Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Danielle Bongiovanni
Students and professors reflect on grief in an academic setting
A 2021 study published in the International Dialogues on Education found that 60% of college students experience at least one loss during their academic career. Addressing academic obligations on top of basic needs can become overwhelming. “The psychological response to grief is profound enough to have an impact on someone’s life in all areas,” said Tal Yonai, Associate Director of Counseling Services. Whether bereaved students complete their courses can depend on the leeway given by professors.
Ramapo investigates post found on professor’s social media
Social media posts on the Facebook page of a Ramapo College professor – that some groups have branded as antisemitic – are being investigated by the college. In particular, the repost of a political cartoon about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that appeared on the Facebook page of associate professor of post production Renata Gangemi drew the ire of Jewish groups and New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who last Wednesday tweeted a condemnation of the post.
Spice up holiday food staples with these suggestions
If you plan on entertaining during this holiday season, consider making it memorable by spicing up what you serve. Holiday staples like the Christmas ham and Hanukkah latkes can be enhanced by pairing them with new dishes. Here are a few tips for finding a special addition to the menu. Who knows, maybe by exploring you’ll start a new tradition! Explore unusual side dishes We are creatures of habit, largely content to stick to what we know we already like.
Ramapo is close to finalizing a Campus Facilities Master Plan
Every 10 years, Ramapo College is required by the state to draft a Campus Facilities Master Plan. The document identifies projects related to Facilities for the coming decade. The latest version has been in the works since spring of 2022 and is on the verge of finalization. Interim Vice President for Operational and Administrative Integration Mike Yankovich and Director of Capital Planning Dan Roche head the process.
Ramapo’s men’s basketball team tallies three wins
The men’s basketball team collected three more wins, giving them an overall record of 5-1 and 1-0 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). On Nov. 18, the men’s basketball team faced Farmingdale State in Farmingdale, New York and left the court victorious. The Roadrunners slowly gained the lead throughout the first half. A flurry of action during the closing minutes of the half turned the score from 34-27 in Ramapo’s favor to 44-38 for Farmingdale.
Women’s volleyball season comes to a close at NCAA tournament
The 13-game win streak and historic season of the women’s volleyball team came to an end during the first game of the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Baltimore Regional Tournament. Ramapo traveled to Johns Hopkins University on Nov. 16 to face off against Christopher Newport University (CNU) and were sent home after losing 3-1. Going in, CNU had a record of 21-12 overall and 3-0 in the Coast to Coast Athletic Conference, while Ramapo stood 25-1 overall and 7-1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference.
November issue of ‘The Dark’ focuses heavily on childhood trauma
The November issue of “The Dark,” a monthly online magazine specializing in fantasy and horror as dark as its name, offers four stories guaranteed to make you sleep with the lights on tonight The issue opens with “A is for Alphabet” by Steve Rasnic Tem. Tem plays with time, weaving the nostalgia of childhood adventures with otherworldly elements and incomprehensible stakes.
Women’s volleyball secures spot in NCAA with two more wins
The women’s volleyball team took their historic season to the next level by winning the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) for the first time in school history. Their prize is an automatic bid into the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament. This is the Roadrunners’ second time participating in the NCAA Tournament in all of program history. The NJAC crown was claimed through two consecutive victories over Kean University and Stockton University over this past weekend. On Nov.
In Other News: Week of Nov. 8 on campus
Safer Sex Kiosk The Women’s Center and LGBTQ+ Services partnered with the Wellness Is Now Peers to host a Safer Sex Kiosk in the Fishbowl on Nov. 9. The table was packed with resources, including dental dams, personal lubricant and an array of condoms designed for oral and penetrative sex. There were also informational pamphlets on topics related to sexual health, such as how to identify and respond to sexually transmitted infections.
Opening proclamation celebrates Ramapo’s first-generation students
Some 47% of students who make up Ramapo’s incoming class of 2023 reported being first-generation, meaning their parents had not completed a 4-year college or university degree. This is the highest percentage in Ramapo’s history and would not have been possible without the signing of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965 by then-President Lyndon B. Johnson. In commemoration, the Ramapo community gathered around the Arch on Nov.
