Office of Diversity shares plans for campus reform
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By Lara Becker Reviews Editor Buddy Fox, a junior music performance and chemistry double major, remembered the comfort of sitting with Jason Zujkowski, who would bring bags of food to the basement of the music building to share with his friends. There he would sit and listen. Zujkowski was a friend in every sense of the word — in his compassion and empathy for every person around him. Zujkowski died on Nov. 9, 2018 from cardiac arrest as a result of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. He collapsed in the lobby of the same music building that he spent tireless hours perfecting his craft in. On May 1 at 1:15 p.m. in the Phelps Hall lounge, it was time for the College to listen. In collaboration with Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the HCM association and Campus Emergency Medical Services, Fox hosted an HCM talk and training with the intention of educating students, faculty and staff on how to prepare for instances of sudden cardiac arrest, and on HCM in general. HCM affects one in 500 people in the general population, according to the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association. Cardiomyopathy is the generalized disease that causes abnormal palpitations of the heart. “Hypertrophic” is one category of Cardiomyopathy, mainly causing excessive thickening of the heart. As Fox described, this caused Zujkowski severe shortness of breath, fatigue and rapid heartbeats. “The biggest question that Jason’s death left for us to answer was, ‘What could we have done? What can anyone do?’” Fox said. He found the answer in Lisa Salberg, the founder and CEO of the HCMA. Salberg was diagnosed with HCM at the age of 12 and suffered a stroke at 21. Her personal journey and the journeys of many of her family members with HCM made Salberg realize the lack of information and public knowledge of the disease. Salberg then founded the HCMA in 1996 make people more aware of the disease and provide support for those affected by it. Since the organization’s inception, she has seen significant strides in the public knowledge and response to the disease. “We’ve changed a lot here,” Salberg said. “We’re starting to see higher levels of referrals to a cardiologist for the EKG, for the CT scan or for whatever else they’re going to need.” She described the main issue is the fact that many people may have lingering HCM without seeing symptoms right away or being diagnosed by a doctor correctly, which Salberg said is combated by not just education about HCMA, but also legislation. HCMA has centers throughout the United States, having spearheaded the Student Athlete Protection Act to screen all athletes for HCM during their athletic physicals. The HCMA helped to train doctors to find specific symptoms in students. In being prepared for a situation of cardiac arrest, Salberg emphasized calling 9-1-1 and getting an AED immediately, due to many similar situations resulting in death when bystanders are unaware of how to react. The presentation then turned to senior biology major Claire Drotman, an EMT and part of TCNJ EMS. She led demonstrations to help students prepare for situations where CPR and AEDs may be necessary. “My hope is by the end of this training, if you end up in that situation, you would be able to take action to initiate something and not just wait for the EMT to get there,” Drotman said. She then demonstrated how to use an AED, how best to do compressions and the ins and outs of CPR. Through the knowledge that the training provided, Fox hoped students would feel confident enough to act in the case of a cardiac arrest and spread awareness of HCM. “This means vigilance,” he said. “This means that we have to take action, to ensure the safety of our greater campus community.”
