The Tower - The Independent Voice Of Kean University - May 2023

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The New Face of the Kean University’s Student Government Association

By Wayne Dawes

As the 2022-2023 academic year comes to an end we welcome a new Student Government Executive Board whose mission is to expand the Student government association and strengthen relationships within the campus community. The responsibilities and pressures of being in office is something that the newly elected members of the board are looking forward to. Makenzie Kuntz, a rising senior majoring in Speech-Language Hearing Sciences, was recently elected as the 2023- 2024 executive board president, a title that comes with great

2023 Grads Welcome Commencement

By Tyra Watts

As the 2023 Kean University

Undergraduate Commencement is rapidly approaching, the university and students are preparing for arguably one of the most important milestones in their life.

“Everything got real when I got the link to order my cap and gown,” Amanda Saintina, a graduating senior majoring in Communication said. “But I feel like it will really feel like

the finish line during the graduation expo where we pick up our caps and gowns. We'll also get to see our graduating class.”

The 2023 Undergraduate Commencement will occur on May 18 at 8:30 a.m. at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, and is expected to last approximately two hours. A live stream of the ceremony will be available on the kean.edu website for those who are unable to attend.

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responsibility and big shoes to fill. The position is held currently by outgoing President, Amir Gallashaw.

“As Executive Board president, I hope to be a familiar face to our students, and work alongside them to enhance their college experiences to the best of my ability,” Kuntz said.

Kuntz expressed how she has been a part of student government since high school and how the members of the Student Government Association at Kean University influenced her to hop on board.

“I have been involved in student government

Kean Professor’s Tik Tok Account Draws a Million Followers

By Davaughnia Wilson

At 18 months old he started showing signs of Autism. He stopped responding to his name and he stopped singing his favorite song, ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’.

“Darius seemed to be trapped in a different world,” Irisa Leverette, a mathematics professor at Kean said as she spoke of her son who was diagnosed with Autism. “It was difficult learning Darius had Autism. My head was flooded with so many thoughts. How could a child stop talking and no longer recognize his name?”

“I haven't experienced life without school in it and I can't wait to see how I adjust,” Saintina said.

Photo by Irisa Leverette

Irisa Leverette and her son Darius

Photo by Mackenzie Kuntz’s LinkedIn profile

Makenzie Kuntz - Executive Board President

Photo by Sandra Bandeira’s LinkedIn profile Sandra Bandeira - director of public relations

THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF KEAN UNIVERSITY

Kean Celebrates National Autism Acceptance Month

By Steven-Ross Bugayong

April is here, and with it comes World Autism Acceptance Month. This Month celebrates autistic voices, and for some people here at Kean University recognize, advocate and bring awareness to Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Autism Spectrum Disorder affects the way people observe the world. It impacts how people perceive and socializes with others. The disorder may include differences in thinking, processing, and physical moving.

Since 1972, Autism Awareness Month has been celebrated in April, and in 2007, the United Nations adopted April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day. The Autism Society of America, in 2021, advocated for Autism Awareness Month to be changed to Autism Acceptance Month to focus more on perspective-creating connections, empowering everyone in the Autism

community to live a life fully rather than pointing out differences.

Matt Girello, a junior majoring in communications, who is on the spectrum, said the most significant effect of being autistic is how he interacts with people.

"There's a lot of big gatherings I'm uncomfortable in; if there's a lot of people, I get overstimulated." Girello said, "I like being in a small group or somewhere less crowded like the movies or comic book stores."

Marissa Gomez, a sophmore double majoring in Early Childhood Education with Autism Spectrum Disorder

and ABA therapy, found her passion for Autism Adovacty early on.

"From a young age, I always knew I wanted to work with kids with special needs because my cousin grew up severely autistic, and I always had a deeper connection with him," Gomez said. "I was also drawn to the students who needed extra help in my classes as I grew up. I always strive to help them as best as I can."

According to the National Library of Medicine, "Sex/ Gender Differences in Symptomology and Camouflaging in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder," Autism Spectrum Disorder is more prevalent in males than females.

Research by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that Autism Spectrum Disorder is nearly four times more common among boys than girls. A possible explanation for this stat is that females on

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Listening Circle Allows a Safe Space to Discuss Issues

By Valerie Allen

Most people think they are good listeners, but in reality it is a skill that needs to be developed, according to Sandra Bodin-Lerner, a Kean University adjunct professor of communication. Bodin-Lerner created and teaches COMM 38805 Communication & Listening, a study of what constitutes effective listening: why it is crucial, what makes it so difficult to achieve, and methods to develop communication competency to enhance work, academic, romantic, familial, and social relationships.

This semester she formed an impromptu Kean Listening Circle during college hour to practice listening skills. It was supposed to be a monthly circle, but after the first meeting on Jan. 24, the students were so engaged that they asked for it to be held twice a month.

"The circle is an intentional space based on mindful presence, deep listening, sharing stories, witnessing, and confidentiality," said Bodin-Lerner.

Christopher Gbeve, 20, a psychology major, said that the Kean Listening Circle

is refreshing because it allows students to express themselves in a smaller environment.

"I like having casual and heavy conversations and hearing everyone else’s opposing views without taking offense," Gbeve said.

The topics discussed in the circles so far have included abortion, banned books, Gen Z and ethics in the workplace, to name a few.

The listening circle empowers students to listen and be heard. Students learn to become facilitators of the circle where they gain confidence to share their ideas. Students also learn how to control the need to jump in and hijack conversations.

"In the field of study in the Communication discipline, students focus on talking and not listening, said Bodin-Lerner. "The in-class listening circle taught them how to become better listeners."

The Listening course was developed about 10 years ago when Bodin-Lerner noticed while teaching a course in Interpersonal Communication that students responded well to a single class lesson on listening.

Bodin-Lerner said that 20 years ago, people were less immersed in electronics. "Despite the evolution of electronics, we listen to what reinforces what we want to hear and that does not humanize us today," she said.

Bodin-Lerner has a special interest in listening. She is a member of the International Listening Association, a network of professionals committed to promoting the study and development of effective listening. Members exchange information by sharing teaching objectives, learning activities, promotional methods, and materials.

Members are also encouraged to pursue listening research as listening affects continued on page 13

“I hope the one thing people get from Autism acceptance month is that they should listen to people on the spectrum.”

Photo by Norman Ayala

Matthew Girello

Photo by Valerie Allen

CHATGPT GOES TO COLLEGE

By Isabelle Guthrie

What if you had a technology that could write your papers for you and you don’t have to worry about paying anyone else to do it? Well that technology exists and is called ChatGPT.

ChatGPT is a pre-trained generative chat, which makes use of Natural Language Processing (NLP). The source of its data is textbooks, websites, and various articles, which it uses to model its own language for responding to human interaction, according to an article called What is ChatGPT—What is it Used For? by Kevin

Pocock

ChatGPT can answer questions naturally in a more conversational tone versus a robot tone like Siri, for example. It also can write code, an article or blog post, a story/ poem, translate, and debug, according to Pocock.

There is a website called OpenAI that introduces ChatGPT and includes a button you can click on to try it out. There is also information explaining its limitations including some sample questions you can ask it.