Women’s volleyball takes two more victories
The women’s volleyball team celebrated Senior Day on Nov. 4 with two non-conference victories in the Bradley Center against St. Joseph’s University — Long Island (SJLI) and Wilkes University. Their overall record is now 23-1, and they await the start of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) playoffs on Nov. 9. Ramapo started strong in their first set against SJLI, earning nine points before the Golden Eagles got their first kill from sophomore Luciana D’Ambrosio.
Players search for truth in ‘Slay the Princess’
The indie horror adventure game “Slay the Princess” sat on my Steam wishlist for over a year before its official release on Oct. 23, and I can attest that the wait was worth it. Black Tabby Games presented me with the perfect gaming experience for Halloween weekend. You begin by meeting The Narrator, who presents you with a simple objective: slay the Princess, save the world. From there, you can choose to follow orders or rebel.
New Jersey Botanical Gardens celebrates fall with annual festivities
The annual New Jersey Botanical Gardens (NJBG) Harvest Fest was delayed by dreary weather until Oct. 22, but it was well worth the wait. The NJBG strives to be financially accessible, and the festival was no exception. Admission was free and attendees could choose between parking right by the festivities for $5, or for free in a lot further down the main road.
Greek life paywall limits student involvement
Cost is a rising barrier for undergraduate students interested in Greek life.
Volleyball loses win streak to Stockton University
The women’s volleyball team fell for the first time this season in a conference game against Stockton University on Oct. 10. Ramapo gave it their all, totaling 57 kills to Stockton’s 53, but ultimately fell 3-2. Ramapo now sits with an overall record of 12-1 and 3-1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). The fight was fierce from the beginning. The Ospreys took the first set with 14 kills to the Roadrunners’ 12 and a hitting percentage of 0.25 to their 0.189, closing the set 25-21.
Pridefest celebrates Ramapo’s LGBTQ+ community
The Women’s Center and LGBTQ+ Services held Ramapo’s sixth annual Pridefest on Oct. 11, which happened to be National Coming Out Day. The afternoon was filled with activities to celebrate Ramapo’s vibrant LGBTQIA+ community. On-campus and local organizations had tables in the Grove to support the community and promote involvement. “I feel like this event is very needed, more than ever right now, with all of the anti-LGBTQ legislation out there and all of the resistance.
New stained glass windows embrace separation of church and state
American history is riddled with religious and political institutions influencing each other in ways that range from subtle to undeniably obvious. Examples centered within the political sphere are often more apparent, such as the reversal of Roe v. Wade, but places of worship have also been used as pawns for political gain. It is appreciated when steps are taken in support of the separation of church and state, no matter how overdue they may be.
Men’s soccer puts up a fight against TCNJ
On Friday, The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) defeated Ramapo’s men’s soccer team 1-0. The loss moved the Roadrunners to a 2-3-2 record on the season, while TCNJ sits at 3-5-1. The second shot and the only goal of the game occurred just after the fourth minute of action. TCNJ midfielder Colin Kenville scored with help from defensive midfielder Sebastian Hernandez. It was Kenville’s first goal of the season, and Hernandez’s first assist.
Women’s Volleyball rides 11-game win streak
The Roadrunners have been knocking over their opponents like dominoes as of late, with three recent victories against Farmingdale State College, Misericordia University and Montclair State University, extending their streak to 11 consecutive wins. On Saturday, the Roadrunners entered Farmingdale’s court determined to conquer, and exited with a pair of non-conference victories. A report card associated with the first game would be glowing for the team.
In Other News: Week of Sept. 20 on campus
Hillel Rosh Hashanah Dinner Ramapo’s chapter of Hillel, an international Jewish student organization, hosted a dinner party in honor of Rosh Hashanah in the Alumni Lounges on Sept. 20. Upbeat music played as attendees enjoyed kosher food from Ma’adan Catering, including veggie cutlets, fingerling potatoes, hummus and chicken marsala.