By Lara Becker Reviews Editor Sentiments of love and support were written on squares of cut-up jeans at the Anti-Violence Initiatives’ table outside the Social Sciences Building from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 24 to commemorate Denim Day, an annual nationwide event for those who stand in solidarity with sexual assault survivors. Strewn across the table were pieces of denim with messages in Sharpie sharing encouraging statements to survivors such as, “we support you” and “we love you.” Also on the table were buttons labeled, “ask me why I’m wearing denim,” to encourage supporters to spread the word of the story behind the day. “We do this event to raise awareness in solidarity that any of us could be wearing anything and it wouldn’t matter,” said Katherine Smith, a senior communication studies and women’s, gender, and sexualities studies double major, who is also a third-year Student Anti-Violence Education peer educator. According to Denim Day’s official website, the nationwide movement educates against misconceptions of sexual assault in honor of April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Denim Day began in 1999 after a ruling from Italy’s Supreme Court that overturned a rape conviction because the victim was wearing tight jeans, which the justices said implied consent since she must have helped her rapist remove her jeans. The day after the hearing, women in the Italian Parliament wore jeans to work to show support for the victim. Since then, the Peace Over Violence nonprofit organization has helped to turn its campaign into Denim Day to stand with victims of sexual assault. AVI on the College’s campus, as well as other campuses throughout the country, now calls attention to the movement on April 24 by bringing out denim jackets, pants and skirts. Smith said that the clothes someone wears are not a defining factor in the consent between two people. She stated that the Italian Supreme Court’s ruling showed a lack of understanding and valid reasoning. “We do this event every year, and ask people to wear denim to spread awareness of the issue,” Smith said, as she stood at the table in an all-denim dress. Smith’s friend and fellow third-year SAVE peer educator Molly Knapp, a senior public health and women’s, gender, and sexualities studies double major, also wore head-to-toe denim at the AVI table. She explained that Denim Day stands to put the mission of AVI and other similar groups in the spotlight as a way to show support of victims of any kind. “We have counseling, advocacy and prevention, so we offer free and confidential counseling with licensed counselors on campus,” Knapp said. She continued to discuss AVI’s liaison programs with freshman floors and Greek life, such as Greeks for Change. In both areas, the group works with students and volunteers to gain a better understanding of sexual assault prevention, awareness and activism. Sophomore psychology major Lauren Petite wore denim in support of AVI and its message to the campus community. “I really liked the idea of peace over violence in regard to sexual violence, that’s very important to me,” Petite said. Petite said how she is an advocate for respecting all victims and for women’s rights. When she heard about the movement through some of the teachers and students with whom she was close high school, Petite found it powerful. Smith also reinforced the purpose of the movement, saying that an assault is not relevant to the clothes that one wears. “It shouldn’t matter what someone’s wearing, it shouldn’t matter what they’re doing,” Smith said. “Sexual assault is sexual assault.”
By Lara Becker Reviews Editor Like most college students, sophomore chemistry major Sydney Santiago leads a busy lifestyle –– she’s an active sister of Delta Phi Epsilon, studies for organic chemistry tests during the week and struggles to find time to hang out with friends on the weekend. But when she started to face overwhelming anxiety last semester, Santiago needed a coping mechanism that would fit into her busy lifestyle while effectively reducing her stress and worries throughout the day. That was when she discovered Campus Town’s Empower Yoga. “I had really bad symptoms of anxiety last semester and I needed to meditate and let off a lot of steam every week,” Santiago said. “Now, I do (yoga) to get my mind off of things and reset my body.” The National Alliance on Mental Illness discusses in a country-wide study that one in four adolescents between the ages of 18 and 24 will be diagnosed with a mental illness – 11 percent of college students are diagnosed with anxiety and more than 10 percent are struggling with depression. NAMI found that 80 percent of college students reported feeling constantly overwhelmed in their environment. Mental health awareness has been a pressing, campus-wide discussion in recent months at the College especially since the recent student deaths. The school has taken initiatives such as a Lions’ Hour on grief and loss, and has promoted on-campus resources, such as Counseling and Psychological Services, for those seeking help. Santiago is part of the growing number of students at the College turning to yoga and meditation to improve her mental and physical health. Eight months after her first class, Santiago now attends regular classes at Empower Yoga and has noticed a stark difference in her mood. “It definitely lets all of your problems literally roll off your skin,” she said. “I feel extremely relaxed and calm afterwards, compared to maybe being anxious or frustrated that day.” Santiago isn’t the only one noticing positive results. As a 2018 New Year’s resolution, junior communication studies major Christina Buz was inspired to improve both her physical and mental health by joining Empower Yoga. She regularly attends “power hour,” a combination of core work and vinyasa flow (yoga movements). The classes have pushed and challenged her while also giving her the space to grow. Now over a year later, Buz credits Empower Yoga’s welcoming ambiance and passionate instructors for her overall