The
ector
The Voice of NJIT with Magnitude and Direction Since 1924
ONE YEAR LATER Reflecting on a Year of COVID-19 By Yukthi Sangoi | Senior Staff Writer
It has been just over a year since Governor Phil Murphy declared the statewide stay-at-home order for New Jersey. Schools and universities went all virtual, businesses closed down, and gatherings were prohibited indefinitely. No one had in mind what exactly we were going to face, and now here we are. Nothing has truly gone back to ‘normal’ yet, but we asked a few students and faculty members to reflect on what the past year has been like or what it taught them. Here is a collection of how they have felt since that first quarantine week of March 16, 2020. Megan O'Neill, PhD, Assistant Professor of Humanities: Personally, the most surprising and satisfying part of the last year was spending 8 weeks with my family in Virginia. In early April I returned to the home I grew up in, not for a vacation or specific event, but to "live." It had been basically 20 years since I had been home for anything more than a few weeks over summer or winter holidays. What started out as a safe respite from NYC became an amazing way to reconnect with my family. It's not often adults have nothing to do! I made lovely dinners with my mom (after frantically washing all the groceries in the sink), got my step-sister into Survivor reruns, and built a backyard fire pit with my younger brother. Most importantly, I got to know my niece
(1.5) and nephew (3) in a way I never would have been able to pre-pandemic. We read books, took walks, looked out the window naming trees and birds, and grew our own butterflies from caterpillars. It was a magical time in the middle of such scary chaos. I slowed down, and I will forever be grateful for that strange, unexpected opportunity. Daniil Ivanov, Editor-in-Chief, EMT, Biochemistry (’21) One year ago, I found myself coming into work on the weekend as an EMT. I had been working in EMS for almost five years at that point, but it felt like the rug was pulled out from under us and nobody knew what was going on anymore. It felt like every day there was another email being sent out by supervisors about protocol changes as the national and state guidelines were modified. In school, it felt like syllabus week in the middle of the semester with professors telling us how the remainder of the class will be taught, and with every professor and department having only one week to prepare the class it was a different experience for every class. It was a confusing time. It was a stressful time. I was being taught by a computer but didn’t feel like I was learning. I was being told by the TV that I’m a hero, but I would come home feeling like a threat to my family. continued on page 3
Vol. C | Issue 8 Week of March 22, 2021
THE VECTOR
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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 or Letters to the Editor is Thursdays 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 sent to: business-manager@njitvector.com
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Week of March 22, 2021
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EXECUTIVE BOARD eboard@njitvector.com Editor-in-Chief Daniil Ivanov editor-in-chief@njitvector.com
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VECTOR STAFF Copy Editors Victoria Nguyen Parth Agrawal James Nanchanatt Sreya Das Karim Gueye Yukthi Sangoi Anthony McInnis Contributing Writers Fatima Osman Alexandra Griffith Staff Writers Saanika Joshi Maksim Sokolov Samira Santana Nick Merlino
Senior Staff Isaac Scafe Parth Agrawal Birju Dhaduk Prem Naik Anthony McInnis Nicolas Arango Sean Slusarz Sabastian Fernandes Yukthi Sangoi Karim Gueye Maksim Sokolov Evan Markowitz Photographers Sean Slusarz Hannah Lenkowski
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POLICE BLOTTER
NJIT Vector Summary 3/1/2021 Times Shown are Times Reported
3/8/21 4:10PM A student reported the theft of a digital camera from the Campus Centerin the Vector Newspaper Office in Room 466. The incident occurred sometime between 2/23 and 3/8. 3/10/21 12:40AM A non-affiliate was arrested at Norfolk and Central Ave. for driving while intoxicated and issued a summons for an open container. The vehicle was towed.
3/11/21 6:24PM A staff member reported the theft of theirlicense plate from Lot 5. The vehicle was a 2012 Ford Focus and the incident occurred between 4:30PM and 6:30PM 3/19/21 11:15PM A taxi driver requested assistance with a disorderly passenger at Lock St. and Warren St. He was escorted out without incident.
THE VECTOR
Week of March 22, 2021
3
Reflections on the Past Year's Pandemic continued from page 1
One year later, there’s understanding. I feel like we know what we’re dealing with, the protocols are steady and the path to the end seems straightforward — maybe even close. Seeing someone not wearing a mask, even in a movie, feels weird and dirty. Hand sanitizer and my Aveeno lotion right after are a normal routine. At this point, I’ve been vaccinated for a while, and the majority of people that I know are also either fully or partially vaccinated or have their vaccine scheduled. One year later this is the new normal.
where people shred each other to pieces
Neha Shirwalker, Computer Science (’24)
Reality is a crooked, everything is an illusion, we are just lambs to the cosmic slaughter.
This is a little poem I wrote in quarantine about how I used my imagination to distract myself from everything that was contributing to my unhappiness. Over quarantine, I became overly self-aware about certain aspects in my life that I didn’t have control over, but wished were different. This poem is meant to give a glimpse of what I imagine a happy life is. But when my imagination comes to end, I’m even more aware that there’s no escaping from the world that already exists. In this poem, the black hole represents feeling completely lost and hopeless, with motivation left in life. Personifying innocence represents the last feelings of hope.” Escaping Reality I rewrote an entire storyline of the life I wish I had lived, painting the vivid colors of laughter and adventure I aspired for There was always someone there for me with their warm arms extended, to accompany me at the sunrise over the rolling parakeet fields In that world I was always content Not a day was there where I stumbled into the unforgiving black hole, where people went when they were depressed I could rely on the people I loved to hold me back tightly So if I ever got too close, they would pull me right back up But then I wake up from my imagination, back to this painful reality,
to rise from others’ calamities A piece of my innocence still holding on, afraid it will float way in the polluted winds, created by malevolent people I used to hide from under my bed. Mark Pothen, Business Manager, Mechanical Engineering (’22)
Sreya Das, Web and Multimedia Editor, Computer Science (’22) There are a lot of things I miss about the pre-pandemic world. I miss the days where classmates were more than rectangles on a screen, being able to physically attend a professor’s office hours, and just the general atmosphere of NJIT. As a resident, I also miss living on campus, seeing my roommate every day, and sharing meals with friends. It has now been over a year since I’ve stayed on campus, and I miss everyone dearly. However, there are some silver linings. With things being online, I was able to become more involved with activities that previously conflicted with my schedule. For example, I went to my first ACM meeting in Fall 2020, and now I am part of the E-Board; previously the meetings would conflict with The Vector and Nucleus Yearbook meetings. Additionally, the pandemic has truly emphasized virtual connections, which has the advantage of enabling friendships that otherwise may not have occurred. I think I met just as many new people virtually during the pandemic as I did during my first semester of freshman year, primarily through Discord. I’m optimistic for the fall semester, when I will hopefully be back on campus. Once it is safe to do so, I look forward to both reuniting with old friends and meeting the new friends I’ve made online. Sandra Raju, Executive Editor, Biomedical Engineering (’22) As the Executive Editor for The Vector and the Events Coordinator for NJIT Red Cross League, I have gotten to see the ups and downs that were brought with the past two semesters being almost com-
pletely virtual. Discord has proven to be an organized and effective communication platform for clubs to easily relay information about meetings and events, as well as recruitment. However, I can’t say that it has been an exceptional breakthrough for every organization. While The Vector Discord has made relaying assignments and deadlines amongst the executive board and general staff members much easier and has allowed for engagement amongst members, I can’t say that I have seen the same amount of engagement amongst members in the NJIT Red Cross League’s Discord channels. This of course is not indicative of the success of NJIT Red Cross League, for we have had many engaging and successful events despite the hindering circumstances of navigating solely through a virtual world, but it is much harder in the shoes of smaller clubs to grab the attention and the participation of the student body. Certain incentives such as gift cards, prizes, and/or volunteer hours are usually needed during events in order to have a higher probability of students attending. This past year, COVID-19 has forced change upon students, forcing us to adapt to a consistently experimental environment. I’m sure that most would agree that for many clubs though there were some significant downsides to the virtual environment, there were some silver linings that came with it. However, these silver linings were unfortunately not something everyone was able to experience.
to an in-person classroom.”
Evan Markowitz, Computer Science (’21)
The most tiring part of it all has been that COVID-19 simply does not discriminate, and it does not forgive. It takes and kills and keeps on going.
If I had to use one word to describe the last twelve months, I would choose ‘weird.’ Obviously the pandemic has had a huge impact on many of us, but it happened to coincide with me simultaneously stepping away from almost all of my extracurricular responsibilities, so the pandemic-induced stress has almost been countered by the sudden freedom! That said, despite the net-zero stress level, I definitely would say that I miss a lot about pre-pandemic life. Not seeing my friends in-person has definitely been a bummer, but I am absolutely looking forward to seeing those who haven’t graduated when many of us return in Fall 2021. Additionally, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I am missing the classroom. While I know that the entire university has worked hard to make online learning work well, I just have a hard time learning at home. Kudos to those who can do it, but I’m excited to return
Ethan O’Malley, Photography Editor, Mathematical Sciences (’23) “I think that one of the positive highlights of the year is the flexibility that online classes provided. If I needed to be at home I could take my classes from there, if I needed to meet up with someone to do something I could take my classes from there, or I could stay on campus and just take my classes in my room. The freedom that provided was definitely nice. On the other hand I really miss the on campus events that we had last year. Because of all the photography that I was doing I was attending a lot of those events and they were all really fun experiences and made me feel more connected to campus. While there are a host of online events, it really doesn't feel the same. I really can't wait till we can get back to large in person events. Katherine Ji, Managing Editor, Biology (’21) There’s been some good: the satisfyingly long spring break, the forced but secretly necessary family time, the fun I’ve found in the dozens of books I’ve read and dipping my toes into writing fiction. I enjoy work in advocacy, so I was inspired by the initial sense of collective society to beat this pandemic and the confusion surrounding it together. But while some memories of quarantine are nostalgic, the rest have been mercilessly exhausting.
When I broke down crying and wanted to visit my best friend for help, I couldn’t without also having to worry about those in my little COVID-19 bubble. When I was overwhelmed and needed a break, I couldn’t necessarily hop on a train with friends to the city to do something spontaneous. When I think about my family, I worry about their safety doubly, both in being exposed to COVID-19 as well as the permanent stain of racism the pandemic has left on the Asian community. By now, even after getting the vaccine, the end is so difficult to picture. ‘Together’ is now so foreign and the time ‘after the pandemic’ so hazy. Between the cycles of hope and frustration, I can only offer myself forgiveness and welcome the eventual surprise of what we once called ‘normal life.'
THE VECTOR
News
Week of March 22, 2021
4
Ying Wu College of Computing's
Professor Shortage By Karim Gueye | Senior Staff Writer NJIT’s Ying Wu College of Computing is suffering from a lack of professors and lecturers. This instructor shortage has caused strife for many – predominantly computer science students, leading to issues with registering for essential classes. The Ying Wu College of Computing is one of the largest colleges that composes NJIT. With nearly 3,000 students as of Fall 2019, it is second only to the Newark College of Engineering in terms of student population. The college is comprised of the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Informational Science and is best known for its CS and IT programs. The college faces a steadily increasing number of students. Ying Wu College of Computing’s Academic Coordinator Daniel Pavlick takes pride in its growth. “We’re growing,” Pavlick said. “A lot of other [colleges] are pretty much static or shrinking.” The coordinator also stated that he has not heard students outside of the college complaining about issues about finding teachers and courses, signaling that Ying Wu’s instructor shortage may be unique among NJIT’s colleges. The ever-increasing amount of computing students has exacerbated Ying Wu’s instructor shortage, as the college has not been able to keep up with its increasing student growth. Ying Wu suffers from a lack of faculty members – which includes assistant professors, associate professors, professors, distinguished professors and most importantly, lecturers. “It’s not so much a professor shortage, but rather a senior lecturer shortage,” said Student Senate’s YWCC representative Marisa Sigas, a senior majoring in computer science and theater arts and technology. A single lecturer can be asked to teach as many as four classes a semester, while a professor’s class load is dependent on their other responsibilities at the university. According to Pavlick, a faculty member’s minimum class load is defined by the Teaching Allotment Committee; faculty are allocated a minimum number of classes based on how active they are in research. A faculty’s class load is also dependent on responsibilities besides research, such as being involved in a committee or managing a master’s program. In short, a lecturer is much more effective when it comes to running more courses compared to a faculty member. Another issue is that certain courses are inherently difficult to hire for. In some cases, an instructor can make significantly more money in the field than they would teaching the subject of their expertise in university. Pavlick notes the difficulties that the college faced trying to hire cybersecurity instructors, explaining that “if someone has a
choice, you know, out there in the world to go work as a teacher for however much money or go make twice as much money in industry… it's not a hard decision to make.” “When I joined as a student… I didn’t have trouble registering for courses,” said Pavlick – who started as a student at NJIT in 2013 – noting that the shortage began to affect computing students about half a decade ago, “but starting working here as an advisor in 2016, I remember students having trouble getting into classes.” This trouble refers to excessively large waitlists, issues registering for required courses and a lack of electives. Ying Wu’s computer science students are especially familiar with the last issue. Every computer science student is required to complete three upper-level computer science courses to graduate. With barely enough lecturers to teach required courses, many electives are run with an insufficient number of sections in proportion to the Ying Wu student body. Several years after Pavlick began advising, two separate groups were formed within Ying Wu’s computer science program based on which version of the curriculum was followed, leading to intense competition for courses that would exacerbate registration issues within the college. Ying Wu’s computer science degree does not offer ar-
eas of specialization; every computer science student is expected to complete the same course load, with a few spots for electives. But in Fall 2019, the curriculum for Ying Wu’s computer science students was altered. Among the changes to curriculum, CS 351, Intro to Cybersecurity, and CS 301, Intro to Data Science, were added as required courses. This “new curriculum” was introduced on an opt-out basis for all current computer science students; existing students were given the option to stick to the “old curriculum,” leaving CS 351 and CS 301 as elective courses. Due to the decrease in electives caused by the instructor shortage, many old curriculum students are taking CS 351 and CS 301 to fulfil their elective requirements, even though these courses aren’t required of them. Sigas claims that these courses “don’t have the appropriate number of sections to cover the amount of people who need to take [them].” She expects that the situation will improve once the old curriculum students have graduated, but “it won’t fix the [core] issue.” The bottom line is that Ying Wu still needs additional instructors to teach more classes and more sections of classes. Both of Ying Wu’s departments are hiring at least one new lecturer for the upcoming fall semester. The Department of Computer Science is expected to hire three new lecturers. Pavlick finds
the prospect of running twelve more classes “super exciting.” He hopes that with enough instructors, the college can change the way that their introductory programming courses are run. Right now, introductory courses such as CS 113, Introduction to Computer Science, are taught with combined lecture and split lab. Students in these courses are taught material in relatively large groups by one lecturer, and they work on lab assignments in smaller lab classes taught by teacher’s assistants. Pavlick said, “If we had three times as many people, we could have separate classes…instead of a gigantic lecture.” The college has a set plan to continue growing their instructing staff “as quickly as we can,” said Pavlick. Although Pavlick isn’t privy to the specifics of the plan, he says that a minimum one fulltime instructor per department per year “is a safe bet.” In the meantime, Ying Wu’s advisors are working to ensure that computer science students graduate on time. In some cases, advisors will overfill sections to allow students to register for classes they need. If too many students need to take a single course in a single semester, the Teaching Allotment Committee will incur a debt to a faculty member to host more classes. A faculty member asked to teach additional courses one semester is allowed to teach fewer courses a following semester. Pavlick encourages computing students with issues registering to make themselves heard. “It really partly depends on students advocating and saying ‘Hey, I’m here, I need this class.’”
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THE VECTOR
Features
Week of March 22, 2021
The "Gender Ratio" Over the Years at NJIT
By Evan Markowitz | Senior Staff Writer
To move towards 30% and beyond... we really get a very significant change in the way people interact with each other.
ments and majors. Within NJIT’s student life are several women-centric organizations like the Society of Women Engineers and the Women in Computing Society that work to empower women in various STEM majors.
Associate Professor of Humanities and Director of The Murray Center
One of the activities that the Women in Computing Society engages in is the annual Grace Hopper Celebration, a conference focused on the research and career interests of women in computing. While the event normally takes place at various venues across the country, this year’s celebration will take place virtually in Sept. 2021.
From the Fall 1994 semester to Fall 2019 semester, the percentage of women studying at NJIT compared to the total number of students has slowly risen from 16% to nearly 27%, according to data provided by NJIT’s Murray Center for Women in Technology.
Another organization, Girl Up, takes time to focus on women empowerment around the globe. Former club president Ayushi Sangoi, a PhD candidate in biomedical engineering, became involved in the group in her freshman year as an undergraduate at NJIT. “It’s a group of passionate individuals who really want to make a change on campus and in the world and it resonated with my values,”
Dr. Nancy Steffen-Fluhr
Between the Murray Center and NJIT’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness there are many data sources and metrics with which to try to gauge gender diversity. The most popular of these metrics is informally known as the “gender ratio” amongst students, generally expressed as a simple ratio of men to women across campus. Information about gender non-conforming students is not as regularly available. Dr. Nancy Steffen-Fluhr, Associate Professor of Humanities and the Director of the Murray Center, has been one of the champions of gender diversity at NJIT. At the Murray Center, she helps maintain networks of women students and faculty members. In her time at NJIT, she’s experienced first-hand the changes in how NJIT has approached gender diversity. One point that Dr. Steffen-Fluhr emphasizes is that when looking at gender diversity data like the figures from the Murray Center and the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, it is not only important to look at institutional data, that being data that spans the entire university, but also at more specific areas of NJIT. “The overall gender numbers are
not evenly distributed across the departments or majors,” she explained, giving examples like the undergraduate biology program, which in the Fall 2019 semester was composed of nearly 57% women according to data provided by the office. Of course, this is paired with other majors that consist of fewer women that fall below the institutional ratio. Continuing to look on the individual degree program level, there are noticeable improvements in diversity for many majors. One such example is the undergraduate computer science program, which saw a jump from 5% women enrollment in Fall 2011 to over 13% women enrollment in Fall 2019. The Ying Wu College of Computing as a whole has seen a rise from 16% women to nearly 22% women within the same time period. That’s still short of other colleges like the Martin Tuchman School of Management which has seen a greater than 30% enrollment of women since 2010.
said Sangoi, who advises the club’s current executive board during her graduate studies. Long-term, NJIT is taking several steps to improve diversity, including gender diversity, on-campus. First, they’ve established and are currently hiring for the position of Chief Diversity Officer, who will create and implement policies to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. Additionally, NJIT is creating a comprehensive campus climate survey designed to gather more information about the experiences of campus community members. Regarding how NJIT is doing so far with gender diversity, Dr. Steffen-Fluhr noted, “I think over the last 10 years certainly, and maybe even more recently, I've noticed that my students, at least in general, are much more accepting and strongly supportive of everybody's self-presentation and of a notion of gender fluidity. [They] are supportive of each other in terms of everybody being who they feel they really are.”
...I've noticed that my students, at least in general, are much more accepting and strongly supportive of everybody's self-presentation and of a notion of gender fluidity. [They] are supportive of each other in terms of everybody being who they feel they really are.
That 30% number, according to Dr. Steffen-Fluhr, is a “tipping point” where “people start relating to each other more in terms of the other salient information we have about each other as individuals and not in terms of stereotypes.” It’s important, she says, “to move towards 30% and beyond,” because “as we approach this tipping point, we really get a very Dr. Nancy Steffen-Fluhr significant change in the way people in- Associate Professor of Humanities and Director of The Murray Center teract with each other.” Of course, a focus on gender diversity goes beyond just the individual depart-
THE VECTOR
Features
Week of March 22, 2021
6
Dear Highlander, Grades haven't even come out yet, but I just know I bombed my midterms.
By The Dear Highlander Board
With this online learning format, I just haven’t been able to get into a good study routine and I know I’m not getting the most out of my classes when I’m distracted, still in bed or making myself breakfast. It seems like everyone else has it together. I don’t think I can afford dropping my courses this semester, so what can I do to improve my studying habits for the end of the semester?
Dear Reader, Firstly, I have to promise you absolutely nobody has it together. As stressful as getting a good studying routine has always been, everyone has had to undergo massive changes with the shift to online learning. It has certainly been very hard for me to stay focused — or even awake — when not under a professor’s watchful eye. While nothing is completely normal, I hope I can help you with several changes in mindset and studying routines to at least make the most of this remaining online semester. Take advantage of the advantages of online learning. I wish recording lectures was as standard previously as it is
now. Rewatching sections of recorded lectures has been incredibly useful for reinforcing topics I didn’t understand the first time around in class, and much easier than parsing through the textbook or scouring the internet for an obscure use of a formula. Beyond this, I found watching past lectures at faster speeds while reviewing my notes has been a strong yet efficient method of reinforcement. With online classes, more and more servers, resource-sharing and even study groups have taken to the internet too. Seek these out since the advantages in having even one online study partner
These are unprecedented times," as everyone has been saying for a year, but they're right, and that won't change until long after we get through this pandemic.
to keep each other accountable is invaluable. I’ve found being able to check over homework problems or study together has been incredibly rewarding, even moreso when I have to take a day off from class and know I have a study group that would be willing to share the notes with me. You shouldn’t let yourself field these classes totally alone, even if quarantine makes it feel that way. Take the time that would have been committed to getting ready for school in person for yourself. Whether you’ve saved on a thirty-minute commute, crossed fingers and choice swear words looking for parking in the parking deck or you’re one to dash out from your bed five minutes before in-person class started, I think we’ve all gained a little extra time before or between classes. Take this time to situate yourself, to get yourself comfortable, and to prepare for the situational changes that might have distracted you during class before — like making breakfast. Even then, especially when the class material is boring, it’s easy to lose focus during online lectures. My attention easily wanders, and I really don’t think it’s as easy as it sounds to have the willpower to turn off your phone and lock it away — unless it does work for you! I say be honest with yourself about what is distracting you and make that promise to shut out those sources of distraction, and you may find that you don’t have to limit yourself so much. I promised to
myself not to answer emails or go on social media during class, but I’ve allowed myself to listen to music or tap through a mindless game on my phone that wouldn’t distract my attention but help me keep myself engaged during classes. That being said, I can’t stress paying attention during class enough, even with recorded lectures. First impressions count, especially when learning. Take notes just as you would have during in-person classes. Take advantage of being in a nearly anonymous sea of gray Webex boxes to ask even the “dumbest” questions in the chatbox because it saves you the time in trying to understand it by yourself on test day. Guilty fun, like playing video games during class, is never real fun, so try your hardest to convince yourself to go the next 20 minutes of class paying full attention, and then reward yourself afterwards. Most importantly, be ready to forgive yourself. “These are unprecedented times,” as everyone has been saying for a year, but they’re right, and that won’t change until long after we get through this pandemic. Break up the monotony of taking classes at home by splitting up studying time and time for fun, whether that’s saving fun hobbies for after completing schoolwork or spending time outside, safely of course. Hard work and little celebrations should go hand in hand, and it’s important we try not to lose that despite all the changes we are facing.
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THE VECTOR
Features
Week of March 22, 2021
How do Pass/Fail COVID-19 Accommodations Compare Across NJ Public Institutions? By Nicholas Merlino | Staff Writer The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the education system in ways never seen before and has forced many educators to make difficult decisions on how to safely provide higher education to college and university students over the last year. Many students have experienced financial instability, decreased access to learning materials or negatively impacted mental health. For others, online learning has been a difficult transition, as many people simply do not learn well under the more impersonal and distant nature of video-based education. To alleviate the impact of these issues, many public colleges in New Jersey have de-
cided to implement special grading policies to allow students to modify their class grades. The implementation of the such special grading policies (often referred to as Pass/Fail or P/F options) has been incredibly varied. Some schools have provided unlimited Pass/Fail for all their classes, some have made it an option for a fixed number of classes and others have restricted it by the effect that class has on one’s major. The chart below outlines the differences in Pass/Fail responses among many New Jersey public schools over the past three semesters.
