Vol. C Issue 10 by The Vector

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Vol. C | Issue 10 Week of April 5, 2021

FEMA Community Vaccination Center Opens on NJIT’s Campus By Yukthi Sangoi | Senior Staff Writer

Photos by Ethan O'Malley

On Wednesday, March 31, one of 25 current Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Community Vaccination Centers (CVCs) across the nation was officially launched on NJIT’s campus in Newark, the first one to stand in New Jersey. It is located in the Naimoli Family Athletic & Recreational Center, with lines of anticipated vaccine recipients wrapping around the building and the Wellness and Events Center each day. According to ROI-NJ, it is “supported by the federal government in partnership with the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, the state Department of Health, Essex County and the city of Newark.” The Type 1 center is the largest kind of CVC, and happens to be the largest center in the state, capable of providing 6,000 doses per day, and as of Friday, April 2, it had an extra 9,500 vaccines. The Pfizer vaccine is being administered, scheduling recipients to come back for the second shot after 21 days. The center will be operating for at least two months, seven days a week. It is located in such a way that does not interfere as much with the commute that students of nearby universities might have on a daily basis. It has also taken into account the ease and convenience for fellow residents of Newark. Just a week before the opening of this center, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said that less than 5% of people in the city had been fully vaccinated, leaving Newark behind the rest of the state and the nation mainly due to the lack of access to sites and resources. The federal agency aimed to address this issue of unequal distribution of vaccinations across communities, so it has used “data from the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s] social vulnerability index and population data from the census” to determine the most effective and beneficial locations for these

CVCs according to FEMA’s website. Similarly, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said that the Newark center will reach “deep into communities with higher risks of exposure.” A survey conducted by The Rockefeller Foundation that “reported that a significant majority of Black and Latinx Newark residents had not been vaccinated, while a large majority noted that if the vaccine was made available immediately, they would get it.” The recently launched center certainly helps this matter, providing local access to the thousands doses. About a month ago, Essex County executives had also announced forming a partnership with local religious leaders to secure confidence and safety in the vaccine to minority groups and to some individuals who initially might not be willing to get the shot. During the soft launch of the center on Monday and Tuesday, students, faculty, adjuncts and staff of NJIT were given the opportunity to receive a vaccine. Additionally, there were walk-ins accepted from anywhere starting from Wednesday until Sunday. Assistant Professor Kristen Severi in NJIT’s Department of Biological Sciences was fortunate enough to book an appointment on Wednesday. Staying in line for just under 30 minutes, Severi was “happy to be waiting outside,” as she would have been concerned about ventilation inside the building. “I arrived at 8:40 a.m. for my 8:45 a.m. appointment, was inside around 9:10 a.m., and was out again by 9:25 a.m. (after my 15-minute waiting period),” she said. “The entire thing took under an hour!” She described the building’s inside as well organized and space efficient, with National Guard personnel everywhere directing recipients and keeping things moving. It seemed like “a well-oiled ma-

chine,” which impressed her because she had scheduled her appointment for only the first official day of opening. Once the personnel confirmed her appointment outside, she was screened verbally with questions about symptoms and possible exposure to the virus. After

checking her temperature and verifying her identity, she was directed towards two booths side by side, with “one person taking down the information, asking me for consent, etc., and one person delivering shots and alternating between the two booths.” The area to wait 15 minutes after the vaccine delivery was arranged directly beside the exit so the recipient could leave quickly and easily. She added, “I could see personnel wiping down the rows of chairs in the waiting area after they were vacated before seating new people for their wait.” Severi called the whole operation very professional. “My biggest concern was how risky the space was going to be inside, but since everything was or-

ganized with a unidirectional flow, I felt relatively safe,” she said. “Everyone I saw was wearing a mask and wearing it properly (which I feel is not always the case!). I assume things [at the center] will only improve as they get more practice!” After seeing some people complain-

ing about the long line outside, Severi mentioned that “while I was there, people were excited and happy to be getting vaccinated, and the folks inside kept the mood jubilant! Everyone was smiling and they were playing happy disco music. I felt like we were all going through a great experience together and everyone was happy to be there and get a potentially life-saving vaccine!” She expressed how proud she feels that NJIT is able to host such an impactful site to get the shot. “I felt great getting my vaccine with people I knew were part of the NJIT campus community but also alongside people from the wider Newark community as well. There was a feeling of elation and solidarity!”

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NJIT Vector Summary 3/26/2021 Times Shown are Times Reported

3/21/21 11:28AM Officers responded to a smoke alarm activated in Laurel Hall. The building was checked ,with no signs of smoke or fire. The alarm was reset. 3/23/2 17:48PM Officers conducted a pedestrian stop on Central Ave. and Hoyt St. for a non-affiliate urinating in public. He was issued a summons then transported to University Hospital after complaining of pain in the leg and collar bone.

