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A Celebration of Queer History Month at HRI’s Wigstock Drag Brunch
By Veronica Vila
This month the Human Rights Institute hosted a Drag Brunch celebrating Queer History Month and its latest exhibition, Wigstock, which explores themes of identity, race, art, and activism.
The event took place at the HRI’s Gallery on Oct. 19, surrounded by artist Pierre Dalpé’s photographs, where creative expression and the deeper intersection between art, identity, and human rights are celebrated.
“All exhibitions in the HRI Gallery need to have an element of human rights,” said Sarah Coykendall, HRI managing assistant director.
“Each piece brings awareness to human rights – whether by spotlighting joy or injustice,” she said.
“Every time I get into drag, I want to quit. But once I’m on stage, I realize how much I love it. Even the struggles –eight layers of polyester and spandex, and corsets digging into my ribs that leave burning marks after I take them off – can’t stop me.” – Urethra Vas D’Ferens
By Sarah Rosales
Cringe is dead! To dress up as your favorite fictional character is not only a joyous experience, but a valuable one as well.
Kean University’s Anime Society hosted its third annual Cosplay Masquerade on the 24th of Oct., and it was bigger than all the masquerades that have preceded it.
The Cosplay Masquerade is exactly what it sounds like. “Cosplay” is a combination of the words “costume” and “play”, and this masquerade entailed participants getting together dressed as a fictional character of their choosing and showing off their costume to others. Some costumes could be as extravagant as layers of fabric stitched by hand and wigs that have been worked on for months, or as modest as something pulled from your closet.
In past years, the masquerade event had been a simple affair where around a dozen students would participate in a costume contest and it wouldn’t go beyond that.
“This has been our biggest venture yet,” said
Taylor Fleming, the Vice President of the Anime Society.
Participants in the main costume contest were eligible to win multiple prizes in various categories. Alongside that, the first 50 people to arrive received candy bags, and two raffle baskets were available to be won. One for those who showed up in costume, and another for anybody interested in financially supporting the organization by buying their merchandise such as pins, keychains, bracelets, or stickers.
This year’s masquerade also featured collaborations with Kean Film Association and Kean TV, who documented the event.
“People can sign up to either walk on stage and show off their costume or perform a song, a comedy skit, or say a poem in front of everybody else,” said Angeryca Concepcion, the President of the organization.
The Anime Society expected at least 40 students to join them that night. Many of them might not be such experienced cosplayers like Fleming, who had been
THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF KEAN UNIVERSITY
Photo by Kean Anime Society
banner advertising the event on Cougarlink
Photo by Veronica Vila
From left to right, HRI Program Coordinator Mindy Goldstein, Urethra Vas D’Ferens, Kay Gorgeous, and Black Cherry Loveé at Kean’s Wigstock
Humanities Searches for New Ideas to Cope with AI in the Classroom
By Juliana Hays
Dr. Lisa Sisler is taking a unique approach to the use of artificial intelligence in her Advanced Composition course.
How educators navigate the use of GenAI is crucial in keeping humans the focus of the humanities.
The English professor and coordinator of college composition at Kean University gives an assignment that tells students to use AI. For one essay in her Advanced Composition course, students are told to plug their essay idea into ChatGPT. Then, they are assigned to take that AI generated text and make it their own.
“By having students ‘revise’ the ChatGPT essay, they learn how important their own voice is in their writing – that when a robot is writing for them, it takes them completely out of both the process and the product,” Sisler said.
While humanities professors grapple with the use of AI in the classroom, Dr. Sisler is among the many who are thinking deeply
about how to implement AI into their curriculum.
To many, the rise of generative AI threatens the human touch that makes writing so special. As a result, Kean’s Department of English Studies is especially wary about implementing GenAI into their courses. How educators navigate the use of GenAI is crucial in keeping humans the focus of the humanities.
“We have to be aware, we have to be careful, and we have to be intentional,” Dr. Chris Friend, Kean assistant professor of English in New Media, said about integrating GenAI into English curriculums.
Many educators are fearful of using GenAI. A common fear is that their students will not grow as writers and thinkers. As a
continued on page 7
Ndaba Mandela’s Return to Co-teach in Spring 2025 South Africa Travelearn
By Nefertiti Nzameyo
Ndaba Mandela’s appearance as guest speaker at Kean University’s 16th Annual Human Rights Conference last December spread an honorable chatter of anticipation amongst the Kean Community. That same night, a seed was planted to bring Kean students to Mandela's home country- South Africa.
Jessica Barzilay, Assistant Vice President of Global Initiatives, oversees the Center for International Studies, the Human Rights Institute, and the Holocaust Resource Center. She vividly recalls the moment that spurred months of planning, research,
As the program coordinator and first-time traveler to the program destination, talking about the trip affected her arms with goosebumps.
“I’m too excited I have to contain myself. I have to contain myself,” said Barzilay. Mandela’s and Barzilay’s co-partnership is infused with a motive to inspire the youth to recognize the capabilities within themselves that make great leaders conducive of magnet-like change in diverse human rights topics. The program features visits to Robben Island (known for being the site of Mandela’s imprisonment), Soweto, the safari, and the Cradle of Humankind.
“There’s going to be tears, there’s going to be probably people feeling very emotional of course, but there’s going to be the beauty and the joy and the what do we do with this,”
Barlizay emphasizes the objective of raising thought-provoking questions that help bridge the gap between familiar and unfamiliar with the legacy of Mandela. A memorable life’s work that surpasses blood ties and geography that she got to experience firsthand.
