16 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(04/24/18 5:57am)
By Breeda Bennett-Jones
Nation & World Editor
Much to the chagrin of my peers, I don’t look forward to summer vacation.
Stating this is practically anti-American of me. American culture celebrates summer as a blissful and long-awaited break from school, and understandably so. It certainly has its elements of liberation and spontaneity. Yet when Shakespeare posited, “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” I doubt we had the same idea in mind.
Summer, to me, is the embodiment of wasted time. I think it’s counterintuitive to have two extravagant months free of academic responsibility.
I know I’m not the only person who enjoyed primary school, at least to some extent, and missed doing fun classroom activities and being on the playground with my friends. In high school, having the summer off meant I felt like I was going backwards. I felt overwhelmed in September after 10 weeks of forgetting Spanish verb conjugations and the meticulousness of scholarly writing.
While the summers of my elementary school days were full of euphoric play, swim lessons, ice pops and biking around my neighborhood, summer during high school was about finding jobs, saving money, studying for the SAT and on rare occasions, taking a trip to the mall or down the shore. The heat that I previously rejoiced in basking in suddenly seemed unbearable, especially when combined with the stress of the impending school year. I was instantly disenchanted.
Yet despite its downfalls, summer always evokes a lot of nostalgia for me. My time at home allows me to reconnect with family, explore creative endeavors and admire the reawakening of nature. Nothing beats being able to read or play piano whenever I want, eating barbecue in the shade of my backyard, driving with the windows down and waking up to sun streaming through my blinds.
The beauty of summer is also the muse for many of my favorite works of art. George Gershwin’s operatic “Summertime,” Maurice Ravel’s ethereal “Jeux d’Eau,” Sue Monk Kidd’s breathtaking novel “The Secret Life of Bees” and more famous works like “The Great Gatsby” and “The Sun Also Rises” somehow manage to romanticize summer’s intolerable heat and dangerously undulant evenings. I deeply admire these artists’ ability to take such a grueling season and see its virtues.
At long last, maybe summer isn’t as bad as I thought. When I think again, summer is a time for reflection, relaxation and rejuvenation. Maybe, as penned by Yeats in “The Lake Isle of Innisfree,” one of my favorite poems, “I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow, dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings.”
Though I despise the length of the break and the stifling humidity that blankets the Northeast, I am excited for the opportunity it holds, the beauty it emanates and the stillness that cascades from the top of July until the first cold morning in September.
(04/16/18 12:58pm)
By Breeda Bennett-Jones
Nation & World Editor
Former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva surrendered to police on April 7 following a court order and 12-year prison sentence for crimes including corruption and money laundering, according to The New York Times.
President da Silva, known by the name “Lula,” served as president from 2003 until 2011, according to The New York Times.
Lula attempted to appeal the court conviction in order to keep his name on the ballot for the upcoming presidential elections in October, according to NBC. The justices of the Supreme Federal Tribunal denied his request on April 5 in a 6-5 vote.
Though the conviction does not prevent Lula’s name from appearing on the ballot in October, Brazil’s top electoral court is expected to deny his candidacy under the nation’s “clean slate law,” which disqualifies candidates with criminal convictions, according to NBC.
“I believe in justice and know I am not above the law,” he said, according to CNN. “If the crime I’m guilty of is bringing food and education to the poor, then I hope I’ll continue to be the biggest criminal in this country.”
Lula’s term preceded a period of economic growth and prosperity in Brazil, which allowed him to gain many loyal supporters, according to The New York Times. He has led in popularity polls to succeed current President Michel Temer, who replaced Dilma Roussef after she was impeached and removed from office in 2016.
In 2014, however, prosecutors cracked down on a government-kickback scheme known as Lava Jato, or Car Wash, which lead to more than 100 arrests and cost over $1 billion. Last July, Lula was found guilty of accepting a $1.1 million seaside apartment in exchange for giving contracts to OAS, a construction company, according to CNN.
“Decent Brazilians are celebrating this historic moment,” said João Doria, a former mayor of São Paulo, according to The New York Times. “Justice has been served.”
Lula is a founding member of Brazil’s sole socialist faction, the Worker’s Party, according to CNN. In addition to being friends with deceased Cuban leader Fidel Castro, he left office with a 90 percent approval rating.
“Lula has become a political prisoner, victim of relentless persecution by adversaries who resorted to the judiciary to silence him, destroy him, in an effort to discredit his role before history and the Brazilian people,” Rousseff said, according to The New York Times.
Rousseff was impeached as a result of the Lava Jato scandal, according to NBC.
Lula is serving his sentence in a modest, yet spacious room compared to other accommodations at the Federal Police building, according to The New York Times. The plaque outside the building has his name on it, evidence of a 2007 commemorative opening while he was president.
Lula continues to deny any involvement with political corruption.
“Their dream is for me not to run,” Lula said, according to CNN. “The more days I spend in jail, the more ‘Lulas’ will emerge in this country.”
(04/08/18 10:37pm)
By James Wright and Breeda Bennett-Jones
Staff Writer and Nation & World Editor
Sierra Leone elected its new president amidst rising tensions between the opposition and ruling parties on March 31, according to The New York Times. Julius Maada Bio, the leader of the opposition party, emerged victorious by a narrow margin.
Both election parties claimed victory immediately after the election, according to Reuters. Maada Bio’s party, the Sierra Leone People’s Party, was confident in its polling data.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are confident that retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio is the next president of Sierra Leone,” said Jacob Saffa, the SLPP’s election management chairman, according to Reuters.
The previously ruling All People’s Congress, led by candidate Samura Kamara, also claimed to have won the election, according to Reuters.
“Our comfortable lead is based on 83 percent of the vote count,” said APC spokesman Abdulai Bayraytay, according to Reuters.
Despite the APC’s confidence, Maada Bio was declared the winner on April 4 with 51.8 percent of votes, according to The New York Times. He was sworn in the same night after a campaign swept by public dispute and controversy.
"This is the dawn of a new era. The people of this great nation have voted to take a new direction," Maada Bio said in a news conference after being sworn-in, according to The New York Times. "We have only one country, Sierra Leone, and we are all one people."
In the first round of voting on March 7, the SLPP took 43.3 percent of the votes in the first round of voting, comparable to APC’s 42.7 percent, according to Reuters.
The SLPP has not held the presidency since 2007, according to The Washington Post. Maada Bio and Kamara are running to replace outgoing President Ernest Bai Karoma, who has served his allotted constitutional term limit, according to Reuters.
