[The Stute] October 17, 2025 (Issue 6 Volume CXXIII)
Stevens Alumnus Dr. Darío Gil confirmed as DOE Under Secretary of Science and Innovation
BY SEAN ANDERSON, STAFF WRITER
On September 18, the Senate confirmed Darío Gil as Under Secretary of Science and Innovation for the Department of Energy. He was nominated by President Donald Trump on January 20, following the resignation of former Under Secretary of Science and Innovation, Geraldine Richmond. Gil previously served as the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)’s Senior Vice President and Director of Research before stepping down prior to his confirmation.
Fall Fest 2025: friends, food, and fun for all
BY SEAN ANDERSON, STAFF WRITER
In celebration of the beginning of the season, Fall Fest, organized by Stevens’ Entertainment Committee (EC), took place on October 8 with free admission for all Stevens Undergraduate students. This is now the second time that Fall Fest has been hosted since the EC transitioned away from Fall
Fling, their previous big fall event. Since last year, the event has grown with even more activities than before. The Stute spoke with Gianmarco Costa, the EC’s Festivities Director, who commented on what went into planning for the event. “As director of the event I’ve been planning on and off since early July,” stated Costa. “The committee did some early brainstorming in terms of giveaways in late
How to sign up with Tillie and what she does
BY SOFIA STOECKEL, STAFF WRITER
By now, most people have met Tillie in one way or another, usually during her walks across campus, excitedly with her handler, or at an outdoor event, such as the Fall Fest organized by the Entertainment Committee held on October 8. The biggest question many students might have is how to spend some time with her. At the bottom of the “Meet Tillie” page, there’s a link to schedule a “Yappy Hour” with Tillie. Tillie only has one Yappy Hour a week, and it always takes place on Wednesdays, so spots are very limited. There are four 15-minute slots within that one hour, so only a few people per week can secure a spot with her. Therefore, students must sign up early to claim a slot. She is open to being booked by staff
advance! Tillie, however, is not ready to be booked by student organization events just yet. Her official office is the Office of Student Affairs, located on the second floor of the Stevens University Center Complex (UCC), if you have any questions. Another question students might have is what Tillie does exactly: She is a certified service dog whose main responsibility is to help Stevens students’ mental health and to bring joy and support to students who might need it. She is a cuddly friend for anyone to spend time with, and all you need to do is schedule a “Yappy Hour” timeslot with her. Fortunately, Tillie is a goldendoodle, a breed known to be hypoallergenic, meaning anyone can visit her regardless of allergies. Tillie’s Instagram handle is @followtillie, so everyone can keep up with her activities and her on-campus adventures!
July however, a bulk of the finer details were planned over the course of three weeks within the EC’s general body meetings (GBMs), starting from the first week of classes.” During this time, plans were set and changes were made from last year’s Fall Fest, including not having event shirts in order to allow more budget for activities. Plans were set early to foresee the possibility of
last-minute changes that would need to be made, and one issue nearly impacted the Fall Fest. In the morning before the fest, a light rain came down for a few hours and became a slight concern for those who organized and were planning to attend it. However, skies later cleared, allowing the Fall Fest to go off without a hitch.
Even before 4 p.m., when
Gil had been at IBM for over 20 years and had been appointed to his most recent position in 2019. Additionally, Gil previously held the position of Chairman of the National Science Board, which oversees the National Science Foundation, and he has served on the U.S. President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Gil received a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Stevens and his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT.
Now, in his new position, Gil will be responsible
LOCAL NEWS
for overseeing the nation’s largest federal sponsor of basic research in the physical sciences, the research and development in nuclear, fossil, and renewable energy, and managing 13 of the 17 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Laboratories and their facilities. Gil will also lead the continuation of the DOE’s Energy Earthshots initiative, which aims to transition to clean energy so as to solve the climate crisis, and to reach their 2050 net-zero carbon goals, as well as to create jobs in a new, clean energy economy. Gil brings previous experience in directing research in AI, cloud, and quantum computing at IBM to this position. In the nomination hearing for this position, he mentioned exactly this and discussed how the United States needs to act to become more of a world leader in energy and technology development. “We are indeed in a great race in leading the energies of the future and the science and technology portfolio of the future so the stakes could not be higher,” stated Gil. He continues by asserting that the nation has the ca-
The decade-long Hoboken housing lawsuit won in favor of affordable housing
BY JOSEPHINE CHOONG, SECRETARY
Affordable housing is one of the many problems surrounding Hoboken. With 69% of Americans claiming that they were “very concerned” about the cost of housing, it’s both a local and national concern.
However, a decade-long lawsuit regarding affordable housing in Hoboken had finally come to its conclusion. The judge ruled in favor of
the plaintiff and deemed that the lawsuit’s developers hadn’t followed the zoning ordinance. Across three buildings, the developers must set aside 56 units as affordable housing units.
The original lawsuit was brought by the nonprofit housing advocacy group Fair Share Housing Center against four developers in 2012. According to Hoboken’s Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance, which was enacted in 1988, residential
developments with more than 10 units are required to reserve 10% of units for low and moderate-income households. Fair Share claimed that developers’ buildings weren’t marked as affordable housing and thus are not in compliance with the ordinance.
The four buildings involved were The Harlow, The Artisan on Clinton, Park + Garden, and VINE. While the Harlow settled it earlier through larger buildings,
the remaining three buildings are currently involved in the lawsuit. Their prices range from roughly $3,000 a month for a one-bedroom or studio to more than $6,000 a month for three to four-person units.
Joseph Turula, a Hudson County judge, ruled that the developers can’t rent any more market-rate units until they add the required number of affordable hous-
BY SERENA PANUCCI, NEWS EDITOR
Affordable housing is one of the many problems surrounding Hoboken. With 69% of Americans claiming that they were “very concerned” about the cost of housing, it’s both a local and national concern.
However, a decade-long lawsuit regarding affordable housing in Hoboken had finally come to its conclusion. The judge ruled in favor of the plaintiff and
deemed that the lawsuit’s developers hadn’t followed the zoning ordinance. Across three buildings, the developers must set aside 56 units as affordable housing units.
The original lawsuit was brought by the nonprofit housing advocacy group Fair Share Housing Center against four developers in 2012. According to Hoboken’s Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance, which was enacted in 1988, residential developments with more than 10 units are required
to reserve 10% of units for low and moderate-income households. Fair Share claimed that developers’ buildings weren’t marked as affordable housing and thus are not in compliance with the ordinance.
The four buildings involved were The Harlow, The Artisan on Clinton, Park + Garden, and VINE. While the Harlow settled it earlier through larger buildings, the remaining three buildings are currently involved in the lawsuit. Their prices range from
roughly $3,000 a month for a one-bedroom or studio to more than $6,000 a month for three to four-person units. Joseph Turula, a Hudson County judge, ruled that the developers can’t rent any more market-rate units until they add the required number of affordable housing units. VINE must add 13 affordable units, Park + Garden has to add 21, and Artisan of Clinton will
PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFFREY VOCK AND BRADY SANSOTTA FOR THE STUTE
NOTICE A MISTAKE? Email us at eboard@thestute.com.
All opinions and editorials reflect the views of their respective author(s). No Part of The Stute may be reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the written consent of the Editor-in-Chief. Cited references of The Stute are permitted.
All members of the Stevens community are able to submit a Letter to the Editor to be published in The Stute. Letters must refer either to a piece published in The Stute or to The Stute in general and must be between 400 – 800 words in length. Submit letters to editor@thestute.com with your name and title (when applicable) or using our Google form. For writers who wish to write a Letter to the Editor anonymously, please see our policy on anonymity.
The Editorial Board reserves the right to choose whether or not to publish a submitted Letter to the Editor based on a majority rule vote, and additionally reserves the right to edit letters for clarity or request authors to revise. Provided that the author approves the final version, The Stute reserves the right to edit letters according to our copy editing procedures, defined in our policies.
All members of the Stevens community are able to submit a standalone opinion piece (otherwise known as an Op-Ed) to be published in The Stute. Op-Eds must be between 400 – 800 words, but longer submissions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. To submit an OpEd please email eboard@thestute.com with your name and title (when applicable) or using our Google form (tinyurl.com/submit-t0-stute). For writers who wish to write an Op-Ed anonymously, please see our policy on anonymity.
The Editorial Board reserves the right to choose whether or not to publish a submitted Op-Ed based on a majority rule vote, and additionally reserves the right to edit Op-Eds for clarity or request authors to revise. Provided that the author approves the final version, The Stute reserves the right to edit Op-Eds according to our copy editing procedures, defined in our policies.
FALL
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
the event was to start, a long line was already building up with students eager to get in. Each attendee was required to check in to receive an orange wristband, which would allow them to participate in the different activities and get in line for food. By the end of the first hour, several hundred students had already entered the fest. In total, 605 students attended, and a majority of attendees were first and second-year undergraduate students.
