Volume 1
Issue 11
For the Kean University Student Community
November 9, 2004
The
COUGAR’SByte A Student Life & Leadership Development Publication
STUDENT LEADERSHIP RETREAT 2004 By Scott Snowden, Class of 2006
Sussetty Serulle and Daniela Flecca
Muriame Albert and David Joseph
Yasnery Ramirez and Maria Hernandez
Kelly Heaton and Bill De Voe
Bobby Repousis and Mohammed Hassan
Rodneisha Dixon and Rochelle Trotman
Danielle Fardin and Laura Malinowski
Ashante Barnes and Danielle Epps
Guang Zheng
Roxanne Perez and Tiffany Trotman
Last weekend over 70 full-time and part-time student leaders from Student Organization, Council for Part-Time Students, funded groups and non-funded groups attended the Student Affairs/Student Organization Student Leadership Retreat at the Crystal Springs Golf and Spa Resort in Vernon, NJ. Each year on Halloween weekend Kean University’s student leadership attends team building workshops and lectures by motivational speakers like this year’s speakers Delatorro L. McNeal II, David Coleman and Joe Martin. Keeping with the theme “Shared Vision,” representatives from almost every group on campus came together for the common purpose of bettering themselves and ultimately Kean University. Student leaders from over 27 clubs and organizations from the Association of Latin American Students and American Chemical Society to the Greek Senate and Student Affairs Advisory Board were in attendance. The keynote speaker Delatorro L. McNeal, II, conducted the first workshop Friday night. McNeal, with over 5 years of professional corporate, government and academic consulting experience, motivated the crowd with his personal experience in the working world. Inspiring the crowd with phrases like “The biggest mistake you will ever make is coming to college. College will benefit you best if you get through it and not just come to it” and “People are just like elevators, they can either take you up or bring you down,” McNeal was able to reinforce his “5 Ps of Collegiate Success.” According to McNeal, the 5 Ps that will help you succeed and better yourself are purpose, potential, pain, passion and power. Among those to enjoy his workshop was Sarian Samura, a junior and President of the International Student Association. Samura felt that his workshop on purpose and potential was very motivating and will encourage her to work harder for her members. McNeal also encouraged the room full of leaders to run their organizations based on their purpose and not their personality.
Following Friday’s workshop, some students relaxed while others went swimming and played tennis volleyball. Where the previous night’s workshop left off, “The Dating Doctor,” David Coleman, picked up with ice breaking and interpersonal workshops. David Coleman, who has been named National Speaker of the Year 9 times by Campus Activities Magazine and the National Association of Campus Activities, used his skills to encourage his audience to be confident while allowing them to learn about themselves and the other student leaders in the room. “We learned a lot more about each other than we ever would have known if it was a one-on-one basis and we needed that extra push,” said Jennifer Wenz, a Class of 2005 Representative, when responding to the workshop. Coleman with a Master of Arts Degree in College Student Personnel Administration used his knowledge of relationships to give tips on how to negotiate and on why people tend to do the things they do. Daniela Flecca, a junior and President of the Kean Dance Theatre believed that Coleman helped her because “sometimes we just don’t know all the answers to our problems and he helped us to understand them better and how to solve them.” He also discussed the importance of trust and how to recognize good friends. Following Coleman’s workshop and lunch, Kean’s student leaders enjoyed themselves with a few hours of free time. Several students took the opportunity to go horseback riding on the trails of the Appalachian Mountains, while others went swimming in the heated pool and played a game of soccer. After much needed relaxation, they were back at it again. Joe Martin, a nationally known speaker, respected university professor, author and educational consultant, taught everyone about running their organizations with their heart and not See Leaders Page 3
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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 LET’S MAKE THEM FEEL WELCOME! By Jen Bissu, Graduate Student International Student Services is a great program established to welcome international students to Kean University and help them achieve a positive experience during their stay in the United States. The International Student Services program is open to all students who have applied to the United States under the Known Immigrant Visas (F1 or J1 Visas).
in different clubs, especially the International Student Association.”