The first round of voting was mired with controversy, according to The Washington Post. A temporary injunction was issued after the APC filed a court challenge alleging irregularities in the voting process. The injunction delayed the election, inciting criticism from supporters of the SLPP.
The mostly peaceful election process is a relief for the 7 million inhabitants of the West African nation, who endured a bloody civil war in the 1990s, according to The New York Times. Maada Bio previously ruled the country as the head of a military junta in 1996, according to Reuters.
This year’s election is the fourth since the civil war ended in 2002. The last vote in 2012 was also predominantly peaceful, according to The Washington Post.
The winner of the election will face intense pressure from Sierra Leone’s failing economy, which plummeted as a result of low prices on its main export, iron ore, and the outbreak of Ebola in 2014, according to Reuters.
“We do not need any violence or confusion,” said Tanneh Kamara, a voter, according to The Washington Post. “All we need is to improve things for our nation so that we will be proud citizens of this, our country.”
(04/08/18 10:30pm)
By Danielle Silvia and Breeda Bennett-Jones
Copy Editor and Nation & World Editor
Vermont legislators approved new gun restrictions on March 30, including a ban on bump stocks, limits on the size of magazines, expanded background checks for buyers and a raise for the legal age to purchase a gun, according to CNN. Two additional bills regarding weapon confiscation are anticipated to be passed later this week.
The legislation, titled S.55, is part of an effort to support the state of Florida in passing new gun control laws in the wake of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida last month, according to The New York Times.
The Vermont Senate passed the law in a 17 to 13 vote. The bill needed 16 votes to pass, according to CNN.
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, vowed to sign the law in a surprising move that deviates from usual partisan lines. Vermont’s current gun laws are among the weakest in the nation, due in part to the state's hunting-friendly culture, according to The New York Times.
One day after the shooting in Florida, a teenager from Poultney, Vermont was accused and arrested for plotting a shooting spree at a nearby high school, which pushed Scott to enact the new gun control measures, according to ABC.
“No state is immune to the risk of extreme violence,” Scott said, according to The New York Times. “If we are at a point when our kids are afraid to go to school and parents are afraid to put their kids on a bus, who are we?”
The new legislation raises the minimum age to purchase a gun to 21. The legislation also bans the sale of bump stocks, accessories that allows rapid fire of a semi-automatic weapon. Compounded with the expansion of background checks, the legislation establishes a maximum capacity for the amount of magazines that can be sold and owned within the state, according to The New York Times.
“I think the message that most members of the Legislature — not all — took is that public opinion is changing in Vermont,” said Eric Davis, a political science professor at Middlebury College, according to The New York Times.
Several Vermont politicians and gun-advocacy groups expressed alarm at the passage of the legislature, which they view as invasive and extreme. State Senators like John Rodgers, a Democrat, feels that the new regulations go against cultural traditions of the state, according to Vermont Public Radio.
“I think maybe if we pass this bill, maybe it is over, maybe the Vermont I grew up with is over, and it’s changed,” Rodgers said, according to Vermont Public Radio.
Scott is anticipated to sign two additional bills headed to his desk in the coming weeks, according to Vermont Public Radio. The bills, titled S.221 and H.422, would permit law enforcement to confiscate a weapon from someone deemed as an extreme risk by a judge. The bills passed the Vermont Senate and House unanimously.
“My hope is that we will have those in the very near future,” Scott said at a press conference on April 5, according to Vermont Public Radio. “My plan would be if everything goes right to have all three bills and have one signing of all three.”
(02/27/18 8:11am)
By Breeda Bennett-Jones
Nation & World Editor
Despite the plethora of cafés, stands and micro-restaurants on the College’s campus, finding a fresh meal that goes beyond being simply edible is a challenge for some students.
Hundreds of students stream through Eickhoff Hall’s automatic double doors each day, swipe their cards at the counter and set out to find something to eat. After they load up their plates, grab utensils, pour themselves a drink and find a table with their friends, the meal seems complete except for one key component –– fresh fruits and vegetables.
In Eickhoff, the Brower Student Center, the Marketplace C-Store, the Education Building Café and the Library Café, fresh in-season fruits and vegetables are either hard to find, of poor quality or too expensive for penny-pinching college students. While Sodexo, the College’s food supplier, offers mindful, meatless and gluten-free options, the College’s student body suffers from an absence of greens and other fresh sources of vitamins and nutrients.
This conundrum became apparent months ago to Daniela Pareja, a freshman biology and secondary education major.
Pareja stood at the counter of the 31 North Deli in Eickhoff, waiting for an answer that would mean the difference between eating in the dining hall and eating in her dorm room. She had asked if the pineapple behind the glass was fresh.
“I don’t know,” Pareja recalled a worker replying. “We get it from some random company.”
Pareja has an allergy that prevents her from eating fruit with added preservatives.
“Here, you never know when it’s fresh or not,” Pareja said.
Monotonous cuisine is most prominent in Eickhoff, where most students who live on campus eat dinner. Though most of the 10 micro-restaurants serve a steamed vegetable, carbohydrate and source of protein every day, the lack of fresh fruit is still apparent.
There are several bowls of bananas, oranges and apples dotted throughout the hall, displayed on counters between bags of chips, next to the salad bar and at the back of an alcove called My Zone, an area dedicated to gluten-free options. On a typical day, available fruits include honeydew and cantaloupe, which sit in metal tins at the yogurt station.
The fruit bowls rotate daily, according to Patrice Mendes, the College’s Sodexo general manager, who explained the challenges Sodexo faces with the placement of fruits like apples, melon and cantaloupe. According to health code guidelines, fruit with edible skin must be placed behind a sneeze guard, a slab of glass protectant.
“Apples have been available daily, but due to this restriction they are not as visible as the oranges and bananas that we can put out more prominently,” Mendes said.
For most of October last year, the apples were nowhere to be found before they finally returned to their usual corner by My Zone. Their presence remains a gamble, however, and depending on the time of day, the bowls could be empty.
At other dining areas on campus, making healthy choices is even more difficult. At the Education Café, a three-inch-tall plastic container of strawberries is $2.99. With an average of four or five strawberries per container, each strawberry costs approximately 75 cents each.
“Sodexo pricing is based on cost to us from our vendors,” Mendes said. “Items such as strawberries are high cost due to them being out of season in this area … getting a popular item like strawberries out of season increases the price.”
Despite the rarity and high cost of fresh produce, Sodexo representatives emphasize the importance of healthy eating.
“The connection between how eating healthy positively affects both mental and physical performance is becoming more and more clear,” Mendes said. “Offering foods that are good for students’ bodies and brains is a priority for my team and I.”
