In addition to scholarships, grants, and loans, Seton Hall offers students on-campus resources to support students’ academic, professional and personal lives.
Some of these resources include SHU Shelf, Pirate’s Closet and Pirate’s Chest. From clothes to textbooks to everyday items, these resources provide students with free access to college essentials.
SHUShelf
SHUShelf is an on-campus resource for students located on the second floor of Walsh Library. Ed Vela, a junior political science and philosophy major, was a member of the Buccino Leadership Institute Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) that created SHUShelf.
According to Vela, SHUShelf contributes to making the campus more accessible “by creating a space that makes it easy for students to get access to free textbooks.”
Through SHUShelf, students may exchange their old, no-longer-needed textbooks for new ones. Manuela Amoah, a freshman biology major, utilized SHUShelf last semester.
On her RA's recommendation, Amoah simply checked out a textbook at a SHU Shelf tabling event;however, after one’s freshman fall semester, SHUShelf’s exchange process is enacted.
“Going into subsequent semesters, like the spring semester and then your sophomore year after, you have to bring a book to get a book,” Amoah said.
Regarding the quality of the textbook Amoah received, she was very pleased.
“You wouldn’t even know someone had it before,” Amoah said. “It was practically new.”
Amoah believes that SHUShelf is a great resource in itself.
“I would definitely recommend SHUShelf to other people,” Amoah said. “Sometimes you just can’t find [textbooks] and sometimes they’re just not in the budget at all, so SHUShelf is that sort of extra help and support.”
Vela dove deeper into SHUShelf’s mission that reflects just that.
“I think that SHUShelf embodies the kind of servant leadership ethos that Seton Hall prides itself on,” Vela said. “[SHUShelf] is the manifestation of how that ethos can be applied to improving the lives of our fellow students.”
For more information on SHUShelf, visit the SHUShelf website.
Pirate’s Closet
Pirate’s Closet is another on-campus resource for students. Pirate’s Closet’s Instagram page states the aim of this resource is “to provide professional attire for Seton Hall students in need.” Managed by the Career Center, Pirate’s Closet is located in Bayley Hall 209.
Charles “Cheno” Allen, a junior theatre major, has utilized Pirate’s Closet multiple times to outfit himself for interviews and professional meetings.
“In order for you to go into interviews or [meetings] with somebody professional, you have to look the part for them to even think about what you’re saying,” Allen said. “If you don’t look the part, they’re just going to question [you].”
Describing his first time visiting Pirate’s Closet, Allen said he was shocked that the high-quality items were free.
“My first thought was ‘do we have to pay for this?’” he recalled.
To Allen’s surprise, the answer is no—the items from Pirate’s Closet are free.
Additionally, Allen remembers the exceptional service he received from Pirate’s Closet workers. They helped him find his clothing sizes and even to tie his tie.
Unlike SHUShelf’s exchange system, clothing items from Pirate’s Closet do not need to be returned.
“They automatically tell you once you get it, you don’t have to return it,” Allen said. “But they say if you ever want to return it, you can.”
However, if a student chooses to return an item, it will be recycled for other Pirates’ use. Students may also donate business attire from their personal closet.
After assembling a full professional outfit from Pirate’s Closet, Allen showed up to a job interview dressed to the nines, and he was hired the same day.
“People look at how you look,” Allen said. “It’s the outside that matters first before you speak.”
After his positive experience, Allen recommends Pirate’s Closet to anyone and everyone in need of professional clothing.
“Instead of having to buy [professional clothes], just go to the Pirate’s Closet,” he said. “You never know what you can get.”
Pirate’s Chest
Pirate’s Chest is a newly established on-campus resource for students. Ranging from dorm supplies to school supplies, Pirate’s Chest provides everyday essentials to students.
According to the initiative's founder, Zachary Iosim, a business management and pre-law major, the resource is a student-led initiative created to give students access to necessities “easier and free for all Pirates.”
Pirate’s Chest team member Isabella Benjamin, a junior business management major, explained the organization’s mission.
“Our mission is to create a shared campus space where students can give what they can and take what they need,” Benjamin said.
Students may support Pirate’s Chest in one of two ways.
“Students can access Pirate’s Chest through a flea market-style tabling event held at the beginning of the school year, where they are free to take whatever items they need,” Benjamin said. “Students can also contribute by donating items in the designated bins on the third floor of the library throughout the year, as well as in the residence hall bins during move-out.”
Similar to SHUShelf and Pirate’s Closet, Pirate’s Chest improves accessibility on campus by providing affordable options for students in need of necessities.
“It’s open to all students, both on-campus and commuters, and designed to be stigma-free, so people feel comfortable using it,” Iosim said. “By creating a shared pool of resources, it helps level the playing field and makes campus life more manageable for everyone.”
“The goal?” Iosim asked. “Fill the Pirate's Chest with as much ‘treasure’ as possible, semester after semester.”
To donate some treasure to Pirate’s Chest, visit the permanent donation hub on the third floor of Walsh Library and check their Instagram for more details.
Carly Hunter is a writer for The Setonian’s Features section. She can be reached at carly.hunter@student.shu.edu.
