Volume 1
Issue 6
For the Kean University Student Community
October 5, 2004
The
COUGAR’SByte A Student Life & Leadership Development Publication
Giddy-up To Involvement! The Office of Student Life & Leadership Development rounded-up over 2,000 students at the 23rd annual Campus Awareness Festival on September 28th and 29th with 75% of Kean’s student groups represented at the western themed Activities Round-Up at the K.U. Corral. New students learned about the rewards of involvement by completing the “Happy Trails First Year Seminar Game” and claiming their “Hats Off To Involvement” stress relievers at the Trading Post. Students were able to have complimentary blood pressure screenings, get Wild West photo souvenirs, make their own videos, and saddle up on the mechanical rodeo roper outside the University Center. Measuring tapes, tote bags, first aid kits and key chains were distributed compliments of the Council for Part-Time Students and Student Organization of Kean University, Inc.
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R E G I S T E R AT W W W. C O U G A R S B Y T E . C O M T O G ET T Your Meal Ticket Tired of carrying around cash for breakfast, lunch or dinner? Then consider purchasing a meal plan. Located in the University Center, the Cafeteria, Cougar’s Den and Marketplace allow you to purchase your favorite treat with just a swipe of your card. The Cafeteria serves as the primary dining facility on the Kean campus. Not only is this wonderful dining room a place to eat your meals, it is also a great place to take a break and meet your classmates. The beautifully redecorated Cougar’s Den is another charming place to grab a bite to eat and spend some time with friends. With special events and multiple restaurant concepts ranging from hot traditional entrees to rotisserie meats, pizza, sandwiches, fresh fruits, and a Grab and Go cooler with freshly made sandwiches and salads, the Cafeteria and Cougar’s Den have something to please everyone. Or, if your looking for a quick snack, like cookies, candy bars, chips, and more, stop by the Marketplace and be on your way. For more information on available meal plans or to purchase or change a meal plan anytime of year, contact Student Accounting at (908) 737-3240 or stop by their office on the third floor of the Administration Building.
Tickling The Ivories And Tugging The Heart Strings In the midst of the Kean community is a wonderful talent. Some of you may know her – some may not. She is the lovely, sweet Marlenes L. Luvins, an incredibly gifted pianist and music major here at Kean University. Recently, during endless hours of fine-tuning her talents, Marlenes learned of an amazing opportunity to travel to Spain for a special summer class, Noches de Verano Nueva Generacion Musical, which translates to Summer Nights of a New Musical Generation, to study under the supervision of professional artists in the music field. Unfortunately, there was just one little problem – she didn’t have the means to pay for the July trip. Not allowing herself to get discouraged, Marlenes spoke with the Kean University Foundation and they graciously awarded her a full scholarship. This was money well spent as she excelled in the class and afterward decided that she would also like to take a Chamber Music class, in which a quintet would learn a musical piece in only four days. Accustomed to playing solo, she thought it would be fun to perform in a group for a change and ambitiously joined the quintet, on a Tuesday,
as they rigorously practiced for a performance scheduled for Saturday night. The instructor of this class was Catalin Bucataru, a violinist originally from Romania and simply described as “wonderful” by Marlenes. Crediting his inexhaustible attention to every detail, which essentially ensures that the music is played the way it is meant to be played, Marlenes found him to be very inspiring and motivating and said that one of her favorite things about him was that he didn’t say, “You have to do it this way, because I say so,” but rather, he would explain why it was important to do something. Not only was Marlenes moved by Bucataru, but he was so impressed with Marlenes’ talent that after the performance of the quintet, he told Marlenes that he would love to perform as a professional duo in concert. She was delighted and flattered; the only problem was that she lives in the United States and he lives in Spain! As Marlenes prepared to return to the United States, Bucartaru invited her to return to Spain to perform in concert with him. Knowing that she couldn’t afford to return to Spain, she instead suggested that he come to perform at Kean University, and assured him that the University would love to have him. Meanwhile, she hadn’t asked the University yet! With no time to waste, she went to the Kean University Foundation office as soon as she returned from Spain, and informed them that she had taken the liberty of inviting this international artist to perform here at Kean. She further explained how it would be a great