When asked specifically where the College’s produce come from, Mendes referred to the maps hanging around Eickhoff. According to Mendes, the map lists farms for Kegel’s Produce, one of the College’s two produce distribution vendors. The other is Sysco, a multinational foodservice company with hundreds of locations ranging from Philadelphia to Los Angeles.
“Items that may come through Sysco could be specific to a theme meal or customized menu,” Mendes said. “At times, we do get produce through them as well.”
College students are under immense pressure to excel academically, complete internships and line up post-graduate jobs. The lack of available fruits and vegetables is an additional burden for boarding students who are dependent on Sodexo for all of their meals.
“I don’t hate Eickhoff,” said Seana Cleary, a freshman nursing major. “I feel like there’s always options, even if it doesn’t seem like there are. You can’t hate every single thing that’s in there. For what it is, it could be worse.”
Food quality is also an important component in making a college decision for high school seniors.
Each August, millions of college freshmen across the U.S. transition from home-cooked meals to campus dining.
The $20 billion corporation services schools, jails, hospitals and military bases in more than 80 countries, according to The Investigative Fund.
Some students enjoy Eickhoff’s bustling environment.
“I like Eickhoff because there’s a ton of food, it’s very convenient and I like the atmosphere,” said Cooper Lang, a freshman mechanical engineering major. “I like the people who work there. It’s pretty much the overall experience that makes it for me.”
In New Jersey, Sodexo is on five campuses including William Paterson, Ramapo College and Saint Peter’s University, according to Mendes.
On the College’s campus, students with dietary restrictions are subject to additional setbacks. Despite the addition of an on-staff nutrition manager, Pareja explained, getting food in the dining hall is a struggle that forces her to eat breakfast and lunch in her dorm almost every day.
“The problem is, the nutritionist isn’t with you 24/7 to enforce that,” Pareja said. “Even if I didn’t have the food allergy, it would still be hard to find a variety of healthy food.”
Students with allergies and meal restrictions including vegetarianism and veganism have also been frustrated with campus dining.
“I think for vegetarian options, a lot of places on campus are lacking,” said Meghan Feeley, a freshman art education major.
The quality of food available to students has the potential to put a damper on campus life, especially for students with dietary restrictions. However, despite its shortcomings, on-campus dining options appeal to those looking for a filling meal with daily variety.
(02/18/18 10:11pm)
By Breeda Bennett-Jones
Nation & World Editor
Much to the chagrin of my peers, I don’t do any homework after 8 p.m.
Though I’m proud to say it, I know it makes me an outcast in a fast-paced college environment of strung-out caffeine addicts. We millennials wear our sleeplessness proudly, our eye bags and wan complexion unapologetically visible as we drift disorientedly into our first class of the day.
We socialize with classmates and form friendships partly on the basis of how tired and stressed we are. Despite our different majors, backgrounds or where we come from, the one thing we all seem to agree on is how sleep is both fiercely revered and terribly inconvenient.
I used to belong to this school of thought. Last semester, in the midst of changing my major and dealing with an existential crisis, I decided something needed to change. My high school habit of starting homework after dinner had been rendered obsolete by the strict deadlines my classes required. Every night, I would sit among the carnage of cramming, glance abysmally at the clock in the corner of my MacBook’s screen and feel my heart sink.
Though I am a high-strung individual who literally organizes her closet to relieve stress, I resolved to change my ways for the rest of the year. I decided to not treat homework like an afterthought, to prioritize the regularity of an evening routine, to keep my textbooks and notebooks in a drawer out of sight and to stop doing homework after 8 p.m.
It’s been nearly four months, and I could not be happier. Luckily for me, it was a natural transition. I began to remember what it was like to look forward to an empty evening, to sit down with friends or family and tend to life’s more heartfelt elements. Perhaps it has something to do with my English-Irish heritage, where drinking tea and having a chat is both a national pastime and a sacred evening ritual.
Breaking habits is not easy, and this was no exception. I bought an alarm clock. I abandoned late nights of watching movies or listening to music in bed. I start working on homework before breakfast, and usually work through lunch. Despite the tough period of adjustment I suffered through, I have enjoyed every minute of it.
The days seem longer and regularly paced. I feel more confident in my ability to get work done. I talk to my family more often, and I don’t feel as homesick. Undeniably the best part of my day, and the result I least expected, is that I get to watch the sky darken over Lake Sylva every single night.
I would suggest this method to anyone who is willing to get in touch with themselves again. Ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once wrote, “When I let go of who I am, I become what I might be.”
This has been a guiding principle for me since I changed my lifestyle four months ago. Leaving time for myself in the evening has allowed me to catch up with life’s unforgiving pace, become closer with the ones I love and rekindle an appreciation for the little things.
For me, life has become more vibrant and much less overwhelming. I am more excited than ever for what the future has in store.
(01/28/18 11:25pm)
By Breeda Bennett-Jones
Nation & World Editor
As snow fell and chants rang out across University Square the night of Jan. 20, Romania’s citizens remained passionate in the fight against growing corruption in Eastern Europe. Across the country, crowds gathered in towns and cities to protest revisions to Romania’s anti-corruption laws, according to The New York Times.
Protests occurred throughout the country, but most were in Bucharest’s University Square, according to The Guardian. Almost 50,000 people joined in the flag waving, whistle blowing and anthem singing.
The Romanian Parliament passed legislation in December that critics and citizens alike say will distance Romania from Europe. One amendment in particular prohibited the use of audio and video recordings as evidence, according to The Washington Post.
The legislation also includes amendments to the judicial system and the prosecution process for corruption crimes, according to The New York Times.
One protester named Tiberiu Calinescu expressed his discontent for the Romanian government as he carried his four-month-old daughter, according to The Washington Post.
“I have come here for the future of my daughter. I want to live in a Romania that is civilized and close to European standards,” Calinescu said.
Some protesters called for early government elections and an overhaul of the judicial system in addition to the withdrawal of the bills, according to The New York Times.
Viorica Dancila, the newly elected Romanian Prime Minister, is among the handful of top politicians who agree with the protesters. Dancila specifically supports an overhaul of the judicial system, according to The Washington Post.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is also critical of the amendments, according to The New York Times. On the night before the protests, he criticized an amendment concerning the right of government officials to own businesses in a statement to the Constitutional Court. The amendment “diminished the standards of integrity” government officials are expected to uphold, according to the statement.
Smaller protests occurred in cities including Cluj, Timisoara and Constanta, according to The Washington Post.
