Happy Thanksgiving, enjoy the break!
We write Stevens history VOLUME CXXI No. 11
HOBOKEN, NJ | NOVEMBER 17, 2023
The student newspaper of Stevens Institute of Technology, and creator of Attila the Duck. www.thestute.com TikTok @thestute Instagram @thestute facebook.com/stevensthestute NEW STUTE EVERY FRIDAY • EST. 1904
Flu shots! Get your flu shots!
Why is co-op enrollment down? BY SEAN ANDERSON, STAFF WRITER
BY KATELYN CHIURRI, CONTRIBUTOR
Looking ahead to the spring semester, some students are preparing for a full-time class schedule and others are preparing for their upcoming co-op experience. While some will be local, others might be traveling farther away for their experience. However, the number of students this time around could be much lower than in previous years. According to Workday, for this spring, only seven students are currently enrolled in DEAN 401, which is listed as the Cooperative Education work term. Those who are planning for a co-op for just the next semester must enroll in this course, and it is probable that more registrations will come in. However, a downward trend can be seen from previous semesters leading up to this one. Following the Spring 2013 term, at least one hundred students were in co-op in each semester, with the highest number being 304 students in the Fall 2015 term. Since the Spring 2022 term, the number has fallen below one hundred, and currently, only 66 students are registered and in co-op in this Fall term.
run at the Montana governorship in 2016, Gianaforte ran for and was elected to the House of Representatives in a 2017 special election. After serving two terms he would successfully run again for Governor of Montana. Governor Gianforte is a controversial figure in national politics. He is a member of the Christian right wing of the Republican party, with the viewpoints one would expect
As this year’s flu season begins, annual flu vaccinations are once available for the public to protect themselves against illness. Influenza, more commonly known as the flu, is a respiratory illness that can range in severity depending on the variant and the person who gets sick. Symptoms of the flu can also range in intensity but mostly consist of fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle or body aches. Because of the flu’s ability to spread and be deadly with high-risk people, getting the flu shot is important. High-risk people that may experience complications from the flu include people over the age of 65, pregnant people, children under the age of five years old, and people with pre-existing illnesses such as asthma and heart disease. Although the shot does not prevent one from getting the flu, it does lessen the seriousness of the symptoms to help prevent deaths and long-term illness. The flu level is considered low in New Jersey this year and there is a lower number of cases and outbreaks compared to last year at this time.
SEE NORTH PAGE 2
SEE FLU PAGE 2
SEE CO-OP PAGE 2
What’s up with Gateway North? BY ARTHUR SERRA, STAFF WRITER The truth about American private universities is that they rely heavily on alumni donations. Recently in the news, we can see the damage that has been done to universities, in particular the Ivy League, where alleged widespread antisemitism has caused alumni to retract their donations. Stevens is no different: Alumni money is a requirement if the administration wants to fund
more research, give out financial aid, and expand campus facilities. Students are generally happy for expanded facilities and shiny new classrooms, but sentiments change when the donor’s actions do not reflect the beliefs of the student body. A particular source of controversy at Stevens is Gianforte Family Hall, and the man who donated it: Governor Greg Gianforte of Montana. Greg Gianforte attended Stevens Institute of Technology, and graduated in
1983. He went on to work at Bell Laboratories, and later McAfee Associates until founding his own company in 1997 called RightNow technologies. RightNow was a software development company that was later acquired by Larry Ellsion’s Oracle Corporation 2011 for 1.5 billion USD. For the next six years, he focused on his philanthropic and personal interests, focusing mainly on raising money for Conservative Christian Groups in Montana. After a failed
LOCAL HOBOKEN NEWS BY ARTHUR SERRA, STAFF WRITER
Pride and Israeli Flags torn down in Hoboken
PHOTO COURTESY OF NJ1015.COM
In recent weeks, an Israeli and pride flag have been stolen from Hoboken City Hall and a Hoboken restaurant, respectively. Following the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel, which left about 1,200 Israelis dead, the City of Hoboken decided to place an Israeli flag at half-mast at city hall to commemorate the victims. At around the same time, a pride flag flying outside of Hoboken restaurant Uncle Milton’s Cafe was vandalized for the first time. Then, last week, its flag was vandalized again. Uncle Milton’s Cafe is a restaurant and coffee shop in central Hoboken. A large part of the establishment’s branding is its support of the LGBTQ+ community; The cafe is self-described
on it’s website as “an inclusive environment open to everyone LGBTQ+ friendly.” The cafe has reassuring messages on its walls as part of its decor, and has a reading corner with books for LGBTQ+ youth. Pride flags are important symbols for the LGBTQ+ community, and many ally or LGBTQ+-owned establishments use them as a signal that they are inclusive. Uncle Milton’s Cafe has a pride flag hanging opposite its American flag right outside its doors. Twice now, Uncle Milton’s owner, Milton Canales, has found his flag vandalized. The first time Canales found his flag in an ugly state, he said that the vandals “burned the sides first, then they
NEWS (2-3)
SCIENCE (6)
FEATURE (4)
PULSE (10)
Reminder of Gianforte Hall petition and protests The history of this building and why clubs have vowed to not use it for events. Happy Thanksgiving! Read about how football’s relation to Thanksgiving, thing at Stevens to be thankful for, and Thanksigivng food rankings.
SEE FLAGS PAGE 2 Quantum computing? Grant for RF sensing? Brain tissue for marathons? Learn more about what’s going on in the world of science. Read answers from the Stevens community to our weekly Roving Reporter, plus solve our weekly puzzle and sudoku.
Hudson County and Hoboken elections
PHOTO COURTESY OF @JENFORHOBOKEN ON INSTAGRAM
Every year, millions of Americans go to the polls and influence the direction of the government. When most people think about elections, they think of presidential or congressional elections. The federal government has a tremendous amount of power and influence, but at the end of the day, most of the governance that affects people’s everyday lives is done at the local and county level. That is why just as, if not more, important as the federal races are the local elections for district attorney, school boards, state legislatures, and mayors. Stevens Institute of Technology is in the city of Hoboken, which is part of the greater Hudson County. Hoboken is split into six “wards,” each of which
elected a city councilor, who sits on a ten-person body. The remaining four members include the mayor and three other city councilors that hold atlarge seats and are elected by the whole city. Hoboken elections are held during federal election off-years, which are odd-numbered years, and alternate between elections of the six ward-specific seats and the four at-large offices. This year the elections were for the six Hoboken ward seats. In the recent past, most of the candidates have run unopposed for their seats, but this year five of the six seats were contested, demonstrating an increase in residents’ scrutiny of local gover-
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ISABELLA ZIV FOR THE STUTE
The Archives and Special Collections: a how-to of Stevens history BY EVAN PAPAGEORGE, OPINION EDITOR The Samuel C. Williams Library’s Archives and Special Collections (ASC) offers a vast selection of books, artifacts, and records accessible to students. Split into two parts, the ASC includes the University Archives and the Special Collections. The University Archives are a record of the history of Stevens from its founding in 1870 through the present, while The Special Collections is a trove of rare books, essential artifacts, works of art, and other historically significant items. These collections do not specifically record Stevens’ history, focusing on the history of the Stevens family, Hoboken, and the local area. The mission of ASC, as stated on its webpage, is “to engage students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the local and global community with primary sources and historic artifacts. Our objective is to instill a sense of pride and knowledge about Stevens and its rich heritage and legacy, which includes the history of the Stevens family.” However, while ASC is devoted
to preserving and sharing Stevens’ history, it is just as devoted and interested in recording the future history of Stevens or how the future community members of Stevens will look back at our current moment in history. One way ASC does this is by allowing open access to their collections. The Stute spoke with Leah Loscutoff, the head of ASC. She emphasized that the collections are an excellent resource for students, faculty, and other interested parties. They range from all of the commencements of Stevens in the past, artifacts representing Stevens’ involvement in world events like World War I, and collections specific for influential alums of Stevens like Frederick Winslow Taylor, who revolutionized industrial efficiency and became the face of scientific management. Individuals interested in exploring the collections—whether for a class, personal interest, or research—can schedule an appointment to visit the archives. There are also online portions of many collections that are viewable via the ASC website.
