals and discount cards. They also informed students that were unaware of what Student Organization does. One student was grateful she came to the event because by talking to the members, she found out that this year so far, Student Organization, is bringing singer, Omarion to the Unity Week Concert. Other tables gave out informational flyers, pens and other small trinkets for each student to remember them by, while the Chemistry club displayed an experiment in front of onlookers, in awe, by making silly putty. During the fair, students also took advantage of the free picture taking which was courtesy of the Film Club of Kean University.
As everyone knows, no big event is ever complete without an appearance from the Kean Cougar. He was showered with attention as several student groups requested he take a picture with them. All in all, the first KU student group information fair had a good turnout and brought people together in the same way as the Campus Awareness Festival. Based on its success Kean may see another one next spring, but until then you can either visit the Office of Student Life and Leadership Development in the University Center room 219 to find out more about student groups or wait until next year's Campus Awareness Festival.
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(03/18/07 11:00pm)
If you want to go to graduate school it is not necessary to leave the comfort of Kean University, unless you want to. After the completion of undergraduate years, some people want to be done with education; while others want to pursue more at the graduate level. There are people who love the opportunities at Kean so much that they decide to go to graduate school here, at the Nathan Weiss Graduate School. Now, for some occupations, a Bachelors Degree is enough, while for others it is to the best benefit for an individual to build on their knowledge from their undergraduate studies and select a graduate program.In a five issues series, you learned about the programs within each undergraduate college, but there are also many at the graduate level as well. The Nathan Weiss Graduate College was founded in 1948, with only a few programs and has since expanded and currently has approximately 3,000 students and over 80 programs and options available. The College of Education has the most programs available for graduate students. There are also more options available besides master's degrees. There are Initial Teaching Certification Programs, Certification Programs, Post-Master's Certification Programs, and Professional Diploma Programs. Within the graduate college students that prefer to brush up on their professional and career skills can do non-degree professional studies within the college.
Basic requirements for the Nathan Weiss Graduate School are a 3.0 undergraduate G.P.A. (anything less may be up for review by the department and is on a case to case basis), the completion of standardized tests such as the GRE, GMAT, MAT, etc., transmission of any transcripts of work done outside of Kean, and the chance of having a departmental interview. For more specific requirements such as G.P.A requirements, number of references and tests that need to be taken before acceptance contact the person in charge of the graduate program you are interested in.
Students that have demanding schedules because of family and work obligations can choose to be either full time or part time, and many of the graduate classes are offered in the evening for more convenience. Graduate students at Kean that wish to be involved on campus can do so by either joining the Graduate Student Government Association or strive to be a member of a fairly recent graduate students honor society on campus, Alpha Epsilon Lambda. You may prefer to expand your horizons and attend graduate school somewhere other than Kean which is understandable, but for those that want to stay around, the Nathan Weiss Graduate College has many programs that will give you the competitive edge and the skills you need to make it in the professional world. And with the college working on constantly improving all programs every year, the possibilities in the future will be limitless.
(03/04/07 11:00pm)
Finally, spring break is here! But you have none of the money you swore you would have saved up by now, all of your friends have dropped out from taking that crazy road trip you all wanted to take, and you have nothing to do. Sadly, we have all been in this type of situation. We get excited to have some time to ourselves and make elaborate plans, but we fail to plan for them to not happen. Honestly, who wants to waste their entire spring break, wondering what to do? Well, who says to have a fun break you need to go out every single night or spend an enormous amount of money you don't have in the first place on a vacation? You might already have your break planned out, but if not look over these five tips for some ideas.Go on a trip by yourself. Either get in your car or hop on the train to visit a friend or family member. Unfortunately, many of us don't have the same spring break as some of our friends at other colleges and universities, so pack a bag and go see your friend at their school for a few days. You will definitely appreciate the change of scenery.
Stop dwelling on not going somewhere exotic like Cancun, or the Bahamas and use your immediate environment to get away from the normal hustle and bustle of life. You can have fun anywhere; you just need to be with the right people.
For those of you that do have a little extra cash, unlike the typical "broke college kid," you can go on a mini trip. Although, it may be too late to book a flight for a few days, gather some friends and go somewhere different like New York City, Philadelphia, Long Beach Island, or another beach that you know will be open, since it has been warm lately. If you can afford it, you can go to a couple of different places in a week.
Take time out to start reorganizing your life within these few days. You can clean your room, your apartment, and figure out which classes you may need to do better in by looking over grades on tests and papers. This is your time to reenergize and figure out what your short term goals are before the semester is over. Whether you need to study more or make some ties to an organization you hope to become involved with in the future, just do it.
When classes are in session, you probably don't have the time to work extra hours, so if you have the opportunity ask your boss if you can have a few extra hours the week of spring break. They will most likely appreciate the extra help, but if this is not possible you can use the extra time to relax and catch up on sleep, watch TV, play video games, or whatever you like to do in your free time.
By the time you are done reading this, spring break will probably already be over. Alright, not really, but the point is you only have a few days to relax and enjoy yourself before your normal schedule starts again! So spring into spring break with these five tips and have a spring break that you will never forget!