Since this new technology came out, students have used it to see how well it works. Some students haven’t heard of this new technology, but are immediately interested after finding out what it can do.

Aleisha Lewis, a Kean University junior and marketing major, heard about ChatGPT in her classes and on the news. However, she wasn’t sure how it worked until recently.

By Elaine Amico

“I think it could be a useful tool for anyone who wants to save time/money or needs specific and accurate information on an everyday basis without human error,” Lewis said.

Anthony Ravelle, a Kean junior and global business

of a detailed description of what you've asked. It is very fast and it is able to do things that take us hours to do, in seconds,” Ravelle said.

There are some concerns about how professors would feel about this AI and if they would allow students to use it. Meghan Gill, adjunct professor in the communication, media, and journalism department, has used it and is more open minded to this AI.

“I have used it before and I downloaded the app. I think for us, the academic world, it presents a challenge but also an opportunity. The evolution of AI is so quick. Everyday is a new possibility that it is difficult for us to process. It’s a double edged sword, I would say. But I always look at these as an opportunity rather than with fear,” said Gill.

Gill also stated that she would let students use it, but with certain guidelines.

“Absolutely I would allow students to use it, but I would want to have set guidelines or rules of its usage. I would love students to give critical responses to the responses from ChatGPT,” Gill said.

With students possibly using ChatGPT for assignments, there are solutions for professors, who wouldn’t allow it to be used, to make sure they are not using the AI.

major, has heard of it and used it. He was very surprised at how efficient it is.

“ChatGPT is insane. You can ask it virtually anything and within seconds it is able to generate a page response

Turnitin is one of those solutions that usually checks for plagiarism and can now detect AI-assisted writing and AI writing, according to Turnitin’s website.

This gives professors some relief when assigning essays

Students Fear Lack of Safety on Campus

In light of recent school shootings, college students across the globe have a growing fear of the unthinkable happening on their campus. Kean University students are no exception.

Megan Vankersen, Kean Ocean senior elementary education major, feels that it is too easy for the general public to enter Kean buildings at the Ocean campus.

“I felt safe on campus until I realized how easy it was to get into our buildings,” Vankersen said. “I have friends who are in different programs on campus, and they have to physically scan their badges to be able to enter their building. The Gateway Building,

where my classes are, allows for anyone to enter without any identification on them.”

Vankersen went on to explain that ultimately she would feel safer if every building had the option to scan Kean ID’s for entry. Vankersen also expressed that having locks on the doors of her classroom would also make her feel safer, as Kean Ocean classrooms can not be locked from the inside.

Katelyn Peel, Kean Ocean senior elementary education major, would like the opportunity for her and her classmates to be more educated on emergency preparedness. Peel had an incident happen in her classroom, where a man walked into the room and

impersonated a janitor.

“He was asked to leave, and practically refused while his friend was videoing at the door,” Peel said.

Peel feels being more educated on what should be done in these situations would be beneficial for both her and her classmates.

“None of us thought he was a possible threat, which shows how uneducated and unprepared we were for this incident,” Peel said. “There should be more education on the matter or some preventative action to take, so something like this doesn’t happen again.”

Peel went on to explain that up until this incident, she did feel safe on the Ocean campus,

“Yes, unfortunately it may take out some jobs, but there has to be some kind of way for people to still be able to express their thoughts and feelings without it being completely computer-generated.”

Photo by Isabelle Guthrie OpenAI website introducing ChatGPT

Photo by Kean University Website Kean University Police Department

Grant Money to go to Child Care for Students

By Keyon Gardner

Kean University has been awarded a $2.7 million grant from the U.S Department of Education in order to

have child care concerns but also want to be students,” Dean of the College of Education Barbara R. Ridener, Ph.D. said. “So what this does is allows a student who is well eligible to get free child care at the

provide free child care for children of low income students at the University’s Child Care and Development Center.

“The grant was brought to our attention that this was a Department of Education grant that was available to support children of students at universities. We thought this would be perfect for our students who have children that

child care center for their children.”

The age demographic of college students does not only pertain to young adults who are fresh out of high school and are looking to get a higher education, but it also includes adults in their mid 20’s or older who are seeking a higher education that they passed up on because of other obligations or financial difficulties.

It is important that we recognize the fallacy that being a college student does not mean partying every weekend. While some choose to spend their weekends out with friends, some are working multiple jobs to help fund their education and/ or provide for themselves, and others are full time parents all year round.

"There's a lot of stigma associated with being a student parent, and colleges have not done enough to remove that stigma," David Croom, assistant director of postsecondary achievement and innovation of Ascend at the Aspen

Institute said.

An analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and Institutional Characteristics Surveys reported that more than 1 in 5 college

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Social Media Influencer Marian Betancourt shares social media tips to Kean students

By Adaora Nnakwe

Social media marketing is becoming one of the most powerful tools for businesses and institutions and social media influencer Marian Betancourt, believes that it is important to use social media as a tool to build your brand as an individual.

Kean Association of Marketing hosted the Power of Social Media featuring Betancourt in the Greek Lounge to discuss insight and tips of utilizing social media. As a Kean alumni, she is a well-known fashion influencer and content creator on Instagram.

Betancourt advises students to take a course in internet marketing and promote themselves online. She says social media is more than just posting videos, scrolling through pictures, and liking posts. It’s a source filled with major opportunities to make extra money.

“If you are passionate about sports, start posting about sports,” Betancourt said.

Students should market what they're passionate about and focus on that to build a following. Betancourt says that it’s normal to feel discouraged in the beginning, but followers

will come in time through posting consistently everyday and interacting with followers.

“It’s not about the numbers, it’s about your content and how you present yourself,” Betancourt said.

She encourages students to be original, persistent, and create quality content with every post. Students can utilize social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn in a marketable way for major brands to reach out for paid opportunities.

Betancourt adds that engagement is also important to keep the algorithm going to hit more user accounts.

“Be interactive with users who like and comment on the content you post,” Betancourt said.

Brand companies look for people who can represent their company in a positive and authentic way, which means that it’s important to be mindful and strategic about what to post and share on social media accounts.

“Put yourself out there in a way that you want to be perceived,” Betancourt said. “Choose the platform that aligns to your audience.”

It’s also helpful to know your

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“Knowing that I can attend school while having that taken care of and then one of my kids can also go to school and get taken care of as well, that's less stress I have to worry about,”

Photo by Kean University children of student parent attendees

Photo by instagram.com/armaries_

Marian Betancourt

Students And Staff frustrated with Okta The “KaraokeKeanPlaylist Brinner”

By Ridimerb Diaz-Ramirez

Some students and staff are complaining that the Okta verification process to log into your Kean account seems unnecessarily long and complicated.

When this system first came into effect, users logging in were prompted to set up either google authenticator or an Okta Verify account. After creating

page due to a new partnership with Okta.

The email informed staff and students that there will be a new login page, as well as a Multi Factor Authentication That will be enabled to provide protection for all the university web services. While the new login page was enabled, it wasn't until March 7 that the new Multi Factor Authentication was enabled in all student accounts.

