The Tower- The Independent Voice of Kean University- December Issue

visit us at kutower.com A Cosmic Adventure Through the Lens

Cougar Pantry Upgrades

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Advice from Alumni

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Dec | 2023 WWW.KUTOWER.COM

TH E I N DEPEN D EN T VOI C E OF K E AN U N IV E R S IT Y

“A Different World”: 35 Years Later

By Tyra Watts At Kean University’s North Avenue Academic Building (NAAB) auditorium, the cast members of “A Different World,” Kadeem Hardison, Jasmine Guy, Darryl M. Bell, and Cree Summer discussed diversity, equity, and inclusion issues today that the ground-breaking series discussed 35 years ago. It was a part of Kean University President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed. D., Distinguished Lecture series.

Photo by Kean University

Cast members of “A Different World” Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Darryl. M Bell and Cree Summer

Interview with Jasmine Guy and Darryl M. Bell

By Tyra Watts In an interview with The Tower, "A Different World" actors Jasmine Guy and Darryl M. Bell said that the TV series was significant for its ability to address important social and personal issues in the Black community.

Guy, who played Whitney Gilbert on the TV show, stated that it was almost real-time with their ages and where they were in their lives.

“We were right in the pocket of what it was like between ages 18 and 21, which so many changes happened during that time, and I thought we were able to address not only very important social issues, but personal issues,” Guy

Stabbing Survivor Speaks

By Justin McDaniel “After I had got stabbed, I started telling my friends to leave me alone and let me sleep. I honestly thought I was going to die,” Those were the words of Jahod Matthews,

“I definitely did think I was going to die”

Photo by Kean University

From left to right: “A Different World” actors Darryl M. Bell, Jasmine Guy, Cree Summer, and Kadeem Hardison at the President’s Distinguished Lecture Series event

Photo by Jahod Matthews

Photo of Jahod Matthews

“As a first-generation student myself, as someone who didn’t understand college, how to get to college, how much to pay for college, I knew I was going to college because of “A Different World,” Repollet said.

On Nov. 16, the “A Different World” actors were introduced by Repollet to a packed audience of Kean

said. “Homesickness, loneliness, isolation, things that kids experience when they first leave their homes. So I always felt very connected to the college experience in that way.”

Guy also stated that she didn’t have college experience;

the Kean University student who was the victim of a stabbing incident on campus back on Sept. 19 of this year.

Going from just walking back to your dorm to fighting for your life in just a few minutes sounds scary and even unbelievable for a lot of people and Matthews had a first-

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2 THE TOWER December, 2023

Kean Students Prepare for Christmas

By Adaora Nnakwe Kean students are preparing for finals and getting ready for the holidays. Christmas is a joyful and magical time of year when we enjoy the winter season by decorating the tree, exchanging gifts, eating a festival meal, and drinking hot chocolate by the fireplace. It’s a time to appreciate the things that matter the most in our lives. As we reach towards the end of fall 2023, the pressure to finish the semester awaits us.

The workload of final papers, exams, and presentations will pay off when it’s over and we’ll all be home enjoying the holidays with our loved ones, family and friends.

Students are excited for the holidays and look forward to

the winter break. Alvarah Iwarimie, a freshman health professions major will be celebrating Christmas this year with family and friends.

“I am looking forward to seeing my aunt that I haven’t seen in two years,” Iwarimie said. She said her favorite thing about the holidays is setting up the tree and cooking with her aunt.

“This year I expect to hang out with my friends and family at my aunt’s place to dance, eat, and have a great time together.”

Students get asked what they want for Christmas and the answer is something pertaining to a personal need like clothes, gift cards, electronics, etc.

“I just want money from

“I’m looking forward to seeing my family members and eating good food.”

Photo by Adaora Nnakwe

Christmas tree near clock tower

The Struggles of Registering for Classes

By Ridimerb Diaz-Ramirez A new semester will soon be upon us, and one of the biggest things students struggle with is registering for classes due to availability.

Classes that they actually like don’t even seem to be an option.

When it comes to registering, students have to worry about different things that can affect their attending Stroll through Kean classes or even being able to sign up for classes.

Phylicia Hall, a senior majoring in Communications Studies, feels she hasn’t been able to pick classes she likes because of the time she has to focus on.

“It’s more along the line of picking

based on availability more so than desire,” Hall said.

Working a full-time job during the day time, Hall feels as though they don’t offer enough variety of classes in the evening for her major which makes her struggle to create a schedule.

“I have to specifically look for classes at night, and that’s probably what makes it so Photo by Kean’s Instagram difficult,” Hall said.

Hall's major struggle has been completing her required classes for her major due to not being able to create a schedule that fits her schedule. This has prevented her from graduating sooner. continued on page 4

my family members,” Iwarimie said.

Zah-ajah Wilson, a freshman fine arts major, wants to take it easy this Christmas season.

She said for Christmas she will be winding down and focusing on lots of self-care.

Students who feel burnout look forward to the holiday season, so they can take some personal time to destress and kick back.

“I will be relaxing and spending time with family,” Wilson said. She added “I just want peace and quiet.”

Scott Robbins, a senior communications major plans to spend time with his close family and friends.

“My family hosts the holidays at our house every

year, so I won’t be traveling,” Robbins said. “I’m looking forward to seeing my family members and eating good food.”

He said he celebrates Hanukkah and wants a new computer.

“For the holidays, me and my family do a grab bag,” Robbins said. “Each person buys mystery gifts and we play a game to see who gets what.”

If you’re spending the holidays traveling or at home with family and friends, just try to enjoy the moments and appreciate your loved ones. Whether you celebrate Christmans, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, remember to be joyful and thankful. n

Keanu the Cougar’s New Look and the Questions Surrounding It

By Colin Ward

is he like this for my sport, but for all

sports at Kean.”

When it comes to representing a specific Along with Keanu’s new name comes a group, mascots are very important.

Professional sports teams have mascots. new look. In previous years, Keanu came Colleges and universities have mascots. Even car insurance companies have mascots. Mascots represent what these organizations stand for and believe in and are a reminder of who they are. Kean University is no exception to this.

The Kean Cougar has become a beloved symbol of the university.

Kean’s original mascot name was the Squires, but it was changed to the Cougars in 1985. For nearly 40 years, this fluffy and furry cougar would appear at sporting events and major gatherings throughout campus. The Cougar, just recently named Keanu (Kean U), has become loved by students and faculty alike.

Jordan Belle, a football player and student at Kean University, is Photo by @keanucougar Instagram quite fond of Keanu the Cougar. ”Keanu poses with a cougar statue before a Kean football “As an athlete, Keanu represents game.” continued on page 10 the 12th man,” Belle said. “Not only

“Keanu embodies all things we represent at Kean.”

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Former Air Force Vet and Two-Time Kean Alumni Gives Back to Vets

By Matthew Sierra ​​Tim Awojobi is a six-year Air Force Vet and two-time Kean Alumni. His goal is to give back to the veterans who are still struggling to adjust to civilian life.

In 2016, Awojobi enlisted in the 514 Force Support Squadron, and by August 2021,

“TTA Empire is seeking to be full support and future partner with the VA to help them combat veteran’s needs,” Awojobi said. he began his active duty supporting the Afghan refugee mission. With several medals and decorations, such as the Air Force Commendation Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal, he has since been honorably discharged in 2022 and is now focused on giving back to those who served this country and who have not been given the help that truly needed by the VA (Veteran Affairs).

“A lot of vets have been failed by the VA for receiving disability, and vets have been fighting for disabilities claims that have been dismissed or denied,” Awojobi said. “I feel very obligated to give back to veterans and to connect with vets across all of NJ.” After he was discharged, Awojobi had expected that he would have received more help from the VA. This is a similar and common issue that veterans deal with.

“I failed as a minority veteran; I expected the VA to help me out,” He said.

This led him to take matters into his own hands by assisting veterans get the help that they deserve.

TTA Empire, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that offers help to veterans in ways that the VA hasn’t.

They provide services such as educational scholarships, programs, and funding for housing assistance, relocation, mental health and wellness programs, and connections to community resources.

