Spring 2023 Issue 4

XOXO, njitconfessions

By Mrunmayi Joshi | Managing Editor

Whenever she got a break on her shift at work, the creator of @njitconfessions on Instagram rapidly scrolled through hundreds of messages in her inbox, posting as many as she could throughout the day. The account was active from Fall 2021 to the beginning of this year. Over the course of its lifetime, it served as an anonymous forum for open discussion, accruing over 2,000 followers.

“The initial reason I created this page,” she said, “was to make something lighthearted. I thought it would be a unique way to bring people together, especially if some students were not comfortable with in-person interactions.” She hoped to create a safe space where students could voice anything on their minds and feel comfortable doing so, without the fear of being judged or ostracized in real life.

The format of the page allowed students to submit anonymous confessions to the account, which she would then

or Instagram story. Dozens of people, at the very least, would then comment on these posts in the hopes of being featured. The creator would post responses to the anonymous questions or confessions submitted by followers through the account’s Instagram stories.

At times, the page would face accusations of bias from users whose comments were not featured. To this, she responded, “There wasn’t much discretion for what I posted, as long as it wasn’t violent or dangerous. I received hundreds of messages every day, so some would fall through the cracks; I tried to share as much as I could, as long as it wasn’t harmful to anyone.”

“When people messaged me asking whether I was avoiding certain content,” she added, “I would respond, letting them know about the sheer volume of messages I had received and that I had been unable to post everything.” Topics that garnered particular traction in the student body were political conversation, freedom of speech, abortion, religion, Student Senate, and sexual assault.

The anonymity of these discussions often resulted in a difficult choice between misinformation and censorship when the confessions contained specific names. “This question is very difficult to answer,” she said, “because the premise of the page was free thought and expression. However, when a message named a specific individual or organization, I felt responsible to redact the name to avoid any targeting or the mob mentality.”

She continued, however, “I didn’t feel the need to omit entire subjects, because that would be implementing bias on my part. It wouldn’t serve the purpose of the page if I were to do that.” Overall, the account attempted to preserve the general idea of messages.

Running this account gave the creator better insight into the needs of NJIT students, although she maintains that the page did not represent the entirety of the community. However, she saw that “many people were struggling with mental health, and there needs to be better access to resources and awareness of how to find support. For example, some people did not know how to contact C-CAPS and schedule an appointment.”

During the creator’s time at NJIT, she worked full-time. However, with the page gaining more attention with the end of the Spring 2022 semester, and the creator already having decided to take a part-time credit load for Fall 2022, she had more time to check and post messages. “Throughout the day, I would try to read through some of the messages,” she said, “and whenever I got a chance, I’d quickly post comments I had proof-

read.”

When asked about the best and worst parts of this position, she reflected, “Having spaces like this, especially smaller spaces relating to our specific community, is really important and these discussions would not be happening in real life. You’re having these conversations with people that you might never have thought to interact with.”

However, there were downsides as well. “I don’t like social media, or being on my phone much,” she laughed, “so that was one of the worst parts. Also, I got a lot of backlash although I was just acting as the middleman for these people to communicate with one another.”

When asked if she wanted to say anything to the NJIT community, after over a year sending their messages, she said, “Throughout the duration of the page, I was only acting with my best intentions. These topics that came up — I wasn’t pushing anything. I don’t harbor any hatred or ill will towards anyone.”

“The initial reason I created this page was to make something lighthearted. I thought it would be a unique way to bring people together, especially if some students were not comfortable with in-person interactions.”

Creator of @njitconfessions

THE VECTOR About

As the official student newspaper of the New Jersey Institute of Technology, our mission is to inform and entertain our readers, cultivate awareness of issues concerning the NJIT community, and provide a forum for purposeful, constructive discussion among its members.

Deadline for articles is the Thursday the week prior to publication at 10 p.m. For more information on submissions, e-mail managing-editor@njitvector.com.

Advertisement reservations are due two weeks prior to publication and should be emailed to business-manager@njitvector.com.

FIND US ONLINE

MEET THE TEAM

ADVISORS

Operational Advisor Matthew Blanar

Faculty Advisor

Miriam Ascarelli

EXECUTIVE BOARD

eboard@njitvector.com

Editor-in-Chief Yukthi Sangoi editor-in-chief@njitvector.com

Managing Editor Mrunmayi Joshi managing-editor@njitvector.com

Executive Editor Areej Qamar executive-editor@njitvector.com

Staff Writers

Aaron Dimaya

Paridhi Bhardwaj*

Alfred Simpson

Najee Manning

Matthew Fleishman

Contributing Writers

Shreyal Sharma

Vaishnavi Kodali

Haripriya Kemisetti

Venkata Pranaya Reddy

Distribution Manager

Kevin Colonia

Business Manager

Samira Santana business-manager@njitvector.com

Photography Editor

Ethan O'Malley photography-editor@njitvector.com

Web and Multimedia Editor Nick Merlino multimedia-editor@njitvector.com

VECTOR STAFF

Photographers

Sean Slusarz*

Eric Camargo*

David Bendezu*

Aditya Bajaj

Simon Chen

Ivy Sosing

Alisha Valentin

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Copy Editors

Mustafa Shaikh

Alfred Simpson

Hafsa Ali

Bansari Mistry

Upcoming Events

*Senior Staff

Layout Assistants

Nicolas Arango

Ivy Sosing*

Shreyal Sharma

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Graphic Designers

Nicolas Arango

Varsha Thampi

Syed Zeeshan Ali

“Having access to menstrual products is a matter of equal access to education for menstruators,” said Nikki Rodriguez, third-year materials engineering graduate student. She worked with second-year biomedical engineering major Marina Samuel to provide free and easily accessible period products in Aunt Flow dispensers in select women’s, men’s, and all-gender restrooms starting this spring.

About three years ago, the Student Senate proposed this project but fell short because there was not enough funding available. However, Rodriguez recently joined Graduates for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity and became the vice president of the group.

“With the support of this organization and my friends, I felt empowered enough to propose a project of this scale to the admin,” she commented. “It may not seem like a complicated project because the result is relatively simple, but I had to contact many people before it took off, and it is a large-scale effort.” Last fall, she reached out to administration members and was able to get started on revamping the initiative.

“I had another student talk to me at the club fair, separate from [Samuel] and [Rodriguez], about menstrual products,” said Associate Dean of Students Dr. Kristie Damell, also NJIT’s Title IX Coordinator. “They asked, ‘Why do we have condoms for men, and we don't even have menstrual products for women that are free?’ And I said, that's a really fair point. I hear you.” She noted that the only places offering products on campus at that time were the Food Pantry — at no cost — and Village Market.

On behalf of the Dean of Students, Damell brought all the parties together — Facilities Services, Student Health Services, the Dean of Students, Rodriguez, and Samuel — and took the lead on proceeding with the project. “[Rodriguez] was very passionate about it; she brought so much research to the table,” she added.

Damell pulled in the Student Senate, and Samuel, vice president of Student Affairs at the time, stepped up to continue with the project. “This initiative

NJIT Provides Menstrual Product Access. Period.

By Yukthi Sangoi | Editor-in-Chief

not only addresses the basic need for access to these products, but it also reflects NJIT's commitment to diversity and inclusivity, making education and lifestyle opportunities accessible to all individuals, regardless of differences,” Samuel stated.

The project holds great significance to her; it was difficult for her to know when she began to think about it. “NJIT has a noticeable disparity in the number of menstruators versus non-menstruators,” she expressed. “Through this initiative, the minority of menstruators are given a sense of belonging, support, and recognition.”

Rodriguez also pushed for men’s bathrooms to be included in the installations of dispensers. Damell mentioned, “In my mind at first, I thought maybe we should start with the women's restrooms and all-gender ones. I thought, ‘all-gender meets everyone's needs, right?’

“But [Rodriguez] said, ‘No, it's important they're in the men's rooms, too,’ and she’s absolutely right.” Damell also acknowledged that some floors of buildings on campus don’t have all-gender bathrooms, so adding them to men’s rooms keeps consistency within buildings.

“I am a cisgender woman myself, but I don’t have to experience — or even understand — something to know it exists; the trans experience has always existed and will always exist as long as human-

ity exists,” Rodriguez said. She feels this campus is relatively masculine and conservative, causing her to fear that others might not take this part of the initiative seriously.

“Maybe I came off very strong on this particular issue, but I don’t care if I am annoying — men menstruators are a precious part of humanity. They deserve to have access to products, they deserve a high-quality education, and I’m so grateful that Dean Damell supported me on this issue,” she added.

It was also essential choosing Aunt Flow as the company providing the supplies; its menstrual products are organic, and the company is woman-owned.

Its website states, “Menstrual products are not covered by food stamps or WIC. No one should ever be forced to choose between food and tampons. For every 10 tampons or pads sold, we donate 1 to a menstruator in need. With your help, we donated over 1.6 million period products in 2021 alone (and we’re just getting started).” The WIC program aims to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

On the dispensers, it’s advised to users to take only what they need when they need it. This is underlined to ensure products are especially available to students anytime they need one at that

moment. In addition, one of the considerations was making sure these supplies are geared mainly towards students and not outsiders; for instance, the first floor of Campus Center is a high-traffic public access area, so there aren’t any dispensers in those bathrooms.

Damell also mentioned that in March 2022, a bill was introduced in New Jersey that “requires school districts to ensure that students and staff in schools educating students in grades kindergarten through 12, or any combination thereof, have direct access to menstrual products, free of charge, in all women's restrooms and all-gender restrooms, and in at least one men's room,” according to BillTrack50.

She said that NJIT would like to be in line with what the state is doing, so introducing this initiative now would be perfect timing in that regard.

Both Samuel and Rodriguez hope students can feel more comfortable on campus knowing that these products are now provided. “There are students who go home early and have a compromised education because they got their period on campus and could not access products when they needed them most. We don’t have to ask for things like hand soap or toilet paper, so why should menstrual products be any different?” Rodriguez commented.

“I think it really helps support our LGBTQ+ — really our trans and non-binary — community to be able to say they can use the restroom of their choice. If they need a product, it's right there,” Damell concluded. “It eliminates additional barriers to everyone on campus; I'm just really happy to see it happen.”

This initiative is a pilot program for this semester, funded by Student Senate, the Graduate Students Association, the Office of Student Life, and the Dean of Students. After overseeing how it plays out until the end of the semester, Facilities Services can put in the budget request for the next academic year to maintain the products.

A map of bathroom locations with dispensers installed and more information can be found at njit.edu/period.

Photo by Yukthi Sangoi

Photo by Yukthi Sangoi

COLLECTIONS

voices from around campus

In honor of Presidents' Day: Which president would you like to take on a date and why?

"the vector president (yukthi)"

"Teddy Roosevelt. Gotta love them glasses and moustache"

"Jfk because he was a twunk"

"Non-US presidents/PMs? Jacinda Ardern because of obvious reasons. US Presidents? Honestly, FDR to pick their brain about our infrastructure."

"Former NJIT President Joel S. Bloom, just to see how he's doing"

"I find Ulysses S. Grant old man attractive and I hope the wider public has my back on this"

"Obama, he got the personality and smile"

"Abe Lincoln, i want to find out just how honest he really is"

"James Buchanan"

"calvin coolidge. he's such a baddie"

"Donald Trump. Gimme some of that hush money."

"Obama"

RADIO UPDATE

Week of 2/12/2023

We're Just The Best Radio

WJTB Radio is back on air! The station currently hosts almost 30 shows over the course of the week. This is the busiest schedule the station has seen in recent memory, with seven shows on Monday, five on Tuesday, five on Wednesday, seven on Thursday, and four on Friday. The content of the station changes from day to day, and it is not limited to music shows.

On Mondays from 3 - 4 p.m. there is a sports news show; there are slightly unhinged pseudo-talk shows like "Pat's Crap" from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and “bam wham thank you ma’am” from 1– 2 p.m. on Mondays. Additionally, there are inter-club collaborations such as with NJIT Racing from 5 – 6 p.m.

on Wednesdays, as well as standard music and DJ shows spread around the schedule; almost anything is welcome.

Looking to set up your own show? Submissions are closed for this semester, so permanent shows aren’t available until Fall 2023, but variety hours are always open! These allow you to test a show idea with no obligations, aside from learning how to run a show beforehand, and are open every week. The variety hour time slots for this semester are from 5 – 6 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays. If you would like to take one, you can learn more by joining the Discord at njit.gg/wjtb! Keep an eye on this column — more news and show updates will come every week.

"President Teik C. Lim"

"JFK - I love a good man with a strong head on his shoulders"

"one of the johns"

"jfk absolutely"

"reeeeaaaagannnnn ;)"

"First of all, I'm a dude. I'm not attracted to other dudes, and all of our presidents thus far have been dudes. That being said, if I were to take a president on a date, it would have to be my man DONALD J. TRUMP. I have multiple reasons for this. First, Trump is a billionaire with a model as a wife. I think it's pretty safe to assume that he knows how to show somebody a good time on a date. He has unlimited money and resources at his disposal, so date options are practically unlimited. Second, I liked many of Trump's policies and shared some of his opinions, so we could probably have some nice conversations. It' help keep the date from being awkward. Sure, he MAY have done some not so great stuff in the past, but we can overlook that for the sake of the date. Finally, I like the way Trump speaks, especially the way he says "China". For these reasons I believe that a date with Donald J. Trump is the only reasonable option."

Newark’s Artists Live on through Street Art

By Giray Arat | Guest Contributor

"Magnitude and Bond" is a large mural painted on a brick wall on Halsey Street, close to NJIT. I used to pass by it at least once a week when I was living in Newark and studying at NJIT as an exchange student during the 2021-2022 school year. As my time in Newark drew to a close, the mural became a kind of shrine to me, and I went to see it regularly.

To me, it has always represented the spirit of Newark. At the top of the mural, there is an elderly woman with a halo around her head, looking down at the city. The mural is so large that you can see her even when looking up from farther locations on Market Street. The woman ceaselessly watches over Newark, looking out over every building.

During my first few months at NJIT as an electrical engineering student, I could not recognize the figures in local artwork, having come to the United States for the first time. However, I learned so much in a year. Some faces started becoming recognizable, such as the Harriet Tubman mural "A Path To Freedom" on Treat Place, just behind Broad Street, and which has many other pieces of artwork.

Upon reading about the groundbreaking Harriet Tubman monument proposal in the recently renamed Harriet Tubman Square, I learned that the Underground Railroad existed in Newark as well. There was a station located inside the basement of the Presbyterian Church on Broad Street, right at the center of Newark.

Not many students at NJIT know about the city’s abolitionist history, or about the murals honoring its past. Yet the city’s collection of street art murals is so important and is being built passionately and carefully by a growing community of Newark artists. The heart and soul in their art serves as a gateway for us students to interact and connect with the people of Newark, and acts as a portal to their proud history.

One of those artists was Gladys Barker Grauer —

the woman pictured at the top of the "Magnitude and Bond" mural. The artwork was created to commemorate Newark artists, and to commemorate the seven decades that she lived there as an artist. Grauer was born in 1923 and moved to the city in 1951; in 1971, she opened Newark’s first art gallery.

She was a prolific visual artist, creating countless artworks weaving together several different materials and methods. Grauer was what I would call an “incubator," or a catalyst. She created a space in her studio for local artists to hold exhibitions and pushed major projects into motion, turning Newark into a center for art.

Another artist pictured on the mural is Breya Knight. While Grauer watches over the community, Knight, a poet, actress, and singer, stands in front of her as a, well, knight. She was also a busy artist, regularly taking the stage at poetry events in Newark and outside.

Knight was heavily involved in the community, teaching young girls poetry after school. She sang with Newark choirs and often combined poetry with song in her performances; she also published three books. Unfortunately, she succumbed to diabetes at age 30, but became a central figure of the Newark community, just like Grauer.

We paint murals to remember the stories of the past, and pass these down to the next generations, so that they can face the future with purpose. We wish to lend our own knowledge and their ancestors’ support. The people honored in Newark’s murals are our own ancestors too.

As NJIT students, we are also a part of the Newark community, and can learn from its artists, workers, merchants, and revolutionaries. Our work at NJIT, the home of knowledge, of science, technology, and design, grows through its relationship with Newark and its people. By telling their stories, including through street art, we can face the future together.

Dos and Don'ts at Career Fairs

By Mrunmayi Joshi | Managing Editor

It’s February, which means longer days, the scent of springtime in the air, and — of course — the scramble to find a summer internship. On Feb. 14, NJIT hosted its Spring 2023 career fair. For future semesters, here is some advice that may help land you a dream job.

DO go early! Being at the career fair early on means that you’ll avoid the rush and potentially get to have a better oneon-one conversation with the recruiter. Going immediately also shows your enthusiasm and gives you more time to network with every company.

DON’T be afraid to ask questions. Of course, this doesn’t mean questions like 'What does your company do?' but rather those that delve a little deeper into what they’re looking for and the future direction of the company. This shows that you have done your research and can voice any queries.

DO prepare answers to prompts such as 'Tell me about yourself' or 'What are your strengths and weaknesses?' Although you might not know the specific questions that the company might ask

you, you should be able to confidently deliver answers to more generic questions like these. In general, treat this as practice for an interview; questions like these will almost certainly come up in a formal job interview.

DON’T dress casually. When you enter the doors of the career fair, you are no longer a student, but rather a potential employee or member of the team. Therefore, you want to look and act professional; not only does this reflect your maturity, but also that you have taken time and effort to be as polished as possible.

DO try and talk to recruiters from different companies, even those that weren’t on your radar or who are hiring for positions that differ from your goals. Networking with these recruiters may get you an 'in' for an opportunity that is not presented there. Additionally, it never hurts to ask around if they know of anyone looking for a candidate like you.

DON’T go just for the free items. Listen, I like emblazoned stress balls and lanyards just as much as you do, but treat

this event as an opportunity to make a personal connection and possibly score an interview. If you make it clear that you don’t care what the company is searching for, why would the recruiter be interested?

DO make different copies of your resume. Picture that you are searching for a software engineering internship and have completed projects using the languages JavaScript, CSS, and C#. Although CSS may be your strong point, you don’t know about all the positions that will be highlighted at the career fair, so print out at least a few copies of your resume highlighting your skills in JavaScript and C#.

DON’T say anything negative about NJIT, your classes, or previous employers. This one is a little self-explanatory, but from the recruiter’s perspective, if you’re willing to complain about your life to someone you just met, what’s to stop you from saying something negative about this company, too? In general, try to keep it positive and bring the conversation back to your experience and

strengths.

DO your research! The career fair will be so much more interesting and productive if you know a little bit about each company and what their strengths are. Not only will you be able to narrow down where you plan to spend the most time, but it will make you a memorable candidate who knows about the position and asks interesting questions.

DON’T spend too much time at one booth. This might seem counterintuitive, but you want your pitch and conversation to be memorable and short. If the recruiter wants some other piece of information, they can ask you; otherwise, you might be the cause of a backed-up line and frustrated recruiter.

Of course, the most important part of attending a career fair is to present the authentic you, just in the best light that you can. There will always be uninterested recruiters or openings that you don’t quite fit. Ideally, however, following these tips will minimize such interactions. Good luck!

Photo by Giray Arat

Photo by David Bendezu

Layout by Allie He Ivy Sosing, & Areej Qamar

Art Time Before Valentines

The Friday before Valentine's Day, the Art Club organized a craft building event in the Campus Center. participants could also play a game as couples to see who knew their significant other best.

Blind Date with a Book

The Vector and the NJIT Book Club worked together to give away free books in the Campus Center lobby. The book titles were kept hidden, but descriptions and themes were placed on the wrapping to help students pick their blind date.

Pizza with the President

As part of Student Appreciation Week, the Office of the President invited students to enjoy free pizza outside its office in Fenster Hall and to talk with NJIT President Dr. Teik C. Lim.

Photos by Ethan O'Malley

Photos by Alisha Valentin

Photos by Venkata Pranaya Reddy

SAC Masquerade Ball

Student Activities Council, alongside other NJIT organizations, hosted a masquerade ball in the Campus Center Ballroom. Students were treated to free food, live music, and a smoothie bar.

Layout by Areej Qamar

Photos by Ethan O'Malley

'The Turning Wheel' An Everlasting Ecosystem of Imagination

The moment that listeners enter American pop singer Spellling’s 2021 album “The Turning Wheel,” they are sucker-punched by rich violin, lush piano, ghostly wisps of music, and strong drums, all bathed in a synth undertone. This instrumental journey is merely an eruption for the grand finale: a brand-new musical journey before the intro track “Little Deer'' reaches two minutes. After this introductory palate cleanse, a vivacious chorus pops in.

For the remainder of “Little Deer,” Spellling transports the audience into an otherworldly state. She finishes the first chapter of “The Turning Wheel” with complex questionings of the mysteries concerning life, death, and reincarnation. This is accomplished with the metaphor of a hunter contemplating the killing of a small deer.

The beginning of “The Turning Wheel” fully represents the whimsical setting that Spellling has created to share her personal woes. In the next track, “Always,” she retains the imaginative setting with blues elements to more directly interpret her newfound distress. Detailing her fear of love and heartbreak, she contemplates seeking protection within her fantasies despite the loneliness that comes from reclusion.

As you reach the third and title track, “Turning Wheel,” there is a fascinating regression as Spellling returns to personal folklore with subtle references to her own life. In this song, she processes the unstoppable movement of time, coming to terms with the impossibility of peace and stagnation during today’s modern age. Medieval imagery and scripture-based themes blend with explosive instrumentals to create a digestible version of her foreboding thoughts.

Journeying further through this album, it becomes easier to understand the core objective that she seeks to reach through the 12 tracks — questioning the impossible. Whether her own personal memories to set the picture in “Boys at School,” or a new world and language to unravel the unexplainable “Queen of Wands,”

Spellling pushes through every mental block and creates any necessary sound imaginable to fully pour her heart out.

She also slips in imaginary tales, such as the track “Emperor with an Egg,” which marks the album’s middle point. This fairytale of a song depicts an emperor penguin who shows off his prized egg for his kingdom to see, regardless of the dangers that may come. Although this song holds as much intricacy as any other track on the album, Spellling provides it as an interlude to let listeners’ minds take a break from the inventive themes of “The Turning Wheel.”

As a result, Spellling creates her own fable by separating the album into four acts with three chapters each, taking the listener through various emotional journeys. Each chapter becomes more melancholy and complex before reaching the album’s epilogue. Spellling shared that the album is structured as an ever-revolving story where you are further “submerged before coming out the other side” in a constant “cycle.”

'Naatu Naatu'

By Najee Manning | Staff Writer

This idea is highlighted in one of the album’s closing tracks, “Revolution,” in which she sings “What I want is a fire that never goes out…I’m in a permanent revolution.” Spellling acknowledges that emotions are vital for her progress, yet realizes that like all humans, she is naturally regressive and cannot escape the revolving cycle of life.

With the final track, “Sweet Talk,” Spellling reflects on her internal journey and the beauty that comes from the everlasting cycle of life, as well as the evolution of sound and music that comes from these constant life voyages. The audience is brought back to the eruptive opening that sparked their interest in the very beginning of the album, allowing them to take the mystical journey of “The Turning Wheel” all over again.

If you have ever desired to venture into a brandnew world where you could manifest any concept and emotion possible, look no further than Spellling’s “The Turning Wheel.” I give this album five crabs!

is India’s First Oscar Nominee

By Venkata Pranaya Reddy | Contributing Writer

The moving song "Naatu Naatu" from the blockbuster film "RRR" has been nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Original Song. The track has been recognized at one of the greatest award presentations in the world, which is a significant milestone for the Indian film industry.

The song, written by lyricist Kanukuntla Chandrabose and composed by M. M. Keeravani, is a stirring ode to Indian liberation warriors Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem, who are featured in “RRR.” The lyrics encourage listeners to reflect on the sacrifices these legendary individuals made for their country by showcasing their courage and tenacity. The song is performed by Keeravani and has a mesmerizing melody and stirring lyrics.

The song combines classical Indian instruments like the nadaswaram and mridangam with modern musical compositions. Consequently, listeners are treated to a distinctive and remarkable musical experience that holds their attention throughout.

The period action movie “RRR,” which debuted in March 2022, is set during the

height of India's independence movement in the 1920s. Some of the most well-known actors in Indian cinema, including N. T. Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan, Alia Bhatt, and Ajay Devgn appear in the film. Both viewers and reviewers enjoyed the film, which has been praised as an achievement for Indian cinema.

The fact that "Naatu Naatu" has been nominated for an Oscar is a testimony to the skill and labor of the musicians and filmmakers who worked on the movie. The Indian film industry can benefit from this moment, as it shows that Indian cinema is appreciated and honored on a global level. In conclusion, the Academy Award candidacy of “Naatu Naatu” is a significant step forward for Indian songs and films.

This moment of recognition will inspire future generations of Indian filmmakers to keep pushing the frontiers of creativity. Whether the song goes on to win the prize or not, the nomination is a pivotal moment in musical history.

Layout by Andrew Anil George

Photo from Spotify

By Areej Qamar | Executive Editor

Rating Books by Colleen Hoover

The Bad, the Terrible, and Everything in Between

This article contains spoilers and mentions of murder and sexual violence.

Despite the very real and imminent danger of angry Colleen Hoover fans beating down my door, I must confess that I absolutely hate Hoover’s books. Chances are that you’ve seen Hoover’s novels recommended more than once, but after reading them, I can say that they are entirely overhyped.

In short, ever since I began reading them, Hoover’s novels have been competing for spots at the bottom of my Goodreads totem pole. Here are my thoughts on some of Hoover’s most popular works. Spoiler alert: I despised them all.

“Verity”

As is the case in many of Hoover’s books, some random dramatic event brings two cookie-cutter characters together. In “Verity,” Lowen and Jeremy are introduced after someone is hit by a car in front of them. Of course, this incident is never brought up again because it was clearly only a plot device to get the two acquainted.

Jeremy is married to Verity, a world-renowned author who was tragically injured in a car accident and is now in a vegetative state. He hires Lowen, a writer herself, to finish writing Verity’s book series. As she works, Lowen finds Verity’s diary, in which Verity reveals that she murdered her daughter.

While the novel’s premise is interesting, the story progressed entirely too slowly — Lowen spent weeks reading a handful of diary entries which could have been finished in an afternoon. Additionally, Hoover had Lowen stop after each entry to offer her own thoughts, which I found repetitive and unnecessary. Yes, Verity trying to murder her children is horrifying — move on, Lowen.

Honestly, my favorite character in this book was Verity — murderous tendencies aside, of course. Not many people would be able to successfully fool everyone, including medical professionals, into thinking she was in a vegetative state for months. I also applaud Verity for traumatizing Lowen on multiple occasions; every woman should strive to drive their cheating husband’s mistress to madness.

Of course, no Colleen Hoover book would be complete without a bland romance, and Hoover really outdid herself with this one; Lowen and Jeremy perfectly complemented each other with their matching wet piece of cardboard personalities.

“November 9”

“November 9” is a romance novel about Ben, your average good-looking guy, and Fallon, an ex-child actress with extensive burn scars from a fire a few years prior. After a chance meeting, the two make a pact to meet up every Nov. 9 for the next five years, with no contact on any other day of the year. That is precisely where the problem arises for me — by the end of the five-year period, Ben and Fallon haven’t even spent 48 hours together, and Hoover can’t sell me on the idea that the two are actually in love.

During the brief time that they do spend together, their relationship follows a pattern of Ben pressuring Fallon into doing things she isn’t comfortable with, making her cry, and then having Fallon suddenly realize that she is beautiful despite her scars. Personally, I fail to see how Ben’s refusal to get Fallon’s consent is romantic in any way.

Manipulation aside, the plot twists in the book are

horrendous. How could Hoover have Fallon forgive Ben after discovering that he set the fire that almost killed her and pretended to not know her prior to pursuing a relationship? Let’s not forget that Ben also decided to start dating his dead brother’s wife — and offered to leave her if Fallon would forgive him. Maybe I just don't understand romance, or maybe Hoover missed the mark with this book as well.

“It Ends with Us” & “It Starts with Us”

Like most of Hoover’s books, the characters lack dimension and have horrible names. “It Ends with Us” features Lily Blossom Bloom, busy flower shop owner, who has a whirlwind romance with equally busy neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid. However, their relationship quickly deteriorates when Kincaid begins to physically assault Bloom, and the plot is further complicated with the return of Bloom’s childhood love, Atlas Corrigan.

Although Hoover ends the novel with a note that explains its personal significance to her, this does not make the novel exempt from criticism, especially with the heavy topics it brings up. “It Ends with Us” is marketed as a romance novel, but behind the pink cover and misleading synopsis Hoover attempts to explore the topic of domestic violence; this results in a plot that looks at an emotionally and physically abusive relationship through rose-tinted glasses.

“It Starts with Us” follows Bloom’s life after she divorces Kincaid, navigates motherhood, and starts a relationship with Corrigan. I was not a fan of this sequel; in the process of creating happy endings for her characters and giving Bloom a male hero through Corrigan — who essentially did the bare minimum of not abusing his partner — Hoover effectively negated her message from the prequel.

“Ugly Love”

Congratulations, Colleen Hoover! You have officially written my worst-rated book of all time. In “Ugly Love” we are introduced to main characters Tate and Miles. Although Miles is clearly not over Rachel — his stepsister-turned-ex-girlfriend — he simultaneously refuses to leave Tate alone and pushes her away. The cycle repeated so many times that I lost count and honestly stopped caring.

Sandwiched between chapters narrated by Tate are snippets of past Miles' point of view, giving insight into his short-lived and unfortunate relationship with Rachel. It almost seemed like Miles had so little to say in these chapters that Hoover had to chop up his sentences into poorly written poetry, turning him into an amateur Shakespeare.

While I felt somewhat bad for Tate since she was constantly competing with Miles’ past love interest — whom Tate was never really told about — she also let herself be treated like a complete doormat. For example, Tate says, “If any other man ever treated me like he did, it would be the one and only time… However, I find myself continuing to make excuses for him, like something could actually justify his actions last week.” Miles never had a valid excuse for his actions — yes, he had a tragic past, but that didn't make Tate his therapist and emotional punching bag.

The end of this book couldn’t come soon enough, and it was just as bad as I was expecting. Hoover used the classic trope of 'hero messes up terribly, but heroine forgives them after one apology,' and I don’t know about you, but I would like to see Hoover’s male characters do some groveling.

SZA’s 'SOS' Is More Than a Cry for Help

Have you ever wanted to express exactly how you felt, regardless of how controversial your feelings were, or judgment from the people around you? Just to let it all out?

This is what Solána Rowe, known professionally as SZA, sets out to do through her daring and combative album “SOS,” released in 2022. After earning historical success for her record-breaking 2017 album “CTRL,” she has made a grand return with a brand new 23-track-filled album, five years after her big break. SZA reflects on heartbreaking events during the years of her naïve youth.

The singer has amassed an audience from all angles of the musical world, who have fallen in love with her confessional stories. This brand-new audience has spent years hungrily waiting for the once-obscure artist to rip her heart out once more for them to hear, and SZA has chosen to share her plights once again. This time, however, she has a deeper motive.

“SOS” opens with a title track starring Morse code and a striking shot from a flare gun, before pulling the audience onto a stage where SZA expresses her inner emotions during an act of slam poetry. In contrast, “CTRL” had a sorrowful opening, in which she detailed the appreciation that she wished to receive from a harmful ex-boyfriend, beginning her journey through faults and past traumas. In a nearly perfect reflection of where she began her confessions, SZA displays the blooming self-confidence that she has gained throughout the years.

This is only the beginning, as we quickly learn through the next track, “Kill Bill,” in which SZA basks in the idea of murdering her ex-boyfriend, that she has also gained confidence in all her emotions, including anger. She no longer hopes for empathy from the general public, but is rather focused on gaining

more clarity and acceptance from herself.

Due to years of betrayal, self-doubt, and a lack of provided kindness, SZA makes it clear that she has reached a state of irreverence and anger for the people that have mistreated her and the brutal world. Rather than sugarcoating her true sentiments for a palatable intro, SZA boldly claims that she would rather showcase exactly how she’s been feeling throughout the entire album.

Through the hard-hitting lyrics and unorthodox melodies of “SOS,” she creates a departure from today’s softer pop music, but also from her old sounds and personality. If listeners want to delve deeper into SZA’s sensational self-journey, they must accept her exactly as she is, and wait to see her ultimate transformation.

Throughout the album, SZA brashly reveals her viewpoint on the situations she’s been through since the release of her former album. She remains self-assured in her selfish past choices and viewpoints. She acknowledges this unchecked arrogance, however, as a protective mask as a way of being kinder to herself for her past mistakes.

SZA confesses through “SOS” that she

By Najee Manning | Staff Writer

is not only angry with her companions, but also searching for her true purpose in life. She is also confused about her identity, after morphing herself for people in her past who left her damaged and scorned, as shown in songs such as “Far,” “I Hate U,” and “Special.” However, these circulating emotions don't stop SZA from displaying her familiar gentle energy, expressing a desire for tender and long-lasting love in songs such as “Nobody Gets Me.”

One of the album’s major themes is the fear that she is sacrificing acts of self-progression for her desire of love, most blatant in “Too Late.” In a closing track, “Open Arms,” SZA reflects on memories of passion as she is naturally forced to move forward. She shares the sensation of letting go of the people that she’s loved, with some of them moving forward naturally and others causing her pain.

She explains the unsteady emotions of “SOS” after ending the song with the brutally honest lyric, “I’m the only one who’s holding me down.” These reflections demonstrate how “SOS” is truly a progression from “CTRL,” rather than a complete discarding of her past morals.

This album is not only an emotional evolution, but also a musical one. “SOS”

leaves SZA’s typical R&B and neo-soul sound to cross multiple genres, from pop to rock, trap, and hip-hop. Through the wide array of colorful and experimental songs, filled with innovative song structures and deeply cutting lyrics, SZA creates a space to be completely honest with her natural feelings.

SZA veers between appreciating her newfound confidence in “Conceited” to accepting the world and her impending future in “Good Days.” Another important discussion is what it means to be human, as she is contemptuous of being treated like an industry machine rather than an individual with feelings within the music industry, through “Ghost in the Machine.” The choice to experiment musically and lyrically leads the audience to eagerly take the ride with her; listeners’ own musical palates and views of self-acceptance grow alongside hers.

Overall, “SOS” serves as a recollection of both the beautiful and rocky parts of self-discovery that SZA has faced inside and outside of the public eye. Rather than clearing up any details for fans, friends and family alike, she extracts all her pain to reach a sense of peace or healing through her music, accepting any scrutiny she may face. SZA clearly wishes to prove that an artist does not need to hide their imperfections to be embraced.

SZA successfully completes the tumultuous mental journey of “SOS,” granting herself the chance to vocalize every powerful emotion coursing through her soul. In the album’s final track, “Forgiveless,” SZA promises through the lines, “Not in the dark anymore. I might forgive it, I won’t forget it,” that she is able to move past the pain and will continue to flourish, but the next eventual act of self-discovery could get messy. And that's okay.

Layout by Venkata Pranaya Reddy

Photo from Spotify

Photo from Spotify

Horoscopes

By Clairvoyant Cancer Conveying the Current Chances

ARIES

Expect to be in a very loving mood this week.

TAURUS

Annoyances in your daily life may be causing some stress. Make a step-by-step list of changes you want to make in your life.

GEMINI

You should be open and honest about your feelings toward others. It may break some relationships, but it’s worth it.

CANCER

Someone might dump their woes on you today. Listen to them, but don’t let it affect your mood.

LEO

If you feel lost in the given task at work, go back to the person who assigned it for more details to clarify any doubts and get suggestions.

VIRGO

Don’t let the unclarity of a situation stop you from getting excited about it.

LIBRA

A dream may find you questioning your views. It may be a sign of changing the way you think.

SCORPIO

Someone at work may be upset and unintentionally act negatively towards you. Don’t let this get in the way of your work efficiency.

SAGITTARIUS

You may be stressed and not in the right place mentally. This might affect work and other relationships. Time is your best friend.

CAPRICORN

If you’re single, you’re in no hurry to change that.

AQUARIUS

You might be contacted by someone who will come as a surprise. Chances are they’re feeling lonely.

PISCES

If someone is spilling the tea with tons of gossip, take it with a whole shaker of salt.

Do You Even Sudoku? Word Search

Crossword

From onlinecrosswords.net

53.

54.