Journalism Articles
Long Beach Island is the true Fantasy Island
December 3, 2018
Have you ever been to Long Beach Island, or as it is better known as, LBI? If you haven’t, you’re truly missing out. Hopefully, you’ve stumbled across this article because you’re planning a trip to LBI, but don’t know where to begin. That’s why you have me! I’ve been going to LBI since I was about six months old, so I like to think that I’m an expert on this subject.
Let’s start off with where this wonderful island is located. LBI is exit 63 on the Garden State Parkway, which can be considered southern New Jersey. If you need another reference, it is a little less than an hour north of Atlantic City, NJ. LBI consists of nine different towns. They are Barnegat Light, Loveladies, Harvey Cedars, North Beach, Surf City, Ship Bottom, Long Beach Township, Beach Haven, and Holgate. Not to be biased, but I think Beach Haven is the best of the best.
I have stayed in a house in Beach Haven for as long as I can remember. Renting a house can be expensive, but it truly adds to the LBI experience. You should expect to pay around $2,000 a week for an average house. If you do not want to rent a house, don’t worry! There are many hotels and motels on the island that will do the job. These include the Spray Beach Hotel for around $105 a night. However, the hotels and motels are certainly not as nice.
Beach Haven is the main part of LBI, and it is also the busiest. It includes wonderful restaurants, great beaches, and nightlife for children, teenagers, and adults. The beaches on LBI might just be the cleanest, and best, in the state. According to VisitNJ.org, “[LBI]is a beach lover’s paradise. Even at the widest point of this 18-mile-long island strewn with small shore towns and long stretches of white sand, you’re never more than half a mile from the other side.” The $5 per day beach pass is definitely worth the amazing memories that you will make on these beaches.
When going to the beach, don’t forget your sunscreen. The LBI sun is stronger than you’d think! If you’re a first-timer, make sure to stop by Acme Sports Shop to buy or rent boogie boards, surfboards, and even bikes. You can find these shops all over the island, and they carry all of your beach needs.
The beach isn’t the only place where you can see the water. LBI is surrounded by the bay, as well. Whether you stop by the bay for some water activities, such as paddle boarding or fishing, or just to watch the sunset at night, it is definitely a calmer place than the beachside. According to the LBI Chamber of Commerce, “LBI is home to numerous boats and captains[such as the Miss Beach Haven Fishing Charter] offering inshore, offshore, and overnight trips for [charter] fishing. Check out Beach Haven or Barnegat Light (and in between!) for boats leaving out of these popular areas.” I’m more of a “tanning by the water girl,” but there are activities for everyone to enjoy!
When you work up a sweat paddle boarding, fishing, or simply sweating it out while tanning on the beach, you’re going to want to reward yourself with some food. It’s a good thing LBI is known for its variety of restaurants. If you’re looking for a great breakfast stop (or lunch or dinner, too), you must stop by Chicken or the Egg.
Chicken or the Egg, also known as Chegg, has a line out the door from the second they open until the second they close. They have a variety of foods including waffles, salads, and cheesesteaks. However, they are famous for their wings. According to Chicken or the Egg’s website, “Our menu is big, beautiful, and guaranteed to please. If you can’t find something here you like, you should be slapped with a ludicrous wing!” Their humor and their food definitely won’t disappoint.
If you want a more sophisticated sit-down dinner, Parker’s Garage in Beach Haven is the place to be. Fans of seafood love this restaurant, and it is clear why. According to Parker’s Garage’s website, “From creative dishes inspired by our travels, to time-honored Barnegat Bay traditions, above all else, we are committed to serving the freshest bountyfrom the sea.” If you don’t like seafood, however, don’t worry! There’s plenty of other options, too.
After your long day of relaxing on the beach, you’re going to want dessert. Located on Long Beach Boulevard is Skipper Dipper. They have been serving soft and hard ice cream, sundaes, ice cream cakes, and more for the past 40 years. My personal favorite is the black raspberry chocolate chip, but every flavor seems amazing to me. The line can get long on hot summer nights, so allot time to wait for this amazing sweet treat.
Now, let’s move on to nightlife. LBI is a huge family vacation destination. That is why Fantasy Island is the most crowded amusement park on the island. Fantasy Island consists of an arcade, carnival games, and rides. Since LBI doesn’t have a boardwalk, this is the place to be.
Fantasy Island starts off its days at around noon when the arcade opens. The rides do not open until late afternoon/evening, but that is what brings in the crowd. It is the perfect place to go after dinner with, or without, your children. Just be careful, because if you’re anything like me, it’s very easy to spend all of your money trying to win a stuffed animal in a crane machine.