All around Schaefer Lawn, attendees could be found enjoying the several activities scattered throughout. Perfectly on theme, pumpkins could be seen everywhere, from the pumpkin toss to the mechanical rodeo pumpkin to the pumpkin patch where attendees could grade a pumpkin to paint. While the wind created some difficulty in keeping a few art supplies from blowing away,
DOE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
pability to succeed in this but that it starts with being clear on ambitions with energy and making sure the nation has a “secure, reliable, and affordable portfolio of energy sources.”
In an interview held this past year by Issues in Science and Technology, Gil again demonstrates his priorities in scientific advancement. “We have to continue to strive to make sure that both parties — and more broadly the American public — care deeply about making sure we succeed in science and technology as a nation,” he remarks.
His transition in this new position as Under Secretary of Science and Innovation, while a great opportunity to continue to have an impact on technological innovation of the future, was still
HOUSING
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
ing units. VINE must add 13 af fordable units, Park + Garden has to add 21, and Artisan of Clinton will need to provide 21 units. For each building’s affordable units, at least 25% must be affordable to low-income households, and the remaining 75% should be afford able to moderate-income house holds. They will be designated as affordable for 40 years.
Ravi S. Bhalla, Hoboken’s mayor, welcomed and supported the recent court ruling, saying that it’s a victory for housing eq uity and more affordable housing. He thanked Fair Share Housing for being staunch watchdogs and other developers who are work ing in good faith to provide the required affordable housing. The Hoboken Girl also reached out to various City Council members regarding their responses. Many had responded positively towards the ruling and expressed concerns over the rising rent and housing prices.
However, the developers of those three buildings had filed to appeal the ruling. Josh Bauers, Director of Exclusionary Zoning Litigation, stated that the Fair Share Housing Center will oppose it. He argued that it’s about enforcing the rules and how the developers have been profiting while ignoring their legal obligation to working-class families. He shared that “Hoboken is one of the most expensive places to live in New Jersey. Adding affordable homes here is life-changing for families who want to stay rooted in their community. This ruling sends a clear message: developers must follow the law. For more than a decade, these developers tried to avoid providing the affordable homes required by Hoboken’s regulations. This ruling is a significant step toward ensuring that everyone—not just the wealthy— can afford to call Hoboken home.”
attendees happily painted their pumpkins to their liking, including adding faces, spooky creatures, or other various designs. Over 250 pumpkins were acquired for the fest, which is up from the 175 pumpkins for last year’s fest, and almost all were gone in the first hour. For the future, Costa remarks that the EC hopes to make some changes to allow for larger quantities of pumpkins to be obtained.
In addition to these activities, attendees could be found in line for macaroni and cheese, chicken strips, apple cider donuts, and other free food options during the event. Additionally, attendees had access to a photo booth, chess boards, and cornhole where they could continue to have fun with their friends all the while listening to music from DJ Sargun Cheema of Sigma Delta Tau. Kieran Seidita, a second-year student at Stevens and an attendee at the fest, was asked about his favorite part. “I really enjoyed the mechanical pumpkins and all the food options we have. This Fall
an emotional one, as described in a LinkedIn post published by Gil the morning of his commitment.
“I have nothing but gratitude for all the IBMers, partners, and clients with which I have had the privilege of working with during the last two decades,” he writes.
Fest is even more lively than last year’s.” Seidita added, “My friends also enjoyed the photo booth” and stated that “this is another great memory at Stevens.”
A special appearance was made by Stevens’ new service dog, Tillie, who was decked out in a stylish jean jacket. This marked Tillie’s first Fall Fest at Stevens. Additionally, a surprise appearance was made by Stevens’ mascot, Attila, who could be found attempting the mechanical rodeo pumpkin at one point during the event.
Fall Fest was a success in bringing together the Stevens community for a fun few hours to celebrate the start of fall and what comes with it. Costa notes, “I feel nothing but pride for the event, and am very proud of the EC team for helping to pull it off, as well as thankful for the support from the Office of Student Life (OSL) team, the Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE), and catering teams.” Now mark your calendars for December 3 when the EC will be hosting its next fest, Winter Wonderland!
He continues by stating how we are living in extraordinary times for science and technology, and that we are in the midst of a computing revolution. Gil closes with two sentences for viewers of the post to go forth with: “A lot more to come. Let’s get to work.”
MARIA CALABRESE IS RETIRING!
For 40 years, Maria Calabrese has worked at Stevens Institute, but now the time has come for her to retire. She worked first in the catering department, later as a dining room cashier, and finally in the Cannon Cafe. Maria shared “I give thanks to God that he provided me with such a good place to work. I have enjoyed the students, faculty, and staff. May God bless Stevens Institute always.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF
HOSPITAL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
need to provide 21 units. For each building’s affordable units, at least 25% must be affordable to low-income households, and the remaining 75% should be affordable to moderate-income households. They will be designated as affordable for 40 years.
Ravi S. Bhalla, Hoboken’s mayor, welcomed and supported the recent court ruling, saying that it’s a victory for housing equity and more affordable housing. He thanked Fair Share Hous-
ing for being staunch watchdogs and other developers who are working in good faith to provide the required affordable housing. The Hoboken Girl also reached out to various City Council members regarding their responses. Many had responded positively towards the ruling and expressed concerns over the rising rent and housing prices. However, the developers of those three buildings had filed to appeal the ruling. Josh Bauers, Director of Exclusionary Zoning Litigation, stated that the Fair Share Housing Center will oppose it. He argued that it’s about enforcing the rules and how the
developers have been profiting while ignoring their legal obligation to working-class families. He shared that “Hoboken is one of the most expensive places to live in New Jersey. Adding affordable homes here is life-changing for families who want to stay rooted in their community. This ruling sends a clear message: developers must follow the law. For more than a decade, these developers tried to avoid providing the affordable homes required by Hoboken’s regulations. This ruling is a significant step toward ensuring that everyone—not just the wealthy—can afford to call Hoboken home.”
CLEARing the streets: Hoboken’s new enforcement systemeases congestion on Washington Street
BY JEYLAN JUBRAN, OPINION COLUMNIST
For years, Washington Street has been the beating heart of Hoboken: home to cafés, small businesses, bus routes, and a steady stream of students from Stevens. But it has also been home to one of the city’s most persistent problems — double parking.
Now, a new program aims to change that. The City of Hoboken recently launched the CLEAR initiative, short for Camera-based License plate Enforcement for Access and Response times, an automated system that uses cameras to detect illegal parking along Washington Street. The system, which went live this fall, marks a major step in the city’s push toward safer, less congested streets.
For years, double parking has plagued Hoboken’s busiest corridor. Delivery trucks, rideshare drivers, and residents stopping “just for a minute” to grab coffee often blocked bike lanes, bus stops, and loading zones. What seemed like a small inconvenience created ripple effects: buses ran behind schedule, cyclists were forced into car lanes, and traffic slowed to a crawl.
According to the city’s data, before CLEAR was introduced, bike lanes were blocked nearly five hours per day on average. Bus stops were routinely obstructed, and loading zones were often occupied by unauthorized vehicles. In a public survey, three out of
four residents said double parking posed a serious safety risk.
The CLEAR system relies on mounted cameras along Washington Street that automatically detect violations such as double parking, blocking bike lanes, or stopping in loading zones. Once an infraction is captured, it’s reviewed by the Hoboken Parking Utility before a citation is mailed to the vehicle’s registered owner.
The city introduced a grace period limiting tickets to one per vehicle per week during the rollout, focusing first on education rather than punishment. Signs have been placed along Washington Street notifying drivers of the enforcement zones, and the city has emphasized that the system’s purpose is deterrence, not revenue.
Within just a few weeks of implementation, Hoboken officials reported that parking violations along Washington Street dropped by more than half. Double parking in bike lanes decreased by 71%, while misuse of loading zones fell by over 70%. Bus stop obstructions also declined significantly.
The results point to an important takeaway: the mere presence of cameras appears to encourage drivers to comply with parking laws. By freeing up enforcement officers from constantly patrolling Washington Street, the city can focus resources on other areas while maintaining safer conditions for all commuters.
For the Stevens community, the CLEAR system’s impact is tan-
gible. Many students, faculty, and staff rely on Washington Street daily — whether walking to the PATH station, biking to class, or catching the 126 bus to New York. With fewer vehicles blocking lanes and bus stops, travel through Hoboken is faster and safer.
Still, not everyone is on board.
Some small business owners have voiced concerns that the system could hurt local deliveries and quick customer pickups. Two city council members have even proposed legislation to limit or ban
automated enforcement cameras citywide, arguing that residents weren’t given enough say in the rollout.
In response, Hoboken officials have emphasized flexibility. The city is reviewing options to extend loading zone hours and finetune enforcement based on public feedback. Officials maintain that the primary goal is not to penalize drivers but to ensure streets remain open, predictable, and safe.
Hoboken’s CLEAR system could serve as a model for other
cities facing similar congestion issues. By combining technology with policy, the initiative offers a glimpse of what “smart city” management can look like — data-driven, efficient, and responsive to community needs.
