[The Stute] April 12, 2024 (Issue 24, Volume CXXI)

We write Stevens history

An inside scoop on Gateway’s new “Just Walk Out” technology by Amazon

TANYA AVADIA, BUSINESS MANAGER

As a technology-centric university, Stevens has found ways to incorporate innovative technologies into various aspects of the student experience, with the latest addition being the “Just Walk Out” technology provided by Amazon. The installment of this technology is a critical component of the new Gateway Cafe located in the Gateway North building. With the official opening of the new and updated Gateway Cafe, The Stute had the opportunity to interview Madison Goslin, Senior Marketing Specialist of Stevens Dining, to get an insight into the store’s curation. When asked about the thought process behind having an on-campus location featuring this unique Amazon technology, Stevens Dining shared that many campuses already have Amazon Go locations. Marymount University, Bowl-

The Stevens Dramatic Society (SDS) presented The Addams Family last week, and the Stevens community turned out in droves to see the musical on the DeBaun stage. SDS planned to put on the same show once before, in 2020, when the show had to be canceled due to the pandemic. The timing of SDS’s return to The Addams Family held special meaning, as it not only wowed attendees over three days but was a beautiful farewell to some incredibly talented students who were cast in the same roles they landed in their first

Breaking down the tuition increase for Fall 2024

ARTHUR SERRA, MANAGING EDITOR

College is expensive. Every year, the cost of tuition across the country increases, regardless of the institution. Over the past 20 years, tuition has risen between 38% and 56% for national universities. This occurs at the same time as college loan debt, which has become a crushing problem for the current generation of young professionals, and forecasts a scary future for many soon-to-be college graduates. Stevens’ cost of attendance is a well-known concern of the student body, and it is important to be situationally aware of just how much tuition increases year over year.

During the 2020-2021 school year, the semesterly cost of attendance at Stevens was $26,914, for a total of $53,828. This does not include room, board, books, equipment, and various fees, including the student activity fee and health insurance if needed. Next year, the cost of attendance will rise to $61,028, an increase of nearly $7,500 since 2020 and an increase of nearly $2,500 compared to the current 2023-2024 school year. $45 of that increase can be attributed to the

SGA’s well-documented student activity fee increase. While the costs for the student health insurance plan remains the same, the full-time tuition rate is increasing by $1,174 and the general service fee is increasing by $36. In all, assuming no financial aid or scholarships and depending on dorming choice, the full cost of Stevens for a first-year student next year is estimated to be around $85,219.

Undeniably, Stevens is an expensive institution when excluding scholarships and financial aid. Students may receive merit-based scholarships that can make a significant difference over the course of 4 years. Students are automatically considered for the scholarships when admitted and many are contingent on maintaining a 3.2 GPA. The increase in the stock price tag of Stevens places a larger financial burden on every student, scholarships or not, as scholarships are a set value when accepting the invitation to attend.

The year-over-year increase in tuition is something that is rarely mentioned when it occurs. The administration typically does not communicate

year at Stevens. The show itself was utterly fantastic. The Addams Family, the musical adapted from the iconic New Yorker cartoon strip, is a show that centers around what the title suggests: family. It is a comedy but also very emotional and grounded in serious foundations of love, coming of age, loss, and changing relationships over time. The entire cast managed to exemplify these conflicting narrative roles with ease. DeBaun could not have been a better setting for a show like this, given its small size and intimacy. Even from the back of the house, the audience could

HASS holds Crisis and Meaning Symposium

LIZ SEPULVEDA, COMIC ARTIST

On April 5, Stevens’ School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) held a one-day conference called Crisis and Meaning: Intersections of Humanities and Mental Health. As part of HASS’s Campus Point Connection events, which aim to shed light on research in arts and culture, speakers from Stevens and across the world came together to discuss issues concerning the relationship between mental health and the humanities.

A member of The Stute was able to present their research concerning mental health in art, which included student perspectives from HASS in order to shed light on some of the things individuals, communities, and Stevens can do to address the needs of students pursuing the humanities. Other presentations throughout the day affirmed these messages, touching on ways to address mental health through artistic practices.

