[The Stute] November 8, 2024 (Issue 10, Volume CXXII)
Dr. Klein on required disclaimer and nondiscrimination statements
BY BEN KNOBLOCH, NEWS EDITOR
Early this semester, the Office of Undergraduate Student Life (OSL) made several changes to student organization policy. Two additions added requirements for disclaimers to be included on all student organization fliers and promotional material. To learn more about the reasons for these changes, The Stute spoke with Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. Sara Klein.
As announced on September 19 in an email to all undergraduate students, the university now requires that all organizations include the following disclaimer on all fliers, social media advertising, and websites, including DuckLink websites: “The views and opinions expressed on this channel are solely those of [insert student organization name] and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Stevens Institute of Technology.” In addition, affinity-based organizations, which are generally formed to celebrate identity or cultural groups on campus, must include a sep-
SEE ORG PAGE 2
We write Stevens history
U.S. Election: Trump triumphs again; Andy Kim wins NJ Senate seat; Local rent proposal rejected
BY BEN KNOBLOCH, NEWS EDITOR
Election results were rolling in on the morning of Wednesday, November 6 from across the country as American voters cast their ballots for a vast array of offices at all levels of government. In Hoboken, residents weighed in on everything from the presidential race to a local referendum on rent control. Capping a dramatic and tumultuous race, Donald
Clery Act notice reveals sexual assault outside Castle Point Hall
BY MADISON HELLER, STAFF WRITER
Campus was shaken a couple of weeks ago by an email that was sent out by Stevens Campus Police regarding a crime that had occurred on campus. On October 27, a female student was sexually assaulted by an unknown man while walking on campus at around 2:20 a.m. She was walking at 9th Street and Castle Point Terrace when he approached the student on an electric bike and groped her.
The man then followed the student up 9th street and down Wittpenn Walk, where he continued to pursue her until she entered her Harries Tower residence building. According to the police who reviewed the security footage, the man had been lurking and hiding on campus prior to his assault on the student. The same footage revealed an earlier encounter that night, which was suspicious but did not escalate to an assault. The three other female students had joined as a group and moved quickly to get away from the man.
This is not the first time incidents like this have happened in Hoboken. Over the summer, there was an incident in which a man, also on an electric bike, sexually
assaulted multiple women in different places around Hoboken. These incidents happened in late July and involved at least three different women being groped by this individual in the span of one hour, though in this instance, in broad daylight rather than at night. While it remains unclear whether the man responsible for these incidents was apprehended, it is known to be a different actor than the man responsible for the incident on campus on October 27.
The student body was alerted to the assault in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, commonly known as the Clery Act, as required by federal law. The act takes its name in memory of Jeanne Clery, a student at Lehigh University, who was raped and murdered in 1986. The law, enacted in 1990, mandates that any criminal activity on or near campus be reported directly to students. Its intention is to disclose information and warn the campus community when there is a risk to public safety, allowing students to respond accordingly to keep themselves and others safe.
SEE CLERY PAGE 3
Trump defeated Kamala Harris to be elected 47th President of the United States, sweeping the nation’s swing states and achieving an unexpectedly comfortable margin of victory. This makes Trump the first person since Grover Cleveland in 1892 to be elected to a nonconsecutive presidential term, and marks an unprecedented comeback for the businessman and celebrity-turned politician. Also on the ticket is JD Vance, who will become the 50th
Vice President of the United States and, at 40 years old, one of its youngest ever.
Although Vice President Harris had not conceded the race as of Wednesday morning, Trump was projected to win both the Electoral College and the national popular vote by the Associated Press and other major news organizations. Harris won the New Jersey vote by a margin of 51.2% to Trump’s 46.9%.
In New Jersey, Democratic nominee Andy Kim
SSB hosts CRAFT Advisory Board showing FinTech investment in education
BY EVAN PAPAGEORGE, HEAD COPY EDITOR
On October 22 and 23, the School of Business recently hosted the 7th Industry Advisory Board Meeting for the Center for Research Toward Advancing Financial Technologies (CRAFT). This unique platform unites leaders from academia and industry. This collaboration is instrumental in advancing financial technology innovation, as demonstrated by this two-day event. It underscored CRAFT’s commitment to merging academic rigor with real-world industry insights to tackle some
of the fintech sector’s most pressing challenges. The meeting’s attendees included notable figures from the University of Cambridge, BNY Mellon, and innovation powerhouse Plug and Play. The agenda offered a mix of keynote addresses, presentations, and interactive panel discussions highlighting the center’s latest research and the dynamic collaboration between academia and industry. Topics ranged from cutting-edge fintech applications to the vital interplay between financial technology and climate sustainability. An area
SEE CRAFT PAGE 3
easily defeated Republican Curtis Bashaw for the Senate seat held by scandal-ridden Bob Menendez. Kim, who will be the first Korean-American in the Senate, ran in the Democratic primary on a platform of restoring integrity to the office after Menendez, also a Democrat, was found guilty on all counts in a high-profile corruption trial.
A proposed amendment to Hoboken’s Rent Control
SEE U.S. PAGE 2
New
Jersey
BY ISABELLA ZIV, EDITOR IN CHIEF
The race for the Student Government Association (SGA) presidency has officially begun with nominations for the 2025-2026 SGA Presidential Election opening on Wednesday, November 6 and set to close on Tuesday, November 12. It’s important to note that nominations are not the same as votes; rather, they allow candidates to continue to the election period and secure a spot on the ballot.
Currently nominations are being collected in person on paper, where students are asked to provide their full name, CWID, Stevens email, and signature. Candidates are required to get signatures from at least 5% of the undergraduate student body. With an estimated student population of 4,200, this means each candidate needs roughly 210 signatures to officially run. In SGA presidential elections, candidates run as pairs, consisting of a presidential candidate and a Vice President of Operations (VPO) candidate. The winning pair will appoint a full cabinet which includes the SEE SGA PAGE 2
wildfires surge amid worsening drought conditions
BY JEREMIAH CHINWENDU, MANAGING EDITOR
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service estimates that an average of 1,500 wildfires occur in the state of NJ every year, destroying 7,000 acres of forest. These wildfires not only damage the ecosystem but also impact the lives of those who own homes in regions where these fires are the most prevalent. The trend continued this year during the month of October, in which several hundred wildfires were reported across the Garden State. The weather has been a major factor in the prevalence of
wildfires, as most of the state has reported no rain for several weeks. First responders and other personnel work to mitigate the fires and help those affected.
In recent weeks, the National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the weather conditions across the state. This warning is issued when “the combination of dry fuels and weather conditions support extreme fire danger.” This warning is meant to let land and fire managers know of an increased risk of a wildfire in a certain area.
The drought that has
SEE FIRE PAGE 3
Another water main break disrupts campus operations
BY MADISON HELLER, STAFF WRITER
On October 29 at 8:12 a.m., the Stevens community was notified by the Rave Alert mass notification system, and later by the Office of the Registrar, of a water main break in Hoboken that had caused service disruption on lower campus, affecting all buildings south of the Schaefer Center. As a result, all daytime classes that began at 10 a.m. or later were moved online for the day, and the restroom facil-
ities in all affected buildings and dorms were deemed non-functional until further notice. By 10:38 a.m. the water pressure was returned to normal. On-campus evening classes resumed at 6:30 p.m., and facilities were restored in all affected buildings.