Johan Valarezo is an international student here at Kean. Originally from Ecuador, he transferred to Kean from Brescia University in Kentucky. “I came to Kean because I like the school, and I wanted to take sports and practice soccer.” Kean University offers many Ms. Lilliam Hodge-Banner unique features that other is the Assistant Director of colleges do not. “There was no established International Student Services at Kean international student University. She is kind and program at Brescia caring, and genuinely University,” remarks Johan. wants to help international He is very happy with the students excel in their new Lilliam Hodge-Banner with transfer student/ services provided by international student Johan Valarezo environment because Kean’s International she’s been there herself. “I was an Student Services program. “Any time I need international student before, so I know how it help with something, they help me,” he is when you come to a new country, new declares. university, and a new environment. You have to adjust your whole life, you have to make Ms. Banner plans to introduce International all new friends, and that is why it’s important Education Week to the Kean Community to to get involved and participate in the help promote awareness and acceptance of programs and activities the university offers.” our International Students. If you have She reflects upon her own story of being questions regarding International Student homesick when she left the Dominican Services, you can contact Ms. Banner at Republic to attend school in the U.S., but (908) 737-4853. In the meantime, we can all once she got involved she made new friends do our part to help these students adjust and and did new things, and she no longer felt make the most of this new experience. alone and homesick. Ms. Banner says, These students have come so far to be here “International Student Services helps with – let’s help them feel welcome in our acculturation. We help students from other community! countries adjust and urge them to participate
DataTel Scholars Foundation Scholarship The Datatel Scholars Foundation awards scholarships to eligible students currently attending a Datatel client institution, such as Kean University. Datatel scholars study in every conceivable major and reflect the diversity of society. Because the traditional student is no longer unique, fulltime and part-time students, as well as those of any age and financial situation are eligible. Awards range in value from $1,000 to $2,500. Paper applications are neither provided nor accepted. Deadline to apply is January 31, 2005. For more information, visit http://www.datatel.com/dsf.
Housing Survey Help us help you. Please take a few minutes to answer important questions about housing at Kean University. All students are encouraged to participate, regardless if you are in need of housing or not. And, to thank you for your time, three randomly selected students who complete the survey by November 14 will receive a cash prize – first prize, $200; second prize, $100; third prize, $50. To access the survey, please visit www.andersonstrickler.com/survey/kean. Responses are confidential and processed by Anderson Strickler, LLC, an outside consulting firm retained by the University.
Suggestions Anyone? By Md. Maruf, Student Organization’s V.P. of Student Affairs As the VP of Student Affairs, I realize that the students have a lot of concerns and issues and may not have a lot of time to voice them. Therefore, Student Organization, along with the Student Affairs Advisory Board, installed small black suggestion boxes throughout campus in an effort to increase communication between the student body and the student government. We ask all students to continue, or start, using these boxes to provide us with their feedback and/or concerns. I will personally check these boxes every week and make sure your concerns are addressed and you are informed of the steps taken to remedy your problem, via The Cougar’s Byte, email or face-to-face meeting, Currently the boxes are located in the Student Organization office in the University Center room 321, next to the University Center Information Desk, in the cafeteria, near the entrance in Hutchinson Hall and on the ground floor lobby at East Campus. And, by spring semester, Student Organization plans to place a few more boxes in other parts of the campus. If you have questions or concerns, please stop by the Student Organization office located in the University Center, room 321, or send an email to us at administrator@studentorg-ku.org.
Thank you for your help! Maximina Rivera Director Office of Residence Life
Women's Studies Scholarship Contest This year Women’s Studies will be offering two $500 scholarships, one for undergraduate students and the other for graduate students. Stop by the Women’s Studies Office located in Hutchinson, room 303, to pick up the scholarship guidelines and an entry form. Apply today! Scholarships will be awarded in March during the event, Café con leche.
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 . LEADERS
HEARING IS BELIEVING
From Page 1
By Jen Bissu, Graduate Student
their head. Martin also offered questions to help them realize whether they were an asset or anchor to their organization. Among these questions were ‘Do you enjoy going to meetings or missing them?’ and ‘If serving Irv Hudson students was a crime, would your organization have enough evidence to convict you?’ “Being in a leadership role is not easy and sometimes we need to reevaluate ourselves by asking the questions Joe Martin asked us so that we know we still have the desire to continue to do what we do,” said Scott Snowden, a junior and Director of Public Relations for Student Organization. Upon returning to Kean, Martin encouraged the room full of leaders to take immediate actions to benefit the students they represent by asking them “What would you want others to say about you after you leave college?”