Just under one year ago, a quarter of a million protesters took to the streets of Bucharest to pressure the government to withdraw an ordinance that loosened anti-corruption laws, according The New York Times. The protests were successful, and the ordinance was voted down.
“I came out today because I have two little boys and they deserve a better life in this European country,” a protester named Florentina Caval told The Guardian.
The left-wing Parliament faces pressure against the bills from its citizenry, Iohannis, economic experts, the European Commission and the U.S. government, according to The Guardian.
(12/05/17 12:29am)
By Breeda Bennett-Jones
News Assistant
Joann Lublin, management news editor for The Wall Street Journal, purchased a pin-up calendar of nude male models and hung it above her typewriter in defiance of her six male coworkers who all had pin-up calendars of women above their desks.
Lublin, an esteemed author and editor, was featured in the School of Business’ final installment of its Business Leaders Talk series on Thursday, Nov. 30.
The event, co-sponsored by Women in Business and The Bull, Bear & Lion, attracted students with a wide variety of majors, including business, English and journalism and professional writing.
Lublin took the podium in the Library Auditorium to describe her career at The Wall Street Journal, as well as her inspiration for her book, “Earning It.”
When she first started at The Wall Street Journal, Lublin had trouble being taken seriously. Lublin had male informants who would offer her information to help her with the stories that she was writing. She would often try to buy them lunch, and each time they expressed discomfort with having a woman pay for their meal.
When working on a story, Lublin would make phone calls to different people who might have information on her topic. Most of the time, if the person was male they would mistake her for a saleswoman because they didn’t expect a woman to be a reporter. Lublin was also assigned to cover various awards events that prohibited women, and she often found herself entering through the kitchen doors in the back in order to attend.
After sharing how she struggled with sexism, Lublin outlined three pillars of career advice for women, concerning pay, credibility and power. With each pillar, she shared a woman’s story of success and a lesson about leadership.
Lublin spoke about Cathie Black, former president of Hearst Magazines. When Black began her career, she wanted to get into the publishing business. Despite graduating with a degree in English literature from Trinity College, each employer she interviewed for wanted to hire her as a secretary.
After landing one of her first promotions as a replacement for her male former boss, Black received a $3,000 pay raise.
Despite the raise, Black knew that her previous boss was given a higher salary than she was told she would earn. Black walked into her new boss’s office, confronted him and received a raise.
“You have to bargain hard,” Lublin said. “Many women don’t think it’s the right thing to do. It all depends on how good you are.”
Lublin then detailed the story of Kathleen Ligocki, who held corporate leadership positions at General Motors and Ford. Ligocki graduated college in 1979 with degrees in Chinese history and renaissance art. However, she found herself working as the only female foreman in a General Motors plant in Indiana. After the nine other male foremen complained that Ligocki didn’t have to wear the mandatory uniform tie in 155 degree weather, she retaliated with humor.
“Okay, do I still have to wear a bra?” she asked her boss, who she said looked embarrassed and shocked.
Lublin emphasized the importance of earning credibility by establishing a rapport with coworkers.
“That’s how the guys do it,” Lublin said. “If you can figure out a way to use humor rather than anger, you’re going to earn the respect of your peers.”
Lublin taught the audience to take risks through the story of Gracia Martore, the chief executive of Tegna, a digital media firm. Martore was promoted to an investor relations position on a whim in 1995. Though her work week increased from 50 to 70 hours, Lublin said that Martore was successful and became the CEO of Gannett, Tegna’s parent company, in 2011.
“You’re gonna have to get out of your comfort zone,” Lublin said. “If you can do that and succeed, you can develop an image.”
When her daughter graduated college, Lublin wanted her to understand the struggles she and other women faced when entering the workforce.
In 2008, Lublin wrote a personal essay in which she reflected on her experience as the first female reporter at the San Francisco bureau of The Wall Street Journal.
When Lublin’s daughter read her article and found it interesting, Lublin decided to pursue the idea of compiling stories of successful women in business into a book.
Lublin made clear that there is no direct path to success. Success takes calculated risks, mentors, sponsors and good timing.
“I believe everyone in this room, women and men, can do it,” Lublin said. “The sky’s the limit!”
(11/13/17 11:53pm)
By Breeda Bennett-Jones
News Assistant
As the fire passed from candle to candle, the silent, dimly lit steps of Green Hall transformed into a panorama of flickering lights and hugging sorority sisters. Though biting winds threatened to extinguish the flames, members of Delta Phi Epsilon were warmed by uplifting speeches and the light of the candles they grasped.
Delta Phi Epsilon’s annual ANAD Week, sponsored by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, culminated on Wednesday, Nov. 8, with an outdoor candlelit vigil honoring the sufferers and victims of eating disorders.
The vigil was accompanied with a speech by Kirsten Haglund, Miss America 2008 and the founder of the Kirsten Haglund Foundation. As a former Miss America, she chose to focus her work on helping Americans who suffer from eating disorders.
The evening began when Jess Meline, a senior psychology major, who read the ANAD pledge.
“I will accept myself as I am,” Meline recited. “My future is worth fighting for.”
Haglund then echoed the same sentiment.
“It frustrates me that sometimes there’s a barrier put up by the toxic entertainment industry,” Haglund said.
Haglund shared her powerful story, including her experience with anorexia nervosa. It began with intense ballet training, self-induced pressure and family complications.
When Haglund was 12 years old, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and her younger brother developed symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
“It was a perfect storm of factors,” Haglund said.
Haglund also feared that she wouldn’t be able to achieve her lifelong goal of becoming a professional ballet dancer.
As she compared herself to other dancers who used starvation tactics to stay lean, she began to emulate their behavior. By the time she was 17 years old, she was six months into an outpatient treatment program.
“It’s a disease,” Haglund said. “You can’t just dip one toe in. It’s like quicksand. It devours you.”
Haglund began the uphill battle of recovery, a process she described as one step forward, two steps backward.
She identified the roots of her body image problems, which included people-pleasing and being self-critical, and slowly began to gain weight again. Her previous goal of wanting to be a perfect dancer was overcome by a new goal of wanting to feel confident again.
Haglund found her voice by deciding to compete in the Miss America pageant. Though she originally competed as a way to earn scholarship money for college, she moved quickly through the county and state levels.
About three years after entering treatment in 2008, Haglund was crowned Miss America in front of an audience of millions.
“It gave me an incredible way to solidify my recovery,” Haglund said.
Nearly 10 years later, Haglund runs the Kirsten Haglund Foundation and has helped fund treatment for almost 200 girls who suffer from similar eating disorders. She also works as an ambassador for Timberline Knolls, a female residential treatment center based in Illinois.
