The Center

Established Wednesday, February 5, 1997, the Center is a voluntary social organization.

What it actually is, is hard to define. It means different things to different members, but at it's heart it is an eclectic collection of people joined by a connection to the group itself.

The original concept was created fall semester of 1996 over a morning breakfast at Tillet Dining Hall on the Rutgers Livingston Campus after a video game all nighter. Essentially, the two agreed to become roommates after David Harbatkin's roommate Mo' was kicked out of the room for trying to poison him by painting his cream cheese with white-out, because he didn't like the fact that he would have sex on his bed.

The following semester, a triple switch ensued, wherein the new roommate assigned to David Harbatkin, Dave#2, moved in with Matthew Grossi. Matthew Grossi's roommate LeVar Minor moved in with the Rastaman, who was Geza Lutsky's roommate. And, Geza Lutsky moved in with David Harbatkin, forming the Center.

Initially, the term "The Center" referred to the physical dorm room, Quad 1, House 16, Room 1603 of the Livingston Campus. It was known as "The Video Game Center" since the two opened up their dorm room - which contained 6 TV's, (5 operational) 7 video game systems, 4 alarm clocks, 2 computers, 2 VCR's, 2 Game Genies, A refrigerator, tons of movies and videos, countless video game controllers, 2 stereos, 2 boom boxes, tons of games and eds, a telephone, answering machine, bunk beds, numerous chair to accommodate guests, 2 desks, 3 dressers, and 3 labeled garbage cans - for other to hang out and play in various video game competitions. It eventually got shortened to being called The Center, which in turn came to refer not just to the physical room, but to any and all things related to the group of people associated with it, or the activities they promulgated.