NFL Picks Week 14

NFL Picks for Week 14

By Shawn Cella

Today, I am going to pick the teams that I believe are going to win for week 14 of the NFL season. I am no professional analysis, but with my research, I believe I will be able to predict some of the correct scores. This is being written on Nov. 26, so any injuries or events that happen during week 13 will not be accounted for.

The first game of the week is the Jaguars vs Titans, two struggling teams. I would not recommend watching this game, but I do think that the Titans will come away with the win. The fact that they are still in the playoffs hunt will be enough to propel them to a victory.

The Browns finally have a few wins on the season, and the Panthers have a very talented roster. This should be a really interesting and entertaining game. I think Cam Newton will be able to move the ball through the air, and Baker Mayfield will have rookie struggles against the Carolina defense. I’ll take Carolina to win by 14+ points.

The Ravens vs. Chiefs, and Jackson vs. Mahomes. Lamar Jackson has thrown for multiple picks already throughout the season and has turned the ball over, which is not a good way to help your defense slow down the hottest offense in the league. Chiefs should win this game, but expect the experienced Ravens to keep it close.

The Saints get to avenge their only loss on the season. Going on the road and playing in an outdoor stadium is always difficult for a team who plays indoors, but I do not believe that the Buccaners stand a chance. They have been flip-flopping quarterbacks all season, and against the powerhouse Saints, I don’t like their odds. I’ll take the Saints by 10.

The last game I am going to cover is the Eagles vs. the Cowboys. This game should decide who will win the division and make it to the playoffs. The Cowboys already beat the Eagles once, and they did it on the road. Now they get the defending Super Bowl Champions at home with a chance to make a statement on the division. This game lies on the shoulders of Carson Wentz. If he is able to move the ball on this tough Dallas defense, I think the Eagles will be able to win. I do believe he will be able to get it done and carry the struggling Eagles to victory. I think the Eagles will win by 13 points.



Those are my picks for Week 14 of the NFL season. Hopefully we don’t look back on this article and laugh. Best of luck to your favorite team this week, unless you’re a Patriots or Raiders fan!

Movie Review: Overlord

Movie Review: Overlord 

The WWII movie with a zombie twist. Overlord was produced by the professional producer J.J Abrams, directed by Julius Avery and written by Billy Ray.


The premise is about a group of soldiers who survived a plane crash and find themselves with a mission to destroy a nazi radio tower to help the troops in Normandy. The soldiers stayed in a village, where they realize that the nazis were experimenting on the people that lived there. Using a super soldier serum, the test subjects reacted harshly causing the soldiers to further their investigation. What happens next gets pretty insane, making the movie live up to its R rating. The war scenes in the movie are really well made and are very graphic, same goes with the zombie scenes. The score on Rotten Tomatoes is a well deserving 81%. The movie was both entertaining and terrifying. Fans of Call of Duty Zombies would enjoy this because it has a very similar premise. I have to say they could have fought the zombies for a longer period of time. But the scenes you see the zombies, a considerable amount of screentime, have you at the edge of your seat. Overlord is out now so if you like the concept and think it will be good visit your closest movie theater and watch it now!


The movie starred Jovan Adepo who played Boyce the main character. Wyatt Russel who played Ford. Mathilde Oliver and Jacob Anderson who played the villagers named Chloe and Dawson, Pilou Asbaek who played Wafner the main antagonist. Then there is John Margaro and Iain De Caestecker who played Tibbet and Chase.

Who's Vine Is It Anyway?

Who's Vine Is It Anyway?

On Thursday night, Stockton University held an event called “Whose Vine is it Anyway?” in the campus center coffeehouse. 

Over one hundred students attended this event, as it was heard that money was the grand prize for the winners..

There were three rounds that took place during Vine Night: the first being a much loved game of Kahoot, the second a finish-the-vine assignment, and the last being charades. Emilie Linzan, a contestant throughout the night, claimed that there were too many people and she was disappointed that she didn’t get the experience she wanted. “Using Kahoot sucked, especially because there was a lot of people on one game, I answered one question and it wouldn’t register. I was very upset.”

For the Kahoot game, there were thirty-two teams of four people. For those of you who have never been faced with Kahoot, the object of the game is to get the correct answer from a possible total of four choices in the fastest time out of all the teams or people you are playing with. There is a leaderboard that lists the top five winners after each question which will most likely change after each question. So don’t worry if you don’t see your name at the beginning of the game, chances are you’ll see that name of yours up on that leaderboard for everyone to see.