Our ability to use technology to overcome nature’s injustices is one of the greatest things about living in this modern age. Kean University now offers audio description, which allows sight-impaired patrons to enjoy Kean’s terrific theatre productions. Professor Rachel Evans of Kean’s Theatre Department explains, “They listen to my description through wireless headsets while listening to the actors, too.” Patrons don’t have to be blind to take advantage of this technology, according to Evans. “Some people may have partial sight, and audio description makes it easier for them to enjoy the play.”
After Martin’s workshop and dinner, the students realized it was the night before Halloween and no one had remembered to pack their costume. With over 70 college students in a hotel and no costumes in sight, they Chimaobi Odumuko did the only thing they could, have a toga party. Taking the sheets off their beds and using branches from the bushes outside the hotel entrance, they transformed themselves into Greek gods and goddesses. Wearing homemade togas and olive branches in their hair, Kean’s student leaders danced the night away at a party sponsored by Kean University in the hotel dining hall on the final night of the retreat.
It does take talent to be an audio describer! “The real art of it is that you can’t talk while the actors are talking!” exclaims Evans. This is not an easy accomplishment, especially in plays that involve a lot of dialogue. The audio describer must view the show at least three times before describing, and use a script to judge when there should be breaks in the actors’ dialogue. “I follow the script carefully, and come with notes prepared of what I’m going to say and when,” she explains. Some shows are harder to describe than others! Professor Evans shares a humorous anecdote about a presentation of the play The Miracle Worker (based on the story of Helen Keller) performed at the George Street Playhouse about five years ago. “The performance was sign language interpreted and a huge crowd for audio description turned out,” Evans explains, “and one of the seeing-eye dogs wandered onto the stage. The audience couldn’t stop laughing, and as an audio describer I had to explain to the sight-impaired audience members that a dog was wandering around the stage, and that’s why the audience was laughing.” Most of the theatres in the state of New Jersey offer one audio described performance of each play, and notify interested patrons in advance. Evans is hoping to get Kean’s audio description theatre performances printed in the Cultural Access News publication, which lists events that provide special services such as audio description or brail-printed playbills for special-needs theatre patrons. Put simply, the purpose of audio description is to ensure that nobody feels left out. “Because of this service, people that were never theatergoers before have discovered a love for theatre,” says Evans. She personally trains her audio describers. “It’s really a lot of fun,” she says, “and it’s such a wonderful thing to do for someone.” This is a truly worthy cause, and if you think you might be interested in helping to enrich the lives of the sight-impaired through becoming an audio describer, Professor Evans would love to hear from you! You can email her at reavans@kean.edu or call her office at (908) 7374429. And if you’re interested in attending an audio described performance, there’s one coming up November 14th at 2pm featuring Euripides’ classic Greek tragedy The Trojan Women, the story of the women after the Trojan War. For ticket info, call the Wilkins Theatre box office at (908) 737-SHOW (7469).
Everyone returned at 8:30 am, after some much needed sleep, for breakfast and the final workshop presented by David Coleman. This time Coleman instructed his audience about the importance of character and integrity. Rather than praise themselves and blame others, Coleman encouraged everyone to “look out windows to praise and look into mirrors to blame.” After the workshop, Chimaobi Odumuko, the President of Student Organization, thanked everyone for a great weekend and expressed how happy he was to see such interaction in what he Heading Home (l-r) Kalisha Dorlean, Allison Etinoff, believed to be the best leadership Shah Choudhury, Scott Snowden, Leenel Ramesar, Erica Anderson retreat in recent years.
Wouldn't it be great to witness the creative genius on campus with a competition for the best-designed residence hall room, apartment and triple on campus? KU Kribs is a just that competition. This lighthearted contest takes a look into the way campus residents arrange their personal living spaces from standard fare collegian decor all the way to interior design efforts. This online exclusive is coming soon! Be sure to visit www.cougarsbyte.com frequently so that you can place your vote for the most palatial room, apartment, and triple on campus.