Over the past few years, Stevens has frequently experienced issues with water main breaks on both the upper and lower sections of campus. In one February 2023 incident, Stevens urged all students who were
able to leave Hoboken to do so as soon as possible due to a prolonged water main break affecting campus.
Water mains are large underground pipes that supply water to a region and are typically buried under streets to protect them from damage. They are connected to smaller distribution lines and maintain pressure to provide a continuous supply of water. Water main breaks often occur in areas with older infrastructure and occur when water pressure in pipes becomes too strong
due to various reasons, causing a rupture or leakage that leads to water loss and low water pressure. Responsibility for maintaining the water mains lies with the city of Hoboken rather than with Stevens. Within Hoboken’s Drinking Water Infrastructure System alone, there are over 41 miles of water main pipes, many over 100 years old. In 2018, the city launched a Water Main Replacement Program as a proactive project to replace
SEE WATER PAGE 3
STUDENTS VOTING EARLY AT HOBOKEN CITY HALL, COURTESY OF @STEVENSSTUDENTS ON INSTAGRAM
OFFICE.................................UNIVERSITY CENTER ROOM 216B
Corrections
Disclaimer
NOTICE A MISTAKE?
Email us at eboard@thestute.com.
All opinions and editorials reflect the views of their respective author(s). No Part of The Stute may be reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the written consent of the Editor-in-Chief. Cited references of The Stute are permitted.
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All members of the Stevens community are able to submit a standalone opinion piece (otherwise known as an Op-Ed) to be published in The Stute. Op-Eds must be between 400 – 800 words, but longer submissions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. To submit an OpEd please email eboard@thestute.com with your name and title (when applicable) or using our Google form (tinyurl.com/submit-t0-stute). For writers who wish to write an Op-Ed anonymously, please see our policy on anonymity.
The Editorial Board reserves the right to choose whether or not to publish a submitted Op-Ed based on a majority rule vote, and additionally reserves the right to edit Op-Eds for clarity or request authors to revise. Provided that the author approves the final version, The Stute reserves the right to edit Op-Eds according to our copy editing procedures, defined in our policies.
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arate disclaimer noting that the organization and school do not discriminate by federally protected classes, like race and gender. These policies are outlined in the Student Organization Policy Manual for the 2024-2025 academic year available on DuckLink.
Dr. Klein explained that the latter disclaimer brings all student organizations into compliance with federal nondiscrimination law. “As a recipient of federal and state funding, the university must comply with various laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, and religion,” among other classes.
For organizations that don’t know how to include the new statements in their material, Dr. Klein says that OSL has also produced a Canva template to give student leaders examples and guidance. “Organizations can easily incorporate this into any flier or social media post, or alternatively add the statements as a legible footnote in
U.S.
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Ordinance was rejected by almost a 3:1 margin. The amendment, which had been supported by local landlord groups and added to the ballot after a successful petition earlier this year, was opposed by tenant groups, who celebrated the landslide results Wednesday
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Vice President of Finance (VPF), Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA), Vice President of Student Interests (VPSI), Secretary, and potentially other positions depending on the administration.
Since the form closed on Tuesday, November 5, four pairs have submitted their intent to run, and assuming they collect enough signatures, these four pairs will appear on the ballot. Alexander Stanczak and Shane Mitchel began their campaign on October 29 under the Instagram handle @votealexandshane. Kevin Pfundstein and Tanya Avadia launched their campaign on October 31 using @ kevinandtanya4sga. Angelo Naro and Mollie Good kicked off their campaign on October 29 with @ vote.angeloandmollie4sga. Finally, Arthur Serra and Sebastian Sztolberg started their campaign on
their marketing materials.”
Dr. Klein gave some more reasons for the policy change. “These are values which are deeply held by Stevens,” she noted. “This standardized statement provides consistent clarity across all student organization promotional materials.”
Some student leaders have expressed irritation at the need to include disclaimers on all their promotional material. “Why do I have to say my viewpoints are not that of Stevens when we’re not expressing any viewpoints?” said one president of a long-running student organization to The Stute. “We’re just trying to paint some pumpkins. What are they so scared that we’re going to say? Was there an incident that actually warranted this? If so, why don’t they tell us what that is?” The president concluded his assessment of the disclaimer policy with a vulgarity.
Dr. Klein disagrees. “As all student organizations are using social media accounts to share information and Stevens does not administer or monitor those accounts, it is reasonable to request that this disclaimer is included on any student organization social media
morning. The proposal would have loosened current restrictions to allow landlords to raise rent when a tenant moves out. According to Caren Lissner, a reporter for Patch, a similar effort on the part of landlords also failed more than a decade ago.
Hoboken United Tenants said the result was a victory of compassion, extolling that “Hoboken said we want to take care of our neighbors.” Conversely, the Mile Square
November 5 using the handle @ art.sebby.pfinance.
If even two of these candidates manage to collect enough signatures, this will mark the first contested SGA presidential election since 2019. In the past five years, the SGA election has been uncontested. In the last election in 2023, Nicholas Smith and Olof Persson ran unopposed. The same occurred in 2022 with Paulina Georgoutsos and Alexander Stanczak, in 2021 with Gabriella Poska and Paulina Georgoutsos, and in 2020 with Liana Meyer and Julieann Murphy. However, the 2019 election was contested, with a race between Samatha Molla and Adrian Castellanos, E.J. Hannah and Jason Buckman, and Brandon Seidman and Simon Pepa. After Molla and Castellanos won and later resigned, E.J. Hannah and Emily Ng took over.
The next steps in this election process includes a “Meet the Candidates” event on Monday, November 11 in TechFlex (time TBD). The
post.”
Despite some negative feedback to the disclaimer changes, Dr. Klein says that the Office of Undergraduate Student Life has been working hard behind the scenes to streamline the experience of serving as a student leader on campus and has been receiving positive reactions. “This year, we simplified student organization training by requiring only presidents and treasurers to attend the Duck Leadership series, removing the requirement for a third officer.” Additionally, the office implemented additional guidance into the student leader onboarding process established by the SGA to improve new leaders’ knowledge of policies and procedures.
While the new policy changes have received mixed reactions from the student community, Dr. Klein and the rest of OSL hope the policy changes increase the university’s compliance with federal law and improve the consistency of the school’s image. Meanwhile, other changes continue to be made to enhance and refine the experience of joining and leading organizations on campus.
Taxpayers’ Association, which had spearheaded the proposal, said that it had won in policy forums but couldn’t overcome the Mayor’s portrayal of the effort as “simply landlord friendly.”
In other local races, Tilo Rivas (D) defeated Julianna Lombard (R) for the office of Hudson County Surrogate, and the Hoboken Board of Education will include Malani Cadematori, Ailene McGuirk, Thomas Kluepfel.
candidates will also participate in a debate on Thursday, November 14, likely in TechFlex (time TBD), where they will have the opportunity to share their platforms and potentially answer student questions. Stay tuned for more details on the exact times of these events via DuckLink. If you’re wondering who will be moderating the debate, it will not be The Stute (although we will be covering it!). It’s expected that the current SGA president and VPO, Nicholas Smith and Olof Persson, will moderate the debate. The election timeline starts with the nomination period closing on November 12, followed by the election period from November 17 to 23, where the winning pair will be chosen by majority vote. The newly elected SGA president, VPO, and their cabinet will be inaugurated on January 17, 2025. Make sure you’re ready to vote for the next SGA leadership, and don’t miss the chance to hear directly from the candidates during the upcoming events.