For Stevens students and Hoboken commuters alike, the difference is already visible. Washington Street, once notorious for double parking and traffic snarls, is finally beginning to live up to its name — a clear path through the heart of the city.
LGBTQIA+ HISTORY MONTH
Honoring the history of National Coming Out Day
BY CEREZA YEOMANS, CONTRIBUTOR
“Coming Out” is an almost intrinsic part of the life of LGBTQ+ people. It is the moment in which they allow themselves to express their true and most authentic identities to the people around them. Oftentimes, it can be a very traumatic experience, as many people are not surrounded by as loving and caring individuals as they deserve, and expressing an identity that does not align with the norm can lead them to suffer scorn and even harassment. It is not all doom and gloom, however, as “coming out” is also a moment of celebration and self-fulfillment; it takes great bravery, but doing it allows people to live happier lives and reclaim their right to be themselves in public. Thus, it is a moment of celebration within the LGBTQ+ community in the form of National Coming Out Day.
National Coming Out Day got its start back on October 11, 1988. It was organized by Jean O’Leary and Dr. Robert Eichberg alongside the National Coming Out Day Organization and took place on the first anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. During that same year, Keith Harring (famous Gay American Pop Artist) drew a fa-
mous image in support of Coming Out Day.
From then on, it has been celebrated yearly, held up and organized by the National Coming Out Organization, which later joined with the Human Rights Campaign Fund to create the National Coming Out Project in 1996. Nowadays, this organization goes far beyond simply spreading the celebration of National Coming Out Day; it seeks to provide resources and information for LGBTQ+ people in their own “coming out” journeys as well as people seeking to understand them.
Alongside the history of National Coming Out Day, it is important to acknowledge how language and “coming out” itself have evolved over time. The term “coming out” sometimes fails to properly focus on the people who are themselves “coming out.” It frames it as an act done for the other rather than for themselves. Instead, a new term, “inviting in,” is much more suitable for framing the act as something personal, allowing people outside to understand and see your true, authentic self. Another thing to consider when thinking about “coming out” is that it is not a static thing that only young people do once in their lives. It is a constant, transformational process, and many queer people often
come out several times across their lives, as their identities mature, grow, and change. Thus, celebrat ing this beautiful act of “coming out” is an important yearly event for queer people, young and old, that deserves to be acknowledged and celebrated.
National Coming Out Day is an incredibly important celebration in order to make the lives of queer people better, easier, and simply happier. It is crucial in order to help people find their true iden tities and embody them as only they can. Especially in these vola tile, hostile times for the LGBTQ+ community, it is important to build a strong sense of companionship and friendship with each other, and National Coming Out Day is a wonderful celebration that will hopefully further these lofty goals.
Family Day at Stevens: embracing every background
BY JOSH BODENSTEIN, CONTRIBUTOR
By mid-morning, Stevens comes alive with a kind of warmth you can feel from the top of Castle Point. Families make their way up the hill, clutching coffee cups and cameras, as students lead them through familiar shortcuts and favorite spots. The sound of conversation carries over the Hudson, blending with the music and laughter from Palmer Lawn. For one weekend each fall, Stevens becomes more than a university — it becomes a shared home.
The day begins in the University Center Complex, where families check in, meet deans, and hear from President Nariman Farvardin about the university’s growth and the years ahead. But what makes Family Day memorable isn’t any single event. It’s how the entire campus opens up — from the lawns filled with games and music to the open houses and exhibits that let visitors see what their students have been building,
studying, and creating. Parents tour labs, paint pumpkins with their kids, browse the bookstore for Stevens gear, or simply sit outside enjoying the skyline view. Around every corner, there’s a mix of energy and ease — part festival, part reunion. Just beyond campus, Hoboken extends the celebration. Families spill onto Washington Street for brunch or pastries, explore the waterfront, and watch ferries move across the river. For those looking to venture further, the PATH station a few blocks away offers a quick ride into Manhattan, where students often take their families to visit museums, grab dinner in Chelsea, or simply walk through the city lights together. Family Day isn’t confined to campus boundaries; it’s an invitation to explore the community that surrounds Stevens and the city that helps define it.
Still, beyond the tours, the food, and the games, Family Day carries a deeper meaning. It’s a reflection of Stevens’ commitment to inclu-
sivity — the idea that everyone, no matter their background, belongs here. For many students, their families traveled far to see where they now live and learn. Others might not have family visiting at all, instead spending the day with close friends or roommates who’ve become like family in their own right. Faculty and staff join the festivities too, bridging the gap between classroom and community. The result is a day that feels larger than any single household — a celebration of connection in all its forms.
For first-generation students, Family Day can be mighty. It’s a moment to show parents the world they’ve worked toward, walking them through labs or pointing out favorite study spots. For international students, it’s often a time of mixed emotions — homesickness softened by the sense of community that fills campus. Stevens recognizes that “family” means different things to everyone, and Family Day honors that diversity openly. Whether you’re sharing a meal
with relatives, friends, or mentors, the spirit remains the same: this is a place where everyone can find belonging. As the afternoon turns to evening and the last events wind down, the campus begins to quiet. The Hudson River glows under
their families on the Howe steps, and the red tents on Palmer Lawn slowly come down. The day may end, but the feeling it brings —that Stevens is a home for all— lingers long after. Family Day reminds everyone that while each student’s story begins in a different place,
PHOTO COURTESY OF @STEVENSSTUDENTS ON INSTAGRAM
FRI, OCT 17
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL Ithaca College Cortland, NY 4 p.m.
SAT, OCT 11
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL Bard College Cortland, NY 2 p.m.
Men’s And Women’s Swimming showed promise at opening meet against Rowan
BY MISAYO IDOWU, CONTRIBUTOR
On October 11, 2025, both the Men’s and Women’s swim teams participated in the opening meet of the season against Rowan University. Despite the gray weather, the swimmers took to the pool like ducks to water. The Ducks narrowly lost to Rowan but put in great performances, showing promise for the rest of the season.
The meet began with the women’s 200-yard medley relay, in which the four-member team finished second. The team members were seniors Natalia Brunetti and Adriana Bertolotti, freshman Samantha Gallo, and sophomore Delaney Klaus. They finished with a time of 1:53.45, less than .3 seconds behind the winners. The men’s 200-yard medley relay followed immediately. A team made up of four seniors, Angel Velas-
quez, Lukas Mikulenas, Deo Bove, and Will Stibor, won the race with a time of 1:36.58. In terms of individual races, there were many standout performances. Klaus won her race with a 25.45 in the 50 freestyle. This was actually Stevens’ first win of the 2025-26 swim season. The most impressive was by Velasquez, who came first in both the 100 backstroke at 54.41 and the 200 breaststroke at 2:15.26, on top of the relay he had won earlier. In the 200 breaststroke, he won by more than an entire second. In the 100 backstroke, Velasquez was just ahead of another Stevens swimmer, who also did well in the race, sophomore Ethan Emerton, by .29 seconds.
Sophomore Dora Dvorkin placed second in both the 1000 freestyle and 200 breaststroke with times of 11:14.09 and 2:35.95, respectively. Eszter Kiss, a sophomore, also performed well, coming
second in both the 100 and 200 freestyle, and third in the 500 freestyle. Hanna Matheson, a sophomore, took second in the 200 butterfly in 2:15.55. Brunetti returned in the 200 backstroke for another runner-up, going 2:17.22. Klaus earned her second victory of the meet by winning the 100 butterfly in 1:01.34. She was followed by Gallo, who came second in her debut meet. Mikulenas won the men’s 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:00.70. Bove got a victory of his own, tying for first in the 100 butterfly in 52.62. Sophomore Andrew Gaba took third in the 500 free in 5:06.96. Emerton won the 200back, touching the wall at 1:59.23. Senior Will Stibor sprinted to a win in the 50 freestyle in 22.06.
Freshmen Sebastien Nappi, Yusuf Tokuz, and Cooper Moffat were all impressive in their college debuts. Nappi and Tokuz finished sec-
ond and third in the 200 freestyle with times of 1:50.72 and 1:52.28, respectively. Moffat was especially notable by finishing third in the 1000 freestyle in 10:19.73 and winning the 200 individual medley in 2:02.03 after closing with the fastest freestyle leg in the race. The meet ended with the women’s and men’s 200-yard freestyle relays. The women’s team of Bertolotti, Brunetti, Gallo, and Klaus swam at 1:43.73. This placed them in second, and they were only one-tenth of a second behind the winners. Velasquez, senior Gailen Davis, Bove, and Stibor made up the men’s team that also finished second, just .23 seconds behind Rowan.
Clearly, these were some amazing performances by the ducks. Despite the overall loss, it was a very close match, and there is definitely much to look forward to for the season ahead.
Men’s Golf lands top ten at Mason-Dixon Collegiate Classic
BY CAMRYN WINANT, SPORTS EDITOR
This past weekend, on October 11 and 12, the men’s golf team competed at the Mason-Dixon Collegiate Classic at Waynesboro, PA. They faced a handful of colleges, including Franklin and Marshall College, McDaniel College, Stevenson University, Gettysburg College, Alvernia University, and Dickinson College.