If amusement parks aren’t your scene, and you’re over 21, there are many bars to spend your nights at. There is the Tiki Bar at the Sea Shell Motel, which has a pool and is right on the beach. There’s also Nardi’s Tavern in Long Beach Township, which is a restaurant by day and a club by night. However, if you want a relaxing night of drinking, buy yourself your favorite drink and spend the night on the beach with friends and family.
After learning about all that LBI has to offer, I hope you choose to book that trip! I also hope that after learning about my second home, that you will start making it your second home, too! It’s true—LBI is certainly the real fantasy island.
Why USA Gymnastics is Going Downhill
November 19, 2019
I’m sure you all have heard USA Gymnastics in the news this past year, but not for a good reason. I’m also sure that you have heard the name Larry Nassar once or twice. Larry Nassar was USA Gymnastics’ team doctor who abused his power by sexually assaulting his patients. This case started back in September 2016, when two accusations were made against him. Gymnasts Jamie Dantzscher and Rachael Denhollander were the first to accuse him, and it started a domino effect.
As a child, I participated in gymnastics for 10 years. I was lucky enough to have supportive coaches who wanted nothing but for me to succeed. Now, I’ve had the privilege of being a coach for the past five years. I coach children ages three to 15, and I aspire to be a role model for them. Everyone in my gym wants the best for these gymnasts, even the doctors. However, the gymnasts associated with USA Gymnastics were not so lucky. They did not have a team doctor looking out for them. Instead, he abused them.
It all went even further downhill with the Larry Nassar case that took place in January 2018. According to Nicole Chavez and Joe Sutton from CNN, “Nassar was already serving 40 to 175 years in Michiganfor sexually abusing women and girls under the guise of performing medical treatment when he was indicted in June on charges linked to allegations at the Karolyi Ranch.” Before his sentence, more than 100 women testified against him and the judge wrote his sentence to spend his life in jail. How he was even able to get away with this for so long baffles me.
Survivors of his sexual assault include Olympians Aly Raisman and Jordyn Wieber. I have always looked up to these gymnasts because of their grace and talent. However, now I look up to them even more seeing how strong they are in the face of this adversity. They are survivors, not victims, and how they have performed in gymnastics even after the abuse shows that they did not let Nassar ruin their love for the sport. I admire that greatly.
During and after his trial, USA Gymnastics had many of its board members resign from their positions. This included their chairman, vice chairman, and treasurer. According to Christina Hauser and Maggie Astor from The New York Times, Scott Blackmun, the head of the United States Olympic Committee, said that he would decertify USA Gymnasticsif their board didn’t resign. Frankly, I think it would’ve served them right to be decertified.
The federation cut all ties with the Karolyi Ranch, which was their training center where some of the abuse happened. Because of this situation, sponsors such as AT&T, Procter & Gamble, Hershey’s, and more decided to end their sponsorshipswith USA Gymnastics. No one wanted to be associated with this federation, and it is clear why.
The question here is, how did nobody know that this was happening? How was Nassar abusing these children for so long without getting caught? Steve Penny, former head of USA Gymnastics, was recently accused of knowing of this abuse and failing to report it. He was also accused of hiding and tampering with evidence. They believe that he removed documents from the Karolyi Ranch. Someone that tries to protect their company over stopping an abuser should never have been in charge in the first place.
When this information of Nassar’s abuse came to light to Steve Penny, he chose to try to cover it up instead of doing what he could to protect his gymnasts. The image of the company seemed to be more important than these girls’ safety, and that absolutely sickens me. How could someone want to protect their company more than these innocent girls?
According to an NBC News interview with Olympian and Nassar abuse survivor, Aly Raisman, Raisman stated, “I never imagined it would be this bad. I think that what I was just thinking about over the last year is just there hasn’t been a full investigation by law enforcement and that is just absolutely absurd.” Why hasn’t more been done? The survivors deserve at least that much.
During Penny’s case, he pleaded not guilty to tampering with evidence that had to do with Larry Nassar. He claims that he has never seen those documents, nor does he know what is in them or where they currently are. Penny resigned from his position as head of USA Gymnastics last year, and there have been three different leaders since then. However, if he didn’t do anything wrong, why would he have resigned from his position? It just doesn’t make sense.
Even though Penny claims he never saw these documents, Sarah Fitzpatrick and Alex Johnson from NBC News state differently. Their research claims that Penny knew this investigation of Nassar was happeningand he hid or destroyed the materials on about Nov. 11, 2016.