By Justin McDaniel

With finals around the corner and students getting ready to study hard, KeanPlaylist always finds a way to keep students engaged and less stressed, and their event “Karaoke Brinner” did just that.

Hosted by Cougar's Den, KeanPlaylist held a fun karaoke show for Kean students throughout the night, allowing students to perform the songs they love while having snacks with friends.

Lilliana Carredo, president of KeanPlaylist said. “There were more people that attended than I had initially anticipated. I’m very happy with the turnout.”

The major turnout saw a lot of students make their way to perform songs throughout the night.

“The song I performed was “Thinkin bout you”, with my friend. I was super nervous, but I didn’t want to show it. This was my first time performing in front of other

people, especially in such a large room,” Hana Abouhaib, a biotechnology and molecular biology major said. “Seeing

either authentication account, each time users attempt to log in they are asked to authenticate themselves.

Okta Verify seemed to be a more favored option by students, faculty and staff however they have complained that the process to log into their accounts seems unnecessarily long and complicated.

Okta Verify is a service that allows anyone to connect with applications on any device. It provides protection by authenticating the person when accessing any application. According to a representative from Okta on the website of Built in Seattle, they got their name from “a meteorological form”.

“An ‘okta’ is a unit of measurement used to describe cloudiness. The number of oktas in the sky can range from zero to eight: if it’s zero oktas, it’s a clear bluesky day; eight oktas means it’s completely overcast,” a representative from Okta said on the website of Built in Seattle.

On June 6, 2022, the Office of Computer Information Services Sent an email announcing changes to the login

The university sent out an email on March 3 to notify all - students of this service and the steps needed to set up theirMFA with Okta Verify.

The new changes are meant to prevent anyone accessing student and staff accounts, and to keep all your information safe and secure, according to the emails sent by OCIS. Students have expressed their frustration and wish for some type of change that either allows them to not to have to keep logging in over and over, or for the steps to be simplified since it takes up time.

Affan Shafqat, a Kean senior, specialist for social science, and intern at the Wellness Center said it feels like what he called “red tape-ism.”

“Sometimes when you are working, you have to login and it will take 3-5 minutes, and it’s just a total waste of time,” Shafqat said.

Shafqat understands that the school is making the changes for security purposes, but he wishes the process was

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Different selections of songs were played throughout the night from Frank Ocean, MF Doom, and even the Black Eyed Peas.

Collaborating with the Student Government classes of 2025 and 2026, the event went even better than planned, even surprising the host Lilliana Carredo.

“I thought the event was a success,”

everyone freely perform and truly show their talent with confidence was inspiring.”

Each of the performers were given tickets for raffles that were drawn at the end of the night for some exciting gift cards.

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Photo by Justin McDaniel

The Karaoke Brinner

Photo by KeanPlaylist Instagram

The Karaoke Brinner Flyer

Photo by Kean’s photo from email sent MFA set up steps

“It seems like red tape-ism” Affan Shafqat

An Analysis of the Lyrics and Themes in "Sorry Not Sorry" by Tyler, The Creator

By Isaiah Joseph

Tyler, The Creator first gained recognition as the leader of the hip-hop collective Odd Future, and since then, he has released several critically acclaimed solo albums.

songs on this version of the album, there is one song that stands out, the conclusion to his chapter, “Sorry Not Sorry.”

"Sorry Not Sorry" is a collaboration with rapper and producer DJ Drama, and features a sample from the song "The Masquerade Is Over" by David Porter.

Department of Communication

Kean University

Center for Academic Success

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Union, NJ 07083

Telephone: (908) 737-0470; Fax: (908) 737-0465

Email: thetower@kean.edu; www.kutower.com

The Tower is an independent, laboratory newspaper of Kean University’s journalism option in the communication major program. It is published monthly through the regular academic year and supported by advertising and the Department of Communication. The Tower is not responsible for claims made by its advertisers. The Tower is a public forum and is free from censorship and advance approval of content by the university administration. The Tower staff is responsible for its content.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:

DAVAUGHNIA WILSON

MANAGING EDITOR:

DORIAN ALERTE

NEWS EDITOR:

TYRA WATTS

FEATURES EDITOR:

ELAINE AMICO

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT/ FEATURES EDITOR:

ISAIAH JOSEPH

SPORTS EDITOR:

HECTOR MORALES

ONLINE EDITOR:

ANDREY NALBANTOV

SOCIAL MEDIA

MANAGER:

STEVEN-ROSS

BUGAYONG

STAFF WRITERS

KERVIN COLEMAN

ANTHONY REYNA

KEYON GARDNER

JA'BRIA LASTER

STEVEN-ROSS BUGAYONG

WAYNE DAWES

JUSTIN MCDANIEL

JOSEPHINE CARRILLO

The American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and music video director came out with an extension to his sixth studio album, “Call me if you get lost: The Estate Sale.”

In this extended project, Tyler is concluding another chapter of his life, at the same time welcoming a new era for many to see.

Instead of focusing on all the deluxe

"Sorry Not Sorry" is a reflective track that explores Tyler's past struggles and the journey he has taken to achieve success.

The song revolves around the themes of success, confidence, and ambition. In the first verse, Tyler raps about his journey to fame and how he never gave up despite the odds.

continued on page 13

ADAORA NNAKWE

ISABELLE GUTHRIE

YIBING LIU (AMY)

ITANA RABRUN

RIDIMERB DIAZ-RAMIREZ

MATTHEW SIERRA

COLIN WARD

OPINION PIECES AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Tower welcomes guest columns and letters to the editor from any source. Such material should be submitted to thetower@kean.edu or left at The Tower’s offices. To verify sources of written material, submissions must include the writer’s name and contact information. Students should include their class (sophomore, graduate, etc.) and major. Faculty and staff should include campus title or position. On request, names may be withheld from publication if The Tower staff determines there is a legitimate reason to do so, but no anonymous letters will be accepted for publication. The Tower reserves the right to edit, and refuse publication of any submission.

“He acknowledges that he cannot change the past, but he is willing to take responsibility for his actions and move forward.”

Photo by Tyler, Columbia Records

English Prof Explores Intergenerational Trauma

By Nathaly Lopez

When Nafina Aroosian escaped Armenia after witnessing the murder of her parents, she could not have imagined the impact it would have on her future generations.

“Sadness and strength,” are the words that Janet Balakian, PhD., a Kean University English professor and awardwinning playwright, said to describe her grandmother. “The strength of someone that can come through an atrocity like that because she was able to get a new life.”

Her grandmother’s escape from the Ottoman Empire Turks, who massacred her own family and 1.5 million other Armenians, is a tragic legacy and survival story that Balakian has been exploring for much of her life. She has produced several plays about the Armenian genocide of 1915-1923.

Her most recent play, “Dreams on Fire” was directed by Nora Armani, an actress and filmmaker who is also a daughter of Armenian parents.

In her play, Balakian focused on intergenerational trauma through the eyes of a college student. She used notes from her great uncle, also a survivor of the Armenian genocide, as well as ideas from an earlier play she wrote while a student at Cornell that won the university’s playwriting prize.