“When I got to meet Ndaba Mandela I’m like, ‘I remember going the first time your grandfather was in the US and I remember standing in line to go see him speak but I can’t believe I’m standing here talking to you and giving you a hug. It's unbelievable.”
More exciting than her involvement and work behind the scenes with her robust team of coworkers and Mandela, is the future where the experience will cease existing in the constraints of their minds.
“There’s going to be tears, there’s going to be probably people feeling very emotional of course, but there’s going to be the beauty and the joy and the what do we do with this,” said Brazilay. The program in South Africa will be an addition to the list of human right’s Travelearns, 7-10 day study abroad trips led by faculty members, however, it will be the first trip to an African nation since she’s been at Kean.
“I’m not the expert of South Africa in any way but I am about how do you learn those lessons and come together and figure out what you’re going to do in your career,” said
continued on page 7
Photo by Kean University
The application is live on the Kean Study Abroad Portal and due by November 3rd
Photo by Jessica Barzilay
(From left to right) Sarah Coykendall , Ndaba Mandela, and Jessica Barzilay
Dr. Lisa Sisler
Flo-Rida puts on a show F oR homecoming conceR
By Ross Rodney
The student body of Kean University was in store for a fun night on Oct. 3 with the Miami-based artist FloRida real name Tramar Dillard slated to perform at the Wilkins Theater for the annual homecoming concert. Students were ready as many showed up early to stand in line outside of the venue.
The stage was set for the Grammy-nominated artist, with students gathered in their seats and full of energy the show was under way. As the show started students were excited and quickly left their seats to stand in front of the stage. The crowd chants his name, and Flo-Rida comes out with flowers ready to hand out to the crowd.
As he took the stage Flo-Rida was accompanied by some special guests, Oya Baby, INTL Nephew, and Varie Fresh3. With the mic in his hand and flowers for the crowd in the other, he started with one of his hit songs “In the Ayer” to get the crowd going.
As he transitions to the next couple of songs Flo-Rida brings two different groups of students to join him on stage for the performance. The rest of the night consisted of many more of his hit songs and crowd-interacting chants.
Kean’s student government association’s president
“This was my first real pop concert so the experience was basically everything… Near deafening but fun”
Makenzie Kuntz spoke on the process of selecting FloRida to be the performer for the concert this year.
“The Office of Student Government works closely with an entertainment agency who assists us in navigating the best choice, in terms of availability, cost, and genre. We have specific voting processes and procedures in place, which ultimately lead us to our final decisions” said
Kuntz.
The performance left students with roaring reviews around campus, it left students with a positive experience and memories they can cherish for a lifetime.
“I found the Flo-Rida concert to be so much fun… Many students who I have spoken to expressed that they enjoyed the concert very much. Some explained continued on page 8
Kean Alumni Turned Master Cosplayer Within a Year
By Taylor Fleming
In a world where imagination knows no bounds and creativity takes on tangible form, fictional characters leap out of the screen and onto the stage of reality. Within this realm lies Allison, known as Goose Fangs, a Kean alumni and masterclass cosplayer whose artistry surpasses recreation. With meticulous attention to detail and dedication to the craft, she breathes life into characters.
Cosplay is a performance art in which performers, known as cosplayers, portray characters from various media, celebrating creativity, craftsmanship, and community. Allison is a New Jersey-based cosplayer known for paying close attention to detail and fully
making her costumes, including the shoes.
While she started cosplay at 22, she only stepped into the competitive cosplay arena in 2022 during her senior year as a Kean student. She secured her inaugural firstplace award in her first competition appearance at Derpycon in New Brunswick.
“In the end, we're all just nerds playing dress up.”
“Don't expect perfection on the first try. It's a journey. Not everything is going to be perfect on the first try, and that’s okay,” said Allison in a soft-spoken tone when asked to advise those who aspire to be like her. She spoke as if she wished someone had told her that when she started her cosplay journey. From that moment on she embraced the spotlight and wanted to continue showcasing
her skills and learn new ways to improve her craft. Since then she has amassed three prestigious “best-in-show” awards from multiple conventions such as Castle Point Anime Convention and Derpycon, a testament to what raised her to master-class status within a year. Receiving a “Best in Show” award is the cosplay equivalent of receiving an Oscar in the film industry.
Inspiration takes on many forms for Allison. Whether it be video games such as “Skyrim” or comforting shows like “Adventure Time,” Allison honors these source materials by spending hours upon hours to make sure the details are both accurate and high quality. Each stitch and every brushstroke is infused with her reverence for the designs, resulting in cosplays that pay homage to the source material but also resonate with authenticity and artistic integrity.
“I have found that I just love to learn new hobbies because I have found that I just love learning
new skills and making things and it's cool that I can be able to be recognized for that,” said Allison. Her animated gestures underscored her excitement as she elaborated on her projects, expressing her passion for gaining new skills and learning. She continues to inspire those who are enthusiastic enough to take on the journey of competitive cosplay for themselves. Since graduating in the Fall of 2022, she currently works as an art teacher at Randolf High School where she can not only raise the funds she needs to pursue her passions but can also pass on the knowledge she gained when she started cosplay.
“In the end, we’re all just nerds playing dress up,” Goose said with a playful smile, that reflected her appreciation for the craft and the passion and creativity it takes. n
Photo by Katelyn Kimball
Allison as Lydia from Skyrim
Photo by Taylor Fleming
Allison dressed in Thieves Guild Armor from Skyrim
Photo by Ross Rodney Flo-Rida
DACA Activist: Sara Mora
By Blanca Mora
Sara Mora was born in Costa Rica, she immigrated to the U.S. illegally with her parents when she was 3 years old. She grew up in New Jersey and at the age of 16, she joined the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals DACA program.