On the first day, first-year Bryce Karty came out on top with a low for the Ducks of one shot over 73. With three birdies and a one-under on the first nine holes, Karty tied for 14th on the player scoreboard. Junior Sebastian Beaver hustled and parred his first nine holes. He ended with a four-over 76, which tied him for 32nd. Junior Arav Tank parred 10 holes and got a birdie, giving him 79 points, seven-over, tying him at 48th. First-years Udyat Sarangdevot and
Jack Harris finished tied for 55th and tied for 69th, respectively. Sarangdevot birdied the first hole and ended up going eight-over par, ending at 80 points. Harris landed two birdies and was one-over 37 on the last nine, but overall went 10over par, giving him 82 points. By the end of the first day, the team landed a final score of 308, landing them in 10th place, six shots away from 9th.
The boys closed out the Clas sic on Sunday, with Karty hitting the low for the Ducks, similarly to the day before. He got 10 pars and three birdies, landing a one-over 73 overall, tying him at 13th. With a notable four birdies, Tank led the Ducks and went two-over 74, which tied him at 41st. Beaver totalled 11 pars and a birdie, shooting a fourover 76, notching a tie at 36th. Har ris recorded two birdies and picked up a two-under par across seven holes. He finished with a five-over 77 and tied with Sarangdevot at
62nd. Sarangdevot rounded out the lineup with 11 pars and scored an overall 79. The day ended with the team finishing with 608 points, with them shooting eight shots better than the previous day, closing
out with the Ducks at 9th place. The Ducks can be seen on the greens again this weekend, October 18 and 19, where the men’s golf “B” team will compete in The Melee in Williamsburg, VA.
FIELD HOCKEY King’s College Hoboken, NJ 11 a.m.
WOMEN’S AND MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY Rowan Border Battle Glassboro, NJ 11 a.m.
WOMEN’S AND MEN’S TENNIS Misericordia University Dallas, PA 11:30 a.m. King’s College Wilkes-Barre, PA 3 p.m SUN, OCT 19
NJ 2 p.m.
MEN’S GOLF The Melee - Day 1 Williamsburg, VA Time TBD
MON, OCT 20
WOMEN’S FENCING Drew Club Invitational Madison, NJ 9 a.m.
STEVENS SCOREBOARD
MEN’S GOLF The Melee - Day 2 Williamsburg, VA Time TBD
TUE, OCT 21
WOMEN’S SOCCER FDU-Florham Madison, NJ 7 p.m.
WED, OCT 22
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL King’s College Hoboken, NJ 7 p.m.
Remembering Jane Goodall:
the primatologist who redefined what it means to be human
BY MATTHEW SOLTYS, SCIENCE WRITER
There are an abundance of terms that can be used to describe Jane Goodall—scientist, activist, conservationist, humanitarian, primatologist, ethologist—but none may be more fitting than pioneer. Traveling to what is now called Gombe National Park in Tanzania to study chimpanzees in July 1960 was a decision that would lead her to change the world forever.
It did not take long for Goodall to gain an affinity for animals. At just four years old, she snuck into an empty henhouse and waited four hours to see a hen lay an egg. Despite being so worried that she had called the police, Jane’s mother did the opposite of what many would have and encouraged her daughter’s scientific curiosity and love of nature. This led to Goodall spending her afternoons climbing trees and connecting with her surroundings for hours on end.
Reading the Tarzan and Dr. Dolittle series sparked a love of Africa and dreams of traveling to work with the animals she read about. Unable to afford college, she worked years to save up for a 1957 trip to Kenya visiting a friend’s family farm. This is where she met paleoanthropologist Dr. Louis Leakey, who decided to send her to what was then called the Gombe Stream Game Reserve to study wild chimpanzees.
In addition to Goodall’s passion for animals, Leakey felt her lack of formal training would allow her to study chimpanzees with an open mind removed from the preconcep-
tions formed by the scientific culture of the time. Dian Fossey and Birutė Galdikas were recruited by Leakey under the same notion to study gorillas and orangutans, respectively. These three women would later be referred to as The Trimates.
When Goodall arrived at Gombe, it was a tumultuous few months before her first breakthrough. Despite spending hours in the forest daily, every chimp would run away from her. Jane continued to work on treating them as peers—going as far to mimic their behavior—rather than study subjects, and finally a high-ranking older chimpanzee trusted her enough to let her stay around him. She named him David Greybeard, going against the common scientific practice of not naming subjects. Greybeard combined blades of stiff grass and used it as a tool to stick into termite holes to fish for termites. Jane’s observation was significant because until this point, scientists defined humans by their ability to make and use tools. Having seen chimpanzees making and using tools, this forced scientists to redefine what makes humans human or classify chimpanzees as humans. By doing the very things academics stated not to—not getting attached, not feeding them, not interacting with their infants—Goodall began to make huge discoveries.
Finding funding through this initial discovery, Jane would stay at Gombe for another 25 years. She also completed her Ph.D. in 1966 at Cambridge University. Through her time, she uncovered that chimpanzees, believed to be vegetarians,
are omnivores that actively hunt for meat. Goodall observed the process by which mothers nurture their young and help them learn how to live in the world on their own. She discovered that chimpanzees have an intricate social system with families, alliances, territories, and that they use at least twenty different sounds to communicate.
In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute to support research in Gombe and help protect chimps in their natural habitats. However, it was not until a primatology conference in 1986 when Jane Goodall found that the problems of deforestation and declining chimpanzee populations across Africa were far worse than she thought. This initialized her journey as a conservationist and activist, with her first course of action being to help the quality of life of chimps held at medical research facilities in disastrous conditions. She set up refuges for chimps freed from these facilities or those orphaned by the bushmeat trade. Jane became an advocate for protecting animals, spreading hope and saving the environment. In 1991, a group of young people confiding in her led to them co-founding Roots & Shoots, an organization with chapters in over 140 countries that works to bring together youth to work on environmental, conservation, and humanitarian issues.
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” - Jane Goodall
Mysterious rogue planet behaves like a star
BY ATREYEE HALDER, CONTRIBUTING REPORTER
Can an object somewhat behave like both a planet and a star, especially when it is forming? Turns out, the answer is yes! Astronomers have reported a mysterious “rogue planet” gobbling 6 million tons of gas and dust per second — an unprecedented rate that blurs the line between planets and stars. This is the strongest growth rate ever recorded for a rogue planet, or a planet of any kind, providing valuable insights into how they form and grow. The discovery was published on October 2 in The Astrophysical Journal Letters You may wonder, what makes rogue planets “rogue”? Unlike Earth and other planets in our solar system, which orbit the sun, rogue planets float freely through the universe, not orbiting a host star. Scientists have discovered dozens of rogue planets before, but what makes this new one special is the fact that it exhibits phenomena that have previously only been observed in stars. “People may think of planets as quiet and stable worlds, but with this discovery we see that planetary-mass objects freely floating in space can be exciting places,” said Victor Almendros-Abad, an astronomer at the Astronomical Observatory of Palermo, National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), Italy and lead author of the new study. The rogue planet in the new discovery, officially called Cha 11077626, has a mass five to ten times bigger than Jupiter. It is around 620 light years from Earth in the constellation Chamaeleon. Being roughly one to two million years old, the planet is still forming and is fed by a surrounding disk of gas and dust constantly falling onto the free-floating planet for its growth, a process known as accretion. However, the team led by Almendros-Abad has now found that the rate at which the young planet is accreting is not steady. The discovery was made with the X-shooter spectrograph on European Southern Observatory’s (ESO)
Very Large Telescope (VLT), located in Chile’s Atacama Desert. The team also used data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and archival data from the SINFONI spectrograph on ESO’s VLT.
“The origin of rogue planets remains an open question: are they the lowest-mass objects formed like stars, or giant planets ejected from their birth systems?” asked co-author Aleks Scholz, an astronomer at the University of St Andrews, United Kingdom.
The findings indicate that at least some rogue planets may share a similar formation path to stars since similar bursts of accretion have been spotted in young stars before. By comparing the light emitted before and during the burst, astronomers gathered clues about the nature of the accretion process. Remarkably, magnetic activity appears to have played a role in driving the dramatic infall of mass. Moreover, the chemistry of the disc around the planet changed during the accretion episode, with water vapour being detected during it but not before. Both phenomena had been spotted in stars but never in a planet of any kind!
Still, Cha 1107-7626 is expected to have similar characteristics to huge planets, being similar in size. Unlike stars, it is “not massive enough to ever have fusion reactions in the core. It will cool inevitably as it gets older,” said Scholz, indicating that it will ultimately act like other planets. Rogue planets are difficult to detect, as they are very faint, but ESO’s upcoming Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), operating under the world’s darkest skies for astronomy, could change that. Its powerful instruments and giant main mirror will enable astronomers to uncover and study more of these lonely planets, helping them to better understand how star-like they are. As co-author and ESO astronomer Amelia Bayo puts it, “The idea that a planetary object can behave like a star is awe-inspiring and invites us to wonder what worlds beyond our own could be like during their nascent stages.”
