Ramadan is a time for reflection, devotion, and strength for many Muslim students, an entire month is dedicated to praying, and getting closer to their religion. However, with the constant demands of college, balancing both your personal life and your academic life can be extremely difficult, especially with certain challenges that come with participating in Ramadan. 

The month of Ramadan follows the lunar calendar, meaning its specific date changes every year. Those celebrating Ramadan get up before dawn to have a meal before they start fasting until sunset. This is done every day for the month of Ramadan, alongside this Muslims also are required to pray 5 times a day, also spanning from sunrise to sunset. While this schedule seems manageable, it can be a struggle for college students to maintain alongside their academic responsibilities.

“College doesn’t slow down during Ramadan. Students are fasting from sunrise to sunset while still trying to keep up with schoolwork and extracurriculars” says Muslim Student Association President, Laiba Mahmood. Alongside having to deal with their daily schedule, Muslims students also have to do it while not feeling their best physically, this all can be especially demanding for students who dorm in college away from home, since their usual support system isn’t there.

Participating in Ramadan can also prohibit social activities, due to the fasting or praying many Muslim students may not be able to participate in social gathering events due to their own obligations. Some gatherings, like going out for lunch, may feel isolating since they aren’t able to participate as well. 

“Professors and classmates sometimes don’t realize how physically demanding fasting can be, especially during long days of classes, exams, or work” says Nazifa Hasna, the MSA Secretary.

Participating in Ramadan takes up time and energy Muslim college students usually have, not having proper food accessibility for Muslim students adds onto their struggles. Many dining options are not halal for Muslim students, so food preparation on top of normal activities can be a difficult task for students, especially after fasting the entire day.

However, there are ways colleges are accommodating Muslim students during Ramadan, according to an article by Inside Higher Ed, several colleges have decided to implement accommodations for Muslim students, like extended dining hours for those who need to break their fast, or providing boxed meals. Other accommodations that can be given are different exam session times, so that Muslim students are able to take their exams after breaking their fast.

At Rutgers–Camden specifically, Ramadan events take place on campus such as the Community Iftar that occurred on March 2nd, in the Campus Center. There is also a Wudu station (a place where Muslims can wash themselves before prayer) in the Campus Center for Muslim students who need to pray. There are also several other Muslim-focused events that the MSA holds during the month of Ramadan, that anyone can participate in.

While it may be difficult to balance academics and the expectations of Ramadan, there are support systems out there for students. “Ramadan builds a really strong sense of community. Even though it’s challenging, students come together for iftars, prayers, and support, which makes the experience really special” says Nazifa Hasna.  One of the main purposes of Ramadan is community, and while Muslims may have their struggles during the holy month, participating in your community, and devoting yourself to your religion makes it worth it for many individuals.

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Rutgers-Camden students looking for quiet places to work may find fewer options later in the evening, as some study areas close earlier than campus buildings. The issue affects students who commute, work jobs, or spend long stretches on campus and rely on study space outside regular class hours. 

The concern becomes more noticeable around midterms and finals, when more students are trying to find places to read, write, and prepare for exams. While some campus facilities stay open later, not all spaces offer the same level of privacy or quiet. 

Paul Robeson Library remains open until 10 p.m. during most of the semester and the Campus Center stays open until 11 p.m.. While library hours are extended during finals week, some dedicated study spaces close earlier which can leave students with fewer quiet options as the evening goes on. 

Jennifer Levy, president of the Rutgers-Camden Student Governing Association, said late-night study space has not recently been a major complaint among students: “To my knowledge, late night study spaces have not been brought up as a concern by students recently.”

Levy said the commuter makeup of Rutgers-Camden helps explain that response. Because many students leave campus after classes end, she said fewer people may be looking for study space late at night than at schools with larger residential populations. 

“Given that our student population is primarily commuters, the majority of people studying late on campus are slim,” Levy said. 

