HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY Saving your relationship this Valentine’s Day

Taking your signifcant other on a romantic date to Pierce Dining Hall, Stevens’ premier eatery, to purchase a heart-shaped pizza is one of many ways you could celebrate Valentine’s Day this year. You could also stop by Pierce Cafe and try the new seasonal Red Velvet Latte. If you and your partner would rather celebrate of campus, there are many things you can do this Valentine’s Day in Hoboken.

Dining Options

Hoboken is home to a variety of eateries. From cafes to bakeries to restaurants, Hoboken has it all. According to the Hoboken Girl, a unique food-related date idea for Valentine’s day is taking a cooking class at Hudson Table. Be sure to check the class schedule in advance! Other places to dine include the famous Carlo’s

Bakery, Amanda’s Restaurant, and Sorellina.

If you and your date would rather stay in but don’t want to use your meal plan, consider heading to your preferred local grocery store and picking out items to have a picnic. A quick, easy idea is to make a charcuterie board. While charcuterie boards tend to have meat, cheese, and fruits you can put your own spin on it to appeal to your tastes. Just grab your favorite snacks and arrange them however you like! Another option is leaning into the sweet theme of Valentine’s Day and buying or making your own sweet treats. Chocolate-covered strawberries are a simple staple of the holiday and are a breeze to make. As for baked goods, you could check out your favorite local bakery. Or, head to the grocery store and pick up some box mix and enjoy baking with your partner or challenging them to a

Healthy relationships

TANYA AVADIA, STAFF WRITER

With love in the air and Valentine’s Day coming up, many people will likely be celebrating their relationships. However, not all relationships may truly feel like they are worth celebrating. If you feel like this, you may want to consider whether or not your relationship is a healthy one. Healthy relationships take certain skills and practice to maintain while on the fip side, in unhealthy relationships, it can take time to recognize that they are not good for us. In either case, there are factors that help us identify whether a relationship is healthy or not.

Certain patterns overlap in unhealthy relationships and many of them may not be clear at frst. Examples of such red fags include: Controlling each other:

In a relationship, it is normal to bring up something that you wish your partner would do diferently. However, it isn’t acceptable to tell them what to do or to control their behavior. Your partner does not respect your boundaries: If you set a boundary and your partner brushes it of, that is a serious red fag. This is because they are not respecting your needs.

Feeling afraid to express or feeling unheard when you want to state a disagreement: Not being able to communicate your needs and views to your partner is very problematic. Even more, if you feel afraid to speak up, that might be an indication that this relationship puts you under a lot of stress. Additionally, if you feel unheard every time you express an opinion, it shows that your partner is not willing to take into account your feelings which could be a sign that this relationship would not work in the long term.

How to breakup with your roomie in time for housing selection

ANNA DABROWSKI, STAFF WRITER

So you don’t like your roommate — or maybe you guys just ignore each other’s existence. No matter what the situation is, housing selection is coming up soon and you want out! How should one approach this conversation, or does there even need to be a conversation?

If you just aren’t besties:

This situation is relatively easy to navigate, and the likelihood that they also have plans of moving in with friends is pretty high. A simple outline could be “Hey you have been a great roommate but I just wanted to let you know that I’m planning on living with blank next year, I didn’t want to put off this discussion and leave you high and dry.” Honestly, this shouldn’t be too tricky because they didn’t do anything wrong to solicit this discussion, no one is at fault.

If they think you’re besties but you definitely aren’t: This is an awko-taco one. Maybe your roomie’s habits don’t align with yours, or maybe they’re just excessively clingy. Either way, this conversation should be handled with grace and eloquence. Sit them down, talk about the differing lifestyles you two possess, and most importantly express how you think they would have a bake-of.

Gift Guide

Gift exchanges can be an important part of Valentine’s Day but life can get in the way and you may fnd yourself in a race against the clock to try to fnd the perfect gift while also trying to stick to a budget. A good place to start is a local thrift store. Try to be thoughtful and really consider what your signifcant other enjoys. Valentine’s gifts can be more than just chocolate, fowers, and a heart necklace. Buy what you think your partner will enjoy, even if it doesn’t look like a typical Valentine’s Day gift.

An alternative to a storebought gift is one that is handmade. One idea is to write notes about your partner and put them in a jar so they can read one a day. Or, you could buy some beads and string from a craft store and make jewelry for your valentine. If you’re artsy you can even make

You don’t feel happy or comfortable around your partner: Obviously, you are not expected to be happy around your partner all the time, but if your relationship has a negative impact on your mood, that likely means something needs to change. If there is dissatisfaction in your relationship, it might mean it is time to either discuss it or move on. Disagreements don’t go anywhere: In every relationship there are disagreements. The issue is if nothing is done or learned even after one takes place. This might be a sign that you are not compatible, which could indicate that the relationship doesn’t have much longevity.

If you feel as though your relationship matches these red fags, it might be time to have a talk with your partner. If you are still unsure about whether or not your relationship is unhealthy, ask your- them a painting or a heartfelt poem. The possibilities are endless. As long as it comes from the heart, any gift will do.

Options for celebrating if you’re single Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to just be a couples-only afair. There are plenty of activities you can do either with friends or alone to celebrate.

A great way to celebrate is with your friends. Galentines/ Palentines is known for being an alternative to Valentine’s Day where you can celebrate with your friends. With your friend group, you can get dinner together, watch movies, exchange gifts, and have a little get together. Activities you can do can include self-care (face masks, manicures, etc.), baking together (if you live on campus you can use the communal dorm kitchens or the kitchens in individual dorm rooms), going on a walk or hike, self these questions:

- Does my partner allow me to grow?

- Do we have the same goals for the future?

- Can I be myself around them?

- Is my life better with them in it?

On the other hand, if you believe that your relationship is worth investing in, there are some steps you and your partner can take to ensure that it is healthy. Some practices of a healthy relationship include:

Keeping expectations realistic:

Healthy relationships are all about accepting someone for who they are. It’s okay if sometimes you are disappointed in someone but a relationship won’t last if you have an all-or-nothing mentality when it comes to your relationship. Talk to each other and be open with each other:

Take the time to really be there for each other and genuinely lis- taking a fun class together (like cooking or painting), and writing each other notes of appreciation. There are so many options that you can tailor to ft you and your friend group. ten. Also, be honest with each other and do not withhold anything important. Live a balanced life:

If you’d rather celebrate alone, you can still do these activities and more. Splurge on a great gift for yourself. Spend the night watching countless movies and shows on your streaming platform of choice. Or, you can try out a new recipe or even a new restaurant. Take care of yourself this Valentine’s Day and spend some good quality time with yourself. Valentine’s Day is what you make of it and wanting to spend the day alone is completely valid.

Your Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to include the traditional activities. However, you choose to celebrate, be sure to have a good time, no matter who you celebrate with.

In a relationship, it can be very easy to make everything centered around the relationship. While it is important, spending time on yourself and building a life outside of the relationship is equally as important.

Consider their perspective: better experience with someone more similar to them. This conversation is not accusatory, but more of a retrospective on your differing habits and a discussion.

During times of confict, it may be very hard to accept or even understand your partner’s perspective but nevertheless, it is important because it will give you a better view of the situation.

Just like preserving a healthy relationship takes time, it takes equal courage and time to leave an unhealthy one. If a relationship is no longer suitable for you, do not be afraid to leave, since a relationship is supposed to add value to your life, not take value from it.

If their boyfriend leaves his underwear on your desk: The classic freshman roommate from hell trope. They are completely out of touch, don’t understand boundaries, and you would feel lucky to never have to talk to them again. My advice: don’t. You guys are clearly aware that you aren’t going to live together again, heck you don’t even bother to send passive-aggressive text messages with smiley faces any more.

Unless you get the good ole request to form a roommate group via email, I highly recommend no course of action. Or, if you want to implement a little Valentine’s Day spice, the next time they bring an uninvited guest over on a weeknight: Just scream at them in front of the guest about how you are breaking up with them! Maybe after a major confrontation, they’ll pull the good old move-outwith-out-telling-anyone, then everyone is happy!

Roommate relationships can be tricky but do your best to let them down gently and definitely have a conversation with them before it’s time to undergo the housing selection process.

Breast cancer vaccine completes frst clinical trial

BY AVA WANG, STAFF WRITER

With 300,589 projected cases for 2023, breast cancer is anticipated to be the most frequently diagnosed cancer within the United States this year. In 2020 alone, 2.8 million individuals were diagnosed, 685,000 of which proved fatal. Despite incidence increasing, mortality rates have seen a historical decrease. This increase in survivability odds is largely attributed to extended eforts of cutting-edge medical research.

In November 2022, Mary L. Disis, MD and team published an original investigation announcing the success of an experimental vaccine in resisting breast cancer recurrence. The vaccine achieved a strong immune response against key tumor protein ERBB2, formerly known as HER2, in a single arm, phase I clinical trial.

A phase I clinical trial marks the frst step in testing a new treatment on humans. The primary goals of a phase I trial are to test the safety, side efects, best dose, and timing of a new treatment. Disis and team found their experimental treatment to be safe at a dosage of 10 to 500 micrograms and noted that the most common side efects associated with their novel injection were fu-like symptoms (33%), and fatigue (36%). Furthermore, the study found that participants who received higher doses demon- strated a higher (better) immune response; however, there were diminishing returns of dosage increase past 100 micrograms. The term ‘single arm’ for a vaccine study is not what one might expect it to entail. The term does not refer to a vaccine that was injected into one arm, rather, it is a named stage of clinical trial design. In a single arm study, a sample of individuals with a targeted medical condition, in this case, advanced stage ERBB2-positive breast cancer, are dosed with an experimental treatment and followed over a length of time to observe response. Disis’ study observed 66 participants from January 2012 to August 2022. As expected with a single arm study, specifc statements regarding effcacy cannot be proven at this time, but results promise a preliminary answer of ‘yes’ on a binary ‘yes’ or ‘no’ scale.

Although not defnite proof of efcacy, Disis’ study provides promise of a future where a breast cancer diagnosis is not a terminal one. Unlike preventative vaccines such as the hepatitis B, fu, and human papillomavirus (HPV) shots, which aim to circumvent a diagnosis altogether, Disis’ vaccine hopes to target breast cancer recurrence. Currently, 10.4% of breast cancer survivors will face recurrence in the frst fve years after remission, with the number peaking at 15.2% in the frst two years. This statistic is an om-

Trafc pollution impairs brain function

BY EVAN PAPAGEORGE, OPINION COLUMNIST

Most people, at some point in their lives, experience a trafc jam. Living in Hoboken and looking at the New York City skyline, Stevens students hear the horns and speeding cars of trafc jams daily. However, most cars and other vehicles in those trafc jams are not electric, meaning they expel greenhouse gasses from the exhaust pipes. Car exhaust contains varying gasses, water vapor, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. Although it is well-known exposure to gas from car exhaust can be damaging, a new study shows that damage can occur within hours, the time of a typical New York bumper-tobumper trafc jam.

Researchers at the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria published the report of their study on January 14, 2023. The experiments took place in the University of British Columbia’s Air Pollution Exposure Laboratory, located at Vancouver General Hospital, equipped with an exposure booth where researchers can accurately mimic various pollutant types and diffusion levels to represent real-life environmental levels. 25 healthy adult volunteers were exposed to diesel exhaust and fltered air for control data. All exposure tests were carefully planned to ensure the safety of the volunteers. Throughout the study, the researchers conducted 100 MRI scans immediately before and after being exposed to the exhaust, which allowed the researchers to examine the efect of diesel gas on the brain. In particular, they studied the brain’s default mode network, a series of connected segments of the brain that are the main functional areas of memory, rational decision-making, and internal thought.

The results and conclusions of the study concerned the researchers. The MRI scans following the diesel exposure show signifcantly reduced connectivity within the default node network. Dr. Jodie Gawryluk, a psychology professor at the University of Victoria and the study’s frst author of the study says, “We know that altered functional connectivity [...] has been associated with reduced cognitive performance and symptoms of depression, so it’s concerning to see trafc pollution interrupting these same networks.”

In light of their study, the researchers addressed some possible ways to avoid trafc-related exhaust and its adverse efects. The most straightforward tactic suggested was to be cognisant of the air you breathe. Senior study author Dr. Chris Carlsten, professor, head of respiratory medicine, and the Canada Research Chair in occupational and environmental lung disease at the University of British Columbia explains that “people may want to think twice the next time they’re stuck in traffc with the windows rolled down [...] It’s important to ensure that your car’s air flter is in good working order, and if you’re walking or biking down a busy street, consider diverting to a less busy route.”

The study only examines the efects of trafc-related exhaust. However, researchers are worried about other types of air pollution. Dr. Carlsten explains, “Air pollution is now recognized as the largest environmental threat to human health and we are increasingly seeing the impacts across all major organ systems.” inous gray cloud that hangs over survivors’ heads, leaving many feeling powerless and questioning if/when their tumors will return. The phase II vaccine aims to eradicate the remaining, undetectable breast cancer cells of patients already in remission. Decreased odds of recurrence would provide breast cancer survivors, who already rightfully won their battle against cancer, with emotional relief and a higher quality of life. A complex disease such as breast cancer requires a cocktail of treatments, consisting of differing ratios depending on an individual cases’ speed of progression and stage. Disis and team’s work signifes one step closer to opening another door a breast cancer patient’s treatment may choose to open. In the upcoming phase II clinical trial, Disis aims to formally test her observations from phase I with randomized administration of the vaccine or immune-stimulating agent, with the end goal of eliminating breast cancer recurrence.

Despite recent progress, the fght remains far from over. Research momentum continues its uphill trek as breast cancer (along with prostate and uterine corpus cancers) continues to bear the largest racial disparities in mortality amongst diagnoses.