[The Stute] September 19, 2025 (Issue 2, Volume CXXIII)
Recipients respond to the
Divest from War Initiative Letter
BY THE STUTE
Last semester, the Letter from the Student Body: Stevens Divest from War Initiative passed and was delivered to the recipients, which included President Farvardin, the Board of Trustees, and the school administration. The letter, which represents a culmination of student effort and student voice, has received a response from the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Stephen T. Boswell, and President Farvardin.
To provide context, the Stevens Divest from War Initiative (SDFWI) has been a student-led movement calling for the university to divest the school’s endowment from companies or investments that violate international law and human rights principles. Previously, SDFWI attempted to pass a proclamation via the Student SEE SDFWI PAGE 2
BY SOFIA STOECKEL, CONTRIBUTOR
Each year, Stevens Dining decides what to change on its various menus, choosing which restaurants should be featured on the diverse lineup for students to enjoy each year. However, the process necessary to come to these decisions is not visible to the Stevens community. Madison
Goslin, Senior Marketing Specialist of Stevens Dining, provided insight into Zaro’s presence on campus and the process of collaborating with businesses at Stevens.
When asked about the process of finding and determining a new Stevens vendor, Goslin claims that they have recently had great success partnering with Zaro’s at other campuses, and that the feedback from pre-
vious tastings at Stevens was “overwhelmingly positive,” making it a perfect fit for the campus community. Goslin noted that reception to Zaro’s at Stevens has been overwhelmingly positive. “The Zaro’s team was deeply involved in the entire process, which made the transition seamless. They are incredibly kind and invested in this partnership, and it feels like this location is truly an ex-
tension of their family business,” she said. Additionally, when asked about the need for a business change, Goslin explained that there were yearly surveys for students to fill out about their dining experience, and that America’s Cup had consistently been ranked low for the last several years.
“When we looked at total
Stevens merges two admin divisions in response to budget cuts
BY RISHI KUMAR PRABHAKAR, CONTRIBUTOR
Facing down budget constraints due to federal directives from the Trump administration, the Stevens Office of the President announced in July that two of the university’s divisions, namely, the Division of University Relations and the Division of Development and Alumni Engagement, would be merged into a single division, effective August 1, 2025. Stevens President Nariman Farvardin’s office also revealed, approximately a month later, that the division would be named the Division of University Advancement in a second announcement.
“We believe that greater alignment among the functions represented in this new unit will yield even greater, more impactful results for Stevens and all the constituencies we serve,” wrote Farvardint. This decision also SEE ADMIN PAGE 2
BY SERENA PANUCCI , NEWS EDITOR
The Stevens Accessing Careers in Engineering and Science (ACES) program, founded in 2017, has recently received a $100,000 donation from Johnson & Johnson, strengthening its mission to support academically talented students pursuing careers in STEM fields. The donation will fund hands-on research opportunities and cover the participation of up to 30 students in Stevens’ Pre-College Summer Program during the summer of 2026, ensuring that more students gain the resources and guidance needed to succeed in engineering and science disciplines.
Many ACES participants face challenges that extend beyond academics, such as financial instability, lack of access to STEM resources, or limited exposure to career opportunities. By providing support, ACES works to bridge these gaps. “We highlighted the strength of our pre-college programs by demonstrating that students not only
build valuable technical skills, but also develop greater confidence and resilience as they step into the STEM world,” said Edlyn Thompson-Mettle, Director of Undergraduate Outreach Programs at Stevens.
“Recognizing that both are essential for long-term success, Johnson & Johnson chose to continue supporting this mission.”
Since its founding, ACES has aimed to increase the number of academically talented students from all backgrounds who face financial hardships, allowing them to become future engineers, innovators, and leaders. The program provides scholarships, mentorship, and career-focused programs to both high school and undergraduate students. What began with partnerships at nine schools has grown to include 18 high schools across New Jersey and New York, including Brooklyn Technical High School, Hoboken High School, Science Park High School in Newark, and many more.
AN LE, CONTRIBUTOR
Ahead of the new academic year, Stevens has laid off 45 staff members, with officials citing the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict the enrollment of international students and affecting research funding.
On June 9, President Farvardin announced the implementation of cost-cutting measures.
Leading up to the layoffs, Farvardin and school officials carefully considered other possibilities to maintain the school’s finances.
In The Stute’s email request for comment, Farvardin stated, “We spent the summer months analyzing our financial position, monitoring enrollment numbers, exploring alternatives, and consulting with leadership before concluding that workforce reductions were unavoidable.”
Staff were notified of the layoffs on August 19 and 20, less than two weeks before the start of the Fall 2025 semester. These layoffs are a result of the ongoing federal changes under the Trump administration that
have placed more financial strains on U.S. higher ed ucation institutions. These challenges include the Trump administration’s efforts to limit the number of international students enrolled in U.S. colleges by targeting international students and student visas, discouraging many from considering U.S. colleges, reported CNN.
Stevens has a great pop ulation of international stu dents who have significant ly contributed to Stevens’ budget, including funding for research. As of Fall 2024, Stevens has a total student population of over 8,400, of which 4% are in ternational undergraduate students and 58% are in ternational graduate stu dents. As they are ineligible for federal financial aid, the Institute of International Education found that more than 3/4 of international students fund their edu cation themselves and pay the full tuition. In 2023, international students con tributed over $172 million to Stevens’ budget, enough
DELIVERY BOY.........................................JONATHAN LAI ‘28
ASSIS. LAYOUT EDITOR...........................SHREYA ROY ‘27
Staff & Contributors
Rishi K. Prabhakar
Maya Meets
An Le
Nihira Pathak
Jeylan Jubran
Sofia Stoeckel
Winslow Porter
Gavin McCrary
Vincent Olivieri
Matthew Soltys
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.................................UNIVERSITY CENTER ROOM 216B
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SDFWI
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Government Association’s (SGA) Senate. The proclamation, coupled with the SDFWI proposal, which outlines the specifics of the divestment strategy, was amended to address several points of student concerns. However, the amended proclamation failed to pass in the SGA Senate. As a result, in late March, the SGA introduced the concept of a Letter from the Student Body (LSB), which served as an alternative for students to voice their opinions. The LSB doesn’t require Senate approval and instead allows the student body to vote on the matter at hand. If voting requirements are satisfied, the SGA facilitates the communication of the LSB to the appropriate recipients, as was done for the SDFWI letter.
In response to the letter, President Farvardin and Chairman Boswell shared that they are receptive to the student body effort and had discussed it during the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees and the Board of Trustees meetings on May 20, 2025. They share that their goal as administrators is to commit to upholding Stevens’ core values and the Code of Ethics, all
ZARO’S
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transactions (number of people visiting, not total dollars spent), America’s Cup was consistently in the bottom three and remained the least visited café on campus. This data made it clear that a change was needed to better serve the community.”
Goslin also explained the history of the business, emphasizing how the Zaro family’s great-grandfather emigrated from Eastern Europe to the Bronx, where he opened a bakery. “He opened the first Zaro’s bakery, which quickly became a beloved neighborhood staple known for its delicious baked goods and family-first atmosphere,” Goslin states. She then explains that Zaro’s makes all their baked goods from scratch, using old-world recipes, and focuses on craftsmanship and quality. She finished by saying, “Both Stevens Dining and Zaro’s share the same
ADMIN
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comes in the wake of the departure of former Vice President Laura Rose, who led the Division of Development and Alumni Engagement, and who resigned from her position in the Stevens administration in late July 2025 for personal reasons. Vice President Beth McGrath—who continues to serve as Chief of Staff in President Farvardin’s cabinet and who acts as a personal advisor to the president—has been chosen to lead this division.
When asked about the aspirations of the new division, Vice President McGrath responded that the new division would have five primary goals: “(1) securing
of which apply to the school’s investing strategies. Specifically concerning the university’s endowment, maximizing returns ensures that the university’s goals can be supported. In direct response to the terms of the SDFWI letter and proposal, several hindrances were communicated:
• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) stated that funding to universities that were boycotting Israeli companies would be revoked and that Stevens, each time it accepts an NIH grant, must confirm that they are not engaging in a “discriminatory prohibited boycott.” Following the recommendations of the SDFWI letter could potentially cost the college millions of dollars in research funding.
• The endowment fund, managed in conjunction with the institution’s Chief Investment Officer, Goldman Sachs, is primarily invested in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other grouped securities. This strategy allows the endowment to achieve the financial objectives of the institution.
The responders state that “this structure, while efficient for achieving our financial objectives, presents complexities when considering targeted divestment (or investment) in today’s interconnected global market.”
core values of hospitality, craft, and community, making this collaboration feel like an extension of our own family.” Whether you know Zaro’s by name or simply by your favorite treat, their goal
• The additional screening and review proposed would make the process of investing more bureaucratic and could harm long-term returns. As a result, the response cites that this would hurt the university’s operations as well as reduce financial aid provided to students.
• While the letter primarily focused on divestment, the university’s partnerships are multifaceted, and pulling out from organizations financially could negatively impact educational, research, and career opportunities.
Additionally, the responders share that from a philosophical point of view, this letter represents one opinion and that it is the institution’s duty to create an environment where all members feel heard and respected. For all the stated reasons, the Board of Trustees declares that they are unable to accept the recommendations of this letter.
However, members of the Board of Trustees and President Farvardin, in good faith, have amended the wording in the Investment Policy Statement to incorporate their definition of ethical business values, which include following the highest business ethics standards, New Jersey law, and the university’s Code of Ethics.
is always the same: to make your day a little brighter.
“We’re thrilled to welcome them to campus and can’t wait for the Stevens community to enjoy everything they have to offer.”
ital projects that enhance our campus; (2) keeping alumni engaged with Stevens from the time they graduate and throughout their lives; (3) enhancing Stevens’ reputation through media relations, thought leadership and marketing efforts; (4) supporting student recruitment at the undergraduate and graduate levels; and (5) increasing/expanding partnerships with corporations, government entities and other institutions and schools.”