improvement. “It has definitely given me a lot of strength,” Buz said. “Physically and mentally, I feel more confident since I’m experimenting with what my body can do.” For Nicole Poccia, a senior music education major, yoga started as a method to control her breathing during her singing lessons and performances. Yoga classes have allowed her focus on her breathing in choral singing throughout high school and college. “It teaches you more than just how to move your body, and how to be better,” Poccia said. “It teaches you kindness and mindfulness, being aware of yourself and really exploring your own thoughts.” Now as a regular at Empower Yoga, she continues to practice yoga to enhance her breathing, focus and quality of life. “It really, really, really helps me,” Poccia said. “It makes me have a more positive outlook on everything.” These stories of physical and mental growth are what inspired Empower Yoga’s owner Keri Mandell to start her business in the first place. Much like the students who attend her classes, Mandell discovered yoga 10 years ago when she was struggling with severe depression and feeling confined in her house. She was inspired to try yoga after a friend suggested they sign up for a class together to get Mandell out of the house and in a better head space. After the pair took a class at their local hot power studio, Mandell was hooked and soon became a regular. “It’s very freeing,” she said. “You leave feeling lighter, a little bit more clear headed and ready to go on to the next thing.” Inspired by the supportive community at the hot power studio, Mandell left her job in school administration and opened Empower Yoga in Campus Town in 2017, making it the first hot power yoga studio in central New Jersey. Offering either hot yoga (95 degrees with 40 to 50 percent humidity,) or warm yoga (85 degrees with no humidity), classes are designed to help students channel inner peace. “One of the things that yoga teaches us is loving ourselves and appreciating ourselves,” Mandell said. “We don’t tend to do that a lot. I think we’re very hard on ourselves, students in particular, we’re very critical and quick to judge. So, taking an opportunity to find love, and find that little bit for yourself, we do a lot of that in here.” Two years since its grand opening, Empower Yoga continues to promote mental health and wellness within the college community. “It’s really fun with friends because you can help each other out and you can create a stronger bond with (yoga),” Santiago said. “The more full the room, the bigger the connection.” Many students agree that the oneness of mind, body and soul that they learned in a studio can be utilized to tackle many of life’s challenges. “You’re breathing through uncomfortability, and I think ‘well, if I can breathe through this stretch, then I can breathe through any horrible day,” Poccia said.
By Lara Becker Reviews Editor The unparalleled elation of the award-winners and their families was palpable in the Education Building Room 212 on April 10 at the inaugural Staff Recognition Awards. The ceremony began at 3:30 p.m. with opening remarks from College President Kathryn Foster, President of the Staff Senate Joseph O’Brien and Chair of the Staff Senate Christopher Larthey. Foster discussed how the event was theorized by the Staff Committee this past summer as a way to give back to the faculty, who she said are greatly deserving of praise. She welcomed all guests and analogized the College staff to baseball coordinators on the shoulders of opening day. “The game cannot happen without the staff,” Foster said. “They are the people who built the stadium, they fix the grounds, they print the programs, they take your ticket money, they design the logos, they do the play-by-play and they generally make sure that the game happens.” The night then segued into personal recognition of College administrators. The winning staff members were awarded a trophy, a “TCNJ swag bag” and a free parking space of their choice. A total of seven awards were given, ranging from Outstanding New Employee and Unsung Hero to Lifetime Achievement. Peers, colleagues and friends of each winner presented their respective awards and shared with the audience personal anecdotes of their favorite times and memories in all of their collective work spaces. Campus Police Sergeant Scott Leusner was honored with a Staff of the Year Award by his EMS students in training. Kyra Herman, the student president of TCNJ EMS, presented Leusner’s award along with several other members of the club’s dedicated staff. The students agreed that no one was more deserving of the award than Leusner, whom they said has been dedicated to law enforcement for 25 years, six of which have been at the College. He has been persistent in his quest to better the relationship between the Campus Police and TCNJ EMS. “He establishes a sense of mutual respect and professionalism,” Herman said. “He inspires us all to be better EMTs and better at our jobs.” Staff of the Year Award winner and TCNJ graduate Gem Perkins (’98) began working at the College shortly after her time as a student in 1999, which later led her to work in various offices at the College over the years. “The best part of this award is that I get to work at TCNJ,” Perkins said. “Thank you to my colleagues for all of their support, and for being there. I appreciate you all going with the flow.” The Lifetime Achievement Award is granted to a staff member with 20 years or more of tireless experience at the College. Joan Pageau of the financial assistance office was presented with the award by her friend and colleague, Wilbert Casaine, the director of financial assistance at the College. Casaine described Pageau as “passionate about always putting the students first” and that her “dedication is unparalleled.” Foster was glad to give recognition to faculty and staff at the College who deserved credit for their efforts. “This is congratulations on behalf of a grateful and impressed college, for the model that you present to all of us on how to be in this world.”