International Students Organization rings in Nepali New Year 2080
Florida's Best Barbecue Restaurant is Also the State's Best Locally-Owned Restaurant, According to Southern Living
International Students Organization rings in Nepali New Year 2080
The Hindu calendar Bikram Sambat is about 57 years ahead of the Gregorian Calendar used by most of the rest of the world. Nepal, one of the South Asian countries that follows it, celebrated Nepali New Year on Friday, April 14 to ring in 2080. Ramapo’s International Students Organization (ISO) threw a party that day both to bring Nepalese culture to campus and to honor the graduating seniors.
The Clothesline Project uses art for domestic violence awareness
The Clothesline Project began in 1990 as a response to the statistic that “58,000 soldiers died in the Vietnam war. During that same period of time, 51,000 women were killed mostly by men who supposedly loved them.” Co-founder and visual artist Rachel Carey-Harper came up with the idea of decorating shirts with messages related to violence against women and hanging them on a clothesline. Since then, the movement has expanded to raise awareness for all victims of intimate violence.
Men’s volleyball reels after losing win streak
This past week, the Ramapo men’s volleyball team was determined to make up for their devastating NJAC conference loss (3-1) to Kean University that curbed their seven-game win streak. Ramapo proceeded to shut out St. Joseph’s Brooklyn (SJCBK) on Saturday by a score of 3-0. The game was dominated by Andrew Finnegan, who scored team-highs in kills with 15 and digs with 11. The Bears could not compete, with leading player Alex Helfant trailing at 12 kills and 10 digs.
Luncheon honors the hard-working women of Ramapo
To close out Women’s HERstory Month, Ramapo held its annual Honoring the Women Who Inspire Us Luncheon in the Alumni Lounges. Nominated by students, women-identified faculty and staff members received awards for their work in and out of the classroom. Attendees were welcome to enjoy a variety of complimentary sandwiches and utilize the photo booth to record the celebration on film.
Relay for Life kicks off at late night
The American Cancer Society (ACS) has invested over $5 billion dollars in research since 1946 in accordance with its mission to “Save Lives, Celebrate Lives & Lead the Fight for a World Without Cancer.” In 1985, it founded the Relay for Life movement, which works with communities to host fundraiser events that enable the ACS to continue its advocacy, research and patient support.
‘Eat Your Young’ leaves Hozier fans hungry for more
Hozier celebrated his birthday by releasing “Eat Your Young.” The EP has whipped his fans up into a frenzy of anticipation for his new album set to come out late this summer. It features only three songs, but they all contain rich lyrics and layered sounds that require multiple listens for full absorption. One week before its release, Hozier posted an Instagram Reel talking about the EP’s religious themes. “It’s sort of a taste of two of the nine circles [of hell],” he said.
Clued-In tells stories of forgotten feminists
The feminist movement is alive and well, but it has undergone changes since the conception of the first wave. Genesis Siverio, the student women’s outreach coordinator for Ramapo’s Women’s Center & LGBTQ+ Services, held “Clued-In: Telling Women’s Stories” to bring attention to the lesser-known women of color who acted as the backbone of the movement. Siverio began the presentation with a summarized history of the four waves of feminism. The first began in the 1800s and focused on suffrage.
Price gouging for insulin is fatal
In 1923, the patent for insulin was sold for one dollar with the intention of ensuring it remained accessible. It costs less than $10 to manufacture a vial of insulin, yet someone without insurance may be forced to pay over $300 for one. This price gouging puts lives at risk. Of all the Americans using insulin, 16.5% are forced to ration it, according to the 2021 National Health Interview Survey.
Ramapo program unravels controversies around new sex ed standards
The implementation of the revised Comprehensive Health and Physical Education Standards section of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards was delayed from 2020 to 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With its implementation in NJ schools comes controversy over whether or not new material is appropriate for students.
