Within the Rutgers-Camden community, culture and energy rush through the campus daily. This energy is often evident at student events, especially those hosted by members of Greek life. While Greek life makes its mark on campus through various fundraisers and accomplishments, one often doesn’t see the mastermind leading the students who’ve gone Greek. If you were to walk into the Office of Student Involvement, you’ll see a colorful desk at the back, and, if you’re really lucky, you’ll see Lindsay Wolf sitting there with a smile. Despite there being thirteen established organizations within the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs (OFSA), there is only one Lindsay Wolf. As the OFSA’s Program Coordinator, Wolf guides each of these organizations’ leaders through every step of their leadership journey. Throughout the year, over a hundred student-led events happen within the Greek community. With Wolf’s helpful tips and her unquenchable passion for engagement, she is an essential asset for facilitating student growth.

When Wolf completed high school, she was looking to try something new. Though her parents didn’t attend college, she wanted to leave her comfort zone and attend university. Once she arrived at West Chester University, Wolf began studying to become an English teacher. Soon, she joined Phi Mu’s—the second oldest sorority in the U.S.—chapter at West Chester, where she discovered her love for connecting and communicating with others. After talking through her post-graduation options with her chapter’s advisor, Wolf took her passion for Greek life further by working at the Delta Phi Epsilon Headquarters in Philadelphia—an opportunity that enabled her to form multiple connections and even secure her job at Rutgers-Camden. Upon learning of the job opportunity at Rutgers, she was excited about the chance to work with students and help them grow through service, just as she had done. 

Since coming to Rutgers-Camden, Wolf has found that the support from her amazing co-workers makes her feel invincible, just like the city of Camden. Moreover, she wholeheartedly believes that her team, which is built on collaboration, and students can help her overcome any obstacle. Then, when it’s time to encourage students to soar, like true Scarlet Raptors, above their expectations, Wolf is always there, striving to help however her students need, be it participating in a fundraiser or just listening. Additionally, Wolf facilitates valuable programming for leaders in the Greek life community, thereby providing continuous education for all active members. For Wolf, every day is a new opportunity to build close relationships with her students while steering them on the path to success. 

As Wolf watches every chapter within the Greek life community grow, she is happiest when her students are driven to incite social change on campus through the student body. Furthermore, she enjoys witnessing each chapter, from both social and cultural Greek organizations, express themselves through their unique events and spirit. Nonetheless, her greatest joy lies at the core of her work—interacting with her students. Daily, she learns new things, like that comparison is the thief of joy and that different experiences deliver different feelings.

Outside of school, Wolf is passionate about animal advocacy. She feels that her small steps, such as becoming a vegetarian, help make the world a better place.

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Throughout an entire school year, over a hundred athletic events open opportunities for scarlet raptors all over campus to share their spirit. From August to May, teams practice and perform so that others can see their passion for their sport. 

Yet, it is gameday when fans get to watch their teams compete to be the best they can be, but what you need to see is the preparation. While teams prep through practice and recovery, one person is industriously working to ensure those game days go off without a hitch: Peter Bader.

Peter Bader is the Program Coordinator for the athletics department, and his role is more complex than it sounds. Within his position, he has to ensure game days run smoothly and manage any issues, problems, or concerns that may affect an event. Sounds easy, right? Not entirely.

 Before any game begins, it’s essential to understand the preparation and planning that is involved, and with each sport being different, every day is unique. And with a complex and detail-oriented role, it’s essential to see how Peter Bader became this role and how his origin crafted his reality.

Growing up in Moorestown, NJ, Peter was born into an active family with three other siblings, all surrounded by sports their entire lives. During his life, Peter played various sports, participated in multiple tournaments, and watched numerous sporting events across the South Jersey region. Further, he feels that through actively participating in several sporting events in the South Jersey area, working at Rutgers-Camden has proven to be a way to give back to the community for all the fond memories he has with his family, especially at the late Campbells field. 

After completing high school, Peter moved to Virginia temporarily to pursue getting his B.S. in Sports Management from James Madison University. While in college, Peter worked with the Camden County College Soccer team and the Ocean City Nor’easters. Later, Peter worked with professional sports teams such as D.C. United and the USL team Richmond Kickers.

However, what helps make Peter feel invincible (just like the city of Camden) is support from family and constantly finding ways to uplift other people in the campus community. Between working with his event team and his administrative staff, he always seeks ways to support other people daily so that everyone can be their best. Peter enjoys helping other people soar (like raptors) by acting as a support system for everyone he works with within the campus community. 

