[The Stute] December 15, 2023 (Issue 14, Volume CXXI)

Have a great winter break!

Tear out the middle two pages of this issue to use as wrapping paper!

VOLUME CXXI No. 14

We write Stevens history HOBOKEN, NJ | DECEMBER 15, 2023

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

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

Hillel brings light to campus with nightly menorah lightings for Hanukkah BEN KNOBLOCH, NEWS EDITOR

PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFF VOCK

Recap of EC’s Winter Wonderland

BY TANYA AVADIA, BUSINESS MANAGER The Entertainment Committee’s (EC) annual Winter Wonderland celebration was a spectacular way to celebrate the start of the holiday season on campus.

It was the product of many student organizations and individuals coming together to create a fun night for all.

The Stute had the opportunity to speak with Sara Wolf, the Festivities Director of EC, and she shared her experience in making this event happen.

One of Wolf’s favorite parts of Winter Wonderland

is that there is so much to do and so much happening at once. There were many things that have become staples of the night, such as live performances by a multitude of students and student organizations, food and beverages, chances to win gift baskets and other giveaways, and a photobooth for creating tangible memories. Special aspects of the event included a Holiday Duck Market in which students could promote and sell goods from their own small businesses, presentations from Cultural Organizations regarding their own holiday customs, the

Christmas Tree lighting ceremony performed by Attila the Duck, and of course the most anticipated, the third annual Santa Competition.

The Santa Competition is a chance for student organizations to compete for the title of “Stevens Santa,” a title highly coveted by both The Stute and Student Government Association (SGA). Both sides, desperate to outdo the other, waged a massive (prank) war on each other, with the Stute delivering the final blow in style: newspapering the SGA office. However, neither side won, as it was Sigma Delta Tau that took home the title

of “Stevens Santa” this year.

When asked to comment on Santa Competition and about the Stute vs SGA rivalry, Wolf acknowledged that the Stute did score higher than the SGA, and that both organizations are advised to listen to more holiday music for future competitions.

When asked about the event planning process for Winter Wonderland, Wolf stated how all the preparations took about a month, a relatively short time frame allowed by the fact that it is a campus tradition and that the overall agenda stays

SEE WINTER PAGE 2

Hillel, the self-described home for Jewish life at Stevens, is holding their annual menorah lightings in celebration of Hanukkah. The lightings, as well as the Hanukkah party that was held on the first night on December 7, hold special significance this year in light of the October 7 attacks on Israel

by Hamas and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. To learn more about this and other events that Hillel has sponsored this semester, The Stute spoke with its president, Dennis Vink.

Vink, a senior majoring in Quantitative Finance, encouraged students to attend the lightings, which are being held in the UCC second floor commons at 6 p.m. until December 15, the final night of Hanukkah. “On the first night, we gave out menorahs that were sponsored

by Hoboken Chabad. Every night we do the blessings, and we just try to create a good atmosphere. With everything happening, community on campus is very important.”

He stressed the importance of creating a community space for Jewish students to share in their faith in a positive and joyful atmosphere, especially in a time when many Jewish students on American campus-

es are concerned for their safety and feel besieged by antisemitic rhetoric.

“On campus, Jewish students definitely feel unsafe,” said Vink. “On our campus, there has been no conflict, which is great. But students at Columbia University, New York University, Cooper Union, there have been students receiving hate crimes. With everything going on on social media, there’s so much negative energy directed towards Jewish students. Hanukkah is the festival of lights and we’re trying to bring joy to campus.”

It’s that celebration of the beauty and joy of Judaism that has provided so much meaning to the lighting ceremonies this year. Despite having relatively minor significance as a religious holiday, Hanukkah has gained enormous cultural significance as a symbol of the resilience and unity of the Jewish people. It celebrates the liberation of the Second Temple of Jerusalem in the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the second century BC, and the subsequent miracle in which one day’s worth of sacred oil burned for eight days and eight nights. “It’s the Festival of Lights representing the perseverance of the Jewish people,” said

SEE LIGHT PAGE 2

Stevens Law Society and College YEAR-END RANKINGS Democrats promotes student Rizz, 2023 Word of the Year Viva Viva Magenta: citizenship with City Council College Democrats and the Stevens Law Society recently co-hosted an event to promote student involvement in local politics. Called “Career in Politics and Activism,” It featured the Hoboken Democrats Chair and three City Council members as guest speakers. To learn more about the event, The Stute spoke with Joyce Mullan, Teaching Assistant Professor with the School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences and faculty advisor for the Stevens Law Society.

The two organizations collaborated to organize the event for November 29, where attendees packed Babbio 122 near capacity, according to Mullan. At the front of the room was a panel of four local political figures.

The first was Rachel Hodes, the current Hoboken Democrats Chair, an unpaid municipal body of eighty people to represent the values of the Democratic Party across the 40 voting districts within Hoboken. Alongside her was Emily Jabbour, the President of the City Council. Two other council members joined them: Joe Quintero and Phil Cohen, representing the city at large and the 5th Ward, respectively. Mayor Ravi S.

Bhalla was expected to join the panel but had to cancel due to his participation in COP28, the United Nations global climate conference hosted in Dubai.

The overarching theme was encouraging students to engage with public service and local politics. Melissa Pathil and Shanel Urgiles, the president and treasurer for College Democrats, served as moderators and allowed each to share their journey towards getting more politically involved. The guest speakers also shared their daily operations and addressed any other issues relevant to Stevens students interested in pursuing a career in local politics. For example, they discussed women’s declining involvement in local politics because of their increased participation in the workforce. During the event, students asked the panelists questions directly in a dedicated Q&A session following the talks.

Mullan was happy with the collaboration and the exploration of how the City Council members use law to improve the lives of everyday people. As the event established, student involvement in local government is something current political leaders believe can lead to positive change in our community.

NEWS (2)

SCIENCE (4)

FEATURE (5-8)

PULSE (12)

ROCCO VACCONE, CONTRIBUTOR

Stevens celebrates the Winter holiday season Recap of Winter Wonderland and Hillel’s nightly Hanukkah candle lighting.

Need last-minute wrappping paper for holiday gifts?

Look no further!

Use the wrapping paper included in this weeks feature!

The perfect Christmas tree?

Penguins nap how much?

Psychology of holiday tunes?

Read 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.

rizz [riz]

SLANG

noun: romantic appeal or charm verb: to flirt with or seduce TANISHKA KAPOOR, CONTRIBUTOR Have you ever wanted to be more than just friends with someone? Or thought that someone was really attractive, but didn’t know how to approach them? The answer to your predicaments lies in the one word: rizz. Some say they struggle with it, others claim to be a natural. Regardless, if you are a young person, it is hard to not have come across this word. This year, Oxford picked “rizz” as the 2023 Word of the Year. After battling closely with other contenders like Swifties, situationships, and parasocial, “rizz” came up on top.

But what exactly is rizz? On the scale of Stevens students to Jack Harlow, where do you fall in terms of rizz?

A word popularized by the Twitch streamer, Kai Cenat, rizz can be interpreted as charisma, or your ability to attract someone and make them interested.

Often used as a verb, “rizz” can have many conjugations and ways of usage. Someone

who is really good at rizzing may even be called a Rizzler.

However keep in mind, if you call yourself a Rizzler unironically, you may just turn off every person you talk to.

Research shows that being good at rizz may not be an innate characteristic, but instead something you can build up with one key trait: confidence. A lot of people, especially at Stevens, are too self-conscious about the way they behave. They have to learn how to stroll up with confidence. Shoulders back, chin up, strong eye contact. That is the key to rizzing someone up. Lay back and casually ease into a conversation. A common misconception that people tend to have is that confidence equals conceited. No: that is just narcissism. Over the past couple months, a lot of YouTubers and TikTokers have risen up to fame through their content focusing on how to become better at attracting people. The problem with some people is

SEE RIZZ PAGE 2

A reflection on Pantone’s 2023 Color of the Year LIZ SEPULVEDA, COMIC ARTIST

Every year, Pantone declares one hue to be Color of the Year, a color predictive of global design trends and overall attitudes of the upcoming year. In December of 2022, Pantone announced its 2023 Color of the Year to be Viva Magenta 18-1750.

One year later, it’s time to reflect on the accuracy and impact of this decision.

I will do my best to describe Viva Magenta to you, but only looking at the color does it justice. It’s a rich purplish-red with cool blue undertones. It’s vibrant, but contained, and not over-thetop with its saturation. If I had to give it a taste, I would simply say pomegranate.

Pantone describes Viva Magenta as a “signal of strength” and goes as far as to say that it promotes “joy and optimism.” Its power comes from its connection to the primordial natural world, inspired by the dye of the cochineal insect, but also promotes the fusion of technology and nature.

To understand the meaning behind 2023’s choice, one must first understand how each Color of the Year is decided, a process that is far more involved than one might assume. Year-round, experts at Pantone analyze global trends in various categories to forecast future attitudes. They may look for new color influences in industries such as art, fashion, and design, but also consider factors like technological advancements, socioeconomic conditions, environmental circumstances, travel trends, and even sporting events.

Contrary to what one might assume, these forecasting results are not amalgamated into the Color of the Year at one meeting, but are continually “tested” year-round

by Pantone team members, who may feature color influences in their own works, prescribe them to clients, or even teach classes on the colors.

Experts landed on Viva Magenta for 2023 after observing renewed interest in

SEE VIVA PAGE 2

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Friday, December 15

News Masthead Volume CXXI No. 14 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

WINTER

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 mostly the same from year to year.

Despite this, she is excited to see what changes will be incorporated for Winter Wonderland’s 10th anniversary in the near future.

In regard to her favorite part of the event, countdown to the tree lighting was her favorite. She also shared, “The last two years, I had the pleasure of watching Garrett Horwath and Corey Batchelder run the on-campus team of EC, and I was so excited to take the reins this year! To follow in the footsteps of these very passionate leaders was

a very big moment for me.” When asked about future Winter Wonderlands, Wolf shares that she is excited for what the next person does, and that all organizations on campus play a massive role in the success of this event. She’s grateful for the relationships made between them and EC and hopes the collaboration would continue.

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 Rocco Vaccone Tanishka Kapoor Liz Sepulveda Meghana Mamadapur Kai Wong Abby Jacobs Nicole Cheung Ethan Kleschinksy Tianna Spitz

Claire Hannan Hima Thummala Rachel Abraham Advait Dantuluri Jiya Jaisinghani Shreya Roy Stephen Pachucki Jack Scherban

THE LODGE (CHI PSI) SANTA EVENT PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LODGE

LIGHT

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Contact Us

GENERAL.........................................EBOARD@THESTUTE.COM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.........................EDITOR@THESTUTE.COM ADVERTISING.............................BUSINESS@THESTUTE.COM OFFICE.................................UNIVERSITY CENTER ROOM 216B

Corrections NOTICE A MISTAKE? Email us at eboard@thestute.com.

Disclaimer

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Policy on Letters to the Editor

All members of the Stevens community are able to submit a Letter to the Editor to be published in The Stute. Letters must refer either to a piece published in The Stute or to The Stute in general and must be between 400 – 800 words in length. Submit letters to editor@thestute.com with your name and title (when applicable) or using our Google form. For writers who wish to write a Letter to the Editor anonymously, please see our policy on anonymity.

The Editorial Board reserves the right to choose whether or not to publish a submitted Letter to the Editor based on a majority rule vote, and additionally reserves the right to edit letters for clarity or request authors to revise. Provided that the author approves the final version, The Stute reserves the right to edit letters according to our copy editing procedures, defined in our policies.

Vink. “Jews over history have spread into a diaspora, and generally the Jews have faced constant persecution throughout history, such as the Holocaust, so the point of Hanukkah, amidst other things, is to represent the perseverance of Jews.”

In the news and on social media, many across the world are being exposed to stories of conflict and mistrust between Jewish and Muslim communities, especially in highly multicultural communities like U.S. college campuses. Commenting on the state of Stevens’ campus since October 7, Vink said that he has been encouraged by the relative lack of conflict compared to nearby universities, especially those in New York. “However, it almost feels like people have been ignoring [the situation].” Additionally, he said that he and other members of Hillel voiced their concerns to the administration

ISABELLA ZIV AND RAFAEL LEE LI FOR THE STUTE

that a statement made by President Farvardin in the wake of the October 7 attack was inadequate in how clearly it condemned the killing of Israeli civilians.

In response to this, Vink says that it has been a major priority of Hillel and the Muslim Student Association (MSA) to hold events that demonstrate the unity between Jewish and Muslim students at Stevens, including a joint Unity Dinner. “We wanted to hold it because there are all these conflicts on campus. We wanted to show we can come together in high-stress times, in emotionally charged times,” said Vink about the outcome of the event. “We wanted to show we can come together as a community at Stevens. We’re of different faiths, but we’re all people, but we’re all individuals. [...]

The President of MSA spoke, and I spoke. I spoke about lessons from the Torah, and he spoke about lessons of the Quran, and it went exceptionally well.”

The two organizations also participated in a Community Gathering for Israel and Palestine, at

which attendees had the opportunity to donate to Doctors Without Borders. “These events have definitely brought our campus communities together in times when our larger communities have seemingly been pushed apart.”

Vink says that he hopes the events on campus help both Jewish and Muslim students feel safer and more trusting of one another, despite the contentious environments on many campuses. “I hope these events create a safe place on campus for Jewish students but also offer a place to bring in people of all faiths and mindsets to understand Judaism and see why our community is so strong, and to see the values behind our religion.”

Speaking specifically to Jewish students, Vink stressed that the Jewish community is strong and is held together by more than just religion. “Judaism is an ethno-religion. It doesn’t matter how religious you are, it doesn’t make you any less Jewish. I don’t wear a kippah, I don’t go to synagogue four times a week, but that doesn’t make me less Jewish.”

Policy on Op-Eds

All members of the Stevens community are able to submit a standalone opinion piece (otherwise known as an Op-Ed) to be published in The Stute. Op-Eds must be between 400 – 800 words, but longer submissions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. To submit an OpEd please email eboard@thestute.com with your name and title (when applicable) or using our Google form (tinyurl.com/submit-t0-stute). For writers who wish to write an Op-Ed anonymously, please see our policy on anonymity.

The Editorial Board reserves the right to choose whether or not to publish a submitted Op-Ed based on a majority rule vote, and additionally reserves the right to edit Op-Eds for clarity or request authors to revise.

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FULL LIST ON thestute.com/policies

PHOTOS COURTESY OF STEVENS HILLEL

RIZZ

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 that they tend to follow the wrong types of influencers to learn how to rizz, such as someone by the name of Andrew Tate. From a female

VIVA

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

tinyurl.com/stutesubmit

nature, with more people keeping plants in their homes and showing appreciation for the resilience of the Earth in light of the exigence of the global climate crisis. The strength of the color was a prediction of global emotions and attitudes to come. In hindsight, I think the color was perfectly chosen. Mirroring the previous year, 2023 has been a year of political unrest met with a powerful response as well as a year of intensified environmental concern and action, factors which

perspective, I would like to assure anyone who is reading this that if you act like Andrew Tate, you will not attract anyone for long term.