At the same time, Levy said the commuter nature of the campus creates a different need. Many students remain on campus between classes and may be looking less for very late-night access and more for private, functional places to study during busy daytime hours. 

“That being said, it also means the availability of spaces during the day time, peak student hours, may be limited,” Levy continued. 

Levy shared that student feedback has been focused more on the need for private or closed-off study areas than on extending building hours. She said commuter students in particular may benefit from spaces where they can work between classes without distractions: “Feedback heard has been to provide more private areas for students, specifically commuter students, to use in between classes.”

She pointed to possible improvements within spaces that already exist on campus. More enclosed areas in the library, she said, could help improve access, and updates to common student areas could create more secluded places for students who need quiet. 

Levy also said some newer campus spaces, including The Bridge, already offer more closed-off areas. Even so, she said space remains a practical limitation. 

“The biggest barrier to creating more spaces is the lack of available space within campus buildings,” Levy continued. That limitation may shape how quickly any changes can happen. In the longer term, future development projects could create opportunities for more study areas or redesigned student spaces. Levy said the Cooper Street Gateway project, expected in 2027, may eventually open the door for that kind of expansion. 

For now, the discussion appears to center less on keeping campus open later and more on whether Rutgers-Camden has enough suitable study spaces when students actually need them most. On a commuter campus, that may mean rethinking how existing spaces are used during the day as much as it means looking at evening hours.

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At Rutgers Camden many first year students are not utilizing office hours provided by professors. This tool is given to students to allow them to get clarification on schoolwork, get extra help with the course load outside of class hours, and ask questions one on one with professors rather than in front of an entire class. However, freshmen have commented that they struggle with taking advantage of this academic resource. Many say they feel nervous or even unsure of how to come to their professors. 

Office hours can be defined as scheduled times professors set aside outside of the class for a more hands-on and individual conversation with students. This is to ensure that students do not feel disconnected from their professors and also give them a safe space to express their needs, whereas in class they may feel less comfortable doing so. 

According to Professor Cavanaugh, a professor at Rutgers Camden University, office hours are a crucial part of academic success. She even went as far as to say, “They obtain more personalized feedback about how to approach assignments and their career goals.” Along with this, the professor mentioned that she has seen upperclassmen utilize this tool far more than first year students using office hours. 

Gizelle Lizardi is a freshman at Rutgers Camden currently in her first spring semester in college. She mentioned that there has been a major transition period moving from high school to college. Not just with the lifestyle, but also with academics. Many freshmen are still

adjusting to college academics compared to high school. Not to mention that office hours are not always mandatory nor specifically talked about in class. While some professors may encourage students to come to see them early in the semester, these announcements tend to fall flat. Many first year students like Gizelle find going to office hours uncomfortable. 

Lizardi said, “I do not feel comfortable approaching a professor outside of class. I probably would never approach one if I saw them somewhere.” She then went on to say that she believes these feelings of being nervous is most likely the main cause of lack of first year students attending office hours, “I think the main factor is nervousness. Many students probably don’t want to be the only ones there and also don’t want to spend the time there.” Another interesting conclusion she had was that there is less structure in college academics compared to in high school. The freshman stated, “There’s no one telling me what to do, I have to take initiative on my own learning experience, it’s strange”. 

While there is an adjustment to college academics, office hours can be used as a tool to bridge the gap between a student and professor in the classroom setting. Professors have found that the students that choose to attend office hours have found great success in their academics. Professor Cavanaugh believes that it improves one’s understanding of the course material. It can also further reinforce relationships with Rutgers Camden professors, which can be helpful later on for recommendations, and even shows students that they are able to take initiative for their grades. Professors at Rutgers Camden urge first year students to become familiar with the process of using office hours and to take advantage of these opportunities.

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Years of student activism have culminated in the opening of Rutgers-Camden’s first cultural student center, The Bridge, on March 4, 2026. The new student center, located downstairs in the Campus Center, has been revamped to serve as a symbol of identity, belonging, and academic support for historically marginalized students.