He offers advice or guidance whenever possible; he understands how overwhelming the college experience can be for some students. Whether that’s by giving a letter of recommendation or helping anyone sort out their goals, Peter believes communication and action are crucial to assisting students to soar. However, He believes that the best way to live is by trying everything and anything while they are in college. Especially with the endless opportunities for involvement at Rutgers, sees that college is a time to understand your niche while you still have the time.

As Peter works at various athletic events, he finds that the excitement of his work is the competition in every game. While every game is different, he sees that by acting as a calming presence for his team and visitors, he is approachable to other people. Throughout each day, Peter finds that the student-athletes are also a driving force for helping every day go by smoothly. Just like he acts with his team, he wants the athletes and their coaches to know he supports them whenever possible and gives them the platform they need to succeed. 

While scarlet is often seen as the color of passion, Peter also has some scarlet shades in his life that are not directly associated with athletics. Outside of athletics, Peter is passionate about international relations and global issues. Through serving on Model UN when he was in high school, Peter has developed a passion for using his skills to help the international community on campus. 

Further, Peter feels that the international community on campus is a unique part of Rutgers-Camden and benefits the team atmosphere tremendously. Thanks to Peter’s hard work and attention to detail, games and matches at Rutgers-Camden can run smoothly, allowing the fans to enjoy their time and for the athletes to do their best. 

Peter’s approachable nature allows his team to come to him for advice on any life concern and question, allowing them to feel that they can conquer anything that’s in front of them. He can help others find their voice by guiding them through any hurdle facing them by offering advice and moral support. 

Through Pete’s persistent hard work ethic, he can help the Rutgers-Camden community soar to new heights in athletic excellence and personal growth.

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From fast feet to fast food, the energy at the Athletic Center was infectious as the raptors entered their evening with excitement, looking to end the season on a high note. Aside from the usual attendees, this game had an array of entertainment: games, activities, giveaways, and of course, food. Between the symphony of smells and collection of people, the raptors were ready for game day. 

As scarlet spirit filled the air, the lady raptors took center court as they competed in the first match of the evening. While the effort was there and the crowd’s energy was contagious, it was enough for Kean University’s Lady Cougars. Despite the loss with the lady raptors, it was an exciting game, and the raptor’s work till the end made way for the men as they competed next against Kean University. It was an exciting start for the men as they continued to hit shot after shot, yet they fell in the second half against the Cougars. Despite the raptors having two losses in one night, it was hard fought. Yet what was more compelling was the fans and the campus community that came to rally for the raptors that evening. 

In the past, there have been a few highly attended games at the Rutgers Athletic Center, both for men’s and women’s sports. Yet, the university putting in the effort to make athletics exciting, once again, at Rutgers was much needed for the campus community and the department. Moreover, it allowed many to see the potential of what happens when you blend passion and pride for university engagement. For the future, this participation from the university to enhance athletic events should be an annual event, but one centered around a different team. Kean University has a stellar record, even holding a 16-6 record, while Rutgers Camden possessed a 4-18 record against the cougars, and the women had a similar record against the lady cougars.

So why Kean University? Why not Rutgers-Newark or a team where we stood a formidable chance at victory? Further, it’s essential to understand the potential effects of the game. If Rutgers-Camden was to put more effort and expenses into athletics and other social events that bring the community together, there is great potential for future graduating classes. Especially with enrollment being down this past year, having social events like this can bring the community closer and allow others to see our pride for our raptors and Camden. 

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By: Kaila Crozier

While people make 35,000 decisions per day, some of those decisions are bigger than others. Moreover, one of those questions that college graduates often struggle with is the BIG, what’s next? What are you doing after you graduate from college? Do you have a job lined up? Are you planning on going to graduate school? How are you going to use your degree? And if you haven’t been asked this question yet, you most likely will soon, but how you react and answer that question is up to YOU.  

Although graduating from college is a significant accomplishment in itself, it often leaves many college students with the challenge of figuring out the future. Moreover, it’s hard for many post-graduates to figure out what they want to do after college, myself included. Notably, the COVID-19 pandemic gave thousands of college students a lot of time to think things through as colleges worldwide moved to virtual learning. This significant time away from the norm made many wonder, what now? How will this event alter the future? What do I do now? Is what I’m doing now what I want to do for the next +40 years of my life? When it came to graduating from college, it was excitement and fear that filled my hands as I received my diploma at graduation. Especially with my degree in my language (English), I was aware of the infinite possibilities that my degree held. And despite studying business management and leadership as my minors, I still needed to determine what my future held at this point.  

And despite the pandemic, the pressure from peers to figure out the future was still evident in my life. While many of my fellow classmates continued to post on LinkedIn about their recent jobs and discuss their plans for the future, I felt evidently stuck. But I had always wondered, am I the only one that feels this way? Recently, I discovered The ORCA Network, a social platform dedicated for college students to share their thoughts on current problems in the world. Moreover, the people within this community help each other by finding solutions. However, one of the problems that stood out to me was, “It is hard to figure out what I want to do after college.” After reading this, I couldn’t help to feel less alone about my current situation and hopeful for the future. 

Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Charlie Wehan, the Co-Founder and CEO of The ORCA Network. Coming from the California coast, Charlie was a Stanford men’s soccer team member and graduated from Stanford in May 2021 with a bachelor of science in science, technology, and society. After graduating from Stanford University, Wehan played professional soccer on the USL team, The Real Monarchs, in Utah for a season. While Charlie may have left competitive soccer, he didn’t give up his passion for competition. Before playing professional soccer, Charlie started the ORCA network, and now he focuses more on helping the ORCA network expand to new heights. 

However, when it came to figuring out “what’s next?,” Charlie, like many other rising college graduates, struggled to find his fitting. When Charlie started at Stanford in the fall of 2017, Charlie had begun with the intention to graduate early. Charlie’s curiosity soon blossomed as he learned from some of the best professors and met some amazing fellow classmates. Moreover, Charlie gained a great awareness of his surroundings which drove him to start the ORCA network. Yet, once the pandemic started and most universities moved online, Charlie and hundreds of other students began to struggle. Charlie started to grapple with his identity between online classes, lack of emotional interactions, and the unknowingness of the future. Mainly, Charlie still needed to learn what his next chapter held; was he still going to graduate early? Was soccer going to come back? What were the chances school was going back in person? Eventually, Charlie developed anxiety and had several nights where sleep was a struggle. While it wasn’t easy, Charlie reached out for help in overcoming his anxiety. Between seeing a sports psychologist, cold showers, and practicing the Wim Hof method, Charlie felt his life gradually come back together. While it was challenging, it eventually paid off as his team could play the 2020 fall season in spring 2021 to become the Pac-12 Champions for that year. 

However, thanks to Stanford University’s classes and resources, numerous opportunities, and supportive parents, Charlie was able to graduate in the Spring of 2021. 

While this is the story of just one post-grad, many others have felt the same way. But it’s by talking about it and helping each other that allows us to get through the unknowingness and embrace the discomfort. When dealing with these feelings, any post-grad should understand that they are never alone. Moreover, Charlie discovered during the pandemic how important it is to take time with everything. From a personal perspective, I’ve learned that you must navigate post-grad life as a sailboat, not a speed boat. Often, sailboats are seen as drifting with the wind, following their flow, and those riding it have a chance to enjoy the stillness of the scene. But, it’s speedboats that are often seen as racing through the waters anxiously waiting to get to their destination. Post-graduates need to take the time to understand themselves without the constant impeding pressures of peers. When I graduated from university, I slowly began to limit my time on social media. By limiting my time on social media, the speed of my life gradually slowed down. Yet, I felt my quality of life slowly rise. While it may be an adjustment to adopting a new schedule, lifestyle, or even an atmosphere, it’s only a matter of time before you find your true passion and dreams. It may not be easy, but it will totally be worth it; be patient.  

If you wish to check out The ORCA Network, please click the link below;

https://theorcanetwork.com/leaderboard

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By Kaila Crozier

When people think of how to spend their time, they often resort to going to the gym. While going to the gym is good for one’s body and soul, people often go to popular chain gyms such as Edge or Planet Fitness to release their stress. However, another popular way of working out is called “CrossFit,” and while it seems intense, it is infinitely scalable. 

People often perceive CrossFit as this type of gym that gives people multiple injuries and encourages “fake” pull-ups, yet it is far more than simply a gym. Mainly, CrossFit gyms blend multiple different facets into one workout. Moreover, some of these areas include gymnastics, Olympic weight-lifting, HIIT, calisthenics (bodyweight exercises), conditioning, and strength. At first, glance, incorporating all these fitness variations seems impossible, but they are all necessary for life.

Back in September 2020, I started doing CrossFit as a means to push myself to the next level.       Before CrossFit, I had tried a range of ways of working out. In 2018, I started my gym journey at a popular gym that many people went to; while it was private, it had everything I needed. However, the clientele was mostly older people twice my age, which often made it uncomfortable to work out. Then, COVID-19 struck, and like many other people, I was stuck doing home workouts and running. 

My home workouts often consisted of going to my local high school and using old football equipment such as tires and weighted plates. Also, I supplemented these workouts with running, lots of running, which ranged anywhere between 25-50 miles a week. While it was difficult at first, I managed to get my mile time below seven minutes and have a resource to exert my stress. However, running also showed me that I am far more capable of doing incredible things with my body. So, I decided to try CrossFit and began to understand my body’s true capabilities.  

Every workout we do in CrossFit usually seems like a challenge, from using barbells to climbing ropes. Between AMRAPS (As many reps/rounds as possible) and EMOMS (Every minute on the minute), each workout strengthens us and makes us healthier people. With each workout being formatted differently, different body parts are being used, increasing our longevity. However, what makes the workouts enjoyable and memorable is the team aspect. 

In CrossFit, you are often doing the workout with a team that’s there to support you until you finish. Especially with workouts ranging anywhere between 5 to 35 minutes, having a supportive team behind you, every rep is essential for growth. Before doing CrossFit, working out by myself was the norm, and it was often difficult to push forward. But, when I started working out with a team, pushing myself became so much easier.

While CrossFit is fun and exciting, I often try to blend CrossFit with other activities. Thankfully, I go to a gym that offers various programs aside from CrossFit to have a variety of our fitness routines. My gym provides other outlets such as; Torch (Hiit/Conditioning), Cycle, Barbell Club (Olympic Lifting), and a Run Club. I often enjoy running a couple of times a week to maintain my cardio and release my stress. Overall, doing CrossFit has been one of the best additions to my life. While it is difficult on some days, I am blessed that I have such a supportive gym behind me. If you haven’t tried CrossFit yet, I highly recommend it. Especially with its infinite ways of scalability, CrossFit can be for everyone. 

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By: Kaila Crozier

When the pandemic hit back in March 2020, I realized how much Rutgers-Camden meant to me and its impact on my life. When Rutgers sent us home early for spring break, I was heartbroken to leave a place I loved so much. When the campus reopened in September 2020, I was determined to make my last two years count as much as possible, even if there was a pandemic. Come December 2020, my previous areas of employment hadn’t been reopened yet, so I searched on-campus for a job.  When I asked if the Fitness Center was hiring, they had a position open. While it was minimum wage, it involved my two passions, fitness and helping others. However, this job soon provided many opportunities to grow as a person and professional.

The Fitness Center is an energetic environment, there’s always something going on within the facility. Between rec teams and team practices, it’s fun to watch students and athletes go about their daily routine in a motivating atmosphere. While sitting at the desk and attending to the Fitness Center’s needs seems simple, it has more complexity.

Aside from working as a part of the Fitness Center team, I’m also a part of the event team, which involves a little more manual labor. Working events involve several steps that the team has to follow so that we have a smooth game. Specifically, being a part of the event team means arriving two hours before kick-off, which can be anywhere between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. Once we arrive, we’re given specific responsibility for the game; I’m usually the public announcer or bookkeeper.

Then, we have to go to our assigned field and set up according to the game. Setting up the fields involves many steps, such as; preparing the fields, starting up the music, and greeting the teams upon the kick-off. Then, once the teams have arrived and they have started their warm-ups, we get a minor break to eat and relax until gametime. Sometimes, I’ll bring my camera to take pictures for the Athletic Department.

Once the game begins, we do our designated role throughout the entirety of the game. The sport and the weather often determine the game’s length, ranging anywhere between ninety minutes and two hours. However, the game is extended if we play multiple games, have halftime, or go into overtime. When it comes to the game commencing, it typically takes about thirty minutes to break down our initial set-up. As a whole, working in athletics has opened my eyes to the world of operational management and collegiate sports.

While working for the Rutgers athletic department is often filled with long days, the days are always exciting. Usually, my days start as early as five in the morning due to my class schedule. I enjoy starting my days by going to CrossFit to generate some energy that often carries me throughout the day. While my shifts are often later in the afternoon, I often have to do my studying and other work in the morning.

After clocking out, I usually leave campus anywhere between six and ten at night. Although there are days where the start time is earlier so, on occasion, I do have the pleasure of leaving campus before five in the afternoon. Working for the athletic department has undoubtedly been a highlight of my Rutgers journey. When I came in as a freshman, I had no intent to get involved but just to solely do my classes. I have learned so much about myself between working at the front desk and various events that no class could ever teach me. Overall, I’m very grateful for all the experience that the athletic department has provided me. Between taking photos for the various teams and witnessing so many athletes grow on the field, it’s been a memorable experience.

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