That just might be my opinion, though, which is something beyond the scope of this news article.

Regardless, this year a lot of the top words included relations

to other people. It seems as though many people wondered how to exactly label their relationships with others. As the year approaches its final days, we hope that all those who searched up “rizz” learned something new and hopefully rizzed up someone for the new year .

could not be better embodied by Viva Magenta.

Despite all of this “color anthropology,” as Pantone calls it, the decision ultimately adopts a commercial implication. After all, Pantone is a color business. With this in mind, my first impression of Viva Magenta was, “I bet they’re releasing a lipstick with this one.” However, I was pleasantly surprised to see that in line with their rationale, Pantone’s color collaborations have been focused on powerful technology (Motorola’s Edge 30 Fusion) as well as a return to nature (Spoonflower wallpapers). One criticism I do have with Viva Magenta, however, is its ability to get lost in trans-

lation; it is impossible to represent objects in one color entirely due to shadows and lighting. Projects like the Cariuma sneaker collaboration appear almost neon pink, a choice that conflates Viva Magenta with the untamed rather than the bold yet controlled.

I have never been a fan of cool reds (sorry Stevens), but I like Viva Magenta because I think that’s the point. There is nothing comfortable about rebelling from the norm. For this, Viva Magenta is brash in its implications. Even though 2023 is about to come to an end, you can still look to Viva Mageta to tell you to viva la vida (live life) the way you want.

😉

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Friday, December 15

PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVENSDUCKS.COM (SHOT BY DAVE JANOSZ)

Sports

ON DECK IN SPORTS FRI, DEC 29 MEN’S BASKETBALL Amherst College Hoboken, NJ 1 p.m.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Middlebury College Hoboken, NJ 3 p.m.

Men’s Basketball begins closing out the season

BY ABBY JACOBS, SPORTS WRITER On Monday, December 4, junior Jack Spellman was declared a MAC Freedom Player of the Week, the third of his career and first of the 2023-2024 season.

Spellman’s title was awarded following his 12 points, 10 boards, and 11 blocks against St. Joseph’s University Long Island, and 22 points, 18 rebounds, 11 blocks, and three assists against Hood College.

On Wednesday, November 29, the Ducks took on St. Joseph’s University Long Island and secured a victory of 90-64 and brought their win-streak to five, having only lost their season opener. By break, Spellman had made 11 blocks and first-year Kyle Maddison had scored 11 points, assisting in their 14 point lead. The second half began with Spellman and graduate Stephen Braunstein making a jumper and three-pointer respectively, in-

creasing the deficit by five points.

Additions of graduate Conor Coffey, sophomore Matt Leming, and first-year Harmehar Chhabra resulted in the Ducks final victory margin of 26. Overall, Braunstein scored a season high of 29 points, and Spellman achieved the second triple-double of his career in just 17 minutes during this game, further contributing to his award of Player of the Week. This game also saw a 100% success rate for the team when shooting from the line.

The following Saturday, December 2, the Ducks took on Hood College in Frederick, MD. Braunstein, senior Mike Goodall, and Leming led the team with a respective 18, 16, and 15 points. Coffey made an additional 12 points, paired with seven boards and five assists, leading to the Ducks’ victory of 85-66, and breaking Hood College’s three win-streak. The Ducks also made 16/30 of their long range baskets, equating a 53.3% success rate, which is the

second most of a MAC Freedom team this far into the season, and the most from Stevens since 2016.

Head coach Bobby Hurley achieved his 250th career win following the Ducks’ defeat of Brooklyn College on Tuesday, December 5. By this game, Spellman had accumulated 189 blocks and passed alumnus Patrick Sabatino for the program record. Throughout the first half, the Ducks and Bulldogs fought back and forth for the lead, although the Ducks proved victorious on a 9-0 run at the end of the half and a seven point deficit at break. Braunstein then made another three-pointer just 18 seconds into the second half, increasing the team’s lead to a full 10 points. The Ducks ensured a 25 point victory with the help of Goodall’s back-to-back baskets, and Braunstein and Coffey’s multiple three-pointers post break.

To finish out their pre-break season, the Ducks took on Middlebury College, where they saw a devastating final score of 77-84,

breaking their seven win-streak of the season. This is only the second game of the season the Ducks have lost. Down at break by a mere three points, the team saw hope of pulling it back in the second half, but was forced into overtime. Coffey managed a season-high of 18 points and seven rebounds, Spellman had 15 points and Singh had 14, but it wasn’t quite enough to secure a final victory.

The next Men’s Basketball event will be the Stevens Men’s Basketball Holiday Tournament, where Stevens will be hosting Amherst College, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Gettysburg College in Canavan Arena. This tournament will run Friday, December 29, to Saturday, December 30, and will be the last games of the season for the team that are not part of the Middle Atlantic Conference. Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens, and $2 for students and children, and available through the athletics website, stevensducks.com.

SAT, DEC 3O MEN’S BASKETBALL Consolation Game Hoboken, NJ 1 p.m.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Christopher Newport University Hoboken, NJ 3 p.m.

MEN’S BASKETBALL Championship Game Hoboken, NJ 5 p.m.

Track and Field takes on the first multi meet of the year

BY KAI WONG, SPORTS WRITER This past weekend on December 8 and 9, Men’s and Women’s Track and Field competed in the two-day Fast Times Before Finals Multi Meet, hosted by Lehigh University at the Rauch Fieldhouse.

Sophomore Brandon Kiefer finished second in the heptathlon out of 10 competitors, totaling 4,385 points. Kiefer set a new personal record by 15 points, topping his previous collegiate best of 4,370 points set at last year’s Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Indoor Championships.

Kiefer also set new collegiate bests in the 60-meter dash, the 60-meter hurdles, and the pole vault. In the 60, Kiefer posted the top time, finishing the race in 7.22 seconds. He then cleared 6.04 meters in the long jump and 10.92 meters in the shot put to rank first through the first half of the meet, 27 points ahead of his closest competitor.

Kiefer set new personal records in two of the final three events, reaching 1.70 meters in the high jump, finishing the 60-meter hurdles in 9.10 seconds and clearing 3.97 meters in the pole vault. Kiefer was just one of

two competitors to clear 3.9 meters in the final event of the meet.

Meanwhile, senior Laura Mathews competed in her first-ever collegiate decathlon and took third out of nine competitors with 2,996 points.

Mathews’ total is the third-highest total in program history.

Mathews began her first pentathlon meet with the 60-meter hurdles, running it in 8.80 seconds which was the fastest time

among the competitors. She was nearly three-tenths-of-a-second ahead of her closest competitor.

She then posted a mark of 1.36 meters in the high jump and a distance of 9.06 meters to sit in second through three events.

Mathews narrowly missed the top mark in the long jump, clearing 5.20 meters on her final attempt, tying Monmouth’s Anne Rutledge and just threetenths-of-a-meter behind Le-

high’s Emma Sanford. Mathews improved her long jump by 0.16 meters from her initial collegiate foray in the event one week ago.

In the final event, Mathews finished the 800-meter run with a time of 2:47.31 to finish less than 200 points out of second place.

The Ducks return to competition after the winter break in the new year on Saturday, January 20, for the Alvernia University Winter Invite.

TUE, JAN 3 MEN’S BASKETBALL Lebanon Valley College Hoboken, NJ 5 p.m.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Lebanon Valley College Hoboken, NJ 7 p.m.

PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVENSDUCKS.COM (SHOT BY CARLISLE STOCKTON)

STEVENS SCOREBOARD DATE

WED, DEC 6 FRI, DEC 8

TEAM

WRESTLING WOMEN'S AND MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD SAT, DEC 9 WOMEN'S AND MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD SAT, DEC 9 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SUN, DEC 10 MEN'S BASKETBALL

OPPONENT

LOCATION

SCORE

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD ACADEMY FAST TIMES BEFORE FINALS–DAY 1

HOME AWAY

W (18-15) COMPLETED

FAST TIMES BEFORE FINALS–DAY 2

AWAY

COMPLETED

COLBY COLLEGE MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE

HOME HOME

L (51-74) L (77-84)

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Friday, December 15

Science Penguins take thousands of naps daily

BY MEGHANA MAMADAPUR , STAFF WRITER A new study has shown that chinstrap penguins take over 10,000 naps daily, each lasting approximately four seconds. This napping cycle is called “microsleeps” or “micro naps.” Microsleep is defined as seconds-long interruptions of wakefulness, including eye closure and sleep-related brain activity. This is seen to also occur in people who experience insufficient sleep. For humans, the effects are much more serious. Falling asleep frequently and uncontrollably in dangerous situations, like when driving, can be catastrophic.

In total, chinstrap penguins sleep for 11 hours a day. Researchers studied 14 chinstrap penguins forced to protect their eggs from skuas, a predatory bird, to determine whether microsleeps can provide sleep functions. The researchers used electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring to record the penguins’ brain activity, movement, temperature, and muscle tone. The study showed that the penguins in the colony took over 600 microsleeps in an hour.

Penguins split their time between swimming in the ocean and staying near their nests. When at sea scouring for food, penguins do

not sleep. They resume their cycle as they return to their nests. Penguins were also seen to take turns taking care of their eggs and offspring, as brown skua constantly attack penguin nests. However, despite the environmental chaos, many scientists have deduced that microsleep may be the default for animals. It should not be criticized for not working for humans. The full extent of benefits from microsleep is yet to be analyzed in future studies. As explained by Vladyslav Vyazovskiy,

‘Tis the season for sleigh bells, snowflakes, and a harmonious blend of joy and frustration. With its festive tunes and timeless classics, holiday music can evoke warm memories or become the relentless soundtrack to our seasonal existence. As we revel in the melodies of yesteryear, we also find ourselves entangled in the complex web of love and hate that holiday songs can weave.

Ask anyone about their favorite Christmas song, and you’ll likely get a flood of sentimental tales: “White Christmas” and “Blue Christmas”: timeless tunes that transport people to their childhood days.

Interestingly, modern holiday pieces do not as often appear in holiday mixes, or at least original pieces. Why? Our holiday favorites often serve as sonic time machines, whisking us back to the cherished moments of our past. Nostalgia, both emotional and reminiscent, is the key. The warmth of childhood homes adorned with oversized Christmas lights or the resonance of holiday albums on vinyl are the echoes of a bygone era that holiday music effortlessly summons.

Music, a potent catalyst for nostalgia, has the unique ability to recreate memories and emotional landscapes. Even without specific recollections, it invokes a profound sense of a particular time, a feeling, a longing for the past. Holiday music becomes a vessel for these nostalgic journeys during a season dedicated to reflection and remembrance.

However, nostalgia isn’t always a purely positive force. Holiday music can remind people of those they have lost or negative memories. The warmth from holiday music be-

tense cycle. Many other animals are unable to fathom the fragmentation of days and hours.

The science of sleep started in the early 1900s when scalp electrodes showed that people produced slower brain waves when sleeping. Studies started to prove that every animal spent some time in their day sleeping, whether they had a brain or not.

Sleep studies provided a variety of results, such as human brains shutting down certain functions while asleep. In contrast, certain

PHOTO COURTESY OF BBC

The symphony of the season: Why we love holiday music

BY EVAN PAPAGEORGE, OPINION EDITOR

a neuroscientist at the University of Oxford, the penguins are essentially spending their lives asleep and waking up when necessary.

Sleep ecophysiologist Paul-Antoine Libourel, who manages sleep projects at the Neuroscience Research Center of Leon, confirmed that 75% of sleep in chinstrap penguins lasted less than 10 seconds. He also added that the penguins could “sleep and remain vigilant,” meaning they are able to sustain this in-

comes a poignant reminder of a past that now exists only in our hearts.

While the love for holiday music is undeniable, the constant repetition during the season can turn joy into frustration. Holiday songs are notorious for becoming earworms, those catchy tunes that loop endlessly in our minds. The familiarity of these songs allows our memories to replay the chorus on a continuous loop, making them the perfect mental companions during the festive season.

As December unfolds, the repetitive nature of holiday music can lead to a growing weariness. Retail workers, in particular, endure a barrage of the same songs on a relentless loop, day after day. Imagine the plight of Rudolph, banished from reindeer games not due to his red nose but because he overstayed his welcome. Even professional ballet dancers, enchanted by Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite,” find their love tested by the end of the holiday season.

So, how does one navigate this love-hate relationship with holiday music? The advice is simple: savor the songs that inspire nostalgia and joy, but when familiarity breeds annoyance, it’s time to switch tunes.

The remedy for an earworm is to introduce a different melody into the mental mix. Explore other genres, listen to non-holiday music, and let the diversity of sounds become the antidote to the relentless repetition.

In the grand symphony of the holiday season, let the music be a source of comfort, a bridge to the past, and a soundtrack to joy. As the year comes to a close, may the melodies of nostalgia and the spirit of the season bring harmony to your heart. Enjoy the songs, cherish the memories, and when the time comes, bid them farewell until the next festive season arrives.

Happy Holidays!! from Santa and her helpers

animals only shut down a side of their brains, such as seals.

This groundbreaking study contrasts previous studies with other penguins. A study in 1984 concluded that little penguins placed in metabolic chambers showed a state of “quiet wakefulness.” This is similar to the chinstrap penguin, except the microsleeps lasted approximately 42 seconds. This is a stark contrast to the 4-second cycles experienced by chinstrap penguins. Authors of the study have stated that “thousands of microsleeps lasting only four seconds is unprecedented, even among penguins.” In another study conducted in 1986, nonbreeding emperor penguins were shown to have fragmented sleep referred to as “drowsiness.”

This is similar to microsleeps, but emperor penguins only spent 14% of their day in the “drowsy” state.

Studies have yet to be conducted regarding the physiological aspects of microsleep in penguins.

Libourel and other researchers have warned that humans cannot follow the same pattern as sleep functions differently in chinstrap penguins. There remains a “gap” in the understanding of human life and climate change on the sleeping habits of animals. Many scientists concur that sleep studies are effective, and thus should increase in number in the coming decades.

O Tannenbaum: Growing the perfect Christmas tree

BY EVAN PAPAGEORGE, OPINION EDITOR As part of this week’s edition’s theme of kindness, one aspect that has seen scientific research is gratitude. Can gratitude offer more benefits than offering thanks to those around you? Read below to explore the science of gratitude.

Before beginning this exploration, it is essential to define gratitude. Gratitude is the emotion, primarily joyous, that arises when you acknowledge others in your life — in particular, expressing thanks and voicing appreciation. For example, if someone offers you a pencil or holds open a door for you when your hands are full, and you are in a rush.

However, while gratitude is modestly well-known, there is another side of gratitude that is lesser known. As described by Philip Watkins, a professor of psychology at Eastern Washington University and the author of Gratitude and the Good Life, gratitude offers physical benefits that are equal, if not more fruitful, than the feeling itself.

Many studies explore the physical impacts of acts of gratitude like writing thank you let-

ters or having a conversation with a loved one about what they mean to you. Beyond fostering healthy, communicative relationships and society, gratitude can also improve health.

One study finds that expressing gratitude can reduce the effects of depression and anxiety while increasing self-confidence and self-worth. Additionally, some studies show that expressing gratitude can improve romantic, platonic, and professional relationships. Gratitude can go as far as enhancing sleep quality to creating a sense of affinity and warmth.

However, with so many benefits, how much gratitude is needed to reap the rewards?

One expert, Joel Wong of Indiana University’s School of Education, explains, “I think the benefits of gratitude activities truly unfold through long-term habits.” So, to reap the benefits of gratitude, one can build it into one’s daily routine, like any habit. Some ways to do this could be to make it part of your first checking of emails or right before you go to bed. Other sources, like Gretchen Schmelzer, a psychologist in Philadelphia, believe gratitude worked into therapy sessions (so weekly to a few times a month) can be extremely useful in maintaining good men-

tal health. Another way, according to the Journal of Happiness Studies, can be to write a letter expressing gratitude — nothing lengthy, just a quick expression of thanks (of course, texts and email would also do the trick).

One caveat, Dr. Wong warns, is that it is crucial to be specific.

If someone was expressing gratitude to you, would you rather hear “thanks,” or “thanks for helping at work while I wasn’t feeling well. It helped reduce my workload once I was feeling better?” Dr. Wong explains that specificity helps “because it deepens our experience of gratitude [...] It intensifies our grateful emotions and thoughts.”

Learning about the science of gratitude shows that expressing gratitude can offer physical and mental benefits beyond just thanking those around us. It is a positive emotion that can improve health, reduce depression and anxiety, and strengthen relationships. By making gratitude a part of our daily routine and being specific in expressing it, we can reap the rewards of this powerful emotion. Let us practice gratitude daily and spread kindness and positivity to those around us. Remember, a little gratitude can go a long way in making the world a better place.

9

Friday, December 15

Opinion THE STUTE EDITORIAL

The Stute wrapped As we wrap up the semester with The Stute’s 121st volume, I am excited to reflect on the incredible year we’ve had so far, producing 14 issues that surpassed my expectations. The enthusiasm and dedication of this year’s staff have truly enhanced our publication and organizational culture, and I’m eager to share the various notable moments and successes we’ve celebrated over the past few months.

Stute Weekend: We kicked off the academic year with our first issue featuring articles from participants in the Stute Freshman Weekend program. Before the semester even started, 14 incoming first-year students immersed themselves in the world of The Stute for a weekend in the Summer to learn about the different aspects of the organization and see where they could get involved. We were lucky to have a great group of students, and I’m happy to share that eight of them continued to contribute beyond the initial program, becoming valued members of our team.

Orientation and Flock Party: In order to recruit more members at the beginning of the year, we participated in events like Student Organization Night and the Flock. Before classes intensify, we see a lot more enthusiasm and

openness among potential members. I enjoy seeing established Stute members who have thrived within the organization, passionately advocating for others to join. Many of the older students have had an immensely rewarding experience thus far and genuinely want to extend those opportunities to the next generation.

Halloween Issue: Our creativity soared during the Halloween issue, where the entire Stute staff embraced the spooky theme across all our regular sections with themed topics and titles, including the most adorable baby costume pictures you’ve ever seen. This unique edition not only showcased our team’s creativity but also received positive feedback from within and outside The Stute community, which is always really nice to be told and to share with the staff.

GBMs: The weekly GBMs became a highlight, offering a platform for different members of our E-board and minor board to share their area of expertise, give out article assignments, and get to hang out with some of our newer members. We had a fun group that would consistently come to GBMs, and it was a good balance of educational experiences as well as team bonding through word games and good vibes.

Production: Every Wednesday, The Stute met for production in our UCC 216 office as we physically brought the week’s issue to life. Once the articles were written and copyedited, we had a team that worked on layout and digital uploading in preparation for the issue’s release on Fridays.

The collaboration was not only productive but also enjoyable, with the consistent group forming a Spotify blend playlist and working together to create a fun atmosphere.

Santa Competition: A surprising twist came when the Entertainment Committee invited us to participate in the Winter Wonderland event’s Santa Competition. I was initially skeptical, not expecting anyone to want to participate, but we had three members who volunteered to represent The Stute in the competition. I saw an unprecedented level of enthusiasm, camaraderie, and competitiveness among our staff, which made me very proud.

The event not only brought us together but also showcased a spirited side of The Stute I had never seen before.

Santa Competition Part 2: There were a couple of days when the signups for the Santa Competition were open when The Stute and the SGA were the only orga-

nizations planning to compete.

This initiated a friendly feud between us, starting with some playful banter in Instagram comments.

The night before the competition, the SGA vandalized our office window with threats of our losing the competition and then they proceeded to lose the competition. In retaliation to their vandalism, we struck the following night and wrapped nearly every object in the SGA office in Stutes. Of course, this was all in good fun and allowed us to extend our competitive spirit beyond the competition itself.

The Stute Dinner: The semester concluded with our traditional Stute staff dinner, providing a welcome break from our heavily online interactions and operations. I believe we have greatly improved our in-person presence, and it’s always nice to see everyone who contributes to the paper in one place. This year, the increased spirit has instilled a greater sense of pride in The Stute among our staff members, and seeing this makes me really happy.

Thank you to the entire Stute staff for an exceptional semester and to our readers for your unwavering support. See you all in 2024!

The Stute’s

SEMESTER AT A GLANCE

Isabella Ziv ‘25

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the 2023-2024 Stute Executive Board

Memorable Moments

SGA Office Wrapping Prank

Wednesday Production

Orientation Flock Party

Winter Wonderland Santa Competition

Issues Released

MANAGING EDITOR AVA WANG

BUSINES MANAGER TANYA AVADIA

LAYOUT EDITOR NICOLE GIARDINO

DIGITAL MANAGER RAFAEL LEE LI

HEAD COPY EDITOR KEENAN YATES

OUTREACH CHAIR KAYDEN CANNILLA

SECRETARY CLAIRE HANNAN

Stute Freshman Weekend Program

End-of-year Stute Dinner

20 14 154 393

Members Joined

EDITOR IN CHIEF ISABELLA ZIV

Pages Designed

Articles Published

COMIC CORNER

BY LIZ SEPULVEDA

10

Friday, December 15

Opinion MIND OF A FRESHMAN

2023 Wrapped

BY NICOLE CHEUNG ‘27 This year has been imperfect and chaotic, and the biggest changes of my eighteenyear-old life have happened within these twelve months.

I’ll be recapping my silly little life this year.

It’s crazy to think that this year, I applied to college, changed my career choices, actually got into university,

and am now done with my first semester. All that in one trip around the sun!

This year encompassed the transition from senior year of high school to freshman year of college. To be honest, I’ve felt pretty lost recently. When the highs are high, they come down even harder. I had the best year of high school but suddenly had to leave my best friends. I then came to college and made new friends.

Then, the “freshman friends” phenomenon happened to me. You never forget the first people you meet in college. Everyone is so eager to become besties. Close proximity via dorms, clubs, and peer leader groups brings most friend groups together. Then you realize that just someone was the first friend you made,

doesn’t necessarily mean that they were the best friend for you. I’ve had the revelation that since the beginning of the semester, maybe I was hiding behind big groups to fill up my time so I didn’t have to deal with my own issues.

Now that I don’t have a friend group to hide behind anymore, I’m forced to confront my coping mechanisms, academics, and the abhorrent state of my room.

I’ve been spending a lot more time in my room, not hiding but just assessing what I should do next. It’s suddenly very peaceful. I feel like I’m getting my life together by spending many of my days organizing or just hanging out with my roommate. I’m incredibly grateful for her during this time. We are almost complete

opposites, but we balance each other out. During my worst days, her entire folder of saved meme videos has brightened my day. When I just need to rant, she’ll listen and give unbiased advice. If you’re reading this, I’m very sorry for being a biohazard and almost getting you sick twice.