By Lara Becker Reviews Editor Within the seats of Mayo Concert Hall, student drummers awaited the instruction of snare drum master, author and composer Anthony J. Cirone. Cirone’s masterclass, titled “Playing What’s Not on the Page,” encouraged students to foster individuality in their playing. Percussion Ensemble Director William Trigg hosted the class for his students on April 5 at 5 p.m., which was divided into two sections — lecture and coaching. The class was based off Cirone’s own book of arrangements, “Portraits in Rhythm: 50 Studies for Snare Drum,” which percussion students have been studying for many years at the College. From the very start of the lecture, Cirone made it clear that a piece of music is merely a blueprint that is open for interpretation by individual musicians. He said that conductors themselves interpret by often refusing to follow everything written on a page, giving pieces a distinct twist. “Before we play what’s not on the page, we have to play what’s on the page,” he said. Cirone stressed the importance of having a foundation of knowledge for one’s instrument before musicianship can be fully developed or liberties can be taken. This knowledge, according to Cirone, takes form in rhythms, dynamics and body language. Once the basis of rhythms are established, Cirone believes the next best element to understand are dynamic markings. In sheet music, dynamics are written in Italian, and understanding not just the English meaning, but also how to interpret the dynamic for oneself, is crucial to Cirone. This mastery can be shown through a musician’s emphasis on certain aspects of a piece. In one of his pieces in “Portraits in Rhythm,” Cirone asked philosophically, “to articulate the tie or to not articulate the tie, that is the question.” According to Cirone, body language is another integral way to workshop a performance. He noted how, especially in a percussion instrument, the way the drummer is standing or sitting can affect the sound. Cirone discouraged stiffness in drummers by demonstrating how differently sound is produced once loosened up. The musician advocated for a casual performance demeanor, noting that “this is not drum corps.” Throughout the coaching section of the master class, students took the stage one by one to play a song from “Portraits in Rhythm” and receive Cirone’s feedback. First up was Buddy Fox, a junior music performance and chemistry double major. After his performance, Fox received rousing applause and Cirone asked that he test out certain parts of the piece by playing them as quietly as he could. “I have been studying his material for the better part of two years, so I definitely hold what he says with a level of respect that you don’t get that from a lot of masterclasses,” Fox said. Fox shared that he felt accomplished leaving an impression on Cirone and was honored to have the chance to play for him in the first place. “You see this guy step onto the stage and challenge a lot of what the professionals say,” he said. “It’s very rewarding when he’s able to critique the way you play.” Aiden Newberger, a freshman at Hillsborough High School, was invited by Trigg to join the masterclass and play for Cirone during the coaching session. “He told me about a week and a half ago and I’ve been preparing my piece ever since,” he said. “I’ve been practicing with his book for around three months. It was great. It was really inspiring.” Students left the Concert Hall feeling a refreshed sense of musicianship, as Cirone urged them to dive into their artistic individuality.
By Lara Becker Reviews Editor Radiating from an early 1900s record player were the vibrations of a jazz melody that brought the room to a lulled hush. Hanging on the walls were 78s, 45s and vinyls of all shapes and sizes. A grant from the Mercer County Cultural Heritage Program aided the College’s effort to collect these artifacts, which gave way to the first guided tour of “In The Groove: A Century of Sound” on Sunday, March 31 at 1:30 p.m. Sarnoff Collection curator Florencia Pierri coordinates the annual rotation of exhibits in Roscoe West, and when the time came this year, she settled on the idea of sound technology. “The students came here and had a hands-on tour of artifacts — they got to play old records.” Pierri said. “We’re doing an oral history project and over the summer we’re putting out a call for student performers. We’re putting together something for electronic music for students.” Pierri took students and interested guests on a tour of sound from 1877, when the first Edison cylinder was created, to 1978, which brought the first computer-generated music program. The journey of 100 years through sound began with Thomas Edison’s tin cylinder, which was birthed in his Menlo Park laboratory in 1876. That same year, Alexander Graham Bell began working on the telephone. Bell’s telephone soon led Edison to telegraphy, which would allow voices and sounds to be played back and heard again. He was looking for a way to record voices heard on a telephone in order to keep a permanent record of the conversation. It all began with his foil-wrapped cylinder for dictation records, which then led to a wax cylinder for music recording and music box discs in the late 1880s. By 1902, Edison had finally found a way to mass produce his cylinder, making it the best recorded sound device on the market at the time. German-born inventor Emile Berliner crafted a way to pump out recordings of these sounds by the hundreds. He invented the flat disk where sound wires were pressed into one hand-held record. Columbia Records and the Radio Corporation of America engineers were integral in the mass-production of these early phonographs and records, becoming giants in sound modernization. As music history progressed, the first electronic instrument was created and was named the Theremin for Russian inventor Léon Theremin. It is a proximity sensor that transfers the conduction from one’s body into sound when hands are waved next to it. The Theremin was the first sound synthesizer, leading to the technology we have today such as computer-generated music and electronic synthesizers. Timothy Ryan, a sophomore journalism and English double major, attended the tour. He went from knowing next to nothing about the history of music to being fascinated by these innovators by the end of the tour. “I’m used to just listening to digital music, or whatever is on my computer or on my phone,” said Ryan. “It was very interesting seeing the ingenuity of music over the years from the cylinder to the flat disk to the records.” Pierri was grateful to visitors for joining the first tour of the new exhibit, which she explained was a test run for the grand opening of the installment in April. “I think it was incredibly interesting learning about the concrete history of music, especially over a century, and seeing how far we’ve come in that century,” he said.
By Lara Becker Reviews Editor Most students did not know what to expect when the #StudentVoicesMatter event happened in the Brower Student Center Room 216. The event, held on Feb. 27 at 10 a.m., consisted of a detailed presentation and a period of student feedback and discussion. Assistant Director of Student Employment Joli McTerrell helped students develop their own value systems and encouraged them to speak up in situations where they felt that their voices would make a difference. The event motivated students to exercise their personal voices in their everyday lives, whether that be through participating in class or debating about passionate issues. McTerrell explained the reason for organizing this event. “It happens to be Black History Month, and as a woman of color, I thought, ‘what better way than to talk to the students about the power of voice, and why it’s important?’” she said. McTerrell, who is always looking for new and exciting ways to engage students, was elated to use her position at the College to talk to students about the meaning of their personal voice in writing, activism and self-motivation in their daily lives. McTerrell raised many thought-provoking questions during the course of her presentation. She started out by generally inquiring why people use their voices every day. Sophomore communication studies major Brandon Long was pleasantly surprised with how the event turned out. “I liked her attitude,” Long said. “She was very positive, she was super inclusive and I liked the points she was bringing up.” McTerrell related the idea of developing one’s voice to the importance of debate and participation in classes at the College. She stressed why it matters that they bring their own life experiences to the table in everything that they do or say. “This program helped me to listen to my inner voice more and establish monologues for myself on a day-to-day basis,” said freshman finance major Akshay Badade. “I learned about the power of my voice. It matters to other people, and most importantly, it matters to yourself.” Everyone involved was invigorated by McTerrell’s presentation and enthusiasm for the content within the student-led discussion. The well thought-out and meticulously planned points were well-received, according to attending students. “She was pressing about the meaning of the voice,” Long said. “I wasn’t sure what angle she was going to take, but from her perspective, the most important way to use your voice is internally.” Long explained how once a personal voice is refined within someone’s mind, it can then be used externally in everyday life to advocate for that person’s beliefs. McTerrell said that workshopping each students’ own voice is key to fostering personal and professional development. She was thrilled to see a variety of students from different years attend the event. She also made it a point to connect the discussion with powerful voices throughout history who have left their mark on the world through their distinct values. Exploring how both the collective and individual voices can make a difference challenged students to think of the change they can ignite. “If your voice is important … who is it important to?” Long said. “It’s important to the school, it’s important to get good grades, but you have to assign your own meaning to it. Especially at this age, and with all the activism that’s happening right now, it’s a critical time to go out and use your voice.”