The second round of the night was finish-the-vine, where each team of four was given a blank piece of paper. The Stockton Entertainment Team, otherwise known as SET, was in charge of the sequential videos that followed, playing only the first three seconds of each vine. The contestants and their team members then had to guess the ending of each vine and write their answers on the piece of paper.



The last round was charades, where each team had to go up to the front of the coffeehouse and one person from the group had to act out a specific vine and the other group members had to guess what it was.
By the end of the night there were mixed reviews from those who attended. Some claimed they had a fun night while others declared they were disappointed. Another contestant named Samirah Barnes says, “I did not enjoy my night, it was very packed and uncoordinated.” If you ended up having fun, good for you! Making the most of your college experience is important in your future so that you don’t have regrets. Make the most out of college, attend events and make new friends, you won’t regret it in the end!

Are Millennials Getting Married?

Are Millennials Getting Married?

Shayonne Ray | Contributing Writer

Way back when our parents and grandparents were coming up, marriage was
considered being a necessary accomplishment, and an important thing to do in society at
that time. Our parents were married with children by the age of 23, but millennials are not
following in their footsteps.Why? This generation of young people are changing the
stigma of marriage being a necessity and into marriage being an option.

Marriage was put into effect so that a young couple could benefit from each others
families, raise their children and hopefully live what they took to be the American dream.
Researchers are finding that millennials focus is less on marriage right away and more on
their personal career goals, financial goals, and spiritual goals. Millennials perspective on
marriage is changing swiftly, we are seeing marriage happen later in life after they are
financially secured, educated and able to know what they want out of a relationship.

The millennial age range are those born between 1981 and 1996. These are the men and
woman who would rather wait for the right mate to come along, focus on themselves, or
other important factors in their lives. On average most millennials aren't even leaving
home until they are 25 years of age. This is because of the social and economical shift in
the world today. Millennials want to better prepare for the future. Rather than commit to
what society expects from them, they are making their own paths.

The women are more educated than ever before, the men are now.focusing more on their
needs rather than the needs of an entire family. Some say this change is a positive one and
we are headed in the right direction, others question the state of what will happen in the
future is we lose the value of marriage and the history behind it. All we know now is
marriage was the number one goal in the past but for a millennial that goal has dropped to
the bottom of the to-do list.

Sports Betting: What Does it Mean for New Jersey?

Sports Betting: What Does it Mean for New Jersey?

Kyle Buckberg | Contributing Writer

Pictured is the temporary Tropicana Sportsbook. The permanent location us currently

under construction

New Jersey won a Supreme Court case in May that would allow all forms of sports
betting throughout the state, overruling the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of
1992, which outlawed sports betting in the majority of U.S. states. The inaugural day of sports
betting in New Jersey commenced at Monmouth Park in June, as Governor Phil Murphy placed
the states’ first sports wager. Borgata Hotel and Casino became the first Atlantic City casino to
accept a sports bet., with Basketball Hall of Famer and former Philadelphia 76er Julius “Dr J.”
Erving laying the very first action. Shortly after the opening of the Borgata sportsbook several
other Atlantic City casinos have followed suit, including Tropicana Resort & Casino, Bally’s
Hotel & Casino, Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino, Ocean Resort and Casino, Harrah’s Casino
Resort and Resorts Casino Hotel.

Figures from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement in August showed that $96
million was wagered on sports in the month, and reports from September reveal a 15.5 percent
increase in revenue from the year prior, totaling $272.2 million. With a struggling economy and
over saturated casino industry, sports betting proved to be just the boost that the Atlantic City
casinos needed. “Sports betting has been the thing that this struggling city has needed. Being that
Atlantic City is in between New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C, sports betting
has a real chance to flourish here,” said local small business owner and casino worker Lee
Geiger.

While the kickoff of sports betting yielded very favorable results for the state, those
numbers would pale in comparison to the current revenue coming in from the sports books in
New Jersey. Sports betting revenue has almost doubled from August to September. $184 million
in wagers were placed in September, the surge stemming predominantly from the start of the
NFL and NCAA football seasons.