DACA offers a two-year renewable legal status to undocumented immigrants who entered the U.S. as children in 2012. Recipients receive a social security number and are eligible to get a driver's license, or job and start on a path to potential citizenship.
Mora is a student at Kean University, studying International Politics, and preparing herself to enter Immigration Law School. She is a speaker on immigrant rights, an activist, and an advisor for dating companies, Tinder and Hinge.
the Urban Policy Research Institute at Kean focusing on improving access to resources for low-income communities.
“Information is Power.”
For Mora, this upcoming presidential election is critical for all U.S citizens and residents; “We need people to get up and vote” she said. “It is important to understand the power of local cities, what elected officials do in local cities like the Mayor and Board of education”.
She received the Upstanding Student Activist award from Kean University; she is also working with
Mora was invited to join a call on Nov. 13, with different businesses that are looking to develop social entrepreneurship and need support, she is excited to be a part of this project and hopes she can influence them to allow students to be a part of it as well.
As an undocumented immigrant living in the U.S., many aspects of her life are out of her control. She cannot vote, apply for student financial aid, or travel outside the country. She is afraid one day be forced to leave the place she calls home.
By Jaidon Harris-Morales
The Kean Board of Trustees renewed the contract of President Lamont Repollet, Ed.D. for another five years, which includes a 19 percent salary increase.
Repollet’s accomplishments, which include three consecutive years of record enrollment and graduation rates, led the board to renew his contract, extending it to 2029 and increasing his salary to $675,000 a year, from his previous $568,000 a year. When his contract renewal was announced, Repollet pledged to donate $1 million to the Kean Foundation scholarship fund.
Repollet remains the
highest-paid employee at Kean with Chief Financial Officer Andrew Brannen listed as the second highest earner, with a salary of $336,000 in 2023, according to openpayrolls.com.
In 2023, Richard Helldobler, Ph.D, president of William Paterson University in Wayne, made $417,000 and Teik Lim, Ph.D, president of New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, was paid $610,000, according to openpayrolls.com. Both are NJ state universities with similar enrollment size. Initiatives supported or implemented by President Repollet in his past four years at Kean have fostered inclusion and success for students and have allowed
Department of Communication
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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.
Photo by Sara Mora Empowering Women Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Latino Political Activist
Photo by Kean University
President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D.
Brighton Asylum
By Cam’Ron Johnson
In October we look forward to many events, from leaves changing colors, to apple picking, and pumpkin patches with friends, to the middle of football season and wearing cozy sweaters and sweatpants. There are more festivities that went unlisted, but they rank second when compared with Halloween. Halloween is the staple of October, bringing to us costume-wearing, late-night parties, trick-or-treating, and pumpkin carving. Halloween marks a fun time in the year but it’s also the scariest.
This year I decided to take a trip to Brighton Asylum, a haunted house in Passaic, NJ. The haunted house has a rating of 4.5 stars and is ranked number one in NJ. When you arrive it will be late in the hours of operation. The parking lot is located behind a warehouse, so from the moment I parked I felt the spooky energy. Despite it being a busy night the entrance line moved quickly and the staff remained kind and peaceful.
“Oh, you came by yourself?”
Once inside the event, I was intrigued by my surroundings as I headed toward the haunted house station. The mist set the scene greatly. It was all around, you could almost taste it. The music was eerie with an upbeat tone that kept me in the flow as I waited. There were boutique stores, places to print pictures, and spots to pose with Halloween items and take some creative pictures yourself. While in line, the colorful lights were distracting but the presence of the scare actors quickly grabbed my attention. The uniqueness of their costumes and voice acting made me feel as if I were in the haunted house already. As I approached the entrance of the haunted house, rules and regulations were stated “ Keep all phones in pockets…actors are not allowed to touch you… please enter into the right,” said a staff member. I assumed it wouldn’t be scary since physical contact was prohibited but I was wrong.
I was at the front of the line, once inside the haunted
Seven Scary Movies to Spook-Up Your Night
By Courtney-Joy Breeden
When the air is crisp and the leaves are hues of brown, orange, and yellow, fall sets in, and one of the season's most prominent holidays is Halloween.
Halloween sets the tone for the season, encouraging enthusiasts and Fall Fanatics to buy into the spooky and horrorful nature of the holiday.
To set the mood and get everyone into the Halloween spirit, movies have stood the test of time. With classics like Halloween and Hereditary at the forefront of many movie buffs' recommendation lists, here are seven more scary movies to spook up your night.
Scream (1996)
“What’s your favorite scary movie?”
A classic slasher and pop culture horror, Scream follows a teenage girl, Sidney Prescott during the year after her mother's death where she and her friends are haunted by a masked killer who harasses them with phone calls and forces them to play a horror movie trivia game before their death.
Although a horror, its witty and comedic nature absolves watchers of nightmares, the movie never settles to keep you off the edge of your seat.
The Houses October Built (2014)
“My name is Zach … I rented an RV. I want to find the most extreme haunted house in the world.”
Not the most well-known among the general public, The Houses October Built still stands as among the most frightening Halloween movies of the decade. The 2014 found footage format of the 2011 unedited documentary style of the film follows a group of friends on a road trip to find the scariest and most unknown haunted houses in the United States but as the movie
progresses it is the haunt they were so willfully searching for eventually finds them.
The movie starts with a quote from writer Walter Jon Williams, “I'm not afraid of werewolves or vampires or haunted hotels, I'm afraid of what real human beings to do other real human beings.” And quickly releases you
“The spook of goblins and ghouls may only last a day but the chill of horror lasts forever.”
into the world of haunted houses and the secret horrors that lie beneath them.