opportunity for students to see a renowned professional in a live performance and to gain a different perspective on music. To Marlenes’ relief, the Foundation was very supportive, and agreed to sponsor him. However, upon learning that only a private concert for President Farrahi, scholarship sponsors, and some other exclusive guests was arranged, she begged the Foundation to allow the duet to perform a second concert for the student body and their friends and families to attend. Once again, the Foundation agreed. Marlenes stresses that all of this would not have been possible without the tremendous help she received from Dr. Gail Fraser and Ms. Cindi Kutsop from the Kean University Foundation, as well as the incredible guidance from Dr. Martha Marchena, her private teacher, and Dr. Mark Terenzi, the chairperson of the Music Department. “It has really been a great team effort to make this concert as perfect as possible,” declares an enthusiastic Marlenes. “I think it is a great experience for people to come and see what he [Catalin Bucataru] has to share.” So, don’t miss the enchanting and romantic concert, Hechizo Latino. Come to the East Campus for a second performance on Sunday, October 10, 2004 at 3:00 pm and embrace the romantic works of Brahms, Falla and more. Everyone is welcome to attend and the best part – admission is free! So there’s no excuse not to come to the performance and enrich and ENJOY yourself! For more information or if you have questions regarding the concert, please call Dr. Terenzi at (908) 737-4332.
H E L AT E S T N E W S S E N T D I R E C T LY T O Y O U R E M A I L . Now Serving ... Every frequent visitor to the cafeteria or Cougar’s Den is aware that Kean University has a new food service vendor. Gourmet Dining Services, a regional food vendor operating in Farleigh Dickinson and Seton Hall Universities, took over at Kean this summer and have been working diligently at creating the best dining facilities they can offer. Among the many changes to the cafeteria, Gourmet Dining Services, renowned for their wide selection of homemade pizzas, installed a new brick pizza oven. No need for heat lamps. When you order pizza, the attendant warms it up in the brick oven eliminating that rubbery pizza of the past. If it’s protein you need, stop by the rotisserie and carving station for a variety of freshly carved meats. Other popular stations in the cafeteria include the Tex Mex station featuring tacos, nachos and quesadillas, the Salad Bar offering endless combinations of fruits and vegetables, the Wrap station with a wide range of selections, the Hero station offering numerous types of sandwiches and the traditional Main Entrée station offering a hot meal with a combination of meats and vegetables. Not only is the quality and variety of food excellent, even the atmosphere of the dining area has been uplifted from the freshly painted walls to the new lights to the artwork displayed all over the cafeteria. Although new to the Kean campus, the company has already adjusted its operations to meet the growing needs of the students. They have installed an additional register, totaling three, in an effort to ease congestion during peak hours. In addition, Gourmet Dining Services, best known for being student oriented, will survey Kean students throughout the year so they can learn how to further improve their operations on campus. The cafeteria is open Monday thru Thursday from 7:00am until 7:00pm and on Fridays 7:00am until 3:00pm. While the cafeteria is closed on Saturdays and Sundays, the Cougar’s Den has extended weekday and weekend hours. Please direct all questions and concerns about the food service to Gourmet Dining Services at (908) 737-5160.
WASHINGTON INTERNSHIPS Kean University’s Washington Program involves an exciting and rewarding opportunity to earn up to fifteen (15) credits while in a full-time placement with public agencies (including legislative, executive and judicial offices) or appropriate private organizations in Washington, D. C. Internships are available in a vast range of subject areas, relevant to virtually all majors. Housing is available as are tuition waivers. In many cases, scholarships and/or other funding can be arranged. Aaron Denke of the Washington Center will be on campus to discuss program opportunities on Monday, October 18th. You can hear his presentation and ask questions at either 9:30 AM (Hutchinson Hall, J-138), 11:00 AM (Hutchinson Hall, J-100), and at 12:30 PM (Hutchinson Hall, J-100). If you have any questions, please call Dr. Howard Rubin in the Political Science Department at 908-737-3993.