ALEX STANCZAK AND SHANE MITCHELL KEVIN PFUNDSTEIN AND TANYA AVADIA
ANGELO NARO AND MOLLIE GOOD ARTHUR SERRA AND SEBASTIAN SZTOLBERG
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The Clery Act is one of a few different laws meant to protect students from crime. It is similar to Megan’s Law, which requires all sex offenders to be placed on a public sex offender registry. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is a related law that expanded protections for survivors of sexual assault and made it so universities must report on their statistics of sexual violence and provide prevention programming. These laws aim to expand the information available to students about potential safety risks so they can be informed and make the best possible decisions for their safety.
The advice that was given to students at the end of the “Timely
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thousands of feet of water main and has installed over 13,000 linear feet of pipes so far.
First-year students in lower campus residences River Terrace and Davis found last week’s situation particularly challenging, as the break affected their facilities for around half the day, leaving them unable to use the bathrooms or showers. Students in other on-campus dorms and dining facilities were unaffected by the water shortage, but still spent the day attending virtual classes. Mean-
Warning Notice” email is considered good common sense when dealing with potential threats coming onto campus. Stay alert and aware of your surroundings, particularly at night, and when possible travel in groups. Campus Police also advised people to stay in brightly lit areas away from bike lanes. In the case of an attack, try to fight back against the assailant and scream loudly to attract the attention of any bystanders. The
Campus Police are available to help students and have increased their patrol count in a renewed effort to keep the campus safe. All students are encouraged to download and use the Stevens Guardian app for immediate assistance and more safety resources. You can use the app if you ever feel unsafe in your surroundings while on or around campus or you can contact Stevens Campus Police at 201215-5105. CLERY
while, off-campus students continued with virtual classes from home, largely removed from the minor chaos on campus.
Water main breaks are often unpredictable and beyond the control of Stevens, necessitating close collaboration with the city and its efforts to restore the pipes. In response, the university keeps the community informed by sending updates via email, including announcements about virtual classes to minimize disruptions during repairs. To further support students, Stevens will provide resources like water bottles and portable restroom facilities in public areas when needed to help with hygiene needs. While these efforts can-
not fully eliminate the challenges posed by water main breaks, Stevens works diligently to ensure the continuity of academic life and the wellbeing of its students.
BULK ORDERS
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CRAFT is exceptionally dedicated to exploring. One event highlight was the “CRAFT PI Experience,” where principal investigators showcased research projects bridging theoretical innovation with practical applications. These projects, which are already bringing forward real-world solutions to pressing issues in the financial services industry, underscored how CRAFT’s efforts are making a tangible impact. This collaborative environment fosters an exchange of ideas and best practices that provide actionable insights for industry professionals and valuable learning opportunities for students and researchers.
Beyond these open sessions, CRAFT’s board meeting included private, closed-door discussions. These intimate settings allowed members to delve into strategic priorities and discuss sensitive research developments, underscoring CRAFT’s depth of planning and research. This format ensures transparency around the center’s initiatives while creating a confidential space for industry advisors to guide the center’s future directions.
As the only National Science Foundation Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) dedicated exclusively to fintech, CRAFT operates at the forefront of financial technology. Two esteemed research universities founded it, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Stevens, both recognized for their robust science and engineering programs. CRAFT’s mission is to drive transformative change across financial markets through research in market stabil-
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been affecting NJ for the past month has turned worse. At the beginning of October, “more than 87% of New Jersey was classified as ‘abnormally dry,’ with 26% of those areas having moderate drought conditions and 4% having severe drought conditions,” reports Len Melisurgo of True New Jersey. By the 15th, the entire state was classified as abnormally dry, with 59% having moderate drought conditions and 12% having severe drought conditions, according to the US Drought Monitor map. The areas that have been most affected by the drought are Atlantic, Burlington, and Ocean counties, with portions of Camden and Gloucester counties also being affected.
The drought has caused trees to be brittle and susceptible to insect invasions and fires. The drought has diminished both the size and yield of crops. Water quality across the state has gotten worse as groundwater diminishes and irrigation ponds dry. State fire officials have issued a Level Three fire restriction, prohibiting all forms of outdoor fires except those done in an elevated stove, with the only allowed fuel being propane, natural gas, or electricity.
By September 15, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service had responded to 334 wildfires burning 650 acres of land. By mid-October, 242 of those fires were still burning. Winds blowing between 5 and 10 miles per hour have also been responsible for the spread of these
ity, risk management, and sustain
able finance while addressing the ethical and societal implications of advanced technology in finance.
Industry representatives brought a wealth of experience to the meeting through presentations and case studies, offering real-world examples of how CRAFT research translates into tangible impact. These insights underscored the importance of integrating academic knowledge with industry expertise, a unique feature of the CRAFT model. For example, one presentation discussed the integration of quantum computing into financial systems, showcasing the potential for these new technologies to enhance decision-making and improve computational speed and security.
Another presentation tackled the challenges of making AI-driven financial decisions more transparent and equitable. Assistant Professor Jia Xu from Stevens led a project to identify biases in automated loan approvals, striving to make these systems fairer and less prone to discrimination. This project exemplifies CRAFT’s broader commitment to addressing the social dimensions of fintech, an aspect often overlooked in technology development.
CRAFT’s dual focus on technological innovation and social responsibility makes it a vital player in the evolution of fintech. By fostering collaboration between students, professors, and industry experts, CRAFT is helping build a future where financial technology serves the financial sector and broader society. With initiatives like the Industry Advisory Board Meeting, CRAFT remains at the forefront of research and development in fintech, poised to shape the future of finance through ethical and impactful innovation.
conditions of the land. Firefighter crews across the state have been working together to extinguish or control the fires that have arisen, attempting to keep them from progressing far into residential areas.
During the Weekend of October 25, at least three other wildfires were reported in Essex County, with one of the fires burning an acre of the 53-acre forest preserve of Drew University. In addition to that, residents of Glassborro’s Elsmere Park in Gloucester County, one mile away from Rowan University, were warned about a fire burning roughly 16 acres of the surrounding woods. By that Monday, the fire had been 80% contained. In south NJ, a wildfire was reported in Seaville, which is located in the Upper Township of Cape May County. Officials report that this fire reached three acres before being completely contained.
As of October 21, New Jersey has reported roughly 900 wildfires for the year, with four of them being severe fires, burning roughly 100 acres each. This fall season has brought about unusual weather conditions, as the climate has been exceptionally hot and dry in the past months. For five months, rainfall has been the lowest it has ever been, and the drought has had large-scale effects on agriculture and quality of life for people across the state. Wildfire season usually occurs between mid-October and mid-November, but this year saw it starting earlier due to a large number of factors. State officials are working to extinguish the fires still burning and prevent new ones from starting. All people must obey the warnings issued and do their part in preventing fires.
