{"id":212477,"date":"2020-08-25T16:40:10","date_gmt":"2020-08-25T20:40:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=212477"},"modified":"2020-08-26T09:06:16","modified_gmt":"2020-08-26T13:06:16","slug":"new-kind-of-red-hawk-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2020\/08\/25\/new-kind-of-red-hawk-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Welcoming a New School Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

A quiet excitement could be felt on campus the day before classes started as students returned to kick off a new academic year in a strange new world with masks and social distancing \u2013 but where new friends can still be made and studies will soon begin.<\/p>\n

Instead of the usual Red Hawk Day dance-offs and team games, many students experienced the day online, beginning with an interactive program<\/a> on mental and physical well-being, followed by virtual networking events, spoken word poetry<\/a>, a live-streaming trivia game show, and evening magic lessons<\/a> \u2013 all designed to connect students to the University and to each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel very lucky to actually be here just because I know a lot of schools around us are shutting down and students like us are not able to get the full college experience,\u201d said freshman Acting major Julia Ciesielski, who moved to New Jersey from Massachusetts to attend Montclair State. \u201cSo even getting just the slightest bit of a college experience, I\u2019m very happy to be here and meet new people.\u201d<\/p>\n

At an in-person event, socially-distanced students gathered at Yogi Berra Stadium for \u201cMontclair State: One CommUNITY,\u201d which included student performances and messages highlighting contemporary social issues.<\/p>\n

Students heard from student government leaders, faculty, campus police officers and President Susan A. Cole about making a difference and using their education to forge a better and more just society.<\/p>\n

Even with most Red Hawk Day events happening virtually, many first-year students explored campus, learning their way around while wearing face coverings, observing social distancing and expressing their appreciation for the University providing them with a hybrid experience for the fall that includes some face-to-face, as well as online course options.<\/p>\n

Like many students, Jayden Demiani-Pinto, a freshman and Medical Humanities major, said he has only one class on campus. \u201cJust my Biology lab is in-person. I\u2019ve been given the option for everything else with in-person or online, and I\u2019ve chosen online.\u201d Nonetheless, the South Jersey native said he feels comfortable on campus and living in the Machuga Heights residence hall. \u201cEveryone\u2019s been wearing their masks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nicole De Leon, a freshman and a Psychology major who will commute from her home in Paramus this semester, said she enjoys being on campus. \u201cIt\u2019s beautiful to walk around.\u201d She said she is a \u201cvisual learner\u201d who finds in-person classes easier but explained that most of her professors were starting with remote learning and then planned to migrate to more in-person classes. \u201cThey don\u2019t want us to jump right into on-campus.\u201d<\/p>\n

Film major Eddie Cuba is also commuting. He shared that he is comfortable with in-person classes for one simple reason: \u201cI worked at Dunkin\u2019 all summer\u201d and that he will experience four of six classes in person this semester. His major concern: \u201cI\u2019m trying to figure out whether or not I should purchase a parking pass.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among this year’s freshmen are the Povolo quintuplets<\/a> of Totowa, New Jersey.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are all very excited for this semester to start,\u201d said Victoria Povolo, who along with her siblings, Masha, Ashley, Michael and Marcus, is a Presidential Scholar. All five say that their professors have reached out to them remotely. \u201cWe’re happy to be getting the chance to meet our professors and classmates, even if it is virtual.\u201d<\/p>\n

Story by Staff Writers Mary Barr Mann<\/a> and Marilyn Joyce Lehren<\/a><\/p>\n

You might also like:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Seeing Campus Differently<\/a>
\nGovernor Allows Return to In-Person Classes and Activities<\/a>
\nCarpe Futurum<\/a><\/p>\n

Photo Gallery<\/h2>\n

Click on an image below to enlarge photo.<\/p>

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