- Create Big, Win Big: Quad Makeover Contest!The Division of Student Affairs hosted the second Quad Makeover Contest that was open to all Fall 2024 residential students living in the Quad buildings (Bartlett, Burch, Rogers, and Sozio). The contest started in Spring 2023 to highlight the final phase of the Quad buildings' renovation. The competition was continued due to the success of the student engagement and needed student financial support. The four finalist suites had the chance to display their interior decorating skills with a budget of $500 and the winning suite will receive a free semester cost of housing. Before distributing the makeover budget, suitemates of each residence hall had to submit a video answering why they thought their suite should be chosen and what enhancements they would make. Student Affairs staff reviewed the submissions, and the chosen suites were given a $500 budget and two weeks to transform their entire space. The Student Affairs' Director of Communications and Marketing, Arion Jamerson, is overseeing the contest and explains why it's an important initiative. "I love this contest as it brings together the suitemates and furthers their bonds as they strategize to redesign their spaces. It also gives the University the opportunity to find new ways to directly financially assist and connect with the students as we get to come into their home away from home," said Jamerson. The Quad Makeover Contest was judged by Kean professional staff including Kerrin Lyles, Vice President of Student Affairs; La Toro Yates, Ph.D., Vice Present of Enrollment Mangement; Punit Patel, Director of Residence Life; and Jason Pleitez, Office of the President. Each suite was judged on creativity, functionality, use of the budget, and the Kean housing guidelines. The judges went to each suite and talked with the students about their decisions. Punit Patel, the Director of Residence Life, shared his thoughts on the annual Quad Makeover Contest. "I'm excited for this year's annual Quad makeover Contest to really see what our students did as they were transforming their spaces into a more cohesive living environment with the guidelines," said Patel. The contestants from Burch Hall #309 shared their inspirations and steps they took to revamp their living spaces. "I would say we definitely wanted something very comfortable ... very relaxing and something nice just to come back to. For example, the vines. We had wanted something earthy, something therapeutic, so that was definitely a good choice," Jade Fuentes. The contestants from Burch Hall #405 explained their design decisions. "As you can see, everything's not like a specific color or specific design. It's just like all of our personalities combined," said Ruby Crowell. "It just felt a lot more emptier when we first moved in, and now with all the stuff we got from the budget as well as what we incorporated by ourselves, we just added more of a home feel," said Zoe Ly. Contestants from Rogers Hall #301 wanted to decorate their space based on a shared feeling of belonging and unity. "The main reason why we chose these items specifically because we built a community within Kean University. Every time we hang out with our friends it's always in this dorm and we just make the best memories ever. And it's like a second home to them, because most of our friends are commuters," said Sheyla Farfan. "Previously, our suite had very minor decorations, we didn't have as much. But having this opportunity to revamp our room definitely changed the vibe of our entire space...Coming back to this room we are able to decompress," said Celina Luna. Contestants from Sozio Hall #508 took a different route and focused most of their funds on the shared areas in the suite. "We wanted to focus more on our shared spaces. When choosing items, we thought about what would fit with our vibes and in the space as well. We didn't decide on things that was personal to us, we chose items for the group and the form itself," said Doriella Paul. "I feel like once we focused on the common areas we can actually host here, have game nights. We can have people come over and it feels like a space you want to stay in," said Israel Peoples. The winner of the 2024-2025 Quad Makeover Contest is Sozio #508 suitemates Crystal Brito, Tatyani Gabourel, Doriella Paul and Israel Peoples. The suitemates impressively reimagined their space. The judges were intrigued by how they strategically used their budget to improve their suite and make it their own. Congratulations to the winners and all the suites who participated in the competition.
