Kean University - The Cougar's Byte - February 26, 2019

Be The Student Trustee Page 3

New Semester, New Groups Page 5

Volume 16 | Issue 10

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Tuesday | February 26 | 2019

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New Semester, New Groups

Become a Part of the Conversation!

Recognizing the new student groups that have made their way onto campus

Apply to be the voice of Kean with Student Government

Petruce Jean-Charlese

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Editor

s an institution that encourages student involvement, Kean University houses over 160 clubs and organizations that allow students to express their interests and missions on campus. Through the Involvement Center located in the Miron Student Center (MSC), Room 303 students are aided in the process of becoming a recognized group.

Applications are out now for Student Organization, Graduate & Part- Time Student Council, P.U.L.S.E and Funded Group positions until March 1!

■■ Sophomore Class President

Abigail Anne Rafael Editor

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■■ One Class Officer for each class

pplications for Student Organization, Graduate and Part-Time Student Council (GPSC), P.U.L.S.E. and Funded Group executive board positions are out now on Cougar Link. Students are encouraged to apply for the plethora of positions available as soon as possible as the application closes Friday, March 1 at 2 p.m.

There are 65 positions open for Student Organization which include the following:

■■ Nine Class Senators for each Kean class ■■ Five Class Senators for Kean Ocean To be eligible to apply for any one of these Student Organization positions, students must be a fulltime undergraduate student. For more specific information regarding each position's eligibility criteria and responsibilities, check out the "20192020 Student Organization Executive Board and Senate Application" on Cougar Link.

Twenty-nine positions for Graduate and PartTime Student Council are also open, for any student wanting a leadership position that falls under the part-time undergraduate or graduate student category. The open positions are as follows:

■■ President ■■ Executive Vice President ■■ Vice President of Funded Groups ■■ Vice President of Programming ■■ Vice President of Kean Ocean

■■ President

■■ Treasurer

■■ Vice President

■■ Assistant Secretary

■■ Treasurer

■■ Senior Class President

■■ Secretary

■■ Junior Class President

See "Government" on Page 5

In order to become recognized as a student group, one must utilize the various resources available on the Student Group Recognition webpage.

With that being said, five student groups have been created and added to Cougar Link as of spring 2019.

Chance at Performing is one of many new student groups that have a mission to build and support the Kean community.

Chance At Performing: Chance At Performing (CAP) has a mission to teach and build the aspirations of students who want to perform in their future endeavors. Through its teaching system, this organization seeks to help each other apply what they have learned to an audience of people. This organization encourages everyone to practice their performance skills, while teaching others what they have learned. Students can look forward to different branches of performance such as piano, percussion, guitar, singing and other artistic mediums. For students interested in joining this organization, visit Chance At Performing on Cougar Link.

Kean Got Talent: This organization acknowledges the talent of the Kean community, through welcoming all majors and levels of performing to join their club. Individuals interested in singing, dancing, acting, instrumentals and other performing platforms can rest assured, knowing that they will develop their skills in this club.

Students interested in structuring their potential should visit Kean Got Talent's Cougar Link page.

United Nations Association at Kean University: As a membership organization, the United Nations Association at Kean University (UNA-USA) is devoted to informing, inspiring and rallying the Kean community to support the ideal and mission of the United Nations. This organization houses many chapters ranging from youth, engagement, advocacy efforts, education programs and public events. With a diverse university like Kean, this organization seeks to fulfill the duties of bringing awareness on campus. Students can join UNAUSA on their Cougar Link page, while visiting their national website for more initiatives.

Hallyu Club: "Hallyu" translates to "Korean Wave," which refers to South Korea's popularity in pop culture, entertainment, music, television and movies. Furthermore, its purpose at Kean is to spread knowledge and love for Korean pop culture, while bringing people together. In the meetings, students will have the opportunity to learn and perform Korean songs and dances during the semester. Students interested in the

See "Groups" on Page 5

Enthralled with Being Involved

Involvement Week captivated students during the week of Feb. 4 through Feb. 10 Brandon Gervais

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Staff Writer

nvolvement Week was a chance for students to be interactive with the campus community, meet new people and learn about the opportunities they have available to them. A series of events were scheduled by the Involvement Center to get students to enjoy fun events, get information and explore their personal wellness. Held every semester, Involvement Week falls right around the third week of the semester. Typically around this time student involvement begins to subside. The Involvement Center uses Involvement Week to combat this and gain student interest in the options available to them.

The Shazam It! event took place in the Miron Student Center (MSC) Cougar's Den Monday, Feb. 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. and was meant for students to put their music knowledge to the test in a fun way. Contestants were asked to listen to songs without knowing the artist or title and be the first to guess the name of the song.

The Eat N' Play: Black 5 in the Cougar's Den. Black History themed different key parts of figures.

History Trivia occurred Feb. This specific Eat N' Play was so the questions related to black history and historical

In addition to the events dedicated to student involvement, the week offered many workshops that promoted students' overall personal wellness. The wellness workshops all happened together Feb. 7 throughout the day and consisted of guided meditation, yoga and smoothies. The first of these wellness workshops was Guided Meditation where students were invited to relax and decompress from their stress.

Similarly, later that day was Yoga Day. Yoga and meditation are unique in that they are able to relieve stress and get Nathanael Jenkins | The Cougar's Byte students to exercise.

The Student Involvement and Employment Fair displayed various opportunities for students to get involved.

The

Student

Arlenis Roberts| The Cougar's Byte

At the smoothie workshop, students tried freshly blended smoothies before class.

Involvement and Employment Fair took place Feb. 6 where students were shown many ways for getting involved on campus. The levels of involvement are campus employment, clubs and organizations, community service and volunteerism, leadership programs, events and activities, recreations and intramurals, and arts and theatre. The event consisted of tables with representatives from different departments on campus looking to hire, as well as clubs and organizations looking to gain new members.

involvement. During Involvement Week, we were able to meet the plethora of students Kean has to offer. We saw first-hand the passion they have for their school and their eagerness to gain new experiences. Students are always receptive to the opportunities Kean has to offer," said Dominick Crouchelli, graduate intern at the Involvement Center.

Involvement Week's goal was to remind students of the great programs offered at Kean University. The events showed students the benefits of student involvement.

For more information about the clubs and organizations on campus and all the ways one can get involved, contact the Involvement Center located in the Miron Student Center, Room 303 by calling (908) 737-5270 or by visiting their website.

"Kean's involved students find more satisfaction in their college experience as they make contacts and gain professional experience through their

Brandon Gervais, sophomore English education double major, is a member of The Cougar's Byte staff.

A Leadership and Service Publication for the Kean University Student Community

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Tuesday | February 26 | 2019

Kean University

Center for Leadership and Service

Michael Gonzalez: Making the Most of It

Get to know involved student Michael Gonzalez and learn about the benefits of going organizations on campus Brandon Gervais

Miron Student Center, Room 215 1000 Morris Avenue • Union, NJ 07083 P: (908) 737-5179 • F: (908) 737-5175 cbyte@kean.edu • www.cougarsbyte.com The Cougar’s Byte is a leadership and service newsletter where you will find up-to-theminute information on all things related to student life at Kean University. A student news publication that features University events and student activities and accomplishments, The Cougar’s Byte strengthens the overall experience of students by immersing them in the complete college culture. By increasing awareness of all aspects of campus life, students can utilize everything Kean has to offer, while networking and paving the path for their academic and social development.

Published every other Tuesday during the regular academic year, The Cougar’s Byte can be viewed both online, at www.cougarsbyte.com, and in print, distributed biweekly to over 15 campus locations on the Union and Ocean campuses of Kean University.

The Cougar’s Byte welcomes Letters to the Editor, calendar events, event news and information, articles, story ideas, artwork and digital photo submissions. To learn more about our publishing policy visit www.cougarsbyte.com.

Caleb Lopez Senior Editor lopezcal@kean.edu

Danielle Thomas Graphic Design & Marketing Manager thomasd2@kean.edu

Michael Carfagno Creative Media Manager carfagnm@kean.edu

Petruce Jean-Charles Editor jeanchap@kean.edu

Abigail Anne Rafael Editor rafaela@kean.edu

Kieffer Braisted Staff Writer braistki@kean.edu

Brandon Gervais Staff Writer gervaisb@kean.edu

Shannon Sheehan Staff Writer sheehsha@kean.edu

Zoe Strozewski Staff Writer strozewz@kean.edu

Arlenis Roberts Graphic Design Specialist roberarl@kean.edu

Nathanael Jenkins Creative Marketing Specialist jenkinat@kean.edu

Christopher Del Prete Creative Media Specialist delpretc@kean.edu

Noah Dobson Creative Media Specialist dobsonn@kean.edu

Mary Linen Creative Media Specialist linenm@kean.edu

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brotherhood, unity and respect.

Staff Writer

he college experience can vary between each and every student not only at Kean, but all around the world. What differentiates these experiences is what students choose to do with their time in university.

Being involved in a variety of clubs and organizations makes a student feel connected to their campus community and helps with different aspects of their career. Michael Gonzalez is a student who is putting in his time to get all he can out of his experience at Kean University.

Noah Dobson| The Cougar's Byte

In his freshmen year at Kean, Gonzalez Highly involved, Gonzalez works with a variety of organizations on received the Volunteer of the Year It has shown that students who make campus, regularly striving to be connected to the Kean community. award for serving over 180 hours of the effort to get involved in activities community service. He holds positions and organizations on campus are in four different organizations on more successful academically. This is a result campus including the following: President of to a family who want to see what is hidden and be of working on a routine schedule and working Biology Club, President of Outdoor Adventure and experienced," said Gonzalez. out when things will be done. In addition to Recreation, Director of Public Relations for Gamma academically, it is the students who were involved As president of both these organizations, Gonzalez Psi Epsilon and Treasurer for Kean Rotaract Club. who look back at their time in college and think works to keep members engaged and inspired by fondly of the things they did, the clubs they joined "My clubs, even the ones I am no longer a part of, the groups. A lot of responsibility is placed on the and the people they met. have impacted me. I thrived in them and gained many president of an organization but the payoff is worth friends and new passions," said Gonzalez. the effort.

Kean University recognizes over 160 different clubs and organizations. These organizations are separated When students are involved, they make new "It is not easy, but it is rewarding. Inspiring others to into the following eight categories: professional, connections and friendships throughout the Kean go the extra mile and to manage things smoothly," service, cultural, recreational, religious, performance, community. Gonzalez is recognized on campus and said Gonzalez. governmental and special interest. All of the people feel comfortable speaking to him when he To students looking to work their way up to the organizations are unique and have strong goals to is around. position of president in an organization, Gonzalez better their community, themselves or personal skills.

The Biology Club is a club for those in and around said, "You need patience and the courage to lean on "If you are looking to actually get something more the biology major. They come together with a others for support." from Kean, go on a trip with OAR and see what is common interest in biology and work together In addition to being president of both Outdoor possible," Gonzalez said. "If you want to further to raise funds for their club events and serve the Adventure and Recreation Club and Biology Club, your career in the medical field join, the Biology Kean community. By offering hands-on experience, Gonzalez is also director of public relations for Club and see what we can do at our Biology Career the Biology Club works to help network young his fraternity, Gamma Psi Epsilon, and treasurer Conference. If you want to know how to volunteer professionals in the biology and science fields with for Kean Rotaract. Kean Rotaract Club is an and get community service and build a family, join possible employment opportunities. organization that invites students to work as young Rotaract Club. If you are a young man looking to The Outdoor Adventure and Recreation Club is for leaders in their communities. They work to address better yourself, join Gamma Psi Epsilon." students looking to explore different activities with a issues in their community and grow their personal For more information on organizations that one group of peers. As a group they foster an appreciation development. Rotaract focuses on international could be a part of, visit Cougar Link. for the outdoors and travel around New Jersey on service projects and educating the community on different trips to Turtle Back Zoo, Delaware Water issues and actions to be taken.

Gap, Grounds for Sculpture and more.

Gonzalez's most recent involvement achievement "We [Outdoor Adventure and Recreation Club] have is joining the Gamma Psi Epsilon fraternity. The been to parks where entire paths are filled to the Gamma Psi Epsilon fraternity is a group of young men brim with something out of a Disney film to possibly who work to make a difference at Kean University.

Brandon Gervais, sophomore English education going to all new places. We [OAR Club] boiled down One of Kean's youngest fraternities, they promote double major, is a member of The Cougar's Byte staff.

A Warm Welcome Back For T2K Students

The Office of General Studies and their G.E.M.s welcomed their T2K Students to a Valentine's Day Themed Social Zoe Strozewski

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Staff Writer

he School of General Studies as well as its General Education Mentors (GEMs) welcomed back the freshman class with a Valentine's Day Themed Social in the Cougar's Den Thursday, Feb. 7. Students enjoyed complimentary food and drinks, coloring, games and more. The purpose of this event was to keep freshmen involved on campus throughout their second semester.

Every freshman and transfer student is required to take a Transition to Kean (T2K) course which aids students in many ways which includes getting acquainted to the university, building one's resume, community service, getting involved on campus and more. Along with this course, students receive a General Education Mentor (GEM), who is a student who works for the School of General Studies and helps them with their transition into college life and acts as a teacher's assistant.

The GEMs hosted this event to welcome back their first year students. Even though the T2K course lasts for only one semester, freshmen still keep their GEMs for their entire first year just in case they still have questions or still need assistance in terms of adjusting to college.

GEM Kathleen Conaty said, "It’s like a way for us to check back in with them in the spring semester. What we like to say is that we’re still their GEM in the spring semester, so we’re still with them to help them with any problems for the whole year.

It doesn’t just stop in the fall. We try to make sure that their whole first year goes as smoothly as possible.”

Martin Alonso

At the event, students could participate in several activities. The event had a coloring station filled with Valentine's Day themed pictures, giant Connect Four, card games, guess the candy, and raffles. There were also pizza and chocolate-covered strawberries.

Scott K. Snowden Jr.

When asked about the event, freshman Molly Pair said, “I’m excited just because I like being out with everybody and just like seeing all of the freshmen. It’s just like

Graduate Assistant, The Cougar's Byte Director, Center for Leadership and Service

The primary focus of Greek organizations is to provide awareness of social responsibility, social and personal development, respect for human diversity and intellectual achievement. While every fraternity and sorority are different, they all have the same core values for service and achievement. Greek Life offers a wide range of benefits to those involved. The sororities and fraternities on campus promote and preserve the ideals of scholarship, service leadership, campus involvement, and brotherhood/ sisterhood. With over 30 Greek organizations at Kean, there are plenty of options for anyone who is interested.

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Shannon Sheehan | The Cougar's Byte

Students and GEMs got the opportunity to hang out and get to know each other at this social! friendly faces.”

The GEMs are very helpful to students throughout their transition to Kean, and they showed it through this event. In regard to having a GEM, freshman Anna Ferster said, "She just talked about opportunities and jobs I can do, because I was looking to get a job on campus. She was just generally really helpful."

The Valentine's Day Welcome Back Social was a great event to get students interacting with their peers and building more of a community here at Kean.

Zoe Strozewski, sophomore communication journalism major, is a member of The Cougar's Byte staff.

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Tuesday | February 26 | 2019

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Believe, Succeed and Be The Student Trustee

Now accepting applications for Kean University's 2019-2020 alternate student trustee representative Petruce Jean-Charles

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played into her decisions as trustee.

Editor

"A piece of advice I would give to someone interested in the position of student trustee is to use your voice and meet new people," said Failla.