Although the kickoff of the football season has created a spike in the sports betting
revenue, it’s quite possible the best has yet to come. Revenue will likely increase dramatically
with from the season opening of two of America’s four major sports-- the NBA and NHL. An
influx of tourists traveling to Atlantic City and staying in the casinos during the holiday season,
coupled with a slew of professional sports games to for the masses to bet should significantly
benefit an ongoing attempt at a city revival that has been sought for years.

Stockton to Hold Diversity Issues in Higher Education Event

Stockton to Hold Diversity Issues in Higher Education Event

Ryan Kennedy | Contributing Writer

Guest Speaker Wayne Boatwright

On November 16th, Stockton University will be holding an all day event to tackle the ideas of diversity in higher education. The conference will go from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the University Campus Center.

Every year the event is given a different theme and this years theme focuses on the ideas of Diversity and Inclusion. To begin the event there will be a speaking event by Wayne Boatwright, who is the Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion at Hackensack Medecin Wealth.

After the events and some words from the Stockton President Harvey Kesselman himself,

there will be four workshops available for attending titled: Safe Spaces: Hate Crimes and Violence, a Political Landscape Shaping Diversity & Inclusion Engagement, Business Case for Diversity and Inclusion, and Call and Respond: Dealing With Social Issues on Campus.

For 18 years the American Conference on Diversity has partnered with New Jersey's leading institutions to hold these events. The event is open to the public and the starting admission stands at 65 dollars, however, fortunate Stockton students can show their ID for a discount that makes their admission to be 35 dollars instead. Student Nauera Abou Abdou, 19, said that she is has “heard about the event in one of her classes and was interested in attending the event.”

There is also expected to be members and representatives from the United Black Student Society, a club which tackles issues and creates programs to address issues related to student minority life. Another likely club that will be represented would be Los Latinos Unidos, a club which strives to enhance the presence of the Latino community around Stockton.

This would be a great event to meet different clubs and experience different workshops. Nearing the end of the program, there will be an area available for another workshop event titled “Student Panel Discussion: Stories Worth Telling.” “I think this [“Student Panel Discussion: Stories Worth Telling.” workshop] will be the most interesting part of the event” (Abou Abdou).

The ending event of the night is held to allow all attending students and staff to speak of personal experiences that they have had to create a “feed” of stories about living as a minority in college life. Any questions can be referred to Diane D’Amicio, Director of News and Media Relations at her email; @Diane.D’Amicio@stockton.edu. The event is advertised for on the University’s website Stockton.edu with all information regarding the event to encourage all students and staff to attend.

A Safe Space for Women of Color to Grow

A Safe Space for Women of Color to Grow 

Mia Forbes | Contributing Writer

Photo Credit: Shedia Laguer

On Tuesday, November 6th, 2018 a group of about 15-20 girls gathered together to offer support, encouragement, and love to one another. The event is known as TogetHER Tuesdays, and they meet every first Tuesday of the month in the TLRC building at the Galloway campus.

This is the organization’s second meeting as they continue to be holding strong. They had sweet beverages and containers of irresistible food catering to those who joined their meeting including freshly baked chicken tenders and mozzarella sticks. With so much delicious food it was a struggle to prevent from getting distracted as they all came to the meeting for one reason- to feel empowered.

There were many exercises shared with the group to help everyone better get to know one another as well. This is in addition to discussing ideas that may better develop the organization and truly create a space for women of color to turn to for support and growth.

According to Dr. Nicole Milan-Tyner, “Mentoring women in the areas of academics, professional, and personal development lends to that empowerment.” Betterment in these three areas lay down what women of color need to achieve higher marks academically, succeed in the professional world, and grow as an individual.

In today’s world although women have made progress in attaining equal rights, breaking gender roles, and feeling more empowered, there is still work that needs to be done. And it can begin with universities around the globe like Stockton University. All it takes is one voice and one idea to cause a wave of change. This is exactly how TogetHER Tuesdays developed because according to Dr. Nicole Milan-Tyner the organization started through “informal conversations among colleagues.” It was from these minute conversations that a grand idea emerged to then develop into such a supportive and loving event.

Not only is there a challenge to overcome as a woman in this day of age, but also as a woman of color. Various nationalities that encompass the female population often face prejudice, bias, discrimination, and so on which discourages them from gaining the education and support they need to thrive.

Women of color must fight for what they deserve and need to be successful. Women of color must develop their own destiny in the world. Women of color must help one another achieve what seems impossible.

College Football Playoffs Selection Who’s In?

College Football Playoffs Selection Who’s In?