Life has moved so fast since coming here. It’s difficult to write a positive reflection on the year when the headspace you’re in is not so positive. I am a human being, and it’s okay to fail, fall flat, and have to go to the ER for a broken nose, but as your nose heals, maybe it’ll give you a valid reason to get a nose job. Basically, better things are coming, you just might not know it yet. I need to remember where I came from and take time to remember

who I am and what I want.

Maybe things haven’t been so great, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be grateful for what I do have. Thank you to the people who have decided to stay in my life, you’ve pushed me along this year.

Thank you, The Stute, for letting me write this semester.

I’m not the most polished writ-

er, most of my articles are just a rant, but writing in this column brings me time to reflect, and think of life as not just only as myself, but how I can influence the few that read my column. Maybe I’m overstating my importance, but at least my mom reads these. Live, laugh, lobotomy, and see y’all next semester!

leagues, I still enjoyed my time getting to know them all and have to wonder if leaving my commitments and subsequently not really interacting with them anymore is the right decision. I wonder if interactions will be strange or if they will view me as a traitor since I left them all. I think I have left my positions on good terms with those around me, though, so I hope there is never anyone who feels like I betrayed them.

But who knows? I will never know if leaving these commitments behind is the right decision, but I am still super excited to be able to reclaim

some of my time for myself.

I am hoping to get closer to those I have not had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with this semester. Ultimately, this will be good for me, at least I hope!

All things considered, I am very glad that I made the decisions that I did and spent time on the commitments I have. I am ready to start planning for the next phase of my life while having more time to hang out with friends. But before then, I have to get through finals.

For those of you who are new here, finals are never a fun time of year. As everything

comes to a conclusion and you want to hang out with your friends, you also have to manage your time to be able to finish your semester-long projects and start preparing/ taking your finals. The best course of action is to tuck your chin and get through it the best you can. If you have already made it this far in the semester, you can definitely make it through finals week.

Make sure to take some time to yourself this next week because it will get stressful, if I can do it anyone can. Happy holidays, and I am looking forward to seeing you all in January!

SENIORITIS

Beginning signs of senioritis

BY ETHAN KLESCHINSKY ‘24 With the end of the semester approaching, I feel like the senioritis is finally kicking in. I am ready to wrap up classes, take a step back from some clubs on

campus, and spend some more time enjoying myself. I will say that I am really looking forward to next semester.

I think being able to do a little less will give me a lot more time to relax, which I don’t have right now. I am counting the minutes until the end of the semester, I cannot wait for the break, time away from school is never a bad thing. I am going to get some rest, see some friends and family, and go on vacation! But my eyes are already on the Spring and how little I plan to do after the first month or so.

With the end of this semester has come the urge to “pass

the torch” in typical Stevens fashion and see other people follow up in the positions I am leaving behind. But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows just yet; I still need to finish an entire other semester with good enough grades to graduate, and I would still like to be involved a little bit around campus, just significantly less than I am now.

Walking away from my commitments feels weird, though, I said goodbye to some people that I will likely not see much this upcoming semester. Even though a lot of the people I have worked with feel very much like col-

UNMASKING: AN AUTISM STORY

BOOK OF THE WEEK

Race After Technology’s insight Why Autism: The importance of learning more about autism into the black box of tech bias

BY TIANNA SPITZ ‘27

Bias is infused into the modern currency that drives daily and institutional structures: technology. As we pass off machine learning and AI as objective systems, the developers behind everything from phone apps to complex predictive algorithms carry biases that exist within our society. Ruha Benjamin’s 2019 novel, Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tool for the New Jim Code, guides the reader through the detrimental impact of tech implicit bias, or a subconscious bias that is unintentionally embedded, on commonly minority communities. Benjamin is an associate professor of African American studies at Princeton University, the embodiment of science, technology, and society studies (STS) here at Stevens. Her novel is a beacon within the emerging field that applies Critical Race Theory to understanding technological applications and even racial technology determinism.

Race After Technology was introduced to me through my Intro to Science Technology and Society class, in which the tech anxieties Benjamin outlined were too relevant to be condensed into a single lecture. Starting with one assigned chapter to cramming in the book in between my other class readings, Benjamin guides the reader beyond person-

al comfortability within the technology, and AI used on a daily basis to understand how minority groups are being quantified and underrepresented at their expense.

Benjamin confronts current technological racial disparity by looking back at the social history of the US as the foundation of America’s economic growth from slavery evolved into Jim Crow laws stretching long after emancipation.

After the historical timeline, Benjamin makes her thesis by adding on a new era of systemic racism in which the history of Jim Crow has taken on a new face and the guise of tech objectivity.

The most interesting concept, Benjamin’s core argument, introduces this new lens of implicit racism of a New Jim Code based on computational racism that differentiates from the explicit Jim Crow of the late 19th century to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Defining the difference between historically explicit systems of discrimination and implicit racism, Benjamin connects the lingering effects of racism within legal structures to social perpetuation. With the abolishment of the legal structures of racism, the social structures have been the remnants of Jim Crow. Finally, evaluating rising Bid Data within tech and predictive machine learning, Benjamin emphasizes the back-and-forth relationship between society and technology within technological determinism to recognize technology as taking on the new medium of tech bias.

Benjamin’s argument that racism has been encoded into law, behavior, and now technology is not a critique of software developers but the software itself and how it encourages assumption and

mindless exclusion based on discriminative social patterns. Benjamin’s objection stems from “The animating force of the New Jim Code is that tech designers encode judgments into technical systems but claim that the racist results of their designs are entirely exterior to the encoding process. Racism thus becomes doubled — magnified and buried under layers of digital denial.”The book is bursting with examples of algorithmic bias in which Benjamin outlines crime prediction used to inform policing to create a tight loop of Black incarceration through biased recidivism risk predictions, the erasure of Black history when a Google Map glitch reads “Malcolm X Boulevard” as “Malcolm Ten Boulevard,” to a predominately Black and Latinx gang database consisting of names belonging to babies under the age of one labeled as “self-described gang members.” The examples seem never-ending, and the book’s only pitfall is the repetition of cases that perfectly exemplify the New Jim Code, taking on the function of a ”field guide” to the far reach of tech bias within consumerism, law, and innovation.

PHOTO COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

BY EVAN PAPAGEORGE ‘26 In the intricate tapestry of neurodevelopmental disorders, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) stands as a challenging puzzle, its pieces evolving and multiplying over time. This pervasive developmental disorder, affecting social communication and marked by restricted interests and repetitive behaviors, casts a lifelong shadow of impairment and disability.

The enigma deepens as prevalence rates soar, currently touching the lives of more than two million individuals in the United States alone.

Despite strides in recent years, autism research still lags behind other psychiatric disorders. The complex interplay of genetic abnormalities and environmental factors adds layers of intricacy.

Current estimates suggest a multifaceted landscape, with congenital disabilities detected in a subset of cases, each unveiling unique pathways linked to disorders like tuberous sclerosis and Fragile X. The United States Federal Government’s Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) spearheads efforts to harmonize public and private funding, guided by the Strategic Plan for Autism Research. This plan, initiated in 2009, sets the stage for research directions framed as questions, probing issues from early detection

to causation and prevention.

The evolving field is yielding promising insights into the etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of ASD. Delving into the etiology of ASD reveals a dance between genes, environment, and developmental windows.

Recent advancements in gene sequencing technology hint at a growing number of associated genes, opening doors to personalized approaches.

“Deep phenotyping” emerges as a strategy to unveil subgroups within ASD, each with distinct biological abnormalities, potentially leading to targeted therapies.

