1. The need for late night T-Dubs.
No matter what type of food you are craving, T-Dubs is likely to have it. From burgers and loaded potato skin fries, to burritos and quesadillas, to mozzarella sticks and chicken fingers, T-Dubs has a never-ending supply of perfect midnight snacks. Leaving a party before 1 a.m. on a Friday or Saturday to catch T-Dubs before it closes is almost mandatory (I’ve done it countless times). For those of you that are not willing to end the night early, Purple Pizza and Fatshack are also great options for late night deliveries!
2. The excitement for Homecoming.
Homecoming: the one day, every October when TCNJ students get to experience an authentic football game/tailgating experience. Homecoming weekend is my favorite two days of the school year -- my friends and I often refer to it as Homecoming Eve and Homecoming day; our excitement often comparable to that of a child awaiting Christmas. Waking up at 9 a.m., preparing for the day with friends (alcohol optional), and roaming around a crowded parking lot bustling with students, alumni and family dressed in yellow and blue—what could be more fun than that?
3. That feeling of happiness when you realize that Eick has tater tots.
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Its joy is comparable to when Eick has real bacon, the ice-cream machine actually works, and when Eick has good theme nights.
4. The worship of certain TCNJ staff members.
Dave Muha, Eve, Big Larry—three people that every TCNJ student knows and loves. During the winter, the name Dave Muha is uttered constantly around TCNJ's campus; students have even made customized t-shirts to symbolize their adoration for the guy. If you want a snow day, better start prayin' to Muha! Then there are Big Larry and Eve -- two Eickoff Dining Hall workers who have big hearts and personalities. You’re missing out as a student if you do not interact with them while in the dining hall; not only are they a blast to talk to, but it's also really evident that they truly care about the students. I don’t just see Eve in the dining hall—I see her all over campus. She could be sitting a few rows away from you at the men’s basketball game, or next to you at a fraternity event.
5. Tuesdays for us are most schools' Thursdays.
Since most students are lucky enough to have no classes on Wednesdays (or at least no morning classes), Tuesdays are TCNJ’s “thirsty Thursdays.” We have the opportunity to go to house parties, or to Sloc’s—turning our Wednesdays into Netflix/sleep-until-dinner-time kind of days.
6. Our pride.
“The College of New Jersey? Do you mean Rutgers?” I’ve been questioned numerous times about what TCNJ is, where it is, and if it’s a good school. Many people outside the New Jersey/ New York area have never even heard of it, which, ask any TCNJ student, is super irritating. However, TCNJ’s been growing to be an increasingly popular option, especially in the Northeast. I’ve never met a student or an alumni who was not in love with the their college experience at TCNJ. To prove my point, as I wrote this article on my plane ride back from a vacation to Punta Cana, the woman in front of me noticed my TCNJ hat and told me that she graduated in 2010. She exclaimed how she loves TCNJ and told me to “never graduate!!” (I wish I never had to...) School pride is everywhere; as TCNJ students, whether past or present, we confidently know that we are one of the best schools in New Jersey!