“TTA Empire is seeking to be full support and future partner with the Photo by Tim Awojobi VA to help them combat Awojobi founded TTA Empire, Inc., a non-profit organization that veteran’s needs,” Awojobi offers help to veterans in ways that the VA hasn’t. said.

Running an organization like TTA Empire takes a lot of dedication. However, Awojobi dedicates every chance he gets to be there for veterans in the best way possible. Awojobi takes pride in being there for the veterans in need and gives back to them in many continued on page 13

Cougar Pantry Strives for Better: Students’ Final Semesters at Kean Ascending to New Heights to By Isabelle Guthrie Elevate Support to Students With the semester ending, students feel overwhelmed by exams, projects, assignments, etc. For some students, there is just one more semester to go. For others, it is time to say goodbye to Kean University and officially start on their own path.

Many students graduate in the winter and spring semesters. It’s a huge moment

By Layah Lopes With food insecurity within the college community being an immediate concern, Kean University’s Cougar Pantry, located in Downs Hall's Wellness Center, is striving to give Kean students a resourceful experience whether they reside on or off campus.

The Wellness Center provides students with basic needs of all sorts, such as perishable (including protein and produce) and non-perishable foods, business attire from the career closet, basic hygiene supplies, and even laptop loaners.

Community care coordinator Carla Vitola expressed her thoughts on why these services to students were so important.

“Kean has an extremely resilient and resourceful group of students; giving them access to these basic-needs items helps them persist to graduation and beyond,” Vitola said. when registered students gain access to an online portal called “Smart Choice” where they are allowed to select basic hygiene and

As we say goodbye to Kean, we’ll take our memories with us, not just the educational ones, but the ones with friends made during our time there.

Photo by Layah Lopes

Refrigerated lockers

food items, along with choosing convenient pick-up times.

Once registered with the Cougar Pantry, each student is provided a unique PIN number to access refrigerated lockers, ensuring flexibility in retrieving items.

Assistant Director of Operations, Alice Colalillo, shared some of the reasons continued on page 10

pretty much “on our own” at this point.

It’s either time to intern if you haven’t yet, consider the option of returning to school for master's degrees, job hunting, or just going with the flow. There are so many choices, with so many headaches.

You may be happy to have the weight lifted off your shoulders finally. There is much to think about and to process fully.

Julia Indrawis, a Kean senior majoring

Photo by Kean University Website

President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D., speaking at the Commencement

to take in and to realize that this is it.

You may have it figured out or not. It’s nerve-wracking to conclude that we are

in business management, graduates this December and explains her goals afterward. continued on page 11

4 THE TOWER December, 2023

The Struggles of Registering for Classes continued from page 2

A meeting with her advisor to discuss substituting her required classes for classes that will still fulfill what she needs for her major and fit her schedule is what is allowing her to graduate in Spring 2024.

Hall believes that more classes in the evening should be something that the college considers to accommodate students who need to have full-time jobs and cannot just study.

Rhea Christmas, a senior majoring in Communications, shares her difficulties when it comes to registering for classes.

“My frustration came because I wanted to take this last class online,” Christmas said.

If you aren’t an online student, you have to wait until five days before registration closes to sign up for an online class.

The online opportunity is important for Christmas since the hours available for this class clash with her work schedule,

“I have to specifically look for classes at night, and that’s probably what makes it so difficult,” Christmas finds this to be frightening since she feels like she will miss out on the online opportunity. Regardless of taking precautions, she signed up for the same class in person as a backup plan.

and she’s also a commuter who has to pick late classes; therefore taking it online facilitates things for her.

“I don’t really want to do a 6 o'clock class, because I don’t want to get home

at a quarter to 10 at night.” Christmas said.”I’m a single person, there’s no one on the other side of the door to receive me and make sure I get home safely,” Her limited schedule also affects the classes Christmas takes. She has to stick to what is required of her major and what is available during her open time frame.

Jenaé Owens, a senior majoring in theater, found herself struggling with the variety of professors for one specific class.

When looking into taking one of her last free elective classes for the Spring semester, she struggled with finding a class where she was able to meet the requirements. continued on page 12

Stabbing Survivor Speaks continued from cover

hand experience of that after being harassed and then attacked by some young juveniles who were on campus.

The incident that happened just near the basketball courts led to every student, staff, faculty, and emergency contact being notified about what had occurred.

“They were causing trouble in the area and kept running into people with their bikes on purpose and I knew they were coming to us next. So when he tried to run into us I cut him off and he ended up falling.

After they came around again doing the same thing one of the guys tried to punch my friend so we all just started fighting. That’s when one of the two guys came up to me with a knife and started chasing me and while running I ended up running into the stop sign and he was able to stab me.” said Matthews. “I definitely did think I was going to die, I remember telling my friends to leave me alone Photo of Jahod Matthews and to let me sleep so I definitely thought for a while that I was going to die.”

Being stabbed in his side, Matthews sustained injuries to his stomach and diaphragm and required emergency surgery in order to save his life. And if not for the quick thinking of his friends and the quick-acting of the Kean police the situation could have been worse. Matthews would then be stuck in his hospital bed for about a week as he recovered from surgery.

“There were times when everyone including myself thought I wasn’t going to make it, I couldn't move for a week straight at first. I’m just happy now to be healing,” said Matthews, and since he had lost a lot of blood from

surgery on his stomach and diaphragm, patience has been key for Matthews as quick movements aren't good in the recovery process.

“Before when first getting back to campus I was really weak for the first couple weeks but now it just feels like I did an ab workout.

It’s been some soreness but it’s manageable,” said Matthews. “Right now I can't run, work out, or do anything that very active right now so that part has been frustrating. Especially that I was going to the gym at a very consistent rate before this now I'm kinda stuck more.”

But despite such an unfortunate situation happening to Matthews he still manages to overcome this fear and does not let it take away from his time at Kean. Appreciating life more has been big for Matthews Photo by Jahod Matthews Photo by Justin McDaniel after seeing how quickly View of Stab Wound Jahod suffered your life can be taken away from you. When on the the stabbing Matthews was stuck in a hospital bed for a topic about how he's handled this mentally being afraid few weeks before being able to get up and move around. has not even crossed his mind. Although the doubts still “About the third week, I was able to move around to come and go he’s not letting go of his positive outlook. the point I was tired of being there, I just wanted to be “Life goes on, grasping the concept of almost dying it able to see all my people again,” said Matthews. took a lot and was a lot to digest. It was bad but like I said Now over two months later in the midst of his the pain gets less and less every day I'm just waiting for it recovery, Matthews is back at school and back to his to totally heal. I think I should be good by January,” said regular schedule with classes. Still recovering from Matthews. n

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Seeing Stars: A Cosmic Adventure Through the Lens

By Colten Gottlob

Introduction

More opportunities to marvel at the stars arise as the days shorten during the end of the year. As The Tower’s staff photographer, I captured some ethereal sights from a location along the shore in Monmouth County. While New Jersey’s density does not always allow us to see the wonders of the night sky, the state does offer multiple locations to witness the wonders of the constellations. See how many you can spot in the following photos!

Jupiter, Aries, and the Moon

Orion in the Trees

The Great Bear on the River

Jupiter, left of the Moon, is bright and visible this time of year. The constellation Aries sits above and to the left of the Moon - four bright stars that form an arc, resembling a ram.

Orion’s Belt is one of the most popular asterisms.

In Greek mythology, Orion boasted his beliefs that he could kill every animal until Zeus turned him into a constellation, forever chasing the animals i n the night sky, but never catching them.

Ursa Major (Latin: “Greater Bear”) overlooks the Navesink River. Ursa Major is circumpolar, meaning it never sets in the Northern Hemisphere.

The “Lesser Bear,” Ursa Minor, is home to Polaris, the North Star, a beacon for travelers during the Age of Exploration.

The New York Lights vs. The Night Sky

Taurus Beyond the Sand

The Edge of the World

The bright red star near the center, Aldebaran, is the iconic fiery red eye in the constellation Taurus, the Bull.

