[The Stute] February 23, 2024 (Issue 18, Volume CXXI)

Happy Founder’s Day!

VOLUME CXXI No. 18

Take your professor out (TYPO)!

TANYA AVADIA, BUSINESS MANAGER

“Take Your Professor Out” (TYPO) is the newest initiative of the Student Government Association (SGA) which aims at bettering student-faculty relationships. Aligning with the university’s goals, the SGA, under the presidency of Nick Smith, is prioritizing building connections between students and faculty outside of the traditional classroom setting. The Stute had the opportunity to interview Smith, who believes that the TYPO program is one step in the right direction, as it allows students to approach their professors first and get to know them as people, rather than instructors, over a meal.

When asked about the thought process behind creating TYPO, Smith shares how the current landscape of student and faculty interactions is very one-sided. Right now, faculty are encouraged to connect with students through holding office hours or inviting them to departmental lunches with other students. While this is good, Smith wants students to also have a chance to approach their professors. This is where the idea for TYPO was born.

SEE TYPO PAGE 2

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Facebook moms rally in support of snow day!

BY JIYA JAISINGHANI, ASSISTANT LAYOUT EDITOR

The National Weather Service predicted that Hudson County would face up to four to six inches of snow as well as 40-mileper-hour winds on Tuesday, February 13. As a result, all Hoboken schools were closed and decided to take a snow day. However, Stevens also decided to take the weather forecast as an opportunity to cancel classes and close offices that particular day. This is highly unusual because the last time Stevens Institute of Technology announced a snow day was February

Bill for Ukranian and Israel support passes in the U.S. Senate

ARTHUR SERRA, STAFF WRITER

In recent months, the United States House of Representatives has been in a state of turmoil: turmoil over the budget, turmoil over the speaker, and turmoil over the issue that is foreign aid. Out in the world, there are currently two democracies fighting wars. Ukraine continues to defend itself from Russian aggression, and Israel is fighting a war in Gaza to root out Hamas terrorists, as well as a shadow war against its Arab neighbors. Both of these countries are outgunned, outmanned, and outfinanced, and rely on American support to keep them in the fight for “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” However, sending aid overseas is an issue that many Americans feel is unnecessary. The most common argument is that it is inappropriate to send aid to other countries when there are those who are hungry or without healthcare here in the US. It was with this argument that the Republican-controlled House took out foreign aid in this

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12, 2019, almost exactly five years ago, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most of the faculty and staff, as well as the student body, were shocked to hear of the school’s decision because other universities took a different approach. Schools like Rutgers University, Kean University, Montclair State University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and Drew University were scheduled to have remote classes and some even remote midterms. As mentioned on nj.com, Stevens was “equipped for remote learning” but felt that the students and faculty deserved a break. It was one of the only major

institutions to do so.

Vice President of Student Affairs Sara Klein was an advocate for canceling classes altogether, noting that “there’s great wisdom in taking a step back and embracing the simplicity of a good old-fashioned snow day.”

Nobody was as thrilled as the Facebook moms, though! The minute Stevens announced the day off, the Parents of Stevens Facebook page flooded with commentary supporting the school’s decisions and exclaiming that this is exactly what their children needed. One mom wrote that her son “has been under a lot of pressure lately,”

and was glad he gets some time to himself, while another revealed she and her daughter were from Florida, so the snow day would be “sensational.” But, as expected, Facebook moms can never truly agree on everything, so there were some parents who expressed more concern. They were confused as to why Stevens could not just go remote and believed their children to be losing precious class time. Quite quickly, they were confronted by other parents on the page. One person wrote, “Why complain?” and another

SEE SNOW! PAGE 2

NATIONAL NEWS

Controversial Super Bowl ads raise eyebrows

MEGHANA MAMADAPUR, STAFF WRITER

year’s budget — the budget is entirely the purview of the House.

However, the US Senate, which has constitutional responsibilities including foreign aid, recently passed a $95 billion bill, by an overwhelming majority, to send aid to Ukraine, Israel, and key US allies in the Pacific. For the Ukrainians, 14 billion goes toward buying arms, a further 15 billion to intelligence services and training, 8 billion for essential services, and 1.8 billion to rebuild the Ukrainian private sector. As said above, a key objection to this kind of foreign aid is that our nation is sending money to other nations when it is already in debt and with its own problems. However, many forget that a significant portion of this budget goes towards buying new equipment for US forces. When Ukraine buys our tanks, missiles, and planes, they buy our oldest and most worn-out equipment — which, by comparison with the ex-Soviet death traps the Russians use, is very effective. Effectively,

SEE BILL PAGE 2

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PULSE (10) Read answers to our weekly Roving Reporter, plus solve our weekly puzzle and sudoku.

Every year, millions of Americans await one of the largest televised sporting events: the Super Bowl. This year, the Kansas City Chiefs won in an intense game against the San Francisco 49ers. While football entices millions of Americans, many watch the Super Bowl for the new, generally humourous, but sometimes controversial advertisements that air during breaks. Let’s dive into the controversial ads from this year.

Pfizer, a biopharmaceutical company that became a household name for developing the COVID-19 vaccine, aired a commercial showing their founders, Charles Pfizer, and Charles Erhart, singing a tune to “Don’t Stop Me Now.” The commercial also features notable scientists, including Isaac Newton, Hippocrates, and Rosalind Franklin. After singing the medicine anthem, the final scene showed a child patient with cancer leaving the hospital — the advertisement aimed to show Pfizer’s new cancer initiative, LetsOutdoCancer.com. Although Pfizer failed to confirm the

exact cost of the advertisement, CBS reported that a 30-second commercial was approximately $7 million. Pfizer’s advertisement was 60 seconds long, making it around $14 million in price. The company pledged $15 million in donations to the American Cancer Society, which is nearly the same amount spent on the commercial. While the commercial wanted to bring awareness to Pfizer’s cancer initiatives, the message backfired with viewers due to the expense of putting out a simple message. Many believe this commercial was another step to combat Pfizer shares tumbling in December. The company is now searching for new sources to grow overall sales.

Another highly controversial commercial was a Christian commercial about Jesus. The advertisement especially caused anger among conservatives, who believed the commercial tried to justify certain sins. The commercial was funded by the organization “He Gets Us,” which is a movement of people who have been inspired by Jesus. Some of the images within the commercial showed a

SEE ADS PAGE 2

The Undergraduate Class of 2023 Career Outcomes Report, unveiled recently, is a robust testament to Stevens’ stature as a premier research university, distinguished by its tech-centric curriculum. With an overwhelming 96.4% of graduates boasting an 81.6% knowledge rate and commanding an average annual salary of $85,200, Stevens further solidifies its reputation as a catalyst for professional success. Notably, 99% of female graduates have charted their career trajectories for the second consecutive year, underscoring Stevens’ steadfast dedication to fostering diversity within the STEM landscape.

Dr. Sara Klein, Vice President for Student Affairs, articulated her profound pride in witnessing the remarkable strides made by students in their professional journeys, citing their unwavering commitment to excellence both inside and outside the classroom as instrumental to their achieve-

Exploring the corporate fallout: the surge of layoffs in major conglomerates

UMANG CHULANI, STAFF WRITER

Amid our current regime of high inflation and volatile prices, the technology sector has emerged as the primary driver of massive returns of capital and innovation. Not only within the technology sector but also across various industries, ranging from consumer discretionary to financial services, there has been a noticeable surge in consumer demand for products and services, leading to increased consumer spending. While conglomerates like Meta and Nike have been enjoying the benefits of heightened consumer spending, the market has also seen a prevalent theme of massive layoffs.

As technology companies realign themselves for AI and consumer discretionary for lower costs and increased efficiency, recurring cycles of employee layoffs have become common for conglomerates aiming to trim expenses and uphold a “year of efficiency,” as articulated by Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg.

The fiscal year of 2023 was a massive year of earnings growth and advance-

ments within the technology industry, with the IT sector operating on sort of a “dual mandate” of increased AI investments and cloud computing initiatives, with evident ventures into the automotive industry. As these firms have increased their investment, this is also associated with higher costs associated with research and development, causing some of these bulge bracket firms to downsize in efforts to cut costs. With the S&P trading at benchmark highs and Meta surpassing a $3T market cap, this past month of January has accounted for about 23,670 workers being laid off among 85 IT firms. The IT hardware conglomerate Microsoft announced a 1,900-employee layoff cycle within the gaming division. Companies such as Google and Amazon have gone through various cycles of employee cuts in an effort to cut costs. Nike reported this past Friday (February 16th) that the company will be reducing its workforce by about 2% (1,600 employees), along with eBay cutting about 1,000 full-time workers, 9% of its workforce.

JOE

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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

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ASSIS. LAYOUT EDITOR.................JIYA JAISINGHANI ‘27

ASSIS. LAYOUT EDITOR...........................SHREYA ROY ‘27

ASSIS. LAYOUT EDITOR......................LIZ SEPULVEDA ‘27

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TYPO

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Other colleges have also implemented this idea and found success, which is why the SGA is eager to trial-run this.

In response to how he foresees TYPO aiding the future of student-faculty relations, Smith breaks it down into three parts.

Curating curiosity among students pertaining to the work and background of their professors

Many professors have interesting backgrounds and insane career trajectories that have led them to where they are now, and they often don’t get to share their experiences with their students.

Through the TYPO, Smith hopes students can elevate their understanding of their professors and

swered. “This sort of exchange would allow a student to learn about their professor’s research and possibly participate in research with them or ask questions related to an industry that the student is interested in pursuing a career in,” Smith states.

Shifting the culture so that students are more comfortable in approaching their professors

While this is a trial run of the program, it is the greater goal of the university and the SGA to work towards creating a culture where students are reaching out to faculty more on their own.

“TYPO makes student-faculty interactions a double-sided effort which levels the playing field,” Smith says.

Creating meaningful and sustained relationships between students and faculty alike

The end goal of TYPO is to cre-

a mentorship-type bond that is a mutually beneficial relationship.

The process of actually taking your professor out for a meal is very simple and is accessible to every undergraduate student. Once a student fills out the form and is selected, they are awarded a Pi Kitchen voucher for their appointment with their professor. The student is then instructed to contact their professor to decide on a date and time for the meal.

Lastly, as the program is in its very early stages, Smith explains how he would like every participating student and faculty member to provide feedback regarding the process, their experience, and what they got out of it. The SGA President believes this to be a crucial step in making this a larger-scale program. “I am super excited and we already have some interest. I hope a lot of people ap-

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SNOW!

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

mom said that Stevens could not “please everyone” with the snow day.

But when reviewing the page, those comments started a deeper discussion. The parents mentioned that after the COVID-19 pandemic, schools stopped using traditional snow days as a solution and concluded going virtual was a better option. However, remote learning only works for some kids, and it can be argued that it is primarily beneficial for schools, not students.

The moms shared a love for traditional snow days and adored the idea that their children could still experience them after the pandemic. They applauded Stevens’ devotion to the students and faculty by making this decision. The parents posted pictures of the snow ducks and snowmen that were built all across campus and wished all Stevens students a happy snow day.

PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVENS.EDU

BILL

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most of the money we set aside for the Ukrainians is just buying the best for our own forces.

To Israel: 14.1 billion dollars. None of that money will be used for offensive weaponry, 4 billion goes towards air defenses. 1.2 billion would go towards additional anti-rocket defenses, including a laser weapon designed to shoot down rockets targeted at civilian populations. 2.5 billion would go towards US military operations in the region. This would entail keeping shipping lanes open, providing intelligence to the Israelis about Iran and other aggressive neighbors and other special operations. Beyond that, 9.2 billion dollars goes towards humanitarian aid for civilians trapped in Gaza and the West Bank. This comes at a time when the United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA),

STATS

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ments. “Their record-breaking career outcomes, coupled with substantial salary increments, stand as a testament to the transformative power and tangible returns associated with a Stevens education,” Dr. Klein remarked.

In computer science, graduates displayed an enviable 95% career outcomes rate, commanding an average salary of $99,800, while their counterparts in software engineering secured starting salaries averaging $96,800. Stevens attributes this success to its immersive technological curriculum, complemented by vibrant student life and hands-on learning experiences facilitated through internships, externships, and co-op programs.

Reflecting on his enriching journey, Michael DelGaudio ‘23, a software engineer at Microsoft, lauds the transformative impact of the Co-op Program, which provid-

ADS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

woman outside a family planning clinic and another person attending a protest. The last scene showed Jesus washing his disciples’ feet, with the words, “Jesus didn’t teach hate. He washed feet.” According to “He Gets Us,” the images are supposed to contribute to the themes of love and unity. This theme was not perceived by some, including music video director and former congressional candidate Robby Starbuck. Starbuck stated, “The ‘He Gets Us’ feet ad about Jesus seems to imply that Jesus was cool with all kinds of sinful behavior. He wasn’t. He didn’t go hang out with prostitutes or any other sinner because he accepted the choice they made, he did it to inspire them to change.” Many others agreed that the commer-

the UN organization responsible for Palestinian aid, is being stripped of its financing by Western nations af ter significant numbers of its work ers and leaders aided and abetted the October 7 attacks on Israel that sparked the ongoing war.

In order for this to become a reality, the House of Representa tives must pass this bill and place it on the Resolute Desk for Presi dent Biden to sign it. Failure to do so would leave our closest and most valuable allies in the fight against authoritarianism, religious fanati cism, and jingoism against the vul nerable and weak. Furthermore, it would surrender American domi nance as the leader of the free world to another nation like Germany, the United Kingdom, or France. Since the United States was founded, it has fought against tyranny in every part of the globe. The question is whether we are willing to put down the mantle of the Arsenal of Democ racy or fall back into the dark pit of isolationism.

ed him with invaluable real-world problem-solving skills and a resilient work ethic poised to propel him toward future successes.

Many cybersecurity, business, engineering, and science programs reported a stellar 100% desired outcomes rate, signaling Stevens’ multifaceted education and career preparation excellence.

Furthermore, the report highlights the prestigious companies and institutions where Stevens graduates have secured coveted positions, including stalwarts such as Amazon, Boeing, Cigna, Johnson & Johnson, JPMorgan Chase, Keller, L3Harris Technologies, and Morgan Stanley. Noteworthy is the cohort of students pursuing advanced degrees at esteemed universities like Columbia, Johns Hopkins, and Stanford and, notably, remaining at Stevens, further attesting to the institution’s growing strength in graduate education and strong undergrad-to-grad pipeline, bolstered by initiatives like the Accelerated Master’s Program.

cial misinterpreted Jesus washing the feet of his disciples, with some claiming that the ad was part of a “psyop to trick Christians into thinking Jesus is fine with sin.”

A third commercial that was not overly popular was by Temu, a Chinese online shop known for significantly low prices. Temu used the tagline “Shop Like a Billionaire,” bringing 123.4 million viewers to its site. The company also paid a total of $21 million for three 30-second advertisements throughout the Super Bowl. When Super Bowl viewers browsed the site, they found certain items as cheap as 99 cents. Dupes for items such as the Stanley Cup were available for four dollars. However, the controversy comes from the company’s dark history of privacy. Temu is owned by PDD Holdings, a company that also owns Pinduoduo. Pinduoduo is a Chinese e-commerce company that was accused of bypassing

The Undergraduate Class of 2023 Career Outcomes Report is a testament to the perceived caliber of education and preparation students receive at Stevens and showcases graduates’ success across various fields and industries, highlighting the institution’s commitment to fostering diversity and excellence within the STEM landscape. The administration says it continues to make strides in providing students with an immersive technological curriculum to position students for success in the professional job market.

Those efforts are driving other substantial changes that aim to improve the quality of education here at Stevens, including the upcoming merger of the Schools of Systems and Enterprises and the School of Engineering and Science. Students should look out for newsletters from their respective schools in their email feeds for more granular breakdowns of outcomes for their majors and any other changes that may be on the horizon.

cell phone security to spy on other apps and read private messages. Temu itself was also sued for violating customer privacy by collecting private information with “unscrupulous” methods. On top of privacy concerns, the company was accused of using forced labor from the Muslim Uyghur population in Xinjiang. Through forced labor, Temu can keep prices even cheaper for consumers. Because of all of Temu’s lawsuits and safety concerns, many were left wondering about the commercials featured throughout the Super Bowl.

While Pfizer, “He Gets Us,” and Temu had highly debated advertisements, there is no denying that successful companies paid hefty sums to have their commercials aired. This brings the bigger question of whether or not commercials should meet a certain standard to be shown during one of the most popular events in America.

LAYOFF CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The primary distinction between being laid off and being fired lies in the terminology used to describe each situation. Getting laid off refers to losing one’s job due to reasons beyond one’s control, such as company downsizing or economic downturns, while being fired implies termination resulting from performance issues or misconduct on the part of the employee. As we have seen throughout the massive layoffs within these top companies, the common theme has been cost-cutting and improvements in efficiency by maintaining a small yet productive workforce.

Various companies are increasing their investments within other business segments, with Nike putting more of an emphasis on its running product and women’s apparel, causing these companies to reallocate various types of capital toward conducting business in a way that not only secures returns but in a way that mitigates unnecessary costs that are associated with daily affairs. The day following the Super Bowl, a day of record earnings for various streaming services, Paramount announced plans to cut around 800 employees, constituting roughly 3% of its workforce, despite the record-high viewership of Super Bowl LVIII.

Additionally, United Postal Service (UPS) has revealed plans for a significant reduction in its workforce, with approximately 12,000 layoffs expected across various business segments.

Regarding its implications for graduating students entering the job market, this underscores the significance of a highly skilled workforce capable of not only completing tasks but doing so efficiently and accurately. In a fiercely competitive job market, this situation engenders different forms of uncertainty as employers seek not only top talent but also the most suitable talent for their needs. Bearing this in mind, the future composition of the workforce greatly hinges on the talent pool of graduating students and the diverse objectives set by businesses, whether centered on expansion or cost reduction, something for upcoming Stevens graduates to keep in mind.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NEW YORK TIMES

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Celebrating a rich history of Black journalists

BY SEAN ANDERSON STAFF WRITER

To fully examine the scope of journalism, it is important to acknowledge the numerous black journalists throughout history who have been and are paving the way for future black journalists. Black journalists help empower and inspire not just those in Black communities but anyone who is interested in making their way into journalism. The history of Black journalists is one filled with struggles but also success in breaking barriers for a more diverse media presence.

Black journalism in the United States has a long history dating back 197 years ago to when the Freedom’s Journal, the first Black-owned and operated newspaper in the United States, was founded. According to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), the newspaper provided regional, national, and international news and “sought to improve conditions for the over 300,000 newly freed Black men and women living in the North.” Additionally, it promoted the achievements of Black Americans through biographies of prominent Black figures.

Another prominent newspaper of that century was the North Star, founded by Frederick Douglass. The title of the paper refers to the brightest star in the sky, which was

used by those escaping slavery to navigate to the North, and, as documented by the Library of Congress, Douglass stated, “To millions, now in our boasted land of liberty, it is the star of hope.” The North Star newspaper would also be a star of hope as Douglass presented ideas in it that promoted ending slavery, the advancement and equality of African Americans, and women’s rights.

In the following century, many more prominent Black journalists would appear, including Simeon Booker Jr., who was the first Black reporter for the Washington Post. The New York Times reports that he “provided pioneering coverage of racial injustice and the civil rights struggle.” Some of his most notable work included the Emmett Till murder and the Bus Boycott started by Rosa Parks. Additionally, the New York Times states that “he was the only journalist with the first Freedom Riders, who protested transportation segregation in the South by busing from Atlanta to Birmingham,” where they faced extreme violence for several portions of the way there. He would continue to cover the Black experience until retiring in 2007 after 65 years in journalism.

In 1975, in order to continue promoting diversity in the newsroom and support Black journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) was founded. The

NABJ is a non-profit organization with a stated purpose to “offer innovative training, career advancement opportunities and advocacy initiatives for Black journalists and media professionals worldwide.” Scholarships, internships, and fellowships are offered through the NABJ in order to meet this purpose, and an annual convention is held that connects thousands of students and people in the journalism industry together to discuss the cultural and historical impact of the Black community. The NABJ also annually recognizes prominent journalists to be inducted into the NABJ Hall of Fame, with one being Simeon Booker Jr. in 2013. This year, there were seven inductees across various forms of media. One inductee was Randall Pinkston, who has witnessed and reported on major events in recent history. According to the NABJ, “Pinkston was a White House Correspondent covering President George Herbert Walker Bush,” and would also be “one of the first journalists in Tora Bora Afghanistan reporting on the search for Osama bin Laden.”

It is clear from all this that the impact of Black journalism is still growing throughout all forms of media. It is promoted so that the future of media is not one that is one-sided but one that is diverse and explores all perspectives.

Black History Month playlist

BY ADITI SHILAWAT, SCIENCE WRITER

“Good Days” by SZA is a song about finding hope, resilience, and peace within oneself through negative situations. She talks about her past relationships and how she has grown as a person after them. She also talks about how she has learned to love herself much more.

“Are We Still Friends” by Tyler the Creator is a song about friendships, specifically about a friendship in which he’s uncertain of. He doesn’t know if he and the other are still con -

nected due to the connection being fragile. Tyler expressed that he wants to stay closely connected due to the old and long standing bond they’ve had, but it may not happen due to past negative experiences.

“Breakin’ Dishes” by Rihanna is a song about mental distraught and anxiety. She sings about fear and internal turmoil, specifically about when she experiences it. She talks about how it can appear suddenly and take hold. Later on, the song implies that the mental anguish that has been festering in the mind for so long has

started to seem like light and positivity, even though it’s not. She wishes to get away from the mental struggle and go back into the light.

“Crazy in Love’’ by Beyonce is a song about being passionately in love and how it feels. She expresses her intense emotions that come with that infatuation and sings about how she is consumed by these emotions, those of which being love. She expresses that she would do anything for her partner and displays the intensity of being deeply emotionally attached to them to the point where logic

and reason don’t have an effect on her decisions. Instead, her feelings control her romantically crazed actions.

“Drop It Like It’s Hot” by Snoop Dogg is, overall, about confidence and nonchalance. He talks about maintaining his cool demeanor in situations and keeping a level-head. He also displays his widely known status and cool demeanor in the music industry. Along with his status, he talks about his wealth and fame. The song itself is a celebration of staying composed and stylish.

“Passionfruit” by Drake

is a song about the complex nature of romantic relationships, as he talks about his own in the song. The song lyrics portray the struggle caused by romantic relationships, such as being not able to maintain intimacy and connection in long-distance relationships. He talks about how he cannot maintain his faithfulness to his partner and tells her the relationship should end due to the connection fading. The song itself is overall talking about the strong passion of love, but being unable to change old ways and put in effort to keep the relationship going.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BLACKPAST.ORG

PHOTO

PHOTO

Frederick Douglass Simeon Booker

Randall Pinkston

Former White House Correspondent and Investigative Journalist for Mississippi Free Press

First Black reporter for The Washington Post Founder of The North Star Newspaper

Men’s and Women’s Swimming take first and second in MAC Championships

BY ABBY JACOBS, HEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

Last week, from February 15 to February 18, Men’s and Women’s Swimming took on the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Championships in York, PA. Facing 11 other teams, Men’s Swimming took first place with 1,444.5 points, and Women’s Swimming secured second in their own bracket, having amassed a total of 1,246 points.

By the end of day one, Men’s and Women’s swimming saw a respective 325 and 280 points for a first and third place finish. On the men’s team, junior Edward Platonov and first-year Patrick Cortelli took silver medals in individual events, the 200-yard individual medley and the 500-yard freestyle. Junior Ryan Ward, graduate student Derick Miller, and sophomores Deo Bove and Will Stibor secured a silver in the 200-yard medley relay. For the women, junior Kai Wong placed third in the 50-yard freestyle and set her own personal best at a time of 24.70. Wong also took second in the 200-yard medley relay along with

sophomores Adriana Bertolotti, Natalia Brunetti, and Gabby Sokolik.

Men’s Swimming held their first place lead above the competition on the second day, totaling 743 points, and Women’s Swimming kept third with 626. Platonov won the 200-yard freestyle, bringing his victory in the race up to three years straight, and setting a season best of 1:42.21. The Ducks earned two silver medals in their relays, the 200-yard freestyle, and the 400-yard medley. Platonov, Stibor, Miller, and sophomore Leo Timmermann shaved more than a second off their seed time in the 200-yard freestyle relay, finishing in 1:24.49. The same day, Brunetti won the 100-yard butterfly for the second year straight, and became one of the two swimmers to finish the race in less than a minute, at a time of 57.74. Wong, Bertolotti, Sokolik, and senior Keenan Yates finished third in the 200yard freestyle relay, finishing just one-hundredth of a second away from second, at a time of 1:38.82.

Women’s Swimming moved up to second on day three, with 895

points. Men’s Swimming maintained first with 1058. Brunetti won her second butterfly of the championships, this time being the 200-yard, finishing in 2:07.83. The Ducks took multiple third place finishes during the day, including Wong in the 100-yard backstroke, and quartet of Sokolik, senior Claire Hannan, junior Melissa Misurelli, and first-year Kylie Martinez in the 800 Free, where they earned 54 points. The only first-place victory for Men’s Swimming during the third day was in the 800-yard freestyle relay where Stibor, Cortelli, Platonov, and junior Cade Cermak finished in 6:55.67. Both Bove and Miller finished in the top three of the 200-yard butterfly, with Bove taking silver and Miller taking bronze, with respective times of 1:56.92 and 1:58.54.

Both teams managed to maintain their places during the final day of the championships. Junior Sophie Patz was involved in both of her teams’ medalled victories of the day. Patz finished with a personal best of 2:08.24 in the 200yard backstroke and claimed sec -

WOMEN’S AND MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

MAC Indoor Championships–Day 1 Reading, PA Time TBA

SAT, FEB 24

WOMEN’S AND MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

MAC Indoor Championships–Day 2 Reading, PA Time TBA

WOMEN’S AND MEN’S BASKETBALL

ond and 28 points for the Ducks. She also, along with Yates, Hannan, and Misurelli, closed out the meet with another second place finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay. The team totalled 351 points for the day, securing their second-place finish for the third year in a row.

Two first place finishes were secured by Men’s Swimming on Sunday. Cortelli took an individual gold for the 1,650-yard freestyle, and became the first Stevens swimmer to do so since Stevens joined the MAC. The second gold of the day was in the 400-yard freestyle, won by Bove, senior Phong Tran, and first-years Drew Rossi and Nick Croghan. This was the 11th relay medal for the Ducks of the championship. Coupled with various other place-finishes by members of the team, the men’s team accrued 386.5 points for the day, winning the conference title by 327.5 points over runner up Widener University. This is the fifth straight MAC title won by the team and the 12th consecutive conference championship streak.

Softball starts season with sweep against Occidental in LA

BY CHRISTA RUIZ, SPORTS WRITER

Softball kicked off its 2024 season in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, February 18, against Occidental College. The team swept Occidental in a doubleheader with a score of 3-1 in the first game and 5-2 in the second game. Game one saw first-year Elizabeth Kirstein’s first career home run, and in game two, sophomore Emily Wohlleber had two RBIs.

In the two games against the Occidental Tigers, Stevens limited their opponents to only eight hits.

Sophomore pitchers Kyra Fischer and Ashley Allen secured their initial wins of the season, combining for a total of five strikeouts and only one walk. This marks the first

time the Ducks have started a season with a 2-0 record since 2021, when they achieved an initial 3-0 start with victories over King’s College. These wins bring Stevens to a 2-2 historical record against the Tigers, a stark contrast to their matchups in 2013, where Stevens went 0-2. The first game began with a scoreless first inning for both teams until Kirstein singled, marking her first career hit, although the Ducks ultimately failed to score. The offensive momentum shifted in the fourth inning when junior Madison Subbiondo walked, followed by a series of plays that culminated in Kirstein hitting a three-run homer to left field, propelling Stevens to a 3-0 lead. Despite the Tigers’ efforts, including a solo home run,

the Ducks maintained their lead, ending their first game of the season with a 3-1 win.

The second game saw immediate action from Stevens, with senior Jessica Guerrero walking and succeeding strategic plays, including a sacrifice bunt from junior Megan Curtis and singles by Kirstein and Subbiondo, giving the Ducks an early 1-0 lead. The advantage was extended in the fourth inning through singles by first-year Maria Dante and junior Emma Ruiz and a double from Wohlleber, establishing a 3-0 lead. Allen’s pitching limited the Tigers to just three hits over six innings. Though the Tigers scored in the seventh inning, Stevens ultimately secured the victory at a margin of 5-2, leaving Los Angeles with a 2-0 record.

Throughout the double-header, first-years Kirstein, Dante, Emma Quattrochi, and Adrianna Albano made their collegiate debuts. Kirstein’s debut was impressive, as she contributed four RBIs, four hits, and a run. Fischer and Allen pitched complete games in their respective matches, with Fischer allowing only one run and Allen only allowing two. Subbiondo had two hits, one RBI, and scored one run, while Ruiz had two hits and also scored a run, contributing to the team’s success.

Looking ahead, the Ducks are set to face Hunter College in a doubleheader at home on Wednesday, February 28. The team holds a favorable 12-3 all-time record against the Hawks, and they have won the last six matchups.

STEVENS SCOREBOARD

MAC Freedom Championship–Final Location and Time TBA

MEN’S TENNIS

Shenandoah University Fredericksburg, VA 9 a.m.

University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg, VA 2:30 p.m.

MEN’S LACROSSE

Springfield College Hoboken, NJ 12 p.m.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

University of Mary Washington Hoboken, NJ 3:30 p.m.

WOMEN’S TENNIS Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Hoboken, NJ 5 p.m.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Springfield College Springfield, MA 5 p.m.

SUN, FEB 25

MEN’S FENCING

Temple Invitational Philadelphia, PA 8:30 a.m.

WRESTLING

Mideast Futures Tournament Ewing, NJ 9 a.m.

MEN’S TENNIS

Kenyon College Fredericksburg, VA 9 a.m.

BASEBALL

Dickinson College Hoboken, NJ 11 a.m./1:30 p.m.

WED, FEB 28

SOFTBALL

Hunter College Weehawken, NJ 3 p.m./5 p.m.

Shaking up the field of seismology: a new National Seismic Hazard Model

BY KATELYN CHIURRI, STAFF WRITER

The United States Geological Survey (USGS), is a government agency whose job is to “monitor, assess, map, and conduct targeted scientific research so that policymakers and the public have the understanding they need to address complex environmental, natural resource, and public safety issues.” One area that the USGS researches is seismology, or the study of earthquakes and related events. Their scientists have created a map that shows the areas of the United States where dangerous earthquakes are likely to occur.

Maps like this have been made in the past, but the last one was created in 2018 and only covered the continental U.S. The maps of Alaska and Hawaii were last updated in 2007 and 1998, respectively.

nally requested due to their ability to help regions that are most likely to be affected to prepare for these events by predicting the scales of the earthquakes. The maps were made through “insights from seis mic studies, historical geologic data, and the latest data-collec

tion technologies.” This technology has also found around 500 faults which are areas between two rocks in the Earth’s crust that are where most earthquakes occur as they are caused by the movement of tectonic plates. The new map shows that the likelihood of more damaging earthquakes throughout the northeastern United States has increased, and the severity of earthquakes in Alaska and California has also increased. Recent volcanic eruptions from Hawaii’s second largest volcano, Kīlauea, have influenced a greater likelihood of dangerous earthquakes on the islands as well. Overall, 75% of the United States could experience these possibly dangerous earthquakes within the next 100 years. This model not only warns citizens about future earthquakes, it helps city planners and officials plan for the damage by building earthquake-friendly structures and updating older buildings to become more safe. Although the map cannot be 100% accurate or predict the times at which these events are likely to occur, it should be a helpful tool for susceptible areas to prepare for

Science

AI experiments share insight into how babies learn language

BY RIYANA PHADKE, SCIENCE WRITER

In a paper published in Science on February 1, 2024, researchers at New York University report that AI can use the fragmented experiences of a child to discern pieces of information about the world around it, such as learning there is something called a crib, or matching words to images in a book.

Between 6 and 9 months old, kids start picking up their first words and connecting them to what they see. The big question is: How much of this learning comes from just seeing things and using basic learning, and how much needs a more specific kind of learning?

For years, scientists have been trying to understand how children’s minds take shape through carefully controlled experiments involving toys that allow scientists to probe when cognitive skills develop. Studies have shown that 16-month-old babies can use statistical reasoning to determine when toys are broken, and babies as young as 5 months understand object permanence. In addition, some individual babies have been closely followed over time by Deb Roy, a scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and director of its Center for Constructive Communication, who set up overhead cameras in all the rooms of his house in 2005 and recorded his son’s linguistic development, providing valuable data that de tailed the evolution of words. That work suggested it was not how many times a word was repeated that predicted whether Roy’s son learned it early but whether it was uttered in an unusual spot in the house, at a surprising time, or in a distinctive linguistic context.

Yosemite Horsetail Falls ‘Firefall’ phenomenon

BY RAYNELIS VILLA, STAFF WRITER

The Yosemite Horsetail Falls Firefall phenomenon is set to come around this late February, with many to anticipate. This is an uncommon natural occurrence that is unsure to happen every year at the edge of mountain El Capitan. The event’s uncommon presence is due to the many conditions it takes for it to happen. If one of them isn’t met, it is highly unlikely that the Firefall will be seen that year. Even so, many travelers, tourists, and photographers wait patiently at the valley floor of El Capitan, for a scenery that takes some luck to experience.

Before Yosemite’s glowing treasure was found, the original owners of the Mountain House Hotel nearby had a tradition that almost replicates the Firefall. The owners would start a bonfire at a cliff at Glacier Point, a popular elevated viewpoint at Yosemite Valley. Spectators would gather up by the bottom of the cliff to watch the flying fiery coal land to the ground. As the coal would fall, it would brighten altogether, almost as if creating a stream of lava coming down from Glacier Point. As fun as it was to watch this event, in 1968, the National Park Service stopped the tradition for the safety of visitors.

Ever since, it seemed like the stream of fire would never be seen again. However, photographer Galen Rowell happened to be at El Capitan when all the conditions for the Firefall came together. As he was driving, he saw the sun’s

light create a unique moment that many had not seen before. Once the photograph of the Firefall was taken, that was when Horsetail Falls’ popularity began to rise. Although Ansel Adams was another popular photographer who originally photographed Horsetail Falls in 1952 in black and white. Yet, both of the photographers’ pieces have contributed to the history of the Firefall phenomenon. Horsetail Falls had never been a great attention at Yosemite as it would often be dry. However, when winter comes, snow begins to melt to create the small waterfall that makes up the natural phenomenon that is so unique to see. This means that lack of snow would simply leave Horsetail Falls dry around the time of the Firefall. Not only is snow what is needed to begin the Firefall, but the sun must also be shining brightly without the coverage of clouds or fog. Even so, some people have seen the Firefall on a cloudy day. Luckily, there is a Yosemite Falls Webcam where you can check out the state of the Firefall before planning a trip to see it.

Now, observing the coming Firefall is quite different from your usual visit to a waterfall. Five to fifteen minutes before sunset, the sky becomes a pink color as the sun shines upon the stream running on El Captain’s edge. As the sun continues setting, its rays concentrate on the water, which glows redder and redder with an orange glow. At that moment, the surrounding viewers set their cameras at the blazing water to photograph the moment.

learned to connect words to things in the child’s daily life, even handling new things it had not seen before. This shows that important parts of how we learn the meaning of words can happen by connecting what we see and what we hear based on the experiences of just one child’s data.

This information is one part of a much larger pursuit to build an AI that can mimic a baby’s mind. If researchers were able to accomplish this, it would be revolutionary to cognitive science and would help researchers to understand human development. It could also potentially lead AI to help humans teach new skills in a more intuitive way.

But first, back to babies. Babies are the opposite of a chatbot (large language models), learning words not by rapidly digesting all the world’s texts, but by being in the world itself through sensory input and play.

“By our calculations, it would take a child 100,000 years of listening to spoken words to reach the word count” of the training sets for chatbots, said Brenden Lake, a computational cognitive scientist at NYU who led the study. “I was also skeptical that those [chatbot] models would shine a lot of light on human learning and development.”

To gather the data for their study, researchers utilized an innovative approach involving head

researchers with 600,000 video frames and 37,500 transcribed words, covering a crucial period of cognitive development.

The AI was trained on just 1% of Sam’s waking hours, demonstrating an impressive ability to match basic nouns and images. However, the study does not claim to resolve the ongoing debate among scientists about the foundational cognitive skills required for language acquisition.

Various theories about how humans learn language exist, with some proposing an innate language ability while others emphasize social or inductive reasoning skills. The AI study suggests that basic associative learning, such as linking a word to its corresponding image, can occur without specialized cognitive machinery.

While the AI showed proficiency in associating simple nouns with images, it falls short of replicating a child’s language learning abilities fully. The study has sparked interest in applying these methods to single-child data sources, providing a unique perspective on language development.

As the researchers continue through the data, the study raises questions about the limitations of the current AI model. Can AI progress beyond simple nouns to grasp verbs, prepositions, or social expressions? Despite the strides made, the AI’s ability to

The innovative use of head cams has given researchers an even more intimate view of early childhood.

In this study, researchers re corded one child from 6 to 25 months old using a head-mount ed camera. For a year and a half, a baby named Sam wore a head cam in weekly sessions that cap tured his surroundings. They then taught a regular neural network computer program, using 61 hours of videos showing how words and visuals matched up. The program

A happy heart for American Heart Month

BY EVAN PAPAGEORGE, OPINION EDITOR

American Heart Month, an annual observance in February, is a crucial reminder of the pervasive threat of heart disease across the United States. Despite its grim distinction as the nation’s leading cause of death, a significant portion of heart disease cases are preventable through informed lifestyle choices and proactive health measures.

At the heart of this initiative lies the imperative to enhance public awareness surrounding the multifaceted risk factors contributing to cardiovascular ailments. Central to these efforts is a comprehensive understanding of heart disease, encompassing a spectrum of conditions affecting the heart and circulatory system. Among these, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) stands as the most prevalent in the United States, exerting its insidious influence by impeding blood flow to the heart and precipitating potentially fatal heart attacks.

In pursuing cardiovascular well-being, knowledge is a potent shield against the encroachment of heart disease. Recognizing the constellation of factors predisposing individuals to such afflictions empowers informed decision-making and proactive health behaviors. Among the primary culprits identified in this regard are:

Tobacco use, in its various forms, emerges as a significant catalyst for coronary heart disease, precipitating irreversible harm to the cardiovascular sys-

tem. Notably, the harmful effects extend beyond active smokers, encompassing the insidious threat posed by second-hand smoke exposure.

Elevated blood pressure, or hypertension, emerges as another formidable adversary on the battleground of cardiovascular health, exerting undue strain on the heart and fostering a milieu ripe for cardiovascular complications. Lifestyle factors such as dietary choices, sedentary habits, and stress play pivotal roles in fueling this silent assailant.

The consumption of lipoproteins, particularly the detrimental trans fats, emerges as a notable contributor to heart disease pathology, trapping individuals in a web of arterial plaque accumulation and compromised cardiovascular function.

Sedentary lifestyles, characterized by an absence of physical activity, emerge as a pervasive risk factor, impeding the free flow of blood and compromising the heart’s vitality.

Diabetes, owing to its harmful impact on blood vessel integrity and cardiac nerve function, assumes a prominent position among the risk factors precipitating heart disease.

Thrombosis, the formation of blood clots within veins or arteries, represents another insidious threat to cardiovascular health, underscoring the critical importance of proactive measures to mitigate such risks.

Stress, in its various guises, emerges as a potent adversary to cardiovascular well-being, exert-

ing a corrosive influence on blood pressure regulation and predisposing individuals to an elevated risk of stroke or heart attack.

Against this backdrop of pervasive risk, vigilance emerges as a paramount imperative in preserving cardiovascular health. Recognizing the telltale signs of acute cardiovascular distress, including chest pain, shortness of breath, and profound fatigue, empowers individuals to seek timely medical intervention, potentially averting catastrophic outcomes.

Proactive steps are paramount in the quest for a robust and resilient heart. Embracing a regimen of prudent oral hygiene, regular exercise, smoking cessation, dietary modifications, and prioritizing restorative sleep constitutes a formidable arsenal in the battle against heart disease. By fortifying one’s lifestyle with these evidence-based interventions, individuals can navigate the treacherous terrain of cardiovascular health with confidence and resilience, safeguarding the beating core of their vitality against the encroachment of disease. As American Heart Month unfolds, it beckons individuals nationwide to heed the clarion call of cardiovascular health, embarking on a transformative journey towards a heart-healthy future. In the crucible of informed choices and proactive interventions lies the promise of resilience and longevity, insulating against the insidious threat of heart disease and nurturing a vibrant legacy of well-being for generations to come.

This 18-month-old baby is one of the children given a head-mounted camera to record their view of the world.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WASHINGTON POST

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WASHINGTON POST

MIND OF A FRESHMAN

BY NICOLE CHEUNG ‘27

Davis Hall might seem like a roach-infested, old, thin-walled dumpster fire (and it is), but it’s my dumpster fire. This place will always be my first home, or the first place I’ve lived without my parents. Like I always say, home is where all my trinkets are. And I truly believe in that.

I am a maximalist. So I’m just a low-level hoarder. I just have a lot of things, okay? With two fresh empty sides of concrete wall, I thought a lot about how I was going to decorate them. I had tapestries, decorated CDs, paintings, pictures, senti mental cards, etc. I was real

ly going for the “random shit taped to my wall” aesthetic. I’m just actively trying to put fun and colorful things that make me happy on my wall, and whether that be a rubber duck or a whole packaged cookie, it’s going on the wall. My room is a really good indicator of my mental state. Makeup strewn everywhere, clothes overflowing my hamper and covering my ottoman, and dirty dishes serve as the physical representation of my mind. My attention span makes it really difficult to follow through with tasks if they don’t have an immediate “reward.”

Things are always cluttered and scattered, and it’s hard to prioritize tasks. If my parents saw my room at its worst, firstly, they would nag at me in Cantonese, then try to help me clean up. But this is something I have to learn myself. At home, if I was overwhelmed, stressed, or depressed, my room would become chaotic. But now that my dorm room serves as

more to my overall mental state that it isn’t a biohazard.

A method that seems to work quite well for me is setting aside a day to do a full clean. I live on Davis’ fifth floor, and if you didn’t know, Davis has no elevators. I have to go back and forth from the fifth to the firstfloor basement about six times to fully do my laundry, so I really do need a full day to do laundry and clean. I’m usually rushing in the morning so I leave my room in disarray and come back too tired to do anything about it. When I come back to my room, I usually just pass out, and my stuff accumulates throughout the week. By dedicating the day with my least amount of classes to cleaning, I can maintain somewhat habitable living quarters. I just need to find the effort in myself to actually keep to this system as I navigate trying to live on my own.

Here I leave you with the beautiful New York skyline view from my window and a

NICOLE CHEUNG FOR THE STUTE

OP ED A letter to history

BY EVAN PAPAGEORGE, PRESIDENT OF THE STEVENS HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Many often see history as an uninteresting subject in school, memorizing dates and writing about people who have been dead for hundreds of years. However, history is so much more than that. There is a history, no matter what interests you, who you are, or what you do.

At Stevens, there are countless clubs, departments, and organizations: Office of Student Culture and Belonging, the library, The Stute, and many more. Each group on campus has a history. For The Stute, there are 120 years’ worth of published papers, all with

a story of the world at that time and the students who worked on putting together the articles.

Over the past few weeks, I have been working to start a student organization on campus to celebrate, teach, and advertise history across campus. Called the Stevens Institute of Technology Historical Society, or SITHS for short, our purpose is to advocate for history on campus. In the short time of our existence, we have celebrated the founding of Stevens with a Stevens’s Founder’s Day celebration in partnership with the Archives and Special Collections and a Black History Month event featuring Prof. Swindall of HASS, who specialized in civil rights and the SGA’s DEIBA committee.

We want to work with

clubs around campus to advocate history, whether it be inviting some of the first female graduates of Stevens to celebrate Women’s History Month or a visit to where George Washington was sworn in as president on the 235th anniversary of it (the end of this upcoming April).

While we do not expect everyone to fall in love with history and add a history minor (although that would be a dream), we hope to show that history is not a boring high school lecture but a representation of culture, identity, and who we are.

If anyone is interested or has any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me (epapageo@stevens.edu).

Sincerely, Your Historical Society

SENIORITIS 89 days until graduation

BY ETHAN KLESCHINSKY ‘24

Just a week ago, I attended the 100 days ‘til graduation event, where all graduating seniors were invited to come together to celebrate the real beginning of the end. Courses are now getting into full swing, and it’s time to lock in and (hopefully) finish strong and do just well enough to get that diploma. Now that the add-drop is over, everything is set in stone, and it is time to suck it up and get it over with. There is nothing more disappointing than wanting to drop a class after the add-drop period ends, and you can no longer decide to have a withdrawal on your transcript and wait until next semester to try again. Luckily I am not too upset with my course load for this final semester, and I think I will be capable of getting through it. With the clock ticking down and the day of reckoning drawing closer, it

is hard to wrap my head around my impending doom. After college, there is no real safety net to protect you. One day, you’re just a little guy who has not a care in the world, and the next you have to worry about government entities like the IRS or the CIA in some cases. Even though I am lucky enough to have a path planned out after college, there is a massive level of uncertainty in the real world that I am still trying to grasp. I remember at the start of my senior year, friends and family were asking about what my plans were after college, and I decided that it was best that I procrastinated thinking about it and now I am dealing with the repercussions of my laziness. New things are definitely scary, but it is reassuring knowing that I have a good group around me that is hoping to see me succeed. Unless they’re secretly working for one of the formerly mentioned government agencies, and they are all just ploys to get me to admit guilt to a crime I didn’t commit.

I think back to when I was preparing to graduate high school and college was completely uncertain, and I had no idea what to expect, but now I am 89 days away from graduation, and I am still stand -

ing tall, so I am optimistic and hopeful that I will look back on this in 4 years with a similar attitude towards the large decisions I have to make during my time. One of the big decisions I have just recently started considering is what hobby I will pursue in my free time after graduation. It seems like there will be so much more time with no homework taking precedence at 2 a.m. anymore, so I need to find something to fill that void. I thought it might be cool to start brewing, but that seems like a slippery slope. I have also considered getting back into soccer after college, but my 65-yearold knees may not be able to support that endeavor. This is a decision that I do not want to take lightly because this will likely be the one thing I do until I retire.

The rest of my time here at Stevens is set in stone, but beyond that, everything is unknown. I want to make good decisions that will leave me as happy as I can reasonably be for the foreseeable future. I feel like we all spend a lot of time stressing over school, but overall it is worth it to set yourself up for a life you will be happy with. Power through college — if “I did it,” you can too!

COMIC CORNER

BY LIZ SEPULVEDA

BOOK OF THE WEEK

Ender’s Game: A Sci-fi exploration for the ages

invasive bug species only referred to as “The Buggers.” Nations of Earth have bounded together to create a united front against a third invasion.

Andrew “Ender” Wiggin is a genius outcast, only 6 years old, but unique in every way; Ender, from conception, was made, allowed for, and trained for one reason only: To serve in the International Fleet during the next war with the Buggers. At 6, he is

taken from his family to “Battle School,” where the best and brightest children and preteens are taught advanced mathematics, physics, military history, and strategy. There, Ender becomes an outcast as the adult teachers separate him with the intention of molding him into a military mind on par with Napoleon, Grant, Yi, and Belisarius. The remaining 75% of Ender’s Game is his story there and beyond during the third invasion. There are several science fiction novels that have defined the science fiction genre. Amongst them are famous (at least to the Sci-Fi community) titles such as Dune, Foundation, Starship Troopers, I, Robot, and War of the Worlds . In each of these books, the authors created ideas that can be seen in most modern fiction books. Foundation’s Trantor was the inspiration for Coruscant from Star

DOUG’S CAR CORNER

Wars. Starship Troopers’ Power Armour was the precursor for any kind of Mech Suit like in the Halo franchise or the film Edge of Tomorrow. Ender’s Game brings forth its own genre-defining idea in the form of null-gravity combat. One of the things that sets Ender apart is the ability to understand immediately that there is no up or down in space. Most science fiction that depicts space travel tends to show all spaceships with a clear up and down, and they’re all oriented the same way. It’s a complex topic, and Orson Scott Card’s biggest gift to the genre was his ability to take this incredibly complex idea and make it simple enough for even children to read and understand it.

However, what makes Ender’s Game unique is more than just presenting an idea no one else has ever been able to do as successfully. It’s that

Tips for buying a used car

filled with uncertainty, mistrust, and the potential for greatly overpaying for a not-so-great car. However, it is the most cost-effective way to buy a vehicle and avoid the stress of negotiating with a dealer, signing a million papers, and getting locked into a long-term payment plan. Here are a few key things to check when looking at used cars.

First, the online listing itself can show some red flags to look out for. A post with very few pictures and/or no description is the first indicator that a car is no good. Phrases like “Mechanic’s Special,” “Salvage Title,” or “No Title” are also great ways to filter out bad listings quickly. These all indicate that the car in question needs mechanical repairs, has been in an accident, or

has no legal documents to show that the seller is truly the owner.

Next, messaging the seller is another crucial step in the process. Avoid starting with an auto-generated response. Ask a question, ask for more pictures, or simply state your interest in the car. This shows that you aren’t a bot or scammer that is mass-messaging to get any response. It’s usually fairly easy to get a feel for how trustworthy the seller is based on how they respond to your questions, their knowledge of the vehicle, and their willingness to meet in person.

Once you trust the seller, the next step is to set up a meeting at a public place to look at the car. To start, take a walk around the car and look for any body damage, cracked windows, tire tread life, or signs that it has not moved in a long time — rusty brake rotors are a good indicator of this. Next, check under the car for any fluid leaks or severe rust. It’s normal for cars in the Northeast to have some surface rust, but make sure that there aren’t any really bad patches or rust holes that have formed on the body or structural frame. Then, check the interior of the car for general condition, missing

or broken parts, and any features that you may be looking for like a sunroof or cruise control. Turn the car on and look for any lights on the dashboard that may indicate an issue, and listen to the engine for clunking, knocking, or other noises that seem off. Finally, take the car for a test drive with the seller’s permission. A good car won’t be too bouncy or feel loose when turning — pay close attention to how “floaty” the car feels while driving. Acceleration and braking are also important things to check, as they reveal the condition of the engine, drivetrain, and brakes. Feel free to ask the seller as many questions as you can think of that will help you get a better understanding of why they are selling, the condition of the car, and the history of the car.

Following these tips is a great starting point for looking into a used car. Always do your own research on the car beforehand, and never feel bad about walking away from a seller if anything makes you uncomfortable or unsure about a car. Car buying can be a very rewarding experience if you prepare correctly and are confident in your knowledge of the vehicle — best of luck!

the writing is beautiful, the plot is perfect, and you fall in love with the characters. It’s as hardcore of science fiction as it comes but without the clunkiness of books like R endezvous with Rama or the boring beginning of Dune. Ender’s Game is unique because it is for everyone. It is not only one of the best science fiction books of all time, but it is also one of the most accessible. I first read it when I was 7 or 8, the same age as the titular character during most of the book, and fell in love right then and there, not only with the characters in the book, but also with the genre. So I highly suggest giving it a try, and if it turns out that you like the genre just as much as I did back then, come back and find some more book recommendations above — you’ll never get bored with science fiction. And remember, the enemy’s gate is down.

OFF THE PRESS

Top four newest restaurants in Hoboken

BY OFF CENTER

-SatireOne of the greatest parts about Hoboken is the variety of food options that are available. From mushroom flatbreads and baked zitis to chimichangas and nachos to palak paneer and vegetable vindaloo to ramen and sushi and impossible burgers and waffle fries… Do we need to go on? But eating these same foods again and again and again and again can get exhausting after a while and will make you want to try new foods. Are you tired of the usual grub in Hoboken?

Are you looking for something new, bombastic, and very exciting? Then, look no further than these new restaurants that will leave your taste buds begging for more!

The first restaurant we will look at is the Chocolate Bar. Here, you can try all kinds of new foods with a strong hint of chocolate added to each of them. We have the chocolate burger, which is a hamburger patty coated in a chocolate mold before being served with cream cheese and frizzled onions on a hamburger bun that is topped off with sprinkles.

In addition, you can try the nice Chocolate and Spaghetti Meatballs, where we have our pasta lightly boiled with

ADVICE FOR BROKE COLLEGE STUDENTS Sustainable yet inexpensive fashion

BY HIMA THUMMALA ‘26

There has been a recent shift of attention in the fashion industry towards the concept of sustainable fashion. With efforts being put in already by existing companies, or start-ups dedicated to producing only sustainable clothing, the choices being made by the producers of clothing are

slowly starting to shift their manufacturing methods. Although there is still a lot more room for improvement, growth is slowly coming step by step.

As a consumer, one would want to purchase from a brand that has proper regulations concerning production, materials, etc., but that comes with a cost…a very high cost, that is. If one wants to purchase from a brand that isn’t fast fashion, that means that they need to splurge some extra money. This is not always ideal because not everyone has money like that to spend, especially if you are a student in college. As a university student, it is likely that if you have two options for purchasing the

same item, and one is cheaper, you are most likely going to choose the cheaper one. But what if you knew that one of them was fast fashion and the other was not? What if the cheaper one was fast fashion and the most expensive one was sustainable fashion? Luckily, there are some better options and routes that can be taken to not spend too much while also supporting the Earth.

A large contributor to the impacts of fast fashion is the ease of producing the clothing and how the article will not last with high quality, so it will be quickly disposed of. A way to combat this is thrifting. By purchasing your clothes second-hand from a thrift store, there is a decrease in the quantity

of fast fashion clothes being bought as you are purchasing clothes to reuse them. This cancels out the concept of purchasing cheap materials and clothing that has a short lifetime and will eventually be tossed out in a landfill. And they will stay in that landfill for a long period of time as they can be tricky to disintegrate. Although it doesn’t get rid of the whole problem, it still slows down the process of purchasing unsustainable clothing.

It is also helpful to donate your clothing to thrift stores. By doing so, you yourself are providing a source for people to purchase clothing from in a healthier manner, not only when it comes to the climate but financially

a huge pinch of sugar before it is served with chocolate marinara sauce and sprinkled with cheese-flavored sprinkles and topped with meatballs that are coated in chocolate mold. While doctors advise against eating this food because of health risks, we invite you to enjoy these chocolate-filled wonders! Another cool restaurant we want you to try out is the Bland Diner. If even the slightest hint of salt spoils your meal and you want your food to taste bland, then come on over to the Bland Diner! You can have all the variations on your not-so-favorite spicy foods, all without the spice! You can have bland burritos with bland refried beans, bland tabasco sauce, bland queso, bland fajita vegetables, and bland chicken. You can have bland ramen with a bland seasoning, a bland mushroom, and bland chili peppers. You can have bland curry with bland peppers, bland onions and bland chicken. Doesn’t that just sound appetizing?

Another restaurant that just opened is the Nothing Restaurant. Are you tired of your foods having actual ingredients and are only interested in eating nothing? Then come on over to the Nothing Restaurant, which

as well. Thrift stores tend to be places where clothing is sold for cheaper since it is second-hand, so it will also help save money for a college student who is shopping there. It’s essentially two for the price of one, helping the environment and not having to spend too much money.

Also, it is beneficial to check if certain stores that have more affordable prices partake in fast fashion. Some stores have started to change their manufacturing process by being more mindful of the resources they use and how they go upon producing the items. Sometimes companies will keep their values when it comes to environmental consciousness online, which will inform customers that

is fit for those who are hungry for nothing. Here, they make you sit at a table and immediately, you are greeted to a table that only has a fork, a spoon, a glass, and a plate. There are no waiters because no food is prepared; instead, you get to eat nothing! And best of all, you don’t have to pay for your meal! So, if you are looking for a restaurant to take your date to and you don’t want to spend money (and you would rather spend it on things like car insurance) then come on over to the Nothing Restaurant.

Finally, and last but not least, we have the Combination Station! Are you ready for the most mouth-watering, taste bud thrilling cuisines that will knock you out of the park? Then, the Combination Station is the perfect place for you! Here, you can enjoy all kinds of dishes that are combinations of different cuisines! The biggest dish that we have is the Ultimate Dish. This is a curry that is later cooked in pasta, that is later cooked in a hot dog, later cooked in sushi, later cooked in a burrito, later cooked in a hamburger, later cooked on a pizza before it is topped off with a gigantic, chocolate molten lava cake topped off with a banana split sundae right on top. Yum, yum!

they are okay to purchase from to ensure sustainability. Some brands will also have the option to recycle clothing by donating it to the store. This can be seen at H&M as they will either turn the clothing into other clothing or find other ways to make some money out of it, and usually tend to have affordable prices at the store.

It is important to remember that it is possible to purchase clothing that is better for our planet. Although, getting on board with sustainability does not mean that you have to automatically change your entire wardrobe, but rather that you should take it one step at a time as any efforts count.

EXPLORING:

A STUDENT’S GUIDE TO NEW YORK CITY

Finding the hidden at the American Folk Art Museum

BY EVAN PAPAGEORGE ‘26

While most of the time, I have somewhat of a plan of where I will go when exploring the city, this past weekend, I ended up in a place that I did not know about — and did not plan on going

GIRL (ISH) TALK

to. However, once there, I discovered a wonderful place of culture and history, and I had an enjoyable time: the American Folk Art Museum (AFAM).

AFAM, located in the Upper West Side on Lincoln Square, right next to the Lincoln Center, was founded in 1961 by Joseph B. Martinson and Adele Earnest. However, in its early days, AFAM did not have the infrastructure that a museum typically has: no permanent collection, no endowment, and no physical building to house the museum.

AFAM’s focus is American Folk Art. As per AF-

Does the gender ratio affect sports?

BY CLAIRE HANNAN ‘24

I’ve talked about being a student-athlete in this column before and my experiences being a woman in competitive sports. Overall, I have loved swimming at Stevens for the past three years. Despite being a tech school with little focus on athletics, the Stevens sports teams are all very good. I don’t have exact numbers, but if you read the sports section of The Stute, you’ll see constant announcements of conference sweeps and NCAA titles from whichever teams are in season. One thing I haven’t heard anyone talking about is the crossover between the gender ratio and athletics.

Don’t get me wrong — I’m not complaining that the girl’s teams are at a disadvantage. The women’s teams hold up in competitions and have earned plenty of titles for all the hard work they’ve put in. Still, I don’t think

STEVENS’ CHEFS RECIPE CARDS

that a lot of people consider how the gender ratio affects athletics. With a gender ratio of 70:30 men to women, Stevens has over double the amount of men than women. Very few schools have similar setups, however we compete with schools that have even gender ratios. Based on a quick Google search, I found that there are roughly 240 female varsity athletes and 360 male varsity athletes. The official Stevens athletics website says that we have 12 men’s varsity sports teams and 11 women’s varsity sports teams. So, while we almost have an even number of teams competing, we only have two thirds of the people to fill those slots for the women’s teams.

Something unique about the women’s and men’s swim teams is that we mostly function as one team. We have one coach, go to competitions together, and we train together. Because of this, I’ve gotten to see how the two teams have dealt with filling our rosters. On one side, the women’s team has struggled to fill our 18 person competition roster. If we can’t fill our roster, we inevitably lose points against teams with more girls. If anyone gets sick or can’t swim for any reason, we are left with an extra

AM’s website, folk art is self-taught, untraditional, and individualistic art representing nationalism, ingenuity, and community. Most works in AFAM’s current collections focus on art not often in traditional museums: unprofessional pieces from marginalized groups and sets.

When I visited the museum last weekend, I wandered by and decided to go in. The museum is free admission, but they ask for a small donation to allow for the museum to remain open. The museum’s layout features loops and different rooms, which help separate the different

exhibitions and make what is otherwise not an enormous museum seem much more extensive.

The exhibit on display when I was there is called “Unnamed Figures: Black Presence and Absence in the Early American North.” Opening back in November 2023, Unnamed Figures focuses on early American and colonial works of art that either have and do not identify or omit the inclusion of African-American subjects. The artifacts include paintings, photographs, and even needleworks from the early 1600s to the late 1700s and the American Revolutionary

War. The exhibit does a fantastic job of balancing the representation of marginalized groups and helping to show how these groups are a part of history despite their opinions from most mainstream media.

AFAM is a cheap option for students learning about history, art, and culture while having a good time. Being in the neighborhood of the Lincoln Center, there are countless restaurants, coffee shops, and bakeries to grab a bite to eat, as well as libraries and theaters to enjoy. Getting to AFAM is not easy, but it is alright. If it is nice out, it is about a 30-block walk

FROM SOUQS TO SCHOOLS A column for foodies

from the PATH or NY Waterways Ferry, but it is also a few stops from PATH on the 1 or 2 Subway or the M5 or M7 bus service.

AFAM is a fantastic place to visit if you’re interested in American folk art, history, and culture. The museum is free to enter, and its current exhibit, Unnamed Figures, is a must-see. The museum’s location in the Upper West Side, close to the Lincoln Center, offers plenty of food, drink, and entertainment options. With its unique focus on untraditional and self-taught art, the American Folk Art Museum is a gem well worth visiting.

empty spot that we can’t fill. The men’s team, on the other hand, regularly has five or more extra memes. If something happens and someone on the scoring roster can’t swim, there’s always another boy who can take their spot.

I’m not sure, but I imagine that other women’s teams are having similar problems. We have fewer walk-ons because there are fewer women in the general student body. I’d imagine it’s also harder to recruit women for Steven’s athletics because we are primarily known as an engineering school, a less popular major for girls to pursue. This doesn’t just affect our ranking, it can affect our funding, too. When teams win the conference championship, they also win money, which can be used for gear or training equipment. Teams with deeper rosters, like the men’s teams, have a competitive edge over smaller teams. Most schools in the country have more women than men, giving them a competitive edge over the Stevens women’s teams. Again, I’m not complaining. I chose to go to Stevens and I loved participating in Stevens athletics, but it’s interesting to see how the Stevens ratio plays out in different areas of campus.

Ingredients:

½ medium onion, chopped

2 cloves of garlic

1-2 lbs ground beef

3 cans diced tomatoes

1 can kidney beans

1 can pinto beans

Seasonings: chili powder cumin salt pepper

Equipment

one large pot

Recipe by: Kayden Cannilla

Last night I had the best Mediterranean food of my life, and I will be telling you all about it. My boyfriend took me to Fig & Olive for our Valentine’s Day date, and while we froze trying to actually make it to the restaurant, it was totally worth it. Fig & Olive is a Mediterranean restaurant in New York City; it’s stunning inside and has one of the most interesting menus I’ve ever seen. I’m usually not a fan of fusion food, especially Lebanese food; why change something that’s already perfect? But this place actually transformed me.

I have always preached against the unique varieties of hummus—buffalo hummus, pistachio hummus, and chocolate hummus—I think it’s all criminal. But last night, I had a sweet potato hummus that nearly made me shed a tear. Their baba ganoush? Life changing. I could’ve

Directions:

1

eaten those two plates and just stopped there. Honestly, I was full after those two appetizers but didn’t want to upset my boyfriend after the mission we went on to make it in time.

Nonetheless, we proceeded to order small plates; the wild mushroom croquettes? Euphoria. I’ve literally never been happier. Spanish octopus? The best octopus I’ve ever had. Sweet potato and goat cheese flatbread? Eh, that was mediocre. We added prosciutto, too, and it still didn’t hit the spot. But everything else was so amazing we didn’t care for it. The Mediterranean food I usually eat is classic; if you’re in Clifton or Paterson, you’re unlikely to see any odd flavor pairings. But that’s not to say that the food is basic. My favorite Mediterranean restaurant in New Jersey is Toros. It’s a Turkish restaurant with three locations in Montclair, Clifton, and Paterson. I’ve had hundreds of Kebabs in my life, and I have yet to find a place that could beat Toros. Not even spots in Beirut could compete. But their kebab isn’t the only showstopper; they have phenomenal salads and mezze. My personal favorite is the moussaka, a cold eggplant dish served with traditional Turkish bread.

If I’m looking for a Mediterranean cheat meal, I’ll always go to Al Shami Shawarma. Their shawarma is served on very thin bread, making the meat the star of the show. I usually go for the chicken shawarma with garlic paste, pickles, and fries. My parents prefer beef shawarma, which comes with tahini paste, pickles, and fries. Both options are excellent, though. I will say it is very heavy. I believe the owners are Syrian, so their style differs from the lighter Lebanese version. But the Syrian shawarma is a thousand times tastier; it’s not even up for debate.

As you may tell, I love Mediterranean food. Growing up Lebanese, you get so accustomed to this kind of food that you forget how good it really is. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to appreciate this food far more. I hope that one day, I can recreate these dishes at home to share with my friends and family. But I see that as a problem, given that every Mediterranean grandparent in the world just approximates the ingredients for their dishes. This actually worries me because we’ll end up losing so many recipes. I think this is my sign to start a cookbook.

2

Sauté onions, brown the beef

a Add tomatoes and simmer

Lightly oil the pot and sauté onions on medium-low until they take on some color (5-10 min) Scrape most onions out of the pot and brown the beef

Drain excess fat

3

a Add beans

Empty tomatoes into pot, stir well with beef, onions, garlic, and seasoning Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally until the tomatoes become dark. (~30min)

a

Drain and wash beans Add to pot, mix well, and stew for another ~10 min Add additional seasoning if desired

ABRAHAM ‘26

ROVING REPORTER

By Rafael Lee Li and Mia Petrolino

If you could have dinner with anyone (dead or alive) who would it be?

Crossword by Jack Scherban

Cryptolists

ACROSS DOWN

Hidden Links Only Connect

“nouns”. “places”, etc. What do the following have in common?

Animals Starting with ‘A’ Stevens Buildings Cookies

Sudoku

Difficulty: Moderate

Jessica Aurora Piloto ‘26 “Pitbull. I’m Cuban and that’s my tio.”

Robert Galletta ‘27 “General Douglass Mcarthur. To ask him why he would want to nuke Korea.”

Daniel Orizabal ‘27 “Jesus. I wanna see what the hype is about.”

Taylan Mansur ‘25 “Derek Jeter.”

George Redfern ‘26 “Jay-Z.”

Evan Peneiras ‘25 “John Snow. He’s the father of epidemiology.”

Aliyah Vinas ‘26 “Kanye West. I feel like he’s a cool person to talk to.”

Anaxi Polimar ‘27 “Chadwick Boseman.”