As the research landscape evolves, the spotlight turns to treatment. Traditional approaches must catch up, grappling with the elusive core symptoms of social deficits and repetitive behaviors.

Rigorous trials targeting specific subgroups like Fragile X patients emerge as a priority, promising a more nuanced understanding of therapeutic effects.

However, challenges persist in assessing treatment impact, particularly with the focus on social and communication deficits. The intricacies of ASD, often accompanied by intellectual and language impairments, complicate outcome evaluations. Although effective in addressing externalizing behaviors, psychopharmacological treatments underscore the need for more comprehensive strategies.

The publication landscape poses hurdles, with small, underpowered trials muddling interpretations. Preliminary data and conflicting findings from early studies create a maze for clinicians, potentially leading to the adoption of unproven therapies. The call for methodological rigor is urgent, emphasizing the

importance of distinguishing between true breakthroughs and misleading signals.

Amidst these challenges, the broader significance of autism research comes to the forefront. The collaborative efforts of initiatives like the Autism Genetics Resource Exchange and the Autism Clinical Trials Network promise not only insights into ASD but also a broader understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders. The journey ahead involves navigating this complex landscape with a strategic, cohesive research plan, unlocking not only potential treatments for ASD but also fundamental insights into developmental processes.

Autism research is more than a quest to understand and address a singular disorder; it is a journey toward unraveling the mysteries of neurodevelopment. As we delve deeper into the enigma of autism, the insights gained hold the potential to illuminate the path for a myriad of related conditions, paving the way for a future where understanding begets treatment, not just for autism but for the intricate spectrum of neurodevelopmental challenges that define our evolving landscape.

This article is the end of my stint exploring autism with you all. It has been a fascinating journey unmasking the mysteries of autism. Beyond being an individual with autism, I enjoyed learning so much throughout this column about a group that offers so much to society. Although I will not write more, I am always happy to talk about autism, so feel free to reach out!

I hope I have inspired you to learn more about others and continue to unmask your own autism story.

11

Friday, December 15

Opinion ADVICE FOR BROKE COLLEGE STUDENTS

Holiday Happiness on a Budget

BY HIMA THUMMALA ‘26 As December continues to roll on by, out comes the holiday decorations, winter jackets, and textbooks. Yes, you read that right, textbooks.

In order for winter break to make its way over, giving us free time to watch movies,

bake, and catch up with family and friends, it requires us to make it through the hurdle first, finals. The weeks leading up to finals have a sense of chaos but a glimmer of joy that lies beyond this stress.

But that means that we must have our noses buried in homework assignments rather than smelling all the delicious holiday treats. This takes time away from purchasing gifts for loved ones during the holiday season. But no worries, there is a way to go through this dilemma and fix it so there is no need for gift shopping stress!

First, set a spending limit.

Setting a limit confirms that you will not go over the spending limit and will be able to

make sure that you don’t end up making a financial mistake.

This limit that is set should be a max that you can use to also help decide what to get people, but how? Essentially, knowing how much you want to spend in total will ensure that you are spending a certain amount of money on the people you want to buy the gifts for, so you know what price limits the present you want to buy people should be around. For example, if you want 4 people’s presents but know that you can only spend up to $40 dollars since that is your spending limit, you know to buy about a $10 present for everyone. This aids in narrowing down your pool of what items you should

choose to buy when it comes to a pricing point of view.

The next step is to make a shopping list. Now, this obviously does not need to be done in the old-fashioned pen and paper way, but it could definitely be done so with a quick scribble in the notes app, or if you want to be even more organized, an Excel sheet is very helpful! With Excel, you can use certain formulas to quickly sum up how much you have spent and how much more money you can spend pertaining to your spending limit. But this is not necessary since as long as someone is well organized, they should be good to go. Now, back to the shopping list, have ev-

eryone’s names listed out, and start to brainstorm what each person would want that would fit within the price limit. No matter how expensive or cheap the item is, and as cheesy as it sounds, it really is the thought that counts. Here are some questions to help you brainstorm. What issue is this person currently dealing with, and is there something you can get them to help them out with this situation? What is something that makes this person truly happy? What is something that would be useful in this person’s life? Or if you can’t think of anything, just get them something that is used by many people, such as a new phone case or a water

bottle!

Lastly, go shopping! This doesn’t need to be a stressful occasion with the rush and hustle of holiday shopping since online shopping exists.

Although, many do enjoy the ambiance built out of the holiday spirit and cheer, especially after a stressful time like finals. There should be deals in many stores as well, making it easier to stay within that spending limit. So when finals start to get closer and closer, much like the time of gift giving, there is no need to stress over either because you’re going to do great on your finals and find presents for your loved ones just in time. Happy Holidays!

fire until it burns up. This then causes the fire department to rush over and the police to arrest our writers. The writers are then taken to court, where they record the entire trial.

After spending some time in jail, our newly rehabilitated writers then play the recording in reverse and try to write the reversed version down on paper.

But it is still not complete.

The writers then translate the story into Spanish and then translate the Spanish version to French, and translate the French version into German, and translate the German ver-

sion to Russian, and translate the Russian version to Japanese, and translate the Japanese version to Mandarin, and translate the Mandarin version to Hindi and translate the Hindi version to Arabic, and translate the Arabic version to Hebrew, and translate the Hebrew version to Greek, and translate the Greek version to Igbo, and translate the Igbo version to Dutch, and finally translate the Dutch version back to English. With all of the translations done, the story is finally completed and ready for publication, eager to await a wide range of fans.

STEVENS’ CHEFS RECIPE CARDS

Three cheers for holiday spirits

BY KAYDEN CANNILLA ‘24 It’s officially December, so get ready for the onslaught of holiday cheer; it’s about time to talk about the winter holidays. There’s somewhat of a limited assortment of holiday drinks; the few that come to mind are hot chocolate, egg-

nog, and Sprite cranberry.

Does anyone actually drink eggnog? It’s essentially a loose custard, but something about an egg, milk, and cream drink doesn’t sit right with me. I’ll admit, it could be the dairy allergy. At any rate, these holiday drinks just aren’t cutting it for me. I was looking for alternate ways to get in the holiday spirit or put spirits into my holiday beverages, and here’s what I came up with.

The palette we are looking for is mostly sweet, rich, and/or spiced. If you’re serving drinks separate from a meal, you want the cocktails to stand on their own. Key flavors to draw on are chocolate, ginger, and cinnamon.

These add signature aromas of holiday cheer, though they can easily overpower a drink.

Thinning or tempering the flavors can make for a much more nuanced drink. One way to do this is by adjusting the temperature: a hot drink will enhance subtle flavors, and a cold drink will subdue them, along with ice melting to dilute them. The temperature is also important for creating the right atmosphere.

Sipping a warm mug under a soft blanket is a recipe for good cheer. If climate change has kept you warm enough, shave some ice, make a snowball out of a drink, and toast to the memories of snow in December.

OFF THE PRESS

How are Off The Press articles made?

BY OFF CENTER So far this semester, Off the Press has been getting all kinds of wacky stories, from smart people taking over the world to discovering why Pierce food is bland and that the sky is blue, to stopping spies from other colleges and evil wizards, to celebrating Christmas with Atilla the Duck. But how exactly does Off the Press get all the stories that need to be told? What is the creative process that inspires The Stute to print out everything? For the first time ever (but certainly not

the last), we are going to go through a heavily edited look at how Off the Press gets its stories.

