Another Successful Seton Hall Weekend

As a long time South Orange NJ resident, volunteer and former community organization participant in the Seton Hall Weekend, my family and I look forward to the very generically named Seton Hall Weekend. Now not sure why it doesn’t have another descriptive adjective in the name like “homecoming” or Family” or even Community” because there is a lot that goes on this weekend and yet the name does not describe it well. In town so many community residents and some organizations I encounter, don’t realize the wealth of activities that are available.

It’s a shame because on the SHU Website, the event is described as: Seton Hall Weekend is a celebration of our community spirit and of the close ties enjoyed by alumni, students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community. Join the Seton Hall community … for a fun-filled weekend. From outdoor performances, arts and crafts, rides, and carnival games to theatre performances, campus tours and sporting events, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The description makes it clear that it is more than just a Seton Hall Weekend only event, as there are many things to do all day long.

Now I’ve been attending this event since 2008 where I participated in the Parade that used to start in town and went up South Orange Avenue and onto the Green of Seton Hall Campus. It’s all on Campus now but there are still a ton of outdoor activities that are planned well in advance.

As a small business person, this SHU Weekend to me was a testament to the power of planning and professionalism when it comes to event planning. On Saturday the weather controllers did not cooperate but that did not stop the fun. The SHU website stated in advance: Don’t let rain keep you away! All activities scheduled for the Green will now take place in the Field House.

Just like in the past, once on campus, rain and all there was plenty to do. There were the blowup slides and rides, many fraternities were out with their message, and the stage was ready for the performers. I came across of few interesting tables and booths to say the least.

The South Orange Domestic Violence Response Team was represented by longtime resident and community activist Marla and Shermian P. Daniel M.D. The Domestic Violence Response Team is a twenty four hour a day, seven day a week program created to assist victims of domestic abuse. The goal of the program is to provide victims with the knowledge to make informed decisions based upon the options available to them.

In light of the current Ray Rice negativity this team is surely needed. This was further emphasized by the fact that Shermian P. Daniel who also manned the table put forth a book authored by Wagner Wolf titled Antoinette: Shattered Dreams. Listed as romantic, fiction, the description starts as” Pretty on the outside, dangerous on the inside.” which is very appropriate for the domestic violence subject in question. It’s an engrossing thriller with what seems to be a message. “Girls who come through the doors of her ‘Women United’ facility leave as Women Resurrected and break free as they begin to heal.” You can read more here at http://wagnerwolf.com/

Along the day there were many performances around the stage and one I saw at 1:30 was the SHU Silent Praise Team. These young ladies performed a liturgical dance that was very enthusiastic, inspiring and spiritually uplifting. You can see more about their performance here in the small video snippet that I captured.

Another event was the Flip and Out. Now trampolines are a great way to exercise, entertain friends, and have fun and we all think it’s the fun activity that we do in our backyards. According to Wikipedia: Trampolining is a competitive Olympic sport in which gymnasts perform acrobatics while bouncing on a trampoline. This was evident because in the big space in the middle of the field house was a few somewhat wild and crazy guys who perform twists, triple flips and other complex acrobatic routines, at heights of 25 feet as they bounced high in the air. They truly delivered entertaining fun, but it was clear, trampolining is an acrobatic exercise that requires real skill and flexibility to do some of what they did and not harm oneself.

Before exiting the field house I watched the swimming team performing friendly lap races amongst the team. Outside, on a somewhat quiet campus compared to past years, the sun started coming out and I encountered the trolley that parents and kids were on smiling and laughing as they rode around the campus.

On Sunday morning it was quiet but it was nice to encounter folks out and about early in the day. Kids playing, folks headed to early morning service and of course those setting up events for day 2 of the Seton Hall weekend.

Having a child in college that’s far away, that I always worry about, it was notable that I ran across two students Alex and Kim of SHU Active Minds, who were out drawing a message in the center of the Green. Their objective was to make folks aware of mental health issues as part of a chapter group called Active Minds. With a mission that empowers students to change the perception about mental health on college campuses, they want to “eliminate the shame surrounding mental health disorders. As the say “No one should have to struggle in silence.” With young college adults having so many issues to keep up with, it’s nice to see groups like this addressing real issues that can help many others.

In addition to the planned Sunday Mass, Jazz Brunch, and South Mountain Reservation Hike, I came across the Golden Pirates which included all alumni who attended or graduated from Seton Hall 50 years ago or more. This group was touring the campus and seeing all the changes that occurred over time. Nothing like great support from past alumni.

Also it was nice to see one of the six “Playing Around South Orange Pianos” #SOPianos, being represented in front of the SHU Bishop Dougherty University Center. People tended to stop by play a few tunes and move on.

I have to mention I took a walk through the Fabulous Fitness Center was wowed. It’s beautiful and I was informed that it went into place in January of this year, it is definitely a state of the art fitness center and definitely one the college can be proud of as the SHU Fitness Center has absolutely everything you need to stay in shape.