3/26/21 7:29PM Officers recovered a parked stolen vehicle on James Street. The vehicle was a 2002, Grey Honda Civic and was towed. 11:41PM Officers towed a vehicle from Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Warren St. due to an expired registration. The driver was also subsequently arrested for an open warrant out of East Orange. Hewas processed and released with anew court date.

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Features

Week of April 5, 2021

"Hurt" but "Not Surprised": Students Respond to Rise in Anti-Asian Hate Crimes By Katherine Ji | Managing Editor

Catherine Yong, third year science, technology and society student and Chinese American, said she would frequently assist her father to the grocery stores on weekends in order to prevent him tripping and hurting himself. According to Yong, “that trip could have been from a misplaced shoe or unexpected elevation on the sidewalk. Today, the cause would more likely be racism.” Soojin Ahn, third year computer science and business student and Korean American, said her thoughts immediately went to equipping her mother on her trip to Manhattan with anything that could potentially protect her – pepper spray, a friend, a guide to navigating New York City without taking public transportation. Cameron Guanlao, third year mathematical sciences major and Filipino student, recalled an incident in February of 2020, in which he wore a medical mask on the Newark Light Rail to protect others while feeling under the weather, a tradition he practiced before pandemic mandates came into place. Another passenger on the train said to him, “you better not give me your corona… fucking Chinese.” And Jennifer Magsino, third year biochemistry student and Filipino American, said she frequently has concerns and fears for her parents’ safety. She especially worries for her mother, who works as a nurse in New York City, the site of a brutal, racially-motivated attack of a 65-year old Filipino woman that occurred only one week ago. These experiences and worries join millions of others, following a marked rise in anti-Asian hate crimes spanning the country, particularly after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization Stop AAPI Hate recorded roughly 3,800 hateful incidents against people of Asian descent in the U.S. from the first year of the pandemic, more heavily affecting Asian elders and women. Additionally, the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism found an increase of 149% in anti-Asian hate crimes from 2019 to 2020.

However, students are hardly surprised with these numbers, emphasizing that anti-Asian hate is not new, especially with a shift in rhetoric around the Asian community in the past few years. “None of this is surprising to me,” said Guanlao. “What was surprising was actually the fact that news suddenly started reporting instances of Asian hate much more than in the past. This has been an issue that has been affecting the Asian-American community for a long time, but many of these cases were largely overlooked.” In fact, Guanlao said he believes it was recent rhetoric against the Asian American and Pacific Islander community regarding the COVID-19 pandemic that actually brought such incidents into the public light. “I have always been aware of the suspicion that people leverage toward Asians, particularly those of us who are perceived as “East Asian” or “Chinese,” said Magsino. “Of course the pandemic has exacerbated these sentiments; it’s difficult to navigate certain spheres of social media without encountering some sort of blame directed toward Asian people for the pandemic.” Yong explained she is not surprised by the shift in rhetoric following President Donald Trump’s administration. “This hate hasn’t sprung up all of a sudden,” she said, but “Trump has given many people the courage to socially accept racism and discrimination.” “I felt hurt,” said Ahn. “I was hurt because of the reality that as an Asian in this country during a pandemic that hurts us as much as it affects them, that they blame us, hate us for something that we played no part in creating.” Media Coverage Media and social media response regarding anti-Asian hate has grown tremendously in the past weeks, with the most resounding message to “Stop Asian Hate.” However, the movement has remained mostly formless, with little specific direction in how to actually address or prevent individual cases of hate

crimes before they happen. “I don’t think many of the incidents we see online are helpful,” said Yong. When I see a recorded video of a person being assaulted, I feel like it’s already too late. The damage has been sown. I just watched it happen, so I, too, am a bystander, now.” Magsino also critiqued the movement. “The label of ‘Asian’ always falls short,” she said. “Asia is an entire continent of different cultures and peoples who may not share anything in common with each other besides the continent. Recent attacks have been targeted toward people who are perceived to be ‘Chinese,” however inaccurate that descriptor may be in reality… We lack the proper terminology or misuse it, resulting in broad movements and organizations such as #StopAsianHate and Stop AAPI Hate unwittingly generalizing so many peoples and possibly overlooking the nuances between individual communities. There is no one size fits all solution or policy for every community.” Meanwhile, Guanlao thinks that while more can be done, he believes that more coverage is a step in the right direction to addressing underlying issues. Addressing Discrimination Regarding how students believe this discrimination can be most effectively addressed, Yong hopes communities can help each other physically, creating safety nets for each other. “We need to teach bystanders how to help victims and those about to become victims of a hate crime. It’s scary to act and get hurt, but it’s also encouraging to know how to aid someone effectively,” she said. Additionally, as many students noted, hate does not just disappear in regular life just because we don’t experience the violent extent to what we see in the videos. Magsino reminded the gravity of recent New York attacks; “it’s so close to home, in a supposedly more tolerant area of the country, making it harder for us to dismiss these violent acts as exceptional or abnormal events.” Violent hate is sown much earlier. The