McGrath also added that the “recent departure of former Vice President Laura Rose presented an opportunity to more strategically align the two divisions to meet ambitious goals in the cur rent year and beyond — in areas ranging from increasing financial
ty and campus infrastructure to leveraging the networks and in fluence of our alumni to further enhance Stevens’ reputation.” Hundreds of universities all across the U.S. have found themselves grappling with the threat of budget cuts since the advent of the second Trump administration. According to a recent report by the Center for Academic Progress, between $6.9 billion and $8.2 billion worth of awards have been terminated, with the amount of money remaining unspent in those grants ranging from $3.3 billion to $3.7 billion, and as a result, Stevens has had to lay off 45 workers in late August of this year in response to
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Pre-college ACES students have the opportunity to participate in year-round workshops and summer programs that provide a hands-on introduction to STEM disciplines. For students interested in applying to Stevens, ACES also offers individualized admissions guidance and the possibility of scholarship consideration. For those who go on to enroll at Stevens, the benefits expand significantly. Undergraduate students in the program are welcomed into the Stevens Technical Enrichment Program
financial aid, alumni mentorship, and access to study abroad or paid research opportunities.
“Through scholarship, mentoring, and support, ACES provides high school and enrolled undergraduate students with the resources that they and their families may need to be successful at Stevens,” said Dr. Thompson-Mettle.
The $100,000 donation from Johnson & Johnson underscores the company’s confidence in the program’s ability to empower students. Funding will directly support scholarships for students who otherwise may not have been able to access Stevens’ pre-college offerings, opening doors to future academic and career op-
son-Mettle notes that Stevens is currently restructuring its pre-college programs to further broaden opportunities for young learners. In addition to ACES, she oversees the Art Harper Saturday Academy and other outreach initiatives that align with Stevens’ commitment to broadening exposure in STEM education.
With continued corporate partnerships and an expanding network of high school collaborations, ACES is determined to make an even greater impact. For Thompson-Mettle and her team, the mission is to ensure that talented students, regardless of financial background, can envision themselves not only as college students, but as future scientists, ACES
to support a total of 1,693 jobs as reported by NJ Advance Media, a data-driven marketing agency in New Jersey. In addition to jobs, since international students usually pay more to attend U.S. universities, this allows colleges to focus their financial aid on domestic students, “[offering] lower fees and more scholarship money to American students,” said Justin Gest, a professor at George Mason University for Patch News.
September 23 September 23 Pierce Dining Hall 3:00
The policy changes towards international students attending colleges are among many that have been issued since President Donald Trump took office. Since then, Trump and his administration have had a strong focus on changing higher education, specifically to curb what Trump has referred to as a “woke” agenda. This has included reversing diversity, equity, and inclusion policies meant to assist historically disadvantaged populations, threatening to remove or freeze school funding, and even revoking a university’s ability to admit international students.
Within this administration’s oversight on higher education, international students who have had their student visas revoked were targeted for their participation in on-campus demonstra-
tions, most notably pro-Palestinian protests, and even minor criminal violations such as traffic infractions, as reported by U.S. News. Harvard University is notably in conflict with the Trump administration for refusing to adhere to Trump’s policies. With the Department of Homeland Security withdrawing, “the university’s certification to host foreign students and issue paperwork for their visas,” U.S. News reported. These crackdowns have raised concerns regarding the restriction of free speech on college campuses and the overuse of federal administrative power exercised by President Trump to intervene. Like many institutions across the U.S., Stevens is also navigating a challenging time resulting from changes in policies that will continue to affect international student enrollment and research funding. It is still unclear what the exact impact of these policies have or will have on Stevens and other institutions, but President Farvardin remains steadfast in preserving Stevens’ core purpose of education and research.
“Our focus is on supporting all our students and maintaining the academic excellence that defines Stevens, regardless of policy changes,” says Farvardin. “International students are integral to Stevens’ community, and we’re closely monitoring policy developments that could impact them.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVENS.EDU
ISABELLE VILLANUEVA FOR THE STUTE
From the start, they’ve made it clear that their office isn’t about policies and paperwork; it’s about supporting the students
Their path here is anything but ordinary. As a first-generation, limited-income student, Emilia graduated summa cum laude in sociology from Northeastern University and received their Master’s of Arts in Sociology from Columbia University. Their academic career was filled with curiosity and passion: they studied the public health impacts of incarceration, explored the creative side of activism through research on Black punk, and spent time working in abolition and reentry programs. For them, learning was never just about grades; it was about connecting ideas to the real world and imagining how communities could be stronger and more inclusive.
That mix of scholarship and activism carried into their professional work. Emilia has facilitated diversity workshops, ran mentorship programs for first-generation undergrads, and even helped doctoral students navigate barriers in higher education. They’ve worked with incarcerated individuals with disabilities and substance use disorders, taught dance at a school for students with disabilities, and coordinated pipeline programs that prepare underrepresented students for careers in medicine. Everything ties back to the same core theme: giving people access, encouragement, and the tools they need to succeed.
At Stevens, Emilia is putting that philosophy into action. To Emilia, this job is about making
students. They’re not interested in catering to a silent majority— they’d rather invest in the students who are passionate, curious, and eager to grow. Whether it’s through clubs, campus programs, or just conversations in passing, Emilia is already becoming a safe, unfiltered presence for students.
That same care shapes the advice Emilia shares with students. As someone who navigated college as a first-generation student, Emilia knows how valuable opportunities like studying abroad can be, especially for first-generation/ low-income (FLI) students. They believe it’s often the only chance students have to leave the country and see the world through a new lens, and that experience can be life-changing. This is just one example of how Emilia encourages students to take risks, seek new perspectives, and imagine themselves in bigger spaces than they may have thought possible.
Emilia’s journey has sharpened their vision and reminded them why this work matters. They know what it’s like to feel like an outsider in academic spaces, and that’s exactly why they’re determined to make Stevens feel like home for all students.
In just a short time, Emilia Griffith has already started to leave a mark on our campus. They bring expertise, creativity, and authenticity to their role, but more importantly, they bring heart. By supporting student organizations and making the effort to know people on a personal level, Emilia is helping shape a culture of belonging at Stevens—one where all students thrive as themselves.
Library Archives invites students to the Innovation Expo exhibit to
celebrate 200th anniversary of U.S. locomotive
BY MAYA MEENTS, STAFF WRITER
The year 2025 marks the 200th anniversary of Colonel John Stevens building and testing the first steam locomotive in America, right here in Hoboken, giving himself the name of the father of American railroads. In 1825, at a time when many feared the unfamiliar power of steam, he built a circular test track on what is now Palmer Lawn and showcased his invention. His demonstration brought people together and brought excitement to the idea of railroads, where Stevens’ sons, Robert and Edwin, established the Camden & Amboy Railroad Co., the first passenger railroad in New Jersey. This innovation, along with other inventions, shaped the United States, all from the Institute that we attend today. In honor of this 200th anniversary, let’s reflect on how far we’ve come, the significance of the inventions made on the grounds we study on, the people who have come here before us, and how cool it is to be attending
While best known for the locomotive, Colonel John Stevens was also a pioneer in marine engineering. He built the first steam-powered boat, the Little Julianna, which he tested in the New York City Harbor, moving at an estimated four miles per hour.
OP-ED
Leah Loscutoff, Head of Archives and Special Collections Librarian, mentioned that people believed it was magic that the boat was able to move without sails. Stevens was also an advocate for steam engines, and urged Congress to pass an act that would allow him to build steam-powered ships for naval defense. His advocacy, inventions, and persistence solidified him in history as an innovator ahead of his time.
The Stevens family carried forward his vision. His sons, Robert and Edwin, advanced American railroads, and it was Edwin’s will that left land and funds for what would become Stevens Institute of Technology. His wife, Martha Bayard Stevens, strengthened that legacy by serving on the Board of Trustees and ensuring the school’s commitment to engineering and innovation. The institute’s first class took place in 1871, and it was the first university to offer a degree in mechanical engineering in the United States. The earliest classes and labs were held in a building that we all can recognize today — Edwin A. Stevens Hall. This history is preserved within the Samuel C. Williams Library, where students can visit the Mary Stuart Stevens Room. This exhibit showcases original documents, replicas of Steven’s Inventions, like the Little Julianna, and many other inventions, like one of the
first Macintosh computers (it’s actually really cool). There is also a life-size replica of the Steam Locomotive, which can be found in the library’s main rooms on the first floor.
Stevens has continued to embody this legacy. Founded “by engineers, for engineers,” the university has produced generations of thinkers and innovators who have carried forward the same spirit of curiosity and invention. Today, Stevens is recognized nationally for its strong return on investment, consistently ranking in the Princeton Review for career outcomes and innovation.
There is a lot of pride in this school, and this anniversary serves as a good time to embrace learning about this place more deeply. The library holds so much history, as it offers access to historic documents, photographs, yearbooks, and even old Stute articles. All these resources are free to members of the Stevens community, and by taking the time to explore these resources, we serve as a reminder that we are part of an ongoing story of innovation. Let us take pride in this anniversary, be curious, explore the exhibit in the library, ask questions, and remember that this history of progress and invention is not merely history, but something that continues to unfold every day, and we are now a part of it.
The Case for Divestment - When Ethics Becomes Groundwork for Systemic Change
BY JAMES HOOKER ‘26
On May 21st, Stephen T. Boswell, Chairman of the Board of Trustees and President Nariman Farvardin responded to the Stevens Divest from War Initiative’s Letter from the Student Body which passed with overwhelming support in early May. The recommendations to divest from companies complicit in war crimes and human rights violations were rejected for four reasons, ofwhich I will respond to each:
Point 1) “On April 21, 2025, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced it would revoke funding to any university engaged in boycotting Israeli companies. Each time Stevens accepts a grant from NIH, it must certify that it is not participating in a ‘discriminatory prohibited boycott.’ Clearly, adopting the recommendations of the LSB could put the university at risk of losing millions of dollars of research funding.”