- Find Your Spark and Get Involved!On Tuesday, January 21, the Center for Leadership and Service hosted the Spring 2025 Student Involvement Fair. From 12 to 4 pm in the Miron Student Center Atrium, all attending students were able to explore what clubs and organizations Kean University has to offer. Upon check-in, students were notified of all the student groups represented at the fair. After visiting at least five tables, they were rewarded with a bagel of their choice and a chance to play a fun game of Spin the Wheel in honor of National Bagel Day. Student groups present at the event included the Venezuelan Columbian Student Association Club, the Kean Crochet Club, National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (NCNW), Ecuadorian Student Association (ASECU), Girl Gains KU, Kean Catholics, KU Anime Society, and Greek organizations. Hope Gelvoligo, the Co-External Director of Public Relations of Filipinos Uniting Nations at Kean (F.U.N.K.) explained the intentions of their club. "This is the Filipino club here at campus and basically our purpose is to just teach everyone about Filipino culture. You don't have to be Filipino to join, it's open to everyone." Another set of inclusive organizations represented were Girl Gains KU, Kean Esports Club, and Kean Unified Sports. They presented information to get more students involved recreationally. Kimberly Rosado, the President of Girl Gains Kean University detailed what new members can look forward to. "We are Girl Gains at Kean University. We are a nationwide club. We are here to empower women and get women comfortable in the gym, provide a safe place for anyone there no matter who you are, what you do, what you like to do [...] we do Pilates, yoga, weightlifting. We talk about nutrition, and we host meetings." Many students attended the fair in hopes of discovering organizations that will spark their interests and help them meet people who share similar pursuits. Catherine Dustin, a sophomore and History major from Garwood shared that she came to the event to preview the clubs and organizations she would potentially join. "I would just go straight to class [...] I need to get out there more you know see around campus. So, I figured it would be a great way to get involved, it's in the name." The Spring 2025 Involvement Fair was an exciting event that displayed the diversity of the university. With several options to choose from, students can comfortably find a way to get more involved at Kean. Hopefully, everyone found their spark!
- Create Big, Win Big: Quad Makeover Contest!The Division of Student Affairs hosted the second Quad Makeover Contest that was open to all Fall 2024 residential students living in the Quad buildings (Bartlett, Burch, Rogers, and Sozio). The contest started in Spring 2023 to highlight the final phase of the Quad buildings' renovation. The competition was continued due to the success of the student engagement and needed student financial support. The four finalist suites had the chance to display their interior decorating skills with a budget of $500 and the winning suite will receive a free semester cost of housing. Before distributing the makeover budget, suitemates of each residence hall had to submit a video answering why they thought their suite should be chosen and what enhancements they would make. Student Affairs staff reviewed the submissions, and the chosen suites were given a $500 budget and two weeks to transform their entire space. The Student Affairs' Director of Communications and Marketing, Arion Jamerson, is overseeing the contest and explains why it's an important initiative. "I love this contest as it brings together the suitemates and furthers their bonds as they strategize to redesign their spaces. It also gives the University the opportunity to find new ways to directly financially assist and connect with the students as we get to come into their home away from home," said Jamerson. The Quad Makeover Contest was judged by Kean professional staff including Kerrin Lyles, Vice President of Student Affairs; La Toro Yates, Ph.D., Vice Present of Enrollment Mangement; Punit Patel, Director of Residence Life; and Jason Pleitez, Office of the President. Each suite was judged on creativity, functionality, use of the budget, and the Kean housing guidelines. The judges went to each suite and talked with the students about their decisions. Punit Patel, the Director of Residence Life, shared his thoughts on the annual Quad Makeover Contest. "I'm excited for this year's annual Quad makeover Contest to really see what our students did as they were transforming their spaces into a more cohesive living environment with the guidelines," said Patel. The contestants from Burch Hall #309 shared their inspirations and steps they took to revamp their living spaces. "I would