Planning for the student center began in October 2024 under the Division of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement (DICE). However, the initiative has been a long time coming, dating back to the 1990s when students advocated for the student center, but their requests were turned down by the administration.

“I believe in the ’90s, a group of students chained themselves to the steps of the library and protested for a space for our black and brown students on campus to feel seen, feel heard, feel welcome,” said Simone Owens, Senior Program Coordinator for DICE. “And at the time, those requests were rejected, and it’s been a student’s request since then.”

Owens, an alumna of Rutgers-Camden, described returning to campus to see the project through as a meaningful experience. “This was my home back in the day,” she said. “And so, this is my home again, just in a professional space, and that feels good to me.”

Kaseem Edwards, a recent graduate of the Rutgers-Camden business school, has been working with Owens to gather student feedback during the planning phase of the student center. He has been leading the charge by conducting focus groups to determine the direction that the student center will take.

Owens credited Edwards with helping her connect to the student body. “Kaseem is the reason I was able to first meet students, learn their rhythms, their patterns, their behaviors,” she said. “I owe much of that to Kaseem.”

The physical space features flexible seating, intimate group areas, a mini kitchen with complimentary coffee, and student artwork. A featured art piece titled “His Story” by McKayla Jones and the Arts Students League hangs prominently in the center. Jones, a junior studio art major and BFA candidate, explained the inspiration behind her work.

“The inspiration behind that piece was about pulling from different historical time periods and the different art styles that were trending during those times,” Jones said. “Sort of combining them again to represent the timelessness and the presence of Black Americans and how we can show up in those spaces and how we were present, even if we weren’t widely depicted in that sense.”

Jones said representation is a central theme in her work. “I think my inspiration comes from expressing myself and being able to give others a platform to also express themselves,” she said. “It’s more about representation.”

She recently taught a painting class at The Bridge entitled Paint with a Twist: an experience she described as unfamiliar territory. “It was fun. I was a bit nervous, but it was just fun to do something different, to branch out because it is something I have never done,” Jones said. “I’ve never taught a class on how to paint, but it was definitely interesting just to expose people to more.”

First-year music major Athen/Ari Smith visited The Bridge for the first time during its inaugural week. They attended the center’s first watch party, where students viewed an episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

“It was all very cozy with all the awesome furniture and the little broken up spaces,” Smith said. “I like the little mini kitchen, all the coffee stuff. It almost feels like being in a living room, which is just a very conducive environment to unwind after a long and stressful day.”

The programming of activities, luncheons, speaking engagements, and more at the student center is determined by the monthly LeaderLink meetings with student organizations, giving students a voice in the activities that will take place at the student center. 

Jose Pagán, Program Coordinator for Social Engagement for DICE, said the first week of programming exceeded expectations.

“If the first week is any indication, a lot of students have been craving the space,” Pagán said. “I feel like we’re beginning to fulfill that need. The more that we’re out there, the more that we’re doing things, the more that the students who need us are going to find us.”

The Bridge operates on a “wraparound” model, drawing from social work practices to connect students to culturally responsive resources. Owens said she intentionally designed the space to evolve with student needs. “We decorated it nice, but everything can come off these walls,” Owens said. “The furniture can be moved around. People can bring in new art. We wanted it to be a space that was designed to evolve and withstand changes as they come. The students make it their own.”

This student center has been a long time coming, especially at a time when the country is experiencing a climate where many universities are cutting their diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. The student center has been named The Bridge, a name that captures its essence: to create a bridge between students and resources, between commuter students and the university, between academic support and student support, and between the university and the community.

In the near future, the student center will partner with organizations such as Lucy Outreach and the Camden Recreation Centers to bring the community’s youth into the student center.

The student center’s inaugural schedule for the upcoming semester will feature a variety of activities, including cultural heritage, interfaith, LGBTQ+IA, and a watch party series. During the summer, the student center will look to strengthen community relationships, targeting commuter students by offering classes at the student center, known as The Bridge.

