Spring 2023 Issue 5

Page 1

Dr. Grazia Gangitano An Advocate for Students

NJIT is home to both students and staff of diverse backgrounds; one distinct member is Dr. Grazia Gangitano, who serves as a pillar of support for incoming transfer and first-generation undergraduate students. Her journey of becoming the Executive Director of the Office of Student Transition spans the course of 11 years and three degrees from distinct colleges.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Dr. Gangitano got her master’s degree in counseling from Columbus State University. Her first encounter with NJIT was when she applied for a staff job in the College of Computing — now known as the Ying Wu College of Computing. Although she was not hired, she was well-liked and was offered a position at the Martin Tuchman School of Management.

Gangitano eventually started working with Career Development Services and later become the Executive Director of the Office of Transition. As the executive director of the Office of Transition, she has helped create many programs that help students no matter where they come from. This ambition is reflected in her academic life as well.

Her dissertation for her doctorate degree in counselor education examined the experiences of First-Generation Students of Color from Low-Income Households, also known as FGMLs, and the necessary actions universities should take in order to accommodate them. Her findings led her and a colleague to create First Fellows, a first-generation student organization which helps students become accustomed to NJIT and prepares them for a professional environment through peer mentorship.

This interview is edited and condensed for clarity.

What does a typical day in the Office of Transition look like?

At NJIT, it's different every day, which is wonderful. We work with first-year students to make sure they know about registration, withdrawal deadlines, and policies and procedures which may be new to them.

We also have the major/minor fair that's run through our office every year; planning for that does take some time to get everybody involved and things set up. Each day looks a little different for us, but it involves a lot of working with students, which we love. We also teach sections of the first-year seminar courses.

Your dissertation covers how FGMLs experience college. Would you say your experience is similar or different to what students are experiencing now?

The interesting part is I am first-generation, but I'm not a student of color, and my family was more middle-income than low-income. However, wanted to see what the experience was for someone different. For example, when I filled out a FAFSA, I had no idea how to do it; my parents didn’t read that well in English at the time, so they just handed me their tax paperwork, and I had to try and figure it out on my own.

I know this was a similar hurdle, but I don't have to combat racism or microaggressions. Because I'm white, I didn't have to go through that. But some of the students I interviewed for the dissertation did go through that. There was a lot of sexism that students had gone through that I didn't particularly remember going through when I was in college at Rutgers.

However, Rutgers was more liberal arts-focused, and I may have missed it or not even acknowledged it. But the students I interviewed made sure to mention that these things came up for them. It was interesting to learn, and what I hope is that I can take what I found and build a program that schools across the

nation could use.

I would love to see a first-generation student program at NJIT, outside of the Educational Opportunity Program and the First Fellows student organization.

Has COVID-19 changed how your department works?

Yeah, we do virtual appointments and in-person appointments depending on what students want. Our students who are commuters have preferred virtual meetings, while some prefer time in-person.

We do one or two days a week at home and then the rest in person, so it does give some of the staff flexibility. You keep staff and students happy by giving them the choice to select what works best for them.

Many colleges have reported a 14% drop in transfer student enrollment. Has this also occurred at NJIT?

The 14% drop [in transfer student enrollment] has shockingly just hit NJIT this past year [2021-2022], but it's been happening across different colleges across the country for the past five years. That has mainly been because a lot of students are still deciding where they want to go based on scholarships.

NJIT doesn't offer as many scholarships for incoming transfer students as other schools do, so we've talked to the Office of University Admissions to see if there's ways to give our transfer students more money. If they're getting accepted somewhere else and the other school is providing them with a bigger scholarship package, they are going to go to the other school.

Is NJIT able to retain transfer students?

Retention-wise, that's a little different. After they've been admitted, our transfer students do mostly stay here.

Personally, I haven't seen as many leave, but again, I only see and work with them prior to their first semester at NJIT.

Our first-year students tend to drop because maybe this wasn't their firstchoice school, or they feel that maybe the campus environment, once they're here, is not for them, and they want to find an environment that works for them.