Interestingly, after weeks of debate in the student body, the decision was made to have no mention of Israel or any specific country or corporation, in the LSB. From this we can assume that our institution’s endowment is for a fact invested in Israeli companies, and that the Board ofTrustees also fully and formally acknowledges that these companies are in violation of the LSB’s Criteria for Divestment in some way (against genocide, against war crimes, against crimes against humanity, to name a few examples). Since our endowment is not publicly available, this information has never been confirmed until now.
Point 3) “Adding the supplemental screening and due diligence proposed in the LSB would create an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy and have the potential to negatively affect the long-term returns of endowment funds, therefore reducing the revenue available to support the university’s operations and strategic priorities, including financial aid to undergraduate students from low-income families.”
It is true that the profits from our endowment are used to support our student’s tuition, the li-
brary, and many other services essential to Stevens. This is acknowledged in the LSB in section 4.3, which includes a detailed introduction to the long-term sustainability of ethical investing as a financially viable strategy. Furthermore, if our research and tuition is paid with negligence to the global community - a genocidal negligence at worst - we should not take them. I personally received scholarships to attend Stevens which made my education here possible. If I had known that money was steeped in blood, I would not have attended; and I will encourage all prospecting Stevens students to stay away from a university complicit in war crimes and crimes against humanity. As stated in the LSB, “Until divestment, Stevens’ values are empty words, touted to lifeless bodies and caustic destruction.”
I paired my response to the following two points because both are related to the complexities ofdivestment.
Point 2) “Our endowment is primarily invested in commingled funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs) rather than individual securities, in partnership with our outsourced Chief Investment Officer, Goldman Sachs. This structure, while efficient for achieving our financial objectives, presents complexities when considering targeted divestment (or investment) in today’s interconnected global market.”
Point 4) “Furthermore, although the LSB clearly differentiates between investments and other types of relationships with organizations which some may deem to be practicing unethical behavior, university partnerships are multifaceted, and discontinuing one type of relationship has the potential to negatively impact other types of relationships, such as corporate-sponsored research, student co-operative education and internship assignments and career placement. Therefore, a decision to divest from certain companies could negatively impact our educational and research partnerships that provide direct benefits to our students and faculty.”
I will reiterate the above point that these direct benefits are not
worth anything if they are steeped in blood. Let us look at the complexities of university relationships in the case of Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin has played a key and direct role in conceiving and developing Stevens’ Department of Systems and Enterprises, to which Jack Irving, Senior VP and General Manager at Lockheed Martin, praised as a “controllable curriculum that we could continuously customize to meet the ever changing needs of our business... it was perfect” (Stevens). Corporate connections are a great resource for a university of budding engineers, computer scientists, and mathematicians. But a devoted relationship to a company with staggering accounts of human rights violations should certainly raise alarms. For example, in 2023, Lockheed Martin, Raytheonand General Dynamics, three of the five largest U.S. defense contractors, were sued in the USfederal court for supporting war crimes by selling weapons to Saudi Arabia and UAE-led coalition forces during the civil war in Yemen. Reports have linked Lockheed Martin weaponryspecifically to a horrifying instance on Oct. 8, 2016 - in Yemen’s capital. According to Military Times, “Hundreds were gathered at the Great Hall of Sana’a City for the funeral of a tribal leader, when a Raytheon and Lockheed-made GBU-12 Paveway II 500-pound laser-guided bomb leveled the area, killing 140” (Military Times, Human Rights Watch). If we divest from such an egregious company, and they consequently cancel co-op programs or internships... is that really so bad? Why are we so afraid of improving our moral standards? Is it because several Lockheed Martin executives have served on the Board of Advisors of the Stevens School of Systems and Enterprises, including Jack Irving, Senior VP and General Manager? Innovate for peace instead of weapons and war; this is the only way forward. Allow me to tell a brief story from my freshman year at Stevens: When I first met my guitarinstructor, he asked me to show him what I could do.
Continued on thestute.com
Sports
Women’s Volleyball shows resilience in home tri-match
BY MISAYO IDOWU, CONTRIBUTOR
On September 13, the women’s volleyball team hosted a tri-match against Tufts and Drew at the Canavan Arena. The Ducks lost to Tufts in a close match but returned to the court, fought valiantly, and comfortably beat Drew 3-0.
The Ducks started the day with a record of 3-3 for the season and were looking to improve upon this record. Tufts hit the ground running, but Stevens was hot on their heels and did not let their opponents get a comfortable lead. Stevens fought to trim the deficit down to 15-16, putting pressure on their opponents. However, the Jumbos managed to close out the set 20-25.
The second set was back and forth, featuring multiple long ral-
BY RIYANA PHADKE, SCIENCE EDITOR
On September 6, the Stevens men and women’s tennis teams opened their fall season with a trip to the TCNJ Doubles Invitational in Ewing, New Jersey.
The men’s team showed impressive skill, with senior Max-William Kanz and first-year Ian Batra starting the Ducks off strong with a victory. Kanz later joined forces with first-year Renat Kramin for yet another triumph on the courts. Batra and second-year, Dhaivik Chenemilla, brought another victory in the second flight, and in the fourth flight, first-year Elias Alkio and second-year Noah Pe secured an 8-5 win as well.
During the opening round of the Invitational, the Ducks faced tough matches across all flights, with Kramin and Chenemilla losing narrowly 8-7 (10-8), thirdyear Tristan Wroe and Pe falling
lies and lead switches. The set was tight and competitive, and towards the end, the Ducks were leading 23-22. However, Tufts managed to bring it back level, 24-24, a deuce. This meant that the set had to go past the standard 25 points until a team obtained a two-point lead. The set ended with the Jumbos scraping by with a 27-25 win.
The third and final set also went the distance and featured another deuce. The set started with a Tufts lead, but Stevens held the line and once again brought the score level to 24-24. Tufts took the final two rallies, winning the set 26-24 and the match 3-0.
Despite the disappointing result, it is clear that the Ducks fought tooth and nail and did not make it easy for Tufts. There were some standout performances from players like sophomore Ella
8-7 (10-4), and third-year Johnny Haase and Chenemilla going out 8-6.
Batra, Alkio, and Kramin all made their Stevens debut at this event. The men’s team will return to the courts on September 26 to compete in the three-day Haver ford College/Swarthmore College Invitational.
The women’s team opened their 2025 campaign in a competitive opening round, with third-year Alix Dry and senior Stephanie Untermeyer falling 8-6. Later, in the same round, second-year Gigi Arenas and third-year Lorena Pie gas fell with the same score. In the second round, the Ducks faced similar setbacks.
First-year Kaylee Hobbick made her Stevens Debut at this event. The women’s team will continue their season on September 27, compet ing in the three-day ITA Regional Championship, hosted by the Uni versity of Mary Washington.
Kraver with 15 kills, the most in the match. Similarly, senior Vivian Lisboa had four service aces.
After their loss in the earlier match, Stevens returned to the court for the evening match against Drew. Both the team and the fans were hoping for a win, and the Ducks did not disappoint. The Rangers started the first set strong, managing to take a commanding lead. However, the Ducks were not done yet. They fought valiantly and even went on a 6-1 run to end the set with a 2523 win.
The second set started with Stevens getting two early kills and then two aces, taking their lead to 5-1. Throughout the set, the lead widened and ended with Stevens winning 25-16.
In the final set, the Ducks dominated from the first blow of
SEP 19 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL Sarah Lawrence College Hoboken, NJ 2:30 p.m.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL Springfield College Hoboken, NJ 7:30 p.m.
WOMEN’S SOCCER Stockton University Galloway, NJ 3 p.m.
the whistle, starting from where they left off. In the middle of the set, they managed to go on a 10-1 run. The atmosphere in the arena was electric as the team had found their stride. They ended the set 25-15 and won the match 3-0, earning a warm round of applause from the attendees. Both sophomore, Alexa Brucculeri, and first-year, Lianna Schmieder, gave amazing performances, building off the last match. Brucculeri got 29 assists and three aces, while Schmieder got 21 digs, on top of the 16 she got in the Tufts match. Sophomore Ella Boland was the leading scorer with 15 kills. All the Ducks played with their lives on the line, and taught everyone in attendance a lesson on resilience and how to bounce back from a loss.
MEN’S AND WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY Aggie Invitational Doylestown, PA 10:30 a.m.
MEN’S SOCCER Kean University Hoboken, NJ 3 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY Eastern University Hoboken, NJ 12 p.m.
SUN, SEP 21
MEN’S GOLF The Gauntlet - Day 1 Lewisburg, PA TBD
MON, SEP 22
STEVENS SCOREBOARD
MEN’S GOLF The Gauntlet - Day 1 Lewisburg, PA TBD TUE, SEP 23
MEN’S GOLF The Northampton Cup Bethlehem, PA TBD
WED, SEP 24
WOMEN’S SOCCER The College of New Jersey Ewing, NJ 7 p.m.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL Misericordia University Dallas, PA 7 p.m.
ACADEMIC STARTER PACK
WikiHow: How do you ask for help?
BY MAYA MEENTS, CONTRIBUTOR
When people talk about asking for help, the advice often feels predictable: be polite, be clear about what you need, and be grateful for whatever assistance you receive. Not to mention, Stevens’ resources are readily available for those who need help; the freshmen orientavide. Many of these students tend to fall into one of two groups: those who operate from a place of ego and those who operate from what I’ll call anti-ego. After talking to the particular students with higher egos, I would characterize them as knowing they could use help, yet would insist on handling the issues alone. To reach out for help, seemed like an ad-
struggling deeply, I think it is always good to step back and reflect not even on what is going wrong in life, but on how you are treating yourself. Are you telling yourself that you are stupid, or do you tell yourself you’re not cut out for things? Or is it that people’s help is a waste and that you can only trust yourself. Or that maybe, you have to know things and do them well because that’s what is expected of
Tell Me Your Most Unhinged Study Hack.