Aldebaran is part of the Hyades Cluster, the sideways “V” that creates Taurus’ head. The two bright stars on the left, Elnath and Zeta Tauri, connect to the Hyades Cluster to form Taurus’ great horns.

The red street lights cast an otherworldly glow onto the sand. As foreign as it may look, this was taken right here in New Jersey. In the moment, it can feel as if the Atlantic Ocean stretches on forever, a truly remarkable experience. n

New Jersey beaches offer an excellent view of New York City and the stars above it. “The City that Never Sleeps” emits a massive amount of light, rivaling celestial bodies millions of light years away.

6 THE TOWER December, 2023

Kean’s Nancy Thompson Learning Commons to Host First-Ever Slam Poetry Night

Department of Communication Kean University Center for Academic Success 1000 Morris Avenue Union, NJ 07083 Telephone: (908) 737-0470; Fax: (908) 737-0465 Email: thetower@kean.edu; www.kutower.com

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

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: T YRA WATTS NEWS EDITOR: ADAORA NNAKWE

Photo by Poetry

Slam poetry is a unique form of self-expression that marries the physicality of storytelling and poetry

By Nefertiti Nzameyo

the flyers and scouting graduate and undergraduate students interested in This year’s first-ever Slam Poetry Night sharing their poetic talent with the event hosted by The Nancy Thompson university community. She also has Learning Commons invites Kean students visibility of the form that participants are to "immerse [themselves] in the power of required to complete. words and emotions" at Cougars Den on The theme, All In, opens the floor to Dec. 7th. presenting meaningful topics. Kean Quest A look into the history of events Journal, a peer-reviewed journal where organized by the students can submit Learning Commons and publish their on Cougar Link scholarly research reveals its persistent and articles, will also aim to strengthen publish the works students' skills with the presenter's with recurring permission. resume workshops, "My boss came up w e b i n a r s , with the theme. She community yoga, said she wants the and more. students to share Sherelle McQueen, what they are all in a graduate assistant for. The students for learning have told us that support services and supplemental they're going to instruction, said, share something "In our writing they're really services, we have passionate about," Photo by Nefertiti Nzameyo a lot of students Slam Poetry Night flyer in Center of Academic said McQueen. that write very well, Success Schantal Herrera, so an individual a second-year graduate assistant majoring downstairs that works in learning support in school counseling who also works for services mentioned 'let's do a poetry night' the department, planned the logistics of and I was like ok!" the events.

McQueen was responsible for creating continued on page 12

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT/ FEATURES EDITOR: JUSTIN McDANIEL FEATURES: ISABELLE GUTHRIE SPORTS: KERVIN COLEMAN ONLINE EDITOR/ SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER: JOSEPHINE CARRILLO STAFF WRITERS

JOHN DEFREITAS RIDIMERB DIAZ-RAMIREZ BRITTANY FUENTES-SAENZ JAIDON HARRIS-MORALES LAYAH LOPES NEFERTITI NZAMEYO MATTHEW SIERRA COLIN WARD PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEO: COLTEN GOTTLOB OPINION PIECES AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Tower welcomes guest columns and letters to the editor from any source.

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

Advice From Alumni

By Brittany Fuentes Seniors going into the spring semester are thinking about what comes next after their graduation. They will have different goals to aim towards for their postgraduation journeys, and it’s intimidating to think about.

Whether it’s starting a career or choosing to go to graduate school, recent graduates advise that they need to start thinking about it as soon as possible.

For former Kean University student Genesis Guox, a criminal justice graduate from May 2023, those hardships were felt as soon as she graduated and immediately started job-seeking.

“It was scary to me, I was nervous while constantly applying for jobs as soon as I graduated,” says Guox. “There was pressure from myself and my parents and the whole summer was stressful, I felt the stress of finally being an adult.”

The personal pressures Guox felt, along with the pressures from her parents to look for a job that would allow her to put her degree to use and find stability within that job, were at an all-time high.

Being a first-generation college student did not help to make the pressures of this ordeal any easier for her because she was expected to achieve all the goals set by her parents

“Ask for help; you can’t do it all on your own. You won’t have everything figured out right away but having help from others can ease the transition from college student to adult,” says Guox.

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and all the goals she had set for herself.

First-generation college students struggle with navigating the academic system because they lack the adequate time needed to make connections outside of school hours to help start their careers.

College students will have different experiences postgraduation. It is normal for them to feel stressed, pressured, and discouraged, but there are things they can begin doing now to facilitate their job search.

After graduation, Guox applied to about 15 jobs through LinkedIn and Indeed and interviewed for three of them over four months before successfully acquiring a job as a clerk for the county.

Another alumnae, Davaughnia Wilson, the former editor-in-chief of The Tower, who graduated in May of 2023 with a Communication/Journalism degree, is pursuing an MS at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism while also interning at CNBC as a news desk intern.

Wilson completed an internship the summer before her senior year at The Record where she was placed with a mentor, and they would meet weekly to assess her progress and discuss life and journalism.

She said her mentor was a big help to her, they often

Photo by Kean University Instagram page

continued on page 12

Kean commencement auditorium

New Characters Arrive at the Kean Ocean Campus

By Colin Ward Kean Ocean students have been treated to an unexpected pop of character on their campus this semester. Thanks to the Ocean County College Foundation, 20 bronze sculptures have been placed all throughout the campus.

These pieces of art are all part of Seward Johnson’s sculpture collection. Johnson was a New Jersey native from New Brunswick. He started his artistic career painting but found sculptures to be more personal. He then dedicated his career to creating bronze sculptures.

Johnson passed away from cancer in 2020, but he is survived by his artwork, which can be found on the Kean Ocean campus. Each life-like sculpture displays a different type of personality. All of these sculptures are unique in their own way and display Johnson’s level of creativity.

“They are truly incredible,” said Nick Bowden, a senior Communications major at Kean Ocean. “This is a really difficult and stressful time of year. It’s nice to just walk the campus and take in these sculptures. It helps with the stress a lot.”

Johnson’s sculptures were placed around

the Kean Ocean campus with one major goal in mind— to spread joy. At the end of the day, that is exactly what they are doing.

In today’s world, it is very difficult to stop and enjoy the little things. Society is so overwhelmed with what is happening on social media or on their phones that the world surrounding them has very little effect on their day. But with the addition of Johnson’s sculptures, it is hard to miss them.

“One day, they just appeared,” said Kari Muller, a sophomore Psychology major at Ocean County College. “I thought I saw two people actually laying in the grass, but it was a sculpture. I looked around a little more, and sculptures were all over the campus.”

Although students see the sculptures and are enjoying them, it is also important for them to understand where they came from and who created them.

“The artwork is amazing.” Muller continued. “Now that I know they were created by an artist, it makes me appreciate them even more. Seward Johnson was really talented and great at what he did.”

These statues were placed on the Kean Ocean campus in an attempt to engage

Photo by Colin Ward

Sculpture with a book outside of the Technology building

Photo by Colin Ward

Sculpture listening to music in front of the Gateway building

continued on page 3

8 THE TOWER December, 2023

“A Different World”: 35 Years Later

continued from cover

students, alumni, and other guests. member, asked Hardison about Dwayne’s character and Bell then transitioned his response to what’s happening Repollet went on to explain that bringing this show representation of Black men. now, citing students protesting as an example.

Hardison explained Dwayne’s character in the “No wasn’t just for Lamont Repollet; it was more so for the “If you go look at the Civil Rights Movement, of all those question of what the purpose was and why bringing them Means No” episode, highlighting where Dwayne gets stuck sit-ins at lunch counters, those weren’t 60-year-old people; here. Repollet told the audience how he thought about his inside the car with Freddie and her date, Parks. those were high school students,” Bell said. “Those were “...I jumped up the car, and I slid off, and I had to jump kids getting spit at, hot coffee getting thrown at their faces. experiences and the lessons he learned from the show, and then he started thinking from the perspective of Kean’s back on it again, and he [Parks] just started pulling me The burden of social change has landed on the young for down,” Hardison said, garnering a burst of laughter from decades.” president.