“She’s a great advocate for body acceptance and body positivity,” said Sally Sebastian, a professional outreach representative for the east region. “She just has this joyful personality that’s contagious to everyone around her.”
In addition to her work with residential facilities, Haglund continues to speak on college campuses nationwide in an effort to spread awareness about eating disorders and inspire students to be observant, speak up and get help.
“The more conversation there is about it, the easier people will find it to seek help,” Haglund told The Signal. “All change starts with you.”
Summer Herlihy, a junior psychology major and ANAD chair for Delta Phi Epsilon, spoke about the sorority’s dedication to body positivity.
“It’s our main priority,” Herlihy said. “We’re just trying to make people feel how a person with an eating disorder would feel.”
After Haglund’s speech, sisters, friends and students gathered in a circle, clutching candles. When the last candle was lit, Meline called for a moment of silence.
Thoughts of homework and the bitter cold faded. For a moment, in the circle of remembrance, all was still.
(11/06/17 5:17pm)
By Breeda Bennett-Jones
News Assistant
The College raised more than $275,000 on Thursday, Nov. 2, during its third annual Day of Giving, part of the 18.19.20 fundraising initiative honoring President R. Barbara Gitenstein.
The Day of Giving was a campuswide effort of The Office of Development, Brand Management, Alumni Affairs, the deans of the seven schools and student organizations including TCNJ Ambassadors and Student Government.
In the Brower Student Center and Eickhoff Hall, students had the opportunity to donate in cash or online using the educational crowdsourcing website, GiveCampus.
Alumni, faculty, family and friends also had the opportunity to donate online throughout the day.
Several alumni encouraged donations by creating challenges. Alumna Terri Martinac (’72 & ’73) pledged to donate $20 for every donation made by a member of the Class of 2006.
“I’m a very proud alumnus of the college,” Martinac said. “I think the students are of the highest quality and character.”
During the Day of Giving, $278,012 in donations were raised, according to Christen Jones, the director of development and annual giving.
Alumni raised 49 percent of donations, staff raised 22 percent, current students raised 12 percent, parents raised 9 percent and friends of the campus community raised 7 percent. There were 1,418 donors in total, with an average donation amount of $200. All of the alumni challenges were matched, including a $10,000 challenge created halfway through the day by alumni Andy and Maria Polansky (’83).
While other colleges have fundraising initiatives, Jones emphasized how focusing on one day brings the campus together.
“Its success is really the result of everyone coming around this general goal we have for the whole college,” Jones said. “It reminds you of the power a community has.”
While the Class of 2021 had the most donors of all current student classes, according to Jones, the Class of 2018 used the day as an opportunity to work on raising money for its senior class gift. This year, the class aims to raise enough money to donate a bench for the campus.
“This senior class was so enthusiastic,” Jones said. “They want to create that legacy, which folks can come back to and remember.”
Reminders of the Day of Giving were all around campus on Thursday. WTSR played music outside the student center as free hot chocolate was given out from tables flanked by blue and gold balloons.
Inside the student center, students who donated had the chance to spin a prize wheel and win merchandise including lanyards, cups and laptop stickers.
“I think the most coveted prize is the Roscoe plushy,” said alumna Jenna Burke (’17).
Burke has been a graduate assistant with the Office of Development since August, where she specialized in doing publicity for annual giving and fundraising efforts.
“I think (donating) is really important,” Burke said. “You can show that you care about the College and that you’re putting it in good hands.”
Students also had the opportunity to pose with friends and props in a photo booth set up by the exit. The new Roscoe the Lion roamed the area, posing for pictures and giving people high-fives.
“It helps make philanthropy fun,” said Missy Lide, the associate director of annual giving.
Students also had the opportunity to pay homage to Gitenstein’s tenure as president of the College. After posing for a photograph taken on a polaroid camera, students printed heartfelt notes on the pictures and pasted them into a farewell scrapbook.
The scrapbook was a token of appreciation for all of Gitenstein’s work for the College, according to Lide.
“We wanted to bring some attention and some light to the amazing and humble person she is,” Lide said.
Jones echoed her appreciation for Gitenstein.
“I am so proud to work with her every day,” Jones said. “This one was for the Git.”
(10/30/17 10:08pm)
By Breeda Bennett-Jones
I still write out my essays on paper.
Some people find it strange that I rely on a method that seems archaic, restricting and tedious, as opposed to typing out words on a computer. Modern society is so reliant on technology that it’s easy to go days without picking up a pen. In today’s mechanical world, what’s the use in writing things down if they won’t be backed up in the Cloud or posted on Twitter?
As a seasoned journal writer, fanatic organizer and stationery enthusiast, I can confidently say that keeping a daily journal is one of the most influential things I’ve ever done. I can’t imagine my life without constantly putting pen to paper.
Keeping a journal relieves stress. Unlike class assignments, which have a set prompt, a fixed word count and an ever-impending due date, journaling is completely open-ended. When I write, the rigid structure of coursework melts away. If academic writing is like navigating the ocean’s unforgiving currents, journaling is like drifting soundlessly on a lake. The latter demands careful planning and expertise, while the former requires nothing. One I must control, the other controls me.
Journaling makes me feel more connected to humanity. Whenever I sit down to write, I can’t help but think about someone who was once in my position — sitting down and recording their thoughts — when they developed an idea that would change the world forever. J.K. Rowling drafted “Harry Potter” on napkins and scraps of paper. Henry David Thoreau discovered the meaning of life by isolating himself in a cabin at Walden Pond and writing in a journal. Perhaps Martin Luther King’s 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech was once scribbled down on a notepad. I feel that if I follow in the footsteps of those who propel humankind forward, I might make a difference, too.
I must admit, lately my journal hasn’t been the creative playground I intended it to be. At the moment, it’s filled with almost nothing but lists, daily schedules and essay outlines. Though college stress takes an enormous toll on the creative process, I use this to my advantage. Journaling is a great way to organize your life. If you struggle to get things done, I highly suggest keeping a record of your assignments, completed tasks and to-do lists.
I’ve leaned more heavily into the practice of keeping my personal information off the internet in light of recent hacking news. Almost a year ago, Russian hackers were hard at work creating fake Facebook profiles and funneling money into corrosive, right-wing Facebook ads. This May, North Korea crippled the British National Health Service in the highest-profile global web attack in history, according to The Guardian. There is no avoiding the internet, but having a space to call my own with no risk of hacking is reassuring.