By Lara Becker Reviews Editor Seniors from Trenton Central High School and College faculty gathered in the Education Building Room 212 on Friday, Feb. 22 at 10:30 a.m. to share their life experiences and lessons through a group podcast posted on SoundCloud. Six headphones connected into one device allowed for each of the tables to participate in “listening groups,” where the students showcased podcasts about their personal obstacles and achievements. The “Troublemaker Teach-In” brings to life Carla Shalaby’s 2017 novel, “Troublemakers: Lessons in Freedom from Young Children at School.” Shalaby analogizes Trenton students to canaries, who are known to make noise when they sense danger. Students are often labeled “troublemakers” when they talk too much or make too much noise in the classroom. Shalaby believes that people mistake these students for troublemakers when really they just want to be heard. Special education professors Lauren Shallish and Anne Peel collaborated with TCHS teacher and College alumna Bridget Mcmanus (’13) for the teach-in. To participate in the program, TCHS students signed up to take a “college summit” class, where they worked with Mcmanus on creating their podcasts. Shalaby also presented at last year’s event, which was arranged in a conference and lecture style. However, this year’s teach-in was designed to be a more interactive, student-run effort. Ideas for the 2019 event were curated by student mentors, many of whom had graduated from TCHS last year and were dedicated to seeing the project’s growth continue. Abbey Moor, a senior special education and women’s, gender and sexuality dual major, is one of the mentors and a main coordinator of the event. She explained how this year’s theme, “Mythbusting Motivation,” describes the story behind the students’ narrative podcasts, which focused on how the students overcame societal and personal obstacles in order to achieve successful academic lives. She discussed how this combined the coordinators’ determination to see the students thrive and the students’ own willingness to share their stories with the world. Another mentor, Alexa Jones, a senior elementary education and sociology dual major, prepared an introductory presentation about breaking through the preconceived roles that society prescribes for these students, which labels them as people only looking to cause trouble. “These students have stories to tell, and it’s so important that we listen,” she said. After the introduction, TCHS students presented their podcasts at each table. At one table, Isentaye presented her podcast about her own experience being the only black girl in her dance studio. “My story really pinpoints on motivation,” she said. “I came in with the mentality, ‘it doesn’t matter where I came from, it matters where I’m going.’” TCHS students Gloria and Geraldine were at another table sharing their stories. Gloria discussed how she felt underestimated after moving to the U.S. from Ghana at age 12. Geraldine shared her mother’s dreams of gaining life skills through education and schooling. Shallish is grateful for the program and the lessons that these students have taught her, as the program’s goal is to change the hearts and minds of the community before they cast stereotypes. “Trenton students are deeply reflective, insightful, creative and can be in any situation and thrive,” she said. “We didn’t want students to be passive objects, (but have) ownership and agency over their projects.” As part of Shalaby’s wish for the canaries trapped in a cage, Shallish hopes that instead of succumbing to the obstacles of the world around them, Trenton students will continue to “sing, and sing more loudly.”
