Welcoming students back with bear hugs

NEWTON, N.J. — Under the noses of the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection, the Division of Fish and Wildlife and eager local hunters, over 100 bear cubs were released on the Sussex County Community College campus last Tuesday. Relax, you are not likely to find them raiding your garbage cans. According to Heidi Gregg, associate director of student activities, “over 100 bears were ‘born’ so far today.” Any student with a valid college ID card was invited to build a bear as part of the welcome week activities. The bears included a make a wish star to be put inside the bear, a college “Welcome Week 2008” T-shirt and a birth certificate. Gregg pointed out that “for various reasons students forget to get their ID cards validated by the bursar’s office. The validation is needed for various uses around the campus (checking out library materials, for example). Activities like this encourage students to take the time to get their ID’s validated.” Acting as midwives in the birthing process were members of the student activities office. The bears had a draw string closure on their bellies, eliminating the need for any sewing. The T-shirt shirt gave the bears a casual, yet collegiate appearance.