Atlanta shooter of eight women, including six Asian women, which occurred on March 16, said his violence stemmed solely from his “sexual addiction.” However, to many Asian women, sexualization and racialization are inextricably intertwined. “Speaking as a Filipino person,” said Magsino, “I hope that people can be more conscious of how the fetishization of Asian women in America has been contributed to by historical U.S. military presence in our countries.” Magsino explained that these causes can be deeply ingrained and contribute to the dehumanization of and eventual potential sexual violence, and must be addressed earlier. “I feel that some people believe we can ‘Diversity Reading List’ our way out of racism. While uplifting our stories will certainly help, we have to address more ingrained causes.” Guanlao echoed such thoughts. “In my view, sharing trendy infographics and making donations, while helpful to some extent, are not enough. Even new government regulations to battle systemic racism are not enough. We have to look at ourselves and how we act towards other people. Recognize any unconscious bias you might have towards people different from you, and work on that.” “Finally, give a helping hand wherever needed,” continued Guanlao. If you witness an act of aggression towards someone, regardless of who that person is, don’t just stand by. Speak out against it and help the person that was harmed… Staying silent is what will keep these instances of discrimination happening.” Magsino and Guanlao are both grateful to have friends and family that can sympathize or have experienced similar microaggressions themselves. However, both noted they have not received any meaningful support from NJIT. “NJIT hasn’t really mentioned this issue much, aside from messages from administration,” said Guanlao. “I would love, however, for there to be more events where Asian cultures are celebrated, especially since a large position of NJIT’s student body is of Asian descent.

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Features

Week of April 5, 2021

New Jersey Introduces New Voting Legislation to Expand Voter Access By Ethan O’Malley | Photography Editor Voting legislation has been an active area of political discussion over the past few weeks. On the back of a controversial election which saw former President Trump contesting the official result in several key swing states, partisan divides have been steepened in the voting security vs. access debate that has been growing over the past decade. States like Georgia have announced new legislation that would tighten ID requirements, reduce the availability of drop boxes and shorten the early voting period for runoff elections among other changes to ensure election integrity. This move has been met with stark democratic criticism, with President Joe Biden describing the legislation “Jim Crow in the 21st Century” for its disproportionate effects on minority communities. The state of New Jersey has come forward with its own set of voter legislation, with the aim of extending voter access and equitability in the voting process. The first bill of the three pieces of new legislation, S2923, was introduced to the New Jersey Senate as far back as September of 2020. However, the bill, restricting the presence of police and electioneering within 100ft of polls and ballot boxes, did not receive action (in the form of an amendment) until February and is still being considered by the senate. The fate of the bill is not yet known, but if passed its supporters hope that it will prevent potential voter intimidation at polling places throughout the state. Two other bills, S3203 and A5373, have recently passed through both houses and are currently being reviewed by the governor’s office who, given his vocal support for the content of the two bills, is likely to sign off on both. S3203, perhaps the most widely covered of the three, will institute a new in-person early voting period in New Jersey, which was before only open to absentee voters, to a period of 10 days before any general election and 4 days before primaries (or 6 days before presidential primaries). These early voting sites will be open Monday through Saturday and 10 AM through 8 PM. The bill notes that measures will be taken to ensure the security of these early votes, though the details will mostly be at the discretion of the Secretary of State. Though election inwtegrity was directly addressed in the bill, it has still generated some controversy regarding its cost. The first year of the bill will likely cost be between 25.1 to 28.5 million dollars in order to purchase equipment such as new voting machines and electronic poll books as described in the bill itself. Additionally, there will likely be an additional yearly cost of 0.4-1.8 million in reimbursements to municipal governments for man hours and other resources devoted to running the polls, an estimate in line with figures seen in states like Massachusetts with similar 10 day early voting periods. However, the bill only allocates 2 million dollars to this purpose. It should be noted that the Office of Legislative Services that produced these estimates still lists the total cost of the bill as indeterminate. As for the effect this will have on voting we can once again look to Massachusetts for a comparison. Their municipalities

have a bit more freedom in the designation of voting hours during the early voting period, with many opting to remain open only during business hours, leading to a range in participation. However, on average the state saw 22.9% of registered voters opting to vote early. Its participation in the midterm elections also increased nearly 20% from 2014 to 2018, however 2018 was marked by large voter turnout overall so it is difficult to pin all of this on the addition of early voting. And likely with its longer hours and inclusion of Saturday voting, New Jersey would experience greater participation overall. Supporters of this bill may see a very strong showing come November, however strong a non-congressional, non-presidential election year can be, though this remains to be seen. A5373, while less far reaching in its aims, still marks a significant change in the New Jersey’s voting process. The bill aims to encourage the county board of elections to distribute ballot boxes in more evenly across counties to enable wider access.

“but if passed its supporters hope that it will prevent potential voter intimidation at polling places throughout the state." This is in response to issues in the last election in which boxes, often placed in universities or major public facilities, were clumped together, which may have prevented access to some communities. For instance, in Newark the only two ballot boxes were within 0.7 miles of each other in the Downtown/University Heights area, whereas a resident living in Weequahic would need to go 2 miles to the nearest drop box location in Irvington. The bill would allow for drop boxes that are currently within 2000 ft of each other to be moved to another location in the community, and in particular to place ballot boxes when possible within areas at or below 250% of the national poverty line. These changes, supporters hope, would encourage a distribution of ballot boxes more convenient to all voters especially those who may have hindered access due to socioeconomic circumstances. With the passing of both these bills it is likely that New Jersey’s future elections will likely be more focused on voter access. Though 2020’s turnout may be hard to beat, the addition of a 10-day early voting period may noticeably increase the number of voters in the next election cycle. As for how the large investment in new equipment will be funded, this will most likely be revealed as Phil Murphy signs the legislation into law.

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Week of April 5, 2021

Grouplove’s New Album “This is This” is a Lazy Middle Finger

Entertainment

By Katherine Ji | Managing Editor Gone are the days of Grouplove’s “Tongue Tied” and their superior 2013 album “Spreading Rumours” with their recent release of their latest album, “This is This.” Featuring nine songs, “This is This” displays seemingly painfully obvious themes following the COVID-19 pandemic, without any of Grouplove’s previous charm. Songs “Scratch” and “Deadline” set up themes for the album: a circular and never-ending frustration and listlessness with the pandemic that has both caused them to both lose parts of themselves during the pandemic but also find themselves face-to-face with their most “real” selves. Grouplove’s best past songs, like “Raspberry,” “Itchin’ on a Photograph” and the quintessential “Tongue Tied” all have these sweet, charming elements of anticipatory instrumentals leading up their choruses, paired with easily recognizable sliding vocals that set Grouplove apart in the alternative scene. However, while it’s obvious the album was not made without passion, I was disappointed to hear Grouplove had

lost the magnetism they brought in their past music. Admittedly, “Primetime” and “This Is The End,” which open the album, feature incredibly emotional, screaming vocals, even if completely devoid of lyrical meaning. I don’t believe Grouplove has ever experimented with such a mishmash of noises, and yet it felt entirely uninventive, even as a rock band. Later songs on the album, including “Just What You Want” (featuring Dani Miller of Surfbot) and “Oxygen Swimming” were disappointing, to say the very least. Both songs featured long overdone punk rock elements from the early 2010s paired with juvenile melodies, lyrics and instrumentals. I could neither say the band had reinvented their previous sound, nor maintained any of their sweet appeal from the past. The others were no better. “Seagulls” was forgettable, besides the use of seagull screeches and a hilarious jump from screaming to a nostalgic bridge. “Shake That Ass” sounds like a hilarious song you’d hear in a tween clothing store, but slowed down by an order of magnitude. I have no idea what group of

Dreamland by Glass Animals Review By Prem Naik | Senior Staff Writer

Photo by Grouplove people would enjoy this song, with the lyrics far too juvenile for enjoying on one side and the pace far too slow for a dance party on the other side. Their third song, “Deadline,” is probably the best on the album. Its lyrics, though simple, discuss the dangerous relationship you can build with yourself if you allow yourself to fall into monotony, an obvious reference to long stretches of quarantine during the pandemic, but with elements that may also apply to drug abuse and self harm. With loss of control and lack of structure, or a “deadline,” Grouplove discusses how easy it can be to lose yourself. I thought this

Glass Animals was a group that I was never truly a fan of until I heard their latest album “Dreamland.” Released back in August 2020, “Dreamland” was a great album that missed my radar simply because I was not completely invested in the band’s prior releases “ZABA” and “How To Be A Human Being.” Having listened to the album numerous times now, I have to say it oozes an uber cool “funky” sound with a heavily electronic production that makes it worth a listen from beginning to end, be it actively or as a good late night study album. While the songs themselves emulate a cool sound, the lyrics themselves juggle heavy themes and pop culture references in a way that complements the composition. After a bit of digging through interviews, it turns out that it’s because “Dreamland” is the most personal album of lead vocalist Dave Bayley that reveals much about his past. Opening with the first track fittingly titled “Dreamland,” the psychedelic sounding stage is set for the rest of the album. Slow and ethereal, the title track works as a perfect segue into the rest of the album which evolves into a more electronic, beat-heavy journey. “Space Ghost Coast to Coast” is an example of when the heavier themes shine through, as it gives an insight into Dave Bayley’s childhood and the story of a troubled friend from his childhood, and accordingly sounds full of angst. Even upbeat sounding songs like my personal favorite “Tangerine,” and “Heat Waves” have a dark or sad side to them. “Tangerine” has the narrator of the song deal with their lover who has changed into a

Photo by Glass Animals

song was most reminiscent of their past works, with an impressive interlude, albeit a little noisy and confusing. All in all, I don’t think Grouplove is fit for this new sound, if the “sound” can really be identified to begin with. Judging from the album title and the middle finger in the album cover, I wouldn’t be quite surprised in Grouplove wrote this album entirely for themselves, an indulgent delve into a new style after an awful year that curtailed their North American tour for their 2020 album, “Healer.” If that was their purpose, then I would owe them my apologies. If only I could get back my wasted time.

shell of their former self, and struggles to help them see who they used to be. As the standout of the album for me, “Tangerine” features the perfect bass and sound mixing with a simple and catchy chorus. “Heat Waves” follows suit in the catchy category but also discusses themes of not being able to make the people you care about happy. The balance between darker themes and lighter melodies works exceptionally well, and each song builds on this concept. Just like in “Hot Sugar,” Dave sings about liking the idea of someone rather than the actual person, a sentiment we all been fooled to believe at some point. That being said, there are also comedic elements with “Melon and Coconut” being a story about a breakup between a literal melon and coconut. One of my gripes with the album as a whole however, is the inclusion of audio clips in between songs. Many of these are without context and detract from the experience. In my case I had to create a separate playlist with just the songs exclusively to enjoy it thoroughly. All artists grapple with creating variety within an album, as being consistent with a specific type of sound often sacrifices originality between each individual song. Here, it works just well enough to distinguish them. With the themes out of the way, the only way to describe the vibes of the album is: cool. Glass Animals nailed their psychedelic pop sound in their most recent effort, but don’t just take my word for it and take a trip to “Dreamland” if you put off visiting it as well.

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Entertainment

Week of April 5, 2021

Star Trek Series Ranked Best to Worst By Alexandra Griffith | Staff Writer The Star Trek franchise has been producing many different television series dating back from 1966, surely with more to come. As a long-time fan of the Star Trek franchise, I asked the question, which series has been the best? What follows is, in my opinion, a list of Star Trek series ranked from worst to best. “Discovery” (2017–present) “Star Trek: Discovery” takes last place on this list, with a 0/10 rating. The show is apparently a prequel to the original series, although it is hard to tell based on the content of the show. It does not seem like anyone involved in the creation of this show cares about continuity, character development or good storytelling. This show would be awful even as a standalone science fiction show and would have never been made if it didn’t have the Star Trek brand to lean on. If you are looking for a more modern take on Star Trek, watch The Orville, a great show that is Seth Macfarlane’s attempt at making Star Trek without having the rights to it. “The Animated Series” (1973–1974) “Star Trek: The Animated Series” receives a 2/10 rating. The series is not something I would recommend to anyone. It ran for two seasons and the cast of the “Original Series” reprised their roles in animated form. I don’t consider it canonical and neither did Star Trek’s creator Gene Roddenberry. Some Star Trek writers that followed “The Animated Se-

ries” treated aspects of the series as canonical, but it is not necessary to watch this to understand anything Star Trek. I watched it out of desperation once I had consumed all other available Star Trek but it was not worth watching.

erally kind of plain, with the exception of Doctor Phlox. I think this is a fine series for what it is, just nothing amazing. “The Original Series” (1966–1969)

“Star Trek: Voyager” follows the story of Captain Janeway and the starship Voyager after the ship and crew is stranded 70,000 light years from Earth and the resources of the Federation. This show is more redeeming than previously mentioned series, receiving a 5/10 rating. The characters are interesting, the writing is sufficient, however this show suffered from executive meddling that bound the writers to rules that made the show boring, repetitive and frustrating. Although I do love Captain Janeway, and the Tuvix episode is classic, I find “Star Trek: Voyager” very difficult to rewatch.

“Star Trek: The Original Series” is undoubtedly important to the history of science fiction in television and film and was progressive for its time and broke many barriers, receiving an 8/10 rating. Although there is no shortage of goofy episodes, Captain Kirk and his crew are faced by plenty of solid philosophical situations. This show is really about the interactions and disagreements between Kirk, Spock and Bones. My personal favorite episode is Balance of Terror, with an ending I could recite line for line. “The Original Series” is almost closer to fantasy or horror instead of science fiction. I would recommend “The Original Series” to anyone who is a fan of the original “Twilight Zone.”

"Enterprise" (2001–2005)

“The Next Generation” (1987–1994)

“Star Trek: Enterprise” is a prequel to “The Original Series,” set approximately 100 years before the adventures of Captain Kirk, receiving a 6/10 rating. “Enterprise” isn’t brilliant television, but what it did do well was explaining how the Star Trek future that we know from “The Original Series” and “The Next Generation” came to be. It has kind of a cheesy opening theme song and the third season is clearly a reaction to the events of 9/11, but if you can get past that it’s at least watchable. The characters are gen-

“Star Trek: The Next Generation” set the standard for me when it comes to science fiction. Although “The Next Generation” had a rough first season, it found its footing relatively quickly. The best episodes are those that are just set up for Captain Picard to give a grand philosophical speech about morality and ethics. Both the main cast and several recurring supporting characters like Data, played by Brent Spiner, and Guinan, played by Whoopi Goldberg, are are well fleshed out as well. The show’s

“Voyager” (1995–2001)

weakest point is one of the recurring villains, the Borg. The Borg doesn’t work as a villain because they don’t behave in any relatable human way. “The Next Generation”’s greatest strength is finding logical, philosophical, and moral solutions to problems and none of those can apply to the Borg. Overall, I would recommend “Star Trek: The Next Generation” to anyone who is interested in watching Star Trek but is not sure where to begin. “Deep Space Nine” (1993–1999) “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” takes place starting at the tail end of “The Next Generation” on a space station near a planet called Bajor, recovering from a gruesome occupation that lasted more than 50 years. Though the setting may seem humble compared to other shows which explore the galaxy, it has the grandest story that is told over the course of seven seasons, easily taking a 10/10 rating. “Deep Space Nine” is the closest look we get at fully fleshed out alien species like the Ferengi, Cardassians, and Klingons that we saw glimpses of in the other shows. All main characters develop and grow as people throughout the show and even minor characters are wonderfully complex. The series is able to give meaningful wartime commentary in a deep and complex way that would not be possible if it were not for the show’s relatively static setting. I would recommend the episode “Duet” in the first season, which is a beautiful tragedy and a great example of what Star Trek: Deep Space Nine has to offer.

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Entertainment

Week of April 5, 2021

Zack Snyder’s "Justice League" Review

By Anthony McInnis | Senior Staff Writer

ing fan demand, the studio finally went back to Snyder and allowed him to finish the effects for his version of the movie. To put aside the fascinating circumstances for this movie’s existence, “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” is a pretty good movie on its own. Snyder made a movie rich with characters, mythology and visual style. It’s easily the best DC Extended Universe movie, although that isn’t a high bar. After the death of Superman in the previous DC movie, “Batman v Superman,” ancient alien devices called “Mother Boxes” activate, signaling an invasion by the villain Steppenwolf. Having seen a threat coming, Batman tries to form a team to defend the world now that Superman is gone.

Photo by Pinterest.com

The very fact that this movie exists is an achievement in it of itself. For years fans of Zack Snyder petitioned and raised money for charity just so they could see the original vision for “Justice League.” This past month, they finally got what they’ve been asking for. Originally, “Justice League” was a DC superhero movie that was released in 2017. During production the original director, Zack Snyder, after finishing principal photography, had left the

project due to a personal tragedy. Warner Brothers, the studio in charge, took the opportunity to hire Joss Whedon as a replacement director in order to make the movie lighthearted, shorter and more akin to a Marvel movie. Whedon reshot most of the movie, while splicing in some of Snyder’s original footage. The resulting movie was a mess, often described as a “Frankenstein's Monster” as it mashed the styles of two completely opposite directors. Due to overwhelm-

The movie’s biggest strength is also something that will turn many people off; that being the runtime is four hours. Having a “Lord of the Rings” scale epic out of the formation of the Justice League is conceptually cool. The pacing is good enough that you really don’t feel the immense length. It was a really smart move to break the film up into six chapters, such that viewer doesn’t have to fully commit to a four-hour sitting. It could almost be watched as a six-episode miniseries. While the runtime definitely works to the movie’s advantage, some scenes go on a little too long and a few minutes could have been shaved off this behemoth of a runtime. The immense length allows the large cast of characters to get fully developed. Characters like the Flash and Cyborg felt like after-thoughts in the 2017 version, but are front and center in “Zack Snyder’s Justice League.” Every character gets memorable moments and a reason to be there. Snyder’s distinct visual style makes

for many visually impressive scenes. His signature style consists of de-saturated, high contrast colors along with slow motion. While some of the slow-motion shots go on too long, they are very well utilized when it comes to the action scenes. The Flash gets the two most visually stunning scenes in the movie thanks to Snyder’s keen eye for slow motion. The movie is also surprisingly less grim and dark than Snyder’s previous DC movies. “Man of Steel” and “Batman v Superman” both had a very serious tone, depicting iconic characters in their most flawed and violent portrayals yet. “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” however has much more hopeful themes of fatherhood, importance of family and the power of faith. Viewing these movies as a trilogy, one can see how Snyder first deconstructed the characters of Batman and Superman only to build them back up again stronger than before. When you compare Snyder’s version to the 2017 Whedon cut, it’s night and day. It’s mind-boggling to see just how much was removed for the 2017 theatrical release. The Whedon footage that was added was frankly embarrassing, when you consider what they cut to make room for it. All the work and talent that was almost wasted. Something like “Zack Snyder Justice League” doesn’t happen often in Hollywood. Big studios are very hesitant to reinvest money into an already failed project. But against all odds, the Zack Snyder cut got released. While the movie certainly is not for everyone, especially if you’re someone who hated the past DC movies, it does work overall and will serve as a milestone in the history of the film industry. Hopefully, the real-life story of the Snyder cut will lead to directors seeing more creative control over their movies in the future.

COLLECTIONS voices from around campus

Submit your responses to @njit_vector on Instagram!

What is the hardest class at NJIT? "linux kernal" "Mathematical Biology" "Integrated studio" "Stochastic Processes"

"CE 333: Structural Analysis - if Saad is teaching" "architecture studio" "Fondations of computer science 2"

"Stress Anlaysis (if you take Mr. Kwabena Narh) "Orgo 2: electric boogaloo" "CS-657 Machine learning" "CS100"

"any capstone class because that means you're a senior and it's hard to say bye to friends :')" "ECE361"

THE VECTOR

Entertainment

Week of April 5, 2021

“OK ORCHESTRA”Revealing AJR’s Creative Potential

By Sabastian Fernandes | Senior Staff Writer

AJR’s single “BANG!” released in February 2020, peaking at eighth on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it the band’s highest charting single to date. If you haven’t heard this song and its addictivelywarped piano, earwormish explosion of a chorus, and beautifully accented brass and strings section by this point, you’d must have beenliving under a sad, soundproof rock. AJR, taking their dependably unpredictable sound to the absolute max in this single, brought the whole house down after the band’s single year hiatus following their “Neotheater”album. But the beauty of “BANG!” lies in the fact that it is only the 7th track on AJR’s newest movement, “OK ORCHESTRA,” acting to whet fans’ pallets and introduce the theme of the rest of their album’s fantastic compositions with, yes, a bang. “OK ORCHESTRA”opens up with a trademark AJR Overture track, atantalizing mashup of the music that follows on the album. A woman’s narrating voice comes into play at the start, dictating that the band’s “drums become our melody,” before synthesizing a rapturous stream of hi hats into the intro to “Way Less Sad,” what I believe to be the crowningjewel of the album.

ical of an orchestral symphony. Some uptempo songs like “Bummerland” and “Way Less Sad” are reminiscent of AJR’s more typical upbeat sound, incorporating high and bright notes behind powerful vocals, seamlessly blending tambourine shakes and trumpet trills into every peak of the song. Then songs like “The Trick” and “My Play” utilize distorted vocals that establish a more somber undertone to the piece, much like the quivers in one’s voice would establish the welling up of emotion beneath a facade. These songs then capitalize on this pent-up emotion to deliver strong blows of metallic clarity during their operatic sections, a compositional theme shared by every song on this album.

that links to a twitter video of Ryan Met explaining the band’s creative process behind “OK ORCHESTRA,” and mysterious locked chests marked with dates that are meant to unlock in time with each one of the band’s big announcements for the coming year. And of course, the glowing center of the gazebo takes you to the album’s discography, where you can stream samples of the band’s music.

cover art, the band has chosen to go ‘all in,’ at their high-risk table of the music business, sparing no expense towards supplying their fans with a deep recognition of the band as a creative entity. With this sort of dedication and innovation, coupled with some serious musical prowess, the AJR brothers are gaining real momentum as pop icons, now able to use “OK ORCHESTRA”as a testament

What AJR has made here is not simply an album, or some tacky promotionals. Perhaps analogous to the gambling imagery of “BANG!”’s music video and

to how well they are capable of out-performing the competitionon the way to the big leagues.

Altogether, each one of these bops are refreshing and satisfying in ways that lots of contemporary music –especially in the pop genre –typically fall short. By taking an interesting angle to the creative process and taking risks with atypical ingredients, AJR is able to synthesize a buffet of fresh hits of which the like no one has seen before.

The overture track to each of AJR’s albums, especially in “OK ORCHESTRA,” stands as a testament to the alt pop band’s dedication to the mastery of sound and flow. In a flamboyant flourish of music that imparts a feeling close to pomp, AJR shocks their listeners right from the get-go, letting us know that the music ahead will be a journey showcasing their unique talents.

But did AJR stop at producing a marvelous collection of musical masterpieces? One-upping themselves, AJR’s new website relaunch goes the distance to catch the eye. Found at ajrbrothers.com/ splash, the band has taken to designing an entire virtual environment towards keeping their fans updated. Turning the web browser into a first-person exploration applet, visitors to the website get to traverse the inside of a glass gazebo teeming with charm, lit up warmly by a softly glowing autumnal bush in the center.

The magnitude of emotion and power ranges drastically in each one of “OK ORCHESTRA’s”songs, as would be typ-

Websitevisitors are able to walk over to objects such as cabinets containing links to the band’s merch page, a piano

THE VECTOR

Entertainment

Week of April 5, 2021

Horoscopes

Do You Even Sudoku?