Newman Catholic celebrates Ash Wednesday
Ramapo’s chapter of Newman Catholic, also called the Catholic Campus Ministry, held Mass for Ash Wednesday in the Alumni Lounges, marking the beginning of Lent. The group is associated with the Archdiocese of Newark and invited Father Jarek Zaniewski to serve as the celebrant. What are Ash Wednesday and Lent? Ash Wednesday always falls six and a half weeks before Easter. It is a day of confession and fasting where participants repent for their sins and profess their devotion to God.
Hands-on STEM degrees must be adapted for physical disabilities
According to the University of Washington, although disabled and non-disabled students pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) majors at similar rates, disabled students achieve less academic and professional success. As a result, they are underrepresented in the field; 26% of the U.S. population identifies as disabled, but less than of workers with one or more disabilities represent the workforce. Only 21% of those people work in STEM occupations.
‘Nightmare’ diversifies the horror genre
“Nightmare” is an online magazine beloved by the horror community. From Southern Gothic to dark fantasy, every spooky sub-genre is represented if you comb through the archive. A new issue is published every month, and this February welcomed the 125th into the world in all its gory glory. The editorial by Editor-in-Chief Wendy N. Wagner held an important announcement. Starting with this issue, “Nightmare” will include content warnings on all published stories and poems.
Beginner-friendly game jams keep the indie genre afloat
A game jam is more than a competition, it is a community formed with the goal of fostering creativity and expanding the indie genre. The broadest definition of a game jam is an event that invites people to work as individuals or in teams to make a game that follows a theme. What a game jam entails can vary wildly. Usually participants are making video games, but they can also focus on board games or tabletop role-playing games.
Unclear Who Will Have to Pay For Special "Do-Over" Election in Old Bridge - New Brunswick Today
OLD BRIDGE, NJ—After a challenged election, a refused appeal, and a long wait, voting is underway in the March 22 “do-over” election for one of Old Bridge’s nine Township Council seats. A Superior Court Judge ordered that a new special election must be held after a slew of election problems cast doubt on the slim margin of victory in the Fourth Ward of Old Bridge.
State Theatre Celebrates Halloween Weekend with "Jaws in Concert" - New Brunswick Today
Success! You're on the list. Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again. NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ-The New Jersey Symphony (NJS) arrived in New Brunswick this morning to prepare for their presentation of "Jaws in Concert," scheduled for 3 p.m.
State Theatre Celebrates Halloween Weekend with "Jaws in Concert" - New Brunswick Today
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—The New Jersey Symphony (NJS) arrived in New Brunswick this morning to prepare for their presentation of “Jaws in Concert,” scheduled for 3 p.m. at the historic State Theatre New Jersey. This is the latest in their collaborative series of Popular Concerts (Pops), where the theatre screens a famous film while the symphony performs its score.
Students sign petition to increase campus security
Nearly 4,000 Ramapo students have signed a change.org petition demanding improved on-campus security following an abduction of a student last Thursday in the commuter parking lot. Alexis Ruhlen, a sophomore nursing major with minors in neuroscience and psychology, said she was in a toxic and controlling relationship for two years.
Students question ranking of Ramapo dorms
Niche.com, a site that provides statistics and reviews on colleges and universities for potential applicants, recently ranked Ramapo’s dormitories 27th on their list of the 2023 Best College Dorms in America. Ramapo is unique in several areas when compared to typical trends in college dorms. The first is price. As of 2021, the yearly average cost of room and board at a public four-year college was $10,800 and $12,210 at a private four-year college.
Unclear Who Will Have to Pay For Special "Do-Over" Election in Old Bridge - New Brunswick Today
OLD BRIDGE, NJ—After a challenged election, a refused appeal, and a long wait, voting is underway in the March 22 “do-over” election for one of Old Bridge’s six Township Council seats. A Superior Court Judge ordered that a new special election must be held after a slew of election problems cast doubt on the slim margin of victory in the Fourth Ward of Old Bridge.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Danielle
Contact Danielle, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack