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(06/18/06 10:00pm)
When you think of summer what comes to mind? To most people it's the beach, flip-flops, vacations, and best of all - relaxation. The last thing you think of is class, tests, and papers right? Well, for people who take the alternative, that is exactly what they are thinking about; because they are taking summer classes. Taking summer classes is something many students at Kean University do for a variety of reasons, including more time to focus on classes and also to catch up on credits. Junior Special Education major, Amy Relyea says that, "as a Special Education major there are many courses available for us in the summer we can take so that we do not get pushed back a semester."Summer sessions offer many benefits for students that are able to do it. It can lessen the amount of classes you take in the Fall and Spring semesters and there is the advantage of only taking one or two classes at time. Students are allowed to take a maximum of 7 credits and a minimum of 3 credits per summer session. However, because summer sessions are shorter than regular semester classes, they are generally scheduled to meet three or four times a week. Some students such as Junior Media and Film major, Denise Hansen like that idea saying, "taking summer classes are good because you can fit in a lot in a little bit of time." Also, taking a summer course at Kean means that you are guaranteed to receive the proper credit for your class, as opposed to taking a summer class at another institution that may not be accepted by the University.
However, students that qualify for financial aid must be registered for a least 6 credits. In order to receive financial aid for Session I, it is based on the available funding you have left from the previous year and Session II is based on information for the upcoming academic year. If you live too far away from Kean, if you can afford it, The Office of Residence Life offers housing for Summer Sessions I and II.
Unfortunately, sometimes students fail a class; well take the initiative and take it during the summer to help increase your G.P.A. A few summer classes can be the difference between graduating on time or a semester later. Besides, since it's warm outside and the beautiful weather usually gets to the professors, as well as the students. Everyone is more laid back and more open to learning in a fun atmosphere. So don't look at taking summer classes as giving up part of your summer; look at it as making it easier for yourself in the future.
(04/30/06 10:00pm)
College is one of the most important experiences that any person can go through. These few years may be filled with anxiety over grades, fights with friends, struggles with money and other issues everyone faces. However, years from now when looking back on college, most people will remember the good old times and reminisce about what they did in college. It's hard to remember everything and everybody, but one thing students can do to show their Kean pride is to buy The Memorabilia, the Student Organization of Kean University, Inc., yearbook. The Memorabilia is the yearbook of Kean, filled with pictures of students at important events supporting the Kean community. Graduating seniors definitely should invest in buying The Memorabilia. The cost for the yearbook is only $40. The Memorabilia staff is comprised of students and is always looking for more people who would like to dedicate some time to assist in highlighting special moments at Kean. The current editor is freshman Fine Arts major Alex Rodriguez. Alex says he became involved with the yearbook because The Memorabilia was in need of an editor, and he had experience as the editor of his high school yearbook. Alex says of his involvement with the yearbook, "It's a good thing because you get to see everything that goes on around campus, even if you're not there personally. Being the editor is challenging, but I've learned a lot." Anyone interested in helping with The Memorabilia can contact Alex at (908) 737-5194 or send him an email at rodralex@kean.edu
The yearbook shows pictures of Kean students attending various functions such as Homecoming, Meet the Greeks, Campus Awareness, Unity Week activities, sporting events, and other special events and programs. The good news is the yearbook is not delivered until the fall, so those seniors that graduated can see the pictures of their undergraduate commencement ceremony! Those graduating soon should book an appointment fast if they want their picture included in The Memorabilia. Seniors also have the option of getting their name and major engraved on their yearbook. To schedule an appointment visit app.timetrade.com/tc/login.do?url=lorsstudio.44">app.timetrade.com/tc/login.do? or call (800) 891-3409. Students can even order their yearbooks at the time they are getting their portraits taken. The Memorabilia isn't just for seniors, though. Anyone can order a yearbook to capture all the moments of the year at Kean by going on the website herrf-jones.com/theordercenter. So order your yearbook now - $40 is a small price to pay for a chronicle of memories of your college experience.