say we definitely wanted something very comfortable ... very relaxing and something nice just to come back to. For example, the vines. We had wanted something earthy, something therapeutic, so that was definitely a good choice," Jade Fuentes. The contestants from Burch Hall #405 explained their design decisions. "As you can see, everything's not like a specific color or specific design. It's just like all of our personalities combined," said Ruby Crowell. "It just felt a lot more emptier when we first moved in, and now with all the stuff we got from the budget as well as what we incorporated by ourselves, we just added more of a home feel," said Zoe Ly. Contestants from Rogers Hall #301 wanted to decorate their space based on a shared feeling of belonging and unity. "The main reason why we chose these items specifically because we built a community within Kean University. Every time we hang out with our friends it's always in this dorm and we just make the best memories ever. And it's like a second home to them, because most of our friends are commuters," said Sheyla Farfan. "Previously, our suite had very minor decorations, we didn't have as much. But having this opportunity to revamp our room definitely changed the vibe of our entire space...Coming back to this room we are able to decompress," said Celina Luna. Contestants from Sozio Hall #508 took a different route and focused most of their funds on the shared areas in the suite. "We wanted to focus more on our shared spaces. When choosing items, we thought about what would fit with our vibes and in the space as well. We didn't decide on things that was personal to us, we chose items for the group and the form itself," said Doriella Paul. "I feel like once we focused on the common areas we can actually host here, have game nights. We can have people come over and it feels like a space you want to stay in," said Israel Peoples. The winner of the 2024-2025 Quad Makeover Contest is Sozio #508 suitemates Crystal Brito, Tatyani Gabourel, Doriella Paul and Israel Peoples. The suitemates impressively reimagined their space. The judges were intrigued by how they strategically used their budget to improve their suite and make it their own. Congratulations to the winners and all the suites who participated in the competition.
- Find Your Spark and Get Involved!On Tuesday, January 21, the Center for Leadership and Service hosted the Spring 2025 Student Involvement Fair. From 12 to 4 pm in the Miron Student Center Atrium, all attending students were able to explore what clubs and organizations Kean University has to offer. Upon check-in, students were notified of all the student groups represented at the fair. After visiting at least five tables, they were rewarded with a bagel of their choice and a chance to play a fun game of Spin the Wheel in honor of National Bagel Day. Student groups present at the event included the Venezuelan Columbian Student Association Club, the Kean Crochet Club, National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (NCNW), Ecuadorian Student Association (ASECU), Girl Gains KU, Kean Catholics, KU Anime Society, and Greek organizations. Hope Gelvoligo, the Co-External Director of Public Relations of Filipinos Uniting Nations at Kean (F.U.N.K.) explained the intentions of their club. "This is the Filipino club here at campus and basically our purpose is to just teach everyone about Filipino culture. You don't have to be Filipino to join, it's open to everyone." Another set of inclusive organizations represented were Girl Gains KU, Kean Esports Club, and Kean Unified Sports. They presented information to get more students involved recreationally. Kimberly Rosado, the President of Girl Gains Kean University detailed what new members can look forward to. "We are Girl Gains at Kean University. We are a nationwide club. We are here to empower women and get women comfortable in the gym, provide a safe place for anyone there no matter who you are, what you do, what you like to do [...] we do Pilates, yoga, weightlifting. We talk about nutrition, and we host meetings." Many students attended the fair in hopes of discovering organizations that will spark their interests and help them meet people who share similar pursuits. Catherine Dustin, a sophomore and History major from Garwood shared that she came to the event to preview the clubs and organizations she would potentially join. "I would just go straight to class [...] I need to get out there more you know see around campus. So, I figured it would be a great way to get involved, it's in the name." The Spring 2025 Involvement Fair was an exciting event that displayed the diversity of the university. With several options to choose from, students can comfortably find a way to get more involved at Kean. Hopefully, everyone found their spark!