It’s satisfying to see my life and thoughts laid out on pages covered with my own handwriting. Flipping through the finished pages, printing the start and end date on the cover and stacking the books on a shelf in my closet gives me a sense of accomplishment that I don’t really get from anything else. It gives me pride to see my recorded ideas, thoughts and even old shopping lists compiled and organized neatly. In such a crazy world, journaling makes me feel like I have everything under control.
I implore you to pick up a notebook and start writing. A poem by Ron Koertge titled, “Do You Have Any Advice For Those of Us Just Starting Out?” reads, “Give up sitting dutifully at your desk. Leave your house or apartment. Go out into the world. It’s all right to carry a notebook but a cheap one is best, with pages the color of weak tea and on the front a kitten or a spaceship.” I write in a black leather Moleskine with a black ballpoint pen. Find one you like, make it your own and start creating something meaningful.
Students share opinions around campus
“Do you think it is important to keep a journal?”
“Yeah, definitely. I’ve kept a journal since freshman year. It helps to make things clear.”
“Yeah, it can be helpful to some people who want to write down what they’re feeling.”
(10/24/17 1:44am)
By Breeda Bennett-Jones
Staff Writer
Homecoming Spirit Week kicked off across campus, preceding the Homecoming tailgate and athletic events on Saturday, Oct. 21.
The joint effort to encourage school spirit was organized by Student Government, the Office of Student Involvement and the Department of Recreation and Wellness.
Despite the tight timeline, few meetings and recent controversy about possible changes, Spirit Week unfolded as planned.
There were 13 registered teams and 10 participating teams, according to Dave Conner, the College’s director of Student Involvement. With the exception of United Colors and SASCO, a combined team consisting of College Ambassadors, Student Government, College Union Board, Student Finance Board, the Leadership Development Program and Synergy Dance Company, all of the teams were Greek organizations.
“These organizations have gotten really good at the events,” Conner said. “It’s created some high barriers of entry.”
The lack of team diversity was part of the reason why the Office of Student Involvement made some minor changes this year to their approach to Homecoming Spirit Week.
An experimental attempt to prevent the alienation of non-Greek organizations during Spirit Week by structuring teams based on grade level was voted down nearly a month ago by SG.
“Outside of the participants, we didn’t have a lot of students there to watch or cheer on their friends,” Conner said. “Ultimately, the goal of Spirit Week is to build spirit and to provide fun activities throughout the week leading up to Homecoming.”
The Spirit Week planning committee was open to all students regardless of club affiliation, according to Conner.
This year, team captains were required to serve on the planning committee.
“Students have always been the driving force behind the programs that were chosen,” Conner said. “But we truly don’t see students who come out who want to become part of planning.”
Spirit Week kicked off on Oct. 16 at Traditions, where teams tried to outsmart each other in trivia. Activities on Oct. 17, which were open to the entire student body, included pumpkin carving and a tie-dying activity sponsored by RECreate Your Night.
On Wednesday, Oct. 18, Student Government dished out grey long-sleeve Homecoming T-shirts in exchange for old high school shirts or shirts from other colleges during the annual T-shirt swap.
“(Student Government) believes the T-shirt swap provides school spirit by promoting TCNJ,” said Chris Blakeley, a junior civil engineering major and executive president of SG.
While some activities have stayed the same throughout Spirit Week’s 29-year history, the committee tried to depart from the standard events this year in an effort to encourage more student participation.
In the Field Games event on Wednesday, Oct. 18, Spikeball was introduced to the competition.
“I think Field Games definitely encourages school spirit,” said Rachel Ottman, a sophomore psychology major and member of team Sigma Sigma Sigma. “It brings a lot of people together. It seems like it will be a very positive experience for the groups involved.”
On Thursday, Oct. 19, team banners hung from the second floor balcony of the Brower Student Center. That night, teams competed in Canoe Battleship, sponsored by RECreate Your Night, at the pool in Packer Hall, where teams attempted to sink their opponents’s canoes by splashing water into them.
On Friday, Oct. 20, the last day of Spirit Week, students prepared for Homecoming across campus. In Eickhoff Hall, students snacked on blue and gold cupcakes while surrounded by similarly colored balloons, flags hanging from the ceiling and posters from the College’s sports teams.
Spirit Week culminated with the Lip Sync & Dance Competition. Hundreds of people gathered in the Recreation Center to watch 10 teams dance to choreographed routines. The TCNJ Dance Team kicked off the event before multicolored LED flashing lights illuminated the venue as teams performed self-made mashups with themes like SASCO’s “Day in the Life of Roscoe” or United Colors’ performance of step dance, rap and groove. Well-executed dance moves and perfectly placed sound bites drew loud cheers from the audience.
“(Lip Sync & Dance) has always been a part of the program,” Conner said. “It truly draws the largest crowd.”
Team Delta Phi Epsilon and Delta Tau Delta emerged victorious after Spirit Week concluded.
Though Spirit Week may need to become more inclusive in the future, Conner maintains that “it’s one of the things that students look forward to every year … and one that continues to grow and change to meet the different needs of our students.”
(10/17/17 4:22am)
By Breeda Bennett-Jones
Staff Writer
This past summer, catastrophic winds and heavy rainfall shook communities around the country.
In 2005, the College community was there for displaced Tulane University students affected by Hurricane Katrina. In 2010, the College was there for the survivors of the Haiti earthquake with Here For Haiti. In 2012, the College was there for students, families and those impacted by Hurricane Sandy with Here For Home. In 2017, the College is ready to aid communities damaged by natural disasters, once more, with its campaign Here For Home, Always.
Each year, the United States, in particular the Gulf Coast, braces itself for three harrowing months of strong hurricane potential.
This past summer, three Category 5 storms battered areas including Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico, leaving thousands without a home, food and water.
As communities across the country began to mobilize support for the victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, the College regenerated its own initiative with Here For Home, Always.
The Division of Student Affairs, Student Government and the Center for Community Engaged Learning and Research, banded together to devise a plan.
As Houston flooded, the Steering Committee gathered in the office of Angela Chong, the vice president of Student Affairs. While Floridians evacuated, they laid out possibilities. As Puerto Rico went dark, they scribbled plans on a whiteboard hanging on the wall, according to Chong.
“We knew that we wanted to do something timely and sustainable,” Chong said. “At this very early stage, the best way that we could help was by raising money.”
The sustained initiative involves a four-step system, beginning with fundraising that started on Sept. 27.
Volunteers set up tables outside of the Brower Student Center hoping to attract students, while tables outside of the 1855 Room were intended to wheel in faculty and staff.