"This position provides you with opportunities to attend university events and meetings where you are surrounded by all different kinds of faculty members and students, including our students from Wenzhou-Kean."

he Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs is accepting applications for the 2019-2020 alternate student trustee representative for the Kean University Board of Trustees student election through 2 p.m. Friday, March 1.

The online student trustee election will take place Tuesday, April 2 at 9 a.m. until Thursday, April 4 at 6 p.m. All currently registered students are eligible to vote.

Moreover, Failla encourages individuals who want to be challenged to take this position, as it enhances skills like public speaking, which will be important in many careers.

Under the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, the alternate student trustee representative will be elected for a two-year term, holding the position as an alternate member during the first term and a voting member during their second term.

As per application, there are requirements that should be considered before one embarks on the journey to become student trustee. The requirements are as follows: ■ ■ Must be a full-time matriculated student in good standing with no history of student misconduct ■ ■ Must be 18 years of age or older and a citizen of the United States ■ ■ Undergraduate students should maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and have completed at least 30 degree credits with a minimum of 15 credits completed at Kean ■■ Graduate students must be full-time, have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and have completed at least 12 credits at Kean Once the criteria is met, the elected student trustee will begin their first term July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. As a member of the Board of Trustees, Student and University Affairs Committee and the Kean University Student Leadership Council, trustees are expected to engage in deliberations of

Kean University

The office of the Vice President for Student Affairs the board while attending public meetings.

Alongside attending public meetings, trustees are required to meet with the Vice President for Student Affairs Janice Murray-Laury, Student Organization, and the Graduate and Part-Time Student Council (GPSC).

"One thing I took away from this experience that I truly hope the next person will get is the friendships and connections I have made on campus with students, particularly those from Wenzhou-Kean," said Failla. "I met students from Wenzhou-Kean who came to Kean USA to study the same major as me, and engaged in meaningful conversations with them about how Kean was going to help us become psychologists.

I learned that listening to others is an important part of being a student trustee and any leader on campus. [It is also essential to] hear their stories and ideas and project those thoughts by utilizing your professional platform."

For those interested in applying for the 2019-2020 year, Voting Representative Kristen Failla spoke of her experience in the position.

Failla notes that this position allowed her to sit down and collaborate with other students who had unique and individual experiences that

Additionally, the Student and University Affairs Committee seeks to benefit the Kean community by advocating for policies and decisions for the students. They also meet to discuss various student affairs, athletics and enrollment programs and issues.

"The responsibilities I've had as student trustee have become life lessons that can be applied to any area of study and any career path I choose," Failla said. "I've had the privilege of learning how ideas are introduced and articulated in meetings filled with faculty who are in positions to facilitate change. I learned how to carry myself in a professional setting and network with people, which is something that can open doors to even more opportunities to grow and establish a career."

Furthermore, an application form can be found on the Kean website under Division of Student Affairs, where forms and policies can also be accessed.

"If you are interested in taking on a leadership role on campus that allows you to become even more connected on campus, then this is the perfect position for you," Failla said.

If students have any questions about this position, please contact the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, (908) 737-7080 or stop by Kean Hall, Room 124.

Petruce Jean-Charles, senior communication journalism major, is a member of The Cougar’s Byte staff.

Feel The Love

P.U.L.S.E and the Class of 2022 collaborated for a heart-filled Kean After Dark Abigail Anne Rafael

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M&M's, Skittles and conversation hearts. There was also an activity table with craft supplies where students could make Valentine's Day cards or heart dollies for their significant other or friends.

Editor

ean Cougars had an opportunity to come out and celebrate the upcoming Valentine's holiday with Kean After Dark: Valentine's Day Edition, Wednesday, Feb. 6, from 9 p.m. to midnight at the Cougar’s Den.

As well as doing these individual activities, students were also invited onto the stage to play collaborative games with and against one another. Some of the games included a song guessing game "Boo'd up" where students guessed cartoon couples and a romance movie guessing game.

The event was a joint effort from P.U.L.S.E and the Class of 2022 and sported a multitude of Valentine's Day themed games, activities, snacks and decorations.

"The 'Boo'd Up' game was my favorite one because it was a collaborative event, and I'm really into teamwork," said Ngoy.

At the beginning of the night, the Class of 2022 Senator Candida Rodriguez said, "I'm really pleased with [the turnout] actually. I think the decorations, food and stuff were better with us having collaborated instead of just [the Class of 2022] doing it ourselves."

Kean After Dark was a success because of the hardworking students from P.U.L.S.E. and the Class of 2022. Many students left the event with a couple prizes, fond memories and new friends.

Upon signing in using one's individual Event Pass, students were given a raffle ticket and a Valentine's Day themed bingo sheet. The bingo sheet posed as an interactive icebreaker for attendees. The students were challenged to meet other attendees

"[Kean After Dark] was basically just a way to get the students together to socialize, and [P.U.L.S.E and Class of 2022] have been working on this since last semester.

So, it's really cool to see everything come into fruition," said Khamayah McClain, the Class of 2019 president.

who had certain attributes written within the slots of the bingo sheet.

Some of these attributes included the following: "first generation college student," "watched a romcom," "wearing red," "is a resident student," "loves dark chocolate" and more. Upon completing the bingo sheet, students were eligible to win a prize and leave with new friendships.

Student Organization will be hosting more Kean After Dark events in the Cougar's Den on the following dates throughout the semester:

Freshman biotechnology science major, Grace Ngoy said, "I've definitely [made new friends]. I just realized that there's a lot of people who have the same interests as [I do]. I'm having fun and getting to know more and more people."

Kean University

Kean University students celebrate Valentine's Day together at Kean after Dark

The raffle ticket came into play at the snacks and activities tables.

Students could walk up to the tables, submit their raffle for a goodie bag and fill the bag with any variety of candies available. These candies included Starburst,

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Wednesday, March 6

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Wednesday, April 3

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Wednesday, May 1

For more information on these events and more, check out Cougar Link.

Abigail Anne Rafael, a sophomore communication public relations major, is a member of The Cougar's Byte staff

A Leadership and Service Publication for the Kean University Student Community

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Tuesday | February 26 | 2019

United We Stand

The Black Leadership Union seeks to encourage multicultural diversity at Kean Petruce Jean-Charles

Secretary Curry, a sophomore studying psychology, said, "We created B.L.U. to help students become more active and to find a way to promote themselves, their businesses and possibly network with others."

Editor

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lack Leadership Union (B.L.U.) seeks to build an environment that welcomes the encouragement of multicultural diversity. It consists of five e-board members: President Shannon Assing, Vice President Vanessa Hubbard, Secretary Keiana Curry, Treasurer Christian Pemberton and Director of Public Relations Dominique Thomas.

This organization hasa mission for the acceptance of cultures, especially in the improvement of the black community at Kean. B.L.U. is open to all students, as it is inclusive and serves as a proponent for the progression of the members and the community. B.L.U. wants prospective members to know that they will be supported, included and have the opportunity to express themselves.

Upon considering joining this organization, students should be ambitious, open-minded and interested in expanding their knowledge of the cultural impacts of the Black community.

President Assing, a senior studying communication with a minor in Africana Studies, founded the club with a mission to serve as an open forum for the community. Beginning with himself and Vice President Hubbard, the two assembled multiple passionate students who shared their values and goals.

Within Black Leadership Union, her main responsibilities lie in keeping track of attendance, as well as the meeting minutes.

"I believe B.L.U. is an important club to have at any campus," said Curry.

"There’s always a need to have a safe space for those to come and speak their mind. For some, it’s a form of much needed therapy and gives them a platform to speak on things they have a passion for."

The first Black Leadership Union (B.L.U.) meeting was a success, with members interested in building Black culture.

Public Relations Director Thomas, a junior studying biology, said, "This club is very important at Kean. I believe it provides a forum for our students to connect over similar experiences and support each other.