- Exploring Countries through EPCOT at Kean!The Kean P.U.L.S.E. Programming Board welcomed students back for the Spring semester with a fun and exciting Epcot at Kean event. On Monday, January 13 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., students had the chance to explore different buildings of the Kean campus while enjoying delicious refreshments. On the day of the event, Kean P.U.L.S.E. revealed six locations where students can engage in the culture of a specific country and receive a complimentary T-shirt. The locations included Harwood Arena, MSC Atrium, the Viser Room of the Nancy Thompson Learning Commons, Hynes Building, Greenlane Lobby, and East Campus. All students were welcomed to indulge in the cultural foods and experience the customs of the country represented, like authentic coffee from Italy in Harwood Arena and the breathtaking Northern Lights of Norway in the Viser Room. Nala Washington, a sophomore and Exercise major from Williamstown stated why she decided to take part in the event. "I was just in the Miron Student Center, and I saw it. I know Kean P.U.L.S.E. usually has like interesting activities, so I just thought I'd see what it was about." Of the many tables in the Atrium, the United Kingdom table was decorated with tea and shortbread fingers representing the customs of the country. Jordyn Parker, a junior and Speech Pathology major from Bloomfield shared what she was most excited to see at Epcot at Kean. "The different cultures and countries that you could learn from and see, especially the UK which is pretty cool." Ana Ortiz, a sophomore and Psychology major from Union City explored Epcot at Kean based on previous fun events hosted on campus. "It just looked fun. It's a good event to go to on the first day. See new people and just have fun. I like the events on campus, it's always something interesting." She also shared what she was looking forward to. "There were corndogs in East Campus...that seemed really cool, and the Northern Lights were really cool in the library." Students walked into a dark room illuminated by projector screens showcasing the mesmerizing blue and green lights of Norway. Giavonni Boyd, a freshman and Psychology major from Avenel stated the foods and drinks she enjoyed during her Kean travels. "I've tried shortbread cookies; I got some of the tea. I was really excited to try the Moroccan rose it sounds very extravagant. Similar to the United Kingdom table, the Moroccan section displayed delicious tea in beautiful teacups. Epcot at Kean was a great event to kick off the new semester. Students traveled the world while on campus reuniting with friends, experiencing different cultures, and creating more memories.
- Microsoft 365 MigrationOn Tuesday, November 26 the Student Government Association of Kean University along with the Office of Student Government and the Graduate Student Government of Kean University hosted the Microsoft 365 Migration. This event was held in the Cougar's Den from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Students had the opportunity to share their concerns and learn more about the movement from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365. The migration to Microsoft 365 comes at a time when preparation and the necessary tools are needed for life beyond college. The university believes that the movement will prepare students for the workforce. The members of the Kean IT department explained that Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 are similar and the migration for students will take place from January to February 2025. It is important for students to note that their documents will not be deleted but copied over to the new platform and their emails will be the same. Microsoft 365 has many upsides such as more storage which includes 100 GB for Outlook and 1 TB for One Drive. There is also an increase in security and unity between everyone on the campus community. Students can also customize their settings to look like Google if they dislike the default Microsoft settings. In addition, students are welcome to download the Microsoft apps or just access the apps through their web base versions. Everyone in the Kean community must migrate to Microsoft 365. If students fail to do so, they will not receive emails or files needed for their academics and communication. If students still have questions or concerns about the transition, they can book an appointment in the Technology Building from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. or visit www.kean.edu/m365 for videos and self-guided learning.