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Friday, November 17
News Masthead Volume CXXI No. 11 Executive Board EDITOR-IN-CHIEF......................................ISABELLA ZIV ‘25 BUSINESS MANAGER............................TANYA AVADIA ‘26 MANAGING EDITOR.......................................AVA WANG ‘25 LAYOUT EDITOR................................NICOLE GIARDINO ‘25 OUTREACH CHAIR..........................KAYDEN CANNILLA ‘24 DIGITAL MANAGER................................RAFAEL LEE LI ‘25 SECRETARY.............................................CLAIRE HANNAN ‘24 HEAD COPY EDITOR..............................KEENAN YATES ‘24
Editorial Board
NEWS EDITOR.........................................BEN KNOBLOCH ‘25 SCIENCE EDITOR.........................................ERIN MCGEE ‘25 OPINION EDITOR............................EVAN PAPAGEORGE ‘26 SPORTS EDITOR........................................CHRISTA RUIZ ‘25 FEATURES EDITOR................................TASHA KHOSLA ‘25 PULSE EDITOR........................................MIA PETROLINO ‘25
Operations Board HEAD PHOTOGRAPHER......................OLOF PERSSON ‘25 ARCHIVES LIAISON.......................KEVIN CASTNER JR. ‘24
Staff & Contributors Sean Anderson Arthur Serra Katelyn Chiurri Douglas Sousa Tanishka Kapoor Meghana Mamadapur Riyana Phadke Ruthie Mullisky Abby Jacobs Kai Wong Justin Lema Victoria Yaschuk
Zoe Hack Charles Beall Itai Geller Anna Dabrowski Advait Dantuluri Josie Strano Stephen Pachucki Jack Scherban Jiya Jaisinghani
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CO-OP
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The question that remains is what factors are contributing to this decline. For one, it’s possible that many students aren’t fully aware of the timeline required to apply for the program. In order to be able to join, a student must complete all requirements before the end of their first year. There are several events throughout the year regarding co-op including interview days, career fairs, co-op decision day, and co-op networking night, but a freshman just starting to adjust to college may lose track of these deadlines. Another point is the appeal of applying for internships versus applying for the co-op program. The co-op program has several benefits to students, including the opportunity to earn a fulltime hourly salary during each work semester and gain valuable work experience in a job related to their degree. Additionally, they will be able to gain a broader network of professional contacts in their career field and be invited to exclusive co-op recruit-
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 of him. He has been party to the passing of various anti-LGBT and abortion-restrction bills in his home state. Further, he’s passed bills that restrict voter registration, allowed constitutional carry, and has restructured how Montana picks its state judges, giving the governor more power to choose who rises to the bench. In particular it has been the anti-LGBT laws that have sparked anger here at Stevens. In 2017, when what was originally called the Gateway Academic Center was renamed Gianforte
FLU
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The typical flu season starts at the beginning of October and the new flu shots are made prior to this date by the World Health Organization (WHO). Compared to last year’s vaccine, the added component in this season’s vaccine was the eggbased A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus and the recombinant-based A/Wisconsin/67/2022 (H1N1)pdm09like virus. Also, the most fre-
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 slashed it, and they left it hanging.” The second time, the flag was wrapped around the cafe’s door handles in a possible attempt to keep the doors closed to the public. Canales admits that these flag-takedowns are scary, but maintains that “all that stuff is not going to bring me down.” There is currently a war occuring in the Middle East between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas. On October 7, Hamas, in a surprise offensive, attacked Israeli towns surrounding its home base of the Gaza Strip. Since then
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tinyurl.com/stutesubmit
nance. Ward 1 was the most contested seat, where no candidate reached the 50% + 1 vote threshold required to be elected, and will thus be having a special election on December 5. Stevens lies within Ward 6, in which incumbent Jen Giatinno retained her seat. Giattino has been a part of Hoboken politics for over a decade, having been first elected to the city council in 2011 and stood as a candidate for mayor in 2017. Before running for office, Giattino attended Ford-
ment events. The difficulties that students might have with the program are the later graduation and the commitment to a specific field. Internships can be more flexible in this sense if a student is less sure of what field or industry they want to enter. Will Franznick, a second year co-op student, told The Stute that the co-op program was a great experience for him, but that it isn’t surprising interest in the program is declining. “As much as I have enjoyed my time in the co-op program, it is a large commitment and sacrifice one has to make. I personally believe that the connections, experience, and responsibilities you accrue throughout the coop program far outweighs the inconvenience of one additional year of study.” He noted that due to the large number of students who opt for the Accelerated Masters Program, which also adds an extra year to their time in college, friends still often get to graduate at the same time. If you are a freshman and are interested in joining the co-op program, there are a few steps that you should take before the end of your freshman year. First, the co-op program
is only offered to certain majors, including most engineering majors, computer science majors, and cybersecurity majors. To be eligible to apply, you must attend four workshops in career preparation that you can sign up for through Handshake. These workshops are SCC 101: Introduction to Career Services and Cooperative Education, SCC 102: Resume Writing, SCC 103: Job Search Strategies, and SCC 104: Interviewing Skills. Even if you are not planning on applying for the co-op program, these programs can still be useful to attend to help build your skills. Additionally, you must also attend Co-op Decision Day which is an in-person event held twice a year in October and February. It is also advised that you schedule a meeting or speak with the career center to move forward or if you have more questions. Franznick recommended that Freshman students take advantage of the opportunity. “My experiences in the co-op program have taught me that education is important, but your attitude, eagerness to learn, and ability to adapt to the work environment will get you much farther in your career than any degree will.”
Family Hall, the school erupted in protest. The idea that there would be a building on campus named after someone who is so opposed to the identities of many Stevens students really brought out the student body’s civic feelings. There was an attempt to raise enough money to supplant Gianforte’s contribution to the building, but that failed. Since then, there have been many attempts to have the school change the name of the building, led by various student groups including the Student Government association, but those too have failed. Starting in 2021, student organizations on campus signed a petition promising to boycott Gateway North. This boycott
continues to be kept up, but in recent years there has been a growing idea of hosting LGBT events within the building in order to reclaim it for the student body. Beyond that, the usage of the name “Gianforte Family Hall” is incredibly rare on campus, with most students opting for the term “Gateway North.” Despite the fact that the student body’s goal to have the building renamed was unsuccessful, the effort demonstrates the community’s ability to break its apolitical tendencies to ensure an inclusive campus. Students are urged to make thoughtful decisions about the nomenclature and use of the building.
quent variant that is reported is A(H1N1)pdm 09, which is why the vaccine was altered in these ways. This vaccine has shown to be quite effective so far with zero reported pediatric deaths and only two reported outbreaks. There are many places to get the vaccine—including your local pharmacy—but there are other options to consider. Stevens offers the flu vaccine through the Student Health Services for free if you have Aetna insurance through the school. If you have separate insurance, you have to pay a $20 fee for the vaccine but you are able to use Duckbills.
Another option is CVS pharmacy which offers the flu vaccine, among others, for free with most insurance! They also give a coupon for $5 off a $20 purchase after the vaccine. Walgreens, and many other chain pharmacies, offer free vaccines as well! If you get the vaccine through a clinic or pharmacy other than Stevens’ Students Health Services, they ask if you could fill out a short survey afterwards so that the school has an accurate prediction of the number of students that are vaccinated. Get vaccinated and help protect the Stevens community from the flu!
Hoboken city government decided to have an Israeli flag fly outside of city hall to mourn and show solidarity with the hundreds of Israelis who were massacred or hostaged by Hamas. Previous updates on the situation can be found in previous editions of the Stute on the website. This Israeli flag was torn down and stolen at around 10 p.m. on October 20, as shown in video surveillance. Soon after the flag was replaced, a statement was published by the mayor’s office: “I want to make it unequivocally clear that we will not tolerate such behavior in our community. Hoboken is a diverse city that has always stood for fairness and inclusivity.” Acts of anti-semitism
have been on the rise in recent years, and in particular since last month’s attacks and ensuing war. A police investigation is ongoing, and the stealing of the flag is being seen as both vandalism and an anti-semitic hate crime. Freedom of speech and expression is a fundamental right here in the United States. Respect for each other, and each other’s property, is a fundamental requirement for a civilized society. The tearing down of these three flags is a rejection of those principles. Although neither of the perpetrators of these crimes have been found yet, Hoboken police are working hard to find those responsible and bring them to justice.
ham University, and has worked as a real estate agent. Her main focus for the next several years, she says, will be to solve the rat infestation in Hoboken. If students have questions regarding Ward 6 or local government, they can reach out to her using her email address: jengiattino6@ gmail.com. Beyond Hoboken, there were several interesting races in Hudson County. This year, Kearny voters elected as mayor not only a woman, but an independent candidate for the first time. Carol Jean Doyle, who is 76 years old, will be serving two years as mayor of Kearny, with a focus on traffic, illegal apartments, and proper-
ty issues the town faces. Hudson County will also be sending two new state senators to the state legislature, Raj Mukherji of the 32nd District, and Anglea McKnight of the 31st District. Together with five new state assembly members, the Hudson County delegation to Trenton will be the youngest and most diverse in history. It can be easy to pay attention to national politics only, but much of the truly impactful governing is done at the local level. Staying aware of how our government works and being part of the democratic process, especially in these smaller elections, is one of our most important duties as citizens of this country.
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Friday, November 17
News Recap of Entertainment Committee’s Fall Fling
OP-ED
Thoughts of “Thoughts on Bots”: cluded budgeting, working with BY TANYA AVADIA, vendors, creating a floor plan and A student view on the academic and BUSINESS MANAGER ensuring the event ran smoothly Fall on campus would remain with proper staff. AFG handled legal impacts of AI and its developments incomplete without some form of most of the overall brainstormfestivities, and the Entertainment Committee (EC) delivered just that with their Fall Fling event. The event aimed to combine the wonderful aesthetic and vibes of fall with a way for students to mingle and have fun. In addition to the seasonal focus, this year’s Fall Fling featured an exciting twist, as it was masquerade-themed. The Stute had the opportunity to speak with Sara Wolf, the Festivities Director of the EC, and she explained how the idea was to set this year’s event apart from last year’s more “barnyard/rustic” feel. She hopes that the tradition of picking a theme is continued by future Festivities Directors of the EC and that it continues to make the annually occurring event more unique and fun. This year’s Fall Fling was held on October 25 on Schaefer Lawn. It was a homecoming-style event with the motive of being a way for students to destress from midterm season. The Fall Fling featured live music, food and a chance for students to win raffle prizes, along with much more. This event garnered an attendance of around 300 students, many of whom dressed up in their best autumnal formal attire and some even donning eye-catching masks. A precursor of the Fall Fling was the mask-making event held by EC on October 19, where students could design their own masks fitting the masquerade theme. Carrying out such a large-scale event is no easy feat, and Wolf explains that the work for Fall Fling began as early as the first day of classes on September 1. Wolf, along with Chris Alessandri, EC’s Special Events Director, worked to bring in vendors for music, catering and activities. The rest of work was distributed among the remainder of the EC members, leading to the creation of five different subcommittees: logistics, activities/food/giveaways (AFG), marketing, decor, and music. The responsibilities of logistics in-
ing and truly brought the event together, according to Wolf. The marketing team created all the flyers, posters, social media posts, and signage. Decor focused on the essence of the event and bringing out the fall and masquerade themes. The music committee’s job was getting in touch with WCPR and ensuring that everything was good to go for the live band and the DJ. All five of these committees reported back to Wolf and Alessandri and together made sure that everything went smoothly. To say that this year’s Fall Fling was a success would be an understatement. However, Wolf believes that there were some key ways the event could still be improved for future years. Just like how the theme was elevated from last year’s Fall Fling to this year’s, in regards to what can be done differently for next year, Wolf focuses on incorporating more live performances. She stated, “I hope to bring back more live music! For dance events like Fall Fling and Founder’s Day Ball we typically use a DJ, but I truly do not think there is anything more special than live performances, so I really hope to incorporate that into more on-campus events!” Continuing with the focus on live music, Wolf also shares how the EC’s overall favorite part was The Villagers Brass Band who performed covers of popular songs with only brass instruments, such as the trombone, sousaphone, trumpet, and a small drum set. She hopes that this was something appreciated by all who attended this year’s Fall Fling. Whether you had a chance to attend Fall Fling or not, there are still a number of diverse EC events left in the semester to consider. Highlights include trips to see the new Some Like It Hot musical on Broadway, Doja Cat on her Scarlet Tour, and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. See the full list of upcoming events on EC’s DuckLink events page.
BY EVAN PAPAGEORGE The Innovation University: Powered by Technology. At Stevens, technology is always at the forefront of everything we do. Engineering students take coding classes; computer science students spend years learning the technology of computers; business students learn how to use technology to predict stock market fluctuations; and even those in the humanity school use technology to enhance their art or better their analysis of social structures. However, as technology advances, as well as the use of it at Stevens, do more problems arise than are solved? Over the past month, I attended two campus events that analyzed perhaps the quickest-advancing technology with the most influence and implications: Artificial Intelligence (AI). The first event, hosted by the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS), invited professors from around the region to discuss generative AI and pedagogy, aptly named “Thoughts on Bots.” On October 26 and 27, in the TechFlex of the UCC, panelists discussed different aspects of AI and their impacts on writing pedagogy with guests traveling to Stevens from around New Jersey to as far away as the University of Toronto. Presentations included research on AI and emotionality, the impact of AI on libraries, uses of chatbots, like ChatGPT, in university writing centers, and a panel of students, including myself, discussing the impacts of AI on different aspects of student life, with a focus as students here at Stevens. Throughout the conference, there were many varying opinions. Two seem to stick out as being unanimously agreed upon by all attendants, and to me, as the most important: AI is here to stay — there is no way around that, and society is not at a point where it has the preparation needed to cope with a technology advancing so rapidly. AI, a permanent addition to
our technological society, is a done deal; much of the world now uses or runs on AI, so to end its use or even limit its development is impossible. However, there is more room for debate for society’s preparation for AI. At the “Thoughts on Bots” conference, some argued AI could be used as an idea-generator, while others said otherwise; some argued that AI could be cited as an author, while some proclaimed AI does not have the conscience to consent to authorship. Many pedagogy experts, armed with decades of experience and thousands of data points, argued for the mitigation of AI until we have a better idea of how to ethically, legally, and appropriately use AI. While the mitigation of AI can be a potential solution for the many issues and questions AI’s existence presents, Stevens’s nature poses a threat to this likely resolution: an institution “Powered by technology” filled with those who strive to make it the “innovation university.” Within weeks of ChatGPT erupting at the end of 2022, swathes of Stevens students were utilizing the powerhouse of large language model (LLM) to produce code for the programming courses or prompting it to analyze and write a thematic analysis of Plato’s everlasting allegory of the cave. Whether it be the Stevens Honor Board working to address the use of LLMs in students’ work or the development of a campus-wide policy on the issue, there is little hope in stopping Stevens’ thirst for innovation. While Stevens grapples with the implications of AI in the classroom, a much larger debate is happening worldwide: what is the legal precedence when it comes to AI? The Stevens Law Society recently discussed this during an event on November 9 during a special guest lecture from Dr. David Opterbeck of Seton Hall University Law School’s Gibbons Institute of Law, Science & Technology. Dr. Opterbeck’s talk discussed
the legal challenges AI presents: copying versus redistributing, the legality of internet scraping, and who owns the information of these scrapes (it was a great talk, thanks very much to Stevens Law Society for hosting!) Dr. Opterbeck’s talk offered intersections with the “Thoughts of Bots” conference. In particular, citations to works, the difference between using LLM as a tool versus an entity, and whether LLMs, like ChatGPT, can be considered “conscious” enough to be a consenting author or creator per legal guidelines of copyrights, trademarks, and other intellectual property protections. Yet again, the conclusions remained the same: AI has, is, and will change the world; it is just a matter of when to accept it or how much effort you will put into fighting the inevitable. A solution to the question of AI will only present itself over time — years or even a decade. It will take rounds and rounds of trial and error, court cases, the emergence of long-term trends, or a consensus of the masses. I admit to using LLMs: GrammarlyGO as a mechanics and grammatical checker, ChatGPT to bounce ideas off of, or even DALL-E to find unique and cool new ways to organize my desk. Not only do I admit to using them, but I am proud of it as a Stevens student who loves to innovate, and as a citizen of the world interested in not being left behind as technology advances. Putting aside my law studies, pedagogy experiences, or simply seeing AI take over the academic world through my civil engineering and music courses, I merely appreciate AI as the next bound of technology that will change the world. Whether it be the internet, personal devices, electricity, or even the discovery of fire, technological advances always prove to be an exciting aspect of society: the social spark for the fire that powers humanity. One can almost say that AI represents an ideology of being inspired by humanity — and powered by technology.
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Beyond inviting the world to learn from the collections and use them to create new history, ASC continually updates its collections. It does this through the “Voices of Castle Point” series. “Voices of Castle Point” is an oral history collection where individuals of historical interest—those who lived through history, are experts in their fields or have unique stories to tell—are interviewed and then immortalized in the ASC. “Voices of Castle Point” is one way students can become involved in ASC and preserve Stevens’ history. Loscutoff explained how students can be interviewers. ASC is always interested in recording more of Stevens’ history. Possible example interviews could be of the first women who attended Stevens and recorded reactions of students who witnessed the September 11 attacks while attending the university. ASC at Stevens is a valuable resource for students, faculty, staff, alums, and the local and global community. The ASC offers an extensive collection of books, artifacts, and records accessible to students, with the University Archives recording the history of Stevens and the Special Collections exploring a broader scope of history. The ASC’s mission is to engage individuals with primary sources and historical artifacts, instilling a sense of pride and knowledge about Stevens and its rich heritage and legacy. As ASC invites the world to learn from the collections, it inspires the creation of new history that ASC will preserve for future generations.
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Friday, November 17
Feature
HAPPY THANKSGIVING Ranking the best Thanksgiving foods BY DOUGLAS SOUSA, CONTRIBUTING REPORTER
“ I DON’T EVEN NEED TO SAY ANY MORE ABOUT GRAVY
spot on our list is mashed potatoes. Not only do they always taste amazing, you can add literally anything you want to your mashed potatoes and they’ll be a hit. My personal favorite is to add a little bit of bacon, and top it all off with, you guessed it, some of that gravy mentioned earlier. Making mashed potatoes also couldn’t be any easier. The only real step is in the name itself — take some potatoes and mash them up. Overall, mashed potatoes are one side dish that just never misses the mark. Third on the list may be a little controversial. I understand that fall is the time of pumpkins and pumpkin spice everything, but I think apple pie tops pumpkin pie ten times out of ten. If I could only have one dessert at Thanksgiving, there’s no doubt it would be a slice of apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. There’s something about the sweet, cinnamon-y, soft apple filling that really makes it a great dish. Now I will admit that apple
pie doesn’t pair incredibly well with other desserts, but let’s be honest — you won’t even need another dessert if you’ve got a great slice of apple pie. Finally on this list, we’ve got green beans. Whether they’re roasted, in a casserole, or steamed, green beans serve as a delicious way to almost feel healthy during Thanksgiving dinner. Sure, your plate is piled high with turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, and stuffing, but there’s a green thing there too! Moms and grandmas love to see that. Green beans are the best compromise between taste and covering another food group. And that’s my personal list for the top Thanksgiving foods. I intentionally left out some of the obvious ones to make it a bit more interesting — yes we all love turkey, but it’s kind of a given! I’m sure there are a lot of dishes that I missed out on, but these are just a few of my favorites. Either way, enjoy your break and have a happy Thanksgiving!
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE FOOD NETWORK
— WE ALL KNOW WHERE IT BELONGS ON THIS LIST. “
Thanksgiving is a holiday centered around spending time with family, reflecting on what you’re grateful for, and enjoying some delicious food with family and friends. But which entrees, side dishes, and desserts are the best? Which ones will be a definite hit at this year’s gathering? Sure, there’s the traditional turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce, but what other foods really complete a successful Thanksgiving dinner table? First off, there’s a few factors to consider when ranking Thanksgiving foods. Obviously, taste plays a major role in how well a dish will be received at the dinner table. However, there’s a lot more that goes into it. Some other things to take into account are the texture, how well it pairs with other dishes, and (most importantly to me) how difficult it is to cook or bake. Each of these factors
plays a key role in where the dish lands in the rankings. (Disclaimer: these rankings will be VERY biased towards what I like…) Taking the top spot, without a doubt, is gravy. The taste? Savory and delicious. The texture? It can make even the driest of turkeys palatable. Versatility? Again, throw it on everything and it will absolutely improve your Thanksgiving dinner experience. Not to mention just how easy it is to make — just put some broth, corn starch, water, and spices into a pot and mix. Gravy is far and away the best thing you can bring to this year’s Friendsgiving. I don’t even need to say any more about gravy — we all know where it belongs on this list. Next up, we’ve got one of the side dishes that just can’t be beat. Everyone loves them, whether it’s Thanksgiving or not. There are so many variations that every single person could bring their own take on these, and it would be a successful Thanksgiving. Of course, taking the second
Fake it till you make it: football edition As another Thanksgiving approaches, it is time to pull out some annual traditions. Get ready to sit down for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, stuff yourself with tons of yummy food, and pull out the old pigskin to toss around. If you are not familiar with the last tradition mentioned, that is okay. As one of America’s favorite pastimes, it has found its way into Thanksgiving tradition as both something to play as a family or with friends or watch on TV. I’m referring to football, a sport that originated in the United States and has only grown in popularity. The origin of football on Thanksgiving dates back to 1934, when the Detroit Lions played their first season in Detroit against the Chicago Bears. The game was to be a major game in the fight to clinch the NFL Western Division crown. According to the Pro-Football Hall of Fame, “the 26,000 tickets for the Turkey Day clash in the University of Detroit Stadium, were sold out two weeks in advance of the game,” but “it was estimated that another 25,000 would have attended had there been seats available.” The Lions would lose the 1934 Thanksgiving game, though the following year, they would reverse the results and defeat the Bears. Thus the tradition of Thanksgiving NFL football in Detroit began and the popularity spread. Currently, there are three
games played on Thanksgiving: one hosted by the Detroit Lions, one hosted by the Dallas Cowboys, and one with no fixed teams. This Thanksgiving, if you want to participate in some football talk but would not be able to tell a flea flicker from a fly swatter, there are a few quick tips you can take to sound like you know what you are talking about and blend in: Pick a Team The most important aspect of football is that there are two competing teams for each game with each team consisting of an offense, defense, and special teams. Many football fans generally have one specific team that they root for throughout a season. You could pick this team through multiple methods. A common one is that it is your local team. For instance, if you live in South Jersey near Philadelphia, that team would be the Philadelphia Eagles, or if you live in North Jersey near New York, that team would be the New York Giants. You can also pick a team for other reasons; for example, if you’ve heard of a certain player, you might just root for his team as a whole. If you are a Taylor Swift fan and now know Travis Kelce, this might be the case. Cheering Chameleon When watching a game, there are various moments throughout that could incite a wild celebration while others could bring on some booing. Often, these moments are not apparent to someone fresh to
watching football and can frequently be missed or misinterpreted. When in doubt, just look around. If you see others reacting a certain way to a play or a call, it may be best to match their spirit at that moment as something good or bad for the team happens. Don’t overdo it though or you might get some strange looks; some plays are not as impactful as others and do not require as much of a reaction. Getting Annoyed at the Refs If you want to earn some extra points, there is always one simple method. If a referee makes a call against your team that is terrible, make it known to others that you think that. Saying something like “Come on ref” or “the [insert opposing team name] must have paid the refs,” can show how you feel. Even if you think the call against your team was fair, you can still say these things. The Game Winner/Loser In the end, there can only be one victor. If in the end, your team has come out on top, it is time to celebrate. Go crazy. High-five, hug the others or do anything that shows that this win has made your day. If your team is on the other side and has lost, it’s time to show that too. You can refer to tip three and blame the refs again, or you just act in any way annoyed at the results so that people believe the result has ruined your day. After really trying to get into the game and understand it, you might actually find that the result has affected you. PHOTO COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES
BY SEAN ANDERSON, STAFF WRITER
Oh so thankful BY TANISHKA KAPOOR, CONTRIBUTOR Welcome. Today, we are going to be thankful. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we shall give thanks to this wonderful place we call home. There is a lot to be grateful for at Stevens, and I am going to teach you how to be. Especially since we all could use some more positive energy in our lives. Step 1: Be present and notice things around you If you ever open your eyes and look around, one thing that you cannot miss is the presence of some suspiciously tilted buildings across a beautiful river. When something is continuously so close to us, we tend to take it for granted by getting used to its presence. So take a moment to sit on the various areas on campus facing New York City. Close your eyes. Feel the warmth of your jacket as you sit in the chilly wind. Count till ten while focusing on how cold your nose feels. Open your eyes and truly take a moment to see what is in front of you. As the warm light from the sunset reflects perfectly against the World Trade Center and as the sky blushes under your gaze, remember that this is exactly why your tuition costs so much. Step 2: Pay attention to the details While we all are continuously stressing over our courses and professors, we can get caught up in complaining about every inconvenience. But think about the small things that did go right. I didn’t miss my classes today! I have a jacket to keep me warm! I have a meal plan! I live on a beautiful campus! I got a free donut from the Sweet Shop because I went in three minutes before they were about to close! Even if none of these things apply to you, you are reading this article, which means that at least something is going right. You are taking the time to read this, for which I want to thank you. You go to Stevens, a university filled with some amazingly bright students.
Can we use some improvement on our communication and social skills? Sure, we all can, but at the end of the day, we are surrounded by an endless amount of opportunities. Take a moment to thank yourself and those who support you for the sheer ability of being able to go to college. Some people have been with you through thick and thin, go up to them and say thanks. Or even better, write a letter to them and watch them grow overly sentimental. If they are like me, watch them become really touched by not knowing how to show affection so they just awkwardly smile and say thanks through their teary eyes. Step 3: Write your observations down Sit in a safe and comfortable spot. Close your eyes while you think about the things you love. Maybe it’s your family, your childhood home, your friends, the city, the beautiful sunsets on the campus, anything. Fill your heart with the warmth of those memories. As I celebrated Diwali this weekend, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for having a home and people I could celebrate it with. Write your feelings down somewhere so that whenever you feel down, you know what makes your heart full, and you can uplift yourself. And no, journaling is not just for girls. Try it out sometime. There is a lot to love about life, and it becomes easier to see that when you go to a university like Stevens. Sure there might be some things that could be fixed, but at least we don’t have to take 30 minute bus rides to get to the other end of campus. We have a great community here, and there is something for everyone, so smile a little. Go jump through the leaves, take a walk down the colorful Washington Street, enjoy the chocolate croissant from Gateway, and say thanks to those wonderful ladies while you’re there. Finally, don’t forget to thank yourself for being here because you are the only one who will be there for yourself for the rest of your life.
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Friday, November 17
PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVENSDUCKS.COM (SHOT BY BLAKE CECCHINI)
Sports
Women’s Volleyball Four for Four BY KAI WONG, SPORTS WRITER This past Saturday, November 11, Women’s Volleyball defeated Lebanon Valley College to win their fourth straight MAC Freedom Title! Stevens claimed four of the first five points, grabbing an early lead in the opening set. However, Lebanon Valley clawed back, reeling off the next six points to take control of the set. The Ducks committed 11 errors in the set, opening the door for the Dutchmen to score four of the final five points to close out
the set. Lebanon Valley threatened to take control of the second set early with three straight points, but the Ducks climbed back, putting up a 9-2 run. Consecutive kills from sophomore middle blocker Vivian Lisboa and senior Elle Maggio brought the Ducks to a 23-20 advantage. Stevens finished out and claimed the second set, evening the match. In the third set, senior Liz Patterson sparked a 5-0 run with three kills that put the Ducks in front for good. A 7-1 run, capped by an ace from first-year Molly Harris broke the set open. Se-
nior Meg Dion recorded a solo block and a kill to close out the set and lead the Ducks to 2-1 in the match. Looking to close out the match, the Ducks scored the first three points of the final set, but Lebanon Valley drew even after five points. Junior Cleo Shannon and her teammate Patterson recorded kills as part of a fourpoint run, which put the Ducks out in front for the remainder of the set. The Ducks closed the match out in style with nine of the final 11 points. Dion had eight kills, five blocks, and was named MVP
after the four-set win. Lisboa matched a career high with 13 kills, and Maggio added 11 kills and a pair of blocks for the Ducks. Next up, the Lady Ducks traveled to Huntingdon, Indiana, for the first round of the 2023 Division III Women’s Volleyball Championship. Stevens entered the NCAA Tournament with a 21-9 record and riding a fourgame winning streak. Awaiting Stevens was Marymount University (17-14), champions of the Atlantic East Conference, with the match set for Thursday, November 16.
Women’s Basketball kicks off season with three wins BY RUTHIE MULLISKY, SPORTS WRITER With the transition of warmer weather to colder brings about a new sporting season. The Stevens Women’s Basketball team has had an impressive start to their season, starting it off with three consecutive wins against Kean University, Pacific University, and George Fox University. On November 8, 2023, the team traveled to Union, NJ to play in their season opener against Kean University, where they defeated Kean 74-61. This game marks the second consecutive season where the Ducks have defeated Kean for their season opener game. Additionally, it allowed for many impressive performances to stand out. Throughout the game, sophomore Dorothy Loffredo totalled a career-high 17 points as well as adding three rebounds. Sophomore Leyla Castro added 15 points on top of three assists and three steals, while senior Elissa Nsenkyire scored 12 points and added another three assists. Furthermore, first-year
Kay Decker added a team-high 13 rebounds to mark her first game as a Duck. On top of these, the team shot 43.4% from the field and 36.4% from three, as opposed to Kean’s shooting of 30.0% from the field and 26.9% from three-point line. On November 10, the Ducks traveled to Oregon to play against Pacific University, where they won with a score of 73-66, bringing the team’s record to 2-0. Again, this game highlighted many players’ strengths. Nsenkyire scored a team-high 19 points and made four assists, in addition to shooting a career-high four baskets from four shots from the three-point line. Additionally, Decker scored a career-high 16 points and added 11 rebounds, marking her first career double-double. Junior Lucy Alberici added 12 points and six rebounds, while sophomore Audrey Kehoe made a career-high two blocks. The team shot 37.9% from the field, 47.4% from the three-point line, and an impressive 82.4% from the free throw line, whereas Pacific University shot 29.2% from
ON DECK IN SPORTS SAT, NOV 18 WOMEN’S AND MEN’S FENCING Columbia Invitational New York, NY Time TBA WRESTLING Vermont State University Castleton Albany, NY 10:30 a.m. Cornell College Albany, NY 2:30 p.m. University of Wisconsin– La Crosse Albany, NY4:30 p.m. WOMEN’S AND MEN’S SWIMMING Hartwick College Oneota, NY 12 p.m. University of Scranton Oneota, NY 12 p.m. WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Montclair State University Hoboken, NJ 1 p.m. MEN’S BASKETBALL University of Scranton Scranton, PA 3 p.m.
SUN, NOV 19
PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVENSDUCKS.COM (SHOT BY MIKE MCLAUGHLIN)
the field, 21.9% from the threepoint line, and 73.9% from the free throw line. This disparity in shooting percentages helped the Ducks secure the win. On November 12, the Ducks faced George Fox University in Oregon and won with a score 57-52, marking the second time Stevens has won against George Fox, and improving the Ducks’ record to 3-0. With such a close game, many players were able to show off impressive performances. Loffredo scored 16 points and tallied 18 rebounds, marking her first career dou-
ble-double. Alberici added 15 more points and four steals, while Castro scored 14 points and had two blocks. Nsenkyire also recorded five steals. As a team, the Ducks shot 30.0% from the field, 40.0% from the three-point line, and 68.0% from the free throw line, as opposed to George Fox shooting 29.3% from the field, 31.0% from the three-point line, and 90.0% from the free throw line. Following a strong start to the season, the Ducks will return to play The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) on November 15.
MEN’S FENCING MACFA Group “A” -vs- Group “B” New York, NY TBA
TUES, NOV 21 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Hunter College Hoboken, NJ 5 p.m. MEN’S BASKETBALL Baruch College Hoboken, NJ 7 p.m.
STEVENS SCOREBOARD DATE
WED, NOV 8
TEAM
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FIELD HOCKEY THU, NOV 9 WRESTLING FRI, NOV 10 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SAT, NOV 11 WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY WRESTLING WRESTLING MEN'S BASKETBALL SUN, NOV 12 WOMEN'S FENCING MEN'S FENCING WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
OPPONENT
MAC FREEDOM CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINAL KEAN UNIVERSITY NO. 13 CORTLAND UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-EAU CLAIRE PACIFIC UNIVERSITY MAC FREEDOM CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL METRO REGION CHAMPIONSHIP METRO REGION CHAMPIONSHIP ROGER WILLIAMS INVITATIONAL LUTHER OPEN NO. 17 CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY VASSAR INVITATIONAL VASSAR INVITATIONAL GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY
LOCATION
HOME AWAY AWAY AWAY AWAY HOME AWAY AWAY AWAY AWAY AWAY AWAY AWAY AWAY
SCORE
W (3-0) W (74-61) L (1-3) W (19-16) W (73-66) W (3-1) 8TH OF 25 12TH OF 28 10TH OF 12 COMPLETED L (74-79) 3 WINS, 5 LOSSES 2 WINS, 6 LOSSES W (57 - 52)
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Friday, November 17
Science IBM discovers breakthrough in quantum computing BY MEGHANA MAMADAPUR, STAFF WRITER IBM has discovered a breakthrough in quantum computing: solving a complex problem that supercomputing approximation methods could not handle. This discovery can lead to being able to use quantum systems to solve intractable problems in artificial intelligence and subjects such as chemistry. A quantum is a small, discrete unit of phenomenon. For example, an electron is a quantum of electricity. Quantum computing specifically is a new technology that uses quantum mechanics to solve problems that classical computers are not capable of. It uses subatomic particles to perform calculations instead of using electrical signals. Furthermore, quantum computing uses quantum bits, or qubits, as opposed to binary bits. Binary bits are used in most classical daily-use computers, and they store a single unit of information that has a value of zero or one. Qubits are different as they are a two-state system, meaning they can hold a value of zero, one, or a superposition of both. Quantum computers are necessary to calculate complex problems. Some examples include identifying subtle patterns of fraud in financial transactions and new physics in a supercollider. However, quantum computers always require some form of quantum error correction, as it yields an error margin of 0.00005. In this new cutting-edge field of quantum computing, IBM wanted to test a 127-qubit Eagle quantum computer. To do this, they had to obtain accurate results from an error-prone quantum computer and confirm that the answer given was correct. IBM wanted to simulate the Ising model, which represents the moments of atomic spins. Precisely, IBM wanted to calculate the magnetization of this system. This study was
Revolutionizing radar technology: essential to understanding fer- simulations due to the lower lev- Profession Hongbin Li romagnetism, liquid-gas phase el of complexity. The result they transitions, and protein folding. produced matched the answer rethinks radar technologies Regarding the Ising model, IBM found by the quantum computer stated, “Although such a problem is well-suited for quantum computing due to its variable dynamics and a tremendous range of potential scenarios, it has previously remained out of reach of quantum computation due to the error-prone and noisy state of today’s quantum computers.” To correct the large margin of error from quantum computers, IBM used Zero Noise Extrapolation to reduce bias. The noise was increased between 20 and 60% and then extrapolated back to the expected value at zero noise. Dr. Abhinav Kandala, Research Manager of Quantum Capabilities and Demonstrations at IBM, said, “We were only able to do this because we’ve now built a quantum system of unprecedented scale and quality and developed the ability to manipulate noise on a quantum system at this scale.” IBM also hired experts in classical computation methods at the University of California Berkeley. The experts ran the same problem on classical supercomputers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. They used brute-force
at IBM. This experiment proved that increasingly difficult computations could not be performed using classical methods. The performance of the quantum methods was confirmed by classical approximations, which showed that quantum computers were giving more accurate answers. While IBM cannot verify results at high levels of complexity, matching results at lower complexity gives hope for the future. IBM has also issued a statement that: “this does not prove quantum computers are now better than classical systems.” The current state has been deemed “quantum utility,” which means quantum computing can be used to solve real-world problems. With this breakthrough in quantum computing, IBM scientists remain hopeful for future innovation. IBM plans to have a quantum system with over 100,000 qubits within the next ten years. This will lead to significant advancements in all aspects of life, and the possibilities for knowledge will expand tenfold.
PHOTO COURTESY OF TECHTIMES.COM
BY EVAN PAPAGEORGE , OPINION EDITOR In a groundbreaking project, Professor Hongbin Li, the Charles and Rosanna Batchelor Memorial Chair Professor, is leading a team in redefining the capabilities of radio frequency (RF) sensing. The project aims to push the boundaries of traditional radar technology, enabling it to detect non-lineof-sight (NLOS) targets — a limitation that has long plagued conventional RF sensing systems. Modern applications of RF sensing, often associated with radar technology, are widespread, spanning domains such as air defense, traffic control, weather forecasting, and agricultural monitoring. With the proliferation of wireless communications, including radio, TV, cellular, and WiFi signals, RF sensing has become an integral part of our daily lives. The research spearheaded by Professor Li seeks to harness the potential of these signals for applications like security monitoring, target detection, tracking, and assisted living for older adults. The crux of the issue lies in the reliance of traditional RF sensing technologies on lineof-sight (LOS) between the target and sensor, particularly at higher frequencies. Obstructions create shadows, severely limiting a radar’s ability to detect targets. Professor Li’s project aims to overcome this limitation by introducing a new RF sensing paradigm to detect NLOS targets effectively. To tackle this challenge, the team will leverage reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), a thin planar structure comprised of numerous small, lowcost passive elements. The in-
dependent adjustment of these factors allows for controlling the reflection of incident RF signals. Essentially functioning like wallpaper, RIS can cover various surfaces, such as buildings, walls, and ceilings, offering unprecedented opportunities for manipulating RF signal propagation. The primary tasks of the project involve the joint design of radar and RIS, coupled with the development of sophisticated signal processing algorithms. The ultimate goal is to pave the way for more advanced and intelligent radars that can effectively “look and see around corners,” overcoming the limitations imposed by LOS constraints. Professor Li expressed optimism about the project’s potential impact: “We hope the project will pave the way for more advanced and intelligent radars.” The project recently received a significant boost with a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant. Most of the funds will support graduate students and postdocs engaged in the research, ensuring that a diverse and skilled team can contribute to developing this groundbreaking technology. As Professor Li and his team embark on this ambitious endeavor, the implications for the future of RF sensing and radar technology are profound. The project could usher in a new era of intelligent radars, expanding their capabilities and applications across various fields, from defense to everyday security and monitoring. The fusion of RF sensing and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces promises to reshape the landscape of technology, offering solutions that were once deemed impossible.
Brain tissue may be fuel for marathon runners BY RIYANA PHADKE, SCIENCE WRITER On November 5, the 52nd annual New York City Marathon took place with over 50,000 runners crossing the finish line. The fastest marathon runners ran 26.2 miles in just over two hours. To the average person, this speed and distance may be astonishing, and to scientists marathon running has sparked some interesting observations. In a recent preliminary study, scientists are finding that in many endurance athletes, some of their energy sources may be coming from an unexpected source: brain tissue. It appears that marathon runners rely on myelin, a fatty tissue that surrounds nerve cells, as energy during a race. The human brain contains an abundance of myelin as the insulation allows electrical signals to pass from cell to cell, which is crucial for brain function. “The fatty tissue seems to be a straightforward material with a straightforward job, but there’s likely more to it than that”, says Klaus-Armin Nave, a neurobiologist at the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences in Göttingen, Germany. “For the
longest time, it was thought that myelin sheaths were assembled, inert structures of insulation that don’t change much after they’re made,” he says. However, MRI scans are showing that myelin is a dynamic and adaptable tissue that is not only available to the body as a reserve energy source during prolonged physical exercise, but also as a replenishable source of fuel. The body eats at the myelin for fuel, and in the day or two after the marathon, the tissue is almost depleted. However, two weeks after the race, the brain tissue returns back to pre-race levels. Carlos Matute, a neurobiologist at the Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience and the University of the Basque Country in Leioa, Spain, wanted to determine if myelin fats could sustain the brain of endurance athletes while they were running. Using an MRI, his team scanned the brains of four marathon runners before and after their race. Their finding showed that marathon runners underwent significant myelin depletion. The reduction involves both white and gray matter in the brain, as well as the primary motor and sensory cortical areas and pathways in the brain.
These results revealed that myelin use and replenishment is an extraordinary form of metabolic plasticity, an ability that allows cells to adapt their specific needs in response to various stimuli. Matute and his team are now putting together the pieces of their findings. They are looking to determine whether the loss of myelin that occurs during running alters brain function, and how long it takes for brain tissue to regenerate completely. As a marathon runner himself, Matute emphasizes that his
results do not mean running is bad for the brain. “Not at all,” he says. It is possible that the depletion and regeneration of energy and brain tissue is beneficial to the brain’s metabolic capability. Some scientists also suggest that athletes burn so much energy running that they need to tap into new fuel supplies in order to keep their brains operating. “This is definitely an intriguing observation,” says Mustapha Bouhrara, a neuroimaging scientist at the National Institute on Aging in Baltimore.
“It is quite plausible that myelin lipids are used as fuel in extended exercise.” More studies and testing are required in order to ensure the validity of these preliminary studies. However, if what scientists are seeing is further supported, this information could be used for therapeutic purposes. Understanding how runners are able to recover their myelin so rapidly may offer insights into developing potential treatments for myelin loss due to aging or neurodegenerative disease.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SCIENCENEWS.ORG
INTERESTED IN SCIENCE JOURNALISM?Join our Science writing team! Reach out to Erin McGee, Science Editor (emcgee@stevens.edu) for more information – No experience necessary to write • thestute.com/category/science –
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Friday, November 17
Opinion THE STUTE EDITORIAL
Navigating expectations in leadership In recent weeks, the absence of my editorial on these pages hasn’t solely been due to my usual lack of enthusiasm for writing. There’s been a lot on my mind, prompting a deliberate choice to take a break from writing for a while. It’s impossible to overlook what is unfolding in Israel and Gaza right now, a conflict that echoes across the globe. As a student leader in The Stute and Hillel, the Jewish community organization here at Stevens, I’ve found myself grappling with a weighty expectation—that urges students directly impacted by the conflict to be vocal and to speak out. It’s important to acknowledge the toll that this conflict takes on individuals. The pressure for those most directly impacted, including myself, to be the loudest voices prevents the genuine processing of the complex array of emotions of trauma, fear,
anger, and grief that accompany such events. As committed as I am to supporting my peers, this expectation denies student leaders the space necessary to navigate these emotions. Being a student leader is a role that demands resilience and empathy, particularly in times of crisis. Leaders need to step up and provide support to show other students the path to solidarity. However, we have to recognize that this responsibility becomes challenging when leaders are grappling with their struggles simultaneously. Over the past few weeks, I have been dealing with physical sickness, mental exhaustion, and emotional drainage. This isn’t a plea for sympathy but an acknowledgment of my current state, offering a glimpse into the pressures faced by student leaders. The expectation to rise above
personal turmoil to guide others in the context of these conflicts places an immense strain on individuals already dealing with their share of burdens. I’ve been fortunate to receive incredible support from my peers. Yet, in terms of writing, it’s been important for me to claim the necessary space for self-care and reflection. This is not to justify my absence from these pages but to shed light on the realities of my position, particularly during times of intense global conflict. I hope this can serve as a reminder that behind the titles and responsibilities are individuals navigating life just like anyone else. Additionally, it is not just student leaders that are struggling right now. I encourage you to reach out to anyone you know identifies as Jewish, Muslim, Israeli, Palestinian, or Arab and any other peers
who are affected right now, because we are all struggling. I also want to emphasize that it is not about taking sides, but about putting politics aside and checking in with your friends. Regardless of religion or politics, those affected appreciate your sympathy and understanding of their feelings of fear, frustration, and sadness. In the spirit of transparency, the weeks of silence have been a deliberate choice, a conscious effort to take a break for myself. After stepping back from writing for a while, I hope to regain a sense of normalcy and return with a refreshed outlook. Luckily, we have the built-in break of Thanksgiving around the corner. I look forward to spending the next week at home with my family, friends, and pets, and I hope you all have a restful break as well. Happy Thanksgiving!
Isabella Ziv ‘25
Editor-in-Chief
MIND OF A FRESHMAN
A hello to my future friends
BY JUSTIN LEMA ‘27 Now that it is November and we are in the thankful spirit, I would like to express some thanks to the people who have helped me reach this point. I hope that we can all take some time to express
gratitude to our friends and loved ones right before Mariah Carrey takes over when December rolls around. Not only would I like to express thanks to all my friends who have brought me here, but also to the ones that I have yet to meet. Obviously, I have no clue who I will cross paths with, but the idea of meeting a stranger who you can immediately click with is a joyful feeling. Now, many of us may not be looking at the long term, but in the short term, we are going to meet new people when we register for our spring semester classes. I have learned my lesson from the
first time we got to schedule our fall classes, and I will be spamming that refresh button on Workday. Although I was not able to register for all my classes for my main draft, I did get to meet people in my new schedule that I had to create at the last minute. I am a firm believer that there is a reason why things happen, whether it be small or big. It really comes down to the people you will come across and how you will nurture those bonds. From high school to college, I have met wonderful people and gotten to share great talks with them about school, life, and goals. If you
have ever heard the phrase “You are defined by the people you surround yourself with,” then you will know that it is true. As we move on to different phases of our lives, we love to spend time with people that we get along with. We tend to drift to people who share the same culture, hobby, job, or sports interest as we build a tight-knit community. I had the honor of meeting my closest friends in my high school senior year, which is something I did not expect especially when the pandemic impacted how many people I could meet. I recall how excited I was
to start college, but I did not really think about how I would make friends on campus. I greatly appreciate the friends I have been able to make this semester, as you have helped me with the transition into college. Rightly so, I hope that we continue bumping into each other on campus in the following years. After college, we will get to meet more people, and they will define us for who we are. You never know if a new close friend or future partner is out there waiting for you. New people will come and go from your life, but one thing that I find fascinating is that
they all leave a small piece with you. Essentially, we are all products of our friends that we have made along the way (yes, that does sound cliché), but it is an uplifting feeling that we also have the same effect on people. Lately, I bumped into one of the students that I taught over the summer, and to my surprise, he recognized me. I am sure that we have all had some sort of impact like this on our friends and will continue to do so for our future friends. So, I have made great friends this far into the semester, and I wish to meet more people and share those experiences with you all.
I felt the most change in myself when I was living alone last summer. This was the first time I was completely in charge of my daily schedule. I had responsibility; I needed to put in enough hours to make rent, and my research project was task-oriented, so I had the freedom to work on it whenever I wanted as long as I met my goals. Implementing a regular schedule was up to me, not my class schedule or employer. In my work ethic, there was something that switched. I realized I’m not waiting to act until I know what I’m doing, I’m making educated guesses and acting on it, knowing I could be wrong. It’s more successful than I thought it would be; being the person to try to solve the problem is sometimes the largest part of
the issue. During SAT prep, I remember hearing advice to try all of the problems and come back to ones that are taking longer. Making some progress on multiple areas of the same larger task, i.e., completing the SAT, gets you much further than sitting stuck on a problem you don’t know. If you can put in time to attempt the problem and evaluate if the results seem reasonable, that will get you most of the way there. I feel more adult-like than I did this time last year. I am better at considering what is being asked of me and how that fits into my schedule, how much energy I will need to devote to it, and estimating accurately when I can get it done. It doesn’t do anyone good to overpromise and underdeliver; look
at what you have upcoming and consider when you will be able to devote the appropriate amount of time. I feel better at planning ahead, but I don’t know where I will be this time next year. I discovered a passion for research, and I’m not opposed to continued education, but I worry about financing it. An engineering degree doesn’t seem like a frivolous investment, but it’s still a hefty one. I’m considering expanding my job search to fields that are less interesting to me, but it doesn’t seem worth it to pursue a job in a career path I know I don’t have an interest in. Regardless of where I am a year from now, I feel more prepared to take on challenges and look forward to whatever comes my way.
SENIORITIS
Do you feel like an adult?
BY KAYDEN CANNILLA ‘24 College years feel like quasi-adulthood — more independence than living in my parents’ house but not yet the responsibility of a fulltime job. At many stages in my life, I’ve thought to myself, “As soon as I reach this next marker, I’ll feel grown,” or, “The people older than me have it all figured out, I’ll get there when I get to high
school.” There are traditional markers of independence that can objectively gauge personal independence, but they don’t address the overarching problem: do I feel ready to leave university? Dr. Jean M. Twenge discusses generational trends in her book iGen. She found through 80 years of survey data that many of the markers typically associated with adulthood (obtaining a driver’s license, getting a job, dating, and having sexual partners) are occurring later in life for younger generations, Gen Z and Millennials, compared to Gen X and Boomers. She says, “Eighteen-yearolds look and act like fifteenyear-olds used to,” and attributes this slower cycle of life to longer life expectancies and technological advance-
ments changing the way we communicate (though that’s a topic for another day). In some empirical sense, the average Zoomer is less of an “adult” than their parents were at the same age. There is more to adult life than a career, but at this point, it seems to dominate my small talk. Financial independence is not the only form of independence necessary to provide for yourself. Can you cook for yourself or keep a nutritious diet? Can you keep your home environment clean? Can you communicate well with your roommates or keep up relationships with friends and family even when you’re busy? Can you think beyond what is happening in the present and make a plan one month or three months in advance?
COMIC CORNER BY JOSIE STRANO
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Friday, November 17
Opinion UNMASKING: AN AUTISM STORY
Empathy: the feelings of individuals with autism
BY EVAN PAPAGEORGE ‘26 Empathy, a cornerstone of human connection, is a nuanced experience that binds individuals emotionally. For those on the autism spectrum, however, the landscape of empathy unfolds in distinctive ways, presenting a complex interplay between neurological differences and the universal desire for connection. Today, we will unmask the world of empathy and autism. Empathy, at its core, involves the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Within autism, this emotional dance takes on a unique cadence. Contrary to common misconceptions, individuals with autism possess the capacity for empathy, albeit expressed in ways that may differ from neurotypical norms. One facet of empathy often observed in individuals with autism is cognitive em-
pathy, where understanding others’ emotions is processed intellectually, often manifesting thoughtful consideration of others’ feelings, even if they slightly subdue the outward display of emotion. Affective empathy, the emotional component of understanding and sharing others’ feelings, may present challenges for those on the spectrum. Expressing or recognizing emotional states in others may take more work, underscoring the importance of acknowledging and appreciating diverse manifestations of empathy. Sensory sensitivities, an everyday companion to autism, play a pivotal role in shaping empathetic responses. Heightened sensitivities to stimuli such as touch, sound, or light can create overwhelming experiences, impacting the ability to engage emotionally. To truly understand and support individuals with autism, a consideration of these sensory needs is paramount, as they directly influence the capacity for empathetic interactions. The social communication challenges inherent in autism further underscore the need for a nuanced understanding of empathy. Difficulties in interpreting non-verbal cues, such as facial expressions and body language, may impede the ability to discern
the emotional states of others accurately. To bridge this gap, neurotypical individuals can contribute by being patient, clear, and explicit in their communication, cultivating an environment where empathy can flourish despite these challenges. Promoting empathy within the autism spectrum requires tailored approaches recognizing unique strengths and challenges. Social skills training, visual aids, and explicit teaching of emotional expressions can empower individuals to connect with others more effectively. Fostering environments that embrace neurodiversity and encourage understanding can contribute to a more inclusive society where empathy becomes a shared experience. While the manifestation of empathy may take varied forms within the spectrum of autism, the underlying desire for connection remains a universal human trait. By unraveling the complexities of empathy in autism and championing inclusive practices, we pave the way for a society that celebrates the richness of human diversity — through this shared understanding, connecting neurotypical and neurodivergent experiences in a harmonious celebration of the vast tapestry of humanity.
GIRL(ISH) TALK
A girl alone in the woods
BY CLAIRE HANNAN ‘24 Many people have heard of Transcendentalism, the brand of philosophy that centers around self-reliance, nature, and human experience. The concept was popularized by men like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau and typically comes with a more masculine image. If you aren’t familiar with Transcendentalism or don’t know what I’m talking about, think of it as those people who put massive backpacks on and head into the forest to “find themselves.” Yes, there are plenty of women who do things like that, but historically, men have made up the majority of long-distance thru-hikers and have been the most dominant voices surrounding Transcendentalism.
For me, my dad was the one who introduced me to the concept, and at first, I didn’t really get it. It wasn’t until COVID that I began to understand why all those old men in the 1800s were obsessed with the forest. Even though we were all stuck inside with the virus, I don’t think I had ever spent that much time outside before. I was 17, bored, and had just gotten my driver’s license. So I would take a water bottle and a mask and go out to the woods for hours. It didn’t matter if it was raining, blizzarding, or a heatwave. I explored every inch of the nature reservation near my parents’ home. Since then, I have spent a lot of time backpacking and exploring more difficult hiking trails. Although the tradition was paved by men, I have learned a lot about myself and being a woman by being alone in the woods. The traditional role of a woman is to be reliant, but being completely alone forced me to realize that there is nothing inherently reliant about me. Breaking it down, I saw that the things I thought I was supposed to be didn’t necessarily have to be true. The forest is a break from
gender and from the identities embedded into being a person. It’s a chance to separate your own identity, the truth about who you are, from the expectations of who you are. There doesn’t have to be a performance when you are truly alone. I’ve talked before about my previous discomfort with “girl” because of how wrong it used to feel to fit that label. Alone in the woods, I came to realize that who I am doesn’t hinge on how I am viewed or described. My identity is a personal experience beyond language and impossible to fit into a uniform social box. Of course, I felt that I didn’t fit in with any category, no one has ever been me before! None of us can be truly understood in full, so we generalize ourselves into stereotypes that help others get a better idea. But when we’re alone, we can drop the act and get to know the real, important parts about ourselves. If you think I sound crazy and don’t really get it, I would encourage you to head into the woods for a while. It’s impossible to tell who you’ve been pretending to be until there’s no one around to watch.