For Edwards, witnessing the project’s completion after being involved from the preliminary stages has been significant. “A lot of times, you see offices created, but you never really get to see the behind-the-scenes decisions (the administrative stuff, the finances, all that kind of stuff),” Edwards said.

Owens reflected on the journey from concept to reality. “This is the first time that I was able to build something from the ground up like this,” she said. “We’ve been doing this for a year and a half. The team has been my day one since then. Just to take all of our ideas and see it manifested in real time is beautiful.”

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Every day, students use wifi for everything they do on campus. But how reliable is the on campus wifi?

Currently, at Rutgers-Camden, internet access on campus is free, but there are two different options. The first option is RUwireless secure. This is a secure network only available to Rutgers staff and students with a valid Net ID and password. The other option is RUwireless, which is a non-secure network for guests visiting the University. When connecting to the guest Wi-Fi, guests must accept the terms and conditions repeatedly for each new session.

Approximately 5,822 students attend Rutgers Camden, and every day they rely on the University’s internet for everything they do. Canvas, a cloud-based learning management system by Instructure, is how students access their assignments, tests, quizzes, and announcements. It’s also where they submit them. While offline students can still access their course sites and assignments, unless they are connected to Wi-Fi, they can’t submit anything. 

Consoles, streaming devices, and smart speakers use a different wifi network, though. The wifi network these devices need to connect to is RUatHome. This is because they can’t support the security requirements needed to authenticate the connection for RUwireless secure. In order to connect these devices to this network, though, you first need to register your devices on the ResNet Device Registration Portal. By using the paraphrase portal, you can either scan a barcode with the device or enter a temporary password to register your device.

Kay Irwin is a junior and computer science major at Rutgers Camden who’s also an IT student consultant for the campus and has had her own issues with the campus wifi, “My experience with the wifi here has honestly been pretty poor. Both the dorm wifi and the secure campus wifi are very unreliable. The signal is weak, and it disconnects frequently, which makes it hard to use for anything that requires a stable connection.”

Despite these potential problems, the campus does offer help in the form of the RU-Camden IT Help Desk. Students have the option to either visit the help desk in person at the Paul Robeson Library, email help@camden.rutgers.edu, or call (833) OIT-HELP. They offer technical support to both faculty and students. In addition to this, both professional IT staff and student consultants, like Kay, work there to provide this assistance.

According to Kay, a very common issue that they get a lot is students coming to the help desk because they had problems connecting to the wifi and staying connected. She continued, “Most of the time we can help them get connected, but many of the problems come from the network itself being weak or unstable, so there isn’t always an easy fix on our end.” Furthermore, she added, “wifi and Ethernet connections seem to be one of the most common technology complaints students have.”

Rutgers Camden provides Ethernet ports in both residence halls. Though in some of the apartment-style housing, the ports may only be available in the living room. In order to use these Ethernet ports, you need your own Ethernet cable, which is Cat 5 or higher. Kay plays video games in her room, and according to her, it’s impossible to use the wifi for it because the game will constantly lag and even disconnect. She added, “The only way I’m able to play or have a stable connection is by using an ethernet cable in my dorm room.”

Though Kay admitted that even the Ethernet option has its own complications. She explained that there’s a whole setup and registration process for connecting devices to the network that confuses a lot of students, so they get a lot of calls about that at the help desk. She added that the Ethernet port in her living room didn’t even work, so she had to remove the wall plate and use the one in her bedroom instead. She stated, “That was frustrating because I was literally told by my boss that the Ethernet ports in the rooms were going to be removed and that the living room ones would be the only connection.”

In the end, Rutgers students can be faced with both positive and negative outcomes regardless of what they choose to connect to. In a world where everything we do relies on technology, though one mishap can lead to turmoil for a student and their classes.