Our meetings feel like taking a weight off your shoulder with people who have that same weight, and I think everyone on campus deserves to belong to a group like that."

"We seek to instill leadership in our members by allowing them to recognize their potential for change and how much their influence on this campus can be revolutionary," said Assing. "We not only celebrate Black culture, but we challenge it on a daily basis in order to better define and then refine the idea of blackness into something that will push our community forward and create pride for our future Black leaders."

As public relations director, Thomas runs the organization's social media accounts which include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, while maintaining a healthy connection between B.L.U. and other organizations.

Aside from founding Black Leadership Union, Assing also mediates all operations and provides his members with administrative advice and assistance necessary to build their abilities as e-board members.

"I am the main channel of communication on major endeavors as well as the neutral voice of reason concerning any conflict of interest. My goal as president is to keep the ball rolling and be the rock that holds everything together while personifying my organization's beliefs," said Assing.

Shannon Assing is the current president of B.L.U.

"Our organization was started last semester when my e-board and I had the idea to provide an open forum for solution-based discussions," said Assing. "Our organization was originally inspired by 'The Grapevine', which is a well-known social media brand that practices much of what we hoped to emulate.

We had very little understanding of student involvement at Kean and how things worked so we wanted to create a comfortable place for us and other students to actively engage in discussions on hot topics related to the Black community and create events based on these discussions."

In order to become the organization they are today, B.L.U. filled out a petition through the Involvement Center to become recognized.

"We wrote up a constitution, bylaws and developed a mission statement that reflected our desires. It took a great deal of time to distinguish ourselves from other Black organizations because, at face value, we seemed very similar to them. All in all, our dedication and passion for change was recognized and our organization came to fruition," said Assing.

Aside from being an advocate for the Black community, Black Leadership Union's other goals are to provide a safe, comfortable forum where members can be honest in discussions about issues within the Black community.

Vice President Hubbard, a sophomore studying communication, agrees that "the mission of Black Leadership Union is to engage in discussions that allow a variety of black perspectives to come together and create a better understanding of their community around them."

Secretary Keiana Curry of B.L.U.

As vice president, Hubbard helps Assing prepare for upcoming general body meetings and events, like creating agendas and developing topics for conversation. She also helps moderate conversations during our general body meetings.

"In my opinion, I think this club is important to Kean because encouraging these discussions promotes positive connections in the black community here at Kean," said Hubbard.

Treasurer Pemberton, a senior studying public relations, said, "This club is invaluable. Having grown up in a predominantly white community, I myself struggled to fit in among my very own community. However, B.L.U. was one of the first organizations that made it easy to form black relations, by total acceptance of my personality. Evolving from high school students into college scholars, B.L.U. can aide one's transformation with a tender and wise touch."

Dominique Thomas is the Director of Public Relations for B.L.U.

Furthermore, Treasurer Pemberton handles all the monetary aspects of Black Leadership Union, from banking to budget plans per the approval of the e-board.

All five e-board members want students to feel comfortable and to make B.L.U. an option for insightful open discussions and useful knowledge.

Students interested in joining B.L.U. can visit their Cougar Link or email them at BLU@kean.edu for more information.

Petruce Jean-Charles, senior communication journalism major, is a member of The Cougar’s Byte staff.

Eat Your Heart Out

Students ate and interacted at the Sweetheart Brunch Zoe Strozewski

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Staff Writer

he Student Organization Class of 2019 hosted its first ever Sweetheart Brunch in the Miron Student Center's Cougar’s Den Feb. 8. This free event gave students the chance to enjoy a brunch while socializing and participating in Valentine’s Day-themed activities.

According to Khamayah McClain, the president of the Student Organization Class of 2019, the inspiration behind organizing this brunch, apart from celebrating the spirit of Valentine’s Day, was to inspire students to interact more.

“I just wanted to create a social event because normally we just have formal at the end of the year, and I wanted to bring people together and help them get to know each other through the progression of the year,” McClain said.

Additionally, McClain also believes that events such as these aid in stress management and give students the opportunity to unwind from the pressure of their schedules.

“We’re always working hard at school, and I feel like it’s good to let students relax,” McClain said.

Decorated with red roses and heart streamers, The Cougar’s Den served an assortment of breakfast foods and desserts, such as cinnamon rolls, muffins, bacon, and chocolate covered strawberries.

Some of the games students could play included a “Guess that Song” challenge, blindfolded candy eating and “People Bingo,” where participants had to talk to other people at the event in order to win. Additionally, there was a photo booth and an arts and crafts table where attendees were given the chance to create cards which would later be given to children with autism.

Freshman Amanda Morales-Lopez said that she decided to attend the event because connecting with other students provides more of a challenge since she does not live in the residences.

“I wanted to be more involved on campus.

Because I’m a commuter, this is how I meet other students,” Morales-Lopez said.

Furthermore, she felt a connection to the opportunity to brighten the day of a child with autism, since the cause has touched her life personally.

“I have a brother with autism, so I found it really nice that there’s an opportunity for that,” Morales-Lopez said.

Arlenis Roberts | The Cougar's Byte

Kean University students at The Sweetheart Brunch.

The Sweetheart Brunch was only one of a series of events the Student Organization Class of 2019 will be hosting. Others include the Attraction Theory event Feb. 20, where attendees can listen to a lecture by Martha Salama about adult relationships, as well as multiple dates to order senior class rings and obtain senior portraits.

To find more information on Kean’s Student Organization or view their upcoming events, make sure to visit the group’s page on Cougar Link.

Arlenis Roberts | The Cougar's Byte

Kean University students at The Sweetheart Brunch.

Zoe Strozewski, sophomore communication journalism major, is a member of The Cougar's Byte staff.

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Tuesday | February 26 | 2019

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Government

Group

(continued from page 1)

■■ Pre-Medical Pre-Dental Association

■■ 23 Graduate or Part-Time Student Council Senators More information on any one of these positions can be found on Cougar Link in the "2019-2020 GPSC Executive Board and Senate Application."

The 21 positions for P.U.L.S.E. Programming Board are separated into three separate applications: ■■ 2019-2020 P.U.L.S.E. Programming Board Coordinator and Assistant Coordinator at the Kean Union Campus ■■ 2019-2020 P.U.L.S.E. Programming Committee Application at the Kean Union Campus ■■ 2019-2020 Kean Ocean programming Board Committee Application P.U.L.S.E. works as a sub-committee whose primary purpose is to help plan and host events for the university. In contrast, Student Organization and Graduate and Part-time Student Council (GPSC) work more within the realm of addressing student body issues.

All executive board positions for each funded group are also open to apply for. There is a variety of 18 funded groups that fall within the funded group category. These include: ■■ Accounting Club

■■ Social Work Club ■■ Student Occupational Therapy Association Each funded group has positions open for a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and director of public relations within their executive board. To apply for any position within any of these groups, check out the "2019-2020 Funded Group Executive Board Application" on Cougar Link.

All of these applications are run through Student Government.

For any non-funded group, students need not apply through Cougar Link applications posted by Student Government. Nonfunded groups typically run their own separate elections for their executive board.

These positions serve as a great opportunity for students to acquire important life skills for any future career they may aspire toward.

Managing Assistant Director of the Office of Student Government Carli Hench said, "The leadership that comes with [the position], the team work, the collaboration and the communication skills are all important. We talk a lot about 'soft skills.' Employers are not seeing that our graduates are always having the soft skills."

Hench emphasized the importance of gaining experience, not only for oneself but also in regard to finding employment in the future. Students gain a multitude of critical experience and skills such as the ability to negotiate, team build, plan and more, all of which will be a necessity for graduates to relay to potential employers come time to find a full-time job.