By @poetastrologers

ARIES TAURUS It’s everything you’ve ever wanted just not in the immediate way you were expecting. You will have wait a little longer and work a little more. But then a golden package will arrive unexpectedly. There isn’t time to give up yet.

CANCER

You are laughing and on a blue and pink chair. In your arms is a plate of sun. A rabbit is jumping and also smiling. Who are your friends in this moment?

LEO

GEMINI

You keep learning and learning and that’s a reason for celebration. The blue in the distance may be the sky or it may be the way you lean into music. Whatever the case keep pouring out all of that good energy. This is a good time.

EASY

VIRGO

Maybe it’s the pie but you are winking at yourself. It’s the very essence of the day that mimics the night. Call a friend or call someone you are in love with. Just keep calling and calling.

Someone you love will be calling back. You might still be angry about everything. Now is a good time to forgive and say hello. The same seat awaits you.

Some sort of lightning is on the horizon. You might not be able to see it where you are sitting. Instead you can feel it through your writing. Believe in what you are doing.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

There is a deep and wild endeavor yet to be done. You can take a friend with you this time. In the clouds a clear sense of the future. It’s happening again, but this time it will be better.

Two hands can hold another and carry something. But put something down so that you can embrace. In the purple room you will find a letter you wrote. Now is the time to consider sending it.

The future is clearly beginning again. Surrounded by roses you will enter the room full of confidence. Nothing will sway you from what you need to do. Especially now, when there is so much of everything.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

There are so many beautiful things that ring around the places you have been going. You can go just a little farther to see them. You love the sparkle on very clear things. Some things might be obfuscated.

A sunflower is there for you on the table. What you choose to see is what will be. Your intuition is so distinct now. You are holding hands with the day.

Some parts of you long for the past. But you need to see that these are not what will govern the future. Remember the now and the things to be done. You will delight in what can be accomplished in these minutes.

MEDIUM

HARD

Comics EVIL

Crossword Crossword credited to onlinecrosswords.net

Tweet @TheNJITVector a photo of your completed crossword puzzle (only if you can solve it, though)! Across 6. Singe 10. Collection of horses 14. Flounder through the mud 15. Bridal shower 16. Woman of Paris 17. Wrigley Field feature 20. ___ Paulo, Brazil 21. Piece of music 22. Heavenly charioteer of myth 23. Pastrami emporium 24. Hemingway title word

25. It's fit for a pig 26. Yankee Stadium feature 31. Bonds after splitting? 32. Bit of gum 33. Delicate deer 37. Indian princesses 38. Swampy land 39. Idealist's need 40. What one isn't 41. Pseudonymous surname 42. Hairstylist's stuff 43. Fenway Park feature 46. Biz bigwig 49. Regulation followers

50. Parabolas 51. Like some arrivals 53. Sharif or Epps 54. An unmentionable 57. Safeco Field feature 60. Square foot measure 61. One-time back of Michael Jackson 62. Oral Roberts University site 63. Forsaken 64. Impertinence 65. Go onstage

Down 1. Trident-shaped symbols 2. Thomas ___ Edison 3. Something to walk the dog with 4. Trojans' home (Abbr.) 5. Small sets of speech sounds 6. Hardly a Mensa candidate 7. Do a personnel job 8. Hole-in-one 9. Lucille Ball, for one 10. Small wild duck 11. Island in Upper New York Bay 12. Parcel out

13. Far from shipshape 18. Short-tailed rodents 19. Ravages of time 23. Befooling 24. Extend across 26. A ___ formality 27. One of several Norwegian kings 28. "___ but the brave . . ." 29. In the middle of, poetically 30. Grammy winner Alison 34. Force from office 35. In ___ (existing) 36. Divination practitioner 38. Adversaries 39. Fallout shelter mate-

rial 41. Makes out 42. Fable feature 44. Capital of Italia 45. Caribbean dances 46. Shade of pink 47. Año Nuevo month 48. Playful aquatic mammal 52. Neighbor of Turkmenistan 53. Oft-felt items? 54. Lightning unit 55. Starter for hip or oil 56. Not at hand 58. Actress Carrere 59. Barry Bond's homecoming?

THE VECTOR

Week of April 5, 2021

HELP KEEP NJIT’S CAMPUS SAFE...

BY GETTING TESTED!

To ensure the health and safety of

*Volunteers accepted based on availability of test kits.

the university community, NJIT is conducting weekly COVID rapid antigen testing of 400 individuals on campus. That’s 320 students and 80 faculty and staff each week. Invitations to be tested will be sent out via email. We strongly encourage voluntary registrations as well.* Testing will be administered by New Jersey Innovation Institute in conjunction with Bergen New Bridge Medical Center.

TESTING HOURS Monday: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesday: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. Wednesday: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. Thursday: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

NEW TESTING LOCATION M2CU Unit Corner of Warren & Lock Streets (across from WEC)