BY WINSLOW PORTER, CONTRIBUTOR
Studying for classes, is it all work, no play at Stevens? Here are a few hacks from fellow ducks to get through or improve your study routine:
starts. I tend to put things off because I work very effectively on a timer.” – Gabriel Healy 1/4
Mechanical Engineer
The ins and outs for a successful school year
BY CAMRYN WINANT, SPORTS EDITOR
The first month of classes coming to a close has us all checking our syllabi to see that it’s time to lock in for our upcoming exams and quizzes. We waste so much time either not studying or not knowing how to study. So, I come to you with my ins and outs for this school year, starting with location and going all the way down to how long you should be studying for, so we can all see success.
INS
• GET THAT IPAD!! Or, at the very least, using a good old notebook and pen for notes. With most of our schoolwork on the computer, typing notes out on a doc much like this one is becoming far too frequent, and if anything is going to help you retain notes, it is handwriting them.
• Sitting in public spaces while you’re studying and coffee shop hopping. One of the hardest things for me is sitting still for an elongated period of time just staring at words and numbers that eventually lose their meaning. To avoid losing your mind, location hopping (I love coffee shops) can clear your head on the walk and give you a new per-
spective along with the new environment.
• This is a very cold take, but do use Google Calendar or Time Tree, or even a physical daily planner. For a while, I was very anti-planning my days out, and I would overbook practically daily, and all I have to say is don’t let this happen to you. Keep track and get ahead.
• Don’t be afraid to use some sort of AI to make a study guide (like, maybe be a little wary of it), just be aware of where it can be wrong. If you link the slides your professor provides, it can spit out a study guide that breaks everything down for you. Last time I did this, I got a 91 on my biotech exam.
OUTS
• Stop forcing yourself to sit down and study for a certain amount of time every single day in a singular spot. If you are continuously doing this, you’re eventually going to get bored of the content, and even if you’re reading it you won’t actually be processing anything.
• On a similar note of studying, let’s all collectively stop with the flashcard agenda. Unless you’re in a subject like biology where most of the content is memori-
At its core, being receptive to help requires humility, not the false humility of anti-ego, but the humility of balance. The truth is efit when we allow others into our back and new perspectives. You don’t burden anyone by asking for help, and you do yourself a favor even if you think you don’t need it, or come up with reasons why you don’t want to receive it. I think that by embracing humility, a lot of the available resources become easier to access, to the point where you don’t need to ask, “How do I ask
• “My study hack is cramming before the test. Everyone says don’t do it, don’t do it, but personally, it works really well for me. It gets all the information in my head right before the test. So I’m answering a question that I just saw 10 minutes ago.” – Oscar McMahan 2/4 Naval Engineer
• “I sit in a different place for every single subject, the living room in my dorm for HASS. For doing math homework, I sit in the library. – Poorva Vakharia 1/4 Computer Science
• “I listen to a specific genre of pop music at like max volume through my headphones to help me study at maximum efficiency.” – Aidan Lindekugel 1/4 Mechanical Engineer
• “Since like fourth grade, if I ever get stuck on something, I just scroll or flip to the very end of the worksheet and start working backwards. For some reason, it feels different, like I’m cheating the system, even though I am just doing the same amount of work as before.” – Jack MacDonnell 1/4 Engineering Undecided
• “Organic Chemistry tutor, and use your textbooks.” – Michael Pasquale 1/4 Quantitative Finance
• “As soon as the lecture ends, if the notes you have are a little scrambled, or there’s a lot to remember, I just make a new page, and I summarize all the important points of the notes. When I do that, when it is time to do homework, I have all the information in one place, and I just understand everything a lot better.” – Stan Daaboul 1/4 Engineering Undecided
• “So my most unhinged or interesting study hack was developed at a young age and is by no means a good thing. I always procrastinated as a kid, and what I discovered is that I worked the best five minutes before class
zation, flashcards don’t actually help you learn anything. They are the equivalent to telling a child 2+2=4 over and over and over again, but not telling them how or why.
• Another agenda I’m done hearing about is using Grammarly. It is obnoxiously popping up on our screens every five seconds for absolutely no reason, and most of the time, it is not even accurate. One time I typed “effect” and Grammarly changed it to “affect” and then once it was changed, it told me to change it to “effect” again (and we went back and forth until I decided to remove it from my extensions).
• Coming from a procrastinating connoisseur, STOP PROCRASTINATING!! People will say procrastination is good for them, and working on a time limit allows them to be more efficient, but getting ahead of your work and ahead of your studies will be so much easier at the end of the day. (I do love a little cram sesh right before an exam, though).
At the end of the day, none of us are going to perfect the studying game, but exams are coming whether we want it or not. So, start
• “My study hack is to go study in a random room, a random place you have never studied before, something even uncomfortable, even somewhere where you wouldn’t think you could study, like at a bench in the middle of the city. Being uncomfortable, it’s the thing, in a random place. It’s how you remember everything!” – Adrian Quinones 1/4 Computer Science
• “Literally when I would get desperate or I knew I had really had to get serious, I would play 10-hour Coconut Mall and just lock myself in my room and do work.” – Kailey Supan 1/4
Mechanical Engineer
• “With math specifically, I mess around with Desmos most of the time. Or I search it up on YouTube and I find someone who re-explains it or derives it from a certain equation.” – Oscar De Leon 1/4 Electrical Engineer
• “Most of the time, I just review the content that’s been given, see if there’s any problems that I can work out. I use different softwares quiz me like Quizlet or ChatGPT.” – Liam Farhangi 2/4 Mechanical Engineer
• “Any classroom is free to use if it is not booked. So what I used to do when I was in freshman year, when I was locking in, I went into the basement of the library by myself and took up the classroom for like six hours for my thermo class. I have used up the entire classroom whiteboard.” – Gigi Cannon 2/4
Mechanical Engineer
• “For practice problems, I do more problems and split it into steps for doing the problem. A to get more problems in and B, because actually knowing how to solve the problem means that everything else falls into place.” – Ethan Krupka 3/4 Mechanical Engineer
I’m definitely looking to try a few of these! Hope you have had a good first few weeks of classes, and good luck on upcoming quizzes. Who knows, maybe one of these study hacks will be your next biggest hit!
Graduating words of wisdom
BY FIONA SHI, BUSINESS MANAGER
As new freshmen navigate their first weeks of college, the future might seem like a mix of uncertainty and excitement. Many students often wonder what lies ahead in their academic journeys and whether they’ll be able to balance the responsibilities and challenges that come along with this critical time of their lives.
Seniors Harry Wang and Paulina Miller’s stories offer both reassurance and the realities about the ups and downs of college life; let’s hear what they have to share!
Harry Wang is a 4/4 Computer Science major from Queens, NY, and the current Social Chair of the Chinese Student Association. You may also see him at the gym or at meetings and events hosted by the Badminton Club, Japanese Student Association, Korean Student Association, and many more! However, he wasn’t always such a social and outgoing person. “The first two years here, I really should have gone out more,” Wang reflects. “I thought I was an introvert until I reached out to people and actually became more comfortable around other people.”
At the beginning of his time at Stevens, Wang was not focused on academics and spent the bulk of his time playing video games, still transitioning from the routine he had grown accustomed to as a high school senior. Like many others, he also questioned his decision of pursuing his chosen major, computer science, and faced a tough initial learning curve. Without a background in computer science, he struggled to understand how to write functions, interpret code, and often wondered what was on his screen. While some students might have chosen to switch majors, Wang chose to be persistent, and after a year and a half, things began to change.
“I guess I didn’t really fully transition into college, and after so much time had passed by, I was already in my third year,”
Wang explained. “I needed to change something, so I started locking in.” This marked a change in how he now viewed his education: school went from something mandatory to something that would directly impact his future career. He began to seek guidance and help from upperclassmen, building connections and navigating his academic challenges with those who experienced similar struggles.
Socially, Wang began to branch out through a close friend, who introduced him to a new circle of friends. “I became friends with them too, and I really enjoyed all the fun times we had together and the trips we took. I was like, this person knows everybody on campus, and I want to be like that too,” he shared. “It doesn’t hurt to know a lot of people, so I began branching out and building my own relationships too.”
For those who may be looking to do the same, Wang recommends attending the cultural clubs and setting small goals for yourself. Start with trying to meet one new person a week, then moving up to two, and sooner or later, there will be more familiar faces.
For those struggling academically, Wang believes that “Everyone has their own pace. Some people are late bloomers, some people are just naturally gifted. You can’t compare yourself to other people, and you’re writing your own story, so don’t be stressed and don’t try to copy other people’s stories.”
Paulina Miller is a 4/4 Chemistry major from Roswell, GA, and a player on the Women’s Volleyball team. During her college search, Miller prioritized colleges with strong athletics and strong STEM programs. Stevens checked both her boxes, had research opportunities she was interested in, and offered her a spot on the Women’s Volleyball team after she had submitted her application. During her early semesters at Stevens, she was “really inspired by the pharmaceutical research done by some of the speakers,” she shared. “I was convinced I wanted to go into the
organic synthesis side of pharmaceutical research.”
However, as a student athlete and a chemistry major, Miller “struggled in the first semester with staying on top of my assignments and schedule being an in-season athlete and everything,” she said. Time management as a college student can be tough, especially for those with multiple commitments and demanding coursework. As Miller began to navigate through her freshman year, she was able to utilize tools and different study tricks to better manage her workload. “I made a plan and really utilized Google Calendar to organize my class schedule and times to study and do homework,” she explained. “I now try to separate my study and work space from my resting and sleeping area, as I find that it is easier to get work done if I have a designated time and place to do work.”