“Then I started thinking, as university president as the audience. “Run, Freddie…Wait, Freddie, wait!” I’m like, The third and last clip that was shown to the audience I am wearing that hat, we’re having similar issues. We “What is this dude doing?” was a season five episode titled “The Cat’s in the Cradle,” Hardison also added that it was a moment for him and where Ron and Dwayne get into a racial clash with three may not call it certain things, but we have similar issues Dwayne to take a step up, and that was the moment for white students from a rival school, which leads to all of within college campuses,” Repollet said. “We have our Me him, stating, “Oh, this is a good guy,” as well as labeling them in jail.

Too moments, we have protests, we have Black lives that Dwayne as the “moral compass” of the show. matter. So to me, I started thinking, is it A Different World In the clip, Ron, Dwayne, and the white students are all The second clip that was shown to the audience was 35 years later?” in jail, discussing their racial experiences, which After Repollet’s introduction, a video played led to moments of tension between all five of of “A Different World at Kean,” a spin on the them. Suddenly, a white cop gets involved and original “A Different World” introduction adds his perspective, and it challenges what the theme song. The video showed various Kean five men are discussing. students in their everyday lives, from relaxing A Kean graduate student asked Hardison, at dorms to spending time in the game room Guy, Summer, and Bell about a memorable and the library, as well as athletic and Greek behind-the-scenes moment of the episode. life.

Bell mentions his connection to actor Dean Much like the original “A Different World” Cain, who portrayed one of the white students, introduction, the video finishes with students through the fact that he was close with Yvette in caps and gowns celebrating graduation.

Lee Bowser, one of the writers of “A Different The “A Different World at Kean” rendition World,” and that Cain went to Princeton and was well received by the audience and the “A played football with one of his friends.

Different World” cast members themselves, Not only that, but Bell also tells the story which kickstarted the discussion about the about a moment with Cain in which he had cast members’ favorite episodes, various clips difficulty saying the N-word.

Photo by Tyra Watts from the show that the audience can see, and “Dean [Cain] and I were friends, so playing Kean President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed. D on stage introducing the “A Different World” actors questions from the audience. that scene was really hard,” Bell said. “We stood The discussion was helped by Chantonette away from them [the white students] because Lyles, director of the Office of Accessibility Services at another “A Different World” episode from season three just to get into that conversation was difficult. The guy who Kean, sitting in the center of the stage. On her left were titled “A World Alike,” where the character Kim Reese gave the speech about who was ashamed reached out to me Guy and Hardison, and on her right were Summer and Bell. (played by Charnele Brown) is offered a scholarship by a on Facebook. We haven’t seen each other in a while, but The first clip shown was from a season two episode titled company that has South African ties. we talked every now and then…if you saw the quivering In the clip, Freddie and Julian, a transfer student, are in his lip, he was scared to say the word. He had to do it, “No Means No,” where Freddie Brooks (played by Summer) gets attacked by a popular athlete, Garth Parks, while on protesting against South African apartheid, which led to and I don’t think we did it in rehearsal; they saved it for the a student meeting at the dorms that included Whitley, a date. taping… it just made him uncomfortable to do it.”

Dwayne, Ron Johnson (played by Bell), and Kim. After a In the clip, Freddie returns to her dorm hall after being The conversation then went on to another one of the lengthy discussion, Kim decided not to take the scholarship. at the police station with Dwayne Wayne (played by white actors in the episode, Jake Carpenter, who reacted to Ajani Carter, Kean student and Alpha member, asked Hardison). Freddie ended up reporting Parks to the police Dwayne’s emotional stories of himself and his grandfather’s Bell about Ron’s comedic timing and seriousness in the about the attack. experiences of racism as “riveting.” That moment led to episode.

Everyone in the dorm hall, including Whitley Gilbert Dwayne wanting to fight the guy.

Bell responded that it was a maturation process for Ron (played by Guy), was worried about Freddie. However, she Bell described Carpenter’s acting as “Spectacular” and and showed the character going from silly and chasing girls was now safe, thanks to Dwayne's help. Although Freddie wasn’t sure whether or not he was acting. This caused the to ending up in a serious relationship with Freddie and was glad to be safe, she also decided to talk to someone at audience and the “A Different World” actors to get into fits running his club. student services. of laughter.

“It was a growth process that all college students see,” After the clip ended, the audience was allowed to ask Meanwhile, Hardison said he was trying to get at him Bell said. “There’s so much going on here when I watch, so questions. The first question came from a Kean student, a for real.

I’m thinking with two brains: one, what’s happening right Delta member, who asked the “A Different World” actors Towards the end of the event, Lyles said to give applause now, and two, I reminisce…part of what you see here with about Freddie’s activism in the episode. to the students who asked questions and their role in the us and our chemistry, it’s real. This is my family; I love these Guy responded and expressed the importance of “A Different World at Kean” video. The audience applauded people, and that chemistry is on TV.” friendship. the students and the “A Different World” actors for Bell provides an example of the second clip, particularly “Friendship is the hero…” Guy said. “The most important attending the President’s Distinguished Lecture Series. the part where Guy’s sister, Monica, was in one of the thing.”

The next Distinguished Lecture Series will have Lauren scenes. He also mentioned “A Different World’ castmate Summer also responded that the episode was “really Sinbad’s last time being on stage before his stroke was with Ridloff, an actress who played in"The Walking Dead,” it will beautiful” and was “very deep.” take place on Monday, Dec. 11, at 5 p.m. at the Liberty Hall the cast.

Zachary Halley, a Kean student who is also a Sigma Academic Center. n

“We have our Me Too moments, we have protests, we have Black lives that matter.

So to me, I started thinking, is it A Different World 35 years later?”

- Kean President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed. D

December, 2023

THE TOWER 9

Interview with Jasmine Guy and Darryl M. Bell continued from cover

instead, she attended the Alvin Ailey Dance School in As for the evolution of Black colleges since “A Different and the emphasis on supporting kids going to college. I New York but still experienced the same feelings.

World,” Bell says that in recent times, in the civic near think all HBCUs are getting additional help and resources “If you’re not making a group of friends, I guess that’s past, since the murder of George Floyd, there has been that they need, and this is a two-track solution because why a lot of people will join a fraternity or sorority, to give a great deal of focus on HBCUs. Bell gives the examples the two things that need to be supported: one, the you comradeship and also to give you a family away from of Michael Bloomberg, Reed Hastings, and MacKenzie contributions to the institutions, to make sure that they home,” Guy said.

Scott, who have made tens of millions of dollars in are there to support the students, but then you have the historical organizations like United Negro College Fund, Meanwhile, Bell, who portrayed the character Ron contributions to these institutions.

Thurgood Marshall College Fund, all of which are Johnson in “A Different World,” said it was easier put together scholarships to make sure that kids for him since he’s been Black all his life. Still, one can go to school.” of the things that informed his experience was Bell stated that the current Vice President, not only in “A Different World” but also the set Kamala Harris, is an HBCU alum and a member of “School Daze,” a 1998 comedy-musical film of one of the Divine 9 (Alpha Kappa Alpha), directed by Spike Lee, where he and Guy met. which adds a new kind of light for those who may Also, Bell’s father was the first Africannot be aware of HBCUs and their contributions.

American member of the New York Stock As for Guy, she thinks that because of the Exchange. economic times they were in back then and “My dad was a pioneer in municipal finance where we are now, many Black schools are and was around all of these political leaders, struggling financially, which also means they from David Dinkins to Harold Washington and can’t always give the support to the students Tom Bradley, and Jesse Jackson, and all of these they need financially. folks, so the idea of being an agent for change, “I just want to encourage alum to give back an advocate for the Black community, civil to your school,” Guy said. “Because a lot of the rights, and equality, was something that was bigger universities have, you know, private just a part of my everyday life,” Bell said. “So it organizations that are helping, and people are was familiar territory for me when “A Different giving to that school, and I just want to remind World,” shifted to this beacon of advocacy, giving people to do that. These schools still need funds, a voice to all of these different issues because I and funds are going for infrastructure and have been doing that all my life.” scholarships, and special programs, equipment, Guy added that it was nice to have that unity updating their technological services, so it’s very of comedy and social relevance and still be a important that we remember those schools, funny and authentic show. especially the smaller ones that got people “Being able to deal with things that were close through another level of education as well.” to us in our hearts, a lot of the issues that came Lastly, as for what the audience hopes to gain at up with our characters were really coming from the President’s Distinguished Lecture Series, Bell the people that were portraying them,” Guy said. says that they tend to follow a fluid conversation “Like Cree [Summer] was very much a feminist, about what’s important to the audience in front very much a “Save The Whales” person, and that of them, and they’ve been asked what their became an accent to her character as Freddie.” favorite episodes are, which would lead them As for Guy herself, Bell said that she comes down the path of what those subjects tend to be. from a family of legacy, being a preacher’s kid Bell provides an example of himself and “A and her father being a professor at Morehouse Different World” castmate Kadeem Hardison, College, so she had that understanding. who played Dwayne Wayne, in his favorite Growing up across the street from Morehouse episode titled “The Cat’s in the Cradle.” and Spelman College, it was common for Guy, Photo by Steve Cochran Photo by Jasmine Guy’s Official Facebook Page “Our favorite episode is an episode called “The and when she did “School Daze” in Atlanta, they Darryl M. Bell Jasmine Guy Cat’s in the Cradle” where Ron and Dwayne go to filmed on college campuses and used many of the student body and homecoming parades.

“Most people don’t realize, particularly beyond a football game and end up in a fight, and there’s a racial Going out to L.A. and doing a show about an HBCU set the largest names of HBCUs, so your Howards, your incident, and that certainly speaks to racial tensions that in the South was strange for Guy because she didn’t know Morehouses, Spelmans, FAMUs, there are actually 107 exist and how much progress has been made since the it was a thing or a separate entity. She had to visit college different HBCUs,” Bell said. “So smaller schools like Civil Rights Movement,” Bell said. “There’s still a fight for equality and equity that’s valid today. You hear everyone campuses when actress, dancer, choreographer, singerFisk, Lane College, or Oakwood University, these are now; we’re talking about everyone's community wants to songwriter, director, and producer Debbie Allen came on schools that don’t get as much attention but are doing be equal and wants a fair opportunity to be successful and the show. extraordinary work, educating students in their state and live their life and live the American Dream; that’s a real “She sent the writers to go to Howard, Morehouse, conversation.”

Spelman, and she was like “Do your research like for school.”

Bell also recalls when he and Guy went to an event for Overall, Bell says it all depends and that he hopes any other show,” Guy said. “Go to classes, see what the differences are,” you know, because, in the first season, Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina, the everyone comes away with a meeting, and that it’s fun to look back at entertaining episodes with guest stars such I felt they were just putting Black faces with kind of only aviation school of all the HBCUs. “They have airplanes in the field, they’re training pilots, as Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Tupac, Boyz II Men, and innocuous world, it wasn’t very…you never knew where you were, you know, and claiming it as an HBCU gave it it’s spectacular,” Bell said. “So I think now there’s a greater Heavy D & The Boyz. continued on page 13 awareness now about the good works that they’re doing more identity, even though the identity was subtle.”

“There’s still a fight for equality and equity that’s valid today.

You hear everyone now; we’re talking about everyone's community wants to be equal and wants a fair opportunity to be successful and live their life and live the American Dream; that’s a real conversation.”

- Darryl M. Bell.

10 THE TOWER December, 2023

Keanu the Cougar’s New Look and the Questions Surrounding It

continued from page 2

represent at Kean.”

Kean University has become the first urban research university in New Jersey. This is an honor that the university is extremely proud of.

They now feel stronger than they ever have. With this, their mascot should represent their accomplishments.

Keanu is more confident now.

His eyes symbolize focus and determination. His muscles show how powerful he has become. Keanu is now seen as a force to be reckoned with. He is certainly a cougar you would not want to challenge. He now looks like he can conquer anything with the utmost determination, just like Kean University.

Photo by @keanucougar Instagram But all of this recent attention that ”Keanu flexes to show off his new muscles.”

Keanu has been receiving is raising some questions around campus. Who off almost as cute and cuddly. He looked too approachable and unthreatening. But is Keanu? Unfortunately, no one knows. this semester, Keanu received a complete The identity of the mascot is hidden. facelift.

“It is a tradition at colleges and “He is stronger, bigger, and faster,” universities to keep the identities of their Belle said, regarding Keanu's new look. mascots secret,” Margaret McCorry, VP “[Keanu] embodies all the things we for University Relations, said. “Keanu

the Cougar has a unique, personal character that is expressed through movement, action, and openness to all people. Sharing Keanu’s identity would take away from the character's persona.”

Simply put, Keanu is Keanu. He isn’t a person in a costume. He represents Kean University as a whole. Keanu is a constant reminder of everything that our university has accomplished and what will be accomplished in the future. Although it is very hard not to wonder who is in the costume, it is a respectable tradition.

Keanu the Cougar has been showing off his new look all over the Union campus at large gatherings and sporting events. The new Keanu has yet to make an appearance at the Kean Photo by @keanucougar Instagram Ocean campus, though. ”Keanu encourages all Kean University students and staff “Kean Ocean will be getting a new to vote.”

Keanu in the coming weeks,” McCorry represents Kean University in a said, a reassuring message to all Kean very powerful way. Now, seeing that Ocean students.

It is important to understand the representation with his new look is much symbolism of Keanu. The mascot easier. n

Cougar Pantry Strives for Better: Ascending to New Heights to Elevate Support to Students continued from page 3

for food insecurity Matriculated within the college Student eligibility is community, citing that assessed on a case-byone reason could be case basis, ensuring a the growing population tailored approach. of low-income college “At Cougar Pantry students. intake, we assess With high college various areas of need costs, insufficient to make certain to financial aid, and connect the students to students still having all available resources to deal with personal on and off campus,” financial hardships, Colalillo said. money can wear thin With positive leaving students o u t c o m e s struggling to afford materializing the basic necessities. pantry has seen three Colalillo also said times the amount of a weak labor market Photo by Layah Lopes Photo by Layah Lopes students compared to for part-time workers, Pantry pick-up location Pantry QR code the previous semester. college resources “We have already declining per capita, They have also established a connection with the experienced an increase and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) policies that specifically exclude many college students from community organization St. Joseph's Social Center in in utilization of Cougar Pantry and we hope to continue Elizabeth, to ensure that resources are distributed properly to address and tackle both basic needs and food insecurity participating all play a role in campus-wide food insecurity. at Kean University,” said Genique Stanislaus, executive To connect with students, the pantry has forged alliances and to maximize the consumption of what is donated.

Diverse promotional efforts, including in-person events director of the Kean Wellness Center. with departments and campus leaders that assist students Notably, the Cougar Pantry has recently served over 360 with advisement or needs assessments. In the event a at new student orientations, on-campus print and email student shares concerns about a lack of resources to said news blasts, and coverage in local news media, have also Kean students by provisioning professional attire via the connections they will be directed to the cougar pantry. been instrumental.

Career Closet. n

“We have already experienced an increase in utilization of Cougar Pantry and we hope to continue to address and tackle both basic needs and food insecurity at Kean University,” said Genique Stanislaus, executive director of the Kean Wellness Center.

December, 2023

Students’ Final Semesters at Kean

THE TOWER 11

continued from page 3

“Yes, I would love to go into the Human and move forward in my life and career,” Resources Field and either do the hiring for Rodriguez said. companies or work on their benefit packages.

Despite the good and bad times and not I also love the diversity, equity, and inclusion meeting any expectations, Rodriguez has initiatives that the Human Resource field learned a lot and is ready to move forward with offers. I have a goal to work for Apple Corporate her life and career. on their Human Resource Team,” Indrawis Kean University’s affordability is another said. positive factor in choosing Kean, and one Sebastian Salazar, a Kean senior majoring in many students can relate to for choosing to marketing, will graduate in the spring of 2024 be a student here. In Indrawis’s case, the key and has his plan set for afterward. takeaway was getting a quality degree at an “After college, I want to go into the sporting affordable price. industry with my goal being working within Indrawis also mentions her experience as the National Football League,” Salazar said. a positive and knowledgeable one. She was Karla Rodriguez, a Kean senior majoring in satisfied with her college decision overall. marketing, will also graduate in the spring of “I would rate my experience at Kean as 2024. She explains her goals. a good experience. Most of my professors “One of my goals after I graduate Kean is were very knowledgeable, and I feel like I got Photo by Kean University Website to have started a job within my major. If that a lot out of my education here. I am happy 2023 Graduate Commencement doesn't go as planned, then I intend on getting with my college decision because I was Salazar mentioned his amazing experience at Kean and my master's,” Rodriguez said. able to get a quality degree at an affordable Most students have it figured out, as it is a pivotal his happiness with his college decision to choose Kean. price,” Indrawis stated.

“Being a transfer student from a local community college, moment in their lives and future careers. Kean University It may seem scary at first, but being free from all the offers students many resources to make connections and my experience at Kean has been amazing. Within a year, I’ve academic stress is exciting. College is bittersweet; you get been able to do things I’d never imagine myself doing at an the education and degree you need for a career, but there is gain experience from the internships provided.

Kean has career services, which strive to help students institution, like being awarded the Presidents Excellence the possibility of debt owed from all the student loans.

Photo by Kean University Website

2023 Undergraduate Commencement

get internships or jobs. They offer various services, such as resume critiques and mock interviews, to help you find a position that supports your career goals. They offer these services on the Kean University website.

Their career fairs for students help make connections and get internships or jobs as well. Kean has many resources and always makes it known to students to take advantage of the opportunities.

This makes their college experience very educational and helpful for their future careers. Having a positive experience at any college is very important.

Award, becoming the founder of a successful sports club & launching a Kean Sports Summit. I’m extremely happy with my college decision in choosing Kean,” Salazar said.

Salazar made his mark at Kean and gained an amazing experience. It is a great takeaway from Kean to share with others and take it with you on your journey.

For Rodriguez, her experience when studying at Kean was very interesting and unexpected.

“My college experience has definitely been interesting, I had good times and bad times; it wasn't anything like I had expected, but I've learned a lot, and I am ready to graduate

Not to mention the realization that you might want to do something else later in the future and have to come back to any school to get a degree in that field.

It will be a challenging journey, but Kean University has our backs as students, and we are always welcome to come back; there is no shame in it.

We have the power to pursue our careers and to take our knowledge with us to be successful in our lives. As we say goodbye to Kean, we’ll take our memories with us, not just the educational ones, but the ones with friends made during our time there. n

12 THE TOWER December, 2023

Kean’s Nancy Thompson Learning Commons to Host First-Ever Slam Poetry Night continued from page 6

"I am super excited vitality of sensory to hear and be part experiences to of people's shared slam poetry and a experiences. I admire successful turnout, the theme of this event which influenced their because students will venue choice. have the opportunity "I was thinking to share a positive about Cougars Den experience in their or Little Theatre. We life and celebrate their wanted a stage, and accomplishments then I was like, you altogether as a want somewhere community," Herrera where you're able said. "This event will to sit down, maybe bring out positivity round tables, eat, I and resilience." know we're going to Slam poetry is have food and drinks a unique form of there, so I was like, self-expression that let's go with Cougars marries the physicality Den," said McQueen. of storytelling Submissions for and poetry.

The those interested in performers weave performing remain the audience through open until Thursday, an experience or Nov. 30th, and are topic they resonate encouraged. with profoundly and As the event Photo by Poetry is a Packsack of Invisible Keepsakes incorporate a range The Nancy Thompson Learning Commons date approaches, of gestures, tone, invites Kean students to "immerse Herrera advises the facial expressions, and [themselves] in the power of words and performers, “Have fun! emotions" at Cougars Den on Dec. 7th literary techniques to Remind yourself that communicate their you are in a safe space. messages and feelings.

This moment is about you! We are here The event coordinators recognized the for you.” n

“She said she wants the students to share what they are all in for.”

The Struggles of Registering for Classes continued from page 4

Once she did find an option, a psychology class, she found that the same teacher taught the same class in different time frames.

“It was only one teacher and she had like three different classes which I thought was weird,” Owens said.

Owens found this to be a problem because it didn’t give her options. While it was nothing against the professor, it felt as though the Kean’s energy decision was made for her that this was the only professor

she was able to take.

Owens feels lucky that her manager has been able to accommodate her this time around and for the Spring since in the past she has had to stick to classes she didn’t want to take but more so that fit her work schedule.

“This time around I wasn’t forced to do that, 'cause I Photo by Kean’s Instagram had already done all I needed to do,” Owens said. n

Advice From Alumni continued from page 7

discussed what would come after graduation for her, whether it was grad school or finding a career.

Guox did not complete an internship during her years at Kean due to the prolonged effects of COVID, but she does believe that an internship would have aided her in her search for a job.

Students should find a mentor or advisor to aid in their navigation of applying for and finding jobs and graduate programs suited for them, but a lack of connections can make that challenging, which is why Guox advises students to ask for help whenever they need it because it is not an easy thing to manage on their own.

Wilson always knew that she wanted to go to grad school, she was just not sure

contributed to her getting into grad school and her internships were not the sole reason why. She had experience with writing and reporting from her internship and from being on staff at The Tower, which she said definitely helped her.

Wilson advises students to research the companies they are applying to and the grad programs to know what they want and ensure that wherever they decide to go there’s a chance to grow, and their goals, missions, and ethical goals align with their own. Do not apply for companies or schools because of the name or prestige, apply because it is good for you.

Career services and LinkedIn are resources that helped Wilson with her journey of finding internships.

Photo by Kean University Instagram page

Kean commencement ceremony

where she wanted to go but her mentor was a great help in figuring it out.

“We applied to grad school, my mentor was very much in my corner during the entire process, trying to decide what schools I wanted to go to and going there for the right reasons,” says Wilson. “He was always there with advice in general.”

Her mentor from her internship was a business journalist and he would send her internship opportunities for her to apply to once she entered the spring semester of her senior year. He had connections in different news organizations so if he heard of any openings, he would let her know and she would apply.

“Over the summer, I was actively searching for jobs, I was actively searching for internships but I was also applying for smaller things so I could use them as practice. I put my best foot forward but if I didn’t get it, I know I did my best and I will know what to do next time,” says Wilson.

Wilson believes more than one factor

Wilson suggests that everyone should be open minded about internships because they are meant for people to learn and to grow from them.

Life after graduation can seem scary because no one knows what comes next, but all the graduating seniors should just face it head on because everything is going to work out. It’s scary not knowing what’s next but it is important to try to plan for the things they want, she said.

Guox suggests that college seniors also make an effort to secure an internship before they graduate because that can definitely help when it comes to finding a job. Often, companies who take interns can be interested in hiring them once they have graduated.

“Ask for help; you can’t do it all on your own,” says Guox. “You won’t have everything figured out right away but having help from others can ease the transition from college student to adult.” n

December, 2023

New Characters Arrive at the Kean Ocean Campus continued from page 7

students and faculty. The goal is to spark conversation and enjoyment.

Ocean County College posted about the

campus, and broader community,” said Kenneth J. Malagiere, the Executive Director of the Ocean County College

“Johnson passed away from cancer in 2020, but he is survived by his artwork.”

Photo by Colin Ward

Photo by Colin Ward

THE TOWER 13

Former Air Force Vet and Two-Time Kean Alumni Gives Back to Vets

continued from page 3

different ways.

“My weekends are getting involved with homeless shelters, backpack drives, etc.,” He said.

Although he felt failed by the VA after his six years in the Air Force, Awojobi would rather work with the VA than against it. The VA has helped veterans in

After seeing major success with TTA Empire, Inc., Awojobi was honored by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy for Military Service and Support of Local Veterans.

Awojobi, in addition to being the working CEO of his non-profit organization, doubles as a sales associate for Coldwell Banker Realty in East Brunswick, NJ,

Photo by Tim Awojobi

Photo by Tim Awojobi

Two sculptures laying outside of the Gateway building

Single sculpture laying in the grass near the Gateway building

Tim Awojobi and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy

Tim Awojobi, six-year Air Force Vet and two-time Kean Alumni

sculptures on their social media accounts and provided a quote that sums up the purpose of the sculptures perfectly.

“This installation is intended to usher in awareness of the Ocean County College Foundation Art Collection as an opportunity to engage our students,

Foundation.

their own way to the best of their abilities.

But for those who fought for the United States, what the VA is giving just isn’t enough.

“I am not against the VA; I am here to assist them and make them better,” Awojobi said.

while also pursuing his doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership.

With all the amazing things he has done and will do in the future, Awojobi is still showing his appreciation and respect to the men and women who fought for this country. n

When visiting the Kean Ocean campus, stop and enjoy the artwork that surrounds the area. The sculptures will remain on campus until the end of the Spring 2024 semester.

n

Interview with Jasmine Guy and Darryl M. Bell continued from page 9

With Guy, she says that many students want to know about their process days and more about the workings and makings of a TV show in the 90s.

“We like to follow either the moderator’s lead in the questioning or the audience’s questions, which really covers what we need to know and what they want to know,” Guy said.

Bell also mentioned another “A Different World” episode where Jesse Jackson came to Hillman and stated that it is less about taking political ideology and more about when he was in school, with just a need to get young people engaged in the process and just get out and vote.

“Just be registered to vote and participate in your civic duty, and that’s something

that cannot be emphasized enough,” Bell said. “Your ability to control the resources and the decisions that impact your lives are determined by your vote and that matters. Everybody should be registered, and everybody should vote.”

Guy also brought up the importance of local politicians because they affect you directly in your community, schools, and crime rates.

“Knowing the candidates that are running in your city or town and know what they stand on issues because you may Photo by Tyra Watts

From left to right: Darryl M. Bell, Tyra Watts, Ajani Carter, Zachary Halley, and Kadeem Hardison

see someone who looks good but may not share your values,” Guy said.

n

SPORTS

14 THE TOWER December, 2023

Nationally Ranked Cougars Historic Season

By Kervin Coleman

Hibschman was named NJAC Midfielder of the Year and earned her first All-NJAC and All-Region selection after scoring after tallying 16 points on six goals and four assists, After receiving an at-large bid to enter, the Kean including two game-winners. She shares the title with Claire Engebreth of TCNJ and Cougars field hockey team was NCAA Tournament- becomes the program's fifth Midfielder of the Year, joining Lia DiPiazza (Spring 2021), bound. The Cougars had a steady season, entering Teresa Carr (2017), Marissa Robinson (2015), and Olivia Triano (2010, 2011). the tournament ranked thirteenth in the country.

Another catalyst is fifth-year player Jenna Flemings. Flemings has had one of the more The Cougars were sitting at decorated careers in Kean’s history with 11-5 and had slim hopes to the accolades and accomplishments she’s look forward to going into collected. the postseason after losing Flemings was selected NJAC Goaltender in the NJAC Semifinals to of the Year and an All-NJAC first-team pick The College of New Jersey. after recording 136 saves for a .850 save On Nov. 5, The Cougars percentage and a 1.19 goals-against average waited until 10 P.M. to in 21 games. During the season, she was find out whether or not named NJAC Defensive Player of the Week they would be eligible for twice. the NCAA Tournament “Jenna Flemings is a great leader on and off with hopes of optimism. the field,” Corbett said. “She’s an exceptional The entire team waited goalie and teammate and played a huge role together in a conference on the team.” room for the verdict She was chosen to the NCAA Allthat they had made the Championship Team in the postseason. tournament.

Fleming has been named to his third All“It was such a great Region team. Flemings became the only feeling finding out that Cougar in program history to receive the we made the NCAA honor three times.

Photo by Kean Athletics Tournament. We worked Peyton Mann is another decorated fifthso hard the entire season Jenna Flemings during contest year catalyst the Cougars go to in their to make it to this point,” time of need. Mann is named to her third Junior Midfielder Kelsey All-NJAC and All-Region first team after Corbett said. scoring 44 points on 16 goals and 12 assists, In the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Tournament firstincluding four game-winners, in 21 games. round action on Nov. 8, the Cougars defeated St. Mary's College She finished first in the NJAC in gameby a score of 4-2 in a comeback fashion. winners and assists and second in shots on On Nov. 11, Head Coach Leslie LaFronz notched her 200th goal, goals, and points. The senior was named career victory at Kean as the Cougars shocked the number NJAC Offensive Player of the Week once. three ranked Captains of Christopher Newport University with Fifth-year players Morgan and Laura a 1-0 overtime victory in the NCAA Tournament second round.

Stump have the luxury of being twin sisters LaFronz is in her fifteenth season as the head coach of the and teammates on this team, and both are field hockey program. She is the winningest coach in program contributors to the team's success. Morgan Photo by Kean Athletics history, winning 201 games at Kean (217 overall), and qualified Four Cougars were selected to the NFHCA All-Region team Stump is named to her third All-NJAC firstfor the postseason in 12 of the last 14 seasons during her time team selection and second All-Region after in Union. tallying 17 points on six goals and five assists, “Coach LaFronz coaches us up every chance she gets,” including two game-winners in 21 games.

Freshman Tzuriya Thompson said. “It shows in how far we She finished eleventh in shots and assists came this season that her philosophy works.” in the NJAC. Laura Stump is named to her Laura Stump notched the game-winner in the 42nd minute first All-NJAC team after scoring 11 points to lift the Cougars to a 2-1 victory over 11 University of on four goals and two assists, including two Lynchburg in NCAA Tournament third-round action on Nov game-winners, in 21 games. She finished 12. ninth in shots in the NJAC. “Towards the end of the season, it was easy to keep a strong Flemings made 14 saves as the Cougars Photo by Kean Athletics mindset,” Corbett said. “Especially in the NCAA tournament had their historic run come to an end in the Five Cougars were selected to the All-NJAC team because we all wanted to go far in the tournament.”

NCAA Semifinals with a 2-0 loss to number The Cougars have multiple catalysts that lead the way into four ranked Johns Hopkins University at the season and post-season. The NJAC All-Conference list consisted of five different CNU's Jennings Family Field on Nov 17. The Cougars' season ended with a 14-6 record, a Cougars, while four different Cougars got selected to the National Field Hockey Coaches Final Four bid, and many memories to build upon for future seasons.

Association (NFHCA) Division III Region IV first team. One of them is senior Jorja “We worked so hard the entire season to make it to this point, and it was incredible Hibschman. when that hard work finally paid off,” Corbett said. n

“We worked so hard the entire season to make it to this point, and it was incredible when that hard work finally paid off.”

Kean’s Sports Summit

December, 2023

By Josephine Carrillo

On Thursday, Nov. 30, Kean University’s Sports Business Club and the President’s Advisory Council, PAC, hosted the first Sports Summit at Kean University in the North Avenue Academic Building.

“We are here, this is sports, this is Kean,” said Sebastian Salazar, founder and president of the Sports Business Club. “I want to clarify that the Kean Sports Summit is not only for business students. It’s for all Kean students interested in sports and finding a career in the sports industry.”

The opening speaker at the summit was Brad Butler II, a motivational speaker who graduated from Kean in 2014. Butler talked about his life as an athlete while in school and college and how he based his whole life on football.

“I was watching other people around me who were still struggling because they were holding onto that 1% of individuals who go pro,” said Butler.

“They do everything in their power to make it happen but what at what cost?

They lose opportunities in the process; they lose themselves in the process because they believe there is no life outside of being an athlete, and that is not true.”

The Sports Careers- Succeeding at a High-Level segment of the summit had sports professionals talk about their personal experiences within the industry and how they discovered their passion for what they do.

The guest speakers for the section were Richard “Big Daddy” Salgado, the CEO of Coastal Advisors, Matthew Gutknecht, Director of Sports Entertainment at APM Music, Tonilynn Taranto, Community Relations manager at New York Red Bulls, Eddie Nicastro, owner of Jersey Sports Group, Eddy Occhipinti, Associate director of marketing at Kean University and Chad Biggs, SVP Corporate partnerships activation at HBSE. “I went to school for broadcasting, and while I was there, I interned for the New York Jets, where I got to see the behind-the-scenes on what goes into an organization, and I said to myself, this is so much better than what I thought it would be, and that led me to where I am today,” said Taranto.

Speakers talked about the pros and

Photo by Josephine Carrillo

Sports Careers - Succeeding at a High-Level segment of the Kean Sports Summit

“We are here, this is sports, this is Kean,” said Sebastian Salazar, founder and president of the Sports Business Club. “I want to clarify that the Kean Sports Summit is not only for business students. It’s for all Kean students interested in sports and finding a career in the sports industry.”

Photo by Josephine Carrillo

Kean Sports Summit Executive Board

THE TOWER 15

cons of having a career in the sports industry, they talked about connections and the importance of knowing how to pitch yourself to others because there are no second impressions.

“Without a passion, you will not get far. It can’t just be sports. It needs to be about the business aspect of sports, relations, people, partners, their brands, sponsorships, and how this can help them,” said Biggs. “Lots of sacrifices, but lots of rewards.”

During the Networking segment of the summit, students got to talk to guest speakers and recruiters, such as Disney, the New Jersey Devils, the Brooklyn Nets, and different organizations seeking interns and allowing Kean students to be a part of their teams.

“When I transferred from Union County College over to Kean, joining a club wasn’t really a thought for me,” said Benjamin Rubens, VP of the Kean Sports Business Club. “When Sebastian founded this club nine months ago, there were only five people in that room, but we had a vision, and we made it come true.”

Kean Sports Summit had over 200 people in attendance. Students from all majors, professors of different departments, and Kean’s President, Lamont O. Repollet, Ed. D., came together to be a part of the event and learn about the sports industry, grow their networks, and connect with others.

In the last segment of the summit, Kean Alumni in Sports- transition into the industry, guest speakers were Stanley Neron, Director of Recreation for the city of Elizabeth (97’), Francisco Reyes, Social Influencer and Marketing Specialist at the NFL (19’), Dylan Evande, Founder of Ultrafooty and pro soccer player (20’), Evan Pobuta, SR. Manager at Wasserman (18’), and lastly, Chris Halton, VP at Verizon (94’).

“We are more than just a sports club.

We are a family,” said Salazar. “I invite all of you interested in sports, to join the Kean Sports Business Club. Regardless of what your major is, we have a role for you.” n

16 THE TOWER December, 2023

Kean Men’s Volleyball Preview

By John DeFreitas The Kean Men’s volleyball team faces a unique experience with four sophomores returning who already saw significant playing time as freshmen, alongside a coach who enters his second full season as head coach.

A season ago, the Cougars suffered a first-round exit in the CVC (Continental Volleyball Conference) to Marymount University after a five-set battle of a match.

Sophomore David Flores, a setter for the team, would speak about the conditioning of the team last season which could have impacted matches that went to fourth and fifth sets.

“It just wasn’t our best performance because all of us were experiencing that fatigue…” said Flores. “This season… we are gonna be the most conditioned team in NJAC and DIII volleyball.”

Being able to finish late sets in volleyball is key to going from a good team to potentially a great one. Flores added about the mindset changing between seasons especially, for how young the team is.

“This season we’re not cocky, but we’re hungry… we know what happened last season and we don’t wanna get a repeat of that,” said Flores. “So in our minds, our mental state is now confident and vengeful. I think that combination of those two emotions is gonna make this season… the best season we’re gonna have so far.”

A season ago, the Cougars faced multiple ranked opponents including Marymount University. David Flores Flores explains how the team will try and view those opponents after having a year of experience facing them.

“We’re not worrying about the seedings,” said Flores.

“We’re not worrying about the external factors in a game, we’re just worrying about volleyball to the best of our ability.”

Three new recruits have also joined the team this season, two being freshmen and one a transfer student. Flores speaks about how newcomers gel with the team being that he has had a similar experience the season prior.

“I definitely feel that our team is very welcoming to the freshmen,” said Flores. “I’m rooming with one of the transfers and he loves the team here, we get him included with everything and he feels like a part of the team…that's what we strive for.”

Flores as a sophomore setter also gets the support and guidance from a fairly new coach in head coach Bez Arslani.

Arslani brought his own take on his first-year experience of last season and what it means for this coming season.

“Me coming in as a rookie, as a first-year coach, and

having four freshmen on the court, I looked at it as building the team for the next couple of years,” said Arslani. “The record really didn’t go to show how well we performed on the court, but the boys did grow as a team together.”

Arslani brought up a focus on the difference a year makes for his players, especially in matches that end up going a full five sets.

“I’m excited to see what the boys are going to bring onto the table this year, playing with a chip on their shoulder,” said Arslani. “The pressure of a situation of a fifth set can take a role on a freshman versus a sophomore, a junior, and some seniors.”

Head coach Arslani offers a unique coaching style to his athletes that may not always be the norm. But as a young coach and former All-American who even played two

Arslani has clear expectations and goals for this season and has used pre-season matches to gauge where the team is heading into their January season opener.

“I expect to win,” said Arslani. “I expect to take care of business in the NJAC, and I expect to take care and shock everyone in the CVC. I expect to see the boys figuring it out when we’re down 7-5… or when we’re down 13-8.”

Arslani expects to see situations like this occur during the season but also expects them to win sets and matches they may be down in by playing them one point at a time and by doing what he preaches, which is being two points better than their opponents.

Sophomore Chris Mitchell, an outside hitter on the team, voices his own expectations for how this coming season may unfold.

“Coming off of last season…” said Mitchell. “Knowing what it feels like to lose with such a young team, now that we have a year under our belts we’re feeling really good about our team going into this coming season because of how well we meshed together already in the pre-season tournament.”

As Mitchell enters his sophomore year and season much like others on the team he is growing with coach Arslani in his second season as well.

“He’s very in touch with his players,” said Mitchell. “He meets with all of us all the time to get feedback for himself. So he’s a very open-minded guy. He wants to know how he can improve… he’s the most honest guy in the Photo by Kean Athletics Photo by Kean Athletics Photo by Kean Athletics world.”

Head Coach Bez Arslani Chris Mitchell Mitchell elaborated on Arslani’s style, being able to step seasons at Kean, Arslani can both coach and show exactly in on the court and show his players what he wants them what he is looking for his players to do.

“I will never tell you to do something that I physically to do but also being approachable off the court. Mitchell smiled as he spoke of the sort of tough love coaching style cannot do and that I’ve never done myself,” said Arslani.

Part of Arslani’s unique style is his transparency with Arslani offers.

Mitchell also has high expectations for the coming his players. Some players may be more a part of the starting six than others but he emphasizes how important season, wanting to see his side potentially become ranked those players less in rotation are to the overall success and and excel within the conference, especially against ranked opponents. Mitchell offers his perspective on facing those improvement of the team.

“The way I deal with those players that are on the bench, potentially tougher or ranked opponents.

“You have to recognize that the number next to this is I make sure I talk to them,” said Arslani. “I make sure that I don’t leave them high and dry…I let them know team that is on the other side of the court is just that…,” when they’re doing good things in practice…and I give a said Mitchell. “Just because… whoever is ranking us doesn’t put a number next to our name, doesn’t mean that lot of constructive criticism.”

Being the head coach of any collegiate sports program is we are not able to compete with this team who’s across the no small task and Arslani takes it on as he strives to build net from us. Because that’s the only thing that separates us, is that net, not the number.” a team that supports one another.

The regular season will begin for Kean Men’s volleyball “I’m building a culture where every one of us needs each other,” said Arslani. “And that’s the game of volleyball, you on Saturday, Jan. 13 when the Cougars face the reigning can’t play the game by yourself.”

National Champions, Stevens Ducks. n

“Because that’s the only thing that separates us, is that net, not the number.”