VARIOUS SHOTS OF THE SUSPECT ON HIS MOTORBIKE, COURTESY OF TIM GRIFFIN, CHIEF OF STEVENS CAMPUS POLICE
RESPONDERS ON CLINTON ST, PHOTO COURTESY OF @THATPOTATOGUY612 ON INSTAGRAM
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Charity Quest: a videogame for volunteering
BYJOSEPHINE CHOONG, STAFF WRITER
Looking for something to do this weekend? Looking to help within the Hoboken community? Charity Quest can help! It’s an app and website that provides volunteer opportunities for local communities within New Jersey and New York.
To kickstart your volunteering journey, the app features Quests, which include volunteer events, donation requests, applications, blood drives, and fundraisers. Quests are available from organizations such as Hoboken Family Alliance, Monroe Gardens, and Computers 4 People. To become more involved, users can also create Guilds or groups of volunteers who attend events together and track the Guild’s charitable stats. Furthermore, various volunteer contests, from Ghost Town Guardians to Clash of Clubs, have been held. These were created to decrease volunteer shortages, especially during the summer. In fact, during Clash of Clubs, the
Sigma Nu fraternity won first place with a total of 27 volunteer hours.
Charity Quest’s CEO, Frank DiCola, was a Stevens alumnus who created the app because he recognized a need for a convenient directory of local charities within Hoboken and how local charities needed a constant stream of new volunteers. The project began during the pandemic in June 2020, with the Hoboken Community Center Pantry as the first organization. The Hoboken Shelter joined later in the fall. Currently, it has increased to 50 different local charities and 12,000 volunteers. Since its inception, there have been many updates, including an important back-end update for charities. The update allowed them to post their quests and manage volunteers. It represented a shift towards expansion and for Charity Quest to operate as more than a listing service.
Many Stevens students have helped Charity Quest, including two Senior Design teams. The first is a Computer Science team that is
working on tools to help charities raise funds within the platform. Another team from the School of Business is researching ways for schools and businesses to get more out of the network.
The app is planned to be expanded to other parts of New Jersey including Passaic County, Bergen County, and Union County. In 2025, a Kickstarter campaign will be launched to fund more game features,such as allowing volunteers to compete to see which is the best town. Anyone interested in joining the launch team can email frank@charityquest.io.
DiCola encourages everyone to download Charity Quest and browse the community map. He notes how many are shocked by the number of local charities in Hoboken alone and how charities love involvement from Stevens. Volunteers can keep up with Charity Quest’s newsletter and Instagram. DiCola also expresses strong gratitude to the students and alumni of the Stevens community who have contributed to the success of the app.
Stevens Serves brings students and the community together
BY EVAN PAPAGEORGE, HEAD COPY EDITOR
Stevens Serves is an on-campus organization and initiative that aims to increase community service and civic engagement for Stevens students. Led by the Office of Undergraduate Student Life (OSL), Stevens Serves hosts events that allow students to learn more about their community, grow as individuals, and give back to those in need.
As part of OSL’s larger mission, Stevens Serves is a collaborative effort between OSL administrators and students in registered student organizations (RSOs).
The program falls under the purview of Assistant Dean and Director of Student Life Leo Pedraza and Coordinator of Leadership and Service Tara Roach. Rather than being an organization within itself, Stevens Serves acts more as a coordinator between different departments, RSOs, and off-campus partners to host events for students to attend.
Throughout the semester, Stevens Serves hosts various unique and repeating events that students can attend to volunteer at. One of the regular events is a volunteering opportunity at the Hoboken Shelter on Bloomfield Street. There, volunteers can serve meals, cook in the kitchen, help with clean-up, and help with administrative tasks that help keep the shelter running. Students can volunteer for shifts: 9-11 a.m., 11-3 p.m., or 5-8 p.m. To help, volunteers can sign up
using the Charity Quest app or website.
Another regular event Stevens Serves hosts is a volunteer opportunity with St. Matthew Trinity Lutheran Church on Hudson Street called Lunchtime Ministry. There, students can volunteer in the kitchen with various tasks, such as preparing food, cooking, serving meals, organizing food donations, washing dishes, and cleaning up after the event ends. The church accepts walk-ins for up to three individuals, but more than should reach out to OSL to coordinate more prominent groups.
Beyond the regular events, Stevens Serves also coordinates unique events throughout the semester. These include a letter-writing campaign for Veterans’ Day from 2 to 4 p.m. on November 11, a community dinner at St. Matthews from 5 to 8 p.m. on November 14, and a hunger and homelessness awareness resource fair from 1 to 3 p.m. on November 20.
Stevens Serves is an opportunity for students to give back to the local Hoboken community. The programs and events hosted by OSL through Stevens Serves and the collaborations they host allow students to, as OSL says, “to foster, support, and sustain better relationships among community members encouraging and supporting students to become active, responsible, and just members of the community and neighborhoods in which they live.”
Hoboken Family Alliance (Visit hobokenfamily.com for more information)
Hoboken Historical Museum and Cultural Center (Call 201-656-2240 for more information)
Hoboken University Medical Center (Call 201-418-1000 for more information)
The Hoboken Shelter (Visit hobokenshelter.org for more information)
Hoboken Division of Cultural Affairs (Email hoboculturalaffairs@gmail.com for more information)
The Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps (Email info@hobokenems.com for more information)
Hoboken Cove Community Boathouse (Visit info@hobokencoveboathouse.org for more information)
PHOTO COURTESY OF YOUTUBE
PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVENS.EDU
Charities in the Hoboken district on Charity Quest
UPCOMING GIVING AND SERVICE EVENTS
Kindness Rocks by Alpha Phi Omega
Come paint some rocks with APO and help spread love to the community!
Monday, November 11 McLean 105
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Day of Gratitude by SGA
Come write cards of appreciation for anyone in your life!
Wednesday, November 13 UCC 1st floor 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Help Out With Hygiene by RA Izzy, RA Gianna, and Stevens Serves
Make Hygiene kits for the Hoboken shelter in honor of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week!
Wednesday, November 13 Peirce 116
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
American Red Cross Blood Drive by Alpha Sigma Phi
Alpha Sigma Phi will be partnered with the American Red Cross for this November’s on-campus blood drive!
Friday, November 15 Walker Gymnasium 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Trees
BY ERIN MCGEE, SCIENCE WRITER
This past month, scientists and delegates from some 180 different countries met in Cali, Colombia to discuss global biodiversity concerns. Known as the 16th Conference of Parties (COP16, for short), the conference collected researchers, diplomats, and innovators to tackle some of the most pressing current challenges faced by our planet.
The most reported result from this conference was based around trees: in an update by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature researchers found that 38% of the world’s trees are at risk of extinction. The conference focused on this evidence, as it is directly connected of all other types of biodiversity: “Trees
directly underpin the survival of so many species…thriving, naturally diverse forests are essential in mitigating both climate change and biodiversity loss, and as such solutions for one crisis often have mutually reinforcing benefits for the other.”, said Dr. David Hole, one of scientists at the conference.
Reports also circulated around the conference that the iconic Western European Hedgehog is not denoted as “Near Threatened” despite recent conservation efforts and advocacy. Researchers point towards the reduction of agricultural land in Europe.