By Lara Becker Reviews Editor When Tara Mild, a sophomore elementary education and English dual major, first walked into LeaderShape, she didn’t know what to expect from the more than 50 unfamiliar faces she saw. Little did she know that by the end of the week, they would all be there to, as she said, catch her if she fell. What most do not know is that LeaderShape, a national conference that gives students across the country the opportunity to hone in on their leadership skills, is completely free. The conference challenges them to grow both as a group and individually as they embark on a journey to better themselves and their communities. This year’s third annual LeaderShape conference took place from Jan. 6 to Jan. 11 in Avalon, New Jersey at the Golden Inn. Each of the six days had a different theme to guide the schedule of lectures and group activities. Partaking in lectures and discussions based around community building, diversity and inclusivity and discovering ways to make visions become a reality were just a few of the reasons Mild’s week at LeaderShape were so powerful. “It was an eye-opening week for everyone who went,” Mild said. “LeaderShape granted me a multitude of connections and opportunities to grow as a person.” The program selects 60 students from the College through an online application every year, which is usually available in the fall semester. No leadership experience is necessary to apply for the event and the only thing students need to bring to the table is enthusiasm for teamwork. LeaderShape presents students with the opportunity to better themselves and collaborate with peers outside of the classroom. Students gain exposure to meaningful lessons on community building, finding the leader within themselves and shaping core values. Mild mentioned a memorable activity where she wrote her values on a piece of paper before sharing them with her fellow students to learn the values of everyone around her. “My favorite part was being able to connect with 59 other like-minded students who all shared a passion for bringing their visions to life and changing the world,” Mild said. “Whether it was in small or large group discussions, everybody's voice was valued and heard.” Throughout the event, topical issues brought new perspectives to the hearts and minds of everyone at the conference, including what it means to be a leader. Frank Fabiano, a sophomore history secondary education dual major, was friends with Mild before the trip, but LeaderShape brought them closer together. “I loved LeaderShape because it changed the way I thought about my place in society and what ways I can help others understand this too,” Fabiano said. “We all work together in this world to create a community that is welcome and inclusive of everyone and I learned how to do this at LeaderShape.” Jeury Dipre, a sophomore communication studies major, agreed with Fabiano and Mild about how LeaderShape fundamentally changed him for the better. “LeaderShape was unlike any other leadership conference I’ve ever been to,” Dipre said. “I love how the magic of LeaderShape makes it possible for a group of people to create genuine bonds in such a short period of time.” Daliah Ouedraogo, a sophomore communication studies major, is eager to share this experience with more students in upcoming years. “LeaderShape is really amazing,” Ouedraogo said. I remember asking people myself before I got accepted to go on how it was and they simply said an ‘experience.’ I honestly didn’t know what they meant by that until I went myself.” Ouedraogo also discussed the connections she built with others at the conference. “I’ve also met many new people who are my friends now and the faculty also pushed us to our fullest,” Ouedraogo said. “Each day brought out a different approach to looking at life and living in the moment.” Experiences like LeaderShape give students at the College the tools to create a ripple effect of education, kindness and initiative as they come back to the campus with their new-found leadership skills. “It challenged me and motivated me to do better for myself, TCNJ’s campus and the world,” Ouedraogo said.
By Lara Becker Reviews Editor On Thursday, my friend was in the burger line at the Brower Student Center waiting for her lunch. While she was waiting, she felt the hasty rush of someone too close, and before she knew it, the person stepped down on her left foot. Shaken and voice-cracking, my friend uttered a panicked, “Sorry!” When she told me this story, my friend was even confused at herself. Why was her immediate reaction to apologize to someone who stepped on her foot? From that moment on, I began to think about every time we say this word without really needing to. It seems like a tendency we end up brushing off and forgetting about, but I think it’s a part of something much bigger than that. My friends always tell me that I’m too apologetic. Even when I’m not in the wrong, I feel the need to make up for it if I inconvenience someone in even the slightest way. Although I fail to see the issue with it in the moment, they explain to me that allowing this to happen produces a passive energy. The act of apologizing is something we learn to do when we’re in kindergarten. These kinds of niceties were taught to us as a way to be polite and respectful. Although manners are certainly considerate in our everyday lives, this sort of mentality can become problematic when it inhibits the way we think. As a sophomore this year, I’ve been trying to reteach my brain to think more highly of myself. My over-apologetic tendencies seem to stem from a place of low self-esteem, but this year I’ve been determined to change that. Don’t apologize for what makes you whole or what makes you you. It can apply in small instances, but also in times of change or stress. We’re often told to minimize ourselves, to simply be a puzzle piece in this crazy world. You’re not just a puzzle piece –– you are important. You matter. Find the courage within yourself to live life unapologetically, to live without regret and to live without being sorry.