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WHAT ELSE: What inspires Rutgers students
The people and events that motivate and entertain people at New Jersey's largest state university - what makes the campus tick
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Rutgers student has interest in teaching in poor school districts
Kuzdraj aspires to join Teach for America
By CARINA CRUZ
STAFF WRITER

Anna Kuzdraj, a Rutgers University double major in psychology and journalism, strives to become a teacher in the program Teach for America.

“Ever since I heard about it, it is something I wanted to do,” says Kuzdraj.

By being a part of Teach for America, Kuzdraj will be able to fulfill her ultimate goal of becoming a school or child psychologist, she said.

Kuzdraj would also like to go to graduate school, continue her studies and decide which area of psychology to enter.

The program gives its teachers a list of graduate schools to choose from, the tuition for which is paid by the program.

Teach for America is an organization devoted to getting rid of educational inequality by enlisting the most promising teachers.

These teachers commit to teach

 

for two years in urban or rural public school districts.

If admitted into this program, Kuzdraj will study in graduate school as well as work as a teacher with a full-time salary.

Kuzdraj feels she can bond with children well. She began babysitting her cousin at a young age.

She helped him with his homework after school and tutored him for his state tests.

She was able to help him raise his grades and his state test scores this way.

Through this experience, Kuzdraj was able to get to know what study techniques worked best for him.

“I am truly an ambitious person. I am strong willed and if I set my mind on something, I strive for it,” she said. “I really want to help children and I believe that this would be a good start.”

In order to get into the program, one must have many extracurricular activities that demonstrate leadership and a high grade point average.

Kuzdraj is concentrating on getting her grade point averge from a 3.7 to a 4.0 this semester.
Anna Kuzdraj

She also plans to get involved with more leadership programs.

She is currently part of the National Collegiate Honors Society. This society offers opportunities to be a part of different fundraisers and organizations that will help build Kuzdraj’s portfolio.

She is also teaching her high school cheerleading team and teaching dance students when she can.

“Of course, I’m so scared I won’t get in. My portfolio is nowhere near done because I just decided this program would be a great fit. It’s a really tough program to get into,” says Kuzdraj.

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Is the bus system safe or sorry?
Service can provide more chills than thrills
By JANIECE JOHNSON
STAFF WRITER

A Rutgers student darted through the Rutgers’ A bus doors with inches to spare last Wednesday.

He looked around in mbarrassment at the other students on the swerving bus.  He cursed, and then tried to keep his balance as he found a seat.

“Whoa, that was close,” the man whispered to his friend as they both found safety in a seat.  They had survived. 

The Rutgers bus system is a modern bus system, where students can get online up-to-the- minute times on bus arrivals and departures. However, Rutgers’ students are exhausted with the perils that come with it.

“I hate that jerk when the bus pulls off,” says Canon Christine, an incoming senior at Rutgers. She is about 5 foot and barely 100 pounds.

“I can’t reach the handles and because I don’t weigh that much I end up falling on people around me,” Christine says. “I hate that.”

Rutgers’ buses are without seatbelts, and for students short like Christine, the handles provided in the middle of the buses are not helpful. 

Christine said she hates standing up on the buses because “the bus drivers don’t take into consideration that you are in fact standing up.”

“The only, I guess, safe way to

Students say they wait endlessly for buses to show up at Busch campus stops.

ride the bus is to get a seat,” says sophomore Glen Randazzo.

Students are not only complaining about the jerky motions, limited seating or inconsiderate bus drivers, but also about people who are able to get on the bus. 

The Rutgers bus system runs through both Piscataway and New Brunswick, and stops at common areas like the train station on George Street.  People who do not attend the university are able to ride the buses.

“I hate the [some people] who ride the buses,” says Patricia Witherland, a Rutgers student.  “I see a lot of them during winter, and they funk up the buses.”

“It freaks me out that that I have to sit next to [them] on my way to class,” Witherland says. “If you don’t pay for Rutgers’ services, then you shouldn’t have access to them.”

Students say some homeless peole could be a distraction to students, but they are not left with many options.

The bus system for students at the New Brunswick campus at Rutgers is their only means to getting to class and around campus.  During

peak hours, the crowdedness of the buses can become unsafe.

“Sometimes during like the afternoon, my head was literally in someone’s neck,” say Lisa Evers a freshman residing on the Livingston Campus.

“And that person’s face was plastered on the bus doors. That can’t be safe, right?” she asked.

There are hazard stickers posted throughout the bus which caution students from leaning on the doors.  However, the overpopulated buses leave the students no choice, whose only concern is making it to class on time.

“I’d rather get a ticket than deal with the Rutgers bus system,” says Mike Stilsky. “It’s just too stressful.”

Stressful is used to describe the five bus routes running from as low as five minutes apart.

“Rutgers students are spoiled,” shouts Britney Riser.  “They attend a top university with an efficient bus system.  I’ve never felt threatened on the buses.

"Rutgers students will always find some way to complain,” Riser says.
ARCHIVES: June 6, 2009 issue (click here); June 17 issue (click here); June 23 issue (click here)
October 12, 2009
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Young actor excels at RU
Cebrian wants to make it on the screen
By AYESHA GOUGEOUEHI
STAFF WRITER

Virgil Cebrian is an aspiring actor at Rutgers University who plans on following his childhood dream of making it on the big screen.

Cebrian's enrollment at The N.J. Dramatic School of Arts in Bloomfield is a prime example of how he is taking his dream seriously.

Though he took the current semester off, he may go back there and live his dream.

Cebrian understands the importance of education. He plans on getting his degree in journalism but plans on acting afterwards.

“Part of me wants to drop out, move to L.A and do the damn thing… but I also understand how important education is and how having a degree is key to a lot of jobs.”

Cebrian wanted to be an actor for as long as he can remember. Since he was younger he can remember saying that he wanted to turn his hobby into his career.

"My dream is to be an actor. I don't care if it's just on the CW in Gossip Girl. I want to be a working actor in Hollywood."

Cebrian is aware of the difference between a childhood dream and a dream of an adult.

"I've had the dream since I was a kid, but have been taking it more seriously as I've gotten older,” he said.

How he plans to reach his dream is what’s most important, he said. He has done some acting and is already familiar with the stage, the lights, the audience and the feeling of being watched.

"From a young age, I've always had this knack for performing in front of people,” he said. “Whether it was singing or acting, I wanted to perform in front of audience."

Cebrian found something not only that he was good at, but something he enjoyed.

When asked why he likes acting, Cebrian said, "My ultimate goal is to be an entertainer. I want to make people laugh, cry, think, believe... I think that's a great gift."

Aside from his passion of entertaining people, Cebrian is also touched by his acting and his performances. He said acting makes him feel free.

"I feel like a different person when I step into different characters," he said. "It feels liberating."

Inspiration often fuels the craft. Cebrian named Robert DeNiro, Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson as actors who inspire him. Other than the actors he named, Cebrian says he can draw inspiration from many people.

“Anyone who goes after their dream is an inspiration for me,” he said.