Secrets of the Immune System: The discoveries of a Nobel Prize-winning trio
BY JEREMIAH CHINWENDU, STAFF WRITER
PHOTO COURTESY OF FORBES.COM
New Ancient Egyptian discoveries: rise of the Karnak Temple and the search for Cleopatra
BY SEAN PALERMO, STAFF REPORTER
Recently, there has been significant research and discovery happening in Egypt — from the geographical origins of the Karnak Temple to an ongoing exploration that could reveal the elusive resting place of the country’s last pharaoh, Cleopatra VII.
Resulting from recent surveys of the Karnak Temple (a site that was expanded greatly by the Egyptian King, Amenhotep III) that took place near Luxor, one of the largest ancient temple complexes in the world and the location of the The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site welcoming millions of visitors every year, it’s been revealed that the temple rose from an island following flooding of the Nile River. This revelation was sparked by the analysis of 61 sediment cores and pottery fragments within and around the temple site that, when dated, were used to trace the transformation of the area spreading 3,000 years. The study, published in Antiquity on October 6, was led by Dr Ben Pennington, who is a Visiting Fellow in Geoarchaeology at the University of Southampton. With this newfound knowledge, the hot debate of the age of the Karnak Temple has been
greatly narrowed within archaeological circles.
According to the study, the site was unsuitable for permanent occupation prior to 2520 BCE due to regular floods from the Nile (early occupation likely occurring during the Old Kingdom from 2591-2152), with the cutting of river channels into their beds to the west and east creating an island of high ground that enabled early occupation and construction of the temple. As centuries and millennia passed, these channels would diverge further — producing more space for the temple complex to develop. On top of this, it was seen how Ancient Egyptians themselves would shape the river through the dumping of sand into the channels, likely for the purpose of more land for building. Due to the similarities of the island rising from the water with an Ancient Egyptian myth that depicted a similar event with the creator god, Ra-Amun, researchers were led to believe that the building on this location was a result of religious reasoning. In similar news, an underwater archeologist team with National Geographic explorers Kathleen Martínez and Bob Ballard has been involved in an ongoing study of a newfound sunken port outside the Taposiris Magna temple that Martínez believes to be the key to finding Cleopatra’s elusive tomb.
Martínez has been eagerly searching for Cleopatra in this area since 2004, when she was granted a license to excavate the temple, which yielded immediately promising results after finding a piece of blue glass a year later. This piece of glass, which was etched with descriptions in Greek and hieroglyphics, revealed that the temple was dedicated to the goddess Isis, who was associated as an extension of the late pharaoh. Martínez and her team made other finds, such as hundreds of coins with the name and face of Cleopatra. Eventually, in 2022, a tunnel beneath the temple was discovered and revealed to pour out into the sea, prompting Martínez to enlist the aid of renowned oceanographer and leader of the team that discovered the remains of the RMS Titanic, Bob Ballard. Last month, a three-month excavation of the temple and underwater site began to further explore the possibility of it being the resting place of Cleopata, even while experts dispute the idea in favor of other possibilities such as Alexandria and patiently wait for the research to be published in a peer-evaluated publication. If the research proves fruitful, however, Martínez excitedly comments on how, with modern technology, revelations like the cause of death and facial structure of the pharaoh could finally be answered after a long period of ambiguity.
Our immune system serves as the body’s first line of defense, waging an invisible war against pathogens, viruses, bacteria, and other agents that threaten to invade us each day. To ensure that this defense system doesn’t mistakenly turn against the body’s own tissues and organs, it relies on a critical safeguard mechanism known as peripheral immune tolerance. The groundbreaking discovery of this mechanism—and its profound role in advancing our understanding of immune regulation—has been recognized with the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
The prize and its accompanying 11 million Swedish kronor (1.2 million USD) will be shared among “Mary Brunkow, a molecular biologist at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, Washington; Fred Ramsdell, a scientific adviser at Sonoma Biotherapeutics, also in Seattle; and Shimon Sakaguchi, an immunologist at Osaka University in Japan,” Nature reports. Their decades of research culminated in the discovery of regulatory T cells, a special class of immune cells that act as the peacekeepers of the body’s defense system. Ordinary T cells are white blood cells that attack invading pathogens while regulatory T cells ensure that these attacks cease once the threat is eliminated. Without that balance, the immune system can mistakenly turn on the body’s own tissues, leading to autoimmune diseases.
In 1995, Dr. Shimon Sakaguchi discovered regulatory T cells. At the time, scientists believed that the thymus, a small lymphatic gland responsible for creating and training T
cells, also eliminated them once they had completed their task through a process known as central tolerance. Dr. Sakaguchi’s discovery revealed another layer of complexity in how the immune system regulates itself, showing that there are additional safeguards beyond the thymus that keep it from attacking the body’s own tissues.
This idea was later supported by the work of Dr. Fred Ramsdell and Dr. Mary Brunkow in 2001, when the team set out to understand why certain strains of mice were more prone to autoimmune disease. Their experiments revealed that the mice carried a mutation in the Foxp3 gene, located on the X chromosome. Further studies showed that humans with the same mutation develop immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked (IPEX) syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder that appears at birth. IPEX causes eczema, chronic diarrhea from immune attacks on the gut, type 1 diabetes, and other hormonal imbalances when the immune system targets insulin-producing and endocrine organs.
Two years later, Dr. Sakaguchi linked these discoveries together and demonstrated that the Foxp3 gene is responsible for producing regulatory T cells. Mutations in this gene disrupt immune balance and lead directly to autoimmune disease. This discovery launched the field of peripheral tolerance, which revealed new strategies to control the immune system and inspired breakthroughs in treating autoimmune disorders, cancer, and transplant rejection. What began as a mystery of self-recognition has become a cornerstone of modern immunology, one that will continue to guide therapies for autoimmune disease, cancer, and more.
Opinion
THE STUTE EDITORIAL
The Stute as the Stevens mirror
It seems I have had a recurring conversation this past week, and that is what makes it worth writing about.
Tianna spends an entire week collecting the news that will be featured in the upcoming issue. We review them every Tuesday and finalize the list that will be distributed at the general body meeting. The news has been especially hard to collect these past few weeks. We are in, what I like to call, the “dull phase”.
The “dull phase” is a period of time in which nothing extremely notable is happening on this campus. Now, I do not mean the news we have covered is not important; I’m simply suggesting that the published work does not represent any events that are heavily altering our day-to-day lives at Stevens.
Take the Divestment From War
Initiative, for example. This proclamation led to massive student body involvement and those protesting for what they believed in. It was an ongoing process for a few months and became a hot topic of conversation.
These events didn’t only cause an uproar among us, but also the alumni. Take the Gianforte Hall take back, as an example. They wrote in The Stute to fight for what they had accomplished during their time at Stevens. Moments like these are not one-time articles; they are a string of updates to gather all of what is happening around us.
This is what The Stute is meant for. We mirror the student body and the administration in the present day. The hope is that someone down the line reads the work and understands how impactful these
MIND OF A FRESHMAN
Don’t assume friction
class, I would have been the valedictorian instead of the 32nd-place-torian. If there had been no challenge in my FBLA event I would have been the national champion for the UX Design test instead of just a national competitor. If there had been no friction, I would have gone to Massachusetts in mid-October instead of the end and thus missed spending Halloween night in Salem.
solve these problems, start by taking friction out of the equation.” Now I know I should have paid attention to what he said after that (as it will most likely be on the quiz), but something about that phrase jump-started my sleep deprived mind. Take friction out of the equation.
In the context of the class, this simply meant that if you were struggling with drawing the free-body diagrams, ignore friction to start. Sound advice — the perks of running on three hours of sleep: what went through my head was something completely different. I started remembering different events in my life over the last year and imagining if there had been no resistance to my actions. No friction to stop me. It started with a few trivial ideas. If there had been
Then, as the professor switched to an example with an inclined plane, my mind switched from the trivial to the more impactful. If there was no friction, I wouldn’t have been late to my brother’s soccer game and I would have seen him score his first goal of the season. If there was no friction, my plans for after our winter formal dance would have stayed the same and I wouldn’t have wrecked my car en route to my cousins’ house. If there was no friction in my college applications, I wouldn’t be writing this right now let alone be in this country.
As I continued to ignore the lecture, the scenarios got more and more complex. It got to a point where I was imagining where my life would be if I had gotten that last seat at that lunch table in 5th grade. Would I still have the same friends?
events are to us, and how they affect future generations of Stevens students. We are literally a Stevens diary, capturing every moment that shapes our college experience.
Now, this is the exact reason news is one of the most important sections in our newspaper. These articles mirror our present. But there will not be something that alters our everyday Stevens experience every week. And I hope that there isn’t. Not every event is about us fighting for what we may believe in; they may be us showcasing the uneasy changes we are surrounded by. Articles covering the 45 lay-offs earlier this year, the budget cuts, and the Trump administration, are a representation of what Stevens and the world looks like through our eyes.