Tampering with evidence is a third-degree felony. Those accused of it can serve up to 10 years in prison. Even after all of these accusations, Penny denied that he did anythingto cover up the information of Nassar’s abuse and that he is disgusted by what Nassar has done.
USA Gymnastics seems to be falling apart at the seams. They clearly do now know how to handle this situation. In her interview, Raisman went on to explain that USA Gymnastics is more concerned with their PR problemthan saving and protecting their gymnasts. This is more than a PR problem. It is a child abuse problem. Penny and USA Gymnastics’ other leaders have done nothing to investigate this case, and it is only becoming more of a problem.
Even though more and more changes are being made in the USA Gymnastics world, it is not enough. It will not be enough until everyone that was responsible for letting Larry Nassar do what he did is found and punished. It started with Nassar, then this past month went to Penny, but who’s next? When will this all end?
This I Believe
November 5, 2018
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Growing up, I spent a lot of time with my grandparents, and I am forever grateful for that time. What I believe in the most is that you should spend as much time with your grandparents as possible. Sometimes, the people you love the most are the ones you never get enough time with. Trust me, I know.
When I was born, my parents named me after my mother’s mother. My family is very Greek, so we grew up calling my grandmother “Yiayia,” which is the word for “grandmother” in Greek. I would be so excited on days that I got to spend at Yiayia’s house. Every time I would visit her, she would take me to the petting zoo and then out for lunch. We’d then go back to her house and finish off the day playing Go Fish. She’d even let me sleep in her bed because she knew that I thought it was the comfiest place in the world.
As time went on, those fun days seemed to become more and more rare. I got older, and so did she. I was certainly not the typical teenager. You know the ones. Those teenagers who think they’re too cool to hang out with their families, especially their grandparents. I was never like that, because I cherished the time I got to spend with them. They would tell me stories about their younger days and how different today’s society is than it was when they were growing up. I wouldn’t trade those conversations for anything.
My Yiayia was a sensational person. She always had a smile on her face and pretended like nothing ever bothered her. She would always try to cheer you up, even if she was having the worst day herself. She loved playing games and gossiping about the latest news. She also never missed a tennis or soccer game, even if they were on at one in the morning. She truly was the best person I’ve ever known.
The last five years of my Yiayia’s life were really rough. She became very ill, and it was one hospital visit after another. I remember when I was a sophomore in high school, all of my friends were going to the movies. Instead of joining them, I went and surprised my Yiayia in the hospital. I knew she was having a hard time, and I thought that some company would cheer her up. Let me tell you, when she saw me, her entire face lit up. We spent the night watching
Say Yes to the Dressand talking about anything and everything. It was definitely worth skipping the movies. I don’t talk to those friends anymore, but this memory will stay with me forever.
She spent a lot of time in hospitals, so I made sure to visit her as often as I could. Whether she had a doctor’s appointment, or was just having a bad day, I made sure that I was there for her. Throughout a span of five years, she went through countless blood transfusions, lymphoma, a broken hip, and heart valve replacement surgery. However, she never showed any weakness, which is something I admired.
Fast forward to this past June. This is the time period where my belief became even stronger. My Yiayia ended up back in the hospital, but this time she was admitted to ICU. My whole family knew it wasn’t going to end well. She was there for an entire week and I visited her every day. I took off of work to spend time with her because I knew these were going to be her last moments. It was the hardest thing to see her in this state. Her health slowly deteriorated, but I never left her side.
She was hooked up to machines and she had a breathing tube down her throat. She couldn’t speak, eat, or drink on her own. It was a site I will never forget, but I am glad that I got to spend her last week with her. I was with her up until the very end. I know it made her happy, even if she couldn’t say it. Watching her pass away was the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to experience, but I knew that she was no longer in pain and no longer suffering.
I miss her every single day, but I consider myself lucky. I’m lucky that I have my own guardian angel now. I’m lucky that I got to spend the first 20 years of my life getting to know everything about her. I’m lucky that she was someone that I could talk to about anything. I’m lucky that I get to carry on her name. Other people aren’t so lucky. If I didn’t spend the time with her that I did, then I wouldn’t have had the relationship with her that I did.
My Yiayia lived to be 89 years old, but she was still taken from us too soon. If you’re lucky enough to have your grandparents, pick up the phone or visit them once in a while. I believe in spending as much time with your grandparents as possible, because you never know when that time is going to run out.
