[The Stute] December 13, 2024 (Issue 14, Volume CXXII)
Stevens Police “Stuff the Truck” with toys for those in need
BY EVAN PAPAGEORGE, HEAD COPY EDITOR
The holiday season is about more than just finals and festive decorations. It’s a time to come together as a community to make a meaningful impact — and this year’s Fifth Annual Toy Drive, “Stuff the Truck,” exemplifies that spirit of giving. Organized by the Stevens Police Department in collaboration with the Stevens Athletic Department and the Student Government Association (SGA), the drive aims to collect toys for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hudson County.
The toy drive, which began December 1, is a chance for students, staff, and faculty to brighten the holidays for children facing economic, social, and family challenges. The Boys and Girls Clubs organization has been supporting youth development for over 130 years. Donation efforts will culminate in a special evening during the basketball game on December 11 at 7 p.m. in the Schaefer Center Lobby. The event will feature the excitement of Stevens basketball and the community’s generosity, with Russel Rogers,
SEE TOYS PAGE 2
We write Stevens history
EC hosts the 10th annual Winter Wonderland
BY TANYA AVADIA, BUSINESS MANAGER
The Entertainment Committee (EC) hosted the 10th annual Winter Wonderland event on December 4 drawing over 600 students in attendance. This event concluded EC’s schedule of events for the fall semester and they concluded on a happy and festive note. The Stute had the opportunity to interview Gianmarco Costa, the Festivities Director of the EC to gain insight into what made the 10th Winter Wonderland extra special. Given how this year
marks 10 years since the first Winter Wonderland, preparations for it started as soon as Winter Wonderland 2023 concluded. Costa, spearheading the planning for this, has been working with the Office of Student Life for almost a year to ensure a successful event.
On the EC’s side, once the groundwork and logistics were laid out, the shift focused on Winter Wonderland immediately after the Fall Fest concluded.
In terms of agenda, there were a number of student performances as well as the 5th Annual Santa Competi-
tion. This year’s Santa Competition had seven organizations participating which Costa notes is the highest amount of participation ever in the history of Winter Wonderland. The organizations were: Theta Phi Alpha, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sigma Nu, Alpha Phi Omega, Gear and Triangle, Stevens Trivia Club and Student Government Association. Each organization had to send one representative to be Santa and two representatives to be Santa’s Elves. They all competed in a series of exercises and games with their performance earn-
ing them points. Following an extremely competitive race, Sigma Phi Epsilon took home the title of Stevens Santa following lots of cheers from the crowd.
While the EC’s Winter Wonderland drew a lot of attention from students, it also drew the attention of alumni. Costa shares how several alumni previously involved in the EC were invited to attend this event in celebration of its 10 year anniversary. Among them was the Stevens Tree Lighting founder, Greg Klesaris
SEE EC PAGE 2
MakerSpace hosts Girl Scouts for “Think Like an Engineer” award badge
BY JEYLAN JUBRAN, STAFF WRITER
Stevens MakerSpace employees had the wonderful opportunity to host the New Jersey Girl Scouts on Wednesday, December 4, helping them earn their badge for the “Think Like an Engineer” journey. The enthusiastic and inquisitive Girl Scouts, ranging from ages six to twelve, were eager to explore Stevens’ Makerspace and immerse themselves in hands-on engineering activities. The event was planned and led by the women employees in the Makerspace— Alicia Kearney Nataly Jimenez, Thomai Andreopoulos, Natalie Anfuso, and Jeylan Jubran—who have been dedicated to hosting women’s workshops for the past three years. This initiative reflects their ongoing mission to make engineering workshops more inclusive, consistent, and open to all moving forward. This caught the attention of the NJ Girl Scouts who were thrilled to earn their badge in collaboration with MakerSpace. The scouts were tasked with building the fastest
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NATIONAL NEWS YEAR-END RANKINGS
Word of the Year: the bizarre nature of brain rot
brain rot [ˈbreɪnˌrɒt] (n.) Supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as a result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging.
JOSEPHINE CHOONG, STAFF WRITER
2024 was an interesting year, especially with all of the new slang. From “demure” to “lore,” many words have gained new cultural meanings because of the internet.
However, one word has risen above them all, enough to be considered Oxford’s Word of the Year. It’s a word you have likely heard of brain rot. How has brain rot seeped through our lives?
How brain-rotted are we?
According to Oxford, brain rot’s definition is the “supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as a result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging.”
Initially, it was used in Gen Z and Gen Alpha communities within social media. However, it has since led to mainstream attraction, leading to a 230% usage increase between 2023 and 2024. It has gained so much attention that an Australian senator made a political speech using Gen Alpha slang. Even Stevens joined the craze with an Instagram reel exhibiting phrases like “instant +100 aura points” and “rizzler.”
To decide Word of the Year, Oxford created a shortlist of six words that have helped shape the year and invited the public to vote on those words. After considering language data and over 37,000 votes, Oxford decided on ‘brain rot,’ noting how it “reflects a growing trend
SEE WORD PAGE 3
2024: A “Peach Fuzz” year
FAFSA comes back repaired, pending spring stress test
BY ARTHUR SERRA, STAFF WRITER
PANTONE, known for its standardized color matching system, annually announces one color to be the “Color of the Year.”
With the year coming to an end, it’s time to reflect upon this year’s color: Peach Fuzz (PANTONE 13-1023).
Peach Fuzz is a soft, warm, and inviting hue that embodies a sense of tenderness and warmth in a world that often feels disconnected. This orangey-pink hue “echoes our innate yearning for closeness and connection” and is described to be “radiant with warmth and modern elegance,” shared Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of Pantone Color Institute. After Pantone’s announcement for the Color of the Year, industries ranging from fashion to cosmetics began implementing Peach Fuzz into their products and marketing campaigns, bringing a sense of softness and optimism. The runways of Spring-Summer 2024 saw
Peach Fuzz featured in several collections, including from popular brands such as Chloé, Fendi, and Valentino, in their ready-to-wear collections.