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The Scarlet Scribes have had a strong focus on collaboration this semester. Their Song-Writing Workshop, which was held on March 26, and their Student Art Gallery in April are focused on celebrating student creativity. The Song-Writing Workshop, which was followed by an Open Mic and Karaoke Night was held in the Campus Center’s Executive Meeting Room and was in collaboration with Active Minds. 

Mia Morris, the president of the Scarlet Scribes, describes her love of collaboration with other Rutgers–Camden clubs. She credits an openness and great chemistry with other presidents of other clubs for strong collaboration: “That’s actually how I ended up collabing with The Gleaner, as well last semester, and the Criminal Justice Org this semester… We stay busy!” For their March event, Morris connected with Violett Springate, the president of Active Minds. 

Morris and Springate bring different creative strengths that balance the Song-Writing Workshop. Morris highlights how this collaboration will assist in the workshop: “She is a musician,” Morris said. “She’s going to help you with finding the right tune, melody, beat… then my job is to help you figure out the words.” Morris also notes how many of the individual members of the E-board for the Scarlet Scribes have had multiple works published, plus credits Springate as a seasoned performer. The event also had food catered, as well as other activities, such as a photo op and making friendship bracelets, while students are not working on their songs.

Additionally, Morris is very excited about the Student Art Gallery that the Scarlet Scribes will host in April. This event is not in collaboration with other specific clubs, but more in collaboration with any students who are interested in participating. This gallery is not just meant for written work, but any type of art that students would like to showcase: “I want your paintings, I want your sculptures, … I want those beautiful pieces of art you hide in your room.” The Student Art Gallery will also feature live performances by students who would like to do so. The Student Art Gallery is meant for all students with showcase-ready works of art. It will be the last event the Scarlet Scribes host for this semester. 

When it comes to the process of writing, Morris and the graphic designer of the Scarlet Scribes, Alana Weil, heavily emphasize how writing not only is a medium of self-expression and reflects self-experience, but can be strongly influenced by others. For Weil, listening to others’ work benefits her future projects: “…I see everybody’s writing as a form of inspiration for new ideas … I like the way this one person wrote, and I will take that as a source of inspiration…” for writing her next piece. 

Sharing artwork and personal pieces may make some people very nervous or shy. However, Weil states that the energy for the Scarlet Scribes events is more encouraging than nerve-racking. Weil further explains, “I would say the energy for each event is pretty high because, at the end, everybody is coming together, sharing their talents, and just having a good time.” She and Morris also note that the Scarlet Scribes offer a creative outlet and personal expression separate from academic pressure. 

The Song-Writing Workshop/Open Mic Night and Student Art Gallery are the last two events for this semester. More information will be released later regarding the Student Art Gallery in April.

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Residential students who live on campus say they are frustrated by the limited dining hall food selection and the changing weekend hours. Amid rising meal plan prices, students report that weekend dining hall services do not cater to those who rely on the dining hall most. This growing campus issue affects students who live on campus and are required to stay on weekends due to limited transportation and living too far from campus. 

Over the past year, Rutgers Camden has seen an increase in its enrollment, which was significantly lower three years ago. Along with this increase, Rutgers has raised its meal plan prices by approximately 800 dollars in the last year, from 1,800 dollars to 2,500 dollars in just less than a year.  The students are complaining that they are paying more despite the poor dining hall experience during the weekend. “My meal plan on tuition has increased from 1,800 to 2500 dollars since my freshman year,” said Destin, a residential student living on campus. 

On weekdays, the dining hall is open earlier, from 7:30 am to 9:30 pm, and offers a wider variety of food. On weekends, the dining hall opens at 10 am and stops letting students in at 7:45. Students are noticing a difference in food variety, with fewer options. The limited options are making students question whether weekend operations are equal to the commuter and staff schedules during the rest of the week.

Destin continued, “As someone who has to have a meal plan because I live on campus, it can be quite frustrating that hours and food options are limited to the students who pay the most money.”