Don’t Waste Your Time on Greek Life
October 4, 2018
Does the name Timothy Piazza ring a bell? It should, considering this case didn’t happen all too long ago. On February 12, 2017, 19-year-old Timothy Piazza was hazed to the point of death. His future brothers in Beta Theta Pi at Pennsylvania State University forced alcohol on their pledges where they, according to Abby Jackson, writer at Business Insider, “consumed four to five drinks in as little as two minutes.” While intoxicated, Piazza fell down fifteen feet of stairs, where he laid unconscious until four brothers carried him back upstairs. The brothers tried to wake him up, but to no avail. They did not call for help until it was too late. Piazza was rushed to the hospital fourteen hours after the incident, and died the next day.
Ever since this story, Greek life has been in the spotlight, and not for good reasons. Hazing has almost always been a problem with Greek life, and it has only gotten worse over the years. According to Anton Li, writer at Business Insider, “In fact, since 1970, there has been at least one hazing-related death on college campuses every year. And hazing is far from the only problem that plagues fraternities.” We hear hazing stories such as forcing alcohol down pledges throats, or the act of hitting them with paddles, also known as paddling.
Fraternities are not the only members of Greek life that add to the con list. Sororities are also on this list. Maybe sororities don’t haze as badly as some fraternities, but they do still come with negatives. Both sororities and fraternities are costly, but sororities might even be more expensive. Not only do they have national dues, there are also local dues. These include t-shirt dues, formal dues, and many more.
Aside from the costs, Greek life takes up a majority, if not all of, your time. According to Francina Morel, associate producer at HuffPost Live, “Being in a sorority, there is a pressure to attend, commit and even stay in communication with your sisters.” Time is taken from you during pledging, where you are either in class, or doing some pledging activities. However, when you are initiated into Greek life, your time does not automatically free up. You now have to attend weekly chapter meetings, philanthropy events, sisterhood/brotherhood events, and others depending on each chapter.
Overall, there are many cons when it comes to joining Greek life. The hazing is dangerous and unnecessary. The dues can rack up and are overly expensive. The time commitment is sometimes too much to handle. You are putting yourself in harm’s way and giving more than you have in order to have the title of “sorority/fraternity member.” Is it all worth it? I’m sure Timothy Piazza wouldn’t think so.
Social Media Takeover
April 19, 2019
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Over the past couple of years, social media took over the lives of children, teenagers, and young adults, and it negatively affected their performance in school.
Social media seems to have always been a constant in people’s lives, but it has become more and more overpowering as the years go on due to addiction. It is negatively affecting how children perform in school because they are too wrapped up in social media to focus on their work.
In a 2018 study published in the Library Philosophy and Practice, it was found that social media is seen as more important than grades in student’s eyes. Authors, Bernard John Kolan and Patience Emefa Dzandza, said,“It has been observed that students devote more attention and time to social media than they do for their studies and they cannot pass their examinations well if they do not learn.”
Students tend to care more about what their peers think of them on social media than they care about their grades. In a time where bullying is prominent, students try hard to make sure that their appearance online makes them look important. Bullying includes cyberbullying through different social media apps where children “attack” other children from behind the screen.
Aside from cyberbullying and the overwhelming importance of social media over other parts of their lives, it has also become a means of procrastination.
Mary Harris, a communications professor at Monmouth University from Bayville, NJ, teaches a course dedicated to social media. Harris said, “Social media has become a pacifier and a time-waster for people. It makes it too easy to procrastinate.”
However, social media has some positives, as well. “Social media is a creative outlet and people get to learn about the world around them without leaving their house,” said Harris.
For many reasons, some parents might be to blame for this social media addiction. From a very young age, children are allowed to use different social media platforms. For example, parents use devices to keep their children occupied when they are very young, and this can become the norm for these children. However, some parents do not allow their children to use social media in fear of it affecting their grades.
It would seem that high school students are the most addicted to their social media, according to Kassandra Mulholland, a junior at Pascack Valley High School, from Rivervale, NJ. However, Mulholland is not allowed to use social media until all of her schoolwork is done.
Students who are allowed limited access to their social media feel less reliant on it than those who are allowed unlimited use. “I never feel left out of anything when I am off of social media. I finish my school work and then go on social media if I feel like it, but it does not run my life,” said Mulholland.
Parents, teachers, and even students, are realizing the negative toll that social media has on their grades. Some parents are not allowing their child to use any form of social media, even from a very young age.