Psycho (1960)
“It’s not as if she were a maniac, raving thing. She just goes a little mad sometimes. We all go a little mad sometimes. Haven’t you?”
No less than a classic but more like a blueprint, Psycho tells the story of a woman on the run, Marion Crane who seeks shelter at the notable Bates Motel, managed by a man named Norman who takes care of his mentally unwell mother.
As the film continues, Norman finds himself in a situation where protecting his mother comes at the cost of the personhood of others, and in an otherworldly twist, it seems this notion extends to him as well.
Don’t let the black-and-white film dissuade you from enjoying a pivotal moment in film history.
Don’t Breathe (2016)
“Now you’re gonna see what I see.”
Intense and anxiety-inducing, Don’t Breathe keeps
Photo by Brighton Asylum website
“You came to get scared, trust me you will.”
Photo by Monstrous Marquee - Psycho - DeMille - New York City, New York - 1960 - 2
An old picture from a showing of Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock
Photo by Horror, by patosincharco is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0
A mask in the dark
A Celebration of Queer History Month at HRI’s Wigstock Drag Brunch
The set of queens selected were Kean alumni Kay Gorgeous, Black Cherry Loveé, and Urethra Vas D’Ferens. Goldstein said Kay is familiar with the Wigstock festival and was excited to perform in a room full of that culture.”
“We aim to foster future activists and advocates by equipping them with the tools they need to become impactful change-makers,” Goldstein said.
The Wigstock exhibition by Dalpé is a modular showcase that evolves with each venue, encouraging audiences to reflect on why certain images are chosen.
“We want people to see that the fight for human rights is ongoing and dynamic,” Coykendall said. “Through exhibitions like these and events like our annual Human Rights Conference, we demonstrate how human rights education can shape the future.”
This year’s collaboration with the Kean Galleries –focused on identity expression through art – aligned perfectly with the department’s mission.
“Artistic expression is one of the rights highlighted in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” Goldstein notes. “This partnership is a natural fit for us.”
At the heart of the Wigstock exhibition, the Drag Brunch showed a lineup of celebrated New Jersey drag performers led by host and Kean alumnus Kay Gorgeous performed routines that drove the spectators to a full emotional wheel. Dancing, workouts, humor, and moments to honor the lives that fought for queer rights were all incorporated into all drag presentations and audience Q&A.
Kay’s enthusiasm for returning to campus in drag –living her dream – reflects a full-circle moment in her life. “I’ve been looking forward to this gig for a whole month. It’s surreal to be back here, where I studied fine arts, now as a drag queen. It’s even better that they’re paying me this time instead of the other way around!” she jokes.
The tight-knit cast also includes performers Black Cherry Loveé and Urethra Vas D’Ferens, each bringing their unique voice and style to the event. Together, they highlight the power of drag as an art form and its profound impact on self-expression, resilience, and community.
“For me, drag is a love letter to the Black women in my life – my mother, grandmother, and aunts,” Black Cherry opens up. “It’s about honoring them and creating space for others to be unapologetically themselves.”
P. Johnson. “How many times do we hear her name during Black History Month? It is up to us to speak her name.” Black Cherry calls out. “She should be next to the Martin Luther Kings and the Malcolm Xs because she is revolutionary and a pioneer in our culture.”
Despite the glitz and glamour of a drag performance, the queens emphasize that drag is far from easy. Kay Gorgeous confesses the financial and emotional toll it can take.
“Drag became my income, but it’s exhausting – two hours to get ready, plus traveling to venues where I sometimes feel unsafe. I wondered, ‘What do I have to show for this?’ I studied to be a teacher, but instead, I’m cross-dressing for a living,” she said.
This sentiment is echoed by Urethra, who describes the physical and emotional intensity of performing. “Every time I get into drag, I want to quit. But once I’m on stage, I realize how much I love it. Even the struggles – eight layers of polyester and spandex, and corsets digging into my ribs that leave burning marks after I take them off – can’t stop me.”
Kay then recounted a moment when an audience member approached her after a performance that grounds her back to her art anytime she feels like quitting.
“This person told me, ‘I came out to my parents as trans, and it didn’t go well. I thought of doing something dumb earlier, but your show gave me the strength to keep going.’ Moments like that remind me that every time you put on a wig, you’re a warrior, and you’re making a difference in somebody’s life.”
"It’s rare to see Black drag queens in entertainment. On shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race, white queens are often elevated more than Black queens. For me, it’s important to create space to educate and uplift the Black queer community.”
Black Cherry adds. "I founded Rebel Stages [based in Delaware Water Gap, PA] to highlight marginalized stories where BIPOC trans and nonbinary people can play roles that reflect their identities freely and unapologetically.”
During her mix Follow Me performance, Black Cherry dedicated a moment to the queer lives that fought for modern queer rights, especially in the memory of Marsha
on stage had an impact on people’s lives.”
Black Cherry then admits their love for camaraderie, collaborating, and spending time with each other. “Even in moments like these – coming in and out of drag, rushing each other, we appreciate.” “We call it a keke!” Urethra chimes in.
“Drag is more than performance – it’s family. RuPaul says we choose our family, and these two are mine.” Black Cherry concludes.
This sense of unity is vital, especially in an industry where financial challenges are common.
“People assume drag queens are all on RuPaul’s Drag Race levels, but that’s not the reality. Many of us work for minimum wage, and any money we make goes back into our costumes and makeup,” Kay explains. “Even applying to Drag Race, queens have to take a packet loan of $40k in order to afford fabric, cosmetics, and other goods for the show.”
Through their performances and in conversations while coming out of drag, the queens emphasized the importance of community between drag queens and with their audiences. For Urethra and Black Cherry, their deep run bond goes back to when they were 18 years old. “We actually met at a local community theater production of Cinderella,” Urethra explains.
“She’s technically my drag mother, even though I was the one who introduced her to drag,” Black Cherry laughs, “Yes, this one made me watch the RuPaul’s, yes,” Urethra jokes.
Their sisterhood extends to the larger drag community, Urethra and Balck Cherry met Kay at Camp Out Poconos – a safe space for queer individuals to collaborate and network. In New Jersey, Kay describes the drag community as a close-knit network. “If you cross one of us, you’ll have an army of queens on your case,” she quips.
“I used to host a weekly drag show that was cut short on exploitative practices,” Kay informs, “then they had a bunch of queens going there, dm’ing them, commenting, and requesting drag show to be back. It was an awakening for me to realize that we had a community and what we did
Confessed Uretha: “That’s honestly what has held me back from applying. I don't want to take that loan.” Although RuPaul’s Drag Race has put drag queens and trans lives in the mainstream, it has also prevented queens from starting their careers as the average audience member is expecting a TV-produced queen. “The standard has become impossible,” Urethra reflects.
In spite of all the challenges, the queens bounce back to their humble beginnings in community theater and how those experiences have forged them into steel for drag demands.
“You just go with it.” Black Cherry suggests, “Sometimes audience members leave mid-performance, but you just gotta keep it going.”
At the end of the day, it’s a matter of breaking barriers and giving individuals permission to be who they are without fear or apology.
Considering their favorite songs to perform, Urethra draws it back to 1983’s I Am What I Am from the play La Cage Aux Folles. “I grew up hiding all my life until at 26 I moved to New York and found out who I was,” Urethra recounts while holding back tears, “Up until this day, I am at odd ends with my parents, and it’s difficult. But that song? I am what I am? Yeah, I sure am.”
Overwhelmed by the great reception of their event and diligent attention from the HRI, Kay Gorgeous sent out a huge thanks to Kean University.
“You don’t always get treated like this at gigs – AC, food, drinks, and a dressing room? It’s a luxury!” Kay laughs. “We’d love to come back!”
The queens’ stories, alongside Dalpé’s transformative art, invited audiences to reflect, connect, and act. Kay used the opportunity to promote her annual paint and sip event coming up in November, and the queens asked the audience to follow them on Instagram for more details about performances at @kaygorgeousqueen, @blackcherrylovee, and @urethravdee. n
Photo by Veronica Vila
Kay Gorgeous speaking to the Drag Brunch audience
Photo by Veronica Vila
Black Cherry Loveé during her Follow Me performance, paying homage to passed queer lives
Humanities Searches for New Ideas to Cope with AI in the Classroom
continued from page 2
result, they turn to software programs such as Turnitin to detect AI writing in students' work.
As of March, Turnitin says it has reviewed over 200 million papers.
“Over 22 million (approximately 11 percent of over 200 million) have at least 20 percent AI writing present. Over 6 million (approximately three percent of over 200 million) have at least 80 percent AI writing present,” Turnitin. com states on the subject.
By using Turnitin, educators can feel that they are encouraging students to use their own words rather than AIgenerated words.
Others say Turnitin contributes to the further dehumanization of communication and education because it creates a wall between the author and the audience. Instead of writing for fellow humans, students are writing for a software company. Just like GenAI, Turnitin uses student submissions to further expand its own database. Which, in turn, helps make the company more money.
“I hope most of all that those people who use these technologies just think about why they're using them,” said Dr. Abriana Jette, professor of English and coordinator of The Common Read at Kean. “What is motivating them to turn to something else? And why is that something else not a book or an article or something that's really trustworthy and made by humans.”
Unfair use of GenAI is just another form of cheating and plagiarism, which has been around forever. Commonly, students resort to cheating and plagiarism because they are not confident in their work and are afraid of failing, Jette explained.
“Students want to impress, and they feel that the computer knows more than them,” she said. “That's a fault of the educational system for not giving them the confidence to recognize that they themselves have the intelligence within them.”
When students feel confident in the material and the work they’re producing, they’re less likely to unfairly use GenAI, she said. Creating environments that encourage students to ask questions and try new things also can deter them from unfairly using GenAI.
“We need to be better at allowing that failure and frustration into our classrooms, making space for it and allowing students to experiment with voice, with structure to develop their writing beyond just putting words on the page,” Sisler said.
Navigating GenAI is rather tricky, especially in the humanities. Since GenAI is a rather new tool that only continues to grow, educators are still learning what works for their classroom.
“Generative AI is not the devil. Generative AI is not our enemy. Generative AI is one tool among many that we can wield to help us as long as we maintain control,” said Friend. “The minute we let a generative AI take over for us, we've lost.” n
Cosplay masquerade to be Kean Anime Society’s biggest event of the year
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cosplaying for years and who had entered competitions in conventions before, but that didn’t matter. Everybody was invited, and the more people, the better.
Angel Mendoza, the Director of Public Relations of the club, personally had little experience in cosplaying.
“But let’s say you wanna cosplay as a character who has a certain aura or aesthetic to them,” Mendoza explained when asked about people who don’t know where to start with cosplaying. “Get your clothes in that similar aesthetic.”
Others like Fleming encouraged people to create their own cosplays from scratch, as it taught many valuable life skills with a satisfying end result and was often a cheaper alternative than buying the cosplay itself.
“My dear friend and old roommate taught me everything I know. From the basics of sewing to patterning, to even really specific skills like bookbinding,” remarked Fleming. “I’ve always just enjoyed making things, so knowing that I can be a character that I like and still add my personal touches to it and people can enjoy that? Sign me up!”
“This has been our biggest venture yet.”
The Anime Society is a space for like-minded individuals to nerd out and be themselves, but it’s also a space where people can let loose their creativity and have fun. Future events sees a collaboration with Art Over All, Kean’s art club, in their Fanart Frenzy event, and a Paint Your Devil Fruit Workshop with Daniela Villacorta, the organization’s Social Media Manager.
“This year we’re pulling out all the stops,” said Fleming. “We want people to have a lot of fun… I want to give people an outlet so they can show off what they make, show off what they’re passionate about, and perform… I’m excited to see what people come up with.” n
Ndaba Mandela’s Return to Co-teach in Spring 2025 South Africa Travelearn
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Barzilay. “In your life, how are you going to use those lessons?”
The conference celebrated the 75th anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by highlighting Nelson Mandela’s legacy that echoed the conference theme of freedom, justice, and equality for all. Ndaba's presence and storytelling served as an intimate insider into the man whose fluid role as a grandfather, father, and teacher taught him about being a leader and standing up for his beliefs. Today, he strives to expose the youth to the lessons he learned in earlier years and inform them of the history behind the theme. n
Photo by Kean University
Ndaba Mandela speaking at Kean’s 16th Annual Human Rights Conference
Dr. Lisa Sisler goes over student work in the classroom
DACA Activist: Sara Mora
President Repollet gets new five-year contract
for an influx of grants in the name of diversity, the university said.
In an era when college enrollment and retention rates are down, Kean’s main campus recorded a total 11,243 undergraduate students, according to US News & World Report, a number that does not include Kean’s other campuses in New Jersey or Wenzhou campus in China. Kean Wenzhou reportedly has over 5,000 students.
Repollet’s term has also seen an increase in international student enrollment, with international students making up six percent of the student body at the Union campus. Kean currently sits at number six of the most diverse campuses in New Jersey, according to Niche.com.
Her situation is what inspired her to become a speaker and activist, she uses her voice to fight for those who share similar stories to hers; she wants to make a change in this country and allow multiple communities she speaks for to have more resources and opportunities available for them.
Mora has fiercely stood up for what she believes throughout her journey as an activist, hoping to one day, achieve her goal to become an Immigration Lawyer and help those in need. n
Repollet has prioritized community engagement and partnerships with local organizations. He has established
The impact of Repollet’s presidency is evident in Kean’s increasing visibility on both state, national, and international
“The Board renewed Repollet’s contract, extending it to 2029 and increasing his salary”
programs that connect students with internships and job opportunities, bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world experience. These collaborations are designed to not only enrich the student experience but also strengthen the university’s ties to the surrounding community.
levels, according to the university. His strategic vision includes transforming Kean into a future R2 research institution, styling the university as an urban research university for New Jersey.
To attain R2 status, Repollet has placed an emphasis on the STEM fields. In April of this year the university was awarded
Flo-Rida puts on a show F oR homecoming conceR t
that they didn't know what to expect at first… Several students had the exciting opportunity to participate in the show by dancing with Flo-Rida on the stage, a
moment I am sure they'll never forget” said Kuntz.
First-time pop concert attendee, Sarah Rosales, a junior majoring in
an $800,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, intended to promote diversity in STEM education and careers according to the university.
Another $1.37 million grant aimed toward diversity was awarded to Kean in May of this year. The grant, awarded by the National Institutes of Health, is aimed toward underrepresented groups in biomedical sciences, according to a statement issued by Kean.
Kean also launched a broad marketing campaign aimed at promoting the university’s unique offerings, particularly in the STEM field, to attract a diverse range of applicants. n
Communication-Journalism spoke on her experience at the concert with her friends.
“This was my first real pop concert so the experience was basically everything…
Near deafening but fun!... definitely memorable even if I walked out of the theater with my ears ringing,” said Rosales. n
Photo by Ross Rodney Flo-Rida’s special jacket with his logo
Photo by Ross Rodney Oya baby and Varie Fresh3
Photo by Ross Rodney Flo-Rida performing one of his hit songs
Photo by Sara Mora Team Summit 2024
Photo by Sara Mora
Speech in Wisconsin Leaders and Young People of the community
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4
Brighton Asylum
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house all noise from the outside quickly vanished. It really felt as if I was in a horror movie and I was awaiting my oncoming scare. Hearing the screams of previous groups, it’s as if they were silenced right after a loud outburst. Knowing myself I normally try to keep a very calm face, but in this situation, I was worried and looking over my shoulder at every turn and corner. I even began sweating a bit. The haunted house had many themes. First were movement stages, and it was as if I were trapped in a rocking ship, a burning church where I felt the heat and even an insect home.
Spiders hung from the wall while sounds of bugs crawling, and bright green and black eggs attached to the walls shook as if they were hatching. My entomophobia didn’t want me to be near the insect habitat but the eggs were the lights used
to walk through to exit the insect house. The scare actors were even better than the themes themselves. There were so many interactive doors and windows. The scare actors would pop up from each and every corner, I almost felt my ghost leave my body. In one room the staff member asked “Are you here by yourself? ”
“Yes,” I said.
Seconds later a scary actor appeared and asked “Oh, you came by yourself?” The voice was chilling. She backpedaled back into the room waiting for me to enter. To fill the night air with screams the scare actors used chainsaws and
Seven Scary Movies to Spook-Up Your Night
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you on your toes and secretly coerces watchers into holding their breath along with characters. As three characters, Rocky, a young woman, her boyfriend Money, and their friend Alex decide to rob a blind man in hopes of finding money to create a better life for themselves. They fail to consider judging the book past its cover.
Trapped in the throes of the night, Rocky concludes that escaping is more important than the initial goal.
This movie is excellent with its twists and turns and clever with its settings and buildup to the final scene.
Misery (1990)
“I’m your number one fan. There’s nothing to worry about. You’re going to be just fine. I’ll take good care of you. I’m your number one fan.”
Another classic horror movie based on the book Misery by Stephen King. This movie tells the story of famous, bestselling novelist Paul Sheldon who is traveling back home after finishing his latest book at his Colorado getaway home. When a snowstorm strikes and Sheldon gets into an accident, he’s rescued by former nurse Annie Wilkes who brings him to her cabin to recover. Sheldon’s recovery at the cabin home takes a unique turn when he learns the contents of the character Annie Wilkes, his number one fan.
Smile (2022)
“It’s smiling at me … whenever I see it I just get this god-awful feeling like something really terrible is gonna happen.”
A more recent movie, Smile, similar to Psycho, plays on the psychological nature of life and shows the audience
hammers to bang on the walls For those that showed fear early on there was no doubt they would return to scare again. The night was a thrill ride of laughter and screams from myself and other attendees confirming that Brighton Asylum is the place to be for Halloween. n
eyes closed, you won’t be able to unglue them from the screen.
The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
“Hill House, not sane, stands against its hills holding darkness within. It has stood for a hundred years and might stand a hundred more. Within, walls continue upright, bricks meet neatly, floors are firm and doors are sensibly shut. Silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House and those who walk there walk together.”
This film adaptation of the book by Stephen King is great in its casting and pacing and keeps watchers alert at every turn.
the eerie and shocking events following a disturbing incident involving a patient witnessed by psychiatrist, Dr. Rose Cotter, while also hinting at the doctor’s traumatic past. Deemed a psychological thriller, the movie also embraces the supernatural as Dr. Cotter is convinced she is being haunted by an unknown entity who gathers victims with none other than a smile.
Even though this may be a movie best seen with your
Although a show, The Haunting of Hill House, broadly based on the novel of the same name by Shirley Jackson in 1959, is worth the binge. The show observes a family of seven, more specifically the five siblings, the children of an architect and house flipper who move into a large house in Massachusetts in the summer of 1992.
The show intertwines the happenings of their childhood and the present events of their adulthood communicating how their life in the haunted mansion influenced their relationships and mental wellness while foreshadowing a disheartening finale.
The Haunting of Hill House is an unsettling and evocative story that deserves recognition for its contribution to the horror genre.
The spook of goblins and ghouls may only last a day but the chill of horror lasts forever. As famous director Alfred Hitchcock once said, “There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.”
Enjoy these seven scary recommendations and let them lead you to even more because the more you watch the more you anticipate the scare. n
Photo by haunted-house-7504018_1920
Dark haunted scenery with a big lurking moon
Photo by Cam’ron Johnson
“Brighton asylum sign looks ominous.”
Photo by Cam’ron Johnson
“The scare actors went above and beyond. It became difficult to tell if this was fake”
SPORTS
Kean Introduces First Academic Course with the New Jersey Devils
By Jordan Beaudoin
Kean University is going to the Devils – the New Jersey Devils.
This semester, the communication department launched a new course that partners with the New Jersey Devils hockey team to give students a taste of working in sports public relations and marketing.
environment and is taught by professors from three different colleges inside Kean University. Dr. Shweta Singh who teaches marketing,
This class mirrors the structure introduced in the New York Jets course that has run every spring semester for the last few years. The course is the third in President Lamont Repollet’s initiative to forge educational partnerships with businesses. Kean has run courses with the New York Jets and the Red Bulls to give students hands-on experience in the communications job.
The new Devils course provides experiential learning to our students in an interdisciplinary
"It's only been a few weeks of the 15, but it's been a unique experience. A class like none other I've ever had.”
Professor Denise Anderson who teaches graphic design, and Professor Schwab who teaches public relations teach this class. They all have a simple background in communications.
The class is exciting – and selective. Admission is only open to communication, marketing, and graphic design majors who must apply for acceptance.
The admission process is challenging.
The New Jersey Devils executive team asks potential students to provide input on upcoming projects and explain why they would be good candidates for the course. t The three professors review the applications and interview only those who they consider candidates before the final selection. At the start of the course, the NJ Devils Executive team comes into the classroom to present the students with a marketing challenge. Throughout the semester, students work in interdisciplinary teams and develop solutions and ideas under the guidance of the three professors who each have different subject matter expertise.
At the end of the semester, each team will present their final pitches at the Prudential
Kean Sports Business Club Seeks New Opportunities Under New Leadership
By Caroline Pease
The Kean Sports Business Club is preparing for another exciting season of meetings and events as the fall semester progresses. The new president of Kean Sports Business, Nadia Shah, has a focus on expanding opportunities for students. This year, Shah aims to enhance the club's reach and impact, creating more engaging experiences for those interested in the sports industry.
Shah took leadership of the club at the conclusion of last semester from club founder and president Sebastian Salazar, who created the club in 2022. Since its founding, the club’s intention has been to provide as many sportsrelated activities and opportunities as possible. These objectives enticed and motivated Shah to become more involved.
Shah is determined to make each event “bigger and better” than the year before, with plans for more guest speakers at its Sports Summit, additional sports outings, and maximizing internship opportunities for members. Club vice president and director of public relations, Shahara Rahim, features a weekly series called 'Work in Sports Wednesday' on the club’s Instagram page,
“We just want to provide the best for students, especially since the sports industry can be very competitive.”
where students can explore various internship postings, keeping them engaged and informed about potential career opportunities in the sports industry. For instance, their first series post featured open internships for MetLife Stadium, the National and Women’s National Basketball Association, and Ultrafooty, with direct links for application.