Much of this evidence suggests what some scientists have been arguing for a while: that Earth is on its way towards the sixth mass extinction in history. The high level of threatened species points to the fact that a high percentage
of Earth’s biodiversity is being lost, as currently, the species extinction rate is estimated between 1,000 and 10,000 times higher than natural extinction rates. Researchers point towards a high level of agricultural development, as 90% of all deforestation comes from clearing land for farming and 70% of the planet’s freshwater use.
There are, however, several promising policy solutions that came from COP16, the most novel of which was a new way to pay for conservation. Currently, conservation is largely supported by governments and nonprofits, as many corporations might not see maintaining biodiversity as economically viable. This proposal suggests differently: it calls for companies that make money from genetic information being stored
E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s quarter pounders
BY JEREMIAH CHINWENDU, MANAGING EDITOR
On October 22, the major fast food chain McDonald’s experienced an outbreak of Escherichia coli (E. coli) poisoning in its Quarter Pounders. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported “between 16 and 29 cases in Colorado and Montana and between six and 15 cases in Utah, Nebraska and Missouri,” according to Accuweather. Other states, including Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, New Mexico, Wyoming, Oregon, and Washington, had between one and five cases. The CDC attributed the outbreak of E. coli to the slivered onions in the Quarter Pounders, which came from a Taylor Farms facility in Colorado and have since been recalled. The McDonald’s team is working to mitigate the spread and restore the trust of their customers, as there have been over 90 cases reported so far.
E. coli is a gram-negative bacteria, meaning the cells have a thick peptidoglycan cell wall that is not found in gram-positive bacteria. This cell wall provides protection against antibiotics and other bacterial medications, making infections of this bacteria very difficult to treat. E. coli bacteria have many strains, and the one that arose in this outbreak was Shiga toxin-containing E. coli (STEC). While other strains of E. coli only cause diarrhea and fever, the Shiga toxin in STEC can cause damage to the lin-
ing of the stomach and intestines, as well as other tissues in the body. Symptoms of infection include diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, fatigue, chills, and severe dehydration. When one contracts this infection, it takes roughly four to five days for these symptoms to occur, and a diagnosis is made by examining the stool of the patient.
Doctors don’t usually treat STEC with antibiotics or antidiarrheal medicines because doing so can increase the risk of contracting hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a rare disease that affects the kidneys and blood clotting factors. Instead, those who have STEC are usually given fluids to prevent dehydration and told to rest until the infection subsides.
E. coli can spread through food contamination as well as from person to person. Taylor Farms, the California-based distribution center for the onions that McDonald’s uses in its Quarter Pounders and other sandwiches, has voluntarily recalled its whole and diced onions from McDonald’s and other fast food restaurants they supply. The CDC declared this helped mitigate the public risk by lowering the likelihood of contaminated onions still being available for sale. In addition, McDonald’s had stopped selling Quarter Pounders in one-fifth of its locations across the country, especially in the areas where cases were the most prevalent. To date, there has been one death and 27 hospitalizations related to this outbreak, and McDonald’s has done work to
restore its reputation among the public by taking swift actions to address the issue and emphasizing their commitment to food safety.
E. coli outbreaks in the food industry have been linked to a number of food products. Wendy’s and Taco Bell had outbreaks from their lettuce in 2022 and 2006, respectively. Meat is another source of contamination, as in 2019, ground bison supplied by Northfork Bison Distribution Inc. of St. Leonard, Quebec, Canada, was linked to an E. coli outbreak. In the same year, an outbreak was linked to Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp Chopped salad kits. Restaurants have a variety of measures they follow to kill E. coli bacteria in their products before serving them. For instance, restaurants will have a set standard temperature to which meat must be cooked, as heat is the most effective way to kill E. coli bacteria. Sanitation in the cooking and preparation process is also vital to preventing the spread of E. coli. Cross-contamination of food and improper handling of food can spread other diseases in food products and damage the reputation of restaurants.
The commonality of E. coli and other bacterial outbreaks in restaurants has caused the CDC and FDA to maintain more strict guidelines for the preparation of food products. Restaurants have also become more wary when selecting a provider of ingredients, as they form a much closer relationship with their food vendors to ensure the best quality of food.
in databases to pay for a fund that supports biodiversity conservation. The justification rests in the fact that genetic research companies store digital sequence information, which can be kept in large databases and used for biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics research. These companies benefit from the natural biodiversity of the Earth, and therefore have a responsibility to project it. While the fund is voluntary, stating that companies “should” contribute, it does offer a new push towards the privatization of biodiversity efforts, and a major step for this plan that has been in discussion since 2022.
A main argument for this effort is that it may alleviate some of the pressure for struggling economies to fund conservation efforts at the expense of industry ex-
pansion. “If we’re now expecting countries whose economies have been wrecked by climate change to take loans for their biodiversity finance, it’s almost like running into someone’s car, wrecking their car and offering them a loan to go fix their car,” said Jiwoh Abdulai, Sierra Leone’s environment minister. While the United States is not an involved party in the treaty, it does support the treaty and supports voluntary contributions to the fund. The conference also gave more power to Indigenous people who will now have a body that will give them more of a say over negotiations. The goal is to increase the space for traditional knowledge to take a place in conservation efforts, and to ensure that locational important to tradition are preserved as well.
RIYANA
SCIENCE EDITOR
In 2023, more than 80,000 people in the United States died of opioid overdoses. An overdose occurs when a person takes too much of an opioid (morphine, heroin, fentanyl, etc.) or a combination of drugs that is at a level that is toxic to the body. It can be difficult for bystanders to determine whether the person using opioids is just high or actually experiencing a life-threatening overdose. Fortunately, naloxone, an opioid antagonist medication that rapidly reverses opioid overdoses, has saved thousands of lives since it was first approved as an over-thecounter (OTC) nasal spray by the FDA in March 2023. There is just one problem: the success of the drug is dependent on someone being nearby who can administer the drug quickly. Oftentimes, people overdose when alone.
“This fentanyl problem is getting worse,” says Robert Gereau, a neuroscientist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. “There’s a huge need for as many efforts at harm reduction as possible.”
On October 23, researchers reported a new implant could someday be the solution in Science Advances. Naloximeter, a device that can be inserted under the skin and run by a batter, can detect an overdose’s onset and release naloxone directly into the bloodstream, even when a person is alone. Simultaneously, it can alert first responders. So far, Naloximeter has only been tested on animals, but researchers hope that the device could eventually help high-risk individuals. For example, those who have just begun their sobriety journey are 10 to 16 times more likely to die from an overdose in the first several months since their bodies’ tolerance to opioids has only just decreased.
The Naloximeter’s sensor works by measuring the amount of oxygen loss in the blood, and how quickly the oxygen level is dropping. For
the human version of the implants, once an overdose is detected, the device will send a warning alert to the individual’s cell phone so the person can identify if it is a false alarm. If not, the naloxone would be released into the bloodstream.
Gereau and his colleagues tested two different administration methods in rats and pigs. They implanted the device into the neck, chest, or back of various animals to determine the best placement for the implant. It was found that the device detected overdose within a minute of dropping oxygen levels, and all animals fully recovered within five minutes of receiving naloxone from the device. In the pig trial, it was determined that the most effective method for administering naloxone was an intravenous catheter integrated into the implant, something similar to a port used for cancer treatment. Within 60 seconds, the device would deliver 0.7 milliliters of naloxone, enough to start having an effect on the brain.
Though the Naloximeter still has a long way to go before it can be used on humans, the prospect of this type of life-saving device is promising. The Naloximeter is the first device to provide such immediate treatment during the timeframe when overdoses are still reversible.
“That’s where this really excels in comparison to other interventions,” says Monty Ghosh, an addiction researcher at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada.
“The Naloximeter is a proofof-concept platform that isn’t limited to the opioid crisis,” said Joanna Ciatti, a graduate student in Rogers’ lab. “This technology has far-reaching implications for those threatened by other emergent medical conditions such as anaphylaxis or epilepsy. Our study lays important groundwork for future clinical translation. We hope others in the field can build off of these findings to help make autonomous rescue devices a reality.”
BY
PHADKE,
GRAPIC COURTESY OF MEDICINE.WASHU.EDU, (CREATED BY ERIC YOUNG)
Sports
Impressive performances across Stevens Athletics throughout this week
• Women’s and Men’s Swimming each placed second at NYU Fall Invitational, with the women’s team scoring 64 points and the men’s team scoring 61 points.
• Men’s Wrestling opens the season with the Ned McGinley Invitational, placing fifth with 99.5 points.
• Women’s Volleyball adds three wins to their overall record, bringing it to 23-6 after wins against Stockton Uni versity, with a score of 3-1, Skidmore College, with a score of 3-0, and Dela ware Valley University, with a score of 3-0.
• Women’s and Men’s Cross Country each place fifth at MAC Championships
• Men’s Soccer heads to their MAC Freedom Championship game against DeSales University after a 3-1 victory over Lebanon Valley College in the semifinals, following a 2-0 conference win against Misericordia University.
• Field Hockey continues to their MAC Freedom Championship game against Arcadia University following a 5-3 win against DeSales University in the MAC Semifinal game on top of two conference wins against Misericordia University, with a score of 3-2 after two overtime periods, and King’s College (Pa.), with an 8-0 sweep.
• Women’s and Men’s Fencing each competed in the Drew Invitational, where they each competed against Lafayette College, Haverford College, Drew University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Wheaton College (Mass.), and Wagner College, with each team finishing with five wins and one loss.
STEVENS SCOREBOARD
Delaware Valley University Doylestown, PA 7 p.m. FRI, NOV 8 Racich Rumble Collegeville, PA 9 a.m.
SAT, NOV 9
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL Drew University New Paltz,
WOMEN’S AND MEN’S SOCCER Misericordia University Dallas, PA 4 p.m. DeSales University Hoboken, NJ 7 p.m. SUN, NOV 10
WOMEN’S AND MEN’S FENCING
Vassar Invitational Poughkeepsie, NY 10 a.m.
SAT, NOV 9
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Kean University Hoboken, NJ 7 p.m.
WED, NOV 13
MEN’S BASKETBALL St. Joseph’s–Long Island Patchogue, NY 5:30 p.m.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL Lebanon Valley College Hoboken, NJ 7 p.m.
WED, NOV 13
WRESTLING Loras College La Crosse, WI 7 p.m.
PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVENSDUCKS.COM (SHOT BY CARLISLE STOCKTON)
PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVENSDUCKS.COM
PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVENSDUCKS.COM (SHOT BY DAVE JANOSZ)
PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVENSDUCKS.COM
PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVENSDUCKS.COM (SHOT BY CARLISLE STOCKTON)
MIND OF A FRESHMAN
Commuting-ty
BY EILIYAH SAROWAR ‘28
We’re halfway through the semester, and I somehow haven’t made an article about commuting yet. To start off, it’s definitely not as bad as I thought.
I take the train to the Hoboken Terminal, and my journey usually lasts only 40 minutes. I do have a driver’s license and could drive, but I honestly really like the train. I don’t have to deal with morning traffic, and I have over an hour to myself. I’m not always the most productive person, but I definitely try to be. Being on a train limits me in a good way and forces me to pay attention. Studying in the Stevens library somehow always ends up in me searching for “tiramisu near me.” I once paid three times as much as I had intended for one. On the bright side, it came with a glass bowl.
I can’t get up and impulsively buy sweet treats while I’m forced to stay in my seat during my commute. Sometimes, I do order ahead with the Dunkin app, but that’s only when I’m really desperate. I mainly sit back, do my CS homework or HASS readings, and enjoy the ride.
If you’re a commuter, you should probably invest in Spotify Premium. I haven’t made the leap yet, and I regret it two times a day. The ads drive me insane. I could just close and reopen the app to skip them, but then I lose my spot in the playlist I’m listening to. And when I hit shuffle again, the same song plays.
Chromakopia came out a week ago, and like any other sane person, on Monday morning at 6 a.m., I tried listening to it. I hit shuffle and started listening to
“Noid.” Then, an ad came. Then I reopened the app, and “Noid” started playing again. And then an ad came. It’s not that “Noid” is a bad song; I just wanted to listen to the whole album, in order, preferably. Also, I’m not sure if it’s just me, but for some reason, “Taste” by Sabrina Carpenter plays after every single song I play. I have no idea why.
Another weird part of commuting is picking a seat. When I leave campus really early or really late, I always get a good seat and enjoy my ride stress free. But when I leave during rush hour, I never find a seat. The train has either three seaters or two seaters. Three seats are taken up by two people (leaving an empty seat be hind them) and two seats are taken up by one person. I used to always claim two seats, but for some rea son, whenever I pick one now, someone always sits next to me. It’s not the end of the world, but it is a little confusing (and cramped). Once, I put my backpack up on the seat next to me, and some guy just sat on top of my backpack. If he asked or just looked at me, I would’ve moved my backpack. He did not need to sit on top of it. Ever since that incident, I’ve been claiming the three seaters.
BY AVA WANG ‘25
Hi everyone, welcome to this special print-exclusive edition of senioritis brought to you by fellow senior Isy Ziv. Ava did not write this week, and that’s okay. This is totally not an attempt to take up space in layout. Here are some pictures of
The final annoying part of commuting is the train times. Practically every club I want to join starts their meetings at 9:15 p.m. That would mean taking the 11 p.m. train! Walking to the terminal every day from Stevens is annoying enough; I do not want to be doing that moments before midnight. Not to mention, I usually get to Stevens at 8 a.m. I’m already not too thrilled to be fifteen miles from home for fifteen hours.
As annoying as everything is, I still have my commuting-ty (commuting community). Each time I see someone my age with a backpack walking onto the train to Hoboken, we share an understanding smile and nod as we start our journey to Stevens.