Shawn Cella | Contributing Writer

Bryant Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Taken by Sports Illustrated

It’s that time of year again. The days are becoming shorter, the holidays are approaching, and college football is almost over. Before it could end, four teams will be selected to participate in the NCAA Playoffs. The winner will become the National Champions. These four teams are decided by the “Selection Committee” based off of talent on records, rosters, strength of schedules, win margin, total offense, total defense, and other considerations.

There are hundreds of teams in the NCAA, so only the best of the best are selected. At this time of year, you can make an argument for about ten different teams to be put in. The University of Central Florida is undefeated for the second year in a row, but have not played a single ranked opponent all season. Georgia lost to LSU, but they are ranked ahead of them by the committee. I point this out because there are arguments to be made for many teams, and I am going to make my argument who I feel should be the four teams selected.

Number one, the University of Alabama. Alabama is on a different planet than their opponents. They are men amongst boys and have not showed any signs of slowing down. This is a very uncontroversial pick, so I will not spend much time on them. They have only played a total of two ranked opponents, but they shut both of them out including the number three ranked team. Every game they play, they seem to get stronger on defense and their offense led by Tua Tagovailoa is having a Heisman season.

Number two, Clemson. This also will not surprise many people. They have a dominant defensive line, full of players who are destined to be first round picks in the NFL. They have had some hiccups against unranked opponents, but are undefeated and look to be getting hot at the right time of the season.

Number three, Oklahoma. This is where my list differs from the current rankings. The selection committee currently has them at number six, but I believe they are a top team in the nation. Led by one of the best athletes in the NCAA, Kyler Murray, they lead college football with 49 points per game. Their offense seems unstoppable and because of this I have them ranked higher. Their defense on the other hand is a liability, but I would take this team to beat both Michigan and Notre Dame any day of the week.



Number four, Georgia. Georgia has one of the most balanced teams in football. They have an amazing defense paired with an above average offense. Add excellent coaching and experience into that equation and you have a scary team. Unlike the committee, that is why I put Georgia over both Michigan and Notre Dame. Georgia still has Alabama on their schedule, so if they are able to get that win, I don’t see a way you could leave Georgia out.

Bohemian Rhapsody

Bohemian Rhapsody

Thomas Taylor | Contributing Writer 

Days before his death in 1991, Freddie Mercury met with his manager to discuss the rights to both the use of his image and music in the foreseeable future. "You can do what you want with my music," he said, "but don't make me boring." Sadly, Brian Singer’s film, Bohemian Rhapsody, ignores his final wish and tells an incredibly boring and predictable story. The movie follows Freddie Mercury’s personal life, but edits it to create a bland, by-the-numbers biography that had all the creativity of a first graders’ oral presentation. It hits every musician biopic cliché that it was hard not to wonder if it was satire like Walk Hard. It’s not that the story was boring, but how Singer structured it was though. With a better director at the helm, I feel like the movie could have been a lot more enjoyable. Bohemian Rhapsody hits all of the overused beats that are used in music biopics such as: the musician is made fun of before performing, the musician blows everyone away with his/her talent, the musician lets fame go to his/her head, and the musician learns a lesson before the “big show.” The only saving grace of the movie is the music, but that’s because they just use Queen’s hits. I would have liked them to use some of Queen’s lesser known songs, but the music they used did distract from how boring the movie is itself. With a two hour run-time, Bohemian Rhapsody feels longer than it should.

Crazy Rich Asians

Crazy Rich Asians

By Thomas Taylor

(Photo Courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment)