According to Stef Martin, a parent with a child in kindergarten from Naples, FL, “My son had a Snapchat, Musicly, and Instagram, but I took it all away from him when I realized that he was far too young to handle all of those images and information. I would venture to say that it would have affected his academic performance if we let it continue.”
The use of social media overpowering school work goes as far as being used in the classrooms when students should be doing an assignment. Marina Mulholland is a teacher at a middle school in Rivervale, NJ, so she sees the affects that social media has on academic performance.
“Students are not allowed to access social media during the school day at any time. It is too much of a distraction and school is not the place for it. Any student caught using social media during the school day has their device taken away from them,” said Mulholland. This is not the case in all schools, but many schools are starting to put this rule into effect and seeing results.
Aside from spending more time on social media than school work, social media is affecting the way students write. According to Kolan and Dzandza, “Studies conducted by scholars have also proved that social media can be detrimental to students’ academic life if caution is not taken in its usage.”
Students are using “slang” words online, which are carrying over to their everyday studies. It is much easier to type shorter words online, and the students become so accustomed to it that they start to use those words in their school work. This is negatively affecting their grades, as well.
No, social media does not affect every student’s academic performance, but it is becoming an epidemic. The more use of social media, the more their grades are suffering. The procrastination, ways of writing, and overall poor grades have become a problem that social media can be blamed for.
What No One Seems to be Talking About: Mental Health on College Campuses
April 5, 2018
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Over the past couple of years, the stigma on college campuses is that mental health issues are not normal and that they should not be talked about.
Megan Krone, the author of “Campus Mental Health Practices and the Stigma of Mental Illness: A Quantitative Analysis of Student Affairs Professionals,” said, “Several studies have shown that most students are not seeking help, and many students with severe signs, symptoms, and risks of harm are not using available campus resources.”
The services here at Monmouth are always being utilized and the counselors have very busy schedules. According to Thomas McCarthy, the assistant director of Counseling and Psychological Services, the Counseling and Psychological Services here at Monmouth University offer individual counseling, but they do not usually have sessions that last more than a semester.
“Any student can walk in at any time even without an appointment and be seen within 10 minutes. We have five full time counselors and three interns, and our schedules are always very full,” said McCarthy.
The issue isn’t as much about getting help as it is with what the students think their peers will think of them. According to Kendal Adams, an alumna of Monmouth University who utilized the Counseling and Psychological Services from Freehold, NJ, the students do not want to have their peers think that they are not normal.
“I definitely think there is an issue of students not speaking up, but I think it has to do with the climate of the school and the atmosphere. The students mostly worry about what everyone else will think and not about their own health,” said Adams.
Many students are not reporting their problems due to fear of what their peers will think. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness at Chadron State College, “Almost 73 percent of students living with a mental health condition experienced a mental health crisis on campus. Yet, 34.2 percent reported that their college did not know about their crisis.”
Another problem with mental health on college campuses is finding resources to get the help that one needs. Many college campuses have counseling services, but have wait times of anywhere from one day to one or two months. Students go to these services seeking help, but do not always get what they need when they need it.
Samantha Marella, an alumna of Monmouth University from Garfield, NJ, who utilized the Counseling and Psychological Services, said, “I feel as if college campuses do not offer as extensive as a service as they should. It took me about a week to get an appointment, and I was a little shocked because I assumed they had people ready for walk-ins. That is needed, especially in college, because people just have stressful days. Sometimes, situations need to be handled right away.”
As previously stated by McCarthy, the wait time is now only about 10 minutes. Marella had a different experience with timing than the current students do.
Kristen McManus, a student at Monmouth University from Howell, NJ, who has utilized the Counseling and Psychological Services, said, “I had a good experience. It helped me to actually let go of my problems, and I felt like someone was actually listening to me and was trying to make an effort to understand where I was coming from.”
Mental health service availability and utilization are problems at all schools, not just at Monmouth University. When touring other schools, the prospective students are not usually told about the counseling services that the school has to offer.
Emily Galati, a freshman at Monmouth University from Staten Island, NY, said, “Most colleges that I visited did not mention their mental health counseling programs. I think that this is because they would not want to bring up mental health and the realistic need for support while potential students are attempting to choose a school.”
Because these students do not normally learn about the counseling services when they are first choosing a school, they typically don’t learn about it once they are there. Deirdre Duffy, a student at Mount Saint Mary College from Montvale, NJ, said how it can be hard to get the word out about mental health services on campuses.