Managing It All! Members of the Kean community can help make a difference and strengthen lifesaving American Cancer Society research, education, advocacy, and patient services by lacing up their most comfortable shoes and attending the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk-A-Thon. For those wishing to attend, arrive at 8 am Sunday, October 17 for an energy-boosting breakfast and then gather together for a complimentary bus ride to Military Park in Newark, NJ, departing Wilkins Theatre promptly at 8:30 am and returning at noon, to continue Kean’s long-standing support of this incredible cause. For more information or to sign up, please contact the Office of Community and Disability Service in the University Center, room 315, call them at (908) 737-5150 or send e-mail to Joel Thomas at thomasj@kean.edu or RoyeAnne Hargrove at rhargrov@kean.edu.
Best Themed Homecoming Display Contest Sign up to showcase your school spirit by decorating your car with the Kean Spectacular, Circus Carnival theme, during the Homecoming Tailgate Picnic. First place winners will receive $100, second place will receive $75 and third place will receive $50. Come and be a part of this ongoing tradition by registering in the Office of Student Life & Leadership Development, located in the University Center, room 219. Reserve today - spaces are limited!
30 Kean students participated in the first S.A.G.E. workshop on Friday, October 1st. Ed Topar, a business and behavior resource consultant, taught the golden rules of time management and encouraged participants to fuel their energy and creativity by better managing time and priorities. Participants received a copy of the best selling book Getting Things Done by David Allen. The next workshop is Communicating With Tact And Finesse and features motivational and leadership speaker, Rob Gilbert. S.A.G.E., Seeking Alternate Growth Experiences, is a leadership program for graduate, part-time and returning adult students coordinated by the Office of Student Life & Leadership Development and funded by the Council for Part-Time Students.
The Envelope Please And for the most creative, western themed display during the 2004 Campus Awareness Festival, the winner of $50 cash is ... The Association of Latin American Students (ALAS). Honorable Mentions for other spirited displays include PRIDE, Fine Arts Student Association (FASA) and KU Theatre Council. Thank you everyone for saddling up fun and entertaining displays and stirring up involvement at Kean.
Along the Kean Trail - 2004 Campus Awareness Festival In the early 1980s, Kean settlers grew restless and began moving toward promoting more involvement on campus. Shortly thereafter, gold was found in several organizations and students began to search for more golden opportunities for participation. Next, cowboys began rounding up students and stirring up involvement and the Office of Student Life & Leadership Development began to partner with the academics and fire up co-curricular activities. By 2004, the KU Corral rounded up a wide variety of opportunities, the KEANgers moved to leadership roles, and many frontier groups became well-established clubs. Without enthusiastic students and the clubs and organizations that enhance their academic experience, Kean University would be barren. The Campus Awareness Festival would never have happened. No K.U. Corral. No student involvement. No fun and games starring student services and activities, over 100 clubs and organizations, and an amazing awareness of the diverse student life at Kean.
Do You Want To Be A Millionaire? Jemal Beale, a financial planner, peaked 41 students’ interest by explaining how the average person can attain wealth, manage their finances and avoid the debt dungeon during the first S.E.E.D.S. workshop, Caviar Taste and a Cheeseburger Wallet, held on October 1st. A raffle was held for 8 copies of the best-selling book, Rich Dad Poor Dad. The next workshop, Personal Strategies for Navigating Change will be held on November 12th. S.E.E.D.S., Student Employee Educational and Development Series, a leadership program designed for Kean’s 600+ student employees, is coordinated by the Office of Student Life & Leadership Development and co-sponsored by Residence Life and the University Center Administration.
One Thing Is For Sure ... Kean Students Are Creative! Mark Reynolds, Class of 2007 and Brad Iacovelli, Class of 2008, have found the perfect solution to Kean’s limited parking – tailgating. Carpooling, they arrive on campus at 6:10 am every morning and head towards the North Campus until they arrive at their token parking spot in front of the new Academic Building. With music floating through the air, protective tent over head, reclining folding chairs, and a cooler filled with beverages and food, these Kean students sit back and enjoy breakfast and good times as they get geared up to head to class. Even though they receive plenty of weird looks from passersby, which by the way they appreciate, they continue to arrive early day in and day out and find more and more friends, and visitors alike, stopping by. “The earlier you get here, the better parking spots you get,” said Mark. A laughing Brad added, “very true!”
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