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
Out Of The Shell And Into Residence Life! By Jen Bissu, Graduate Student After completing her freshman year at Arcadia University in Pennsylvania, Tricia Decker transferred to Kean University Tricia Decker where she spent most of her time as a recluse in her room. Having had such a wonderful first-year experience at Arcadia, Tricia made the best decision she ever made and took a huge step toward student involvement by becoming an outgoing, and outstanding, Resident Assistant here at Kean! “It helped me come out of my shell,” Trish says. “It gave me the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.” Tricia loves being an R.A. at Kean and using her experiences at Arcadia, Tricia does everything she can to enhance the lives of
her residents. “I have so much fun with it,” she says. “I’m an art major, so I love doing bulletin boards and other creative things. I try to make it as much fun for my residents as I can — like when we had a big popcorn party for National Popcorn Day.” Clearly illustrating that loving what you do can really make all the difference, Tricia’s enthusiasm has made a positive impression on her resident students, and on the rest of the Residence Life Staff. For example, last year at the annual banquet, Tricia received the Catch a Rising Star Award, presented to Resident Assistants who successfully balance schoolwork with being active and effective as R.A.’s. Now a self-proclaimed recovered hermit, Tricia is in another new and exciting situation – she’s the R.A. for the “Hilton Hoppers”, students residing in the Hilton due to the expanding student population. There are both perks and drawbacks to this
Take Pride And Open Your Mind By Jen Bissu, Graduate Student
(l-r) Treasurer Maureen, Vice President Michelle, President Nicola, Secretary Carrie, Director of Public Relations Marco
Kean University PRIDE doesn’t only stand for “pride,” it stands for “Peers Respect Interaction, Diversity and Equality.” The meetings are open to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, questioning, and allied communities of Kean — in other words, everyone is welcome. Nicola Schneider, President of Kean PRIDE, explains, “We want to incorporate everybody, as we consider it a ‘safe space’ meeting place and our goal is to get the community of Kean to accept and understand everyone’s differences, including sexual orientation, even if they do not agree or feel that way themselves.”
PRIDE invites anyone interested in participating, sharing ideas and/or concerns to come to the meetings and speak freely without being judged. “We want Kean’s students to recognize Kean PRIDE not as just the ‘Kean gay club’ but as a diversity club where everyone could accept each other and grow together as a community,” says Nicola. Kean PRIDE has participated in many community service events, such as the Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk, March for Women’s Lives, AIDS Walk, National Day of Silence, and they are currently participating in a food drive for hurricane relief victims. Kean PRIDE meets every Wednesday at 8pm in the University Center, room 226A. You can sign up by filling out a group interest form at the Student Life and Leadership office in the University Center, room 219, or you can visit the PRIDE website at www.keanpride.org.
Project SMILE SMILE (Student Movement to Improve the Lives of Elementary-School-Children) is a group working to develop student leaders who are dedicated to improving the lives of children through community service and child advocacy. Our areas of work, which include education, health, safety, opportunity, and leadership, allow students from a variety of major and professional backgrounds the possibility to get involved. So, if you’re interested in leading the way for the younger generation, come join us every Monday at 3:30 pm in Hutchinson, room 133.
arrangement, according to Tricia. “We have maid service once a week,” she says, “but on the downside, students can’t decorate their rooms, and you pretty much have to live in the room that your bed is in. A lot of students miss the ‘common area’ that Kean’s residence halls have. Also, it’s harder to stay involved with everything on campus when you don’t actually live on campus.” Working as a team, Tricia shares the floor and its 76 students with another R.A. Despite a few drawbacks and inconveniences, the Hilton Hoppers do have a great time together, and a lot of Kean’s residence hall residents visit them to get in on the fun! One thing is for sure--students who have Trish as an R.A. are very lucky! She is a wonderful, fun, energetic person who genuinely cares about others. “I love to help people,” she says with a smile. Tricia expects to graduate in May of 2006 with a degree in Graphic Design.
We Want To Hear From You The Cougar’s Byte thanks those of you who have shared your opinions and viewpoints. A Cougar Club member will work with the three student governments and provide responses in upcoming issues. The Cougar’s Byte appreciates your opinions and viewpoints on topics of interest to the Kean community and we encourage all our readers to submit their comments to cbyte@kean.edu.
NJ Nets Game Day The University Activities Board, funded by Student Organization of Kean University, Inc., invites you to come and watch the New Jersey Nets demonstrate the style of basketball that has earned them three consecutive Atlantic Division titles as they compete against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, November 13 at Continental Airlines Arena. Bus departs Wilkins Theatre at 11:30 am sharp! Purchase tickets for $5 cash, limit two (2) per Kean ID, in Student Organization’s office located in the University Center, room 321. Tickets are on sale now – so secure your seat today!
For bonus news and information, visit our online edition at www.cougarsbyte.com