Unseen perspectives: exploring framing and composition
BY ITAI GELLER ‘26
A few years ago, my family and I visited Japan, spending part of our trip in Tokyo, home to Shibuya Crossing — one of the biggest intersections in the world. While there were many highlights from our time in Japan, Tokyo stood out as especially striking due to its contrasting landscapes. The city is a unique blend of urban infrastructure and bustling streets mixed in with serene natural spaces. This careful preservation made it an incredibly memorable experience, and I sometimes imagine myself rejoining that vast, organized crowd of tourists, salary workers, students, and locals as we crossed that iconic intersection. Looking back on that experience left me wondering what it would look like from different perspectives: from above, from a distance, through a narrow frame, or with a panoramic lens. How
much of the world would I be able to see? How would I perceive the people around me, and how might my conceptions of such an influential location change? Artists have been experimenting with this idea for centuries. Take Cathedral paintings, for example, where the necessity to look upward to gaze upon its characters and architecture emphasizes symbolism, proportion, and composition. In this article, I will reference two artists who use framing and perspective to their advantage to better illustrate the message and depth of their paintings.
Neo-Romanticism is a genre that succeeded the Romanticism movement, primarily gaining popularity in Great Britain during the early twentieth century, influenced by the emotional distress associated with the impending Second World War. More broadly, it is an independent impression of contemporary life and associated melancholy. Despite being a relative of Romanticism, the style is far more exaggerated and relies heavily on markedly darker visual tones. I really appreciate this style because it relies on red hues to create significant contrast between the subjects and their surroundings in paintings. Stanley Spen
cer, a champion of Neo-Romanticism, is a fantastic reference for the importance of framing and its influence on a painting and its message. Take, for example, Spencer’s work “Scrubbing the Floor,” which depicts a man mopping the floor while passersby attempt to unsuccessfully navigate around him, dropping the pallets they are holding when they slip. Like many of Spencer’s paintings, the scene is mundane but, I believe, quite emotional. The painting maintains a wider perspective, allowing the viewer to see the two hallways the characters are traversing. The dimly lit side has the unsuspecting pallet-holders, while the brightly lit side has the floor mopper. This painting seems to be an ode to ignorance, emphasizing the blunder of the mopper in making the floors slippery and the sealed misfortune of the pallet carriers. This painting appears to reflect the uncertainties of everyday life, suggesting that new phases in our existence can be shaped by forces beyond our control or prediction.
Now contrasting this with a more tightly framed piece, the difference is quite noticeable. Wassily Kandinsky, a renowned Russian abstract expressionist painter, produced a variety of influ
ential abstract paintings that focused primarily on color theory and disassociation from nature (a fantastic contrast to Spencer’s settings and tones). I particularly enjoy Kandinsky’s woodcut print, “The Singer,” which is an expressionist portrayal of a singer and a pianist ensemble performing together. The piece is relatively matte for Kandinsky’s vibrant collection, but the composition is unique because the contrast creates a sinking effect in the canvas. The pink dress of the singer and black of the shadow in the room create a sense of dimension, even though it isn’t really there. In the case of Kandinsky’s piece, the frame is condensed so the background is hardly present in the piece. Our focus is drawn to the singer in the foreground, allowing us to draw conclusions about the importance of the singer and her accompanist, as well as the nature of the venue in which they are performing. This interpretation is spurred by the lack of visual queues obstructed by the narrow framing of the painting, reinforcing the concept that artists will frame a painting depending on what message they are attempting to convey and what freedoms they offer the viewers in interpreting it.
BOOK
OF THE WEEK
The journey of grief in Crying in H Mart
rean heritage. Zauner examines themes of identity through food, specifically Korean food, and how relearning new parts of her culture connects her to her late mother.
Michelle Zauner, is a memoir detailing her life before and after her mother’s passing. The memoir delves into topics like culture, identity, grief, and complex family relationships. The title of the memoir Crying in H Mart connects to Zauner’s own heritage: she is halfwhite and half-Korean on her mother’s side. Throughout the memoir, Zauner explores life after the loss of her mother after her difficult battle with cancer and her loss of identity as well. She relates the death of her mother to potentially losing her connection to her Ko -
The memoir, while mostly focusing on Zauner’s relationship with her mother, also focuses on her personal life, especially her exploration and love of music. Michelle Zauner, the author of the memoir, is the lead vocalist of the band Japanese Breakfast. While the main theme of the novel is grief, Zauner makes sure to delve into her experience in the music industry, both in how she started and how she ended up with her career. This is not the primary focus of the memoir, but it adds an extra element of interest to her life.
This is a very emotional read, especially if you have gone through a similar experience in any capacity. Zauner does a great job of exploring her grief and detailing her journey to finding a connection to her
late mother through their shared cultural cuisine. The relationship Zauner and her mother shared is a complex and intricate one, but it is clear to see that she loved her mother, and that she was using this memoir as a way to understand herself and her identity through her relationship with her family and her heritage.
I think this is a good book to read if you want to branch out into reading more memoirs. While it does not summarize the entirety of Zauner’s life, it delves into her relationship with her mother and the devastating loss and feelings of disorientation that she feels afterward.
I will say this memoir differs from others that I have read in the sense that this memoir seems to be written more for Zauner herself that she decided to publish rather than a dedicated insight into grief. It reads like Zauner is using her writing as a way to accept this loss and find her way out of the daze of grief, which is not a bad thing. In fact, I think it is a success-
ful approach in this case, as grief itself is not something that can be polished and perfected in every aspect. Loss is something that needs to be come to terms with, and in Zauner’s case, writing a memoir about her experience in the throes of grief and her attempt to reconnect to her mother is her way of coping. If you are a fan of audiobooks, I recommend listening to this as well. Zauner narrates her audiobook, allowing you to feel the genuine emotion she exuded while writing Crying in H Mart.
Memories and munchies at bwè kafe
BY PRISHA VAGVALA ‘28
Before I was even allowed to drink coffee, my childhood friend and I would stumble into the café that became a beloved part of my childhood and teenage years, and I hope it will remain a part of my adulthood. Bwè Kafe is where I grew up, enjoying their adorable madeleine bears, scrumptious vegan brownies (despite my initial wariness of vegan desserts), and warm powdered sugar donut holes. I will admit — in all those years I have been ordering my 2% milk hot chocolates, I never read their origin story, which is my bad. However, I grew to love the cafe even more, especially after visiting their site — I learned that they decided to create a sustain-
able funding source for Love For Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. This initiative supports higher education for students in Haiti, and it feels great to know that each purchase is for a good cause. Plus, it’s incredibly convenient for us ducks to get to Bwè Kafe, with three locations that are just a short walk away from campus: 1002 Washington St. in Hoboken, 140 River Dr. S. in Jersey City, and 1401 Adams St. in Hoboken. Each location maintains the same organic modern style that combines natural materials with a clean, welcoming look. The stores have a calm, demure aura, with lightwashed wood, lush plants, and large cream-beige paintings creating a peaceful backdrop. It’s somewhat minimalist, but the organic touches make it feel cozy and like home. The shop is always almost packed and bustling, with busy office workers typing away on their computers.
Gosh, how I love their menu, especially with the freshly baked items and the way the coffee aroma drifts through the store. The bakery items displayed by the
UNMASKING:
AN AUTISM STORY The battlefield of overstimulating environments for those with autism
BY EVAN PAPAGEORGE ‘26
counter are so tempting that it’s tough to choose between the pain au chocolat and the adorable teddy bear madeleines. The madeleines are more for appearance than for taste — they taste like the ones found at BJ’s. However, if you’re lucky, you might find their famous vegan brownies, which often sell out. These brownies are unbelievably rich and chocolatey, and the first time my friend and I tried them, they practically melted in our hands and mouths. I didn’t even realize the brownies were vegan when I first tried them; it blew away my preconceptions about vegan desserts. My experience with a disappointing avocado brownie had left me thinking vegan treats couldn’t compare to the real thing. I’m not sure if they still have the donut holes, but I remember one Halloween when my friend’s brother brought them for us. I can’t recall if they were filled with dulce de leche or drizzled with it, but the sweet, milky, caramelized flavor combined with the warm, soft donut hole was life-changing. It perfectly captured the essence of fall.