On Saturday November 3, Stockton held a showing of the film Crazy Rich Asians in the Campus Center Theatre . I initially didn’t want to see the movie because of how the trailer framed it. Before I saw the movie, I thought that it would be  boring and humorless, but as the film progressed, I feel like I was proven wrong. Crazy Rich Asians’ trailers definitely pandered to the movie’s key audience, but they lacked something that differentiated the movie from most Rom-Coms: the exploration of culture. Crazy Rich Asians explores the difference between Asia and the U.S. through food, customs, and familial roles. Food plays an important role in the movie even from the very beginning. The first time that Rachel, the main character of the movie, meets one of Nick’s cousins, they immediately bond over dinner. Food is constantly used as a chance for Rachel to bond with Nick’s family whether she’s at a dinner party or making dumplings with Nick’s grandma. Customs are also explored in the movie. There is a scene in the trailer, in which, Rachel starts to drink water out of a bowl not knowing that it is for guests to wash their fingers. Although it is played for laughs, it also gives insight on Asian culture. Another stand out scene is when Rachel’s mom is helping her pick out outfits for her trip. In any other chick flick, this would be a fun little montage in which she tries on a bunch of outfits, but the movie uses this scene to teach the audience that every color has a meaning in Asian culture. Blue and white are usually worn at funerals, while a bright, vibrant red signals fortune and fertility. The final insight is the familial role. The story focuses on several families, but most of them show a pattern of similar roles. The man is supposed to be the breadwinner. This is seen in Nick’s brother Eddie Chang who constantly seeks to tower over everyone he meets. It is also seen in Astrid’s husband, but from his lack of money. His infidelity comes from the idea that he resents his wife’s wealth, while he is struggling to start his own business. The second and most focused on role is that of the strong stay at home mom. The main conflict stems from the fact that Nick’s mom, Eleanor, wants Rachel to give up her ambitions and adopt this role so that Nick can inherit his father’s company. Rachel has to show her that women aren’t limited to the role of a mother and can succeed alongside their significant other. My main problem with the movie is the weak third act. Many movies fall into this trap, and Crazy Rich Asians is no different. The ending felt rushed and they could have resolved the climax a lot better, but overall it was an enjoyable film.

Advice From a Senior

Advice From a Senior

Written by Cole Moore

Pictured above is Jawaad Siraj posing for an instagram picture on a bench.

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed, nervous, and even afraid at times when school or work is looming and the future is undetermined. Life is scary and draining for everyone. But in times of need we look for strength from those who have gone before us and seem to have prevailed, those who are older than us. Take senior at Stockton University Jawaad Siraj, 22 years old and gearing up to graduate.

“Word of advice: Try your best to brighten someone's day because you have no idea what they're going through or what they need to hear.”

Having gone through the majority of his college experience Jawaad took a look back on his experience remembering the good times.

“My best experience at Stockton was being a part of the Education Opportunity Fund program and attending Stockton for five weeks in the summer before my freshman year. I not only enjoyed the help and guidance… but I also met people that I know will be a part of my life for many years to come.”

But not everything was great with school as Jawaad reflected on one of his worst experiences.

“My worst experience was probably getting stuck with a bad roommate situation freshman year. It really affected me because I never felt comfortable in my own space.”

Ups and downs are what we all face, Jawaad had his best experience before his freshman year which was quickly followed by his worst experience when he actually started school. Coming from someone who has had his fair share of highs and lows Jawaad remains positive and wakes up everyday knowing it’s another fresh start.

“Basically just the idea that I can make someone’s day better; and that every day is a new day where I can start fresh.”

Jawaad consistently harps on focusing on others which is a lesson for all of us. It’s impossible to understand everything about a person when you can’t see behind the closed doors of their life. You wouldn’t know it based off of first impressions but Jawaad deals with social anxiety.

“Like I said I have social anxiety but I’ve been trying really hard to work on it. It’s really normal to get nervous.”

You wouldn’t guess Jawaad has social anxiety based on his drive to brighten others day, but that is the whole point. You never know what someone is dealing with and treating others as such will transform your life.

Leaving the students of Stockton with one last bit of advice Jawaad had this to say about being involved in school. “I wish I got more involved on campus and left my mark on Stockton. I don’t want my family legacy to die with me even though it might (laughs). I recommend being as involved on campus as your schedule allows you. Join clubs, go to events, and of course take advantage of any free trips the school offers. You’ll be a senior too, faster than you think.”

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Where Does Stockton Stand on Cannabis Usage?

Where Does Stockton Stand on Cannabis Usage?

Galloway -- It is no secret that there is now courses offered in the study of Cannabis at Stockton University. As students quickly fill their schedules with these courses, the demand to be put in these classes is clearly very high. With most agreeing that recreational use of marijuana becoming legal within the next couple months in New Jersey it is no surprise that there is an influx of job opportunities and small businesses that will be appearing in New Jersey and the addition to the new courses and minor that is offered certainly shows that Stockton is also getting involved with the literal and figurative growth of marijuana.

However, one question has come into many students minds; “Will I be able to smoke on campus?” is repeated a lot when the topic is brought up and the answer may not be as clear as it seems. Even with medical cards it is still technically illegal to use marijuana and have paraphernalia on campus. In fact, as of 11/5/18 there have already been twenty one arrests on campus for “possession of Marijuana” and eighteen arrests for “possession of paraphernalia”.