■■ Association for Computing Machinery ■■ Biotechnology Club ■■ Catholic Newman Club ■■ Criminal Justice Club ■■ Earth Science Club

Hench also encouraged students to campaign for themselves around campus to help in the voting process that takes place on Cougar Link once all applications are processed. Hench has found that students who collaborate with others to help promote each other have a greater likelihood of success in the election although it isn't guaranteed that the whole collaborative group will be elected.

■■ International Student Association ■■ Kean Ocean Criminal Justice Club ■■ Kean Ocean Forensic Psychology ■■ Kean Theatre Council ■■ Kean University Anime Society

For more information on any of the positions or to apply, check out Cougar Link.

■■ Kean University Hillel ■■ Muslim Student Association ■■ Pan-African Student Union

Abigail Anne Rafael, a sophomore communication public relations major, is a member of The Cougar's Byte staff.

■■ Physical Therapy Club

(continued from page 1) Korean culture can visit Hallyu Club on Cougar Link.

The National Society of Leadership and Success: Leading as the nation's largest leadership honor society, this organization selects students through college-based means like college academic standing or leadership potential. Moreover, Kean is one out of 651 chapters that provides stepby-step programs for leadership skills on campuses worldwide. Upon completion of the program, students receive their leadership certificate and leave with a beneficial lifetime membership. Students interested in learning more about this program and its mission can visit the NSLS page on Cougar Link and its national website.

Kean University Afro-Latinx Dance Project: This club is an inclusive, dance group that welcomes all level at Kean University. Each class will have different styles of dance that are diverse and emphasize the Afro, AfroLatin and Latin genres around the world. Although they are fairly new, students can visit the KU Afro-Latinx Dance Project Cougar Link page for more information.

Economic's Club: This club hopes to be a home for students studying economics or those wishing to grasp the knowledge of this study.

Economics ranges from production, distribution and consumption of goods and services, which can help students in their future careers. Students interested in joining the Economic's Club can visit their Cougar Link page for more information.

Interior Design Student Organization (IDSO): This organization has a mission to inform and express the significance of interior design, by providing students with opportunities to learn the design process. Aside from learning, interested students have the option to experience the methods, while gaining a deeper understanding of the profession. IDSO implements events and service projects for interior design that will benefit the students. Students willing to grow in an accessible and sustainable environment should look into IDSO on their Cougar Link page.

Coordinator for Student Involvement Jonathan Lopez said, "It’s important for students interested in starting a student group to understand that you are creating a small organization. This means that it’s not only important, but necessary to create a constitution or by-laws that govern the organization, as well as create a mission that will drive the group's purpose and activities."

All in all, welcome the new student groups and look into them if interested!

Petruce Jean-Charles, senior communication journalism major, is a member of The Cougar’s Byte staff.

What's Taking Over Kean Stage

Kean Stage has a list of intriguing performances in store for the spring semester Caleb Lopez

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Staff Writer

ean Stage will feature a bevy of fascinating performances throughout the remainder of the semester. Students and faculty are encouraged to attend these performances to show support to Kean Stage for working hard to form intriguing lineups.

The exciting lineup of performances that require tickets is as follows: ■■ "A Midsummer Night's Dream" will take place from Feb. 22 to March 2 at Wilkins Theatre. Peer into Shakespeare's treasured, hilarious comedy.

For tickets and showtimes, visit a "Midsummer Night's Dream's" webpage.

■■ "Murphy's Celtic Legacy" is Saturday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m at Wilkins Theatre. Students and faculty can enjoy an exciting, elaborate performance of traditional Irish dance with a new twist.

Seats are still available so be sure to purchase your tickets in time on the performance's webpage.

■■ Patina Miller will take the stage Saturday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m in Enlow Recital Hall at East Campus. Miller debuted on Broadway in 2011's "Sister Act," which she received a Tony nomination. For tickets, please visit the event's webpage.

■■ Sharon Isbin is set to serenade attendees Friday, April 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Enlow Recital Hall. The two-time Grammy award winner will perform with special guest, Romero Lubambo. For tickets, visit the event's webpage.

■■ "Pinkalicious, The Musical" is Sunday, April 7 at 3 p.m at Wilkins Theatre. This play is about Pinkalicious, a girl who turns bright pink after eating too many pink cupcakes. This performance is kidfriendly and set to entertain the entire family. Tickets are going fast, so be sure to purchase tickets on the event's webpage.

■■ "The Doo Wop Project" takes place Sunday, April 14 at 3 p.m. Stars of Broadway's "Jersey Boys", "Bronx Tales" and "Motown: The Musical" will take the audience on a journey into the evolution of pop style, doo wop. To purchase tickets, visit the webpage.

■■ Jon Secada is coming Saturday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. to the Enlow

Recital Hall. The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter will wow the audience with his blend of charting English and Spanish songs.

Tickets can be purchased on the event's webpage.

All tickets can be purchased on the Kean Stage ticket webpage or at the Wilkins Theatre box office. Tickets purchased online are subject to processing fees. Ticket prices vary for most events. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to purchase tickets as soon as possible.

Kean Stage also presents a number of events with free admission, including the following: ■■ "Ars Vitalis: The Music of Lowell Liebermann" — Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m.at Enlow Hall ■■ Music Conservatory - Concert Choir — March 31 at 3 p.m. at Enlow Hall ■■ Music Conservatory - Wind Ensemble — April 11 at 8 p.m. at Enlow Hall ■■ Music Conservatory - Jazz Ensemble — April 25 at 7:30 p.m. at Wilkins Theatre ■■ Music Conservatory - Percussion Ensemble — April 29 at 7:30 p.m. at Wilkins Theatre

Photo courtesy of Krystle Seit.

Kean students rehearse a moment from "Midsummer Night's Dream". Pictured Top L-R: Chris Grant as Oberon, Katie Mestres as Robin (Puck). Bottom L-R: Christopher Centinaro as Lysander, Meghan Landon as Helena, and Edward Wagner as Demetrius

For more information on Kean Stage or to view their lineup of performances, visit their webpage. To contact Kean Stage, call (908) 7377469 or email ticket@kean.edu.

Caleb Lopez, senior psychology major, is a member of The Cougar's Byte staff.

A Leadership and Service Publication for the Kean University Student Community

Page 6

Tuesday | February 26 | 2019

Exhibiting the Industrious

Four industrial design students displayed their transportation project at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City

Lessons Learned: Race in the American Classroom

Kean students, teachers and administrators analyzed the current state of racism in our nation's school systems Kieffer Braisted

safer and more inclusive space," Goldberg insisted.

essons Learned: Race in the American Classroom is an annual workshop hosted by Kean University, with this year's rendition taking place Friday, Feb. 8.

Each year, the Council on Global Education and Citizenship (CGEC) presents a series of general assembly meetings for educators to grapple with issues affecting their students and to identify strategies and approaches for creating safe and inclusive classroom environments.

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Staff Writer

Keynote speaker and Rutgers University professor Dr. Melissa Cooper presented to over 50 teachers and administrators who belong to the Holocaust Resource Center's Council on Global Education and Citizenship, as well as Kean students during the workshop.

The goal of the workshop is to help better determine the current state of racism in our nation's school systems and what needs to be done to help better combat said ignorance in a healthy and educational manner.

"We have to talk about social justice issues in the classroom, in faculty lunch rooms and in faculty meetings," said Dr. Melissa Cooper.

"Racism has been historically perpetrated in the school and justice systems since 1740.

The time for change is now," Cooper said, calling the audience to action.

Courtesy of Kean University

James D'Orazio (left) displays his group's transportation exhibit alongside Efecem Kutuk (right), the coordinator of the industrial design program.

Zoe Strozewski

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Staff Writer

transportation project created by a group of Kean’s industrial design students was chosen to be exhibited at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. One of only five universities chosen to be represented throughout the country, the exhibit, titled “A Day in the Life of a Kean Student,” has been on display since December and will continue to be shown until March 31.

The Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum is an institution in the Upper East Side of New York City dedicated to showcasing historic and contemporary design. The Kean project is being shown as part of a larger exhibit dubbed “The Road Ahead: Reimagining Transportation,” which presents a total of 40 design projects that imagine the future of transportation in our cities.

The student team consisted of sophomore James D’Orazio, sophomore John Almeida, senior Michael Daniel and sophomore Jared Torres, all of whom are studying industrial design in the Robert Busch School of Design. According to D’Orazio, the inspiration for this project was born from their collective experience navigating the trials and tribulations of getting to school.

“As all four of us are students, we notice the flaws in our daily commutes to class and back as well as around campus. Therefore, we were determined to create an idea that students both on and off campus could benefit from and enjoy,” D’Orazio said.

One part of their transportation vision focused on providing commuter students with an inclusive and efficient way to get to campus.

“We have come up with autonomous shuttle systems that run from Kean University to the major hubs in New Jersey within a 45 minute radius. They only have one destination besides Kean so the annoyance of frequent stops has been removed and they will have their own route to make travel time as quick as possible,” D’Orazio said.

Additionally, their design included services and accommodations for those who reside in the campus dormitories.

“For on-campus students, we have an autonomous cart system for those who are handicapped, injured, have an excess of materials to carry for class or are simply running late,” D’Orazio said. “Along with that, we have come up with the idea of assisted pedal bicycles for those who want to get to class in a timely manner while getting their fill of exercise, or for anyone who wants a more enjoyable commute to their class.”

Although the work of Kean students has been featured in this museum before, D’Orazio said he considers the recognition a source of pride.

“Being exhibited in the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Museum is a huge honor and has been amazing experience for my team and I, as well as a great opportunity to get exposure into the design world,” D’Orazio said.

For more information on either the Robert Busch School of Design or the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, those interested should visit their respective websites.

Zoe Strozewski, sophomore communication journalism major, is a member of The Cougar's Byte staff.

Dr. Adara Goldberg, the director of the Council on Global Education and Citizenship, built upon Cooper's remarks on the importance of bringing racial disparities to the forefront of educators' discussions.

"We need to educate more teachers and students on the issue of race, bias, prejudice and how it affects all of us. Teachers have a distinct responsibility to make schools a

The theme for this year's programming is "Everybody Has a Story", with additional seminars and events occurring in October of last year and again in April.

The October workshop presented a variety of perspectives on the immigrant and refugee experience in New Jersey, while the upcoming April meeting will present a panel on LGBTQ student experiences.

"We are committed to diversity and global citizenship," said Mary Sok, Council on Global education and Citizenship president.

"These programs help us address inequities in our schools," Sok continued.

Dr. Goldberg also commented on the benefits of applying the Council's and workshop's principals to actual school and classroom environments.

"A number of the historical issues Dr. Cooper brought up are also contemporary issues that could be raised in the classroom today or even framed into lessons that would allow students to analyze their own educational experiences," Goldberg explained.

Formerly known as the Diversity Council

The Cougar's Byte

Over 50 students and educators alike attended "Lessons Learned: Race in the American Classroom" of Kean University, CGEC was founded in 1990 in partnership with Kean's College of Education, with it's only goal "to empower educators and students alike to create safe, inclusive learning environments through Common Core-aligned professional development", as per its mission statement on their website.

Looking to foster the "continued growth of active and compassionate individuals in order to reduce intolerance, harassment/ intimidation, and to promote social justice in a democratic society", CGEC now proudly serves over 80 member school districts.

Those interested in obtaining more information on the CGEC or about how to join may visit their official webpage.

Kieffer Braisted, junior communication major, is a member of The Cougar’s Byte taff.

Kean University Hosts Annual Fine Arts Exhibition

The Kean community participated in the annual Fine Arts Exhibition in the James Howe Gallery Kieffer Braisted

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The attention to detail and enormous effort clearly portrayed in each creation certainly does not go unnoticed.

Staff Writer

ean University strives not only to educate its students, but also to provide opportunities and outlets for those interested in displaying their creative abilities to both the campus community and the general public alike.

One of the best examples of this philosophy is the Fine Arts Exhibition, held each year in the James Howe Gallery in the Vaughn Eames Building on Kean's Union campus.

The Fine Arts Exhibition serves as a bridge to allow students to display assignments from either their previous or current classes or personal selections in which were completed elsewhere besides the classroom.

The exhibition features work from Kean University fine arts majors, non fine arts major students enrolled in fine arts classes and alumni as well. Providing a fabulous outlet for those interested in taking their artistic talents to a public and professional forum, the gallery has over 50 pieces on display, featuring a wide array of mediums used.

Some general areas of concentration within the exhibition include paintings, sculptures, sketches, portraits, photography, hand-crafted items, metals, ceramics, printmaking, video art and much more.

Works chosen to feature in the exhibition are voted upon and further selected by faculty within Kean University's Fine Arts department.

Thoughtfully divided into themed sections, the James Howe Gallery takes a new shape as one walks through carefully assorted displays

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Kieffer Braisted | The Cougar's Byte

The gallery has over 50 pieces on display, featuring a wide array of mediums used.

of various creations and piece-filled walls.

Perhaps the most intriguing and thoughtprovoking element of the exhibition is the vast and stark differences between each piece featured.

Additionally, the talent level and quality of the works on show mimic those of a professional gallery, which can be directly attributed to the hard work of both the faculty in the Fine Arts department as well as the actual students and participants.

"The James Howe Gallery is the premier teaching gallery of Kean University and features shows by visiting artists, graduate students, and faculty. Shows are generally related to the Fine Arts studio program," states the official Kean University webpage.

The individualism, creativity and skill on display clearly illustrates the aforementioned Kean University philosophy of fostering an environment of learning skills and applying said skills into a professional-style environment, aiming for student growth and opportunity.

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Some of the featured artists participating in the exhibition include Haoting Wang, Barbara Breese-Rogers, Sable Arias, Mary Skrzyniarz, Aliyah Bradley, Ashley Buttino, Anthony Cullington, Eric Schiabor, Joana Lopes, Evelyn Altamirano, James Ferretti, Sabrean DeBlasio, William Kmec, Richard Mahon and many more to mention a few.

The exhibition will remain open on select days from now until March 18. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Below is the remaining viewing schedule which can also be found on Cougar Link: February: ■■ Friday, Feb. 22 ■■ Monday, Feb. 25 ■■ Tuesday, Feb. 26 ■■ Wednesday, Feb. 27 ■■ Thursday, Feb. 28 March: ■■ Friday, March 1 ■■ Monday, March 4 ■■ Tuesday, March 5 ■■ Wednesday, March 6 ■■ Thursday, March 7 ■■ Friday, March 8 ■■ Wednesday, March 13 ■■ Monday, March 18 Kieffer Braisted, junior communication major, is a member of The Cougar’s Byte taff.

Tuesday | February 26 | 2019

Speech Now or Forever Hold Your Peace

The School of Communication, Media and Journalism is holding its first ever speech contest Zoe Strozewski

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Staff Writer

or the first time this spring, the School of Communication, Media and Journalism will be hosting a speech contest. The preliminary round of the contest will be taking place April 1, 2 and 3 in the Miron Student Center Little Theatre, while the final round will take place May 1. This contest will allow any and all interested students to showcase their public speaking skills and compete for a $100 prize.

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"Taking Aim: Power Gender and Firearms" Exhibit Opens Linda Lighton's exhibit will be available to view until May 5 Kieffer Braisted Staff Writer

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orld-renowned sculptor and contemporary artist Linda Lighton introduced her newly-opened exhibit "Taking Aim: Power Gender and Firearms" in the Human Rights Institute Gallery Feb. 5.

The exhibit, running until May 5, aims to express the connection between gun violence and violence against women in the United States.