The conference was bro-

see the characters, who they were, and what they wanted and valued. So many amazing details of the show were conveyed in the actors’ body language. Their attention to detail was clear in that each member of the cast tended to adopt a default pose for their character. Pugsly, played by Carly Teitelbaum, crossed his arms in a delightfully pugnacious way, and Wednesday, brought to life by Taylor Terry, hung her arms stiffly, with a looseness at the wrists, as if they would grab you at any moment. Rachel Germain’s Morticia moved with the grace of a black swan, and Kyle Castillo’s Gomez excitedly bounced around the

stage, being everything one could ever hope for in the character.

The excellence in everything involving Rex DeMuro’s Fester can hardly be put into words. The voice and the mannerisms of such a weird and open-to-interpretation character are so hard to accomplish in an effective manner, and yet there he was. From the voice to the insane childlike giggling and purposeful swaying, Fester really stole the show both as a character and as the narrator. During intermission on Friday’s show, the entire audience was buzzing about Fester

In a rare seismic event, the Northeast United States experienced one of its strongest earthquakes in a century, sending some concern across New York City. The 4.8 magnitude quake, centered in Readington Township, New Jersey, shook homes and buildings throughout the region at 10:23 a.m. last Friday.

The quake is the strongest New Jersey has seen in 240 years and the third largest recorded in the area in the last 50 years. The aftermath has left seismologists and residents alike on edge, with aftershocks expected to continue for up to a week.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the initial earthquake was followed by 32 aftershocks, with magnitudes ranging from minor to a notable 3.8, felt nearly seven and a half hours later. While the epicenter remained in New Jersey, the tremors were felt across the East Coast, prompting concerns for further seismic activity, especially in proximity to the epicenter.

Dax Soule, a seismologist and assistant professor at Queens College, emphasized the ongoing risk posed

Schaefer gym renovations: What and why?

JEREMIAH CHINWENDU, STAFF WRITER

Students, faculty, and anyone else who has recently seen the renovations done to Schaefer Center and UCC gyms should be pleasantly surprised with the improvements. The Schaefer Center Gym not only has more space, but now includes new equipment for training and more plates in the gym to accommodate more people. These changes have been made possible by a committee of students gathered by Rebecca Los of the SGA and John Maurizi,

assistant director of Athletics and Director of Campus Recreation. Los’s committee was responsible for collecting the feedback of students who regularly used Schaefer Gym on ideas for what to add to improve its quality. When asked how this committee came to be, she stated that “Russel Rogers, who I had previously worked with on ‘The Pond’ initiative, reached out to me in December and asked if it was possible for me to put together a group of students who go to Schaefer gym and would be good at giving input and feedback

on some new gym equipment they were considering purchasing.” In the end, the group selected consisted of “a couple from the SGA [...], some involved in Greek Life, and other ‘regular students.’” No athletes were asked to participate, though that was not done intentionally, as Los attempted to gather members from an array of students who were familiar with the gym and could give their own unique perspectives on what needed to be changed. Those who are familiar with the old layout of

Annual Unity Showcase lets students “find their way”

The Ethnic Student Council (ESC) recently hosted the Unity Showcase on April 5, which featured amazing performances by a variety of different student organizations. Unity is an annual celebration of the various cultures at Stevens and gives students an opportunity to participate and create a dance routine and skit tailored to the overarching theme. This year’s theme was “Finding Our Way,” which was uniquely embodied by each participating organization. However, the Korean Student Association was the organization that took home the grand award: Best in Show. The Stute had the opportunity to interview Clara Lu, the incoming President of the ESC, about the tradition of Unity. Lu shared how the Unity Showcase was started in the late 1990s, and its first-ever winner was the Latin American Association (LAA). Before the pandemic, the ESC would also host a Unity Carnival, in which each cultural organization was assigned a booth, with the point of the event being to foster a more interactive means of learning about dif-

ferent cultures. Lu also stated how it is something that the ESC is hoping to bring back.