Each designer interpreted the Pantone Color of the Year with a distinct approach that highlighted the shade’s versatility and emotional depth.
Outside of the fashion and design industries, Peach Fuzz is a color you can find in various natural settings that evoke warmth and gentle beauty. Aside from peaches, the color can be seen during sunrises and sunsets, where the sky blends oranges and pinks to form gradients that both feel soothing and ethereal. Peach Fuzz can also be observed in certain sandstone formations, the interior of seashells, the furs of red foxes, and even in outer space: the Crab Nebula.
As Pantone’s Color of the Year symbolizes a color that represents what’s happening with the global cul-
SEE PEACH PAGE 3
The Department of Education (DOE) has launched an overhauled Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) system, aiming to fix last year’s disastrous rollout with a streamlined form and faster processing.
College is an expensive investment, particularly as the cost of attending increases every year. One of the vital ways to receive financial aid is through the FAFSA. Filling out a FAFSA is how students can qualify for the Pell Grant, federal subsidized and unsubsidized loans, and more. The amount of federal aid a student receives can be the difference between getting a college education or not. Last year, the DOE tried a new website system to improve the application process. Along with this software change was a redesign of the form itself to simplify and shorten the filing process. There were less than half the old num-
SEE FAFSA PAGE 2
Biden pardons Biden
BY ARTHUR SERRA, STAFF WRITER
On December 1, President Joseph Biden issued a wide-ranging pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, reversing an earlier pledge not to intervene on his son’s behalf. The pardon is in response to two federal cases against the younger Biden that have been ongoing for over six years. Article II of the US Constitution outlines the powers afforded to and responsibilities expected of the Executive Branch, headed by the President of the
United States of America. Although the Constitution is intentionally vague, one of the clear powers that the President has is the ability to issue an “Executive Grant of Clemency,” which can pardon a specific person of any federal crime. The first case involved some $1.4 million in federal taxes that Hunter Biden declined to pay, for which he pleaded guilty in court this September. The second case against him was lying on a gun ownership application form, for which SEE BIDEN PAGE 3
FIONA SHI, CONTRIBUTOR
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE (SHOT BY JEFF VOCK)
HEAD COPY EDITOR....................EVAN PAPAGEORGE ‘26
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Director of Physical Education, Athletics, and Recreation, inviting the visiting team and their supporters to contribute to the cause.
Much like the Stevens Police Department’s successful No-Shave November campaign, which raised funds and awareness for Fight
collection points make it easy for the campus community to get involved and share the joy of giving.
Social media and campus communication channels will amplify the effort, much as they did for NoShave November. Updates, photos of the growing collection of toys, and reminders to participate will keep the holiday spirit alive.
On December 16, the season’s magic will peak as members of the Stevens Police Department,
Stevens community members, including their families, are invited to join this celebration.
While the toys are tangible gifts, the real gift lies in the spirit of compassion and unity that drives efforts like this one. Whether through growing a beard for cancer awareness or filling a truck with toys for needy children, the Stevens Police Department continues to inspire and lead by example.
OFFICE.................................UNIVERSITY CENTER ROOM 216B
NOTICE A MISTAKE?
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This holiday season, as Stevens Police say, let’s “Stuff the Truck” with more than toys—let’s fill it with the hope, kindness, and generosity that define the Stevens sure that the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hudson County have even more
event across the years, and SITTV was hired to record the event and
The final part of the night was the Tree Lighting Ceremony and this coincides with Costa’s favorite aspect of the event. “This might seem obvious, but I love the Tree Lighting part of the event, cause I love seeing everyone’s smiles and cheers, especially when we announce the raffle baskets winners. It brings me joy and it also means that the event was completed successfully. It’s a moment of celebration for the whole team, plus it’s when the decor looks the nicest,” Costa stated.
When asked for any further comments or thoughts on the 10th Annual Winter Winter Wonderland, Costa said that he is extremely grateful to all those who attended and participated in the event and especially grateful to those who supported in making this event a success.
MAKER
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model car, combining science, design, and teamwork. The team led a brainstorming session where the girls sketched their ideas before assembling their vehicles using 3D-printed parts. This activity taught them how design choices— like shape, weight, and materials— affect performance.
The highlight of the day was the test track. Each scout tested her car twice, recording times to analyze performance. The scouts engaged in the engineering design process, reflecting on what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve their cars. They sketched new designs, made modifications, and tested again—embracing the idea that failure and iteration are essential to engineering.
The event concluded with a “Take Action Project,” a Girl Scouts tradition that empowers participants to apply their skills to solve community problems. The
FAFSA
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ber of questions, making it far easier for students to fill it out. However, the online system that was ultimately launched failed spectacularly, overshadowing the other changes intended to improve the user experience! The system crashed constantly, froze at random intervals, and was impossible for many filers to edit. This wasn’t the only issue that the process went through last year; stories emerged of embarrassing errors, like 70,000 students’ information being found three days before the due date in a forgotten email inbox, shocking
scouts brainstormed issues in their communities—from water conservation to accessibility challengto fostering curiosity, creativity, and inclusivity in STEM fields. By hosting the Girl Scouts, the Makered a fun, hands-on experience but also inspired the next generation of engineers to think critically and
Undoubtedly, certain members of our own Stevens community went through the experience of not knowing for months whether or not they’d be able to attend due to the FAFSA’s failure last semester.
However, the website and form have been radically redesigned. According to New York Times columnist Ron Lieber, it is now an incredibly streamlined process. The new form is efficient, taking only 30 minutes to complete. The turn-around process is also far faster — students should be able to receive their “Student Aid Index” within the day.
This new FAFSA is the result of many more tests, and the DOE
As the team looks to expand these workshops next year, the hope is to welcome even more gineering—where creativity meets
is squashing bugs actively as they are reported. However, observers warn that it is too early to celebrate the federal government’s achievement. The bulk of applications won’t happen until the spring, so we won’t know how much the new website can handle and whether the rest of the backend systems have similarly improved until then.