The laws of a medical marijuana card allow the holder the ability to smoke marijuana wherever one is allowed to smoke a cigarette, but on school grounds it is police protocol to detain and arrest anyone caught with the substance. Many have called out the hypocrisy that the school has regarding marijuana, and are unhappy about the current rules regarding having it on campus. A student that chooses to remain anonymous said “This is my medication, if I do not use this then I get constant anxiety and panic attacks. The school claims to be very proud of the mental health of the students and the many resources available to help them but little do they care about me having to leave campus just so I can take my prescription.”

Stockton University has these regulations is due to the fact that marijuana still remains a federal crime. Thus, it could cause problems with many students that are caught with it that rely on financial aid. Many Stockton students rely heavily on the federal aid that they are granted and getting it taken away for something like marijuana is definitely possible so the university made its own rules regarding the usage and ownership of marijuana to completely prevent this type of thing from happening.

The student support is still majorly tuned towards the idea of allowing marijuana to be smoked on campus and the coming legalization of marijuana may assist in the changing of these rules.

Example of a New Jersey Medical Marijuana Card

Halloween: The Haunting Horror Returns to Theaters

Moira Solano

Halloween: The Haunting Horror Returns to Theaters

Halloween chilling movie poster with the killer himself, Michael Myers.

Somerdale, NJ --- On Friday, October 19th, of this year, the next chilling chapter of the Halloween franchise movies was released to theaters worldwide. I went opening night with my sister, Kristin, and my dad, to see it on the big screen for the Halloween season. We went to the Cinemark theater in Somerdale, New Jersey.

This is the latest film in the Halloween franchise. This takes places 40 years after the terrors in the very first Halloween movie in 1978. It was directed by David Gordon Green, and he also was part of the screenplay production, along with Danny McBride and Jeff Fradley. The characters and casting were handled by both John Carpenter and Debra Hill. It starred the star of the first movie, Jamie Lee Curtis, who came back as her best-known character, Laurie Strode.

The story is about how Michael Myers escaped the prison bus while being transferred to another institution to be locked away for good. He returns to his hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois to finish the battle with Laurie Strode. He takes the lives’ of anyone in his way to get to his person of interest. Laurie is prepared and has been waiting 40 years for this battle.

I am not a huge fan of scary movies, and I was reluctant to see it. I decided that I should do something scary during the Halloween season and get out of my comfort zone. There was no better way to do that than sitting in a dark room and watching one of the most iconic slasher movies of all time.

I had only seen the first movie, and that’s about it. I never knew that there were so many movies afterwards, so going into this, I didn’t know what to expect. In all honesty, I hid under the hood of my jacket during a lot of the movie, but I did catch the gory details and kills of Michael’s unfortunate victims.

The anticipation of waiting to see what was going to happen and the built-up thrill that was filling up inside of me was a rush. When I thought there would be a nice break to gather my feelings about the previous killing---BOOM! They hit you with another nail-biting scene or an innocent death.

When the movie came to a close, I was still in shock. It definitely took me on a thrilling roller coaster ride. “I actually thought it was pretty good. Better than I expected,” my sister, Kristin mentioned. I agree with that sentence because after thinking about it, it was a well-done movie and the special effects matured and looked more real than the bloodshed in the older movie.

I am starting to become more comfortable with watching horror films. I’d still much rather watch a light-hearted movie over a scary one, but I wouldn’t mind putting myself through the thrill and anticipation it possesses.

Stockton’s Multicultural Con

Stockton’s Multicultural Con

                                 By Nauera Abou Abdou

Galloway --- On Friday November 2nd, many others had the honour to attend  Stockton University’s multicultural convention which was held in the Galloway campus center event room. Over 6 clubs and organizations set up their tables where they provided information, games, and even performed for the attendees.

From Los Latinos Unidos, to Asian Student Associate, African Student Organization and more, all cultural organizations participated in the event. Each table represented each group’s culture and where they come from. Members of the club’s board set the tables with food, flyers, bracelets, and information posters.       