“Dreams on Fire” was presented in a Zoom reading as part of the Kean University Research Day activities last year.

“I wanted to call attention to mental health awareness,”

Balakian said of her play’s purpose.

As a granddaughter of an Armenian genocide survivor, Armani said she feels connected to Balakian’s play.

“This is a very important theme, and that is what gave me enthusiasm in wanting to be part of this, and I hope I did the play justice,” Armani said.

once she arrived in the United States, she took matters into her own hands. Knowing that putting words into the record is important, she submitted a claim against the government of Turkey to an office of the State Department in Newark in 1920.

“She wrote it all down and submitted it to lawyers in Newark,” Balakian said.

Words became a way of life for the whole family. Besides Peter Balakian, one of her sisters teaches surrealism at NYU and another is a book critic for the New York Times.

In her literature courses, at Kean University, Balakian incorporates her brother’s memoir Black Dog of Fate as one of the readings.

“Often, students don’t even put the dots together,” she said of her experience with students.

Balakian became aware that most students didn’t know about the Armenian genocide and believed her brother’s book would give insight to students about such important history.

“I wanted to use a memoir to teach your generation that history and literature are one in the same,” she said.

Charles Nelson, Ph.D., Executive Director of the English department at Kean University and a colleague, said Balakian has a passion for her students to succeed.

Balakian’s grandmother Aroosian plays an important role in her family. Peter Balakian, Ph.D., Balakian’s brother, is an American poet and winner of a 2016 Pulitzer Prize who has written much about the cruelty of the Armenian genocide.It was her brother’s book, Sad Days of Light, that inspired her to write her first play.

Balakian said Aroosian was bold for her time, and

“She has a real concern for students and wants to see them learn,” Nelson said.

Balakian is devoted to her profession, and each day recognizes that her grandmother is part of her successful career.

“If she never escaped, I would never be here,” she said. n

Kean Professor’s Tik Tok Account Draws a Million Followers

continued from cover

Leverette spent hours crying and “feeling hopeless.” It was hard for her to comprehend how her child who walked at 10 months old and was the star of his class at the Little Gym could change so suddenly.

“All I could think about was the future. His future, our future, and how he would cope in this world. I saw my hopes, my dreams, my star athlete, and my lead in the school's play floating away,” Leverette said.

Nevertheless, Leverette is thankful that she and her husband identified the signs early and were able to get the support and services they needed for Darius.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, “Autism spectrum disorder is a complex developmental condition involving persistent challenges with social communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behavior.”

Leverette said Darius received early intervention and as such, he was able to start preschool at 3 years old. Darius started using his words again at 8 years old and now at 18 years old, he can communicate his wants and needs and he can say simple phrases.

In March 2021, Leverette decided to create a TikTok account in preparation for Autism Awareness Month to share a “behind-the-scenes look at Autism,” called ‘The Land of Autism and Algebra’. The account now has 1 million TikTok followers and Leverette has over 70,000 Instagram followers.

“I decided to create a TikTok account to show the world

the Autism you don't see in the media,” Leverette said. “It is rare to see children and adults with high support needs. Mostly, what we see are individuals with exceptional skills and intelligence.”

Leverette said a lot of parents with special needs children feel alone because they don’t know other families who are like them. She wanted to use her platform to connect with other families that share that autistic experience.

Individuals on the spectrum have a range of abilities and they are all unique in their own way. Every family is different and faces their own unique challenges. It is important for individuals to know and understand that there are good times and bad, she said.

“Autism doesn't come with a manual; therefore, parents have to learn things from other parents,” Leverette said. “We have to support one another on this journey.”

When she began her TikTok journey, she was creating content to spread awareness and acceptance and to simply have fun. She explained that there are a lot of Autism families that share similar content on the app, and she never imagined that her page would gain this

large following.

In July 2022, she posted a video of Darius stimming in the closet, and within hours the video went viral.

“I did not expect it. I'm still processing it,” Leverette said. “I had no clue that people all over the world would accept and love Darius as much as they do.”

Stimming, according to Healthline, refers to “selfstimulating behaviors, usually involving repetitive movements or sounds.”

Her all-time favorite video on her TikTok page is a pool video. She was shopping at BJs Warehouse and saw that there were pools on sale. Knowing that Darius loves being in the water, she stood there contemplating if she

should make the purchase.

She decided to get the pool to surprise Darius and when he came home, he wanted to jump in fully dressed.

“His reaction melted my heart,” Leverette said.

For Leverette, the most rewarding part of having an autistic child is being chosen by God to be a mom to an “extraordinary son.”

“I am blessed,” Leverette said. “Sometimes, I look at him and shed tears because he doesn't realize that I am not perfect. I'm just ordinary. He doesn't know there are times I feel like I'm failing him. When he smiles at me or rubs my hair. It is like confirmation that we are going to be alright. He's saying, ‘Mom, stop worrying about the future and enjoy life’.”

While most of the content on her TikTok is about Darius, when it began, it also featured their life at home which included work as Leverette taught classes remotely during the pandemic and currently, it features her life inside the classroom again. Leverette later changed her TikTok handle to ‘Irisa_Darius’.

“Autism is our life. It is always on my mind,” Leverette said. “I'm always thinking about the future and working to make it better for Darius and individuals like him. This is why I share him with the world. This is why I get on TikTok to spread awareness and acceptance.” n

“Autism doesn't come with a manual; therefore, parents have to learn things from other parents.”

Photo by Irisa Leverette

Irisa Leverette’s son Darius

Photo by Irisa Leverette

Irisa Leverette Warrior Mom

Photo by Irisa Leverette Irisa Leverette’s son Darius

2023 Undergraduate Commencement

continued from cover

In preparation for the ceremony, the university is hosting a grad fair on both its Union and Ocean campuses for students to collect their cap and gown. The Union Campus Grad Fair will be held on Wednesday, May 3, and Thursday, May 4 at the Miron Student Center in room 228. Meanwhile, the Ocean Campus Grad Fair will be held on Thursday, May 4 at the Gateway Building.

Those who missed the order deadline for pickup at the grad fair have the opportunity to order their cap and gown online by April 22 for delivery to their home address for the big day. Students also order class rings and a yearbook as well.

In addition to their big day on May 18, students graduating with honors have the opportunity to participate in the honors convocation on May 5 at 2 p.m. in Harwood Arena. The Department of Africana Studies is also hosting its 36 annual African Heritage Graduation Ceremony on May 6 at 4 p.m. in Wilkins Theater.

Not only that, but Kean is also holding a Senior Formal, ‘A Roaring 20's Soiree’ for graduating seniors only on Friday, May 5 from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Hilton Short Hills.

Meanwhile, students who are graduating are getting ready for the day they walk on that stage and embark on a new journey, and Saintina is excited about new

beginnings.

“I haven't experienced life without school in it and I can't wait to see how I adjust,” Saintina said. “I'm excited to have more free time most importantly.”

In terms of the graduation process, Saintina stated that applying for graduation was fairly simple and that she double-checked that she completed all the credits for her degree.