(04/23/06 10:00pm)
On April 19th seniors that have excelled academically during their college career here at Kean were honored at the Seniors Honors Convocation by the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Graduating students, friends and family, and faculty were present at the convocation held in the Wilkins Theater. In attendance included Kean University's President, Dr. Dawood Farahi, who expressed his wishes of future success for the Class of 2006during the ceremony; and the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Vinton Thompson. This year's convocation address was given by Professor James E. West, an inventor and Research Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at John Hopkins University. He spoke about technology and its influence on the future of today's generation and offered words of encouragement for the graduating class.The convocation would not have been complete with the contribution of graduating seniors that performed for the audience such as, Susan Halmi, Marlenes Luvins, and a duet by Cathryn Hardy and Terron Singletary. The recognition of honors candidates proceeded with the deans of each college announcing the name of the student honorees, who went on stage to be congratulated by Dr. Farahi. Those from each college that were introduced first, were seniors graduating Summa Cum Laude, which is with a G.P.A. of 3.85-4.0. Following them were those that had earned Magna Cum Laude, G.P.A. of 3.65-3.84 and then Cum Laude, which included those that had a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.45-3.64.
After the seniors were honored, they along with the faculty, friends and family were invited to attend the reception that followed in Down's Hall for food and good conversation to wish those students good luck!
Congratulations to all students that were honored in the ceremony and those along with them that will be graduating on May 11th. The Undergraduate Commencement will be held at 9:30 a.m. at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey.
(04/16/06 10:00pm)
Walking around campus it's hard to ignore the flyers for different clubs and organizations inviting the student body to come and see what they represent. One group that is making an impact on Kean's campus is Students for Solidarity and Justice (SSJ). As one of the newer groups on campus, SSJ was started in Fall 2005. Flavio Hickel Jr., Stephanie Kolber and other members of their e-board founded it. This group of young people are dedicated to human rights and social justice. Involved deeply with issues concerning students, SSJ plans on issuing a student survey to find out what student and global issues are affecting and influencing Kean students during the Spring semester. Concerns that the SSJ have on a student level include teacher layoffs, budget cuts, and the price of textbooks. Empathetic with the inequality and intolerance in the world, during meetings they discuss such issues including human rights violations and injustices from all around the globe. Events that SSJ hosts include movie nights and education forums, such as last semester's "The War on Education" forum and the documentary, "Wal-mart, The High Cost of Low Price".An important aspect of SSJ is right in their name, solidarity. They are fully aware of unity and are willing to come together with people regardless of who they are as long as they embrace equality and justice. Senior Political Science major, Christian Perez, a member believes that SSJ is one of the best organizations on campus because of emphasis on taking action. He says, "We are one of the more progressive groups. We have hosted lectures on education. Anyone that wants to better anything on campus or in the world should come to our meetings. Even criticism is welcome because you can't progress without some criticism. We are willing to work with any organization religious, cultural or ethnic. Basically we are interested in solidarity with everyone". SSJ firmly disagrees with the injustices, which occur around the world such as, racism, poverty, homophobia, and oppression. Recently, the members of the group went to participate in the in the "World Can't Wait" in New York City in Times Square to support their political views. They are also hoping to participate in the day of silence later on this semester.
This spring, they are hosting two forums, one March 29th on Colonialism and one on May 1st, which is International Worker's Day. SSJ hopes to influence student activities involving social affairs and for students to become more aware of what is going on in the world. Any student that is interested in experiencing one of Kean's most dynamic groups can come to one of their weekly meetings on Thursday nights 8 pm - 10 pm in the University Center Room 337B or go to www.ssj.8k.com for more information.