According to Chong, future steps include food and supply drives, potential outreach trips and exploring housing for displaced students.
The College’s dining services also contributed to the efforts with a similar event for fundraising initiatives in Eickhoff Hall and the 1855 Room. Dining services hoped to encourage students to donate to those affected by the hurricanes.
Chris Blakeley, executive president of SG and a junior civil engineering major, said SG has been involved in all the conversation surrounding Here For Home, Always.
As well as designing flyers, a logo and providing student feedback, Blakeley sits on the Steering Committee.
“We wanted to make sure whatever direction we went we would be able to help as many people as possible,” Blakeley said.
The College has continued its efforts with finding charities to donate to. Michael Nordquist, executive director for the Center of Community Engaged Learning and Research, focused on charities that coincided with the College’s beliefs.
“We wanted something that exemplifies TCNJ’s character and values,” Nordquist said.
The steering committee chose to donate its proceeds to the St. Bernard Project and United For Puerto Rico.
According to Chong, the St. Bernard Project is a non-profit natural disaster relief organization focused on long-term relief.
The St. Bernard Project has a long history with the College, as Bonner Scholars have worked directly with the non-profit organization in providing relief for those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Bonner Scholars have continued to work directly with representatives in New Orleans for the past several years.
The St. Bernard project works extensively in different areas of the continental United States, but does not extend support to Puerto Rico.
United For Puerto Rico, Chong said, was a good choice for dispersing funds raised by students, faculty, alumni and parents.
The website says the organization, established by the Puerto Rico’s first lady Beatriz Rosello, gathers donations from civilians and private sectors, including Microsoft, Coca-Cola and JetBlue.
In 2012, the College lent a hand to the victims of Hurricane Sandy. According to Chong, faculty and staff headed to the Jersey Shore to help restore its beaches.
“There’s such a connection between our students and the New Jersey shore,” Chong said. “You’re either from there, or you vacation there at some point.”
The College remains active in its hurricane relief efforts. Every January, first-year Bonner Scholars drive to New Orleans to work on rebuilding efforts with the St. Bernard Project.
Alumna Brittany Aydelotte (‘09), a research and initiatives program manager at the Center For Engaged Learning, has stayed in contact with many of the homeowners that she has helped.
A small orange folder in her office contains Christmas cards and pictures of families with emails, phone numbers and addresses jotted on the back. Group photos of smiling Bonner Scholars clad in sneakers, college sweatshirts and safety vests are clipped to her bookshelf.
Fifteen trips, 380 students, 11,400 hours and 31 homes later, Aydelotte said the experience is still just as transformative.
Aydelotte described her experience rebuilding homes in New Orleans as grounding, inspiring and gratifying.
“If you’re eating in a restaurant and you’re covered in drywall, everyone will thank you. These are people, not just houses,” she said.
Despite being hundreds of miles from the affected areas, Chong emphasized that students can, and should, help.
“We’re still here for home. Home just looks a little bit different,” Chong said.
(10/03/17 1:00am)
By Breeda Bennett-Jones
Staff Writer
The College’s Collegiate Recovery Community sponsored an event in celebration of National Recovery Month on Sept. 26.
Jesse Dariano, a senior psychology major and CRC’s president, presented a story of strength and recovery. He discussed the stigma of drug addiction in front of a full audience in the library auditorium. He began by naming several of his accomplishments: being a homeowner, being a car owner, being a son, being a brother and going nearly four years since having a drink or using a drug.
“I just thought it was an interesting story to listen to, especially because it was by a TCNJ student,” said Emma Meyer, a sophomore nursing major.
From the outset, Dariano’s goals were aligned with those of the CRC. Namely, to eradicate the stigma surrounding recovery, inspire members of the audience and to cultivate a community of acceptance and support at the College.
“Hopefully, (the audience can) be inspired to want to do something about it and partner with the CRC so we can make TCNJ a recovery-safe campus all around,” he said.
Dariano began to tell his story, explaining how “just saying no” didn’t work for him.
This idea harkens back to the Reaganite “Just Say No” campaign of the late 1980s, and more recently, programs for primary schoolers like Drug Abuse Resistance Education, more commonly known as D.A.R.E.
Dariano brought to light the disconnect between prescription drug abuse and hard drugs, like cocaine or heroin.
“Prescription drugs are associated with the (kind of) drugs that are okay, because they’re prescribed by a doctor,” he said. “To make the connection between percocet and heroin… your mind doesn’t want to go there. Heroin is the dirty one.”
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens, a division of the National Institute of Health, approximately 80 percent of people who develop a heroin use disorder start by using prescription opioids. Because prescription pills are available in medicine cabinets, Dariano explained, it seemed conflict-free, easy, quick and even harmless.
The progression of his addiction started slowly and then accelerated. Dariano described how his circle of friends started changing, how the drugs he was taking became more serious and how he felt like he lost a sense of personal value.
“The more our focus shifted to using substances, the less other things started to matter… it was slowly consuming,” he said. “It’s a sneaky progression.”
Near the end of the presentation, Dariano turned his focus to recovery. His main message, he said in an interview after the presentation, was that recovery works. When it doesn’t, he emphasized that usually insurance issues, financial need or legislation are in the way.
“It took seeing other people who were just like me… overcoming it [and] being able to talk about it or joke about it,” he said after explaining the importance of safe, intimate recovery spaces. “When we accept people for having a problem, it becomes this freeing experience.”
In his closing statement, Dariano encouraged people affected by drug use to become involved with the CRC. He passed the microphone to Alex Batterman, a senior psychology major, the vice president of the CRC and a recovery ally. A recovery ally is someone who has not experienced drug or alcohol abuse disorders, but would like to help contribute to a recovery-friendly campus.
Batterman first became involved with the organization after interning at the TCNJ Clinic, where he helped to facilitate SMART Recovery, which is focused on self-empowerment.
“It inspired me — they’re very perseverant,” Batterman said.
The CRC is an emerging organization on the College’s campus. As it works to become an officially recognized student organization, its outreaches are growing.
According to Chris Freeman, the supervisor of the organization, the CRC offers several programs including Lions House — an on-campus housing opportunity for students in recovery — and counseling and support services. In addition, the CRC hosts weekly meetings and late-night substance-free activities like RECreate Your Night, according to their website.
“It’s common and normal to be scared,” Freeman said of recovery. “It’s much scarier in our heads than in reality. But when we do reach out for help, it’s life-changing.”
The presentation ended with a selfie — a group photo of recovering students, recovery allies and students of the College who are passionate about creating safe spaces for those recovering from drug use.