Now that Saintina is graduating from Kean, she said

I truly felt cougar pride that day and I'll never forget the bonds I've created with the women I met on this campus.”

As for any post-graduation plans, Saintina says that she will still be working as a Production intern at ABC News, hopefully transferring over to a full-time position. She also plans on attending everyone's graduation parties.

In the past, there has been a growing number of students that have graduated from Kean, according to Kean’s Student Success Dashboard, titled “What Are Our Historical Persistence and Graduation Rates?”

The dashboard takes into consideration all Kean US campuses with first-time/ full-time students, as well as retention years going from one to six and years of graduation ranging from three to seven.

that her most memorable moment at the university was Homecoming back in the Fall 2022 semester. She arrived at Kean as a transfer student and did not take part in campus activities, and she made a promise to herself that before she graduated, she would leave no stone unturned.

“I did not want to leave with any regrets,” Saintina said. “This was my first homecoming as a Top Knotch Doll (Kean's majorette dance team) and a N'Sister (NCNW).

CHATGPT GOES TO COLLEGE

continued from page 3

or any writing assignments to students, however, Ravelle stated otherwise with Turnitin being able to detect AI.

“See, I know people say that Turnitin checks for ChatGPT, but the thing is it can't. I know people personally who have used ChatGPT and submitted an assignment and didn't get caught by the system for cheating,” Ravelle said. “This program is all Artificial Intelligence, which means that the response generated will constantly change and it will never be the same.”

ChatGPT may be a great tool in some cases, but there is also a big downside as to what the AI can cause now and in the future.

There is a fear of students thinking what is the point of learning grammar, citing sources, the writing process, etc. when they have this new AI? How would they truly learn to communicate their ideas in writing effectively?

Lewis stated that there is a possibility that it may even take out jobs, just like other new AI technologies.

“Yes, unfortunately it may take out some jobs, but there has to be some kind of way for people to still be able to express their thoughts and feelings without it

According to the Chart FAQ, the chart “provides statistics on a historical perspective on the graduation rates for all students at the selected campus, as well as graduation rates observed for historically underserved student populations and their counterparts.”

With the most recent statistics being from 2020, the chart shows that the 2020 1st Year Graduation Retention Rate was 71.4% (1,182 students). This goes on to show that Kean students are graduating at a consistently higher rate, with the hopes that the numbers will continue to rise as the years go by. n

being completely computer-generated. Otherwise, what is the point of learning literature and composition in school or any research class?” Lewis said.

It wouldn’t be fair for students studying in journalism wanting to become a writer and they put in the work, when there is this new technology that does the work for you in seconds.

Rachelle Menguito, a junior and communications major, however, stated that it is definitely a possibility for AI to take the place of journalists but it lacks having any real emotions or real-life experiences as a human would.

“Honestly, it's a scary thought to think so many people can lose their jobs because of AI. Though it's definitely a possibility, even for journalism or any sort of writing position, one thing ChatGPT lacks are personal thoughts or opinions on topics that only humans can give,” said Menguito. n

Photo by Kean University SADI

“What Are Our Historical Persistence and Graduation Rates?” Dashboard

Photo by Kean University’s Student Government Association Instagram @keansga Kean Senior Formal “A Roaring 20’s Soiree” Flyer

Photo by Isabelle Guthrie Turnitin website giving sneak peak of detecting AI writing and ChatGPT

The New Face of the Kean University’s Student Government Association

continued from cover for many years, and have held the title of class president dating back to my sophomore year of high school,” Kuntz said. “The welcoming and positive energy I sensed from the members of Student Government Association at my first Kean Day influenced my decision to continue being involved in college.”

As SGA executive board president, Kuntz’s goal is to increase the school spirit while also taking care of student concerns, as well as working with different departments within the university so students can have a better experience. Ultimately increasing school spirit at Kean and within the student body and their involvement on campus, while also addressing student concerns.

“I hope to strengthen our relationships with the many departments and student groups on campus, as well as reaching out to neighboring SGAs from other colleges or universities in our area,” Kuntz said.

Kuntz mentioned that some of her responsibilities as president included working closely with the Vice President of Student Affairs Matthew Caruso, as well as organizing and leading bi-weekly SGA executive board and senate meetings. She will also be consulting with her fellow executive board members and ensuring that they are successful in their various position and roles.

“Ultimately serving as a liaison between the students

and the university administration,” Kuntz said.

Sandra Bandeira, a junior majoring in Communication was elected SGA director of public relations. Bandeira served as a SGA S for the junior class for the 2022-2023 academic year and has built close relationships with people within SGA and wanted to continue to grow in student government.

“I’m very passionate about advocating for student needs and interacting with the student body in a way that I can connect with students that I may have never had the opportunity to connect with prior to being a part of SGA,” Bandeira said. “Majoring in Communication has allowed me to learn the in’s and out’s of public relations.”

Being the director of public relations comes with responsibilities from informing the campus about SGA events, decisions and policies to handling their social media accounts.

“Recruiting new members, increasing student involvement within SGA and participating in more campus events,” Bandeira said.

As director of public relations Bandeira’s goal is to continue to expand on SGA’s student engagement by making SGA’S social media pages a more interactive resource.

The newly elected members of SGA look to improve student involvement when it comes to the university and improve any issues that students may express. n

Grant Money to go to Child Care for Students

continued from page 4

students are raising children while attending school, with 53% raising a child under age 6, according to a 2021 Institute of Women's Policy Research.

Not only is the number of student-parent attendees undisclosed as a major issue among college graduation rates, but according to the Institutes for Women’s Policy Research, there are high dropout rates for student parents.

About 52% of student parents leave school within six years without obtaining a degree. Child care access, financial insecurity and time constraints also serve as barriers to college completion for parents, experts say.

Kean University Child Care & Developmental Center and the U.S. The Department of Education has made sure that student parents are receiving as much help necessary as they can to support their child while fulfilling their academic endeavors.

Dave Achin, an associate and staff member at Kean University’s Child Care and Developmental Center said, “we are quite unique to many of our students. We are known for word of mouth from other parents, so our

Students And Staff frustrated with Okta

continued from page 5

easier and faster for the faculty and students.

Ayomide Adeniji, a senior majoring in psychology, also understands the need for security but she expressed frustration with the length of the process.

reputation has preceded us many times. Individuals are then interested in having their children placed at the

“It’s good in preventing scams and spams and all which I guess they’re trying to prevent,” Adeniji said.

Adeniji said the Gmail app is great but if the tab closes, or resets, or you have to sign in from another device that belongs to you, then you have to use the MFA.

“It's really inconvenient to go to the verification app for the code, especially because there’s like three and you need to try all to get the right one,” Adeniji said. n

student parent needs while they attend school.

Lashae Jones, a junior and transfer student at Kean majoring in Elementary Education with a concentration in Earth Science said, “having the ability to have one less child at home just so I can focus more on my studies as opposed to having to worry about two kids at home and then juggling school as well I think is really helpful for a lot of parents trying to get into the spirit of attending school.”

Most student parents are mothers,70 % and 43 % of all student parents are single mothers. A majority of student parents are students of color (53%), with Black and Indigenous women in college being particularly likely to be parenting compared with other women and men in college according to Institute for Women’s Policy Research and Ascend at the Aspen Institute.

child care center.”