However, at first glance, it seems that the DOE learned its lesson, and students can look forward to a far easier process this round of college applications. Questions that now arise include what changes will be spearheaded by the incoming Trump administration, including its expected scrutiny of the DOE, and whether it will impact the FAFSA.
(Class of 2017), who traveled all the way from Florida to attend and
marquee lettering sign, a short slideshow on the history of the
PHOTO COURTESY OF SIDDHARTH ROCHLANI, STUDENT WITH ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE STEVENS MAKERSPACE
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE (SHOT BY JEFF VOCK)
2024 Pop Culture in Photos
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of words originating in viral online culture before spreading offline.”
That trend is mirrored by ”rizz.”
Word of the Year for 2023.
One notable example of ‘brain rot’ is Skibidi Toilet, a web series starring human-headed toilets trying to take over humanity. It amassed billions of views on YouTube, leading to a TV and movie franchise developed by Micheal
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Bay and Adam Goodman. Another example is the parody song “Fanum tax” or “Sticking Out Your Gyat for the Rizzler,” showcasing popular internet slang like “rizzler” and “Fanum Tax.”
Internet culture is ever-evolving, and with it, so is the culture of the world around us. As we venture forward into a new year, we should also be aware of the potential impact of spending too much time mindlessly scrolling through social media: becoming too brain-rotted.
ture, the attitude of consumers, and a reflection of lifestyle trends, the selection process is extremely analytical and happens over the course of the year before the team at Pantone makes a decision. Moving forward into color projections for the upcoming year, Pantone announced the Color of the Year of 2025 to be Mocha Mousse (171230), appealing to a new year centered around the consumer’s desire for comfort.
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he was found guilty in June. Both of these cases stem from one of Hunter Biden’s longtime problems: drug and alcohol abuse. Hunter Biden abused drugs and alcohol throughout his life but has been sober for the past five and a half years. According to his memoir, he believes that this is in large part due to his traumatic childhood. Joe Biden’s first wife was killed in a car crash with their three children, which only Hunter and his brother Beau survived. The situation only got worse when his brother Beau died of cancer in 2015.
The reason Hunter didn’t pay his taxes was that he was spending large amounts of his income on escorts, drugs, cars, and alcohol to fuel his addiction. However, he would later pay back his taxes with interest.
The firearms crime he committed was applying to own a gun as a drug user. Hunter Biden did not disclose that fact when filling out various forms prior to buying the weapon. The main issue with this case that complicates matters is the politics, not the least of which being that Hunter is the President’s son. Hunter has served on various company boards, two of which are BHR Partners and Burisma Holdings. BHR is a Chinese private equity fund, Burisma a Ukrainian oligarchic holding company
fraught with corruption.
President Trump in 2019 pushed hard to prove that there was corruption present between Joe and Hunter Biden. Supposedly, Hunter Biden used his father’s influence to push state department policy that benefited Burisma, including that Hunter received $1.5 billion from BHR. Although President Biden has long said he would not intervene in the Justice Department’s cases on his son, he finally decided to grant a pardon after Thanksgiving. President Biden cites that this case has been used by Trump-appointed prosecutors and Republican lawmakers to target him. Furthermore, he said that Hunter is facing a far more serious sentence than most people would receive in a similar situation, proving that Hunter is being treated unfairly. While previous Presidents have pardoned family members, including Bill Clinton’s controversial pardon of his half-brother Roger on his last day in office, the Hunter Biden pardon is unusually wide-ranging and preempts Hunter’s prospective jail time. This sets a precedent for a President to pardon a member of his own family during the proceedings of a federal case. Many outlets and commentators have already criticized Joe Biden’s move for significantly harming faith in the justice system. However, the President hopes that “Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision.”
Science
How hand warmers keep your hands warm
BY EVAN PAPAGEORGE, HEAD COPY EDITOR
In the crisp chill of winter, hand warmers serve as small but mighty tools of comfort. These pocket-sized marvels, whether disposable or reusable, harness the power of chemistry and physics to keep fingers toasty. Their design and functionality exemplify the practical application of scientific principles, much like the engineering breakthroughs that have driven planetary exploration.
Disposable hand warmers, those familiar packets that heat up once exposed to air, rely on the exothermic oxidation pro -
cess. Inside these warmers, a mixture of iron powder, salt, water, activated charcoal, and vermiculite sets the stage for a controlled chemical reaction. When you tear open the packet, oxygen enters, triggering iron to oxidize and form iron oxide—essentially rust. This reaction releases heat, which is then retained and evenly distributed by the charcoal and vermiculite. The ingenious simplicity of these devices lies in their careful calibration. The packets adjust the iron particle size and the balance of other ingredients to ensure a steady heat output for several hours, making them ideal for cold outdoor adventures.
Reusable hand warmers operate on a different principle, using phase-change chemistry. These warmers typically contain a supersaturated sodium acetate solution, which can store significant heat. This solution remains stable at room temperature until you click the small metal disc inside the pouch. The disc acts as a nucleation point, initiating the crystallization of sodium acetate. As the solution rapidly solidifies, it releases the energy stored in its liquid state as heat. The process is entirely reversible—boiling the warmer in water re-dissolves the crystals, resetting it for another use. This elegant cycle exemplifies sus -
SCIENCE WINTER FUN FACTS
SNOWFLAKES HAVE SIX SIDES BECAUSE ICE IS NATURALLY A SIX-SIDED CRYSTAL STRUCTURE.
THE SMALLEST SNOWFLAKES HAVE THE DIAMETER OF A HUMAN HAIR...
...AND THE LARGEST HAVE BEEN AROUND 15 INCHES WIDE!
AN INCH OF RAIN CORRELATES TO 13 INCHES OF SNOW
THE ARCTIC FOX’S FUR TURNS WHITE DURING THE WINTER FOR CAMOFLAUGE.