(09/26/17 10:34pm)
By Breeda-Bennett Jones
Correspondent
Two students were recently awarded the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, a U.S. State Department-funded grant for undergraduate students.
Once recipient, Scott Borton, a sophomore international studies major, travelled across the globe to Kansai Gaidai University in Hirakata City, Japan, according to the College’s website.
His time overseas has already begun, and will continue through the entire academic year. While Borton studies at Kansai Gaidai, he will stay with a Japanese family. His award, totaling $5,000, will fund the majority of his trip.
Julie Scesney, a senior international studies major, has already begun her journey in Viña del Mar, Chile. She is currently studying at the Universidad Adolfo Ibañéz.
The Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship was created in 2001 by the Institute of International Education and is currently congressionally funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. State Department, according to the Gilman Scholarship website.
Benjamin Gilman, a retired congressman from New York, believes “study abroad (provides) our students with the opportunity to return home with a deeper understanding of their place in the world,” according to the scholarship’s website.
This is true for Scesney, who is pursuing a career as a professor of literature, according to the College’s website. She is currently studying Latin American poetry.
“I could have gone to Spain,” she said on the College’s website. “I figured that I will have many opportunities to travel to Europe, but would have significantly less opportunities to live in South America for four months.”
According to Scesney, part of her motivation in choosing to study in Chile was to practice speaking Spanish.
As written on the Gilman Scholarship’s website, the award aims “to encourage students to study and intern in a diverse array of countries and world regions (and) to study languages.”
Borton is currently studying international business, Japanese language and Japanese religion.
“I chose Japan mainly for its language,” Borton said. “Languages are not just code. They are living entities that allow the brain to think in ways that do not exist in another language.”
Borton hopes to use his experience to network in foreign markets and “enhance his cultural and political expertise of the Far East,” according to the College’s website.
Jennifer Margherito, the College’s Study Abroad Advisor, emphasized the value of the Gilman award.
“Certainly, receiving an amount of money that can defer the cost of study abroad takes a weight off their shoulders,” she said. “That can pay for airfare, some of their housing cost, or meals abroad. It can take off some of that burden.”
The Gilman Scholarship took care of his first semester housing costs, according to Borton.
Studying abroad is a highly encouraged option for students at the College. According to Margherito, students at the College have particular success with winning Gilman Scholarship Awards. In the spring 2017 semester, one student was awarded a grant to study abroad.
Dr. Christa Olson, the executive director of Global Engagement, described what exactly study abroad teaches students: intercultural competence.
“The most valuable thing one can learn while studying abroad is how to adapt your behaviors to be able to engage productively with people who are culturally different from you and function well in another cultural context,” she said.
As Borton and Scesney experience other cultures, along with many abroad students at the College, they bring back their experiences, knowledge and worldly awareness. Borton shared his experience with intercultural competence.
“One of the most profound experiences since coming here is experiencing what it feels like to be a minority. … I think this (has) opened my eyes to what I can only call micro-prejudice,” Borton said.
The upfront cost of studying abroad may be a reason why many students choose not to study abroad. According to the Association of International Educators, under 10 percent of all American college graduates have studied abroad.
“It doesn’t hurt to ask questions about scholarship opportunities,” Margherito said. “We’re always encouraging students to come and talk to our office, even if they want some more information.”
The College’s study abroad resource center, the Center for Global Engagement, has an active list of opportunities on its website in addition to bi-weekly meetings on Wednesdays.
(09/11/17 11:57pm)
By Breeda Bennett-Jones
Millions of recent high school graduates have, within the past month, packed their bags, said their goodbyes to their parents and have entered a world of its own — college.
I’ve heard stories from my friends and family about what to expect when starting this new chapter of my life, but I could never have imagined how it would truly feel to call a place where I’m surrounded by peers that I know little about my “home.”
I’ve witnessed a few unusual behaviors in my first couple weeks as a college student, such as washing dishes in the communal bathroom sink or wearing flip flops in the shower. However, what really stood out to me and caught my attention the most is the ungodly amount of times I had to introduce myself to my new peers by smiling, shaking their hand and asking “Where are you from?” and “What’s your major?”
There is nothing as charming as a smile or as timeless as a handshake. Asking people to divulge their basic qualifications is a simple, sincere way of finding common ground. However, after going through the same motions with 49 other students on my floor, I’ve become anxious and self-conscious. Different thoughts have bounced through my mind when introducing myself, such as my voice sounding weird or my handshake being too feeble.
First impressions are not limited to face-to-face interactions. Maintaining updated, entertaining social media posts is essential toward developing other people’s perception of ourselves, especially in college. I’ve found that it is important to seem mature, cool and well-read for future classmates who may browse my different social media webpages.
I do not question a person’s desire to make a good first impression. However, I do question how and why someone might come across differently than how they wish to be perceived. I believe it is mostly due to our inherent need, as humans, to organize concepts into different categories.
We strive to brand others as funny, outgoing or shy because we love to classify things into groups. We characterize each animal by species, genus and family. We reference others based on the shade of their skin, gender and sexual orientation. We organize the world into continents, countries, states and cities. Being able to stamp a label on someone after we meet them fulfills an internal desire to establish and arrange new faces in our minds. It’s a memory game in which a person becomes permanently labeled based on mere seconds of conversation.
The problem of judging others based on their first impression is not specific to college freshmen. For upperclassmen, first impressions come in the form of job interviews, where they must win over potential employers with the proper handshake and smile in order to get the internship that will build their career.
First impressions are repetitive and can come across disingenuous, yet we use them to determine character. Why are we so quick to judge new people? The answer is almost as complicated as doing my own laundry for the first time. But once I practiced making a good first impression, it was as simple as separating my dark clothes from my white.
If you want to revamp how others see you, be as genuine as possible. Do not feel forced to be someone you are not, whether that is super outgoing or incredibly introverted. Don’t pretend in order to fit in with your peers. Be yourself and a good first impression will happen effortlessly.
Recognize when someone else is trying to make a good first impression with you, and keep an open mind. This is best put in the words of children’s author, Sharon Creech, in her novel, “Walk Two Moons.” Creech wrote, “In the course of a lifetime, what does it matter? Don’t judge a man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins.”
Foster relationships, don’t be quick to judge and be confident enough in the person you are so you don’t feel the need to change yourself. Make a first impression the first item of information you learn about a person. Show initiative to get to know someone on a deeper level by talking and meeting with them a second, third and fourth time. There is more to a person than their handshake and their smile.