The Child Care & Developmental Center Has done an extraordinary job in emphasizing the importance of

“Knowing that I can attend school while having that taken care of and then one of my kids can also go to school and get taken care of as well, that's less stress I have to worry about as far as child care goes for one of my children,”Jones said. n

As a university with several campuses, I plan to work with my team to make efforts to better connect all of our students.

Photo by Kean’s photo from email sent Kean’s new login page

Photo by Getty image student parent working while being a mother

Students Fear Lack of Safety on Campus

continued from page 3

however since then, she no longer does. She realized just how easy it would be for someone to enter the school at any time.

Across all Kean campuses, plans are in place for emergency procedures.

responding to it. For that reason, the Chief of Police is coordinating different responses to different locations, and Kean University is one of them.

Monticello also talked about Rave, a new emergency assistant networking app, that is currently in the works among all campuses, that students will have access to on their phones. The app will become available for incoming freshmen students.

“We want the app to be user-friendly, where students are not just using it in case of an emergency for the first time,” Monticello said. “It’s going to be a

University Police Acting Director Anthony Monticello, explained that the university is actively practicing a tabletop, in which they go through an emergency scenario in slow motion, with all the emergency responders necessary. This allows for the university to actively practice an emergency, and get used to the exact procedure that they will follow.

Monticello also explained that all of the university officers are actively being trained in active shooter training, where they go every month to an offsite location and go through a live simulation. There they get a feel of actually being in the moment with a live shooter.

Monticello said Union County is also doing an entire revamp of incident command. If something were to happen at Kean University, there would be multiple agencies

The KeanPlaylist “Karaoke Brinner”

continued from page 5

KeanPlaylist has grown since the beginning of the school year and Karaoke Brinner has shown that the club has grown in members and notoriety.

“It feels awesome to see the growth of the club as we’ve gone through our first year,” Carredo said. “Though there are still a lot of things to improve on, I hope to take the learning experiences as ways to fully grow the club to its full potential in the future.”

With no more events planned for this year, KeanPlaylist has shown that we can expect some fun events in the future. n

generic app for the whole university where students can use it to purchase things on campus, so they can get friendly with it, in the event they have to use the emergency feature.”

Monticello also stressed the importance of saying something if you see something.

“A lot of times students don’t realize that we have a police department that’s on duty 24/7, 365 here at Kean,” Monticello said. “Don’t hesitate to call us. We would rather you make the call, than not make the call.”

If you ever find yourself being afraid to walk to your car or your dorm, you can contact Kean University Police Department directly at (908) 737-4800. They have no problem escorting you, and ultimately want students on campus to feel as safe as possible. n

“Don’t hesitate to call us. We would rather you make the call, than not make the call.”

Photo by Justin McDaniel

The Karaoke Brinner 2

Photo by Kean University Website Kean University Police Department

Photo by @kupolice Twitter Kean University Police Department

Kean Celebrates National Autism Acceptance Month

continued from page 2

the spectrum have been shown to engage in "camouflaging" (i.e., masking their autistic symptoms) more than males. This evidence suggests that symptoms might be more challenging to detect in females and, consequently, many females on the spectrum may be misdiagnosed.

Most people who advocate for Autism Acceptance Month aren't on the spectrum but instead are advocates, parents, and loved ones. People who celebrate the Month wear blue on April 2, as blue is the color of autism advocacy.

Emily Wyskowski, a junior majoring in Elementary Education, is the public relations chair for the Council for Exceptional Children. An organization that advocates for students with disabilities by promoting awareness and equity and collaborating with local charities or organizations finds it essential to support Autism Acceptance Month to elevate the voices that may often go unheard.

"Autism Acceptance Month is a pertinent time to use your voice to create change without speaking over others. This advocacy includes listening to the needs of those diagnosed with Autism." Wyskowski said. "Advocacy helps expose or eliminate discrimination based on disability, as well as to promote an understanding and acceptance of the diversity and prevalence of Autism."

Irisa Leverette, a Mathematics professor at Kean, said Autism Awareness Month is a time for her to work harder for acceptance and inclusion for her son, Darius, and others with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

"It has always been important, but I think I have a bigger job to do

now that Darius, my son, is 18 years old," Leverette said. "I believe there needs to be more resources to help adults on the spectrum have a better quality of life."

Aida Perovic, a junior majoring in speech-language-hearing science, has two siblings on the spectrum. She believes Autism Awareness Month is when people join together to educate people on Autism.

"It always makes me happy to see all of the information spread during

Social Media Influencer Marian Betancourt shares social media tips to Kean students

Prevention states. The growth of autism acceptance is at an all-time high as more children are diagnosed yearly. This was due to many medical professionals not understanding the disorder and children of color often being overlooked.

Autism continues to be a complicated subject. To this day, many people still dont understand what Autism is, and because of the lack of understanding, many misconceptions arise.

A misconception Gomez has heard is that people on the spectrum cannot understand things or communicate.

"Now that I have had some experience working with nonverbal children, although they cannot speak, they are some of the most loving, sweet, and caring children I've ever met," Gomez said."They might have to be told differently, so they can't grasp information."

For Perovic, one misconception that she has heard is that people on the spectrum lack emotions or empathy.

"Just because people with Autism may not always display emotions as we do, does not mean they aren't there," Pervovic said. "The people with Autism who aren't as expressive are still feeling, but how they show it is different. It can take time to learn what's what."

There's always room for people to be more educated; with the prevalence of Autism in America, it has become vital for people to learn and accept the disorder.

continued from page 4

this time since I feel like there is always more knowledge to be learned and more things we can do, even on a small scale, to help," Perovic said.

About 1 in 36 children have autism spectrum disorder, the Centers for Disease Control and

"I hope the one thing people get from Autism acceptance month is that they should listen to people on the spectrum," Girello said. "Cause they have loud and proud voices out there and were tired of being silenced by a neurotypical society." n

audience. Some users may have a larger female audience than male or vice versa, but it helps to understand the type of followers you have and what people are more interested in engaging with.

Betancourt says students should take social media seriously and be mindful of what is posted. Students should post positive images that portray themselves in a positive light and be aware about what interests them online.

“You can have a lot of followers but if you don’t have a clean reputation, well-known brands will not collaborate with you,” Betancourt said.

She adds that well-known brands won’t take you seriously if you’re posting content that will ruin their reputation. It’s best to leave out the negative content, so users can't view you in a negative light. Posting good content can increase the engagement of likes and comments on your content. Betancourt says that students who want to become influencers can do it if they put their mind to it.

“If you want to accomplish something, work hard and be persistent,” Betancourt said. n

Photo by instagram.com/armaries_

Marian Betancourt

Photo by Mallory Helmes

Marrisa Gomez, participating at an Autism Awareness event hosted by Kean Dance Theatre and Council of Exceptional Children

Photo by Mallory Helmes

Professor Irisa Leverette speaking at an Autism Awareness event hosted by Kean Dance Theatre and Council of Exceptional Children

“It’s not about the numbers, it’s about your content and how you present yourself.”

Listening Circle Allows a Safe Space to Discuss Issues

continued from page 2

humanity on multiple levels of economics, education, race, culture, and international relations. Members pursue management strategies and efforts promoting effective listening in government and business. Bodin-Lerner served on the ILA Board for five years and has been a member for seven.

The Kean Listening Circle fosters various communication studies, including becoming a better speaker, interviewer, parent, or lover. Bodin-Lerner said one example of a poor listener was when a prominent author interviewed her for about an hour and spent more time discussing his book than asking her questions. The author later backtracked and reframed the interview.

The college hour Listening Circle began taking shape in Bodin-Lerner’s listening class in the Fall of 2022 when enthusiastic students bonded into a growing circle of listeners that went beyond the classroom.

The group discussed the objectives of the circle, such as creating a space to practice listening and being heard, developing skills to enable the facilitation of Listening Circles, and ultimately, creating a space for upcoming challenging conversations. They agreed that the Kean Listening

Circle felt like a place of safety—a haven that satisfies a craving to be heard and practice listening.

Gbeve was adamant about not allowing anyone into the circle who would play devil’s advocate. He didn’t want "someone just being difficult and not considering opposing viewpoints." He felt that the circle’s goal is for everyone to listen to each other and not take offense for no apparent reason.

Bodin-Lerner was excited to see her vision come to fruition.

"I felt the energy in the space, safety, connection, and enthusiasm and relished the enlightening comments," Bodin-Lerner said.

The Kean Listening Circle is open to the entire Kean Community with some simple rules to follow. The circle requires confidentiality as a safe space to discuss controversial topics, and asks all to speak from the heart, listen from the heart and not rehearse their words.

"The Listening Circle was created as an inspirational space to practice and develop listening skills,” Bodin-Lerner said. n

An Analysis of the Lyrics and Themes in "Sorry Not Sorry" by Tyler, The Creator

continued from page 6

Saba Ashton, a fine arts student and a junior at Kean, explains that she is a huge fan of Tyler and gives the artist praise for his amazing work.

“Tyler is an artist that everyone can relate to, when he released the estate sale all the new songs had a vibe,” Ashton said. “Listening to ‘Sorry, Not Sorry’ was an emotional experience because of how much I relate to it.”

In the song Tyler talks about his sacrifices to get where he is today and how he's not sorry for anything he did to achieve his dreams. He even references his controversial past and how he's learned from his mistakes.

Through these lyrics, Tyler seems to be expressing a sense of regret for his past actions, while also accepting the consequences of his behavior.

He acknowledges that he cannot change the past, but

he is willing to take responsibility for his actions and move forward.

“The main goal of this track was leaving his past to pursue a greater future, that is just like how I want to improve and go after all my goals in my art career,” Ashton said. “Sacrificing friendships to elevate me.”

Tyler also reflects on his rise to success and the

we are winning, I know my words can be deceiving, but I mean it."

These lyrics suggest that Tyler has faced criticism and doubt from others throughout his career, but he has persevered and proven his worth.

He acknowledges that his words and actions may not always convey his true intentions, but he is committed to staying true to himself and his goals.

challenges he has faced along the way.

He raps, "My homies told me I'm a star, now I'm feeling like it. They hated me for years, but now they see that

Overall, "Sorry Not Sorry" is a reflective and introspective track that explores Tyler's journey. The song offers a glimpse into the artist's past struggles, highlighting his current success and commitment to personal growth. n

“…we listen to what reinforces what we want to hear and that does not humanize us today”

Photo by Tyler

Sorry Not Sorry music video, showing Tyler and his past alter egos

SPORTS

Cougars are present at 1st ever NJAC Pro Day

By Kervin Coleman

Two Kean all-star football players were among five select athletes who performed at the first NJAC exclusive Pro Day where college athletes showcase their talent before NFL scouts in the hopes of getting called for the draft.

During the event, held April 4 inside the Rec Center at William Paterson University, the athletes completed many drills for scouts from teams such as the New York Giants and New York Jets. The athletes took their measurements, bench pressed, and did a vertical jump test.

“My experience here was definitely one of a kind,” Kean Senior Kyeon Taylor said. “You dream about stuff like this, then it comes and feels totally different.”

Taylor’s name is synonymous with Kean football. The 6’2” cornerback has the measurables, instincts, and football mind to transition his game to the next level. In Taylor’s junior campaign, he registered a staggering eight interceptions which led the country in

interceptions per game.

“I feel as though I wouldn’t be in the position if I didn’t have confidence,” Taylor said. “I believe that no one deserves to be in the same field as me.”

This confidence led Taylor to an illustrious career at Kean University. Taylor posted career numbers of 104 tackles, 11 interceptions, 30 pass deflections, and three forced fumbles in 34 outings.

“Everything Coach Krieder has taught me applied to this Pro Day today,” Taylor said. “From making sure my hips are loose to being explosive, I’ve got to credit him for everything.”

Taylor isn’t alone in his quest for professional football. His teammate, Senior Jason Carlock only spent one season donning the Navy and Carolina Cougar blue but made a statement inhis time on short notice. He recorded 25 receptions, 327 yards, and three touchdowns in eight games. Prior to his days at Kean, Carlock spent the earlier days of his collegiate career at SUNYCortland.

“For the most part, I thought both programs valued the competition and desire to win, which drew me towards both places,” Carlock said.

Carlock comes from an athletic background, with all of his brothers also playing collegiate sports. His brother Jake is NFL Alum spending time with the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins.He’s been pivotal in Carlock's attempt to further his career and transition into professional ball. Jake was present at the Pro Day, motivating, coaching, and cheering on his younger brother.

“Seeing all of his accomplishments and what he has been able to do is an inspiration to me,” Carlock said. “I also rely on all of my other siblings as well. Having seven older siblings, growing up I always looked up to them and

they have always been so supportive of everything I have done.”

Carlock spent three seasons gaining traction at SUNYCortland, being a participant in every game and starting his entire junior season, accumulating 59 receptions, for 915 yards, and nine touchdowns in 32 games.

Taylor measured in at six feet two inches and roughly 200 pounds. Bench pressed five reps of 225 pounds and had a 26-inch vertical leap. He felt as though the weight portion wasn’t the foremost focus of his Pro Day performance, as he credits his on-the-field work for being better.

“My strengths were in the positional drills,” Taylor said. “It’s not all about how strong you are and how fast you can run.”

At around 10:30 a.m., the athletes transitioned into fieldwork and completed broad jumps, 40-yard dashes, a shuttle run, and a three-cone drill. Taylor graded out a 4.7 40-yard dash, 8.7 broad jumps in two tries, 4.5 in the shuttle run drill, and 7.3 in the three-cone drill.

“In the future, I would love to continue playing football and keeping the dream alive as long as I can,” Carlock said. “Overall I felt like I had a good day. I think the best part of the Pro Day was the end where we got a chance to run routes and do actual football stuff.”