HIBERNATING ISN’T SLEEPING, BUT A STATE OF LOWER HEART RATES, BREATHING, AND BODY TEMPERATURE.
RUDOLF THE REINDEER MIGHT HAVE HAD BIOLUMINESCENCE, A CONDITION WHERE ANIMALS PRODUCE LIGHT.
A SNOWFLAKE HAS 1018 WATER MOLECULES, AND 1015 ARE UNIQUE. SO, THE ODDS OF HAVING IDENTICAL SNOWFLAKES ARE PRACTICALLY ZERO.
TWENTY KINDS OF MISTLETOE ARE ENDANGERED, AND ONLY 2 KINDS ARE NATIVE TO THE UNITED STATES.
GIFT GIVING ACTIVATES THE BRAIN’S REWARD SYSTEM, RELEADING DOPAMINE AND IMPROVING HAPPINESS.
tainability, marrying functionality with reusability.
The design and development of hand warmers combine advancements in multiple engineering and scientific fields to create a safe and efficient product. The balance of intricate variables achieves optimal outcomes: in one case, understanding turbulent flows in extraterrestrial environments; in the other, perfecting the delivery of portable heat. In particular, the reusable warmers’ phase-change process mirrors the nuanced energy transfer principles studied in fluid dynamics and thermodynamics. By mastering these forces, researchers and engineers
open pathways for advancements in consumer products and high-stakes applications, from aerospace to environmental technology.
The science of hand warmers is more than a matter of comfort—it represents the fusion of curiosity and practicality. The development of hand warmers showcases how scientific principles can transform everyday life. In both cases, the methodology speaks to humanity’s ingenuity. Whether unraveling the secrets of an alien ocean or crafting tools for warmth, these pursuits remind us that even the most minor innovations can leave a lasting impact.
An unexpected ice collapse hints at worrying changes on the Antarctic coast
BY DISHA GOHIL, CONTRIBUTER
The time of the “Doomsday Glacier” is ending, making it worse for the rest of the world.
The “Doomsday Glacier,” also known as the Thwaites Glacier, refers to an ice sheet that lies in East Antarctica that has been weakening for the past 30 years. It has gone unnoticed by many scientists. On the other side, West Antarctica is already deteriorating at an alarming rate, making the end of the “Doomsday Glacier” an even bigger problem. This ice sheet holds 10 times more ice and is roughly the size of Florida, making it one of the largest glaciers in the world. Scientists believe that its collapse can lead to a rise of around 26 inches in sea level, and the weakening of West Antarctica will not make it better.
A reason for concern is due to the former East Antarctica Conger ice shelf that was around 20 times the size of Manhattan. Catherine Walker, a glaciologist with the
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, thought that this ice shelf was not going to go anywhere. “It wasn’t even melting that rapidly,” she said. However, while perusing satellite images, she saw that the Conger ice shelf was missing when it was in that same location six days prior. In an effort to understand how this happened, polar meteorologist Jonathan Wille of the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, ETH, in Zurich, Switzerland, along with Walker and 50 other scientists, started looking for clues about what caused the disappearance of the Conger ice shelf. They came across an important clue: a powerful storm passed along the coast during that time, causing the sea surface to bounce back and forth. This led to the ice shelf breaking along existing cracks, and the powerful winds of the storm eventually broke the shelf into different fragments.
“We have every reason to think that [these storms] will become more intense in the future,” says
Wille. This raises concerns about the Thwaites Glacier and its deterioration.
In terms of the Conger ice shelf, the story is a little more complicated. The ice shelf was already in bad condition when the storm hit. The Conger ice shelf had long been stabilized because it pressed against an island 50 kilometers off the coast. However, as the ice shelf thinned, it became too weak to withstand those forces, leading to its escape from the rest of the island. Conger’s collapse will not noticeably impact sea level because the glaciers it had stabilized are small, but it is worrisome that this happened in a supposedly stable area of Antarctica.
“This sector of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet has been very stable,” says Mathieu Morlighem, a glaciologist at Dartmouth College. Some computer simulations predicted that East Antarctica might even gain some mass over the next century. However, if surrounding glaciers tend to destabilize, “then that completely changes the picture.”
Track and Field season opens in PA Meets
BY CAMRYN WINANT, SPORTS WRITER
This weekend on December 6 and 7, the women’s and men’s track and field teams traveled to Bethlehem, PA, and Reading, PA, to race in Lehigh University’s Fast Times Before Finals meet and Alvernia College’s Winter Meet. Both teams started their weekend at Lehigh on the six and finished it off on the 7 with a meet at Lehigh and a meet at Alvernia.