Cybersecurity and You: How to Protect Yourself By Jason Cozzi | Contributing Writer Cybersecurity is a very important field in the modern age. Whether you know it or not, there are dangerous vulnerabilities all around us that even relatively inexperienced cyber criminals can exploit. A concerning number of devices we interact with on a daily basis are vulnerable, including more obvious devices, like our phones and computers, as well as smart home devices (lights, thermostats, Amazon Echo, etc.), cars, gas mains and even traffic lights. Cyberattacks happen ridiculously often. In the past few years, many big companies have been hacked, exposing their customers’ personal data. In 2017, Equifax was the target of a huge data breach; almost one hundred fifty million people’s information was compromised, including names, addresses, date of birth, driver’s license numbers, social security numbers and credit card numbers. Cybercrimes cost trillions of dollars annually across the globe. With the increasing threat of cyberattacks, it is important to stay proactive, take responsibility for your own cybersecurity and limit your vulnerability. Why is cybercrime so prevalent? It mainly comes down to how simple it is to commit. Cybercrime inexpensive, requiring just a little more than a com-
puter and internet connection. It isn’t particularly difficult, especially since you can often find scripts to base their attacks for hacking online. Finally, it is difficult to identify and prosecute cybercrimes, since many times the victim doesn’t even know they’ve been hacked. In protecting yourself from cyberattacks, the best ways to keep yourself safe online is to use common sense when downloading or opening files, update all of your software whenever it is available and run antivirus software on your devices. Whenever you download or open a file, make sure you consider the source. Is the website or sender reputable? This can prevent you from downloading malicious files. Another important step is to update your software. A very common form of cybercrime is a zero-day exploit, in which a hacker takes advantage of a software’s vulnerability very soon after it is figured out such that the creator has no time to fix the system that is being hacked. Not only does this make it important for companies to be vigilant and push out updates to remove the vulnerabilities, it also explains how essential it is for individuals to update their software once it is available, otherwise they are
still vulnerable. Finally, it is very helpful to have antivirus software. It can sometimes save you from malicious files that look harmless, but it should never be your only line of defense. Now more than ever, it is incredibly im-
portant to understand the reality of cybercrime; while you may be safe right now, you are never truly untouchable online. In today’s world, where technology and society are inseparable, cyber criminals are capable of affecting nearly every aspect of our lives, but taking steps to make yourself safer online is never out of reach.
THE VECTOR
Entertainment
Week of March 22, 2021
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The Five Best Indie Albums of 2020 By Emily Rejano | Contributing Writer 2020 was an eventful year mostly spent on the couch grieving the loss of human interaction. One upside to the past year was the volume of new albums and EPs that got released. This list includes a few underrated indie albums that inspired me in 2020 that I’d love to bring more attention to. “Wachito Rico” by boy pablo “Wachito Rico” is boy pablo’s debut studio album that sets an inevitable expectation that this is only the beginning for the Norwegian singer. Unmatched in terms of songwriting and incorporating his Chilean heritage into his music, many of boy pablo’s songs alternate between Spanish and English. boy pablo created his album from a character he made named Wachito Rico, which in Chilean translates to “handsome boy.” His whole album is played through Wachito Rico’s eyes and centers around a boy falling in love with a girl and going on adventures with his friends. If listened in order, there is a progression of feelings from frustration and attraction to joy and sadness. Some of my favorite songs from the album include “i hope she loves me back” with its sonorous guitar riffs that blend with his sadness and “te vas // don’t go” a nostalgic Spanish/English melancholy ballad. boy pablo ends off his the album with the song “Wachito Rico,” an upbeat, jubilant song bringing a happy ending to the album. This album is perfect for fans of ROLE MODEL, girl in red , or Dayglow. “Orca” by Gus Dapperton Since last year, Gus Dapperton has gained some of the recognition he de-
serves through his collab with BENEE on “Supalonely,” which gained popularity through the famous TikTok dance. His sophomore album “Orca” explores behind the façade that we all wear, to delve into the depth of pain and suffering we endure from mental illnesses. He named his album “Orca” as a tribute to orca whales that are enslaved in captivity, a metaphor for being trapped in your own head. Dapperton’s songwriting ability is illustrated through “Post Humorous” and “Medicine,” in which he sings about battling his inner demons. “Medicine” is about causing self-destruction in his life so that he can get high off the healing process, summed up with the best lyric in this song, “I always say I’ll get ahead of it, but every time they fix me up, I get addicted to the medicine.” Dapperton’s ability to transform familiar, mundane feelings of pain and suffering to a process of healing and redemption is shown through his vocals that give his music a beating heart. Songs to check out from “Orca” include the two songs previously stated as well as “First Aid” and “Bluebird,” but this is a no-skip album, and it will bring back the nostalgic, self-introspective sides in all of us. This album is best for fans of Dayglow, The Marias, Still Woozy, and Hippo Campus. “Sunlight” by Spacey Jane The best bands are formed in garages, and Spacey Jane is no exception. “Sunlight” is Spacey Jane’s debut studio album, following the success of their initial two EPs. Originating from Australia, this four-piece is renowned for bringing light and happiness to underlying issues in life. The band stated that “Sunlight” is a metaphor for toxic and doomed rela-
tionships, even by giving the ‘plant’ all the sunlight possible, it still dies. Spacey Jane’s lyrics will resonate with anyone who has gone through mental illness, failed relationships or just the underlying need to escape your twenties. Spacey Jane’s signature is creating euphoric feelings through their use of trippy vocals and mirthful choruses that use joy to balance out the pain. Hit singles from the album include “Good Grief,” “Head Cold,” “Good For You” and especially “Booster Seat,” which was specifically curated for driving with your windows down. One of my favorite lines in “Good Grief” is “good grief, your own creation. Lost for words I find my patience, like in the heated moment.” This album is best for fans of Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Local Natives, and Valley. “Honeymoon” by Beach Bunny “Honeymoon” is Beach Bunny’s debut studio album, following Beach Bunny’s quick rise after their first four EPs. The album is based on the feelings of uncertainty in relationships and pushing the boundary by taking a chance on love. Sometimes, we are our greatest enemy by holding us back from happiness due to fear of rejection or a problematic future. Beach Bunny’s musical stylings use jubilant upbeat bass riffs to disguise the underlying somber lyrics that will resonate with people in their twenties. The lyric “was I ever good enough for you, there’s always someone I'm trying to live up to” in “Rearview” describes the all too familiar feeling of blaming yourself for not being good enough. Their songs encapsulate the reality of relationships after surpassing the ‘honeymoon’ stage and bringing light and happiness
to people struggling through this time. The sentiment is found in their other song “Cuffing Season”; the lyric “sometimes I like being on my own, I'm afraid of winding up alone” sings true to introverts in relationships and people finding the right balance between old comfort and new love. Beach Bunny is just starting their career; I expect them to reach the top charts and be next to girl in red in the future. “Honeymoon” would be well loved by fans of Peach Pit and mxmtoon. “Color Theory” by Soccer Mommy “Color Theory” is unlike other albums because the artist based all the songs on colors and emotions associated with them. The three main colors Soccer Mommy incorporated in her music were blue for sadness and depression, yellow for physical and emotional illness and gray for darkness and loss. She wanted to make her album an outlet for anyone struggling through the merk of darkness, also known as mental illness. Arguably the best track of the album is “circle the drain,” in which the singer gets real with the audience by showcasing her own trauma and difficulty fighting through it. In “yellow is the color of her eyes,” the singer delves into her personal life by talking about her mother who has cancer. In the lyrics of the song, she desperately pleads “loving you isn't enough, you’ll still be deep in the ground when it’s done,” showing her anguish throughout the album. Soccer Mommy is an underrated artist that deserves more recognition throughout the indie and alternative music community. This album would be perfect for fans of Snail Mail, Japanese Breakfast, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker.
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THE VECTOR
Week of March 22, 2021
Entertainment
Kings of Leon: From Chords to Cryptocurrency How the Rise of NFTs is Creeping its Way into the Musical Industry By Sabastian Fernandes | Senior Staff Writer
Cryptocurrency: you either love it, hate it or still don't understand it no matter how many people rave to you about it to you. Believe it or not, this mysterious faux-money is steadily creeping its way onto legitimate markets, with producers across the globe seeking to make their debut onto the ever-growing stage of value that is this robust monetary system.
ly across the globe that it’s hard to keep track of the transfer of all the varieties of physical dollars and yen and euro involved. Visionaries have opted to revamp this antiquated system into what is called cryptocurrency — like physical money but represented in bits of information that can be transferred near instantaneously among global accounts.
So what does cryptocurrency have to do with the neo-rock band Kings of Leon? Just last week on March 5, they released their newest album in 5 years, “When you see Yourself.” Not only has this long-awaited album given fans, an antique yet unique, cool new music to listen to, but it has also dipped the band’s toes into unmapped waters: the release of the musical commodity as an NFT, or non-fungible token, which is a form of cryptocurrency.
Cryptocurrency is “mined” as one would mine gold to make shillings, except computer motherboards take the place of pickaxes. Cryptocurrency is successfully “mined” when it is completely generated through a very strict algorithm that gives each coin a specific ID that is completely unique, traceable and non-reproducible. Since the crypto miners are compensated for their crypto-coin generation with physical money, the coins are also representative of said value.
Historically, people have always traded things of appraised value for other things of equally appraised value, but in a well-functioning business environment, value must be able to be standardized into a universal form of payment. Instead of converting between bags of berries and parcels of land, people of yore eventually opted for attributing all commodities to a specific number of coins or bills, or forms of currency. This way, people could exchange representations of their goods instead of goods themselves, streamlining the process of exchange as we know it today. In the modern era, however, there is so much business happening constant-
This finally brings us to NFTs and the groundbreaking nature of the new Kings of Leon album. Non-fungible tokens are like the inverse of cryptocurrency, in the way that instead of representing standardized divisions of value, they represent pieces of property — property which can be defined as anything from a bag of berries, or a parcel of land, to, you guessed it, a portion of a studio recording of your favorite band’s new album. Essentially, the NFT becomes a unique, yet limited collectible to the buyer alone that can be traded to another at the owner’s discretion, at whatever price they name.
NFTs can also be grouped to create larger, complex and more unique NFTs, such as the album tokens being offered by Kings of Leon, where one token valued at $50 includes an exclusive dynamic album cover artwork, a digital download of the album and a limited-edition vinyl record. Distribution of these codes began on the March 5 and ended on March 19, when they were effectively discontinued. Separately, the band also minted 18 unique “golden ticket” NFTs, which unlock for the user more art and four front-row seat tickets to any Kings of Leon concert during each tour for life. Also included are VIP access to concierge services at shows, exclusive lounges, hangouts with the band and all the merch available before the show. This seems like an egregious proof of concept on the band’s part more than anything, showering the lucky bidding winner of these NFTs in lavish gifts to illustrate the great potential value of this non-physical property. Now with all of this said, what’s left to say about the music itself? In all honesty, the music isn’t half bad, but it is greatly overshadowed by the grand weight that its novelty as an NFT suggests. The album’s opening song really sets the tone for the entire album, opening with a slightly mellower version of the Kings of Leon’s typical style of catchy guitar backing, supported heavily by atmospheric synths and polyrhythms, and a killer baseline that is sure to worm its way into the back of your mind. Listen-
ing to the album felt like floating into a sea of good feelings, as the melodies developed at individual parts throughout the songs harmonized toward the ends into well-blended cacophonies of bittersweet rock revival. With this established, I’d have to say no one song on the album really stands out from the rest. They all have the same sound, same mood and same progression. It seems like the album is a collection of cookie-cutter templates, all frosted in a unique way, only to result in the same taste. Not that there's anything wrong with the songs themselves — each one offers a rich listening experience in its own right, giving the collection a sort of “Lofi Beats To Chill Out To” vibe. In conclusion, remember Kings of Leon? The band that released “Sex on Fire” and “Use Somebody” back in 2008, and you heard those songs on the radio all the time, but you could never really place their name out of context? They’re still making music, and they’re still pretty good listening material. They have accepted a sort of complacency with their style, not quite able to musically reinvent themselves enough to show development after their five-year hiatus on an already sporadic music release cycle. They have absolutely reinvented their business practice though, perhaps pioneering the entertainment industry into a new era of media sharing through NFT’s, which is as bold a move as any, making them deserving of an encore.
Photo by NME
THE VECTOR
Entertainment
Week of March 22, 2021
10
Coming 2 America: Jerry Springer in Zamunda By Daniil Ivanov | Editor-in-Chief
Photo by Deadline Over 30 years have passed since the comedic pairing of Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall in "Coming to America'' brought tears of laughter to moviegoers. The story was a masterpiece that told the story of Prince Akeem of Zamunda coming to Queens to find a bride who could love him despite his background in royalty. The prince fell in love with Lisa McDowell for being a beautiful and intelligent woman, and she fell in love with him thinking that he was a wise and compassionate man who comes from a family of goat herders. However, Akeem's father wanted him to go through with an arranged marriage for political gain as per tradition, while Lisa's father wanted her to marry into a rich American family so she wouldn't have to struggle with money like he did. It was a modern telling of the age-old story of star crossed lovers, made hilarious by over-the-top characters and cultural differences between New Yorkers and Zamundans. The 2021 sequel did not live up to its predecessor. "Coming 2 America'' takes place 30 years after Lisa and Akeem are married, with the couple having three daughters and Akeem's father near death and ready to hand over the throne to his son. Akeem then finds out that he has a bastard son in New York, who he needs to bring back to Zamunda as a male heir because a witch told him that
he would be assassinated and Zamunda would be taken over by its neighbors. Meanwhile, General Izzi of Nexdoria (who is also the brother of the woman that Akeem refused to marry in the first movie) threatens Akeem with a militant dance troupe, giving him the ultimatum: war or the marriage of their children. After finding his son, Lavelle, Akeem tries to parent his new son while Lavelle and his mom Mary adjust to life in Zamunda. Lavelle has to learn to be a prince by learning the country's history and cutting a lion's whiskers, Mary has tension with Lisa over Akeem, Akeem and his family have tension over him having another family, Akeem and Lavelle's uncle argue over who the father figure is, Lavelle and Akeem's older daughter have tension since she is more qualified to be heir but is a woman, General Izzi continues to threaten Akeem and Lavelle contemplates marrying Izzi's daughter for political gain versus marrying his royal groomer for love. Confusing? Yeah. My biggest problem with the sequel is that in “Coming to America,” Akeem is only 21 years old and far beyond his years in wisdom, looking past tradition and wanting a woman who has her own thoughts and wishes. He didn't want a wife, he wanted a partner. 30 years later, he's not listening to or consulting
COLLECTIONS
with his wife and is following tradition to make a son he's never met the heir, while any of his three daughters would be more qualified. This isn't the same guy. There’s also the issue of too many storylines. This was a movie that was introducing new characters and tried to introduce conflict and resolution between every single one of them. To make it worse, the movie brought back Reverend Brown, Randy Watson, the barbers, the rapping twins, a royal bathers’ scene and the McDowell’s restaurant in order to channel the nostalgia. On top of that, there were unnecessary dance numbers, Morgan Freeman and Dikembe Mutumbo were featured in for no reason, En Vogue and Salt-N-Pepa got to perform and Oha executed the same singing gag from the first movie. The movie was too convoluted. The entire General Izzy storyline could have been removed, especially since he’s shown as a powerful military figure but is quickly dispatched by Akeem’s daughters and Semmi. From this defeat, Izzy decides to instead try diplomacy. So, an entire war was subverted because the eccentric General got beat up. Lavelle having to run a gauntlet to become prince was also unnecessary: Akeem begged him to come to Zamun-
"Violate interstate travel guidelines"
da to become the prince but as soon as the plane landed, Lavelle was left to fend for himself, aided only by a hairdresser whom he falls in love with. The storyline of Lavelle wanting to marry for love was also useless — we learned this lesson in the first movie over 30 years ago. To add insult to injury, Lavelle chose to not marry Izzy’s daughter because she followed his every command — the same exact joke that set up “Coming to America” all those years ago. “Coming to America” was a simple story about two people from opposite sides of the world coming together and falling in love in Queens, overcoming tradition and family issues. The comedy fit into interactions between well-defined characters in an easy-to-follow story. On the other hand, “Coming 2 America” was a hot mess. With a father and son meeting each other for the first time, competing love interests, a secret family, a crazy general with revenge on his mind, feuding siblings, Akeem being drugged and sexually assaulted 30 years ago and now having to deal with consequences as if it were his fault and many other wild branches of this story, this wasn’t the sequel that the movie deserved. It was nostalgia-baiting. It was messy. It was Jerry Springer in Zamunda, and we aren’t any better off because of it.
"ate something other than GDS"
voices from around campus
"Dreaded the end of "finally binged Bridgerton" What did you do over spring break? Spring Break" Submit your responses to @njit_vector on Instagram!
"practiced "ruined my sleep rollerblading at the schedule" park" "Rollerskating" "group excursion to Boston" "I got broke...er!"
"I read 3 books" "Got the vaccine"
"caught up on the anime"
"thought I was "thought I got going to be COVID but was just productive... a cold" defintely wasn't"
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THE VECTOR
Entertainment
Week of March 22, 2021
Hayao Miyazaki’s Hidden World:
A Studio Ghibli Retrospective By Prem Naik | Senior Staff Writer The world of anime was one I never expected to explore before, but having watched sixteen of Studio Ghibli’s works, I am glad I finally did. Having grown up on primarily Western works of 2D animation from Disney, Warner Bros. Animation and DreamWorks Animation, anime was a medium I was regrettably, not properly introduced to. Initially turned off by the perceivably exclusive fanbase anime is tied to, Miyazaki’s works were some of the most heartfelt and magical films that I almost lost in my skepticism of anime as a whole. While I continue to delve into the wonderful films of Studio Ghibli, it’s important to acknowledge what makes them so appealing to a newcomer. Disney’s classic films were almost always adaptations of fairy tales and books, and when so many of their films are based on princesses and far off lands with castles, it’s safe to say escapism is a common theme. Many of us today grew up with the colloquially dubbed Disney Renaissance movies of the 1990s, and each is an outstanding work of animation with a great soundtrack. With Warner Bros. and DreamWorks following suit to cash in on the revitalization of 2D animation in the 2000s, western audiences, myself included, were satisfied with these films providing a quick and
Photos by Studio Ghibli
fun adventure. While I love each and every one of these films for their lovable characters and songs, Studio Ghibli’s movies held a more nuanced approach to escapism that immediately captivated me. Back in August I got my first proper exposure to Studio Ghibli, thanks to HBO Max. Boasting an almost complete collection of the Japanese studio’s finest works, I was astonished at the number of 2D animated works that existed without the Disney logo emblazoned on the poster. I was entranced by the world building, artwork, and grandeur of “Castle in the Sky.” Each frame could have been a painting, bursting with color and life with painstaking attention to detail. I had to see more of what Studio Ghibli had to offer and was compelled to see as many films as I could. With epics like “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” and “Princess Mononoke,” Studio Ghibli dazzles its audiences in multilayered conflicts while approaching environmentalism and humanity’s place in the natural world. With “Spirited Away” and “Ponyo” there’s a more whimsical approach to fairy tales while delivering a charming story fit for children. And with films like “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” “From Up on Poppy Hill” and “Whisper of the Heart” Studio Ghibli
masterfully crafts coming of age dramas, all while delivering their trademark magic that entertains audiences of all ages. Studio Ghibli demonstrates a mastery of the craft animation with subtle details in the movements of characters, the realism of the fantasy settings and heavier themes and concepts not thoroughly explored in other studios. Much of this is owed to the principles of founder Hayao Miyazaki. As an animator, Miyazaki is dedicated to making his films feel tangible regardless of the setting and story. His characters are always grounded in real human emotion and prone to mistakes. Where most other escapist films depict strong incorruptible characters, protagonists are shown to be flawed in Studio Ghibli’s works, as seen with the destructive actions of Ashitaka and San in “Princess Mononoke” to the self-destructive actions of Porco in “Porco Rosso.” Much like the characters themselves, the conflicts are also always reminiscent of the real world. Satsuki and Mei come to terms with their sick mother in “My Neighbor Totoro,” while Sophie deals with the turmoil of war in “Howl’s Moving Castle.” San tries to fight off the humans attempting to develop land and harming nature in “Princess Mononoke” while Taeko struggles to come to terms
with her own adulthood in “Only Yesterday.” When the main characters themselves struggle with familiar situations, it’s easier to believe the setting regardless of the fantastical elements. Studio Ghibli exemplifies accurate portrayals of human emotions and conflict through animation, thanks to the continued work of founders Toshio Suzuki and Isao Takahata alongside Miyazaki alongside new directors and writers. The appeal lies in the grounded realism of every single film. It would be a crime for me not to mention the stellar soundtracks of Studio Ghibli. The soundtracks themselves easily whisk you away to another world and match the accompanying films flawlessly. Many are composed by Joe Hisashi, one of Miyazaki’s common collaborators on each of his projects and are amongst the best film scores this world has to offer. While initially hesitant to try these films, I now whole heartedly understand why Studio Ghibli remains one of the most popular and revered animation companies of all time. Deeper than Disney, and sweet like honey, these movies really deserve a watch at any age. My only regret is not watching these films sooner.
THE VECTOR
Entertainment
Week of March 22, 2021
Horoscopes
Do You Even Sudoku?
By @poetastrologers
ARIES TAURUS For you time is still the same as it always was, but something has changed. When you move in doubt, move the thing itself. Blue and yellow-green music will be playing when you get the call. Hold up your hand so they know it’s you.
CANCER
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GEMINI
Holding it in balance is all you’ve ever wanted. But now you must see both sides simultaneously. Is it part of the fantasy to let the circle be the guidepost. Or is it part of the home you are making.
You could have sworn that you said it before. But no when you look again, it’s not even there. Gently, you will love it all so deeply. In the cool air nine cups full of water.
LEO
VIRGO
EASY
Someone is pushing their energy out to you. In the night you will be happiest. There is something still to be settled. You will only see it as a beginning.
There is a house with three windows. One is yours but you are outside looking up at it. There are so many things still to find until you go inside. But once you do, you will be so peaceful.
You have come this far and now it’s only going to get better. A stripe of sun will drench the entire room. In fact if you were worried that something is over, don’t be. Instead a blossoming will envelop you.
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
You might find yourself watching old movies. That’s because you have magic to do. On the shelf an object that means something to you. There will be travel and delight.
Under the table there is the note you left a year ago. Is it to yourself or to someone you love? It will seem like it was written by another person. There is an animal that you love.
On the curve of the landscape there is a stone. You can go up to it if you want. But better yet it’s good to know it’s there. You might feel tired, but you are building up momentum.
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
A leaf or two that blows in the breeze is enough of an inspiration right now. You won’t need to grow anything. Still you may do it by habit. The newness of an idea always excites you.
It turns and turns but this is still your lucky time. As you look closer you will see all of the possibilities just sitting there like flower buds. If you want to, draw a rose. If you don’t, then give something like it to someone you love.
It has been a long time. You feel this more than ever before. On the edge of the window is a bird and a rainbow. You know that nothing can keep you from dreaming.
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 1. Hotel fixtures 5. Translucent mineral 9. Forger's output 14. Cross characters 15. Dry streambed 16. Circumvent 17. Kind of gun 18. Zone 19. Giotto contemporary 20. Some political speeches 23. Diameter sections 24. Al Jazeera's base 25. TV abbr. 28. Rhea's Roman counter-
part 29. Coach Paterno's sch. 31. Vaticinators 33. Do a dog trick 35. Journalist's bonanza 36. Their typical dimensions are 17' x 44' for singles 42. Pulitzer-winning novelist 43. Béchamel, for one 44. Part of 44-Across 48. Driver's little helper? 49. Attachment for corn or cuspid 52. "Agnus ___"
53. Bumbling 55. Wan-looking 57. "Ruthless People" kidnapper 60. Kind of end 62. Needing patches 63. Pennsylvania county 64. Catchall column 65. Sans opposite 66. Ruin 67. 2002 N.L. batting champ 68. Lucas character 69. Fired
Down 1. European-style eatery 2. Lure into crime 3. Pre-Christian Celts 4. Egyptian peninsula 5. Clean the orlop 6. Weed-killer 7. Quested in "A Passage to India" 8. Theater district 9. Hat with a curled brim 10. Mr. Greenspan 11. The Chicago Seven defender 12. Summer in NYC
13. "Understand?" 21. "Madonna With Saints" painter Fra Filippo 22. Use it to make waves 26. Dance to it 27. Petitions 30. Capitol Hill abbr. 32. Solver's aid 33. One of Wendy's captors 34. Some ring results 36. It uses amps 37. Tropical malady 38. Bottle with a wicker casing 39. Talked too much
40. Actors wait for it 41. Most of earth's surface 45. Subway customers 46. Director Lee 47. Margin for error 49. Where the heart is 50. Cover the shelves again 51. "You don't say!" 54. It's in Utah 56. Queen you may have read about 58. Reconditioned, e.g. 59. Atahualpa, for one 60. Soft toss 61. Prefix meaning "ear"
THE VECTOR
Week of March 22, 2021
13
HELP KEEP NJIT’S CAMPUS SAFE...
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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)