“After a night out with my friends on the weekend, sometimes having a meal plan comes in handy when the conversation is about saving money in your wallet,” said Destin. “However, when the dining halls’ hours are cut short at 8, and they don’t let students in anymore or make any more food after 7:30, situations can get pricey.” 

Students who are active on the weekends in the morning or stay out late are forced to pricey alternatives, such as buying food from off-campus restaurants. Freshman dorms aren’t provided with a kitchen inside their suite, making them rely on the dining hall even more during their first year on campus. “During the weekend, I do end up buying dinner or breakfast usually because of the shortened hours,” says Destin  

Students note significant differences in dining hall options on weekends compared to weekdays, when most commuters are on campus. “During the weekend, I usually can only choose from the grill section or whatever the chief is making that day. Grubhub, Sandwich bar, Fruit bar, smoothie section, and desserts aren’t offered to students on campus during the weekend,” said Destin.  

Commuters on campus during the week have access to more dining hall benefits than residents. “The times I do pay to come inside, I use the salad bar, smoothie section, deli section, the special meals they serve each day, I also really look forward to the fruit provided in the fruit section during the weekdays I’m here,” said Liana, a commuter student here at Rutgers Camden. 

Commuter students also have the privilege of bringing their own lunch on some days and buying food in the dining hall, making it more cost-effective than purchasing a meal plan for the week. “As a commuter, I have the privilege of bringing my own lunch some days, or paying to get in the dining hall some days; I don’t rely on it as much as a resident,” shared Liana. 

Residential students say they hope the university will address the rising costs of meal plans as enrollment continues to rise, given the limited food options and weekend hours. As of now, Residential students hope for equality and better consistency within the weekday schedule and weekend dining hall services. 

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Is music playing during study sessions useful for enhancing focus? That idea feels right to plenty of students at Rutgers Camden. Whether walking through the campus, getting ready for class, or having late-night desk sessions. For many, headphones are a regular part of their daily routine and a key tool for staying motivated while studying. 

Noise fills many learners’ routines each day, which means music usually tags along during schoolwork, too. Quiet rooms work best for some people, whereas some notice focus clicks better with music. One thing stands clear, how people learn leans heavily on the individual.

Music shifts how Gionna Hollingsworth feels when she hits the books. The Rutgers-Camden senior notices her drive changing based on what’s playing. “Happy music sparks quicker progress through assignments,” she explains. A jumpy beat keeps her moving fast and focused. Yet slower songs pull her energy down. When melodies turn somber, time drags, and effort fades. What fills her ears shapes how hard she works.

Yet music does little good in certain classes, Hollingsworth pointed out. Silence works better where deep attention is key. When she prepared for statistics exams, total stillness and silence helped her mind stay sharp. Background music sometimes eases the load and keeps concentration, though this isn’t always the case during harder tasks. 

Though Hollingsworth leans toward quiet, some classmates find that tunes help them stay locked in. For Savannah Shaw, another Rutgers Camden senior, hitting the books without sound pulls attention thin, leading her mind to drift fast. “When I study in silence, it doesn’t work for me because my brain starts wandering elsewhere,” Shaw said. “I’ll have ten different thoughts at once, so I need music.”

Focused by sound, Shaw finds music helps her stay on task. Rather than breaking concentration during study sessions, the background noise prevents random ideas from taking over. Noise becomes a tool, guiding her thoughts back when they start to wander elsewhere.

Music choices while studying differ widely among students. Hollingsworth finds silence best, yet Shaw thrives when music fills the air. Instrumentals often help those distracted when words overlap their thoughts. Familiar tracks sometimes anchor attention rather than break it. Comfort plays a role just as much as quiet does. Nerves settle more easily with known melodies humming along. Each mind adapts differently to the noise around it.

A tune now and then tends to ease tension when hitting the books. Establishing a routine, such as a custom playlist or a cozy environment, can make studying more comfortable. Over time, many students develop study habits based on what helps maintain attention the longest.