The memories may be in our heads, but it is the words on pa-
per that make history. The Stute covers it all, the good, the bad, and the ugly, to show an accurate view of what is happening with us in the present day. But, yeah, not every week is groundbreaking, and thank god for that! It is only when we are in our “dull phase” that we, as Stuters, can appreciate the mir ror we have created.
Would I still do the same activities? Then, through the fog that was filling my brain, the professor’s words cut through. “So now we add the force times the fric tion coefficient, and we…”\ My mind snapped back to earth. Who cares if there was no friction? What does it matter that I failed a goal or two? Why should I dwell on mistakes I made with friends? Why would I take friction out of the equation if it’s just going to be put back in later?
Sure, in some aspects my life would be better if there was no resistance. I am confident every single person reading can name something that would have made their life better if it had gone their way, even if it is as trivial as getting that last scoop of ice cream. Here’s the thing though, it does not matter in the slightest.
One year ago today
liams Library on campus.
We are a summation of every single event that has happened to us. Through the good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful, you still came out on the other side. It is pointless to dream of a what-if scenario. Instead be proud of the person you are, the mistakes you’ve made, and what lies ahead of you because of it. Don’t assume friction is negligible because it is the friction that has formed who you are today.
campanula is very general overall, a more commonly known one would be the bluebell. The flower was formerly used as a food source, as both the blooms and the roots are edible. Another fun fact is that the fairy tale character Rapunzel was initially named by the Brothers Grimm after the flower Campanula Rapunculus. In the Victorian Language of Flowers, Campanula symbolizes grati-
Following learning some fairly devastating news, I was surprised by my roommate with these gorgeous flowers. I, being the plant lover I am, was ecstatic. She searched for the prettiest purple flower she could find, knowing it was my favorite color. We may have only
known each other for the past few weeks, but she is still very attentive and affectionate, something that can feel rare when being so far from home. The gorgeous flowers she stumbled upon were campanulas. I have heard so many stories about roommates, bad and good alike. I could not have been luckier to have found my roommate. We knew nothing about each other going into college. We merely asked the surface questions; how cold do you like the room? what do you like your room to smell like? and etcetera. By some sweep of luck, everything else seemed to align perfectly. Both of us prefer it to be freezing so that the maximum amount of comfort can be achieved beneath
tire college experience. My room was a very small boxshaped space that was accurately named “Closet.” I was applauded for my use of the space and decorations that I covered my walls with. My dream catcher from freshman year and posters of my favorite artists. Last October, I was applying to be on the Executive Board of my sorority, where I would eventually find out I was voted in as President. I was attending recruitment events and planning my Halloween costumes. Everything seemed like it was falling into place. Yes, I was facing some struggles and not everything was perfect, but there was a sense of clarity. This time last year I was falling in love: with life, people, new experiences, all of the things! Looking back, it all seemed so simple.
Two years ago today, I was waking up extra early in the morning to start my shift at the Samuel C. Wil-
a mound of blankets. If you were to randomly walk into our room, chances are, the two of us are buried above our beds or stretched out across the floor. While our friends may not always appreciate the below-freezing temperatures, there are always plenty of blankets to be shared.
Her laughter is infectious, and no matter what happens, you will see us, along with our honorary third roommate, dying laughing. We all immediately clicked. From suffering through our first exams together, to recovering after taking a low blow, the three of us have had each other. It got to the point where we had to get a blowup mattress so we could all lay down comfy and watch
The 7:30 a.m. shift with a bunch of graduate students, most who would become some of my closest confidants. We would exchange personal stories about love, friendship, school, and culture; I loved these moments because I felt so open to sharing with them and vice versa. None of us were in the same social circles or classes, with barely any overlap culturally or geographically. In reality, we had nothing in common. This job gave me flexibility and financial benefits. But more than that, it gave me a true glimpse into peoples’ lives who I wouldn’t normally interact with. I am forever grateful for my coworkers at the library. We shared memorable moments together. We cried, we laughed, we dished drama, and we gave advice. This time last year, I was going into work exhausted and leaving a happier person.
Three years ago today, I was struggling studying for the chemistry midterm. Instead of going home for fall break, I stayed on campus as I felt the autumn air welcome itself in. I attended the midterm exam review and redid practice problems until my eyes hurt. Freshman year was full of new discoveries. I was finding my way by attending different club meetings and events, most of which I went to alone. I think this is one of the hardest things you can do, especially in college. Little did I know, I would change my major out of the SES school to find a more fulfilling one
in HASS. I joined most of the clubs I went to alone freshman year and all of those special interests have been developed. I was doing laundry on the first floor of Jonas and making microwave popcorn in room 228. This time three years ago, I was younger and more naive. I didn’t know what I didn’t know. Today I am a senior. Still trying to cram for midterm exams and projects. I am in a bigger room where I have all the same decorations. I am finishing my term as President and looking forward to our next brave sister who is going to take on this amazing responsibility. I don’t work at the library anymore, but I stay connected with my coworkers who have taught me a lot about kindness and being a good friend. This year and last, I fell in and out of love with everything; my hobbies, people, classes. Through all of that, I found friends who I know are forever. Friends who have seen me as a freshman and decided to stay friends with me. I am so eternally grateful for them. I am currently wrapping this article up in my best friend’s hometown in Connecticut where a bunch of us are spending our fall break. A nice New England getaway, full of fall foliage and coastal wineries. A perfect way to welcome autumn and celebrate friendship. I wonder where I’ll be in one year from now. Maybe I’ll write an update in The New York Times, stay tuned.
a movie. They always know how to cheer me up, and for that I am eternally grateful. Those girls mean the world to me. I could be
where I would have been had I not been so lucky, and while I am sure I would’ve been fine, my “roommates” have certainly done more for me than I could ever have come to imagine. After all, I never thought I would get homesick on a trip back to my family. Thank you, Ava and Lauren, for helping
PHOTO COURTESY OF APS.ORG
A historical fantasy with Babel
an elite college within the university that uses magic and language to strengthen colonial Britain. Robin begins to uncover hidden secrets concealed within the college, and he is determined to do his best to help others. He begins to develop complex feelings regarding his country of origin and where he currently lives. is an interesting and insightful novel about the dangers and horrors of colonialism and the development of language. Kuang uses this “advanced society” of linguists to give different perspectives to different cultures and their experiences, illustrating their perspectives in the context of colonialism and
The smallest circle
married women as a sign of love and prosperity. But as centuries passed, its meaning evolved — from being a sacred symbol to a statement of identity, resilience, and womanhood. Generations of women, including my grandmother and her mother, carried that small mark as both protection and pride, even through times when their voices were un-
tuation to her morning routine. To me, it looked like a dot of sunlight — something simple, yet impossible to miss. At first, I thought of it as decoration, something pretty that matched her sari or shimmered against her gold earrings. But to her, it was something deeper. In our culture, the bindi represents the third eye — a symbol of wisdom, protection, and spiritual connection. It’s placed where intuition lives. My mom once told me, ‘It’s a reminder to see the world not just with your eyes, but with understanding.”
What I didn’t know then was that the bindi’s story stretched far beyond our home. Its origins trace back over 5,000 years to ancient India, where it symbolized divine sight and spiritual awakening. Traditionally made from vermilion powder, it was once worn by
When my grandmother emigrated to the U.S., she told me she hesitated to wear her bindi. “People stared,” she said, “:But I wore it anyway.” I didn’t understand her courage then — what it meant to hold onto something so visible in a place that made you feel like a stranger.
When I was younger, I loved wearing one too. I’d sneak into my mom’s room and peel the tiny stickers from their plastic sheet, pressing one slightly off-center on my forehead. I’d stare in the mirror, fascinated by how something so small could make me feel so different — elegant, rooted, seen.
But as I grew older, that feeling shifted. The bindi that once made me proud started to make me self-conscious. I began to associate it with difference, with standing out in classrooms where no one else looked like me. I’d take it off before going out, wiping away not just color, but a piece of where I came from.
imperialism. Robin actively lives in Britain—a country that despises where he is from—during a time when racism was incredibly rampant, creating a distressing but engaging narrative. The magic system within this world is also interesting as it combines elements of linguistics and magic to create a force using translation. It is dissimilar to other magic systems I have read as it is incredibly low fantasy. However, it works effectively within the context of the story. The main theme in Babel is the relationship between culture and society in regards to immigrants and expansionist imperialism. The magic is just a plot device to further the story in a
It wasn’t until years later, after leaving home for college, that I began to miss it. Away from my family, I started to crave the small traditions I’d once overlooked — the smell of incense during evening prayer, the soft rustle of my mom’s bangles, the way my dad folded his hands before stepping out the door. I realized that I’d spent years trying to simplify my identity to fit in, when in truth, it was the layers—colors, languages, and rituals—that made me who I was.