Lighton's artistic background is extremely diverse and extensive, having both her education and works span the globe.

According to the The Lighton International Artists Exchange Program (LIAEP), she originally attended The Factory of Visual Arts in Seattle, Washington from 1971 to 1974. From 1974 to 1976, Lighton lived on the Colville Indian Reservation in Eastern Washington State to help gain a better perspective on Native American art.

Continuing her studies and travels, she studied painting and ceramics from 1976 to 1978 at the University of Idaho.

Finally, she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with honors from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1989.

The inspiration and organization of the contest came from Professor Allison Edgley, who recently became a lecturer at Kean’s School of Communication, Media and Journalism after working as an adjunct across multiple universities.

“Other schools ran similar contests with their public speaking courses, and I decided I would urge some of my best to enter,” Edgley said. “When one of my students won, I saw how much confidence was gained, so I thought it would be a great way to showcase our department as well as give students a larger voice. This is a way to increase discourse among all departments on campus and also get students invested in their interpersonal skills.”

To apply, the application can be found at Center for Academic Success (CAS), Room 402, and the completed application can be dropped off at the same office. Otherwise, students can request an application by emailing Edgley at edgleya@kean.edu, and email the form back to her once it's filled out. To be eligible to participate, the application must be submitted by March 15.

Once again, the preliminary round of the contest will be taking place April 1, 2 and 3 in the Miron Student Center Little Theatre, while the final round will take place May 1. All speeches must be five to seven minutes in length and persuasive in style, based off of the persuasive speech format taught in the Communication as Critical Citizenship (COMM 1402) class all Kean students are required to take.

While this contest is being run through the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), students from any area of study are welcome, and even encouraged, to participate.

“We strongly urge students from outside of the CLA to enter. Public speaking is not just for communication or education students,” Edgley said. “It is not just about listening to the sound of our voice, rather connecting to and with others. By having students from all backgrounds and fields enter, we can help to reduce stereotypes and misconceptions as well.”

Edgley believes that taking part in this opportunity can benefit students in ways that intersect with both their personal and work lives.

“My hope is that students increase their confidence and gain courage speaking in front of audiences.

I want students to be able to express themselves freely and ethically by furthering the skills they have learned in class as well. This is also a positive talking point for a resume and can set a student apart during an interview,” Edgley said.

Additionally, Edgley believes that mastering the art of public speaking is a skill that can translate positively to multiple situations in life.

“Public speaking is a skill that can help a student express their feelings, attitudes and beliefs in a constructive manner. Many employers want to hire individuals who can clearly articulate ideas and negotiate,” Edgley said. “Students who excel at public speaking exhibit ethics by using critically evaluated research, logic through rational evidence and support, and passion when connecting with others through stories or anecdotes.”

Kieffer Braisted | The Cougar's Byte

The New Exhibit "Taking Aim: Power Gender and Firearms" tackles a national debate

Lighton has had 54 solo shows since 1974 and helped contribute to more than 150 group exhibitions i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y, including representing the United States as a member of the International Academy of Ceramics on multiple occasions.

Some of the places in which her artwork was featured include Missouri, New Jersey, Washington, Ohio, Texas, Japan, Korea, Germany, China and more.

Additionally, the pieces on display are focused on evoking imagery revolving around capitalistic greed and the human preoccupation with power, control and status.

The exhibit features over 20 ceramic works from Lighton's personal studio with the entirety of the collection spanning over 14 years to finalize.

Said statistics included information on gun violence, domestic violence and violence against women and minorities.

Tanya Hartman, a contributor and curator for Lighton, described the raw elements that went into the basis of the exhibit.

"The brutality that Kieffer Braisted | The Cougar's Byte Lighton references The New Exhibit "Taking Aim: Power in this exhibition is Gender and Firearms" tackles a national directly connected debate to a materialistic love of weaponry, its proliferation in homes across the United States and a disconnection between easy trigger fingers and tragic consequences," Hartman explained. "Great artists make works that address the culture in which they live."

"Through the repeated motifs of the gun, the flower and the bullet, Lighton presents the viewer with a visual representation of the conflicted psyche at the heart of the national debate on the right to bear arms," Hartman said.

Those interested in viewing Lighton's works can visit the Kean University Human Rights Institute Gallery, located in the Nancy Thompson Library on the main campus.

Gallery hours are as follows: ■■ Monday through Wednesday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

■■ Thursday: 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

■■ Friday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For additional information on the exhibit or the artist, one can visit Linda Lighton's official website.

Attendance for the exhibit is free of charge.

Also focusing on advocacy, Lighton touched upon her call to action behind "Taking Aim: Power Gender and Firearms" and the importance of understanding her work.

"It's our job to ensure our youth's future," Lighton said. "Gun safety is a fundamental right. We want our children growing up in safe communities nationwide."

Kieffer Braisted, junior communication major, is a member of The Cougar’s Byte staff.

Rise, Resist, Unite

CLS honors the One Billion Rising campaign that stands against violence toward women Brandon Gervais

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Staff Writer

ne Billion Rising was an event held in the Center for Academic Success (CAS) First Floor Feb. 14, in response to the shocking statistics that state 1 in 3 women will be beaten or

raped during their lifetime. On average, over one billion women on the planet experience abuse of some sort. Thus, One Billion Rising started on Valentine's Day in 2012 as a call to action against violence toward women.

their friends know where they were going, sending them their location and being aware of their safety.

The surveyed boys, however, worried about simpler things like hygiene and thinking of what to talk about.

This event was small but effective in its message.

Representatives of the Center for Leadership and Service (CLS) stood at a table and informed students passing by about the shocking facts and statistics concerning violence against women. Students could also spin a trivia wheel to get a certain type of question that had facts about violence against women.

One Billion Rising is a yearly campaign that started in response to the staggering number of women affected by abuse in the world. The event hosted by CLS gave students an opportunity to learn about the different laws put into place to defend and stand for women. One of these acts, Title IX was displayed at the table and states that "no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."

A special poster was created that showed differences in the preparations for dates. The poster showed how a girl would get ready for a first date and then how a boy would. From the poster, we can see that typically girls, when preparing for a date, tend to be considerably aware and anxious of not knowing the person they are going on the date with. The surveyed girls said they prepare by letting

The Center for Leadership and Service is working to host a self-defense class for any person regardless of gender to come and learn how to defend themselves when in a dangerous situation. More information on the class is to come, feel free to contact the Center for Leadership and Service for updates at (908) 737-5170 or visit the Miron Student Center (MSC), Room 219.

For additional information, questions and inquiries can be directed toward Edgley via her email at edgleya@kean.edu.

Brandon Gervais | The Cougar's Byte Zoe Strozewski, sophomore communication journalism major, is a member of The Cougar's Byte staff.

In addition to the numerous pieces of art and sculpture, various statistics lined the walls, aiming to magnify and enhance the experience for the prospective viewer.

Students were welcomed to learn about the billions of women who are affected by violence all around the world.

A Leadership and Service Publication for the Kean University Student Community

Brandon Gervais, sophomore English education double major, is a member of The Cougar's Byte staff.

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Tuesday | February 26 | 2019

The New Voice for Kean Greeks

The new Greek Senate Executive Board was recently elected for the upcoming school year Shannon Sheehan

Osoria, sister of Omega Sigma Psi. This role is dedicated to all of the service opportunities that are offered through the Senate.

he Greek Senate at Kean University is an accumulation of students from various Greek Organizations on campus that come together to be the voice for all of the Greeks at Kean. They have meetings, plan programmings and fundraisers, while aiding the sororities and fraternities toward success.

Vice President of Standards and Conduct: Isaac Taylor, brother of Phi Beta Sigma. This position is responsible for helping resolve any issues that arise within Greek life.

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Vice President of Public Relations: Erika Ambrose, sister of Sigma Gamma Rho. This role runs the social media accounts and makes Greeks look good to the community.