The Ducks went up against competitors from Widener, Stockton, and Lehigh on Friday. There were three runners from the women’s team: sophomores Maya Lapinski and Isabella Shanley and junior Stephanie Ryazanova. Shanley competed in five events and took fifth place overall, followed by Ryazanova, who took sixth, and Lapinski, who took
Lehigh. Juniors James Johnson and Brandon Kiefer and first-year Connor Efinger ran for the men’s team. Kiefer settled in third place after four events, with Johnson in eighth and Efinger in ninth. The next day of the meet was successful for the women, as highlighted by junior Maggie Previglian, who won the high jump and long jump. Also placed alongside her were seniors Caroline Tighe, landing third in the 60-meter hurdles, and Ella Santoro, placing second and sixth in the long jump and high jump, respectively. Juniors Isabella Vogel came second in the 400 m, and Lauren Alley, who just had a successful season with the women’s soccer team, came second in the 60 hurdles. Sophomore Anacarolina Ventura took fourth in the weight throw, followed by junior Michelle Elias Flores at ninth,
Breona Pizzuta, and first-year Sarah Lovelsmith. The men’s team recorded MAC Indoor Championships qualifying marks, with first-year Enrico Parrella landing first in the mile in his first time competing. Following him in the mile were first-years Kevin Medrow, Matthew Hodorowski, and Cillian Griffin in third, fourth, and seventh, respectively. First-years Ethan Stallone, William Ladd, and Joseph Perriello landed the top three spots in the 60 hurdles, with Ladd also taking third in the high jump. Reaching 12.29m in the triple jump and 5.96m in the long jump, sophomore Justin Gajewski made it to the MAC and took first in the triple jump and third in the long jump. Following him in the long jump was Perriello in fifth. There were five Ducks that ended in the top eight of the
nior Brandon Fox, and juniors Cooper Kinsley and Emmanuel Vega, with Fox, Kinsley, and Vega all scoring qualifying marks. On the track, junior Kyle Savino got a second-place time, sophomore Tyler Hackett grabbed third in the 200 and fourth in the 60, while sophomore Douglas Winant landed third in the 60. Seven Ducks competed in the pole vault, with senior Andrew Ananthrajah finishing in sixth overall above the other Ducks. Also competing in the pole vault were first-years Michael Dao and David Huang, junior Kyle Miller, seniors Braedan Joyce and Cullen Grady, and sophomore Christopher Persico. The Ducks closed out their successful weekend and will be seen running again after the break. On Saturday, January 18, both the men’s and women’s teams will be back in PA running at the 2025
STEVENS SCOREBOARD
MIND OF A FRESHMAN
“How’s the weather?”
BY EILIYAH SAROWAR
Yes, this article is just an extended answer to “so… weather’s been crazy lately right!” No. I am not desperate for article ideas. Before I committed to Stevens, I wish someone had warned me about how horrible the weather is. It might just be a “me thing” because sometimes I see people in T-shirts. Meanwhile, I’m covered in layers of clothes, sweaters, and a thick jacket. The view may be incredible, but the Hudson is actually evil. The wind is so bad my weather app is telling
GIRL-ISH TALK
me that Hoboken “feels like 18 degrees.” Walking to UCC has become pure torture at this point. It’s probably just an incline of about five degrees, but it feels like climbing a mountain. I did not ask to climb Mount Everest to pick up my Yellas order.
Once, it was snowing before I had to get to my physics class. I actually debated skipping just to not endure the two minute walk and stay in the comfort of the library. Speaking of comfortable places to study in the cold: the bridge between Gateway North and South. The benches have heaters on them. It’s incredible. Instead of rubbing my hands together for warmth like a caveman I can just put them on top of the heaters.
Because I’m apparently cold-blooded, I have gotten sick two times this semester. The first time I was blessed with the flu, I fell behind in all my classes. I also ended up being allergic to my medication and broke into hives. The
My hot take on Hallmark-like movies
BY TANYA AVADIA ‘26
In my first year, I had to take a class called Fundamentals of Information Systems. On the last day of this class, my professor decided that we should have a fun class. He handed us all index cards with a variety of prompts and we played presentation karaoke, where we basically had to answer the prompt and tie in the images on a presentation into our answer. As my luck would have it, my prompt was, “What is the worst type of movie or show?” I’ll be honest; I had no idea how to answer this. Luckily, my friend suggested stereotypical Hallmark movies, and I ran with them. Unfortunately, as fate would have it, the first slide in the presentation deck was an image of a jellyfish. Therefore, in front of a whole class of around 60 people, I stated, “I would rather be a jellyfish than to ever watch a Hallmark movie.”
Now, why did I tell you that little anecdote? It’s be
to pop up around the holiday season. I’m all for love and joy and a good holiday-themed rom-com, but my issue with Hallmark movies is that they are so stereotypically bad, especially with regard to the way they portray women. From the many(yes, many) of these types of movies I have seen on Netflix, it almost always starts like this: the female lead is a career woman in a big city and has dedicated her life to her career; however, life keeps reminding her that she’s not all that as a result we as the viewers know she is struggling but she tries to push through and comes off as very grumpy and bitter. Then, by chance, she ends up in a new place: a vacation, her hometown where everyone knows everyone and each other’s business, or a castle in a small but wealthy European country. Here, she somehow meets “the one.” Obviously, it doesn’t happen without some sort of misunderstanding or miscommunication, but it all works out because they are soulmates. She leaves her old life behind and suddenly is married or engaged or to-be engaged to “the one.” and she is no longer a resentful corporate woman.
While movies with this kind of plot are acceptable for one or two movies, not every movie about the holidays has to be like this. My personal take is that it portrays wom
second time was a lot less dra matic and just the common cold.
If I had to blame one per son, it would be public trans portation. NJ Transit needs to lock in and give me accurate bus schedules. You may think taking an 8 minute bus ride for a 15 minute walk is absurd and you’re probably right. I unfortunately cherish those few moments of warmth way too much. However, I do not appreciate having to wait 20 minutes after I expected my bus to show up.
To combat the cold, I’ve started to layer up even more than before. I probably could have avoided being sick by starting with this in the first place. It’s just semi-embarrassing to be the only person in a puffer coat in a class of sweaters.
Good luck with your finals, and please layer up. I learned the hard way that being the only person in my class coughing is a lot worse than carrying a jacket.
Whammageddon
those words is a nightmare. For those participating in the game Whammaggeddon, hearing those words means they have lost.
is not an accurate portrayal of women because why can’t they have both? In most cases, the female character is very passionate about her career. She wants to excel in it, but her environment continuously puts her down. Compared to her male coworkers, she faces a lot of additional hurdles, and it is very outwardly shown that the reason for her not being able to move to where she wants to be is that she is a woman. While it is true that women do face a lot of systematic challenges, the portrayal is done in a way that comes off as demeaning to the female lead. The message almost seems to be that she shouldn’t aspire to want or do those things because her finding “love” is way more important and that everything she wanted career-wise is no longer relevant because she found “the one.”
I personally believe that this is a terrible message to send, especially given the target audience of these films is women. I personally love a good rom-com, and the holidays could definitely serve as a good backdrop or trope, but finding love shouldn’t come at the expense of any woman’s identity and things that are important to her. All seriousness aside, though, if you’re having a bad day and want a good laugh or just want to critique a movie for fun please do consider watching all the new holiday-themed
sweaters, jovial gatherings, and of course, festive music. For many, walking around stores with frenzied family members is relieved with the joyous music that plays on the speakers, but there is one song that some people would do anything to avoid… “Last Christmas” is a song originally recorded by pop duo Wham and played over 5 billion times since its original release in 1984. What members George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley didn’t know was that the song they created would cause a phenomenon called “Whammageddon.”
Last Christmas is a song about heartbreak during the holidays, with a playful synthesizer and dramatic vocals, 4 minutes and 11 seconds in length. Its chorus, “Last Christmas I gave you my heart, but the very next day you gave it away, this year to save me from tears, I’ll give it to someone special,” has become incredibly recognizable and loved by many. However, for some, hearing
FOODIE FINDS
Whammaggeddon starts December 1st, with the goal being to get to December 25th without hearing it. This survival challenge seems easy but becomes impossible as December passes. No one is safe from “Last Christmas”; every public space, social gathering, or TV commercial marks dangerous territory. Want to watch a holiday movie? Hang out with friends? The answer would be yes, but in the times of Whammageddon, simple things like watching movies and socializing come with great risks. The rules of the game are to progress through December without hearing the pop duo’s Christmas breakup ballad. Those participating in the game must go as long as possible without hearing it and are out the second the song is recognized. However, there are exceptions to covers and remixes, according to the official Whammageddon website.
Whammaggeddon can be a very sensitive time for those participating, so as a friend of someone playing the game, it can go many ways. While it is advised not to purposely send your friends Wham on purpose, it can be fun to put them in dangerous Wham-likely situations. I am personally a big believer in setting deliberate Wham traps, doing a lit-
tle foreshadowing, and then WHAM… it’s Wham. That seems pretty fair to me, and opportunities like that can be pretty creative. I’ve also noticed the song is unavailable to play at Pierce dining hall. Could this be Whammaggeddon-related? I personally am a Wham enjoyer by day and Wham torturer by night. I can always be found in the queue, prepared to reap a few souls for Whammaggeddon. For those participating in Whamaggeddon, you’re almost there; stay strong. Listen to all your other music and be as jovial as possible. Maybe even enjoy all of the covers and remixes possible of “Last Christmas” and take advantage of them. Remember to carry emergency earplugs for those last-minute shopping days at the mall when you aren’t quite sure what will end up playing on the radio. Try not to develop trust issues with your friends and always stay one step ahead; keep an eye out for those pesky Wham traps. Remember that even though the fear of Whammageddon is real, it is just a game, so don’t let it get in the way of enjoying the Holidays. Don’t plan on going solo this Holiday season; enjoy time with friends and family. Don’t be careless. You’ve gotta have faith that you’ll make it through Whammageddon. In the long run, this year’s Christmas will be next year’s “Last Christmas,” so make it a good one!
Bye foodies, hello finals and holiday treats
December is such a bittersweet month — yay for the holiday season, but boo for finals. It’s like having a Christmas tree without any ornaments; it’s festive but sad. What keeps me going during these chilly times are cozy seasonal treats. I’ve made peppermint hot chocolate more times than I can count this week; it’s the perfect cure for the frigid cold. These small seasonal foods keep up my feliz navidad mood while also giving me cramming fuel as I’m typing away on my Mac. Starting with hot chocolate — it keeps your hands warm and cozy while stopping your throat from getting scratchy. The last thing you want to do is get sick during finals week. And really, what says “holidays” like a rich, creamy cup of hot chocolate? If you’re looking for options, Bluestone Café serves high-quality, richer hot chocolate for a more bougie experience. Bwe Kafe is a cute spot for quick, reliable hot chocolate, often with latte art that adds a little cuteness to the cup. And for the fastest option without battling the bustling winds, America’s Cup is right on campus. Hot choc olate is just one of those sea sonal treats that make finals week a little less dreary and a lot more cheery.
I have already written about Paris Baguette, but you should buy their seasonal cakes. These cakes deserve to
be framed in a museum because they are absolute works of art. They have four seasonal cakes available right now, starting with the Nutcracker strawberry soft cream cake. It’s a whimsical treat adorned with strawberries, dollops of whipped cream, and a Nutcracker figurine. It’s similar to their regular strawberry soft cream cake, but this one has a little sign that says “season’s greetings.” It’s light, merry, and just so cute. Let’s talk about the holiday red velvet cake, though. It’s layered with soft cream frosting and topped with wintery decorations like tiny trees and a little red truck carrying gifts in its trunk. It’s such a perfect balance of cozy and elegant. The following two cakes are also available on Grubhub, making ordering easy. The winter village chocolate hazelnut cake with Nutella reminds me of the snowy house drawings found on holiday cards. This one screams winter wonderland with its picturesque “village” decorations — a little cottage house with snow. The cake itself is rich with a chocolate hazelnut base and layering Nutella. And then there’s my personal favorite: the penguin pond chocolate cake. This one takes me back to my childhood when I used to watch Pingu as my comfort show. It’s the cutest cake, with
around a blue chocolate pond. It’s so whimsical and playful. Paris Baguette knows how to make the holidays special, and buying these cakes can increase your serotonin levels during finals week. If you don’t feel like committing to a big cake, you should check out Baked by Melissa; the cupcakes are godly. There’s just something about their tiny, dime-sized cupcakes that makes you want to eat more and more until the whole box is gone. Baked by Melissa has festive cupcake options for the holidays that melt in your mouth. The Christmas sugar cookie cupcake delivers that soft, buttery sweetness that reminds you of freshly baked sugar cookies. Then there’s the Brookie cupcake — the lovechild of a cookie and a brownie. If you are a s’mores fan, the snowcap cupcake is a must-try, loaded with marshmallow and chocolate goodness. And finally, the vanilla fluff cupcake is pure marshmallow heaven, topped with green and red sprinkles for that perfect holiday vibe. I hope these seasonal treats are the perfect way to fuel through finals and make the stress a little more manageable. Anyways, peace out, fellow foodies. Maybe I’ll see you again. If not, I’ll live on in memory as a true foodie, or as my friend calls me, “Big Back.”
‘28
BY PRISHA VAGVALA ‘28
UNMASKING: AN AUTISM STORY
The benefits of working with Autism
BY EVAN PAPAGEORGE ‘26
For many individuals on the autism spectrum, their differences aren’t limitations — they are unique strengths that can transform workplaces. These traits, often misunderstood, offer distinct advantages that employers can leverage, especially in roles requiring precision, creativity, and innovative problem-solving. When viewed through a lens of acceptance and appreciation, autistic individuals reveal a wealth of untapped potential, reshaping traditional ideas about what makes an ideal employee.
Autistic individuals often excel in tasks that demand heightened attention to detail. Their ability to focus intensely on specific interests or projects enables them to identify patterns, notice discrepancies, and approach problems with unparalleled precision. This skill translates to higher accuracy and efficiency in data analysis, quality assurance, or software development, often surpassing neurotypical peers. While others might overlook
individuals can easily catch these, preventing costly mistakes and driving excellence in execution.
Moreover, many people with autism have an innate ability to think outside the box. Their unique cognitive processes allow them to approach challenges from novel perspectives, bringing creativity to teams and organizations. Autistic employees often offer fresh solutions to problems that others might struggle to solve, making them valuable contributors in industries that thrive on innovation, such as technology, design, or research.
Sensory sensitivity, a hallmark of autism, can also translate into exceptional observational skills. Much like a heightened awareness of sensory stimuli shapes daily experiences, this sensitivity can allow individuals to pick up on subtle environmental or social cues. This awareness could help tailor interactions to meet individual client needs in customer service. Far from being a limitation, sensory sensitivity offers a nuanced perspective on how systems, products, and services affect the human experience, contributing to a more thoughtful and inclusive work environment.
However, harnessing these talents requires creating an accommodating workplace. Simple adjustments, such as quiet spaces, noise-canceling headphones, or flexible schedules, can make a differ-
BAFFLING BITS & BOBS
Like clockwork
BY KEVIN CASTNER
All my finals happen to be next week, which is nice since I’ll finish early, but it’s going to be one heck of a week. Instead of studying, I am writing this article and ruminating.
I have spent about four years at Stevens, filled with love, loss, and learning. Time here has often felt like clockwork, moving forward no matter how I felt. Time’s indifference can be cruel or comforting, captured by the phrase “this too shall pass.” Some moments I’ve wanted to hold onto like lifetimes; others have slipped through my fingers like sand. While time itself is beyond our control, how we spend it is not. I have spent a fair deal of time trying to shape this column into a cohesive series, and that work pays off today as I draw from past topics to explore the inner workings of the clock.
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
ence. Just as sensory-friendly spaces alleviate distress for individuals navigating loud or overstimulating environments, these accommodations empower autistic employees to perform at their best without being overwhelmed. Supportive structures like mentorship programs and clear communication protocols further enhance their success, allowing organizations to retain talent and foster loyalty.
Crucially, the benefits extend beyond the individual. Teams with autistic members often report increased collaboration, empathy, and problem-solving capacity. Exposure to diverse ways of thinking encourages colleagues to embrace alternative perspectives, enhancing the team’s overall resilience and adaptability. By understanding and supporting the unique traits of autistic employees, workplaces not only fulfill their diversity goals but also gain a competitive edge.
Ultimately, recognizing the value of autistic employees is about more than filling positions — it’s about redefining success. Just as society increasingly embraces sensory sensitivities as a legitimate way of experiencing the world, workplaces must evolve to appreciate the diverse strengths autism brings to the table. Organizations unlock a wealth of talent and innovation by fostering an environment where these individuals can thrive, creating a future where we can realize everyone’s potential.
are digital; they don’t even teach kids how to read mechanical clocks in many school districts anymore. But the nature of this column is what it is, I’ll be writing about quartz clocks. Quartz clocks niftily combine electrical and mechanical components and represent the most accurate timepieces one can get at a reasonable price. As the name implies, quartz clocks house a piece of quartz cut to a very specific shape. A current passes through the crystal via the battery, causing it to oscillate at its natural frequency. Given its precise shape, the crystal vibrates 32,768 times per second, or (2^15). A microchip within the watch counts these vibrations and translates them into electrical signals that drive the hands of the watch through a DC motor. The different hands of the watch have gear ratios tuned so they all move at the proper speeds to capture minutes, hours, and seconds. Typical quartz watches only lose 15 seconds of time over a 30-day period.
Yet for all their precision, clocks cannot measure the weight of the passage of time. Waiting stretches seconds into hours. Hope feels both like stillness and motion at the same time. And it goes
piest moments seem to pass in a flash. Time’s rhythm is steady even when we’re not. Like the hum of quartz, it carries us forward through memories and moments, even as we wish some could last forever.
I’ve changed in ways I never expected here. I’ve let go of my perfectionism, gotten more comfortable with those things outside of my control, and learned that some relaxation here and there is far more valuable than constant productivity. Time, in its steady way, carries everything forward — moments, memories, even people. Still, there are rhythms that seem to linger, faint but steady, like the echo of a clock ticking in another room. Time never truly leaves us changed, nor does it leave us the same. Time allows us to reflect on our life’s oscillations. I think we’ll always find ourselves in places we have been before until we reach our own “steady states.” Time gives us the chance to choose how we would like to go forward wherever, however, and with whomever we like. So, my dear reader, never forget the present is named as such for a reason. Make the most of the time you have and step into the new year with intention,
In 1948, Salvador Dali partnered with Hallmark to paint a Christmas card, a drastic deviation from his distinct surrealist style which has captivated onlookers for decades. The card depicts a giant Santa Claus with drawers coming out of his chest, as melting clocks rest on the drawer edges. Sitting in a pile of snow, a barren tundra surrounds him, with miniature onlookers exploring a large mistletoe in the background. Despite being a fantastic work of art, Hallmark unfortunately rejected Dali’s concept, deeming it an uncanny deviation from the holiday imagery that consumers had come to anticipate from their products. While it may have never seen retail shelves, the collaboration between Hallmark and Dali spurned an unconventional representation of a popular character and an exploration of widely recognizable holiday themes. Dali’s piece made an attempt to challenge popular culture and introduced the concept that while we can recognize the season based on conventional imagery, breaking tradition can allow us to reflect on the holiday values we possess and how our cultural representations of seasonal celebrations reinvigorate the “holiday spirit”.
While Dali’s piece was not widely recognized until the recent decade, other artists such as Tim Burton have followed in his footsteps, exploring the meaning of the holidays while challenging norms. Certainly not a Christmas movie, but rather a Halloween movie that is Christmas themed, The Nightmare Before Christmas is an ex-
cellent example of how introducing unique imagery to the holiday theme allows us to reflect on the meaning and spirit of the holidays. While there are other holidays aside from Christmas celebrated during the holiday season, Christmas decorations or imagery retain shared recognition during the holidays because of their sustained commercialization and consistent thematic components. Burton’s film reminds us that the holidays are about more than these symbols. By combining gothic elements with festive themes, Burton shows that even novel interpretations of the holiday season can illustrate the generosity, joy, and togetherness that define it.
Throughout the film, Burton introduces a variety of explorative imagery influenced by his zany art style: disproportionate landscapes, expressive claymation characters, and dampened color palettes, all without jeopardizing the holiday spirit. The clashing festivities of Halloween and Christmas Town in the film allow for a deeper appreciation of the grandeur of both themes. Furthermore, Jack Skellington’s journey provides viewers a valuable
loween for granted because of the splendor of Christmas Town, captivated by its gifts, bright lights, and joy. However, towards the end of the film Skellington discovers that he has overlooked the true importance of the holiday spirit, recognizing that sharing in the gratitude, generosity, and togetherness is the captivating nature of the holiday season. An exploration of the values of holidays conveyed through Burton’s artistic perspective exemplifies yet another successful unconventional approach to reinvigorating the holiday spirit.
Reflecting now on the importance of art in the holiday spirit, without both contemporary and reimagined artistic approaches to representing this time of year, it would be easy for people to lose sight of the meaning of the holidays. I believe that artists who have challenged traditional holiday imagery are actively reinvigorating the holiday spirit by straying away from universal representations, creating their own unique perspectives on holiday imagery to remind us that while tradition is important, we can best reflect on the values of the season by exploring it through our own
BOOK OF THE WEEK
Christmas with Small Things Like These
by Claire Keegan, is a short fiction book about a coal merchant’s difficult few weeks leading up to Christmas. Bill Furlong works delivering and selling coal and other similar commodities in a small town in Ireland in 1985, and in the weeks leading up to Christmas, he makes a terrible discovery in his town. The story takes place in those short weeks, but a large part of the book involves Furlong reminiscing on his childhood and youth, how his experiences shaped him into the man he currently is, and how he interacts with his family. The book is largely about two mysteries surrounding Furlong: his parentage and the cryptic nature of the convent located in the
upper part of his small Irish town.
The book itself is very short and fairly easy to digest. Depending on the version, the book is under 150 pages. It is a quick read, but more importantly, it is an impactful read. The book focuses on Furlong, unhappy in his day-to-day life, stumbling upon a dark secret involving a sect of the church in his town and his complicit-ness surrounding it. The novel is also partly a character study of Bill Furlong, using his upbringing to place his actions during the present timeline. He meets a myriad of smaller background characters, each interaction informing the reader more about Furlong. Most notable are his wife and five daughters, who are the most important people in his life and motivate his decisions when faced with certain choices and knowledge. The tension between Furlong and his wife continues the trend of side characters pushing Furlong in a certain direction. The setting is as much of a character as Furlong in this novel, too.
The description of the town creates a sense that it is just as large a character as Furlong is. The depictions of the build-
ings and the relationships between Furlong and other side characters help create a specific type of worldbuilding that resonates with readers. If you enjoy shorter, less time-consuming novellas, you will definitely like this book. It is easy to follow, and the writing is not dense. The plot of the novel is short, as to be expected with the length of it, but it works well. However, if you are someone who enjoys a well-thought-out and explored plot, this book may not be for you. The length of the novel is both a strength and a weakness, as the story would most likely suffer from being over-explained, but it can also hinder the author’s ability to expand upon her world. If you are not a fan of shorter stories, the plot may seem unsatisfying by the end, but I do think this short book is worth a read. It’s a short, uplifting story about grappling with the right thing to do after unintentionally finding out about a dark secret involving the town. Since the novel is fairly short and has a heartfelt message, especially compared to other poignant holiday books, Small Things Like These is definitely worth a try.
SANTA WITH DRAWERS BY SALVADOR DALÍ, COURTESY OF ARTSY.NET
JR. B.E. ‘24 & M.E. ‘25
ROVING REPORTER
By Rafael Lee Li
“What was the highlight of your semester?”
Chloe Talty ‘27 “Getting my Co-Op job.”
Riley Parker ‘27
“Joining APO and getting Bryce Lopez as my Big.”
Christopher Arellano ‘28 “The food I ate on Washington.”
Becca Hawks ‘26 “Dancing to Britney Spears in Lip Sync.”
Skylar Fox ‘28 “Finding a new group of friends at Stevens.”
Emmanuel Owusu ‘28 “Orientation week.”
Emma Ruiz ‘25 “I don’t even remember what happened yesterday.”