                                 

Some organizations such as the African Student Organizations set up a trivia about African history and Geography of Africa. Students would answer questions to win pens, candy, and if they were able to answer harder questions for sweatshirts and t-shirts. Also, organizers had set up a DIY station where students could make their own waist beads and bracelets. “We are trying to introduce the African Culture and History through having people interacting with us, seeing the different countries that Africa holds.” said Chioma Uka, president of the club, “ Most people do not realize how many countries are in Africa and are even more surprised from how diverse it actually is, especially when they learn how many languages are spoken there. That’s one of the main reasons we have the trivia, so people can learn about our roots.”

Another table that caught everyone’s attention was the Asian Student Associates’ table. The organizers setup oriental from their childhood or their parents’ childhood that manage to attract people to them. One of the games was something that was similar to rope jumping. The game was two sticks that two persons move as a third person tries to dance between them without tripping on the sticks.
Most importantly, there was food. Unfortunately the most cultural food there was chips and salsa. However, there was still food and drinks for all attendees. However, having November be National American Indian Heritage Month, nothing screamed fun and culture more than The

                                                        A member of the African Student Organization at his club’s table

Indian Dance club performances where members of the club choreographed an original authentic dance routine for the event’s audience.

The two hour long convention was more than a success. Everyone that attended did not just only have fun, but learned something different about someone else including club members themselves. This event surely opened the eyes to the beauty of having a rich culture, and promoted the celebration of our school’s diversity.

Love Combats 11 Acts of Hatred

Mia Forbes

Love Combats 11 Acts of Hatred

GALLOWAY, NJ- Candle lights held by Stockton students burned bright in memory of 11 victims of the shooting at a Jewish synagogue in Pittsburgh, NJ on Tuesday, October 30th, 2018 at 5:30pm. The shooting was a devastating blow to the community as many of the lives lost were beloved by many. About 40 to 50 students attended the program to ignite a light in times of sadness, despair, and grievance.

People need each other the most in times of tragedy as it acts as a reminder of how precious life is. Not only did the Jewish community band together to provide love and support, but many other cultures and nationalities joined in as well.

According to Stockton student Elizabeth Rivera, “It doesn’t matter if you’re old or if you’re a kid, our purpose in life is to bring love and peace to the world.”

The amount of love and support that was shown during this event was remarkable, and although the event itself only lasted for about an hour the effects of such a supportive event would last much longer. There was a point in the program when everyone began to sing the musical hymn of “God Bless America” then fell into a moment of silence with their ghost white candles flickering in the dimming light. It was an astounding sight as the community came together.

A primary message that was heard throughout the program was spread light in time of darkness to friend, family, and strangers. To be kind, helpful, loving, and supportive to one another and combat these acts of hatred. As simple acts of kindness can go a long way.

Rabbi Meir Rapoport explains to the audience how often opportunities to be kind pass each other by everyday through telling a biblical story regarding a woman named Mrs. Goldstein. Mrs. Goldstein expected God to visit for an evening dinner through a dream, but as she was cleaning and preparing she had two other visitors knock at her door. One was a young boy who had scraped his knee from riding his bicycle and searched for help taking care of it. While the other was a woman who searched for insight and advice as she was struggling with her relationship.

Turning both visitors away, she waited and waited then soon began to cry. God had not come to visit her that evening. The woman fell asleep and in her dreams she saw God and asked, “God, what happened? I’ve been waiting for you.” And God replied, “I’ve come to your door twice and you 

had turned me away.”

According to Rabbi Meir Rapoport, to try to prevent these hateful crimes “our response must be an increase in acts of love and kindness.”

The idea is that by spreading more love and kindness, it would be less likely that such hateful acts would result. This is not limited to the Jewish community but applies to all communities out there. We must not resort to violence to combat such hate, but rather turn to love, kindness, and support.

=30=

Wicked but Cheap

Alexander Bluze

     Wicked but Cheap

The Stockton entertainment team has set up something special for the Stockton Students. On November 11, there will be a trip to Broadway to see the musical Wicked.

The only thing students have to do is to go on OspreyHub, RSVP and Pay for their ticket. The ticket costs $35 and this is  extremely cheap. Originally the Tickets are $89 for normal people who go to broadway to see Wicked, but Stockton students receive a 60% discount on their tickets. The trip is at 9:45 am until 7:00 pm. The show itself last about 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Wicked is about how the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz became the way she is in the movie and her friendship with Glinda the Good Witch before the Wizard of Oz took place. This is a great oppurtunity to watch a Broadway show without spending a ridiculous amount of money, so don’t miss this opportunity.