“I think it depends on the school. If it is a big campus, it may be harder to get the information out. However, even at my small school, not many people know about the mental health services and it is definitely a problem,” said Duffy.
Mental health services are provided for free on most college campuses. Duffy believes that they should be more readily available and that they are not talked about as much as they should be.
If anyone needs the Counseling and Psychological Services at Monmouth University, it can be found on the third floor of the Rebecca Stafford Student Center.
The Stoneman Douglas High School Shooting Calls for Country-Wide Change
March 26, 2018
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After the shooting in Parkland, FL on February 14, the people of the United States have called for country-wide change regarding gun control.
The students of Stoneman Douglas have been seen in the news and on many social media platforms trying to make a change in this nation so that something like this does not happen ever again.
Kaitlyn McClintock, a Monmouth University student who is very adamant about gun laws, said, “They are sticking up for themselves and advocating for change. They are showing that they are not just millennial teens that don’t care about anything. They are the future generation and they are not about to stand to the side and let this shooting become just another sad memory.”
Marches to bring attention to the gun ownership problems in this country have been organized. This includes the march in Tallahassee that took place on February 21 and the March For Our Lives in Washington DC that will take place on March 24.
However, the students of Stoneman Douglas are not the only ones trying to make a change. Julia Capparelli, a former classmate of one of the victims, said that she really feels that these students are inspiring change all over the country.
“My school here in New Jersey has already done so much. In just 24 hours of the shooting, a politics club was created to talk about school safety. There were letter-writing stations to write letters to state representatives to tell them our views on gun control. We could even write condolence letters to the students of Stoneman Douglas,” said Capparelli.
On the day of the shooting, 19-year-old Nikolas Jacob Cruz brought a gun to his former high school, from which he was previously expelled. When he arrived at the school, he pulled the fire alarm so that students and faculty would flee their classrooms, making it easier to shoot them.
He then continued to aim fire at anyone and anything that was in range of his gun. This resulted in the death of 14 students and three staff members.
There is a psychological viewpoint behind why the shooter did what he did, but according to Kristi Pannone, a senior psychology major at Monmouth University, there is absolutely no excuse to shoot innocent people. There have been many excuses made for the shooter. People are saying that he did this because he was mentally ill.
Pannone said, “Most of these shooters have depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety disorder. Also, these individuals could be just very angry and resentful to people who have a ‘better’ life than they do. They could even have a personality disorder, schizophrenia, or PTSD. These issues build up, and without support or medicine, these individuals snap.” Because of his actions, people all over the country are trying their best to make a change.
Can changes really be made, though? Francesca Martin from Naples, FL is a cousin of students who attend Stoneman Douglas. She said, “I believe that the students of Douglas will fight as hard as they can, but I cannot say with confidence that the change they wish to see will be made. Most of those that have the power to create the gun control laws refuse to support the students. At the end of every day, whether we are alive and well or shot dead in the ground, the politicians get their checks and couldn’t care less about you, me, or the citizens of this country.”
According to these sources, the students are trying to make a change, but until the politicians actually listen, nothing is going to be different.However, this shooting has already shown a need for change all over the country.
Students and faculty at many schools, including Westfield High School in Westfield, NJ, have planned walkouts in support of making a change. The students in this country are not going to step down until a change is made, Capparelli said.
However, even though all of these protests and marches are being held, it does not change the fact that 17 lives were lost. Martin said, “…let it be known that [my poor cousin] underwent great trauma and the only way I can help her is by letting her know that I am here for support. But what does that really do? It doesn’t change the fact that she will carry the horror of February 14th, 2018 every day of her life.”
According to Martin, support is being given, counselors are being talked to, and there is a fight for change. However, that will not take away the pain and trauma that these students had to endure.
The Life of Mary Harris
March 8, 2018
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A person can tell a lot about someone’s life just by looking at their office desk. There are pictures of their child, their husband, and their degrees/certifications. That is exactly what the office of Mary Harris holds.
Mary Harris, a public relations professor at Monmouth University, did not start off wanting to be a professor. In fact, she didn’t even start off wanting to work in the field of public relations. She wanted to be a screenwriter and work in the film industry because that is what used to fascinate her.
In her life so far, she has received a bachelor’s degree in communications radio and TV film production from Rowan University, a master’s degree in corporate and public communication from Monmouth University, and an Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) from Public Relations Society of America National. She had also received certification in nutrition from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City for her love of healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle, and a license from the American Academy of Drugless Practitioners.