- Muslim Student Association Charity BallOn Monday, November 25 the Muslim Student Association hosted their Charity Ball in Room 228 of the Miron Student Center. From 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., the Muslim Student Association gathered together for a selfless cause. Ameena Mohassib, a Biology Health Professions major and junior from Brooklyn, New York stated the purpose of this event. "We're just having a Charity Ball event for the Muslim Student Association. We're trying to raise money for the less fortunate. It's been going great." Mardhiat Ajetunmobi, a Biotechnology major and sophomore from Newark shared the significance of the Charity Ball. "We're having a Charity Ball to raise funds for charity to help humanitarian causes around the world and to just give back to the community," said Ajetunmobi. "Charity is a very big part. We have five pillars of Islam like five things that make you a Muslim and charity is a really big part of it...The more you give, the more you have in your pocket, the wealthier you get. And it's very important for us as Muslims, it's a part of our religion, it's a part of our faith to give back as much as we can." Bobbi Perry, a Computer Science major and junior from Irvington shared why he came to the event. "Actually, it's because my friend asked me to come with her. However, I'm never against going somewhere that will teach me something about a culture or religion I'm not a part of, as long as I'm allowed of course. I learned a lot and the food is good as I expected." Perry shared what he learned. "I learned about how deeds are viewed like the way of a deed. If you have less but you give all that you got or as much as you can, it's much heavier than saying - like the example he gave is if you're only a millionaire, you only gave fifty dollars while if you only had like ten dollars and you gave five how that weighs more which makes sense but I didn't know in terms of Islam how it worked exactly." The association also had plenty of food for the guests to indulge in. They were able to raise money for people in need and proudly represent their religion. The night ended on a great note with the people a part of the Muslim Student Association taking pictures and educating others about their faith.
- Lunar New Year!On Thursday, January 30, the Kean P.U.L.S.E. Programming Board hosted Lunar New Year in the Miron Student Center (MSC) Atrium. From 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., students enjoyed delicious foods and rich traditions of the cultures that celebrate Lunar New Year. Students had the opportunity to receive a complimentary t-shirt and tickets for food and Bobba tea upon check-in. The MSC Atrium was adorned with beautiful traditional Lunar New Year decorations. There were long lines of students eager to indulge in delicious cultural cuisines like Chicken Lo Mein, chicken dumplings, and vegetable dumplings. There was also different flavored Bobba tea for attendees to explore. Edith Chukwuele, a Cybersecurity major and freshman from Newark, shared her excitement for learning about the culture and traditions of Lunar New Year. "I decided to come to the event because it's always nice to learn about something new. I've never seen a Chinese event or like Chinese New Year, so coming here, I feel like I get to see new experiences and learn about their traditions." Christopher Vallas, a Computer Science major and senior from Wallington stated how he appreciates the university's effort in celebrating different cultures. "I think it's a cool celebration of Chinese New Year. [It's cool] that our school gets to do this and we get to see the culture of the Chinese people. Also, there's a lot of free stuff and free food that we get to not only see but experience it." The students enjoyed the delicious flavors of the traditional Chinese cuisine. There were also pamphlets and fans for students to wave proudly to represent their culture. Pingxin Wang, a Business Analytics major and senior from China, expressed his excitement and curiosity for the event. "Well, I am Chinese, I did not get to have the Lunar New Year in my home country and of course I want to come to this and meet new people. I just want to check out the food and see if there are real tradition Chinese food around here." There was also traditional Chinese music as well as a dance performance from the Chinese Dragon. Lunar New Year was a great event that brought the entire campus community together to celebrate our diversity as a university. The university aims to acknowledge and recognize the backgrounds and differences that make our community unique.
- Kean Scholarship OpportunitiesOn Tuesday, December 3 the Office of Scholarship Services, Office of Student Retention and Educational Innovation, and the Nancy Thompson Learning Commons hosted the Scholarship Services Breakfast in the Lobby of the Center for Academic Success (CAS). From 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. students interacted with different organizations to learn more about scholarship opportunities while enjoying a full breakfast spread. There were also other organizations such as the First Gen Mentoring Program and the Nancy Thompson Learning Commons tabling to inform students about the programs and resources available for assistance. Kean students were also rewarded with Kean merch and candy from playing a fun game of Spin the Wheel. Yurisa Santos, Associate Director of Scholarship Services and one of the coordinators of the event shared their purpose. "Today's event is to promote our scholarship application. So, it's a Kean University Foundation Scholarship Application. It opened up December 1st with a priority deadline of March 1st. We wanted to make an event to let students know that we are on campus," shared Santos. "We also want to help students; we want to connect students with scholarships. And then we also took the opportunity to collaborate with the Retention Office and with Nancy Commons as well just to bring to awareness because they have some great resources as well and a lot of students may not know about it. We just wanted to spread the word and promote our application." The scholarship is open to all students and applications will still be accepted after the March 1st deadline as long as funding allows. Many of the students walked away with more knowledge about the available scholarships and programs for academic guidance and support. For more information or questions about the scholarship application, students can visit the 1st floor of the Administration Building or go to www.kean.edu/scholarships. Students can also email the department at scholarships@kean.edu.