Ultimately, they are role models and mentors to not only those in the Greek community, but to every students on campus. They are involved and dedicated to upholding their positions. Recently, elections were held to elect the new Greek Senate representative for the following school year.

The Greek Senate's purpose is to encourage and aid students to uphold the ideals of scholarship, leadership, campus involvement and brotherhood or sisterhood. The Greek Senate also pride themselves on assisting students in their personal development to ensure that they are being the best versions of themselves. The new representatives on the Greek Senate are responsible for not only showing these traits in themselves, but helping other students do the same.

Eight members compose the Greek Senate, each having to be from a different Greek Organization. To get voted onto the Senate, one must first be nominated for the position. At the Greek Senate meetings, representatives from each organization are present, therefore each organization has one vote to cast for each position, ensuring that everyone has input.

A list of the newly elected Senate, their positions and duties are as follows: President Gabriella Lapointe, sister of Delta Phi Epsilon. This is the lead role in the executive board and they are in charge of overseeing the rest of the Senate.

Secretary: Jeremy Volin, brother Gamma Psi Epsilon. This role is responsible for keeping everyone organized, going through agendas and preparing for meetings.

Treasurer: Michelle Gitlin, sister of Nu Theta Chi. This role offers many fundraising ideas and is responsible for money.

Christopher Del Prete

Pictured is the newly elected Roshorn Shivers, Vice President of Rush and Membership Development, Emely Hernandez, Vice President of Programming, and Jeremey Volin, Secretary.

Vice President of Programming: Emely Hernandez, sister of Lambda Theta Alpha. This role is responsible for the programming that the Senate holds, including events for Kean Dance Marathon, career building and more.

Vice President of Rush and Membership Development: Roshorn Shivers, brother of Lambda Delta Chi. They are in charge of new member intake, and the biggest recruitment event of the semester, Meet the Greeks.

Vice President of Multicultural Affairs and Community Service: Tiffany

A Little Taste of Soul

The Commuter Resource Center hosted a spoken word event Abigail Anne Rafael Editor

introduction of the next poet by another Commuter Resource Center student worker.

Avery was the second poet of the night. Avery began by doing a short spiel on spoken word etiquette as many of the audience members had never been to an event such as this before. He taught the students that spoken word events were meant to be an interactive art. In contrast to other events, the audience is urged to react throughout the performance to encougaged the performer. Avery explained that one should snap their fingers when something was good. When something was great, one should holler "Yes". Avery cautioned that claps are reserved for the end as one does not want to disrupt the progression of the poem.

Avery executed this lesson with humor, relieving the crowd of any tension and allowing students to freely comment throughout his performance as they were moved by it.

Avery gave poem performances on love, inmates and life lessons. His poems earned snaps and comments throughout his performance and concluded with a wholesome applause.

Danielle Thomas | The Cougar's Byte

Poet Avery performed at A Little Taste of Soul on Tuesday, Feb. 19.

The Commuter Resource Center (CRC) hosted A Little Taste of Soul on Tuesday, Feb. 20, enticing attendees with spoken word artists.

The event was hosted in Hutchinson Hall, Room 100 and was meant to reflect a different aspect of Black History Month. Upon walking in, guests were entranced by the mood lighting of the auditorium made by the use of colored lights on the stage and rope lights leading the way into the auditorium.

As students filed in, event workers encouraged students to sit close to the stage for a more intimate encounter with the performers. As the event went on, this simple step forward resulted in a close-knit group of attendees by the end of the show.

To wrap up the event, Commuter Resource Center workers went to set up food at the Commuter Resource Center and allowed guests to stay in the auditorium as they waited. One audience member asked the performers if they could do a couple more as everyone waited for the food. The performers proceeded to do their first spoken word collaborations together, taking turns speaking on the subjects of toxic relationships, self-love and spirituality as chosen by the audience. The spontaneous performances were appreciated by the audience, and the whole event was an overall success.

"I think this was inspirational. There were things I didn't know were kind of relatable to me and actually made sense. That also makes me want to write what I'm feeling because I'm the type of person where I don't speak about my feelings, so I see them as brave people. That [spoken word poets] actually come up there and spend the time to talk about their deepest desires and the deepest feelings that they have. I envy that because I want to do that too, so that's why I appreciate listening to them. One day, hopefully, I can share my own feelings and what I see in the world," said Danielle Olistin, a sophomore forensic psychology major.

For more upcoming events, check out Cougar Link.

To begin, a Commuter Resource Center student worker introduced the first poet of the night: Treasure.

Treasure gave five spoken word poems on her life experiences in love, loss and family. Her spoken word style was a mix of singing, spoken word and performance. Her poem performances earned applause from the audience and was followed by an

Abigail Anne Rafael, a sophomore communication public relations major, is a member of The Cougar's Byte staff.

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The Greek community at Kean prides itself on Greek Unity, meaning that all of the organizations collaborate for the same fundraising efforts, help each other in times of need and overall respect each other. The Greek Senate is a prime example of Greek Unity as it has members from different organizations coming together to strive toward the same goals.

Lapointe said, "I think working [not only] for your organization but working for the community as a whole together with organizations is a big thing at Kean.”

She continued, “I’m really excited to be able to be the voice for all the Greeks at Kean. I’m proud that they nominated me and that I was elected, and I feel like that means they have faith in me, which I hope they do! But I’m really excited!”

Shannon Sheehan, sophomore communication journalism major, is a member of The Cougar’s Byte staff.

Kean Thinks Green

The Earth Science Club believes that simple, small changes can influence a greener community!

Shannon Sheehan Staff Writer

Interested in trying to make the Kean community a greener place? The Earth Science Club (ESC) is dedicated to doing just that by educating students on the state of the environment and influencing others to help make a change.

President Maura De Palma said, "The Earth Science Club is about promoting our love for the Earth and the ESC has many events to help preserve the environment, such environmental sciences, as this River Clean-up. as well as sustainability approaches. We have various activities and events to promote Maxine and Jack Lane Center for Academic how Kean students can be environmentally Success (CAS), Room 250 from 3:30 to 4:30 conscious through easy life choices." p.m. The next meeting will be March 28.

De Palma continued, "Our organization stands for protecting the environment and helping Mother Earth. We believe that one small change can [jumpstart] a positive reaction."

ESC emphasizes that small changes in one's everyday life can make an impact on the environment as a whole. They raise awareness to the fact that being environmentally friendly and sustainable is not as hard as it may seem.

One example of how they demonstrated this was at the Earth Day Fair, where they handed out canvas bags for students to decorate and reuse instead of wasteful paper and plastic bags.

De Palma joined ESC when she was a freshman because she wanted to become more involved on campus. If one is passionate about nature and the state of the environment, joining ESC is a great opportunity to meet students with similar passions.

Additionally, ESC has many upcoming events if one is interested. They are as follows: ■■ Campus Cleanup with Nu Delta Pi on March 23 ■■ The Lorax Movie Viewing on April 15 in the Miron Student Center (MSC) Little Theatre ■■ The Earth Day Fair Tabling on April 16 at the MSC Patio ■■ The Raptor Trust on April 17 in MSC 226 ■■ The Elizabeth River Clean Up on April 18 ■■ Fossil Hunting on April 27 at Big Brook Park If one is interested in learning more about ESC and their events, make sure to check out their Cougar Link page.

Joining ESC is a great way to become educated on different aspects of earth science as well!

Members will learn about different fields such as meteorology, geology, astronomy and more. This helps students expand their knowledge on the earth science industry if one is interested in getting a job after graduation.

While this is a science-based club, it is open to students of any major as the members of ESC are extremely welcoming to new students and all of their ideas. Its meetings are held in the

www.cougarsbyte.com

Shannon Sheehan, sophomore communication journalism major, is a member of The Cougar’s Byte staff.