(04/02/06 10:00pm)
You the Man, a one man show dedicated to addressing sexual assault, abusive relationships and dating violence was held in the Little Theater during Unity Week last week. Sponsored by the Kean Counseling Center and co-sponsored by the Lambda Theta Alpha, Latin Sorority, Inc, "You the Man" was a 45 minute one man show written and directed by Cathy Lourde acted out by Lloyd "The Man" Watts. Before the show the audience heard some words from Dr. Emily Filardo of the Psychology Department who gave some information on abuse victims. Finally, the show began when Lloyd "The Man" Watts came out as "Stan the Man", an energetic expert on dating that spoke in clever rhymes to answer questions. Throughout the show, he transformed into six different characters, including the Virgin Larry, Mitchell a guy concerned with a friend's abusive relationship, the father of a girl in an abusive relationship, Dr. Wing who was the girl's teacher and Officer Friendly who gave facts and statistics about sexual abuse and violent relationships. The two scenarios included a girl in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend and a guy on the basketball team whose team member is accused of sexual assault.After the captivating performance by Lloyd Watts a panel of experts on violence towards women who consisted of Dr. Emily Filardo of the Psychology Department, Kendra Hayes of the YWCA of Eastern Union County, and Laurie McGraugh of the Union County Rape Crisis Center were available for commentary and questions from the audience. Although women account for 90% of rape victims it is important to remember that sexual assault and violence is not just a women's issue and there are men's groups out there helping to address this national problem. Some of the serious topics that were brought up during the discussion included the lesser spoken about topic of domestic abuse in homosexual relationships and how verbal and emotional abuse is just as damaging to an individual as physical abuse. One of the questions the audience asked was for the actor, Lloyd, in which they asked how he prepared for the role of playing such diverse characters reacting to an abusive relationship. He said, "I found out a lot about this topic and have grown a lot from researching such as learning every 12 seconds a woman is abused". A handout with helpful information about self esteem and violence as well as phone numbers and web addresses from the Kean Counseling Center was given out before the show. In the case that any one needs to talk with a professional they can go to the Kean Counseling Center, Downs Hall room127, (908) 737-4850 or consult any state or national organization trained to talk to victims. The topic is a sensitive one, but something that people need to speak out about to try and prevent these acts of violence from occurring.
(04/02/06 10:00pm)
How aware are you on global issues? On March 22nd, a number of students at Kean University gathered together to reach beyond the local community and focus on something bigger- international issues. "Think Globally, Act Locally", part of the Raise your Voice Program, encouraged students to talk about social issues was a discussion group brought together by the Office of Residence Life and the Center for International Studies. The moderators of the discussion were Community Service Coordinator Joel Mario Thomas, Patience Smith, and Managing Assistant Director, Alexandra L. Wood. The night began with a warm up game where everyone introduced themselves and stated an international problem that they didn't understand. The conversation was centered on the devastating and serious issues that are affecting millions of people around the globe. However insightful minds offered their views on what should be done and how we all can help. Later into the event more serious dialogue ensued when each person was given a topic and asked to explain how it related to another issue. A couple of the issues included human trafficking, health care, global warming, women's rights, terrorism, immigration, child labor, and HIV/AIDS. When asked how she felt on "Think Globally, Act Locally", freshman Biology major, Nkansah Eunice, stated that, "I was able to open up and share thoughts and ideas about everything in the world. This should be help regularly for everyone to come and share as well." Many of the students in the room shared how passionate they were about issues that have impacted their lives such as immigration, health care and gay/lesbian rights. The sharing of personal experiences helped everyone see the link between the problems and how they affect more than just one person, community, and nation. In other words, any problem that still persists is a universal problem and everyone should be concerned.
The truth is many students may feel they have too much to do as far as classes and working goes to truly make a difference. Hoping students gained something from the program, Wood stated, "my role tonight was to give students resources for ways they can tackle issues and get involved in the issues they care about." When asked how he felt about involvement, Thomas said, "each one of us plays a role in either perpetuating or alleviating global issues." The harsh reality is that things that go on in other countries do have an affect on us. There is a lot you can do to help and the first step is becoming aware of what is going on in the world.