Now, the bindi means more to me than it ever did before. It’s not just a family tradition or an aesthetic choice; it’s a continuation of history — a quiet declaration that what survived empires, migration, and misunderstanding still lives through me.
fascinating way. The dynamic relationship between Robin and the country he was born in, compared to the country he was raised in, is incredibly compelling. It creates a larger conversation in regards to immigrants; which areas they feel more “connected” to and how they discover belonging. Kuang also includes characters from different countries with a similar story in order to further enhance her perspective. The dynamics between these characters are interesting because Kuang uses them to create multiple different perspectives on a complex plot.
While I am not particularly a fan of historical fic-
tion, the backdrop of 1800s Britain is so integral to the story that it is no longer a negative. Had the story been set in the present, it would have lost its power and appeal. Also, a common criticism of Kuang’s writing style is that her text is more academic rather than prosaic. While I do agree with this sentiment, it is not a turn-off for me, but rather a charm. Kuang writes in a style that presents information while still being connected to the story being told.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to get back into fantasy or read a book with complex themes told in a compelling way. For fans of au-
When I wear a bindi now, I think of the women in my family—my mother, my grandmother, and those before them—who wore it as both adornment and affirmation. It connects me to their strength, their quiet defiance, and the beauty of traditions that have traveled continents without losing meaning.
The bindi is small, but it holds entire histories within its curve — of faith, womanhood, migration, and belonging. For me, it is a reminder that visibility is power, and that what once made me feel different now makes me whole.
UNDERGROUND WORLD OF FASHION
and Lazaro Hernandez at Loewe, Jonathan Anderson at Dior, and Pier Paolo Piccioli at Valentino. There were a few more, however, that I’ve either already covered or whose debut, in my opinion, was not of notable
BY GAVIN
diobooks, the audiobook of Babel is also great. Overall, this is a great read for those who want to enhance their taste in fantasy and expand their genre experience.
THE BIG QUESTIONS OF EVERYDAY
Morrie’s problem with someday
your life—you’ll step into that picture you worked so hard to create and run the risk of feeling nothing.
That’s the quiet tragedy I think a lot of “successful” people run into. If you live under the assumption that happiness begins once you have enough, enough will always move further away.
The picture of completeness will just keep changing—a better job, a nicer apartment, a new version of “someday.” It isn’t their fault; no one tells us that fulfillment is a skill. But if we believe the point is to keep upgrading, at what point are we actually in our
78-year-old professor with a soft, peaceful demeanor—it felt jarring at first, almost out of character. But the more I sat with it, the more it began to connect to an idea I’d been grappling with: what it really means to live in the present.
As students in our late teens and early twenties, we spend so much time building blueprints for a life we haven’t lived yet. We chase internships, grades, recognition—trying to construct a future version of ourselves that finally feels complete. But a habit you never practice won’t suddenly appear when you “make it.” One day, the future will become the present, and if you’ve never learned how to put meaning behind your actions—how to look around and truly see and appreciate
So how do we live without waiting for life to start?
Most of us live as if tomorrow is promised. But if you were told you had one day left, what would you do? Maybe you’d imagine taking bigger risks—skydiving, making reckless decisions, or crossing off everything you can from your bucket list. Morrie’s answer was less intense, yet somehow more radical. He said he’d live an ordinary day: wake up, eat breakfast with friends, notice the birds around him, talk to the people he loves, and tell them what they mean to him. He’d have a good dinner and dance a little. Then he’d fall asleep feeling at peace. That, he said, would be enough.
The future matters, and success is an admirable
goal to strive for. It isn’t only a sign of discipline—it can also give us the stability we need to enjoy the present. But it loses meaning if we can’t appreciate what’s already here. I’ve seen how people who postpone joy or connection in the name of achievement often end up hollow, even after they get everything they wanted. Maybe that’s what Morrie meant. Learning how to die isn’t about the end— it’s about the urgency that comes from the realization that there is no “later” big enough to make up for not living now. How we would live our last day, won’t look the same for everyone. But while we’re here, we can try and make sure our present makes us proud, and have faith that each day we spend with the people, careers, or hobbies we treasure will lead us closer to a future worth arriving in.
and refreshing, which is why many critics agreed that her debut was one of the best this year. Notably, Trotter was among the few women presenting a womenswear collection during Spring/Summer 2026 (SS26).
Louise Trotter at Bottega and Matthieu Blazy at Chanel remain the most notable of the fashion month debuts. These two collections were so good and felt so true, yet differed greatly from previous successful collections. Trotter was able to encapsulate her time at Carven and Lacoste, bringing over new concepts to Bottega without hindering the house codes of the brand. Even though the pieces felt commercial, Trotter was able to provide a twist that past creative directors like Mattieu Blazy and Daniel Lee were able to bring to the company. The collection felt intentional
Chanel attracted the most amount of attention this season as it is not common for the house to change creatives. Also, since there is no menswear, there is only one creative director for the brand. Matthieu Blazy—a newer name in fashion—had the entire world in a tizzy when it was announced that he was going to take over for Virginie Viard. I really liked this collection a lot. While Virginie made Chanel commercially successful, her designs and styling lacked the substance that Karl Lagerfeld had previously brought to the company. Virginie’s designs were simply lack-
ing — a refresh was needed, an uncertain outcome for a fresh industry creative like Blazy. Shockingly, this season’s collection was a major upgrade. Maybe I’m just a Blazy fan, but this SS26 collection was fantastic. It was a Chanel that I’d never seen before, and it felt so different because you can tell that he brought in his own codes while also taking inspiration from the archives of Coco Chanel. His play on textures, minimalism, and smart styling was outstanding. However, not all debuts were great. They were good in their own right, but it can’t be overstated how upsetting the Jean Paul Gaultier collection was this season. Just search up “Duran Lantik at Jean Paul Gaultier.” Look at his collection and compare it to previous Gaultier collections. He didn’t look into the archives, barely used
the house codes, and did a disservice to what the collection was: womenswear. He instead created a collection that felt like a mockery to women and a disrespect to the legendary company. Yes, Jean Paul Gaultier is supposed to be out there, but this was out there in a bad way — from poorly fit ting pieces to hairy trompe l’oeil, and only using his personal codes. Lantik and Blazy represented opposite ends of the spectrum this season. I felt rage-baited, and I hope this hits the SSENSE sale as soon as it drops.
This fashion month was a lot, and now it’s finally over. Some fashion that I am so excited to see next in January’s Men’s Fash ion Week and Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week are Loewe, Bottega, Schiapa relli, Chanel, Balenciaga, and Gucci. Now, it’s time for all of these new creative
directors to find their footing and to start getting situated at their house. As for the consumers, it’s time for us to also get used to this new stage in fashion and to see where these companies deserve to see our money.
thieu Blazy at Chanel, Louise Trotter at Bottega Veneta, Jack McCollough
RUBY ‘27
Dead Poets Society: Cost of Carpe Diem
thority. He challenges the students to think differently. He tells them that life is short and they must “seize the day”. To these boys who are pressured to live up to their parents’ expectations, his words feel like a breath of fresh air.
HER STEVENS
Finding your people: why college friendships matter
against the rigid and obedient academy. He makes the students rip pages out of their textbooks, stand on desks, shout verses of poetry and most dangerously, think for themselves. To the audience, he seems like the ideal teacher that is passionate, inspiring, and brave enough to challenge the unyielding system. But the film shows how inspiration, in a controlling society, can lead to disastrous and beautiful consequences.
Welton Academy is a school of discipline and compliance. The school’s pillars, “Tradition, Honor, Discipline, Excellence,” tower over the boys like commandments. They march through the hallways in unison and their futures are entirely planned out by their parents. In comes John Keating to this well cogged machine, who de-
The beauty of Keating’s teaching is how it changes something in each student. For Todd Anderson, the quiet, introverted boy, it’s him finding his voice and coming out of his comfort zone. For Neil Perry, it’s the courage to pursue acting— his passion—despite his father’s disapproval. These moments are electrifying and powerful as the boys directly challenge socially accepted rules and embrace their differences. Even the cave meetings of the “Deads Poets Society,” where the boys read poetry in candlelight feel like a rebellion against the strict order of Welton. Keating’s teachings give the students not just the permission to think and dream, but the words to express them.
But the film never lets the audience forget the cost of defiance. The more the boys begin to think freely, the more dangerous it becomes. Their rebellion draws pressure from teachers and parents who expect them to follow the rules. Specifically, Neil’s story becomes the heart of this tragedy, the boy who dared to “seize the day” only to find the world won’t let him. His act of defiance ends in death, the ultimate consequence of the society punishing individuality. This is where Dead Poets becomes more than
and expanding outside of it to most electronic music fans. In an interview, he once said, “twiddling knobs and people start cheering.” How does this create a
unique sound, and how can you create your own Aphex Twin-esque electronic music to stimulate your brain with creative energy?