Miller’s social life also flourished after she improved on balancing her various commitments. “I have been able to make more time to hang out with friends because I have really locked down my studying and homework habits,” she says. She specifically encourages students to take advantage of Stevens’ proximity to New York City, which offers more opportunities for events and outings. On campus, she particularly enjoys attending sports events and cheering on other students, strengthening the community she’s found here.
Miller also wants to encourage students who might be struggling to find their balance “to find what scheduling method works best for you and not to be afraid to experiment and try new things.”
Miller’s own career aspirations have shifted from the organic synthesis side of pharmaceutical research to a more analytical and computational path, thanks to the various opportunities Stevens has provided. When reflecting on her journey here, she wishes she were able to make more time for her friends, as “it doesn’t feel like we had enough time, and soon we will be going our separate ways.”
BACK TO SCHOOL
COLORING
WHAT SHOULD I PUT IN MY BACKPACK?
Advice from seniors to freshmen. Check off the ones you have!
Noise Cancelling Headphones
Chargers & portable chargers
Microfiber cloth
Gum and breath mints
Ketchup packets
Advil Snacks
Hand sanitizer
Wipes
Science
Stevens students advance space research through NASA rocket program
BY MATTHEW SOLTYS, STAFF WRITER
Stevens students are conducting aerospace research vital for a mission to Venus through NASA’s RockSat-C program. Teams of college students spend a year designing and building a payload of research equipment that will go aboard a rocket to conduct scientific experiments in space.
Led by teaching associate professor Joseph Miles from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the team designs, builds, tests, redesigns, rebuilds, and retests a payload for a NASA Terrier-Improved Orion sounding rocket. Sometimes called a research rocket, it carries instruments designed to take measurements and perform scientific tests during short flights which typically leave the atmosphere for several minutes before returning. While the launch is exciting, the real value is found in the process leading up to the big day. Some students claimed it was more involved than their senior design projects, and
Miles described it as a “volunteer project with the time commitment of a 4-credit course.” Last year’s team of fifteen students met weekly in campus laboratories and monthly with NASA over Zoom. They were subjected to six design reviews, the same design review process that NASA engineers go through.
The current iteration of RockSat-C at Stevens began in 2023 when assistant professor Jason Rabinovitch from the Department of Mechanical Engineering presented the project to students based on his idea of sending a probe through Venus’ upper atmosphere to collect gas samples. Dean Siva Thangam is responsible for sponsoring the project. “Sampling gas at hypersonic speeds through a system can unintentionally change the composition of what’s collected,” Rabinovitch mentions. To solve this, the team is aiming for 2026 to develop a payload capable of obtaining atmospheric gas samples at predetermined time intervals while going faster than the speed of sound. He frames this as “a stepping stone to demonstrate
future sampling technologies for space missions.” Referred to as Atmospheric Inert AIR Retrieval, or AIR, the payload will feature pressure sensors and valves used to flow atmospheric air into three sample tanks. The valves combined with a venting system will ensure that every tank is filled to max capacity and all samples are unique. Once they are retrieved, the samples will be studied with the goal of improving the models for the planned Venus mission.
The yearly rocket launch in June at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia comes after a long and arduous journey. Teams go through a design phase from late August to mid-November, after which NASA narrows down the pool to the 10 schools that will have a spot on the rocket at the end of the year. After passing this, the team will get to construct their payload for the next seven months until mid-June. The level of dedication students have shown to the project goes as far as coming to campus during winter break, spring break, and after finals. Any extra time spent is
valuable for the team, as working with space is beyond the scope of almost everyone’s previous experience. Miles further explains how “the students learn that space is a harsh environment. They find out that one can have yearlong plans go wrong and then must figure out what to do during the next cycle.”
Rarely does everything work perfectly. In 2024, NASA connected the wire lead from another experiment to the Stevens team’s experiment, resulting in data being collected at the wrong time intervals. This year, there was a leak that triggered a safety feature preventing the entire rocket from being de-pressurized, however, it also limited the data the team collected.
Complications are an unavoidable aspect of conducting unique aerospace research. These challenges push the team further while building students’ knowledge and experience, helping them advance the project closer to its goal than it has ever been. Project manager and software and electrical team lead for the last two years, Anthony Ford ‘25, is “confident that, with
the foundation we’ve built, future teams are in a position to continue to build well-thought-out and functional payloads and overcome challenges.” Beyond the work, RockSat is an opportunity for students to witness amazing experiences and meet special people. Students fondly remember the late nights in the lab and the time they shared. “You have to wake up at 4 AM and head over. Then you stand there for an hour in the dark on the base, watching the sun rise and the timer count down. Launch happens so fast, and is honestly louder than I expected. It was amazing knowing that all the work we did paid off at that moment,” Nerissa Lundquist ‘25, part of the programming team for the past two years, recalls launch day in June. As of September 2025, NASA is merging RockSat-C with the more challenging RockSat-X program. The payload will now be exposed to space, re-entry heat, and seawater. Next year’s team is already preparing for these obstacles while making improvements based on this year’s results.
Stevens researchers uncover the reasons behind quiet quitting
BY JOSEPHINE CHOONG, SECRETARY
Throughout the years, there have been numerous trends within the workforce. One of these trends, quiet quitting, is one you may have heard of post-pandemic. This trend was popularized in 2022 by TikTok user zaidleppelin, and Merriam-Webster defined it as the “practice of doing the minimum amount of work required for one’s job.” But what causes this disengagement at work? What were the underlying causes of quiet quitting? These are the questions Assistant Professors Justine Herve and Hyewon Oh aimed to discover in their interdisciplinary study.
TikTok user zaidleppelin referred to it as a rebalancing of expectations and no longer engaging within the hustle-culture mentality that work must be your life. Supporters claimed that it protects your mental health and helps you
focus on your loved ones. Meanwhile, critics stated it is passive-aggressiveness and displays your lack of ambition. It is commonly attributed to work dissatisfaction, burnout, or lack of purpose. Herve stated how quiet quitting isn’t necessarily negative, as the employees are still doing their expected tasks, just not the extra work. “Refusing to perform tasks beyond what is required contractually does not necessarily imply disengagement during the agreed-upon work hours,” she clarifies. In post-pandemic years, its resurgence prompted the two researchers to study it, with Herve noting the publicity of #quietquit hashtags, and being similarly intrigued, wondering if it was just disengagement at work or a deeper reason. Due to the overlapping research fields (Herve researches labor economies while Oh researches consumer wellbeing for happier lives), they decided to team up to find out.
They published their study, Quiet Quitting in Times of Uncertainty: Definition and Relationship With Perceived Control in the journal Human Resource Management on June 1, 2025. The study details the lack of research on the relationship between perceived control and quiet quitting. Within it, they conducted two online surveys to conceptually redefine quiet quitting on a 5-item scale and to examine the relationship between perceived control and quiet quitting. They found a negative association, which was explained through a strong sense of replaceability and reduced affective commitment to the employer. Moreover, periods of uncertainty, like political turmoil, economic instability, and health or climate crises, can diminish individuals’ sense of control over their environment.
However, the researchers think that quiet quitting can be lessened by employees having a voice and feeling like their contributions
mattered. “That doesn’t just mean giving employees more tasks or perks,” Oh clarifies. “It’s about creating conditions where they feel their work has impact, their input is valued, and they’re not easily replaceable.” From involving employees in decision-making and giving them ownership over meaningful projects, these are only some of quiet-quitting-reducing behavior.
But quiet quitting isn’t the only trend spreading throughout the workforce. The latest phenomenon, quiet cracking, is gaining widespread traction. Quiet cracking is due to the persistent feeling of workplace unhappiness, which leads to disengagement, poor performance, and an increased urge to quit. It results from several factors, including a lack of clear goals, a heavy workload, and low engagement levels. According to a TalentLMS report, which surveyed 1,000 employers in various fields, 54% say they experienced
New study links chemical in plastics to fatal heart disease
BY GAVIN MCCRARY, CONTRIBUTING REPORTER
Researchers at NYU Langone Health have discovered that exposure to a widely used plastic additive called di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) could be linked to more than 350,000 deaths from heart disease globally in 2018 alone. This study sheds light on a major but little-known factor contributing to heart disease and highlights the urgent need for better protections and precautions against toxic chemicals in our environment and frequently consumed products.
Phthalates are chemicals used to make plastics softer and more flexible. They are found in many household products such as food containers, medical equipment, cosmetics, detergents, and bug repellents. Since these chemicals tend to break down into tiny air- and surface-borne particles, people can absorb them daily, often without realizing it. Previous research has connected phthalate exposure to several health problems including obesity, diabetes, fertility issues, and certain cancers. Even prenatal exposure to the chemicals may lead to a decreased IQ in children. Now, a new study adds heart disease to a growing list of concerns.
Although these chemicals are found in everyday products around the world, certain regions are affected much more than others. Regions hit the hardest by phthalate exposure include the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, and the Pacific islands. Specifically, India, China, and Indonesia—regions with fast growing plastics industries—experienced the highest number of deaths from DEHP-related heart disease. A leader in environmental health, Leonardo Trasande, MD, MPP, states, “Our results underscore the urgent need for global regulations to reduce exposure to these toxins, especially in areas most affected by
3I/ATLAS: A new cosmic visitor
BY VINCENT OLIVIERI, STAFF WRITER
When most people imagine the vastness of space, they picture a dark void with plenty of observable objects. Planets, stars, and other galaxies often come to mind when picturing what space actually looks like. This, however, is a severe understatement of the true emptiness that the universe holds. Imagine your commute to class; maybe it takes you walking across campus, or a few blocks through the city. Maybe you even drive over an hour. If you compared that to an entire trip around the Earth, you’d still only be traveling 1/3735 of the distance from the Earth to the Sun. Comparing that distance to the gap between our solar system and the next, or the Milky Way to all other galaxies, the numbers become incomprehensibly large and unperceivable to humans on Earth.