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
The mystery and choices of Banksy
OFF THE PRESS
Crazy fox attempts to snatch duck on top of Christmas tree BY OFF CENTER -SatireRecently, a Christmas tree was put up right between Harries Tower and the South Tower, filled with numerous bright and colorful ornaments and a small duck on the top, meant to represent the pride of Stevens. However, the unforeseen consequence of putting the duck up meant it attracted predators who thought it was a real duck that would serve as a nice dinner. One of the predators that the duck attracted was a sly, red fox whose mouth watered as it stared at the duck. It was willing to do anything to attempt to catch it for a nice, tasty dinner. First, the fox attempted to reach the duck by using a ladder to climb up to the top of the tree. The fox first went over to the Schafer gym, where some painters were already using the ladder to try to paint parts of the Schafer gym. The fox snatched the ladder, which immediately caused the painters to fall into the buckets of paint. The fox set the ladder by the tree in order to try to catch the duck, but the heavy wind caused the ladder to fall over.
Then, the fox set the ladder by the other end of the tree to catch the duck and avoid the wind, but then the wind blew in the opposite direction. Frustrated, the fox sought to think of another way to catch the duck. Then, the fox decided to try to use springs in order to jump high and catch the duck. It hurried over to the Makerspace and quickly stole some springs that students were using to design a machine, which caused the machine to explode. The fox then tied their legs to the spring and prepared to jump high in order to reach the duck, but it miscalculated the trajectory and ended up crashing into the bridge that connects the two towers. Then, the fox tried again but miscalculated the trajectory and ended up landing in New York City, where it got hit by rushing cars. The fox tried again for a final time, and this time ended up jumping so high that it hit the sun, where the fox commented that it “felt very cold.” The fox decided to take a unique approach in attempting to catch the duck through the use of sky-diving from a plane. First, it quickly bought a plane to practice its
sky-diving (of course, it begs the question of why the fox wouldn’t use the money to buy food instead of spending it on zany schemes). After reaching the highest altitude possible, the fox jumped from the plane and made its way towards the duck. Then, the fox opened the parachute, only to realize that it was actually a piano. The fox crashed down to the ground, and the piano fell with such force that it fell into the sewer. The fox was chased by a gator living in the sewers and ran away faster than a Stevens student learning about a new test. Finally, the fox decided to use a rocket as a last resort in attempting to catch the duck. It created the rocket and lit the fuse, but the fox started to sweat, which fell on the fire and put it out. The fox tried again, but this time, the wind blew the fuse onto the fox and caused the poor canine to get burned. Finally, the fox did it again, but this time, the rocket exploded, causing the fox to fly all over the air. Because of all these shenanigans, the fox decided to give up and go eat at the UCC, which the fox commended as “the worst mistake ever.”
BY ITAI GELLER ‘26 Frequently on Artist Spotlight, I have chosen to cover lesser-known artists in an attempt to not only give their work the exposure it deserves but also demonstrate how these artists use specific techniques, cultural influences, and beliefs to motivate their expression. However, for this week’s column, I decided to take a different route. The internet is a wonderful place in that you have a seemingly infinite library of knowledge at your disposal. This means that if you want to put a name to a face, you can almost certainly find the artist you’re looking for and recognize them as an individual rather than just a creator. Having a face as an artist is important for both notoriety and expression; artists are either celebrated or punished for their underlying message. I believe that it’s somewhat honorable to provide your identity as an artist, especially when the message you are communicating may provoke controversy. As you likely already guessed, the artist I will be discussing in this issue’s Artist Spotlight is the anonymous English graffiti artist referred to as Banksy. Although Banksy has gained a reputation, which can most likely be attributed to their unique urban paintings that typically contain veiled social commentary, I think that they are more commonly recognized for their anonymity. While I fully agree with the messages Banksy communicates through their pieces, I question their motivations for hiding their identity. From one perspective, tagging walls in frequented public spaces is NOT legal and would be the purest motivation for Banksy to hide their identity, especially from authorities. In addition, there are times when Banksy has put themself in dangerous situations to create their murals. In 2022, Banksy
PHOTO COURTESY OFWIKIART.ORG/EN/BANKSY
confirmed making a trip to the war-torn country of Ukraine in solidarity with its people, whose cities had been ravaged by an unanticipated Russian invasion a few months prior. Banksy went to Ukraine at the height of its continuing conflict with its Russian neighbors, creating seven unique murals that perfectly illustrate the admirable determination of the Ukrainian people to preserve their homeland while also calling attention to the unfortunate reality they presently live through on a day-to-day basis. My favorite pieces from this collection are “Khiv, Kreshchatyk 9” and “Hostomel, Proskurivs’ka 2.” Both are creative uses of the warped urban landscape Ukraine has become as a result of its conflict with Russia. In “Khiv, Kreshchatyk 9,” Banksy spray painted two children on pieces of stone behind an anti-tank spike, making it seem as though they are using it as a seesaw. Banksy made similar use of an environmental factor in “Hostomel, Proskurivs’ka 2,” in which a lady in a gas mask and a bathrobe has extinguished a fire in her window. The burn mark from the fire is real remains from the urban warfare that the Ukrainian people have been subjected to. This mural is a unique allusion to the adaptability of the Ukrainian people and their call to arms in response to the Russian aggressors. Even though Banksy’s anonymity may be important for their personal safety, there have been other artists who have remained in the public eye, regardless of the controversy surrounding their message. A good example would be Ai WeiWei, an artist living in China who commonly addresses the oppressive nature of the Chinese government through his work. Ai WeiWei’s most popular series was “A Study of Perspective,” in which
he took pictures of himself giving the middle finger to different locations, which represent suppression of free speech or uncontrolled political power. Ai WeiWei’s pieces are almost always met with persecution by the Chinese government, leading to interrogations and even beatings. The importance of Ai WeiWei maintaining their personal identity as an artist is that while they are punished for their artistic expression, the world watches and hears their message clearly. This is why I believe that by shying away from the public eye, Banksy’s message remains shrouded, all while their artwork is immersed in material value. It cannot be overstated how significant Banksy’s anonymity is to their identity as an artist. With no intention of downplaying the importance of their work, I would say that as a graffiti artist, Banksy shares far greater success than most because of their anonymous persona. As a direct result of their recognizability, Banksy is able to mass produce and commercialize prints of their art for a global audience while also selling original pieces at auctions for far greater sums. Unfortunately, this is where I begin to question Banksy motives. Are they mass-producing prints of their work to spread the messages of their pieces, or are they taking advantage of the material gain associated with the popularity of their persona? Conversely, is it the fault of the consumer for likely disregarding the greater meaning of Banksy’s original pieces in favor of a replica they can hang in their living room? I’ll leave that up to the reader to contemplate. Regardless, Banksy’s legacy continues, with more unique murals cropping up spontaneously all over the globe. Likely, one day, their true identity will be revealed. Until then, we can only keep guessing…
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Friday, November 17
Opinion FOR MATH’S SAKE
Music and its mathematical roots
BY CHARLES BEALL B.S. ‘23 & PHD STUDENT This weekend marks the beginning of the end-of-semester concert season, featuring the Stevens Orchestra’s performance tomorrow, with Concert Band (December 2), Jazz Band (December 8), and Choir (December 9) following Thanksgiving break. There will also be several musical
acts at EC’s Winter Wonderland on November 29th. I’ve enjoyed attending and performing in these events over the years, in part because of the mathematical undertones pervading through all of music. For those of us who have taken or are currently taking music classes or lessons, you’ll know that some of the content inevitably involves at least a bit of music theory, which introduces lots of numbers and their manipulations into music. For one, we have the concept of “intervals,” which help us determine notes in a chord, or where to jump to for the next note of a melody. Starting with the base note of a scale, we can go up a fifth (to the fifth note), down a third (bringing us to the second
of the scale), back to a minor fourth, and so on. This can be a helpful tool for figuring out what a piece of sheet music sounds like before even playing it – if you know the intervals, you have a good sense of where the music is going. The manipulation of intervals and scales can be captured even more precisely by modular arithmetic. There are 12 notes in a chromatic scale, meaning that every time we go up an octave, we are making (in one sense) 12 steps up to a note that is twice the frequency of the note where we started. Musicians describe these start and end notes as the “same” in a way so that we don’t have as many names for all the notes. So we’re only going up to 12 and then back down to 1, like how
LIFESTYLE HACKS
BY ZOE HACK ‘24 Asking for help is something that I have previously viewed as a weakness, but now know is a skill that only the strongest of people possess. When I say asking for help, I am in no way implying a one-size-fits-all concept — there are so many different ways to ask for help in different aspects of one’s life. As important as it is to learn from your own mistakes, asking for others’ perspectives and incorporating them into your learning and growth can be helpful in gaining a different or outside perspective. As far as school work goes, attending a professor’s office hours or voicing your questions in class can be extremely beneficial, but that doesn’t always work for everyone. Sometimes, you can find yourself in a place where you don’t even know what questions to ask to get the help you need. I’ve definitely been there and know how helpless you can feel in such a situation. That mo-
this “look at all the math in music” mantra, I should note that much of this formalism came about long after humans began making music. What fascinates me here is that mathematicians, who generally enjoy finding patterns and noticing their intrinsic beauty, seek out areas like music to study more, and often make exciting discoveries. Even more so, humans, long before having the math of set theory and algebra (which is needed for a lot of these more in-depth mathematical technicalities of music), knew what sounded good, and blended music into many aspects of their cultural experience. I think that this example is one of many wherein humans are a little more predisposed
to mathematics than many people may believe. Sure, mathematics can be quite challenging, and what may come naturally to some can take others a lot longer to gain a working understanding of. But this is ok — it’s the same with music, where some people may have lots of talent and training in the area, while others with less of a background can still appreciate the beautiful noises their fellow humans are making. So as concert season approaches, I hope outlets like this column allow people to generally appreciate mathematics as performances allow the public to engage with and enjoy music. If math can strike the right chord in people’s lives, I firmly believe that it does have wondrous and fulfilling benefits.