- Homecoming 2024: Kean 2K!Kean 2K Homecoming Week 2024 was filled with fun and memories for the Kean community. From September 30 to October 5, Kean students and alumni enjoyed several activities displaying Cougar spirit. Keanu Breakfast, Bingo Brunch, the President's Sneaker Ball, Karaoke with Keanu, Keanu Kade, Homecoming Concert, Pep Rally, and Homecoming Tailgate and Game. Students delighted in a delicious early morning meal from Keanu Breakfast on Monday to kick-off the week and enjoyed playing games during Bingo Brunch the next day. While students were playing games like "X Marks the Spot," they were able to eat burgers, mozzarella sticks, waffles, chicken fingers, and eggs. Alyssa Jones, a Public Health major and junior from Piscataway, shared that she attended Bingo last semester and what she enjoyed about Bingo Brunch. "I enjoy the food. I enjoy the prizes, and I enjoy Bingo," said Jones. On Wednesday, Kean students and staff were delighted to share their voices during Karaoke with Keanu. With a DJ, a ministage, projections and TVs around the room, the activity was a great and interactive way to get students excited for and involved with Kean's 2024 Homecoming. Isaiah Blue, a Music major and junior from Linden, shared his enjoyment for the event and even participated in Karaoke himself. "It's good to see different genres of songs and styles of singing," he said. "I sang heartbreak anniversary [by Giveon]... this is a really cool event," said Blue. There was a variety of songs, such as My Girl by Mindless Behavior, Anniversary by Tony! Toni! Toné! and Best Thing I Never Had by Beyoncé got the crowd hype and singing along. Another student, Laurie Theodule, a graduate Public Relations major also from Linden openly showed her enthusiasm for the event and shared her excitement for the rest of homecoming weekend. "I am [ready for homecoming weekend], I did the fashion show [sneakball] and I am ready for the tailgate!" she said. Karaoke with Keanu was all in all a great event that encouraged everyone to get involved with campus events and celebrate homecoming with one another. On Friday, many Kean students attended the Pep Rally. Students participated in games like musical chairs, knockout, and tug of war. There was pizza, refreshments, cotton candy, and fried Oreos for participants to eat. Students were given free Kean merch like mini footballs, towels, and t-shirts. Samantha Nyitrai, a History Education major and freshman from South Brunswick, shared why she came to the Pep Rally. "It's close to home and they have a dance team that I get to be a part of," said Nyitrai. She also stated what she was looking forward to most. "Probably watching everyone like be funny and make a fool of themselves." Emily Wyskowski, an Elementary Education major and senior from Brick, came to the Pep Rally to watch the dance performance by Kean Dance Theatre. "I'm here to support my friends who are in Kean Dance Theatre and watch them perform," said Wyskowski. Students like Phoenix Stokes, a junior Political Science major and Criminal Justice minor from Philadelphia, was excited to be at the event was looking forward to the fun. "I'm having fun, it's good to be here with my team, I do track and so it's good to be here with them," said Stokes. "I'm just here to have some fun and see some games, see some competition going on." Alicia Garcua, a junior Early Childhood Education major, also voiced her enthusiasm and was happy to be enjoying her time with her fellow Cougars. "I am definitely [enjoying the event so far] cause I'm around a bunch of my classmates and I'm liking the vibe," Garcia said. "And I'm looking forward to seeing the dancers." All of the events throughout the week allowed students to celebrate Homecoming and their Kean pride. Read about the Homecoming Game and Homecoming Concert with Flo'Rida.