With all of these degrees and certifications, one might think that Harris leads a chaotic and hectic life. However, she makes time for everything that needs to get done by having a set schedule. On top of being a professor at Monmouth, she is also a mother, a club advisor, a blogger, and an outer space enthusiast.
On the topic of being a mother, Harris said, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” She never knew that she wanted to be a mother, but she said that she would have missed out on the best thing in the world. Her son, Kane, is three years old and she said she is blessed to be able to have a fulltime career and raise a child at the same time.
When she is not spending time with her son, she can be found helping run the Monmouth University chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America. She said that she loves working with students and being their mentor, so this is a perfect opportunity for her to do what she loves outside of teaching.
Erica Bogert, the president of PRSSA, said, “She has always been very supportive and comes to our e-board meetings every Wednesday. She offers her advice while also continuing to support our individual ideas on how we want to run the organization. PRSSA is a small chapter in comparison to other schools but despite that fact, Professor Harris encourages us to reach our fullest potential and be as great as we can be.”
On top of all of this work, Harris is also a blogger. She started her blog, called Mary Blossoms, when she was 17. It has flourished since then with her following growing each day.
It is about the plant-based lifestyle and veganism. She wants to help people get out of their comfort zone and fall more into alignment with the natural world. This has been a huge interest of hers for many years.
Through her blogging experiences, she was able to experience something that is once in a lifetime. She has been an outer space enthusiast since middle school. She applied to visit the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s campus, NASA Goddard in Maryland, but did not think that she was going to get chosen because her blog was not about astronomy. However, she was one of the 30 people who were chosen to visit that campus.
On this campus, she met many different kinds of scientists, met the entire social media team, and even received security clearance to enter the communication room where professionals communicate with the astronauts in space. She said that this experience was eye-opening and that she returned from the trip very inspired because now wants to apply everything that she learned into her everyday life.
Harris has not only made an impact on the people’s lives that follow her blog, or her family, but also her students. Michael Bellina, a student of Harris, said, “I like Professor Harris a lot. She opened my eyes to different career paths I didn’t know I could follow with PR. Also, it always feels like she knows me very well and is interested in my interests.”
Another student of Harris’ thinks very highly of her. Riley Brager, a PR/Journalism student at Monmouth University, said, “She has inspired me to create a blog and really voice my opinion and has helped to teach me how to use social media in a positive way that can help others.”Brager has taken her classes in the past, and Professor Harris’ attitude for what she teaches made Brager come back for more.
After all of the experiences that Harris has had in her lifetime so far, she feels inspired. She said, “I have no regrets. I think that everything happens the way it’s supposed to. Everything is meant to be a learning opportunity.”
Mary Harris might be a PR enthusiast, but she is overall an enthusiast for life. She said that if anyone ever needs help, she is the one to go to.
To Greek or Not to Greek: Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment Weekend
February 22, 2018
All six Panhellenic sororities participated in recruitment this past weekend at Monmouth University to recruit over 250 new members for their organizations.
This weekend consisted of four days, starting on January 26and ending on January 29. Over 250 first year students, sophomores, and juniors went through this process.
Throughout the weekend, these girls talked to sisters in each sorority until they found the one that felt like the best fit for them. Each day, some sororities would be eliminated from the potential new members’ lists. This went on until they found out which sorority they received a bid from on Monday night.
These girls choose to go through recruitment for many different reasons. Brianna Marangiello, a freshman at Monmouth University who just went through the weekend, said, “I decided to go through recruitment because I really wanted to get more involved on campus, and I needed to branch out and make new friends.” She also said that the days were long, but it was worth it in the end.
There were different sides to the process. Some people were on one side recruiting new sisters, while there were some who take off their letters and became recruitment counselors. During recruitment, and the weeks leading up to it, the recruitment counselors were not allowed to be a part of their organizations while they helped the potential new members find their homes.
This means that they could not have any public contact with the people in their organizations because the potential new members were not supposed to know which organization the counselors are a part of. It is supposed to be a non-biased process.
Ilyssa Cohen, a recruitment counselor, said that there were pros and cons to being a recruitment counselor. She said that it was rewarding helping these girls find where they belonged. However, on the other end, she said, “It was hard to have to pretend that I wasn’t a part of something that means so much to me.” Overall, she said that the experience was one that she is happy she was a part of.
Being in a sorority while going through recruitment might seem easier, but according to Cassidy Henning, a sister of Alpha Xi Delta, it is not. Henning said, “I didn’t think I would be as nervous, but it’s a big responsibility to have a part in selecting the future of our chapter.” She said that she enjoyed meeting the new girls, but being on the other side is just as stressful as being the one going through it.
