Written for The Argo by Samantha Flatten.

Starting on September 8, Stockton University held its first week of classes, where new students and returning students rang in the new semester with campuswide events. One event with notable recognition is the long-standing Labor Day Fest, which was held on Monday, September 7.

This transition started in 2010 with simple lawn games and poster sales in the TLRC quad. Matthew Greer—the Associate Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life—along with the Greek Council, Student Senate, Unified Black Students Society (UBSS), and Stockton Entertainment Team (SET), wanted to reshape this event to be a more exciting and welcoming space for students coming back to school. Starting in 2024, they did just that by bringing new attractions such as SET sponsoring Jersey Cow, UBSS and Student Senate bringing in inflatables and a rock climbing wall.

Matthew Greer exclaimed that, “There were about 120 more student participants that checked in this year than they did last year.” Aside from the good vibes and good food, students were also able to connect with Greek life in a casual manner. Stockton prides itself on its many cultural Greek groups and what a positive change they continuously make to students’ lives. Students who find a home in Greek life tend to have “higher retention rates than the university’s retention rates as a whole.”

If that wasn’t enough to spark your interest in these amazing events, Bri Puli, a sister of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Inc., shares that going Greek has made her feel “a part of this community where no matter what, I will always be their sister, whether I speak fluent English or Spanish.”

Stockton emphasizes that the students and community are family, and the annual Labor Day Fest shows that when these groups come together, a university like none other is formed.