Do you feel more comfortable in your dealings with students now that you have a lot more experience?

I think we should never feel too comfortable because there will always be changes. Each student brings in different concerns, so that’s why it must be very individualized. Students have a lot more going on than just classes, right? They have families, they have friends, they have relationships, and they have jobs.

I think the pandemic shared with us that things can change suddenly, and then we have to adjust. Some of us can adjust better than others, and we need to help those who can't adjust or try to help them move along in different ways.

Are there any actions you and your staff take to help maintain good connections with students?

We have professional development that's good to do even once you've had a position. I encourage our staff to go to conferences and learn new things. We did a session on creating equity in advising with some of the advisors that are part of a committee on campus. And the person who ran it, he did a wonderful job.

He talked about how even the way we decorate our offices is important. Is it welcoming to a student? Do you have snacks there? Even these things that sometimes people don't think about influence the creation of a warm and welcoming environment for students.

ector The The Voice of NJIT with Magnitude and Direction Since 1924 Vol. XCIX | Spring | Issue V Week of February 19, 2023
& Areej Qamar GOING OUT WITH GDS NEWS EARTHQUAKES HIT TURKEY & SYRIA See page 3 REDWOOD HALL BINGO NIGHT SNAPSHOTS ENTERTAINMENT See page 4 See page 7
Layout by Andrew Anil George
By Najee Manning | Staff Writer, David Juarez | Contributing Writer, & Nemao Monroe | Contributing Writer Photo from NJIT

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

njitvector.com

@njit_vector

WEATHER

MEET THE TEAM

ADVISORS

Operational Advisor Michael Davis

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

Bansari Mistry

David Juarez

Nemao Monroe

Distribution Manager

Kevin Colonia

Monday, Feb. 27th

4:00 p.m - 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 28th

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

Venkata Pranaya Reddy

Nico Santos

Copy Editors

Mustafa Shaikh

Alfred Simpson

Hafsa Ali

Bansari Mistry

Upcoming Events

How to: Interview Skills

CKB 116

*Senior Staff

Layout Assistants

Nicolas Arango

Ivy Sosing*

Shreyal Sharma

Andrew Anil George*

Varsha Thampi*

Paridhi Bhardwaj

Allie He*

Haripriya Kemisetti

Venkata Pranaya Reddy

Graphic Designers

Nicolas Arango

Varsha Thampi

Syed Zeeshan Ali

9:15 p.m. - 10:15 p.m.

Wednesday, March 1st 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Friday, March 3rd 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Ping

POLICE BLOTTER

2/11/2023

7:35 p.m. Officers conducted a motor vehicle stop in the area of James and Boyden streets after a random plate check revealed that the owner had an outstanding warrant. The driver was confirmed to be the owner and was issued a new court date due to the warrant being under $500.

2/15/2023

5:47 p.m. Officers responded to Subway on a call of a disorderly person. However, the individual was gone upon the officers’ arrival.

Laurel Hall

CC Atrium

GITC MiXR Lab

Online CULM 411

2/17/2023

1:40 a.m. Officers responded to the area of New and Hudson streets to escort two NJIT students back to campus after an unknown individual was aggressively asking them for money. The individual was gone upon the officers’ arrival.

2:40 a.m. An officer issued a summons for an opened container to a female non-affiliate individual.

3:41 a.m. Officers responded to the Lot 12 area near Central Avenue and Lock Street after receiving a call regarding a dispute between two non-affiliates. The officers determined that an act of domestic violence took place. One male non-affiliate was arrested, transported to police headquarters, processed, and released.

Week of February 19, 2023 THE VECTOR 2
Monday, Feb. 27th 48°F | 39°F 10 mph Tuesday, Feb. 28th 50°F | 32°F 17 mph Wednesday, Mar. 1st 43°F | 31°F 14 mph Thursday, Mar. 2nd 48°F | 38°F 10 mph
2023 Major Minor Fair Post-Jam Showcase
College Forum Planet Forward Informational Session
Pong Tournament Spring
MTSM
NJIT Vector Summary For 2/11/23 through 2/17/23 Times Shown are Times Reported
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Highlander Hub Memory of Dr. Herman A . Estrin and Roger Hernande Join our Friday meetings from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at NJIT Campus Center, Room 466 if you're interested in contributing! Layout by Andrew Anil George

Earthquakes Devastate Turkey and Syria

On Feb. 6, at 4:17 a.m. local time, southeast Turkey and northwest Syria were devastated by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale. The earthquake had a depth of 11 miles with over 120 aftershocks recorded in the region during the days following the disaster. The toll of this earthquake has been drastic, with over 23 million people across both countries affected, according to the World Health Organization.

In areas that already relied on humanitarian aid, such as the Syrian city Aleppo, the effects of the earthquake have exacerbated already challenging circumstances. Displaced families are at high risk for hypothermia due to the winter season and waterborne diseases due to damaged infrastructure.

Even prior to the disaster, healthcare facilities in these areas were poorly equipped to adequately care for the population due to continued unrest such as the Syrian Civil War. Now that many of

these facilities have been destroyed by the earthquake, the risk of health crises is increasingly high.

Days after the earthquake, the death toll is still climbing. Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu reported that 39,670 people were found dead in Turkey, bringing the total number of reported deaths to just under 47,000 as of Feb. 21. Search and rescue efforts are still ongoing, with survivors being pulled from rubble multiple days after the earthquake. However, these efforts have been complicated by extreme weather conditions and ongoing political discord in Syria.

International humanitarian aid efforts by the United Nations remain under way. An appeal for $397 million for earthquake aid for Syria was announced, along with an appeal for $1 billion for relief efforts for Turkey, both over the course of three months. After search efforts cease, this money will be allotted

towards long-term humanitarian needs and reconstruction of the damaged areas.

The scale of the earthquake aftermath is reminiscent of the 1999 Izmit earthquake in Turkey. Experts have used the 1999 disaster as a point of comparison in evaluating the weaknesses of post-1999 construction in the area. For example, despite the specific construction regulations that were established after 1999 with the goal of withstanding the effects of such a natural disaster, many of the newer constructions still collapsed.

As a country with a history of enduring catastrophic earthquakes, residents are skeptical of the government’s preparedness and response to the earthquake. In response to the rising aggravation, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan briefly stopped at an area near the epicenter of the earthquake, defending the government response. He mentioned the impossibility of being pre-

Opinion

pared for a disaster such as this one.

In terms of individual disaster response, training laypeople to respond to such disasters could be an important step towards improving the emergency response. Oftentimes, in disasters of such a scale, trained professionals may not be the first to arrive on scene, and basic rescue efforts by the immediate community could be integral to an emergency response.

Just as rebuilding efforts were coming to a close, as of Feb. 21, at least six people were killed in a 6.3 magnitude earthquake hitting the border of Syria and Turkey on Feb. 20 just after 5 p.m. local time according to United States and European seismological agencies. As per Reuters, Erdoğan has promised to reconstruct the areas rapidly — within a year.

Applying for an Internship… But How?

Each semester, students at NJIT are encouraged to attend the career fair, an event during which numerous companies host booths in order to connect with interested students. Standard advice from older students and administration members alike is to find opportunities and make the most of the occasion by reaching out to recruiters. A common goal for students during this fair is to acquire an internship.

An internship is a short-term way for students to gain experience in the work field that interests them. Additionally, this time period can also become a straightforward path to an offer of full-time employment after graduation, granted that the intern performs well. An internship can be incredibly helpful, as it allows college students to get an idea of what working full-time in their desired field entails.

However, less experienced and younger students often feel unsure about what they must do in order to get an internship offer. Knowing what an internship is and the responsibilities involved can be the first step to getting an internship, but what is the next step?

As a first-year student who has never held an internship in college, I expected uncertainty about this process. Many first-year students share stress about this unknown information.

How do you apply for an internship? What internship should I look for? Who should I talk to about my concerns? These are only three of the million questions

that students like me are considering. Over the last few weeks, however, I learned some tips on how to successfully apply for an internship.

One of the most critical tools for getting a job, or any position like an internship, is networking amongst peers and within one’s social group, particularly with older students. Humans are social creatures; talking to people regularly can help you understand different viewpoints and make it easier to seek advice from them.

Well, okay, you might say. But whom should students talk to?

I found it helpful to talk to advisors, schedule an appointment with Career Development Services at NJIT, and — most importantly — speak with students who have previously held internships.

Additionally, being prepared is essential advice for students who are looking for internships. However, what materials should you prepare?

These questions creep into many students' minds, and one of the best ways to tackle them is by having an open conversation with those who have experience with applying for a job. This list can include your parents, professors, mentors, and friends. Personally, I would suggest first- and second-year students to get their resumés reviewed and highlight projects they have completed for classes.

Week of February 19, 2023 THE VECTOR 3 News Layout
Varsha Thampi & Areej Qamar
by
Photo from ABC News

Pajama Game Night

Bingo Night

4 Week of February 19, 2023 THE VECTOR Snapshots
Layout by Areej Qamar Photos by Ethan O'Malley Redwood Hall Council hosted a bingo tournament in the Redwood Hall Lounge on Monday night, Feb. 20. Winners were given variety packs of chips. Photos by Alisha Valentin & Nico Santos
METHOD CLIMBING, NEWARK NJ COME FOR THE CLIMBING STAY FOR THE COMMUNITY
The Caribbean Student Organization and the Black Student Union collaborated with NJIT Esports to host a game night on Friday, Feb. 17. Games included Uno, Mario Kart, and many others.

Super Bowl LVII: Great Game If You Can Skip the Ads

The end of the 2022 football season finally took place with a grand finale: Super Bowl LVII. Every Super Bowl Sunday, fans and casual watchers alike are promised food, family, social media meltdowns, and a great spectacle. The matchup of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles promised a jaw-dropping game.

This year’s halftime show was headlined solely by Rihanna, a rarity considering 2022’s seven performers. The weakest part of the night was projected to be the ads, and that may have worked to companies’ advantage.

The Advertisements

I was wrong; you can’t use lack of hype to your advantage if the overall product was boring. Most commercials, even the ones I liked, leaned heavily on celebrity appearances to make me give a token laugh. Even if there were no appearances, a bunch of the gags this year just felt underutilized, boring, or both.

Banished to Commercial Jail:

• Uber Eats: Puff Diddy picked a bad jingle.

• PRIME Drink: Why is our nation still cursed with Logan Paul?

• M&M’s: It had a bad preceding Twitter campaign and bad payoff with Maya Rudolph.

• Booking.com: This ad haunts my YouTube videos now; I won’t forgive it.

• Dunkin’: The celebrity prank ad has been redone for so long now. Please let it go, corporate America.

• FanDuel: Gronk missed the kick. How do you hype it up for months before the Super Bowl and have him miss?

• DigiDaigaku: It shelled out millions of dollars just to display a QR code — shameful.

Released for Good Behavior:

• Tubi: Holy cow, creepy kidnapper bunnies push us into holes?

• Pringles: How did that Pringles can get on that baby? I fear the answer, but I must know.

• Paramount: I love the idea of all the Paramount shows being stuck on a mountain.

• Avocados From Mexico: It was Adam and Eve’s story but epic, creamy and naked.

• Rubicon: My Filipino blood called to me when they played "Electric Slide."

The Halftime Show

Once I heard that Rihanna was going to be the only performer for halftime, the first thought I had was, “What is that haircut she’s rocking in the promo?” My second thought was about how invested I would be in the spectacle compared to previous years. Some may have had different experiences, but the music I used to listen to as a kid featured more Rihanna than Dr. Dre or Mary J. Blige.

Her songs just hit closer to home for me, and I’m glad that she was still relevant enough to get this opportunity. The performance itself did not disappoint. Rihanna was decked out in all-red, belting out her greatest hits surrounded by backup dancers in white outfits; the track list was amazing.

Honestly, I didn’t pick up her pregnancy reveal subtext until news outlets made it clear after the match. The one part I felt didn’t knock me over was the stage, as memorable as it was. Super Bowl shows tend to go over the top with their halftime stages, and I’m relieved they shied away from that this year.

The Game

Many people online will bemoan the ending, but let's not forget that this was one of the best Super Bowl games in recent memory. The first quarter alone had both teams score touchdowns, stops, and make coveted field goals, making it a tie. Second-quarter heroics by Eagles wide receiver Arthur Brown and quarterback Jalen Hurts — despite a fumble returned for a touchdown — gave Philadelphia a 10-point lead by halftime.

The Chiefs’ offense had not matched the Eagles’, and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had injured his ankle. Could there even be a memorable second half awaiting us? However, Mahomes, probably on 30 tons of painkillers, led a drive immediately out of the break for another touchdown.

The Eagles could only muster a field goal in response, though even this was barely propped up by two controversial catch calls by officials. The score was now 27-21, only six points in the Eagles’ favor. By the fourth quarter, we were set up for a dash to the finish. Was it still the Eagles’ game to lose?

With the teams tied and fewer than five minutes on the clock, Mahomes ran on a bum ankle to the Eagles’ goal line. On the third down and eight yards remaining, Mahomes threw a seemingly uncatchable ball to wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster. Yet the officials called defensive holding, the clock ran down to eight seconds, and the winning field goal was kicked by the Chiefs.

The Chiefs cheered while the Eagles walked off the field in disgust. Several Twitter users had meltdowns, accusing the game of being rigged. This was just another Super Bowl Sunday to put into the books: one of the better ones, in my opinion.

'The Menu' is Hard to Swallow. You’ll Enjoy Every Bite.

This review contains spoilers.

One film that appeared to slip through the cracks of public recognition is the 2022 drama film “The Menu.” It stars an A-list cast, including Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, and Ralph Fiennes. Yet this factor, along with the film’s high budget and meticulous directing by Mark Mylod, surprisingly did not carry weight during its initial introduction and rapid exit from theaters.

Before the film’s release, controversy sparked due to a vague trailer and bland poster, which showcased a basic lineup of the film’s numerous actors. Disappointingly, most of these figures were out of focus and barely looked at the camera.

Despite the poster’s dullness, it actually provides the perfect poster visual for the grand themes of “The Menu.” However, this fact could only be understood by a person willing to take the plunge and see the film for themselves. After viewing the ominous implications of the trailer, including cannibalism, and witnessing such a simple poster design, many people were unwilling to experience this experimental horror movie.

However, these individuals failed to question whether this was the film’s test all along. Underneath the mask of an apparent brutal horror film lies a uniquely

sardonic dark comedy that works as a social commentary as much as it does a brilliant thriller. Mylod knows that the film’s concepts are unusually bold in the world of modern-day cinema; he refuses to fight for attention, instead leaving the door open for anyone eager to see what’s inside.

“The Menu” follows a group of wealthy individuals who are caught up in an unconventional night when booking their reservation at the exclusive restaurant Hawthorn. Operated on a private island by renowned celebrity chef Julian Slowik, Hawthorn is known for its unusual dish presentation and expert staff. This makes it the perfect opportunity for an affluent citizen to waste their money and enjoy the incomprehensibly chichi concepts that Hawthorn presents, specifically tailored for every guest.

However, this typical reservation is only a veil for sinister plans meant for the film’s main characters, with every character having a reason for being welcomed on the special night. “The Menu” uses entrancing musical themes and a distinctive set to mimic an authentic restaurant experience. Uniquely, the film’s acts are spread throughout meal courses; this sets the stage for witty writing that evokes anxiety, dread, and terror for its 106-minute runtime.

No detail is left unfinished, with an

uncanny mixture of precise camera direction, claustrophobic background conversations, and a spine-chilling soundtrack by saxophonist, multireedist, and composer Colin Stetson subtly playing in the background. “The Menu” constantly keeps the audience riddled with goosebumps as they try to piece together the true meaning of this special night. Simultaneously, the pompous personalities of the film suffer an untimely fate.

Some may perceive “The Menu” as more of a harsh — but slow — social analysis that is too smart for its own good due to its lightning-fast repartée and easily-missed context. However, the clever ideas within the film constructed by writers Will Tracy and Seth Reiss constantly keep viewers on their toes. Regardless, you may end up missing its objective by the time the film reaches its hard-hitting finale.

“The Menu” acknowledges its unconventional direction and is comfortable with keeping its audience in the dark; it also creates a stress-inducing buildup for the sake of payoff. Additionally, it contains baffling moments which could be unrelatable to viewers who do not possess an understanding of the issues that “The Menu” sets out to tackle.

This can potentially cause the audience to feel perplexed by the ending and

the core themes of the film if not provided a deeper analysis by the director. The film’s novel approach to dialogue and scene unfolding, however, allows for multiple rewatches with the desire to find more hidden clues within the film. I look forward to having a fresh experience every time, regardless of whether I return for the thrilling horror experience or the film’s cheeky and sharp-witted dialogue.

“The Menu” works best with a blind viewing, in order to allow the viewer to see every layer of its mysterious plotline removed like an onion’s infinite concentric skins. Regardless of whether you understood it all in the first go, are still trying to gain more understanding during a second watch, or are simply having a fun time watching the chaotic plotline unfold for the third time, it’s an exhilarating ride.

I found “The Menu” a breath of fresh air for filmmaking, as it allows space for its cast and crew to unveil an intimately unusual experience. In its own unrepeatable and demented way, the film shows love and appreciation for those whom some might consider the ‘background characters’ of our daily lives.

This is an exceptional film that calmly awaits anyone interested in taking a bite, lucky enough to see its greatness. I give “The Menu” five out of five crabs.

Week of February 19, 2023 THE VECTOR 5 Entertainment
Areej Qamar & Varsha Thampi
Layout by
Photo from Kansas City Chiefs Photo from IMDb
Forte PIZZERIA Campus Center Lobby 11AM - 8PM Mon. - Fri. 11AM - 5PM Saturday

Going out with GDS

a dining room on the main floor of Eberhardt Hall, to celebrate Galentine’s Day. In complete honesty, we had some misgivings about the occasion, as we were the only two who had registered for a table. I didn’t even know if there would be food — would you make a meal if you knew only two people would be coming, and that they might not even show up on time?

In that sense, I am truly grateful to the Gourmet Dining staff who organized the occasion. Despite the entire dining room being empty, they made our experience there special with their warmth and friendliness. They were extremely kind, taking photos of us from multiple angles so that we could preserve the experience.

The menu had been announced a few days prior; the appetizer and dessert were fixed, while attendees could choose between three options for the entrée:

Starter

Salad with mixed berries and pecans

Main Dishes

Braised short beef ribs

Chicken breasts stuffed with mushrooms and cheese

Vegetarian wellington

Sides

Roasted broccoli

Baked potato

Dessert

Strawberry mousse parfait

Just to be clear, I don’t mean to harp on the chefs; it’s not like I can cook. This review is just meant to be a recap of the experience in good fun!

wellington, of chef Gordon Ramsay’s “Where’s the lamb sauce?!” fame, is usually a chunk of meat wrapped in pastry and baked. For this rendition, a meat substitute was used instead.

Now, I personally don’t like the taste of meat, and I found the substitute eerily close to the real thing. When I cut into one of the larger pieces, there was pink inside — of course, this was meant to mimic what a wellington usually looks like, but I was repulsed and couldn’t eat much of the remainder. I don’t blame Gourmet Dining for this preference, however.

What I can blame them for is the serious lack of seasoning in almost everything. When the food came out, we took a few bites. Then we looked at each other and wordlessly began to shake the salt and pepper over our entire plates indiscriminately. After this, the meal became much more tolerable.

I read once that the reason why humans have molars, like herbivores, and canines, like carnivores, is because our diet was omnivorous before the advent of agriculture and oat milk. For most people, it still is. However, not even the most dedicated herbivore could have chewed through the broccoli; after gamely spending ten minutes gnawing on a stalk, I decided to cut my losses.

The potato was fine, as most potatoes are; I, for one, have never met a potato I didn’t like. However, Dandriyal was not a big fan and found the wellington more appealing. I think that this difference comes down to the texture, as both tasted about the same.

Picture your perfect Valentine’s Day dinner. Maybe there are candles on the pristine white tablecloth, and a chocolate fountain gurgling merrily in the background. The chef brings out a dish and whips off the cover with a flourish.

I don’t know about you, but when I think of romance, I think of NJIT’s own Gourmet Dining Services, better known as GDS. On the amorous evening of Feb. 14, the service hosted a three-course Valentine’s Day dinner for the price of $24.95 per person, with participants able to reserve spots at 6:45 or 8 p.m. As soon as I heard about the event, I knew I had to check out GDS’s finest.

So, that night, second-year computer science major Nishtha Dandriyal and I walked to the University Club,

First, we got water in some of the largest wine glasses I’ve ever seen. I just hope that they’re not actually used for alcohol, or diners might need to take a nap before returning to work — or driving home. Riding on the high of being served in a wine glass like I was a grownup, I requested the vegetarian option as a final farewell to my short-lived vegan diet.

Spoiler alert: the salad was the highlight of the entire meal. There were no wilted leaves in sight; not only was there a variety of colors and textures, but it was very flavorful as well. I also think it was a good portion, as appetizers go — Gourmet Dining really stepped it up for this one.

Dandriyal and I are both vegetarian, so we had the same entrée but different opinions of it. For context, a

Dessert was the last arrival, and I actually did not have many issues with it besides the name. I was expecting to see strawberry mousse parfait, as per the menu, but we were served whipped cream in a chocolate cup. I don’t think anyone could dislike this, but I had just expected something a bit different.

So, would I bring someone here for Valentine’s Day? First, I’d have to find a date, and I wouldn’t want to scare them off; everyone knows that multiple courses scream commitment. If your significant other is an insomniac, though, I would highly recommend it. I had the best night of sleep afterwards, a feeling not unlike being knocked out by anesthesia or tranquilizers.

Yet despite all this bellyaching, the experience was a lot of fun and one-of-a-kind. If nothing else, the lighting was fantastic.

COLLECTIONS

voices from around campus

What is a super power you wish you had and why?

"Knowing what’s gonna be on the common exams"

Week of 2/12/2023

We're Just The Best Radio RADIO UPDATE

As shows are finalized, WJTB is settling into a rhythm. The last few weeks saw the debut of multiple shows, including the emo band analysis show “My Chemical Imbalance,” the full-album listening party “Albums with Alex,” alleged radio show “What,” and the industrial music display “Pink Flamingos.” The show schedule in full is currently available on WJTB’s Instagram, @wjtb_radio, and Twitter, @WJTB, with detailed summaries to follow in the coming weeks.

Touching on music news for this week, Skrillex has released a new, banger-focused album “Quest For Fire” ahead of his follow-up pop-focused record “Don’t Get Too Close,” slated for

"Teleportation so I can go anywhere whenever I want"

"The ability to make any probability become 100%. Any probability."

later this year. “Don’t Get Too Close” will feature the likes of Bladee, PinkPantheress, and Skrillex himself on one track’s vocal performance, and “Quest for Fire” has contributions from Fred Again, Porter Robinson, and Missy Elliot, among others.

Will Skrillex return to domination?

2023 has already given us Paramore’s new punkier LP “This is Why,” alongside Young Fathers’ psychedelic outburst of joy “Heavy Heavy.” Both bands released their last albums in 2018. With Skrillex throwing his hat into the ring, it seems that 2023 might be the year of the comeback.

"Telekinesis, just so I can mess with my little cousins more"

"Stop time so i can nap without consequences"

"Invisibility so my fans (yukthi) can stop following me around"

"making areej fall in love with me!"

"I think time travel"

"Incredible luck"

Week of February 19, 2023 THE VECTOR 7 Entertainment Layout by Areej Qamar
Scan the QR code to submit your answer for next issue's collections question! bit.ly/vectorcollections
Photo by Nishtha Dandriyal

Horoscopes

ARIES

You may feel the impulse to get up and do something. So get some shit done.

TAURUS

Not to call you out, but get your work done, buddy. I know you need to.

GEMINI

You and your twin should apologize to the people you hurt.

CANCER

Today should be a fantastic day for you. Expect to accomplish a great deal.

LEO

Your thoughts and emotions might be less controlled than usual, so take the time to figure it out before making any erratic decisions.

VIRGO

Something is bringing your ego back down to reality. Stay grounded, and keep your emotions stable.

LIBRA

Issues from the past may come back to haunt you. Stay sober for the day to avoid any bad decisions.

SCORPIO

Tune into your inner self and trust your instincts. Make plans for your future, and stay disciplined.

SAGITTARIUS

You may feel a bit weighed down today. Reconsider your relationship if you have to.

CAPRICORN

Ground your fluctuating emotions, and walk away from the drama.

AQUARIUS

Are you getting the respect you deserve? Take a look at the people around you and evaluate their intentions.

PISCES

Change your fluctuating emotions to stay grounded and calm.

Do You Even Sudoku? Word Search

Crossword

From onlinecrosswords.net

24. Dr. __ (Austin Powers' nemesis)

26. Oater legend meets "Danke Schoen" singer?

50. Oskar

64.

65.

66.

67.

60. "Born Free" lioness

Week of February 19, 2023 THE VECTOR 8 Entertainment
1. It may be living or minimum 2. Not yet risen 3. Corp. bigwigs
Scattered, as leaves
Emulate Peggy Fleming
Less than underdone
Distinguished
Listener participation show
Hirt and Jolson
Prom rental 11. As before, in footnotes 12. Quote as an example 13. Fed. job safety administration 18. Bride's look, it's said
Not on tape
Discounter's word
Minty quaff
"___ Mio"
Attire for an abbess
"___ darn tootin'!"
Former NHL rival
Brownish gray
Wrinkle-resistant fabric
Cereal box stat.
R-V connectors
Partner of kiss or show
Doctors' grp.
Comes to the top, as a diver
Certain shade giver
Down
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
19.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
38.
39.
40.
41.
43.
46. Trachea, e.g. 47. Spanish home 48. 1,000 grams, for short 49. Frasier's portrayer 52. "Pennies ___ Heaven" 53. Minute quantity 54. Opposed one 55. "Easier said ___ done" 58. Gateway Arch architect Saarinen 59. Tickled
play
Armed forces females
Testiness
Colorful kitty
Aid's partner
62. Nocturnal creature 63. Where the cubs
Across 1.
5.
8.
14.
15. Twin-___ engine
Zilch
16. What suspects need 17. Noted columnist meets "Ali" star? 20. Famous lemons 21.
22. Classical theaters 23. Chinese restaurant's need
34. Patriotic shout 35. Asian holiday 36. Part of a corporation?
37. The surf of surf and turf, perhaps 40. Battery's companion 42. Cream of the crop
43. Down Under bird 44. Explosive sound 45. British singer meets Superman's alter ego?
Old-time
Make an
Noted
sports-
portrayer 51.
exclamation 52. Legally binding command 56. U can follow them 57.
accusation 61.
filmmaker meets
casting legend?
Canada's
capital
Wide
shoe width
Periods
of note
Primarily
sizes
68. Dash
69. "Return of the Jedi" sage
the following: WJTB transfer apply earthquake internship Slowik ominous Syria Gangitano Turkey menu music
Find
EVIL HARD MEDIUM EASY Comic From poorlydrawnlines.com
@njit_vector in your Instagram story with photos of your completed puzzles — only if you can solve them, though! Layout by Varsha Thampi
Tag

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.