Recruitment is considered important according to the sisters of different organizations. Gianna Barry, a sister of Zeta Tau Alpha, said, “I find the three-day weekend of recruitment to be very fun, exciting, but especially important. Getting to know the girls on a closer level and them learning about our philanthropy is so rewarding.” She also explained how all of the hard work pays off because each organization gets amazing new additions in the end.
Hazing has affected this process, as there is also a bad reputation with Greek life that has been seen around the country. Several incidents have occurred at many schools in regards to hazing.
This year at Monmouth, almost 100 fewer girls went through recruitment than they did last year. Barry said, “I think that the negative things happening around the country are effecting the school because it is scaring everyone. It is making people nervous because so many people are getting hurt.” She said that so much work goes into recruiting new girls, that it is sad when fewer and fewer girls go out each year due to the bad reputation.
Hazing has been seen as a problem with Greek life, but it seems to have become more common in the past couple of years. People are dying, getting seriously injured, and even being put in jail due to hazing incidents. An example of an extreme hazing case was Tim Piazza, a student at Pennsylvania State University who died due to hazing. His story created a huge controversy across the country. Monmouth has an Anti-Hazing Policy, yet potential new members are still nervous to join due to the bad reputation.
“I think that Greek life at Monmouth does a good job at keeping a positive reputation because of the involvement and leadership of students associated with it. An incoming freshman might not yet know this and only pay attention to the situations in the media, which could discourage them from going Greek,” said Henning. She said it is sad to see something she loves so much receive such a bad reputation.
According to all of these women, being in a Greek organization has its ups and downs. It all depends on the organization, the reputation that comes with it, and how each member handles themselves. The incidents around the country could have aided in the decline of potential new members, but there is no exact proof of that. All that these organizations can do is handle themselves responsibly and make a good name for themselves.
U.S. Olympic Gymnasts Speak Out About Sexual Assault Experiences
December 7, 2017
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Within the past couple of months, three U.S Olympic gymnasts have come forth and shared their stories of how Larry Nassar, their team doctor, had sexually abused them at their treatment sessions.
Each gymnast was around thirteen to sixteen years old when this happened, and at the time, they did not know that this was something known as sexual abuse. It was seen as unfriendly and unprofessional, but they never knew that what was happening was wrong.
When someone is young, they look out for strangers, but they never think that someone they know and trust is going to hurt them. However, this is exactly what happened to these gymnasts. Larry Nassar made these gymnasts believe that he was their friend, when in reality, he was grooming them before he starting abusing them.
Even though this has been going on for months, and different charges against him have been prominent for years, many people did not find out about all of this until recently. Olivia Lein, 17, of Montvale, NJ, said, “I first heard about this situation on social media a few weeks ago. It made me feel both upset and uncomfortable because I was a competitive gymnast for 11 years. To hear that he sexually abused some of the athletes that I looked up to, like Mckayla Maroney and Aly Raisman, was shocking and made me think of all the other gymnasts affected.”
Even though Larry Nassar is pleading not guilty to a case against him with a Michigan State gymnast, there are multiple claims against him as a sexual abuser. Nassar has had many charges related to sexual abuse and child pornography over the years, and yet, he had gotten away with it up until now. Kayle Duarte, 20, of Hillsdale, NJ, said, “I feel USA Gymnastics should have had a closer eye on whom they had working for them, as well as background checks, rules and regulations, and frequent check-ins with their employees. They also should have kept up with the gymnasts, making sure that all rules were being followed.”
Although this situation is hard to talk about for these gymnasts, what they are doing has inspired many of their fans and others to speak out against their own sexual abusers. Julia Pampin, 18, of Westwood, NJ, said, “I have been a gymnastics coach for over two years now and I could never imagine this happening to any of my gymnasts. However, Aly Raisman mentioned in an interview that her braveness inspired a young fan to come forward about an abusive relationship she was in. She is changing the lives of so many people.” These gymnasts speaking up has helped more people than they know.
Both Lein and Durate said that Nassar should be sentenced to a life in prison. Larry Nassar pleaded guilty to the molestation charges, and will be facing at least twenty-five years in prison. According to Scott Berkowitz, president of RAINN, “We know that for many survivors of child sexual abuse, it can take years to come forward… Many children don’t have a firm understanding of physical boundaries…” As of now, three Olympic gymnasts and one Michigan State gymnast have come out against Larry Nassar, and more and more gymnasts are continuing to speak out.