As midterm season draws near, wearing headphones has become a daily habit across Rutgers-Camden. Whether tucked away in the silent library or navigating the loud campus center after class, learners surround themselves with all kinds of sound while tackling papers or reviewing study sheets. Even though everyone studies differently, plenty continue to experiment with different routines to switch things up and find what works best for them. 

Study habits vary from student to student, and music is just one of the tools people use to stay focused. While some students prefer quiet spaces, others depend on music to keep their minds engaged. As students develop their routines, their study playlists may become just as important as their notes and textbooks. On a campus where headphones are everywhere, music has clearly become part of how many students get their work done. Whether it helps block out distractions or simply makes studying feel less overwhelming, many students continue to rely on it as they work through assignments and prepare for exams.

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“Give Back and Give Blood” is the name of Rutgers–Camden’s Student Nursing Association’s first blood drive in association with the American Red Cross. It will be held on Wednesday, April 8th, from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. in Campus Center MPR. The Student Nursing Association (SNA) is not only looking for donors, but also for volunteers to help run the drive. 

“The American Red Cross supplies about forty percent of the nation’s blood,” explains SNA’s Junior Secretary, Sofia-Andre Aseron. “So doing a blood drive and participating in it is a good way to give back to your community.”

Aseron is the main organizer of the event, communicating with representatives from the American Red Cross along with the rest of the SNA E-Board. In particular, Aseron expressed that SNA’s event planner, Maya Mazahreh, president Gianna Giangreco, and PR manager Prerana Malla have all helped organize the event. 

“The blood drive is super important because, as of right now, according to the American Red Cross, there is a current blood shortage in our hospitals and in our blood banks and accidents happen every day, and we need to make sure that we have a good blood supply to make sure that we can help those who need it,” explained Aseron. 

Aseron also shared the inspiration for the event, which was a joint effort between herself, Jilliane Jaugan, SNA’s Fundraising Chair, and Vincent Crocilla, SNA’s Vice President: “We were talking about ways to get students more involved in the club and, really, [Jilliane] had the idea. She remembered that at our high school, they hosted a blood drive, and we just remember a lot of people coming out to it and a lot of people thinking it was the coolest thing ever.” She added, “We wanted to do something that helps with our local community and do more outreach.”

The American Red Cross offers two different types of blood donations: a standard donation or a Power Red donation. The Red Cross describes Power Red donations as giving almost double the amount of red blood cells as a standard donation, and makes donors feel more hydrated than a standard donation by separating blood so it does not take plasma, platelets, or saline. Power Red donors must meet certain age and height requirements, as well as be blood type O, A negative, or B negative. 

The donation process also varies slightly for each type of donor. A standard donation can take up to about thirty minutes, while Power Red can take up to an hour, with these times including the check-in process, the actual donation process, and then the recovery. According to Aseron, “The American Red Cross will be providing refreshments on their end to help replenish and recharge energy, but the blood drives don’t really take that much energy. A lot of people think that it does, but it won’t drain you for the day. I’ll promise you’ll be okay.” 

While being nurses in training, the Student Nursing Association will not be the ones taking donors’ blood: “The American Red Cross will be the ones taking the blood as they are the ones certified to take the blood. The SNA is just hosting the event,” explained Aseron. SNA is working in tandem with the Camden branch of the Red Cross to hold the blood drive. 

SNA members will be volunteering to run the event alongside other RUC students. Any students who are interested in volunteering with check-in and recovery can do so by signing up for volunteer slots, which are divided into thirty-minute increments. Students can sign up for more than one if they are available. Both donors and volunteers are asked to sign up for a time slot if they would like to take part.

Other upcoming events from the SNA are their stethoscope giveaway, which will be during their third GBM of the semester, and their clothing sale, where students can buy Rutgers–Camden School of Nursing merchandise. More information for both of these events can be found on SNA’s Instagram page. 

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