Even though just pressing buttons seems kind of silly, part of making electronic music is sort of like that in a creative sense. If you have a musical brain, sometimes ideas just come to you, and it’s a matter of executing these ideas in the real world and translating them from your brain. Another aspect is understanding the various effects, hardware, and plugins involved. Aphex Twin uses his own program “Samplebrain” for samplemashing — a process which involves sampling various sounds for musique concrete, a musical technique where sounds from everyday objects are amplified to make musical samples. Aphex Twin, as the composer of the album “Selected Ambient Works Volume II” and the song “Avril 14th”,
a story of an inspiring teacher to his students. Keating’s philosophy is a fine line between inspiration and destruction. His teachings have the ability to save the students, but in a system opposed to emotion, it becomes ruinous. Neil’s death was not because of Keating’s lessons, but because of the institution and his father’s inability to support his one true passion. Keating lit a spark in Neil, but the world wouldn’t let it burn further.
Cinematically, Peter Weir tells the story through the contrast. When the boys are at school, all the frames are symmetrical and tight. They only loosen up when they’re with Keating or in the cave. Even sound design mirrors freedom and repression; silence dominates scenes with authority figures like the principal and parents, while poetry and laughter echo through the caves. In the final scene when Todd Anderson stands up on the desk, it becomes one of cinema’s greatest emotional endings. It confirms that Keating’s words permanently changed how the boys see the world.
Dead Poets Society reminds us that art and ideas are powerful because they’re dangerous. They upset, they challenge, and they uncover truths that those in power would rather keep concealed. “Seize the day” isn’t just about living unfettered but being brave enough to be yourself in a world that rewards conformity. The film ends with a haunting question: What is the cost of thinking for yourself and is it still worth it?
BY BREONA PIZZUTA ‘27
When people say “college is where you find your lifelong friends,” it can feel like a lot of pressure. Between classes, part-time jobs, and trying to keep up with everything else, making meaningful connections sometimes feels like one more thing on a never-ending to-do list. But the truth is, college friendships are more than just fun memories or latenight study sessions; they’re the foundation for confidence, resilience, and even the kind of personal growth that shapes who we become. College is often the first time we’re truly on our own. That independence is exciting, but it can also be isolating. Having friends who understand your struggles, whether it’s a stressful exam week or a messy breakup, can make all the difference. A strong support system doesn’t just make hard days easier — it can literally change how you see yourself. Studies have shown that having close friendships boosts self-esteem and reduces anxiety. But beyond the science, there’s something powerful about knowing there are people who will cheer you on, call you out, and remind you that you’re capable when you forget. College friendships also teach you how to communicate, compromise, and show up for others. These are skills that carry far beyond graduation. Being surrounded by people who encourage you to speak up, take risks, or apply for that intimidating internship helps you build confidence
has demonstrated musical talent far more advanced than the “just pressing buttons” level. When I write music, it often feels like I’m just pressing buttons; I get stuck in a trance-like state where the music just makes itself. I don’t mean that in a way that dismisses my art, but it really does feel like it just happens. This isn’t for everyone, of course, it’s just a matter of whether you have that song in your heart or not. Sometimes, as musicians, we get pulled into a flow that makes us unstoppable, a state that intensifies in the presence of many buttons that need to be pressed. What kind of buttons are we talking about here? Even in the case of pressing buttons, in the world of analog synthesizers, there is no such thing as just pressing buttons. Analog synths are all physics and calculation, and to get any sound out of them, you need an understanding of music the-
ory and how sound waves work. To get a proper note out of a 2600 analog synth, for example, you have to understand the knobs you are turning, or you will get nothing but alien noises and scary static. The oscillators of a synth can be customized and manipulated using knowledge of physics and music theory. There is technical knowledge required along with scientific knowledge. Even after you get the basic understanding of what specific Hertz are, you have to understand what each wave sounds like compared to others. The shape of the wave, its velocity, and all the different filters on the smaller hidden frequencies affect the sound that is ultimately projected. Then there are also patch cables, which basically rearrange all the info you already have and change the parameters of the synth. Besides fully analog synths, being able to change all of these sounds is
BY ISABELLA GABAY
you might not find alone. In women-led spaces, especially, friendship becomes a form of empowerment. When women uplift other women, it challenges the idea that we have to compete for success. Instead, it reminds us that collaboration, mentorship, and mutual support make everyone stronger. That’s why spaces like Her Campus, sororities, and campus clubs matter so much. They create environments where women’s voices are celebrated, not compared.
The hardest part of building community is often just starting. With so many people around, it’s easy to feel lost in the crowd. But meaningful friendships don’t happen overnight — they’re built through small, intentional moments. Here are a few ways to find your people:
Join Organizations That Reflect Your Values:
Whether it’s a women’s empowerment club, cultural organization, or volunteer group, shared passions are the best foundation for genuine friendships. When you care about the same things, connection comes naturally.
Show Up Authentically:
Trying to be the “cool” version of yourself usually just attracts surface-level connections. Being open about your interests, struggles, and quirks helps people see the real you, and as a result, the right people will stay.
Invest in Quality Over Quantity:
It’s tempting to measure your social life by how many friends you have, but depth
matters more than numbers. A few close, supportive relationships will mean more than dozens of casual acquaintances.
Be the Friend You Want to Have: Friendship is a two-way street. Reach out first, remember birthdays, celebrate others’ wins, and show up when it counts. The energy you put into relationships often comes back multiplied.
One of the best parts of college is realizing that friendship isn’t just personal, it’s political. When women create networks of care and collaboration, they build a culture that values empathy, inclusivity, and strength in numbers. The friendships you form now can evolve into future professional connections, creative partnerships, or simply lifelong sources of encouragement. Every connection, whether in person or online, contributes to a larger community that empowers college women to thrive together.
Finding your people in college isn’t just about having fun. It’s about finding belonging. The right friendships will challenge you, ground you, and remind you that you don’t have to do everything alone. So reach out to that person in your lecture who seems interesting. Go to that club meeting even if you’re nervous. Send that text. The friendships you build now could shape your confidence, your future, and even the person you’ll become. When women come together, we don’t just find friends, we find strength.
still done the same way. By having an understanding of waves and what they sound like, and what kind of filters you can apply to the oscillators, a desired musical effect can be achieved.
Synths were popular in the 1950s for their eerie sound effects, and it took years to learn how to configure them into what we know now. Synths would play a major role in the works of Laurie Spiegel, Kraftwerk, New Wave like Soft Cell, New Order, Joy Division, The Cure, Siouxsie and The Banshees, The Sisters of Mercy, and Depeche Mode. Even pop artists like Tears for Fears, A Flock of Seagulls, Madonna, Wham!, and Michael Jackson developed a distinctly ‘80s sound because of synths. Then came the ‘90s, a pivotal time for the techno scene and IDM, along with the proliferation of a huge selection of electronic subgenres because of artists
like Brian Eno, Underworld, Notorious B.I.G., The Prodigy, Björk, Barbara Morgenstern, and, of course, Aphex Twin. Now, synths are everywhere — used by pop music, underground music, and more. Synths have expanded to every genre, with many modern artists, such as LCD Soundsystem, Death Grips, Klack, Magdalena Bay, FKA Twigs, Burial, Jane Remover, Porter Robinson, and Beach House, all fusing synths into their unique sound. With synths, it’s honestly kind of difficult to just press buttons, and it may just be a humble way to describe the whole thing. It takes passion and understanding of the tech you are using, plus musical talent and a good sense of structure. I feel like people tend to underestimate how much goes into electronic music, but it is a beautiful art form that has changed how music can exist forever.
Aphex Twin just presses buttons
Campus Pulse
Evan O’Donnell ‘27
GrubHub biker walking on 4th floor Davis.”
ROVING REPORTER
By Isabelle Villanueva & Kieron Ampaw
Witler Defendre ‘29
“What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen on campus?”
I say furries?”
Puzzle Page
Mini Crossword Kings Tour
Hidden Links
Inspired by the British game show Only Connect, the goal of this puzzle is to find the hidden connection between four seemingly abstract clues. Each answer will use trivia, wordplay, logic, or some combination thereof. The solution is always more specific than “nouns”, “places”, etc. What do the following have in common?
Traverse each square one by one in any of the eight directions (like a king in chess) to spell out the answer. The starting and ending squares are bolded. Every letter will be used exactly once. The clue below the grid designates the lengths of each word.
*Puzzle instructions by Stephen Pachucki
Cryptolist
The following list has been translated using a basic substitution cipher. For example, if E represents T in one word/phrase, it will represent T in all the words/phrases in the list. No letter maps to itself. The list is alphabetized. Hint: start guessing things in the category and see if any of the letter patterns match up. Birds
*Puzzle instructions by Stephen Pachucki
*Puzzle instructions by Stephen Pachucki
Munachimso Nwadukwe ‘28
Miles Kwoun ‘29
library.
Manhattan Center hoodie.”
Lukas Neher ‘29
Dominic Souza
Rachel Quedding ‘28
Isabella Gomes ‘29
“Somebody duck taped a banana to a door, and it started rotting.”
Cheikh Ndiaye ‘29 “Huge Pickle Rick being put in the laundry machine.”