Since space is made of so much ‘nothing,’ it is no surprise that
most objects floating around go undiscovered. Despite Galileo and Sir Isaac Newton beginning their study of the stars in the 1600s, it wouldn’t be until 2017 that humans would discover the first confirmed interstellar objects within the bounds of our own solar system. Aptly named 1I/’Oumuamua, 2I/Borisov, and now 3I/ATLAS are the only recorded objects to have originated from outside of our solar system. Although it is highly theorized that every part of our solar system was impacted by interstellar events — be it original planets with unstable orbits making their exit from the sun, or collisions between planets and asteroids creating moons — technology has only recently become capable of confirming the origin of certain celestial objects via their trajectories.
The main question scientists were asking on July 1, 2025, the day 3I/ATLAS was discovered, was what actually is the object?
According to research done via NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, 3I/ATLAS is a comet with an icy nucleus surrounded by a cloud of dust. Due to difficulties in measuring objects at such speed and distance, the comet has a predicted diameter between 1500 feet and 3.5 miles. Unlike comets from within the solar system, ATLAS is composed of a higher-than-average proportion of carbon dioxide. This chemical makeup could be used to characterize or understand the environment from which the comet originated, and eventually understand the differences between our own solar system and every other type that exists in the universe. While the first sightings of ATLAS occurred in May of this year, NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) was not capable of capturing objects at speeds similar to what the comet was traveling at. Due to this, it took until the completion and launch of NASA’s Spectro-Photometer for
rapid industrialization and plastic consumption.” Medical journalist, Lisa O’Mary emphasized that the study only shows correlation, not a cause and effect relationship between the chemicals and the health effects and that scientists are largely unsure if there really is a relationship between phthalates and heart disease. The NYU study also does not factor in other variables that might affect the results. However, considering that phthalates have been linked to other health problems in the past, this study is important in better understanding their impact and the potential long-term consequences
the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx) Observatory to fully capture ATLAS.
One of the biggest draws to the study of ATLAS was its close proximity to Earth. While 1.8 astronomical units (or 170 million miles) may seem like a stretch for ‘close proximity,’ this distance allowed for adequate research on the object enough to relate it to the other interstellar visitors. Despite the expected arrival of more comets after ‘Oumuamua, as hinted at by the naming scheme, the three objects have proven to be very different. ‘Oumuamua seemed not to be a comet at first, with a strangely oblong shape and unique tumbling motion through space. While ATLAS and Borisov both more clearly appeared to be comet-like objects, Borisov had a much higher carbon monoxide makeup as opposed to the presence of carbon dioxide in ATLAS. Borisov also appeared to be closer in age to the solar sys-
some level of quiet cracking, while 47% say they have rarely or never felt that way. Moreover, because of economic uncertainty, the current job market has many employees avoiding leaving their jobs. As hiring is down and job-switchers’ wages are worse than job-stayers for the first time since the Great Recession, many feel stuck due to their lack of better choices. Further investigation is necessary to understand how feelings of replaceability, diminished commitment, and other psychological processes translate a loss of control into quiet quitting. However, Herve and Oh were excited to complete their interdisciplinary research. “Justine studies economics, and my work is in consumer psychology and marketing, which are pretty different disciplines,” Oh remarks. “But because of the multidisciplinary nature of our school, we were able to join forces on such an interesting project.”
on public health.
Though the chemicals are largely unavoidable, some health organizations have recommendations for ways we can reduce our exposure to phthalates in our homes. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Washington State Department of Ecology suggest frequent mopping and dusting to remove dust that may contain the particles, that people avoid plastic containers with the recycling codes three, six, and seven (which are more likely to contain phthalates), and to opt for glass, steel, or ceramic containers for food and drink storage whenever possible.
tem itself, likely under one billion years old, with ‘Oumuamua closer to two billion years, and ATLAS likely even closer to ten or eleven billion years. These key differences point to totally unique origins and life stories of these objects, which can now further the study of solar systems outside of our own.
3I/ATLAS will continue its trek through the solar system and reach its closest point to the sun — its perihelion — on October 29. The comet will then be observable again in early December and will slowly continue out of the bounds of the sun, continuing its endless path into space. Just like the aftermath of 1I/’Oumuamua and 2I/ Borisov, it is inevitable that scientists will spend the coming years awaiting the arrival of 4I, 5I, and so forth. Since the likelihood of detecting interstellar visitors only increases as technology improves, the study of each one will slowly fill in the cosmic jigsaw puzzle that scientists are hoping to complete.
THE STUTE EDITORIAL
Our summer in pictures
My summer ended the minute I received my first Slack message. The school year ends, but The Stute never really stops. I realized from my last piece, I gave the written rundown but not the pictures to go along with it. Enjoy watching our summer through the collage!
Reinventing the wheel
first few times. I kept hearing this advice everywhere I went, until one day someone said to me, “You need this fresh start. Consider this the time for a new Jack.”
Now this got me thinking, why did I need a do-over?
to be whoever you want to be. I think when people give this piece of advice, the intent is clearly to suggest that you are not defined by your high school experiences. You are not defined by that game-winning shot or that very public situationship. In college, you can be whoever you want to be.
When I accepted my offer from Stevens, the first thing I heard from all of my relatives was, “I’m so excited for you to have a fresh start”. Despite having spent the majority of my life in a small town in Pennsylvania, going to school in the largest metropolitan area in the country didn’t seem like a fresh
Over the previous four years, I had become a person I was relatively happy with. I had collected an array of hobbies and skills. I have gone through different friendships and relationships and come out a semi-complete person. Yes, there was still clearly a lot of room to grow and improve, but I was content with who I was come graduation.
“New Jack,” it stuck with me. Why would I need an all-new me? After some contemplation over the summer, I finally rationalized this piece of advice. Trying to become a whole new Jack would essentially be reinventing the wheel — an egotistical conclusion, I know, but stay with me here.
When you go off to college, yes, you can become a completely new person. You can change your style, interests, and habits because there is no prior expectation of you. You are not bound by anything you have ever done, whether that be a messy breakup or a state championship. To each oth-
parent of the modern carrot. Native to Europe and Western Asia, the plant would be used as a medicinal herb. Its uses include treating skin conditions, diabetes, and blood disor-
er, we are all blank slates, but not to ourselves. Indi vidually, we all have our own memories. We have lived the last four years of our lives growing and changing — experiencing triumph and heartbreak, fulfilling life long dreams, keeping prom ises, and making new ones.
So why—after everything that I have gone through, the people I’ve lost, the mo ments of beauty that were experienced, and every sin gle conversation that has made me who I am— why would I throw that all away for the sake of a fresh start?
Instead, I take what I have gained and use that as my starting point. Instead of becoming a “new Jack”, I’ll become Jack+. Take everything from the last four years that caused strife or pain and rethink it. Reflect on what flaws exist within and use the mistakes of the past as motivation.
So, as the Class of 2029 begins college, I urge any who are reading to not become an entirely different person just because you were told this is a place of new beginnings. Instead, take time to reflect on where you came from and use it to seek improvement. Become a more complete person without losing your identity.
Thank you.
Lace
ders. In the Victorian Language of Flowers, Queen Anne’s Lace symbolizes
One common thing I’ve noticed through conversation is that everyone has that place: a place that they can go to feel utter peace, even in the worst of times. It may be your room, a library, or even a certain person or item. Everyone has their sanctuary. For me, my sanctuary is friends and family. Leaving my home was hard for me; I’m not good at saying goodbye. Plopped in a new world, I felt like I lost my safe place. Luckily, I had reminders of home — my baby blankets, pictures of home, and the same air freshener. While they reminded me of somewhere I used to feel safe, I realized I had to find comfort in my new life. Here. I had to find my sanctuary that would catch me in a net of blossoms and give me a push to keep going.
It is still early in the semester and my time here at Stevens, but I’m happy to say that I have found a new group of people to call my sanctuary. We have “family breakfast” each morning before everyone’s 8 a.m. classes in Pierce. We take walks throughout Hoboken, exploring and ranking the coffee shops, record stores, and book stores. Then there are the times where we lounge around over some card games, like “Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza”. These seemingly mundane traditions provide me a safe haven from any stressors I may be experiencing, whether it be family, school, or environmental. In these people, I find my sanctuary.
Queen Anne’s Lace should be joined with cattail or apple blossom and then gifted as a housewarming gift. The message of this flower is meant to ease the mind and almost create a safety net. It is a way of
Old favorite perfume
while I was moving in for my senior year. It’s called Salted Muse and has scents of sea salt, pink pepper, and olive tree with hints of woods and crisp amber. At least that’s what the packaging said. I think it smells like getting ready for the weekend in your college house with all of your friends and making plans for what places to go to first. There are hints of will he ask me to be his girlfriend tonight and play that Taylor song about the red scarf and turning 21. This perfume holds more than woody highlights and lavender notes. It is an entire year of my life bottled into a green and gold vessel. I started using it again recently.
Time is cool like that. Sometimes it feels like so
much has passed and we’ve just been aging every minute. Other times I feel like the same 13-year-old dealing with mean girls in middle school and figuring out where to eat during lunch. This perfume has a time-bending ability to transport me back in time. And now, as I’m starting my senior year, I am reminded of some of the most transformative years of school. I learned a lot these past years — career things, life things, love things, everything things! I’m such an emotional person. I think this is one of my superpowers but also one of my weaknesses. I just get so passionate about everything.