These days, I don’t visit Bwè Kafe as often, but whenever my sister insists on having a hot chocolate, I find myself placing an order and reminiscing about those summer days when I took my friend from Texas there. We quickly earned the nickname “2% family” from the barista in the headband, thanks to our consistent request for 2% milk in our hot chocolate. I always felt sad putting the lid on my cup because the latte art with hearts, swans, and tulips looked so pretty. Lately, the signs outside showcasing their fall specials have been tempting me with offerings like the Apple Pie Cold Brew and Fall Spice Latte. Although I’ve stopped drinking coffee for a while now, I can’t resist the mouthwatering description of the Apple Pie Cold Brew — it’s made with housemade apple syrup, and I love apple pie! I often find myself ordering drinks and bakery items, but next time, I’ll make it a point to try their healthy sandwiches or breakfast bowls. I’m making it my mission this year to revisit this café and reconnect with my childhood memories.
Embracing emotion through lyricism
When I write music, I think about myself as a poet first; every aspect of what I create is a revolving force around whatever feeling I am experiencing at the time.
I use my ability to write lyrics and poetry as an outlet. I am learning to embrace the fact that my music often comes from a place of hurt. Whatever I feel at the time becomes a lyric or line for the songs I write. I see it as a way to turn bad things into something beautiful.
Being a songwriter is something I use as a way
to become more in touch with my emotions. It’s a beautiful thing to be able to understand my feelings in a healthy way, especially when the emotions are negative. I feel like I have a more complex understanding of everything around me when I take the time to write about the little details that I overlook. Before songwriting, I have always had an interest in understanding why the little things in our lives have such a tremendous impact on us. Writing lyrics is an interesting way to play with that concept. I can take a moment to step back and be the fly-on-the-wall in my own life.
With that being said, writing and embracing emotions is sometimes hard. It is so easy to be your own biggest enemy when you look at your art. I know that I have a hard time with perfectionism. Sometimes, it’s easy to hate myself through my art. That’s why writing
lyrics feels so powerful to me; it’s like a mirror. Lyrics and poetry really helped me step back and realize that I need to give myself more credit. I had a creative epiphany where I realized that writing was for myself, and I noticed how much it did for me. Sharing it with others came later.
In the artistic world, art often comes from places of hardship or struggle, and while it isn’t always the case, I heavily associate it with this. It’s tremendously impactful when songwriters open up through their lyrics; it gives a perspective to listeners that they aren’t alone in their experiences. That’s why I write: to be able to take the feelings that mess with me and share them with others who might think no one else gets it. I struggle with depression and anxiety to the point where sometimes I can’t leave my dorm. I’ll hide myself away in my cave and avoid tex-
ting anyone. It’s sometimes hard to get out of that loop, so l write to be productive during these times. This helps me learn how to pull myself out of it, and I’ve sort of learned how to love parts of myself that hurt. It’s the feeling of taking something ugly and brutal and turning it into something that feels better.
Every day is different. Sometimes things are bad, and sometimes they’re great. Take, when writing down words, thinking of a time or experience from a new perspective. Whether I am self-deprecating, sad, happy, or proving a point, my lyrics grow with me. They develop as I further un derstand myself and what’s around me. Use writing to turn the bad into something better and be proud of it. Embrace emotions. Enjoy being sad, proud, or full of angst. Don’t be afraid of feelings; let them come and use them.
Sensory issues are far more than simple irritations in autism as they shape daily experiences, influence social interactions, and contribute to overall well-being. For many individuals on the autism spectrum, these sensory challenges are a defining part of life, ranging from sensitivity to certain textures and sounds to an insatiable need for deep pressure or specific tactile experiences. Recognizing and understanding these sensory needs can be beneficial for improving autistic individuals’ comfort and can also be about acknowledging the unique ways in which individuals with autism navigate the world.
For those unfamiliar with autism, sensory sensitivities might seem minor or even perplexing, but they can be profoundly impactful. Sensory issues are a core characteristic of individuals with autism, and for many, they are a source of significant distress. Some people experience hypersensitivity, where sights, sounds, or physical sensations are overwhelming. A sudden loud noise might feel like an assault on the senses, while the texture of certain fabrics could be unbearable. Others experience hyposensitivity, where they might seek out intense sensations, such as touching textured surfaces or pressing against weighted objects, to feel grounded.
The experience of sensory overload is like a wave crashing over someone. An overload of sensory input can trigger a range of reactions, from anxiety and irritability to a shutdown. Imagine a typical classroom: the buzz of fluorescent lights, the scrape of chairs, and the chatter of voices. For a child with autism (like me, almost every day), these everyday sounds and sights can accumulate into a chaotic, overwhelming storm. Navigating such environments without support can be exhausting and isolating, not just because leaving these busy environ-
ments is more comfortable. It is essential to recognize that sensory sensitivity is not a “behavior” to be corrected but rather a reflection of how the brain processes stimuli differently in autistic individuals. Unfortunately, visible reactions to overstimulating environments — like covering ears, flinching, or leaving a room — are often misinterpreted as misbehavior or defiance. This misunderstanding can lead to further stress and anxiety for the individual, especially when others fail to recognize the legitimacy of their sensory needs.
Creating sensory-friendly spaces is one step toward inclusivity and understanding. Schools, workplaces, and public areas can make simple adjustments to accommodate sensory needs, such as reducing harsh lighting, providing noise-canceling headphones, and offering quiet areas. These small changes have a profound impact, allowing individuals with sensory sensitivities to feel more comfortable and engaged in their environments. Similarly, strategies like sensory breaks, where individuals can take a break from a harsh environment, are crucial in managing sensory overload.
Education plays a vital role in fostering acceptance of sensory issues. Caregivers, educators, and peers must understand sensory sensitivities to create empathetic and accommodating environments. Teaching children about sensory differences can lead to a generation that views these sensitivities with compassion rather than confusion. Through visual schedules, social stories, and structured routines, caregivers can also help individuals with autism anticipate changes and manage the demands of different sensory environments. Understanding sensory issues in autism is not only a crucial and necessary step in the journey toward inclusivity, but it’s also a path toward genuinely supporting the autistic community. Addressing sensory needs alleviates discomfort and enables individuals on the spectrum to participate fully in the world around them. As we learn to see the world through their eyes, we can help foster environments where sensory sensitivities are respected, not stigmatized, making society a place where everyone can thrive.
FOODIE FINDS
ROVING REPORTER
By Rafael Lee Li
“If you could volunteer anywhere, where would you go?”
AJ Webster ‘25 “With the Mystery Machine”
Eva Pfeiffer ‘27
“I would volunteer at a pickling facility as a pickle. Enter as a cucumber leave as a pickle.”
