Abstract

Our Collaborative Research Project is an extension of our Oral History assignment.  Amy Schuster, Julianne Kovary and I recorded a documentary in which we asked the question, "Why do students at Rowan University gain weight as freshmen?"  This research question stems from our original goal of unveiling the various factors that lead to college weight gain.  In our initial interviews, which can be viewed here, and in conducting our primary research, we concluded that most college students see a significant weight change during their freshman year.  We then narrowed our research in order to obtain the opinions and personal experiences of various Rowan students.  We captured responses to our research question, "Why do students at Rowan gain weight as freshmen?", primarily through video; we also posted a Facebook status, to which we received several written responses.  Our findings conclude that binge drinking is the primary factor that leads to weight gain in freshman students at Rowan University.  Other primary factors include: the cafeteria, boro bucks, and stress.