When you are someone who is or once was important to me, I’m incapable of forgetting you. This sounds romantic, like we’ll always be connected. The invisible string theory, or whatever it’s called. All of my friends and family will always be with me, and certain things remind me of them. Just like the perfume I found, I can never really forget anything. While that is true and beautiful in its own way, it’s also an obstacle. When I form relationships, I build them around the things I love. Songs I play for people mean something special, and
showing a deeper, more intense connection with the receiver — one that asserts a desire to surpass the mere bounds of casual small talk. Gifting such a flower would be indicative of wanting to serve as one’s sanctuary.
Finding a sanctuary is hard, but it is one of the best things you can establish for yourself in a new place. It provides a cushion for any struggles you may encounter. So, find your safe haven. Put yourself out there. Chat
the perfumes I wore around them smell like us. The places I visit echo memories. The books I read come from their shelves. This way of living is lovely until that person becomes a stranger, or until that place or moment is just a memory. We all can relate in some way. When we hear a certain song while waiting for watered-down coffee at Dunkin’ or see a book at Barnes & Noble, we are instantly transported to that season we once lived.
These days I get stressed about graduating and choosing a career. Is this something I love? How much money will I make? Do I have time to be a human? Am I making everyone proud? The questions bang around in my head and I’m sure they toss and turn in everyone’s brain. Senior year is a time for reflection. Who shaped me into who I am, and who do I want with me forever? I have a handful of people I can count on two hands who are truly my forever family. I have new places that remind me of old people. I re-read books and smile at lines I once highlighted to show someone. I cry to songs when I’m alone because the singer wrote them just for me. And I wear my old favorite perfume, the one that always reminds me of you.
with the random person next to you. Explore new places. Find your favorite hangout spot on campus. Try a new activity. Join a club. Do something or find the thing that is your sanctuary.
MIND OF A FRESHMAN
BOOK OF THE WEEK
Opinion
A haunting tale with Our Wives Under the Sea
BY CHRISTINA THOMAS ‘26
ent after the accident, and Leah in the past before the accident. The story flows through time trying to solve what is happening to Leah post-accident while also trying to figure out what actually happened to Leah during the accident. Both perspectives work well in tandem, piecing together what happened to Leah and the rest of her crew while being stuck underwater and what Miri is noticing about her wife and her peculiar new habits. The story also navigates how they can sustain their relationship after adjusting to Leah’s eerie
This novel is successful in creating a hauntingly realistic portrait of grief and
trauma set in a backdrop of surrealism. The horror elements shine through in both characters’ perspectives by emphasizing the scary nature of being stuck underwater with no escape, with suspicious and freaky things occurring around you, and also through showcasing the horror of witnessing the return of your partner, who is a completely changed version of themself. The character of Leah in her own perspective, and in Miri’s, are so different that it creates a deeper element of horror as a realization slowly occurs — they might be the same person.
The one main criticism of the novel that I have, however, is how clinical the
Where curry meets community
non-veg meals with my dad. At first, it felt like living in two separate food worlds. But over time, I realized it was more of a spectrum — one that reflected the way immigrant families adapt, blending old traditions with new realities.
BY
roti. On the other, there’s mine or my dad’s, where chicken curry or tandoori drumsticks often take center stage. We didn’t grow up vegetarian in India, but after moving to the U.S., my mom began leaning heavily toward vegetarianism. My dad and I didn’t follow entirely, but her shift reshaped how I think about food, culture, and identity.
In South Asian culture, vegetarianism isn’t just a diet — it’s a philosophy shaped by centuries of tradition. For many, it’s tied to Hinduism’s ahimsa (non-violence), Jainism’s reverence for life, or Buddhism’s compassion. While my family didn’t strictly follow these principles, my mom’s move toward vegetarianism in America felt like a way for her to reconnect with those roots — even if the rest of us still kept chicken on our plates.
Growing up here, I became fluent in a kind of food diplomacy: choosing vegetarian dishes when eating with my mom, but enjoying
At Stevens, I’ve noticed how many South Asian students navigate similar dynamics. Especially at Pierce or the UCC dining hall, you might see a friend load their plate with chickpea curry and rice, while another grabs the grilled chicken next to it — both equally part of our shared culture. And yet, finding truly vegetarian-friendly options can still be a challenge. You end up asking dining staff about hidden chicken stock or scanning ingredient lists like you’re decoding a secret message. These gaps in everyday dining are why cultural clubs matter so much — they step in where institutions fall short, creating spaces where food feels understood, not questioned.
During Diwali, Eid, or Holi, campus rooms transform into warm, spice-filled spaces. Samosas sizzle, chai steams in styrofoam cups, and the line between vegetarian and non-vegetarian blurs because the focus shifts to flavor, tradition, and community. These gatherings remind us that food is more than what’s on the plate — it’s about the stories and values it carries.
For me, being part of both worlds has made me appreciate how food choices — whether vegetarian, non-vegetarian, or somewhere in between — can
the ocean — still far away, but close enough to know I should start swimming. Instead, I’ve stayed put, letting it loom closer.
My opponent serves, and without warning, I start drowning before the wave even touches me. My legs lock up, my body feels like it weighs 400 pounds, and the heat that was manageable a second ago suddenly smothers me. I muster up a forehand that sinks straight into the net. Strange. “Get yourself together,” I mutter through clenched teeth.
prose can be. The novel is purposely written through a cold and impersonal lens to highlight both the distance between Miri and this new version of Leah who is seemingly stuck in a dark, oppressive ocean. Even though it does work within the context of the novel, there were certain moments in the novel where it seemed counterintuitive because the emotions seemed underwhelming instead of oppressive and daunting. However, if Armstrong had chosen to write the novel without this atmosphere clouding it, the story would not have been as successful or gripping.
I highly recommend this novel for anyone who wants
to branch out into the horror genre but is often too scared of it. Our Wives Under the Sea utilizes horror elements and themes for the story, but it is not too scary. The novel is also a short read, which is an advantage to the story. It would have been detrimental to the narrative if the plot were dragged out or extended. For those who enjoy listening to audiobooks as a preferred format of reading, I also recommend listening to Our Wives Under the Sea. While the narrators are speaking in British accents, which can be somewhat of a turn-off to some, the emotion conveyed through the dual narrators is masterful in immersing you into the story. Ultimately, this is a
novel I would recommend to someone who wants a quick and immersive horror story that will unsettle you while still keeping you engaged.
serve as powerful cultural anchors.
My mom’s vegetarian meals connect her to her up bringing in India, while my dad’s chicken curry reminds me that adaptation is also part of the immigrant story. And beyond my own table, this balance plays out across many immigrant house holds and even in broader dining trends — whether it’s Meatless Mondays, the rise of plant-based brands, or the way universities adapt their menus to international students’ needs.
With Beyond the Plate, I want to explore how these intersections play out in campus life — from the eth ics and history behind food traditions to the ways Ste vens students fuse flavors in dorm kitchens. My hope is to create a space where South Asian students feel seen, and where anyone, regard less of their background, can find connection in a shared meal or a shared story.
Whether your plate holds dal or drumsticks, paneer or pulled pork, food is always telling a story. On this campus, those stories deserve to be heard.
ON SHUFFLE Music is everywhere? Earth’s heartbeat and hearing the little things
tling eventually turns into acknowledging the pitch of the electricity behind your walls or the permanent lack of true silence at all. Our musical world intertwines with those concepts very deeply — something I am really passionate about. The world around us is full of sound to a point where silence itself is full of its own noise. I take walks outside and listen to the sound the air makes around me. Birds chirp and the ocean rolls onto the shore. Sound is an inescapable reminder of the constant movement on our planet. There is something comforting to me about acknowledging that waves are moving around at all times,
full of sound. People are so afraid of the things they cannot see, but open your ears and realize that there is so much going on beyond what our eyes can perceive. There are even sounds that we cannot hear, which makes me wonder how it feels to be a dolphin or dog when it comes to auditory perception. Just like colors, we as humans don’t get to experience all of it, which is why we should make the most of what we can. Sound is so interactive because the way we experience it changes based on the medium it’s in and where we are. For example, when you are swimming at the bottom of your pool, everything sounds like you are in another world. If you find yourself bored and curious about sound, I truly recommend playing with your speakers at home or in your dorm and finding the dead spots where the sound stops. This can give you an idea of how sound waves travel from your speakers.
Even beyond our favorite songs, sound is healing. In meditation, certain frequencies are used to influence our own brainwaves.
Frequencies like the “Solfeggio frequencies” are ancient frequencies used to promote healing in our minds. Specific hertz are associated with different areas of healing, spiritual awakening, or thought. Binaural beats essentially trick our brains into perceiving sound with more depth and generate
deep focus or relaxation. Our Earth has its own frequency, the Schumann resonance, which is about 7.83 Hz. It is grounding for us because it matches the low frequency of our planet’s electromagnetic field, known as Earth’s “Heartbeat”. It aligns with the alpha waves in our brains and intertwines us with our own planet.
Letting our ears be our eyes when we venture through our planet opens up a new plane of perception for our minds. I refuse to go through the world just looking at everything. Everything has a sound, and even when it doesn’t, there is always something to be heard. I truly find that there is something so beautiful about realizing that nothing ever stops moving, and we are constantly swimming in noises to be heard. Our world is beautiful to me because of the constant motion in everything. Take some time to start listening to the little things.
identity must be reimagined. And yet, this field of uncertainty is where I’ve found the most growth. Being able to let go of the familiar has given me the freedom to choose what truly feeds me from within. Each time I’ve gone through a period of rebuilding, I have moved closer to a life that feels right. While those paths can be just as demanding, the difference is clear. I can now walk them not with resignation, but with excitement and passion. I urge you to do the same. At Stevens, opportunities are endless, and even a few months of rebuilding can lead to something far greater — happiness that comes from finding what makes you look forward to every new day. THE BIG QUESTIONS OF
Her next serve, by some miracle of God, goes in again. I take a few steps, but it feels like my feet are anchored to the Earth. That’s when it hits me: right now, I am useless. Years of private
lessons, clinics, and tournaments, all for my brain to render me incapable of hitting the most basic shot. My body was finally giving out on the court the same way it had been giving out in the classroom. This isn’t about tennis anymore. It’s something every student-athlete dreads: burnout.