(03/19/06 11:00pm)
Recently freshmen scholars were recognized by the Student Organization of Kean University, Inc., when they were presented with the Freshmen Scholarships for $500.00 each. The requirements to apply included a copy of their keanWISE transcript, two references from either a Kean faculty member or administrator, and a completed essay or collage to assist in the selection process. The final decision was based on interviews each candidate had with the members of the Student Council and the Student Org. secretaries. The 2006 recipients of the Freshmen Scholarships were Shaniqua Bradley, Danice Crump, Ricky Esposito, Vernell Hunter, Demell Kearney, Ashley Maxson, Irene Murema, and Allison Marie Sinclair. Congratulations and Kean wishes the Class of 2009 good luck with their educational pursuits at the University.
(03/19/06 11:00pm)
Kean students use it to check their email and to register for classes. However, kean.edu has more to offer to the students. It is common knowledge that college students spend a lot of time on the Internet.Yet few students know how much information they can find out about Kean without even leaving their chairs. Every college or university has a school website that offers general information about the school, events, academic programs, athletics, and clubs and organizations on campus. The website here at Kean is managed by University Relations and in the past few years, new things have been added to keep up with the ever changing pace of Kean University. What some students may not realize is that some information can be easily found with the click of a mouse. Even the Kean Undergraduate Catalogue which includes major and course descriptions can be accessed online. Another feature of the website students should take advantage of is Degree Audit. Degree Audit is an electronic evaluation system that shows each area completed towards attaining your degree. The program is in its initial phases, so it is recommended to use this system along with seeing an advisor, but it is still helpful.
There are financial aid resources and scholarship information available as well. If applying for a Kean scholarship, the applications can be found online. To see which scholarships students are eligible for they can check under Scholarship Opportunities or click on the link for The Cougar's Byte and you can find scholarship information there as well. As far as financial aid goes there are basic facts that students that receive or are hoping to receive aid can look at for guidance. However, to seek advisement on academic or financial information don't rely on the Internet, always go to speak with someone.
For finding extensions or numbers to reach faculty members within the university try using the directory on the Kean website. It has important numbers to the One Stop Service Center, Financial Services, EEO Program, University Relations, and the extensions to the different colleges within the University. It is in alphabetical order, so it's easy to search for whom you need to talk to by last name. The university has so many events and programs that go on sometimes it's hard to follow, especially for students that don't spend that much time on campus. To follow Kean athletics, the scores are updated under the athletics section and there are often short articles on the highlights of games. Another source for on-campus events is the Administrative Report, which is an excellent source for information about sponsored programs, and important people visiting the university. The Administrative Report can be accessed through the link on the homepage. For fun, students have a choice of four pictures that they can send as a "Kean postcard" by email to a friend or family member through the website. So, bookmark and save www.kean.edu on your online favorites list because it will be a big help and keep you up to date with what's going at Kean.
(03/05/06 11:00pm)
As college students, we have more credit to worry about besides the credits we get for classes. A major issue concerning many students across the nation and also at Kean University is getting credit, using credit wisely and choosing the right credit card. It's difficult to go to school, worry about tuition expenses, money for books, and also money for gas for those that commute to school. To take some of the financial stress off some people opt to get a credit card, either because they don't make enough money at their jobs or to cover unexpected expenses. It may seem easy to sign off to get that new credit card and it is even easier to swipe that card whenever you don't have the cash on you, but they are many things students need to know about using credit responsibly. College is usually when everyone obtains their first credit card. Getting a credit card can inspire feelings of independence and stability, but unfortunately, most often also a feeling of freedom to spend more money than students actually can afford. Like anything, having a credit card sometimes is abused by people who don't know how to handle their financial situation, but sometimes people have no choice and use their cards, but eventually end up in financial crisis.
Recently, the government issued new laws requiring credit card holders to pay higher minimum payments. The reason for these new laws is to cut back on the amount of debt that people, including students accumulate by spending more money than they pay off. The law specifically targets those that pay the minimum balance, but rarely see their credit card balance going down because they aren't paying off enough money. What this means is on your credit card statement, if you haven't noticed already, you may see an increase on the amount of money your credit card company requires you to pay monthly.
What that means for a lot of us is less use of our credit cards and frustrations on how to pay that extra amount of money. On Kean campus 6 out of 10 students said they did own at least one credit card and 4 out of 10 said they did not have a credit card. Some students find having a credit card manageable, such as Amy Ragas, Junior Management Science major who says, "I have one to build up my credit. But I only use it when I have the money to pay it every month. Some feel as though they are a risk, like Patrick DeNapoli, Junior Physical Education major who said, "No, I don't want a credit card because I don't want to go into debt at a young age". However, there are still ways to use credit cards without racking up an enormous amount of debt. Some of the ways are as following:
1. Research the credit company and type of card you are being offered before you get one. Some companies offer lower interest rates and lower APR's while others are much higher.
2. Look for student credit cards. Usually these cards have a lower credit limit, making it more difficult to have a large balance to pay off.
3. Pay off your credit card as soon as you get your bill each month. It cuts down on the credit card balance.
4. Only use your credit card when necessary, remember it is not free money you will eventually have to pay it back.
5. Try to only get one credit card; it will lower your debts because you won't have several payments to worry about.
There are several alternatives to stay out of debt and not have to learn the hard way. One important thing is to remember that most college students do come out of college with some kind of debt, so if you feel overburdened by the lack of money you have and the amount of money you owe you are not alone. Possibly you have run into this situation already and are struggling with credit card debt. For more information on how credit card debt affects you and how you can get back on track visit www.fast.com or www.collegeboard.com for information for college students.
(02/26/06 11:00pm)
When you think of the average Kean University student it's be hard to define who that is. There are full- time and part- time students, returning students, international and transfer students that make up the undergraduate percentage. There are certain aspects about Kean, which attract students from all walks of life to the Uuniversity. In fact, parts of Kean's student enrollment of over 13,000 students isare transfer students. A transfer student is a student from another accredited community college, or four- year college or university that has completed some college coursework. While some students begin their college career at Kean and will eventually graduate from here, others have had alternate experiences in their educational process. There are many reasons that encourage students to consider Kean University as their college of choice. Anthony Chin, senior Communications and History major transferred to Kean University in 2003 says "I came to Kean to get a better education. I like that Kean is close to New York City, has a train station near, and has small classes. And it has a very diverse student body". Of course there are other reasons why students transfer such as for educational and financial reasons. Those that have transferred to Kean or have friends that have come from other schools may already be familiar with the process of transferring. The first step is for applicants to fill out the transfer application and return or send it to the Center for Academic Success building. After completing the application they are required to send all official transcripts from every college or university they have attended to assist in the admission process. Applicants also have to send a high school transcript. For transfer students, high school transcripts do not have an impact on their admissions to Kean, but are needed for proof of graduation. At Kean, Michael A. Worlds, Coordinator of Transfer Students Services and Professional Services Specialist is in charge of performing credit evaluations for transfer students within their major and processing transcripts. Mr. Worlds says, "we see a lot of students from private colleges transferring to Kean, they mostly transfer to Kean because of financial reasons since Kean is one of the most affordable institutions in New Jersey".
Students that wish to return, but have been out of school for two or more consecutive semesters have to apply for readmission in order to attend classes at the Uuniversity. Also, Iinternational students account for some of the undergraduate population on campus as well. International students must follow the same procedures as other applicants seeking admission to the University. However, those students must have their high school transcripts looked over to compare them with the credentials of a United States high school. The Sstudents outside of the U.S must have their documents looked over by an agency that specializes in analyzing requirements for international applicants. One factor contributing to Kean's rate of transfer students is due to Kean's reputation for its teaching program. The largest transferring major is Education, which is the reason why some students come to Kean, like Junior Elementary Education major, Blair Caizza. Blair says, "I went to Brookdale Community College and when I had to transfer I chose Kean because of its Education program". Most students new to Kean come from a two- year college. There are also those that transfer here from a four four-year college, most of which surprisingly enough are from out of state.
Kean creates plenty of opportunities for transfer students both educationally and recreationally to take advantage of. As a transfer student there are plenty of opportunities that going to Kean creates both educationally and recreationally. Kean has currently 130 campus organizations, which may help transfer students become more acquainted with the school. The location of Kean makes it an easy college to commute to and from. Also, Kean is very close to New York, which is a benefit for those that like to go out and have fun in the city. This past fall, Kean welcomed almost 1,000 transfer students and will welcomed more this spring. As Kean expands its services and continues to grow at the rate it has been, there will be even more students seeking to further their educational pursuits here at KU!
(02/19/06 11:00pm)
Everyone knows that the bookstore is the first stop everyone makes at the beginning of every semester to get their books for classes. After the big rush is over, as the semester goes on, students may forget about the other things the bookstore has to offer. Any time you need to grab something really quickly and don't have the time to go off campus, the bookstore is the perfect place to stop by to grab a notebook for a class or a backpack if yours happens to break. It's fast and it's located right in the University Center atrium. Also, a great service offered by the bookstore is textbook reservation. And what that means is you can just enter put in you class and course information at http://kean.bkstore.com, make a payment online with your credit card and your textbooks are reserved for you to come pick up. The benefits of using this service is students can make sure that they have their books by the time class starts. By using it there is a better chance of getting used books, which cuts down on costs. Also, it's a lot easier to know you already have what you need on reserve instead running around trying to find books and then stressing over whetherif there are any left after everyone else has hit the bookstore.
The bookstore also provides employment for students on campus;, which many of them say they enjoy both the experience and helping fellow students that come in looking for assistance. A member of the staff at the Kean University bookstore, senior Economics major Ayodeji Dada Senior Economics major says, "I like working here because it's convenient. There are flexible hours for me to work, hours and I have more time to study. A benefit is that I get a discount off of the books. I also like assisting other students.". The staff at the bookstore is also more than welcome willing to help those that who have difficulty finding a book or orand directinging them as to where to find something. o find something. Lindsay Henderson, junior Elementary Education and History major, remembers when she was went to the bookstore for assistance, "It sounds silly, but I really needed a hole puncher and just couldn't find it at all and a staff member at the bookstore helped me find it. I really appreciated how helpful they were to me.".
Some students may choose to go off campus to get their supplies, but for those students that who don't have cars on campus the bookstore is the perfect place for them to purchase what they need. However, the bookstore has a variety of other things in it besides textbooks. If you live on campus and want to decorate your dorm room, the bookstore has interesting decorations such as bulletin boards, magnets for your fridge with inspirational quotes and poster board if you want to make a collage of you and your friends. Also, let's say your roommate's birthday is tomorrow and you forgot to get a card - card, the Kean University bookstore also has a section of greeting cards, so you can just grab it on your way to class or to the cafeteria.don't have to worry. For all of you taking art classes, there are even art supplies you can buy from there the bookstore, so you won't be unprepared for class.
Since most college students are on a budget, from time to time the bookstore has from time to time have discounts on Kean sweatshirts or t-shirts. So at the same time, if you're in need of a new hoodie, you can save money and time. For those that who like to read, if you have time before class stop in and check to see what kind of books to read for leisure that they bookstore has have to offer. So whether you want to find something extra to put in your room or you're in need of a book that is mandatory for a class, the bookstore is there to service your needs.
(01/29/06 11:00pm)
What's makes the difference of wanting to go to class and not wanting to go to class? Sure, it could be whether you feel like rolling out of bed or not, or if you feel like the drive to school if you commute, but more importantly it's the professor instructing the class. Ever wonder why you take the same course as one of your friends and do the same exact thing, but your friend got a better grade or enjoyed going to the class more? We all have stories of how much more comfortable and eager we were to be in a class based on who taught it. Although, it is every student's responsibility to do their best no matter what, the professor has a big influence on that student's attitude towards the class. That is one of the special things about Kean, there are many professors here that are passionate about what they teach and are willing to dedicate time to the needs of students. One of them is James Connor, Ph.D., who has been an English professor at Kean University for seven years, which he described as "fun-filled and action packed".Professor Connor earned his Bachelors in Geophysics from the University of Iowa and has four masters, one in Philosophy, Master of Arts, another in Creative Writing and a Papal Licentiate, which gives him the right to teach in Rome.
His educational background in a variety of areas influence his teaching strategies. In the classroom, he urges his students to appreciate things they didn't notice before, and to observe life everyday as a writer.
Some of the courses that he teaches at Kean include Advanced Composition, Creative Writing, History and Theory of Writing, Greek and Roman Literature, and Business and Professional Writing. In his lectures, he often interjects with jokes and anecdotes that amuse the students, which makes the perfect combination of relaying the subject matter while allowing the students to feel comfortable in the classroom setting. One of his students, Matt Schreibman, senior English-Writing major agrees when he says, "He knows his stuff. If you really want to learn you have to take his class. He provides humor and laughter to his class besides being serious".
Other colleges he has taught at are University of Iowa as a teaching assistant, St. Louis University for 5 years and Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, but when asked what his favorite thing about being at Kean was he answered "my students". He went into detail by explaining that he wants his students to realize that "life is not just about pleasure or enjoyment, but about meaning which includes reflections and thought."
In his classes, the students feel free to express their thoughts and to make comments on the topic at hand. Through writing, Professor Connor feels as though students should focus on the fact that everything in the universe is connected and he says "that is why I write, that is why I want my students to write. And that connection transcends race, class, gender, and nation. Good or bad, it is our responsibility to see if we respond to that duty to recognize the connection in life between things".
This summer, Professor Connor is participating in an international program that is new to Kean University. In this program students that applied and qualified for the scholarship will go to Prague where they were be involved in discussing issues relevant to western culture. There will be Christians, Muslims, and Jewish students involved in the program, where Professor Connor will be teaching a course on Magic in relation to Science. So whether you are a writer or not, indulge in one of Professor Connor's thought-provoking classes, where you can reflect on the deeper meaning of life and enjoy a little comedy at the same time!
(01/16/06 11:00pm)
Most of us felt a little anxiety or uncertainty when we first stepped foot on the Kean University campus. As a freshman, it is natural to be unsure of what to expect from college. It's a new school, there are unfamiliar faces everywhere, and it's lunchtime and you have no idea where the cafeteria is. It can be a hard transition for some students to go from high school to college in a few months. Freshmen students are faced with having to become familiar with all the facilities of Kean and to create a new social life. Kean has a lot to offer in terms of new student programs and events to better accommodate the needs of freshmen, but it also has a variety of clubs, organizations, and athletic programs that students can turn to. During the fall, some new students may find that joining a group at college can be intimidating and elect to focus only on school work. Fall can be a hectic time, especially because people come out of months of relaxation during the summer. For freshmen who had a tough time adjusting to their studies, they can bring their G.P.A. up during the spring semester. Also, spring is the perfect time to get more involved with student life at Kean. For an idea of how freshmen felt about their fall semester at Kean and what their expectations are for the spring, here are their responses. When asked about his transition to Kean, Terrence Shannon, freshman History major gave his opinion by saying, "I didn't have a problem coming from high school and going into college". Terrence felt that he had enough information and guidance to know where to go on campus and where everything was. In the spring, he says he is thinking of becoming more active on campus.
Some new students see right away that college is different than high school, such as freshman Political Science major, Danice Crump who says, "You don't realize how broke you are until you get to college. The only problem I had with adjusting is you don't know as many people as you did in high school". However, like many other students, Danice got involved during his fall semester at Kean. He is a representative for the Class of 2009 and a member of the Political Science Student Association (PSSA), both of which have helped him to meet a lot of people, half of which he says he wouldn't know if he hadn't joined organizations. When asked about his aspirations for the spring he said, "I will try to do well in all of my classes in spring". Some students say they adjusted very well, such as Nicole Deleasa, freshman Social Work major, who said, "I didn't find it hard to adjust to Kean. I wasn't shy; it was easy for me to get to know people. I became involved in the Kean Democratic Club. In the spring, I want to become more active in the Italian Club and I will have better time management skills and hand things in when they're due".
Jessica Kostibus, Early Childhood and Communications major said that besides the help that Kean provides to new students, another factor which helped her were the upperclassmen . "The upperclassmen helped out a lot, and I didn't find it hard coming from high school to college, but things are different like scheduling and the classes are longer." When asked if she participated in any clubs or organizations on campus, Jessica said that she attended the extra curricular events and programs held at Kean along with her friends and that she doesn't feel that she needs to do anything differently for the spring.
It seems like the fall semester was a positive one for the majority of freshmen that attend Kean. Events at Kean such as the Homecoming concert, free comedy shows, and other programs made some new students feel more at home. Although some students admitted to having difficulties at first, Kean provided enough new student orientation and they received enough guidance from upperclassmen to feel comfortable. While there is nothing you can do to change the fall semester, spring is here and it is a chance to start off on the right foot. The spring semester brings a new season, new classes, new professors and classmates and fresh opportunities. Good luck to all the freshmen for their upcoming spring semester!
(12/11/05 11:00pm)
This is the time of year that everyone anticipates. No matter what holiday it is that you celebrate, it's hard not get caught up in all the festivities. Everyone loves the decorations, the gifts and the all around good feeling that this season brings. Although it seems that everyone is mostly concerned with the gifts, there is something that is even more important than the gifts - it's the memories. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa or whatever holiday that represents your culture, we all have memories from childhood that bring us back to that special time. All of the holidays, despite their different traditions, focus on unity and being around friends and family.
At Kean we have so many students of different ethnicities and backgrounds that there are a variety of ways people choose to celebrate the holidays. However, as we get older we find that we miss the memories more and more as the years go by. Sure there is always time to make more, but there is something about that magical time of being a kid and being around relatives, and getting gifts, or just learning the tradition of your family during this time of the year. Christmas is celebrated every year on December 25th. The original idea for celebrating Christmas (or Christ's Mass) was to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The idea of gift giving didn't begin until the late 1800's. However so many other traditions have been born out of the idea of Christmas such as the idea of Santa Clause to bring all the good children presents, the North Pole, stockings, reindeers, candy canes, and so many other things associated with the Christmas holiday. Junior Fine Arts major, Cynthia Fischer says "My favorite holiday memory is when my father dressed up as Santa Clause and when I didn't believe in Santa anymore he had his best friend dress up as Santa Clause. And while I don't believe in Santa anymore I still believe in the holiday spirit".
Chanukah is a holiday celebrated by many Jewish people. It is also known as the Festival of Lights. It is a celebration of the victory of the Maccabees and the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple. The word Chanukah means dedication. During this eight day celebration, a candle burns each night until the last night when all the candles are lit. This year, Chanukah will begin December 25th, at sundown and end on January 2, 2006 at nightfall. Some people make the decision to celebrate more than one holiday based on their family background, which adds to their holiday experience. Junior Criminal Justice major, Stacy Reader recalls "When I was younger, I celebrated both Chanukah and Christmas so I got the both of best worlds. I remember spending time with my family members. We aren't really religious, but we kept the traditions alive by coming together every year". Andrew Apt, junior History Education major and Vice President of the Jewish Culture Club, also celebrates Chanukah and said "Each year everyone comes to my Aunt's house and each family lights a different menorah. Then after we sit around and open presents just like every other family that celebrates Chanukah".
Kwanzaa is a holiday which is celebrated by many African Americans which focuses on African values of family, community, commerce and self improvement. The holiday was founded by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966. It is a seven day celebration which begins December 26th and ends on January 1st. Kwanzaa practices gift giving, usually on the last day of celebration, but the gifts are usually affordable or they are made to symbolize authenticity and creativity. Allie Jones, Sophomore Business major who celebrates Christmas says she was exposed to Kwanzaa by her uncle when she was fourteen. "It was a different experience, but I'm glad I got to partake in another way of celebrating the holidays".
It is also a time of the year where we can learn about different ways to celebrate through our friends and peers. The holidays are time of reflection on what is really important to us. The fun part is seeing what gifts you'll get or finding out what to give other people, but the most valuable things are the memories we make with the people we care about and will carry with us for the rest of our lives.