Shah attended Kean Sports Business Club events last year, like meetings, a guest speaker series, and namely the club’s inaugural Sports Summit, which increased her interest in the possibilities of the club. Seeing the club’s ability to bring like-minded sports enthusiasts together on campus, social media presence, and talking to Salazar, she knew that it was a club she wanted to lead. She highlighted the objectives of the club as providing students with an edge into the competitive
industry of sports.
“Our big thing is networking and opportunities. We just want to provide the best for students, especially since the sports industry can be very competitive. Our main goal is that students know about these opportunities so that they can take them and apply to them and get them,” says Shah.
Shah and the rest of the executive board look to provide
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Photo by Edward Occhipinti/Kean Office of University Relations
“Devils Classroom, Students meeting with the Devils Executives at the start of the semester.”
Photo by Kean Sports Business Club
Nadia Shah, President of the Kean Sports Business Club
Kean Introduces First Academic Course with the New Jersey Devils
Center to the NJ Devils executives, administrators, faculty, and deans from Kean University.
Two Kean Ocean students who commute to Kean’s main campus for this course shared their experiences so far with the course.
Joshua Langer, a senior studying Communications and Public Relations, is also a Devils fan who has followed the team for well over 13 years.
"It's only been a few weeks of the 15, but it's been a unique experience. A class like none other I've ever had," Langer said.
"I enjoy the Devil's class very much. Besides from the drive!" said Salvatore Fiorello, a senior majoring in Communications.
They both took the class to prepare for their futures and better understand what would come.
"It was a no-brainer for me. If I see a class with the word Devils, I take it." Langer said.
Fiorello had a slightly different reason, "I chose this class because I wanted the experience. I did not want to miss this class and regret not taking it. I would love to work in the sports industry one day, and I thought this would be a great step."
"The work students do each week creates building blocks to honing their final ideas. Rather than lecturing, each of the professors contributes to each class with their subject matter expertise in honing student ideas and developing their relevance," Dr. Singh said.
The students are also placed into groups for this course. Currently, there are four to six groups in the class. Each group comprises one communications major, one graphic designer, a marketing major, and a management major.
Everyone has their expertise.
"My group is Joe, Myself, Briditte, Hamza, and Raquel,” said Fiorello, “The professor's goal was to get one of each major in one group, so we all have our expertise. Joe is the graphic designer, I am the Communications major, Briditte and Hamza are the Marketing majors, and Raquel is the Management major."
made sure to ask many questions," Langer said. Each one of the boys learned something new from this experience.
"So far, I have learned more about public speaking and gained more confidence in speaking. I learned that the sports industry has a lot of money, and ad revenue is crucial to profitability," Fiorello said.
The load is more extensive than most courses. All groups are expected to meet outside class more than once a week to talk and work on their projects. They have so far learned a lot from both the guidance of the professors and doing their research. They also had the executives come in at the beginning of the semester to give them some knowledge about the team and let them know more about what is currently happening with the company and the team.
"Absolutely. The executives came in the second week and gave a nearly 3-hour presentation. It was great, and I
Kean Sports Business Club Seeks New Opportunities Under New Leadership
a multitude of networking opportunities to students, namely its Sports Summit.
The Sports Summit is a student-led event and a space where students are able to directly connect with sports industry executives. The executive board, with assistance from club advisor Professor Paul Casey, creates a proposal for potential companies. The event consists of panel discussions and tables from premier companies and sports teams like Disney, the New Jersey Devils, the New York Jets, the New York Red Bulls, and the National Basketball Association.
livestream of the panels.
Shah says, “[the Sports Summit] is able to give students an opportunity to get that one-on-one networking experience and also being able to talk to these people
The Devil's class is very similar to the Jet's class. However, they are also very different from one another.
"Similar in the fact that both courses provide experiential learning to our students in an interdisciplinary environment where students get to work for a real-life client and produce something that can be applied and used by the client,” Singh said. “Dissimilar in that the problem statement is different for each class.
The client-ask and the client are different for both courses, and they represent different kinds of sports. So, the thinking/brainstorming has to be adapted according to the client and the client's marketing challenge.”
It's an excellent experience for the students to have. Despite being a more complex course with more work than other courses, it's something students can get into and enjoy. This course will most likely return next year. However, the Jets class will be open for registration for the spring semester. If you are a communications major, marketing major, or graphic design major, this is a class that you want to get in on and take. n
experience, especially like internships.”
The summit is student-organized, with club member volunteer committees handling marketing, finance, event coordination, and outreach. It is
Last year’s summit was a success, with over 200 hundred students attending and another 300 hundred tuning into a
who are working in sports companies. Because I feel like it’s super important, especially in college, to get that
within the sports industry for almost all majors.
“All students are welcome to come no matter what their major is. If they’re interested in sports, we want them there,” says Shah
tentatively scheduled for the end of November. Shah encourages all students to come to the summit, as there are facets
Along with the Sports Summit and monthly meetings, the club plans to host a club trip to a New Jersey Devils Game at the Prudential Center. Team executives will also be present, providing another networking opportunity. The game is on December 10.
“[The intention of the club is] to give students and experts from the sports industry a chance to explore trends, give insights, and foster networking opportunities,” says Shah. n
Photo by Edward Occhipinti/Kean Office of University Relations
Students in the Devils course
Photo by Kean Sports Business Club
Panelists from last year’s Sports Summit
Photo by Kean Sports Business Club
The Executive Board at a New Jersey Devils game