The truth is, I probably could have finished the match. Despite my physical exhaustion, I had always been the type of player to start off slow yet summon what I called the “final push” when it mattered. No matter the score, I almost always managed to turn it around. But over the years that final push became more of a final nudge, yet I still managed to get a hold of it. What hap -
pened on the court wasn’t just physical. It was psychological, perhaps even spiritual. Simply put: I didn’t want to do it.
Logically, I wanted to finish. I wanted to win, to make my coach and teammates proud, to get congratulated on my performance. But it felt like there was an internal resistance that had been building within me, suddenly immobilizing me. The willpower I had prided myself on since I was seven had turned against me, now playing for my opponent’s side.
Burnout, at least the way I’ve come to understand it, isn’t just about being tired. It’s the point where your efforts stop feeling connected to who you are. For me, ten-
nis has been a way to measure myself, to push, and feel accomplished. But as I explored new parts of my identity, such as creative and academic interests, the rigid schedule of a Division III athlete began to feel limiting instead of motivating. How I got here is, in many ways, a problem of my own making. But it’s not a unique one. I was scared. People— myself included— cling to stability. It’s hard to let go of the things that once defined us, even when they no longer fit. Leaving them behind feels like abandoning an entire reality made up of the past that shaped us and the future we thought we were headed toward. What comes after is not comfort, but a field of uncertainty where
DISHA RANA ‘29
BY VIKTOR PALMER ‘28
The Social Network: Innovation at the cost of loyalty
the modern empire of Face -
The opening scene between Zuckerberg and his girlfriend, Erica Albright, perfectly sets the tone for the whole movie. It’s a rapid-fire conversation where Mark talks in circles, desperate to prove his intellect, but comes off as insecure and bitter. Zuckerberg’s genius is undeniable, but so is his inability to connect with people. Thus is the irony of an anti-social individual to create a social network that brings the world closer to -
the myth behind the tech visionary Mark Zuckerberg and instead presents a story rooted in insecurity and detachment. Thus, The Social Network became a movie critiquing the weaving of innovation, capitalism, and loneliness in the making of
HER STEVENS
The movie is structured in cuts of the initial building of Facebook, Eduardo Saverin’s lawsuit over his diluted shares, and the Winklevoss twins’ lawsuit claiming that Zuckerberg stole the idea of Facebook. This fractured style of editing is brilliant, as it shows that Facebook’s origin has no single story but many clashing perspectives shaped by ego and betrayal. Eduardo
represents loyalty and partnership towards Mark but is slowly outmaneuvered until he is cut out of the company. The Winklevoss twins see themselves as entitled to victory as if it were their birthright, and they reflect old-money ambition that Zuckerberg envies and wants to overthrow. Then there’s Sean Parker, played by the charismatic Justin Timberlake, who embodies a persona of reckless ambition and seduction of power. He is the initial catalyst for creating a rift between Mark and Saverin, leading to the nasty end to their friendship. Mark is mesmerized by Parker for his magnetic energy and charisma, qualities that Mark lacks but craves.
One of the most affected characters in Facebook’s origin is Eduardo Saverin, played by Andrew Garfield. His portrayal of Saverin brings warmth and humanity to the film, contrary to the dominating cold am-
We’re busy, we’re loud, and we’re back!
BY JEYLAN JUBRAN
‘27
Let’s be real: Stevens women are busy. Between internships, classes, latenight sweet treat runs, and somehow still finding time to binge a whole Netflix season…we’re carrying a lot, and we’ve got a lot to say. We need a space to share our voices — unfiltered and unapologetic.
Her Campus is a national online magazine created by and for college women, with chapters across hundreds of schools. The mission is sim-
ple: to give women, and anyone who feels like their voice is often sidelined, a place to be heard. It’s not about lab reports or resumes; it’s about the conversations we’re already having in the dining hall, in dorm lounges, or in the middle of a late-night study break.
The Her Stevens column will be a reflection of that mission, capturing the messy, funny, powerful, and inspiring parts of our lives that don’t always get spotlighted — especially at a school where the student body is 30% women and 70%
men. It’s a reminder that our experiences matter, our perspectives matter, and that telling our stories on our own terms is empowering.
And here’s the thing: you don’t have to be a “writer” to be part of this. If you’ve ever wanted to tell a story, share an opinion, or just turn one of your late-night rants into something real, there’s a space for you here. So if you’ve ever wanted to speak up, reflect, or simply be heard, now’s the time. Our voices deserve to take up space —; on this campus, and beyond.
BY GAVIN RUBY ‘27
departure from Balenciaga to Gucci.
When one creative director leaves, another comes along to completely revise the brand. This
confuses consumers tremendously, as they must suddenly abandon their expectations and hope that a new piece they purchased for thousands of dollars retains its relevance. Considering the undeniable influence of social media on consumers, a precedent is set for a brand to maintain its image accordingly — this is simply impossible with the unpredictable nature of creative direction in contemporary fashion. Since 2015, and up until 2023, Gucci was at the peak of their success because of Alessandro Michele. He completely rebranded the company to be loud and out there, a stark contrast to previous creative directors such as Tom Ford who embraced the minimalism of the 90s and early 2000s. Michele’s vision doubled the company’s revenue from 2016 to 2019 from $4.5 billion to $10 billion. After the pandemic, the number stayed steady to $10.9, but after his sud-
bition of the other characters. He plays the role with innocence and empathy, unlike the other figures in the high-stakes world of startups. Saverin’s calm demeanor in early scenes, like when he offers Mark his first investment, is much different to his explosive outburst in the deposition room: “I was your only friend!” Garfield plays this moment with fury and heartbreak to portray both the grief of losing financially and losing a friendship.
Visually, Fincher masterfully mirrors the coldness and ambition through the camera. The scenes taking place on Harvard’s campus are shot in dark and muted tones to evoke elitism and bleakness of the higher class. The stark contrast between Mark’s dimly lit dorm rooms, where he codes Facebook, feel claustrophobic against the wild, chaotic energy of college parties that represent surface level connection with-
out true intimacy. Another technical achievement of portraying both Winklevoss twins played by Armie Hammer greatly accentuates the movie. Through seamless integration of CGI and clever composition, the illusion of two distinct characters is so natural that it becomes invisible — a remarkable achievement for 2010.
At the heart of the movie, The Social Network is about power and loneliness. Even though Zuckerberg built one of the biggest social platforms of the early 21st
century, he ends up in isolation. In the final scene, he is alone in an office, refreshing his Facebook page, waiting for Erica Albright to accept his friend request, with text saying “Mark Zuckerberg is the youngest billionaire in the world”.
The film leaves us asking what we are willing to sacrifice in the pursuit of innovation and success. Along the path to power, friendships, loyalty, and trust are all tested. The Social Network reminds us that the technology that connected billions was born out of alienation
den departure, it dropped. It was as if the old Gucci had died; the distinctly loud style enthusiasts associated with the brand was no longer distinguishable amidst the rise of quiet luxury. Under the short direction of Sabato De Sarno, the numbers unfortunately continued to decrease. I think that his designs were way too hated. He was a master at what he did and in comparison to his peers, it was nice to see a new and fresh name on the roster of creative directors. Just when De Sarno’s vision for the company began to take shape, he too departed after a brief two year stint. Subsequently, Gucci’s sales tumbled 25% in the third quarter of 2024, losing an approximate 1.64 billion euros. Part of this came from the announcement that Balenciaga’s troubled child Demna was the new creative director of the company. If you are not familiar, Demna is the antithesis of Michele:
brooding colors, oversized fits, and controversy. Many remember the designer’s questionable tenure at Balenciaga for the infamous BDSM bear incident with children, his outlandish pieces like the towel skirt, and his wide variety of sneakers. Nevertheless, he can create and sell these pieces to his supporters regardless of where his influence takes shape.
Personally, I am not a fan of Demna’s designs. At his peak around 2018 when streetwear and hypebeasts were the pinnacle of fashion, he was certainly refreshing. But after seven years of what felt like the same repetitive concepts, Gucci could have gone for anyone else. Does it make sense that he jumped from one Kering brand to another? Yes, however Balenciaga was his baby and meant to be quintessentially Demna — Gucci does not need that influence. If Sabato remained at Gucci, he could have had the time to
build trust with their slowly departing fanbase.
Demna’s creative direction is controversial and that’s how Balenciaga was able to thrive. Whether it be outrageously thick shoes or the expensive IKEA bag, he knew what was going to be a buzzworthy product. But after some serious controversies that included accusations of perceived child exploitation (which Demna has since made amends for) from a risky photo shoot involving children holding BDSM teddy bears, Dem-
na’s image and style don’t feel welcome at an already struggling Gucci. So in all, at a fashion empire such as Gucci, is it a good decision to have such a controversial figure representing the company when they are now at their worst financially in over ten years? Does Demna’s outlandish style align well with the interests of Gucci patrons? Will he be able to reinvigorate the company that feels so misaligned with what it once stood for? I think not.
Katelyn Lowenthal ‘28
ROVING REPORTER
By Isabelle Villanueva and Belal Eltemsah
“What
could PSL (pumpkin spice latte) stand for?”
Puzzle Page
in the past
Cut or trimmed something
Special IDs assigned to every
Hidden Links
Book of maps and charts
Gain new information
Looney _____
Moved quickly
Phone programs
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 GOES HERE
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?
Home Speed Re Over
instructions by Stephen Pachucki
*Puzzle instructions by Stephen Pachucki
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. Tech Companies