THAT’S A RED FLAG!
Learning to ask for help ment where you feel weak is where you can make one of the strongest decisions: asking for help. Whether it be making a point to reach out to others in your class to collaborate on work or getting a tutor, asking for help when you feel helpless is one of the strongest things you can do. This doesn’t just go for classes; asking for help in any aspect of your life can immensely improve your situation. Scientifically speaking, most natural processes require a certain energy input, so if in order to reach a goal you need a little boost of help to get started, that is absolutely reasonable and, in nature, expected. As far as available academic resources for when you need help, going to office hours for your professor and TAs is a great start. Not sure what to ask or even where to start? Maybe ask about a homework or test question you got wrong and how to approach something like it in the future. Beyond this, the academic support center has tutors for most all classes with students who’ve been in the same shoes as you and will know how to help. Outside of campus, there are so many free online resources available to students. I often get so caught up in all of my work that I forget that I can find an instructional YouTube video on whatever topic I
we would do addition modulo 12. One more interesting example is that the definitions of musical terms such as “transpositions” and “inversions” are very close to their mathematical meanings. When we transpose, we shift every note in the scale-up by a certain interval — usually a half or whole step to give us the coveted key change in many famous pop songs. “Inverting” a pair of notes, meanwhile, means inverting them with respect to the octave scale so that, after inversion, the lower note becomes the higher note while maintaining their original interval spacing. It’s quite analogous to reflecting a point about an axis or flipping a shape inside out. As a counterpoint to all
Restaurant red flags am struggling with. As well as academic resources, there are also many accessible mental health resources both on and off campus. CAPS is a great place to start, being free and on campus and having many outside resources and referrals. Asking for help can sometimes feel less scary if you are asking someone who does not know you personally and can offer a great deal of objective advice and support. Doing this also allows you to kind of take a step back while you explain your situation to someone who is not already aware of it. I have used the resources that CAPS offers and found them truly helpful, and it’s really nice to know that we have a bunch of people solely dedicated to taking care of the mental well-being of Stevens students, especially at no cost for us! While I tried to make it sound a little easier, I am fully aware that asking for help can still be a scary thing to do. Instead of trying to focus on the act of asking, try to think about the success you will find after you receive the help that you need. Along with asking for help, try to also be there for others when they need help. This is definitely not one of the easiest parts of our lives, and if we all support each other as a community, we can get through it together.
BY ANNA DABROWSKI ‘26 Since Stevens is located in the cuisine-oriented city of Hoboken, there are tons of restaurants to dine at and experience. Every student has their own favorites and least favorites, and a variety of food bloggers review Hoboken restaurants. When a restaurant is frequently talked about, it’s very tempting to give it a try. However, sometimes, the raving reviews raise expectations and lead you to disappointment. There have been many instances where I dined at a highly-reviewed restaurant and was disappointed in the experience. So, how can we detect restaurant red flags? How should we pick where we go out to eat in Hoboken since there are so many options? I’ll say it again and again: beware of the waterfront. This does not mean that any restaurant on the bank of the Hudson is automatically bad by any means. I am referring to the fact that middle-aged moms fiend for a view and, as a result, drive up the reviews of any restaurant that has a
river view. You’ll see this in the infamous parent Facebook group for Stevens. The food recommendations are terrible, but they all have the Hudson view in common. People tend to lower their standard for food when the restaurant is in a great location or has a nice environment. Appearances can be deceiving. It can be tempting to judge a restaurant by their trendy interior or the prices on its menus, but this can be incredibly misleading. I’ve been to plenty of “fancy” looking restaurants only to be presented with boxed pasta or something that looks like it was heated up in a microwave. I would look at Yelp reviews because if someone is going out of their way to leave a review on Yelp, usually they have a negative experience. If there aren’t many positive reviews, don’t worry; people are less likely to leave positive reviews, so if there aren’t any overly negative ones, then the restaurant is probably not terrible. Beware of GrubHub ghost kitchens. These ghost kitchens are restaurants that only exist on delivery apps, and they do not have a storefront. Oftentimes, these “restaurants” are operating out of shared commercial kitchens, and they only really care about turning a quick profit. I would avoid these restaurants at all costs when ordering food online because it is likely that the food will be really bad since they are just trying to rush out
food as fast as possible. I also think that, generally speaking, it is better to go dine in person anywhere when possible, simply because food tastes the best as soon as it comes out of the kitchen as opposed to spending an hour in the delivery system. However, I definitely order in sometimes when I am busy. Listen, we all love Italian food, who doesn’t love a good dish from Napolis? I love a good slice of pizza as much as the next person. However, I am begging every Stevens student to branch off from the mediocre Italian restaurants. Hoboken is oversaturated with random Italian restaurants, which are, let’s be honest, very mid. Wake up your taste buds and try something new, I promise you that there is at least one type of food you will enjoy besides Italian. Hoboken has many culturally diverse restaurants serving Chinese, Indian, Thai, French, and almost any other type of food you can imagine. Some of my favorites are Empyrean Cafe, which is near the PATH station and serves Indian food, and La Boheme, which is a French restaurant on Clinton and 3rd Street. I also would recommend searching up some local Hoboken food bloggers because they will usually be pretty honest about quality. Overall, keep these tips in mind next time you are ordering in or eating out in Hoboken. Happy eating!
BOOK OF THE WEEK
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas: a story of betrayal and redemption
BY VICTORIA YASHCHUK ‘26 The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas is a classic. A story about a man, Edmond Dantes, who was falsely accused of treason by his “friends,” Danglars and Fernand Mondego. The intrigue of this story lies within Dantes’s ability to become a man of great intelligence, caliber, and wealth and uses his newfound knowledge and capabilities to avenge so many lost years of his life, along with the love he could have prospered
with. Edmond Dantes, at 19 years of age, was an incredibly talented sailor. He lives in Marseilles, where his father and the woman he loves, Mercedes, reside. At the beginning of the book, Dantes is set for success. The book starts by telling how Dantes came back to Marseille from another voyage on the Le Pharaon. More importantly, Dantes announces his duty to deliver a letter that was passed to him during the voyage in Elba. Before leaving to deliver the letter, Dantes is promoted to Captain of the ship by former Captain Morrel, who was also one of Dantes’s respected friends. Along with accepting such a promotion, Dantes was set to marry Mercedes, the love of his life. Mercedes loved Dantes deeply, vowing to end her life if something happened to him. Dantes was ecstatic, as he could finan-
cially support his father and his bride-to-be. However, the happy frontier does not cover the tenebrous, underlying interior that is set to be Dantes’s downfall. Danglars was thought to be Dantes’s shipmate and good acquaintance. However, tension arose between Dantes and Danglars after Dantes was promoted to Captain of the Pharaon. Danglars became extremely jealous, arrogantly believing that he was a better fit for the job and that it was unfair for Dantes to be so lucky in his life. That being said, Danglars devises a plan, using his knowledge of the letter Dantes had to deliver. He comes together with Fernand, who is deeply in love with Mercedes and hates Dantes with a passion for having Mercedes’s love and devotion. Sitting down with Fernand and another acquaintance, Caderousse, the three talk
about their hatred for Dantes and devise a plan to shatter Dantes’s life. Initiated by Danglars, he falsely accuses Dantes of carrying a letter from Napoleon to the Bonapartist committee in Paris. The accusation is written by Danglars in a letter of his own to the crown prosecutor. Shortly after the plan was initiated, Dantes and Mercedes were (officially) set to be married and, of course, invited Danglars, Fernand, and Caderousse, with other close family and friends. During the celebration, Dantes was taken by soldiers, accused of being a messenger for the “Usurper.” Without trial, Dantes was imprisoned in the Chateau d’If. During his time in prison, Dantes began to lose himself, year after year, until he met the man who saved his life — Abbe Faria. Abbe Faria was known as the “Mad Priest” amongst
the prison guards because he claimed to have a great treasure, which he promised to share if he was released. Along with that, Abbe Faria would talk to himself about various topics in history, science, language, etc. His intelligence was mistaken for craziness. Faria and Dantes met coincidentally — both men were digging holes through their walls and happened to have cells adjacent to each other. From their first meeting, they agreed that Faria would teach Dantes everything he knows and help Dantes realize he was falsely accused by Danglars and Fernand. For years afterward, Dantes was Faria’s devoted student. When Faria became sick, he told Dantes about his treasure, which Dantes was reluctant to believe at first. Regardless, Dantes followed the instructions given by Faria before his passing on how
to find the treasure after he escaped prison. When Faria died, Dantes removed Faria from the enclosure he was in and placed himself in the enclosure. In this way, Dantes escaped, followed Faria’s instructions to the treasure, and began his (successful) journey of avenging all the years he had lost.
PHOTO COURTESY OF EBAY.COM
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Friday, November 17
Campus Pulse
Mechanical Engineering
Industrial & Systems Engineering
Quantitive Finance
Alex Iervolino ’24
Isabella Ziv ’25
Meghana Mamadapur ’27
“Mechanical Engineering because it’s the hardest here.”
“Industrial & Systems Engineering. We’re small but mighty.”
“Quantitive Finance. It’s a business major, so it’s obviously better than everyone else.”
ROVING REPORTER By Rafael Lee Li and Mia Petrolino
“I don’t know... Everyone’s insufferable.”
“What’s the best major on campus?”
Computer Science
Engineering Management
Engineering Undecided
Justin Baumann ’25
Claire Deatrick ’27
Chemical Engineering
Gaby Campos ’25
Diego Ramirez ’25
Business & Technology
Benny Katz ’25
“I’d say Business & Technology. It’s the closest thing to an arts & crafts degree.”
“Engineering Management because we tell the other half of the school what to do.”
“BizTech. I’m jealous of their workload.”
“Engineering because who doesn’t wanna be an engineer”
Hidden Links
Crossword by Jack Scherban ACROSS ͳǤ ͶǤ ͷǤ Ǥ ̵ Ǥ
Swift Singles ͳͷ Ǥ ǫ ǡ Ǥ
DOWN ͳǤ ʹǤ ̵ ͵Ǥ Ǧ ͶǤ ͷǤ ̶ ̶ Ǥ Ǥ Ǥ
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Only Connectǡ Ǥ ǡ ǡ ǡ Ǥ “nouns”. “places”, etc. What do the following have in common?
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