Carlock felt content with his performance at the Pro Day. Carlock measured in at approximately six feet one inch and ⅞’s and 215 pounds. His 40-yard dash was a 4.81, continued on page 15

Photo by Nicole Rivera

Jason Carlock’s Vertical Jump

Photo by Nicole Rivera

Kyeon Taylor finishing a drill

Photo by Nicole Rivera Jason Carlock catching a pass

Photo by Nicole Rivera

Kyeon Taylor’s 40-Yard Dash

“You dream about stuff like this”

Karly and Anna Messina: “It’s fun to play against her”

By Dorian Alerte

On the field, they’re competitors. Off the field, they’re sisters.

As Karly and Anna Messina got set for what would be their third interconference meeting with each other, they could not help but feel excited.

On Apr. 11, the two sisters faced off against one another for the third time in three seasons. This time the older sister, Anna got the last laugh, as the Ramapo Roadrunners won both games of the doubleheader 4-3 and 6-1 over the Kean Cougars.

The two sisters grew up playing softball with each other while watching their older sister play softball at the collegiate level as well.

“We’ve both been playing since we were five,” Anna said. “We always watched her games and once we started playing, she was our coach and our dad was our coach as well. It was always kind of like a full family thing.”

“We both looked up to her [our older sister] and wanted to play because of her,” Karly said.

At Cherokee High School, the sisters played together on the same team and were there for each other.

They played together until Anna graduated, but Karly did not have to worry about playing a season without her sister due to her senior year being cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I didn’t really have my freshman year of college, so we kind of started college in the same year,” Anna said. “It’s always weird with her not being on the team with me, but it’s fun to play against her.”

“I didn’t have my last season in high school because of Covid,” Karly said. “I didn’t have to experience [playing] without Anna, and honestly I’m kind of thankful that I didn’t have to.”

Karly decided to play softball in the same conference as her sister, but this time for a different team- the Kean

other, but at the same time wanting their perspective teams to win.

“I always think the Kean games are our favorite games,” Anna said. “Our family is there and we’re always looking at each other when we’re warming up. It’s funny because I obviously want to beat them, but I also want her to do well. Since I slap, I'm always hitting her at third base, it’s annoying, but playing against her is fun for sure.”

Both Karly and Anna had effective days, as Karly collected four hits, a scored run, and two runs batted in, including the single that put the Cougars on the board at the bottom of the first, while Anna collected two hits.

Following the doubleheader, the sisters shared a hug on the field for what could be their final time playing softball against each other.

Their all-time record against each other sits at 3-3.

“It’s kind of funny because we’ve played them three years in a row now,” Anna said. “The first time they swept us, last year we split, and then this year we swept them. It’s cool because we’ll congratulate each other on everything.”

Cougars. This provided an opportunity for Karly to pave her own lane.

“I think I did want to step away from playing with Anna, and it was a mutual decision,” Karly said. “As much as we love playing together, it was a good opportunity to separate and live our own lives. I feel like it’s fun to have that competition between each other instead of playing together.”

The sisters find it funny to both be rooting for each

Cougars are present at 1st ever NJAC Pro Day

continued from page 14

ran a 4.4 shuttle run, 7.43 3-cone drill, 16 reps of bench press reps at 225 pounds, a broad jump of 9.9, and a 29 and ½ inch vertical leap.

“I was able to show off my skills to the scouts and give them something to think about when they left at the end of the day,”

Carlock said. “I felt really good during that last session of the pro day.”

Taylor and Carlock both thanked William Paterson University and its staff for making the event comfortable and welcoming to them.

“It was an honor to be a part of the first

The next time that these two sisters may have the opportunity to break the tie may be in the New Jersey Athletic Conference playoffs. They’ll see who has the last laugh.

“You can look forward to a good competition,” Karly said. “Even though it’s Messina versus Messina, it’s also Ramapo versus Kean, and I feel like we are two very hard teams to beat, so playing against each other is going to be neck-and-neck the whole way.” n

NJAC pro day,” Carlock said. “I just felt blessed to be a part of it.”

As the NFL Draft is around the corner and plenty of other leagues are seeing an uproar, both athletes keep their optimism alive to further their football careers. The 2023 NFL Draft will take place between

Thursday, April 27, and Saturday, April 29, and then the undrafted free agency periods kick off thereafter. Be on the lookout for these two Cougar prospects to look to make their names on the next level.

Disclaimer: Kervin Coleman is a teammate of Kyeon Taylor and Jason Carlock n

“I didn’t have to experience [playing] without Anna, and honestly I’m kind of thankful that I didn’t have to.”

Photo by Karly Messina

Karly and Anna share a hug

Photo by Karly Messina

Anna Messina (left) and Karly Messina (right)

By Matthew Sierra

Coach Chris Swenson: NJAC Coach of the Year

Chris Swenson, head coach of the women’s swim team at Kean University had the season of a lifetime, with the perfect combination of brilliant coaching and elite level swimmers under him. In his young career as a head swim coach, he can call himself finally NJAC Coach of the Year in 2023.

Kean Women’s swimming ran the table last season with an undefeated record after coming off a 6-6 record. This team did not just go undefeated, they dominated the entire season. This unrivaled dominance is as a result of the young and gifted swimmers and newly named New Jersey Athletic Conference Coach of the Year Chris Swenson. With 110 School records broken and 17 All-NJAC Selections under his

SPORTS Coach Chris Swenson: NJAC Coach of the Year

try to be very detail-oriented, a lot of hours and early mornings, and I let them race,” Swenson said.

This highly technical and strategic coaching style allowed the Kean Cougars to show the young talent they have on their team, the likes of AllAmerican Sophomore Naomee Miller and Junior Brianna Shawalong with Freshman standouts Taylor Jacobson, Ashley Konz, and Kylie Tininenko.

While being technically sound and detailed, Coach Swenson also makes it a point to bring a good atmosphere to the team.

“He's so caring and passionate,” Miller said. “I have never had a coach like him and I’m so grateful I decided to transfer here to Kean to swim under him.”

Coach Swenson continued to praise his team in the interview, when asked about Naomee Miller, he

coaching, Coach Swenson has begun to create a powerhouse not only in theNJAC, but in the nation.

Due to his thorough and strategic coaching, he led the Cougars to their first undefeated season and their first conference championship in the program’s history.

“It means that we have a talented team,” Swenson said. The 4 year coach makes it a point to put in the effort in practice, but come race time, Coach Swenson knows that his team will get the job done every time out due to his unique technical coaching style “I

expressed how proud of her and what she was able to accomplish this season. “She works hard, only being with us half a season, working her way back in NCAA form,” Swenson said.

Coach Swenson looks to carry that confidence into the upcoming season this fall. “I think we will be better next year than last year,” Swenson said.

With the combination of youth and raw talent as well as the returning swimmers as well, the Cougars are going to be the team to beat in the NJAC conference. Coach Swenson and his team not only believe but promise an equally dominant season for 2023-24. They are the team to beat, and they like it that way. n

“I have never had a coach like him and I’m so grateful I decided to transfer here to Kean to swim under him.”

Photo by Kean Athletics

Coach Swenson

Photo by Larry Levanti Brianna Shaw

Photo by Kean Athletics Naomee Miller