First, our writers start by going on a canoe and rowing on the Hudson River, going out to the Atlantic Ocean to a small beach in Florida. Coincidentally, there is also a little zoo near that small beach where the writers go to collect a story. First, they go to an elephant. On the back of the elephant is a hippo. On the back of the hippo is an alligator. On the back of an alligator is a wolf. On the back of the wolf is a dog. On the back of the dog

is a cat. On the back of the cat is a rabbit. On the back of the rabbit is a bird. On the back of the bird is a mouse. On the back of the mouse is a germ.

On the back of the germ is an atom. On the back of the atom is a proton. The proton comes up with the stories and tells the atom, who tells the germ, who tells the mouse, who tells the cat, who tells the dog, who tells the wolf, who tells the alligator, who tells the hippo, who tells the elephant, who tells our writers. The writers then go back on their canoe and make their way back to the Stevens Institute of Tech-

nology.

After writing down the story on a piece of paper, our writers then cut the paper into little, itty bitty pieces and rearranged the paper to come up with a new story, which they wrote down on a new piece of paper. After that happens, the paper with the newly written story is soaked with a strange liquid consisting of water, ink, and Gatorade, further making the story hard to read.

The writers try to decipher the story and write it down on another piece of paper. After that happens, the newly written piece of paper is then lit on

A POOLSIDE PERSPECTIVE

Should coaches have access to their athletes’ biodata?

BY KEENAN YATES ‘24 The fitness-tracking and wearables industry is generally considered to have begun in 1965 with Dr. Yoshiro Hatano’s Manpo-kei, a pedometer otherwise known as the “10,000 steps meter.”

Nearly 60 years later, the industry has grown considerably — valued at 47.36 billion USD in 2022 and projected to grow to 182.90 billion by 2030, it shows a compound annual growth rate of 19.1%. The growth of the fitness-tracking and wearables industry is attributed to multiple factors, including the ease of use of wearables,

relatively feasible cost of product, and an increasing data-driven fitness trend to customize the user experience and create more personalized and effective goal setting. It makes sense; why not be more informed about your health with the help of technology through products like the Apple Watch, Garmin, Fitbit, WHOOP, or the Oura Ring?

The technology behind each of these products can be boiled down to optical sensors which record various information like heart rate, heart rate variation (HRV), blood oxygenation, breathing rate, and skin temperature, along with an accelerometer, a device that detects motion, and a gyroscope, which detects and measures angular motion of an object. The end result is a straightforward product or app-based interface to scroll through varying datasets.

These include graphs detailing sleep, quality of sleep, heart rate, etc., depending on the product. While these

products are typically used on a personal level, some athletics teams have begun to implement them across the US in order to provide more specific training. One such example of this was the Women’s Soccer team here at Stevens, which had been using WHOOP wristbands for the past couple of years with the goal of optimizing their practices.

WHOOP gives users a variety of biometric data points in its app-based interface. These include: Sleep monitoring and a breakdown of sleep stages (slow wave sleep, REM, light, and awake) Strain, measured on a scale of 0-21 and calculated through cardiovascular load from things such as exercise, work, anxiety, etc.

Recovery, displayed on a scale of 0-100% and calculated through heart rate variability (HRV), resting heart rate, respiratory rate, sleep performance, and skin temperature Insights, calculated as

impact through user input on over 140 behaviors such as caffeine intake, morning sunlight, or bluelight glasses Stress Monitor, scaled between 0-3 and measured through heart rate and HRV in the moment as a physiological response to stress Health Monitor: displaying key vitals, such as heart rate, blood oxygen, skin temperature, etc. at a glance There is no user interface through the wristband, but it does require charging for the data it collects to be sent to the WHOOP app. While the intent of this process was to benefit the players in having easier practices if a majority of players had low recovery rates or levels of sleep, for example, a few current and prior members of the Women’s Soccer team have explained in further detail how the process seemed less beneficial than intrusive into their personal lives beyond what was needed for athletic performance.

The main biometric data the Women’s Soccer team

head coach had access to included strain levels, sleep data, and recovery percentages, all of which were through 24/7 monitoring through WHOOP’s wristband. For over 4 years, ending this current season, the head coach’s access to that data was unlimited and relatively unregulated. For example, members of the team reported that their coach would text them congratulating them for having a 100% recovery rate, or admonish the team in person if a certain number of players were in the red and had low recovery levels.

Even with the concern that the data was not being used how it was expected to be was brought up to the Assistant VP and Director of Athletics and Recreation, Russell Rogers, on multiple occasions, it took years to finally reach the point where the Women’s team could leave WHOOP behind. Still, members of the team noted their disappointment that their recovery day, or day off

of practice, was moved from Sunday to Monday by their coach — a move thought to have been implemented to discourage any late-night activity that would diminish the team’s recovery, even though WHOOP can no longer be used by their coach to quantify their recovery states.

While having athletes use fitness technology can be beneficial in making data-driven coaching decisions, 24/7 monitoring is excessive and well beyond the scope of necessary.

Members of the Women’s team pointed out that ingame and in-practice biodata monitors, in the form of chest straps, do exist and are a better and less invasive alternative to WHOOP since they can be limited to games and practice usage.

As of current, the Women’s Soccer team no longer uses WHOOP at the team level, although some members still choose to use it to monitor their own personal performance and biodata.

12

Friday, December 15

Campus Pulse

Elaina Johnson-Glaser ‘24 “A Barbie.”

Alexander Stanczak ‘25

Heta Patel ‘27

“For the Stute to be disbanded as an organization.”

“Concert tickets. Taylor Swift if she was still on tour.”

ROVING REPORTER

By Rafael Lee Li and Mia Petrolino

Taran Miller ‘24

“Money.”

“What do you want as a gift for the Holidays?”

Isabella Dona ‘25

Santa Claus

Madison Subbiondo ‘25

“Ozempic and a SZA BBL”

“Retirement.”

“As much money as possible.”

Alex Asmussen ‘24

Anagram Magic Square

Crossword by Jack Scherban

Hidden Links

ACROSS ͳǤ ̶ ̴​̴​̴Ǩ̶ ȋ ̶ Ǩ̶Ȍ ͷǤ

̶ ̶ ͹Ǥ

ͺǤ Ȁ ̴​̴​̴ ͻǤ ̶ ̴​̴​̴ ǫǨ̶ ȋ ̵ ̶ ǫ̶Ȍ ͳͲǤ ͷǦ ȏ ǨȐ ͳʹǤ ̶ ̴​̴̶ ͳ͵Ǥ ̶ Ǧ Ǧ Ǧ ̶ǡ

Only Connectǡ

Ǥ ǡ ǡ ǡ Ǥ

“nouns”. “places”, etc. What do the following ǫ

Sudoku Puzzle Difficulty: Hard

DOWN ͳǤ ǡ

ʹǤ

͵Ǥ ͶǤ ǡ

ͷǤ ͸Ǥ ǣ Ǥ ͺǤ Ǧ ̵ Ǥ ͳͳǤ ̵

“Sleep.”

ʹͷ Ǥ Ǥ ǡ Ǥ ǡ Ǧ Ǥ 65. When you’re ǡ ȋ Ȍ Ǥ

CLUES ͳǤ ʹǤ ͵Ǥ Buffy the Vampire Slayer ͶǤ ͷǤ ͸Ǥ ͹Ǥ ͺǤ ͻǤ ͳͲǤ ʹǦ ͳͳǤ ͳʹǤ ̵ 13. Christmas carol: "Silent ___“ ͳͶǤ ͳͷǤ 16. "Beware the ides of ___“ ͳ͹Ǥ ̵ ͳͺǤ ͳͻǤ ʹͲǤ ǣ ̴​̴​̴

ʹͳǤ ̵ ǣ ̴​̴​̴ ʹʹǤ Everything Everywhere All at Once ʹ͵Ǥ Ǧ ʹͶǤ ʹͷǤ Family Feud