In terms of the program, this year’s show kicked off with the Japanese Student Association presenting an opening speech about solidarity and hope. Following this, six cultural organizations performed a skit that combined their culture with the theme Finding Our Way. The Filipino Association of Stevens Tech (FAST) presented a story on the creation of the Philippines, which involved two parents

TANYA AVADIA, BUSINESS MANAGER

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ing Green State University, and Georgia Southern University have all implemented these technology-powered convenience stores at their schools. Additionally, Stevens Dining shared how, operationally, it provides many benefits once up and running, such as longer open hours, requiring less time from employees, and quick and convenient checkout. Due to these characteristics and the innovation of the technology as a whole befitting the Stevens theme, the Amazon Go store was initially a part of the University Center Complex Marketplace. However, the place was pushed back and ultimately moved to replace the current Gateway Cafe. The Amazon Go store took two years of planning and execution. Once Amazon was on site and contracts were signed, implementing and installing the “Just Walk Out” technology took four months. Once the technology was finalized, members of Stevens Dining, Resident Assistants, and members of the Student Government Association all participated

in the trial run.

In terms of the process, the walk-out technology works just as its name suggests. Only one person at a time can currently walk into the store. Once they do, they scan in using whatever payment method they prefer. Meal swipes are currently not accepted, but this is a top priority for Stevens Dining to alter by Fall 2024.

However, students can still use DuckBills or their Dining Dollars but must have at least 25 dollars loaded to do so. Credit cards and debit cards also work and require no minimum amount. Once a person enters the store after scanning in, they just pick up whatever item they would like to purchase and walk out. The store attributes a charge to your payment type based on you picking up an item. Similarly, if you were to pick up an item and decide not to purchase it, you can negate the charge by simply placing it back. With the Amazon Go store fully functioning, students have a lot of differing opinions and questions. The biggest concern of students is the fact that meal swipes aren’t applicable at this establishment. Stevens Dining plans to address this issue by the coming fall. Ad-

ditionally, a lot of students have also been curious about the menu offering of this location and what the opening of the Amazon Go store means for the existing Gateway Cafe. In terms of items offered, there are over 400 items to choose from. With regard to what will happen to the existing Gateway Cafe, the temporary setup will last till the end of the semester or until the meal swipes are incorporated within the “Just Walk Out” technology.

Lastly, while it hasn’t been long since the “Just Walk Out” technology was introduced to the campus, Amazon recently announced that it will be moving past its own technology. Amazon plans to remove the “Just Walk Out” technology at its Amazon Fresh stores due to customer feedback and difficulties in lowering the rate at which the system relies on human employees. However, it will still continue the technology operations for places where it services the technology, including Amazon Go stores, college stores and cafes, and airport locations. While this announcement comes at an interesting time, Stevens Dining is confident in the Amazon Go store’s success.

JOE CABORNERO FOR THE STUTE

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and Gomez. When they took their bows, the crowd went wild.

As occurs in many shows, the occasional adlib squeaked through, making the show truly the cast’s own. When describing the horrors found in Florida, Gomez mentions Ron DeSantis among all the swamps and alligators, which caused the audience to roar with laughter. It is these little moments of modern humor injected into the show, that help in keeping its continual relevance. The ability to adapt and change is

one of the biggest strengths of the stage for acting, it is never static. With The Addams Family being such a roaring success, the Stevens community is excited to see what else SDS will put on in the future. With so many talented actors, whatever the fall play or the next Spring musical ends up being, it is bound to be a hit.

Kyle Castillo

Rachel Germain Taylor Terry

Kyle Savino

Rex DeMuro

Sofia Lopez

Carly Teitelbaum

Hannah Preszler

Shawna Hawkins

Catherine Stabile

Melissa Lewyn

Mary Casey Cameron

Clifford

Michael Louis Curcio

Rachel Zwerver

Jayden Clark

Carl Russell

Michael Preziosi

Jacob Ashkenas

Ryder Bidwell

Chloe Brenna

Charlie Beall

Luke Magette

Brooke Delo

Hannah Goldschmidt

Caitlin Chen

Jordan Baluyot

Nicole Cheung

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by aftershocks, particularly in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake. While there were no reported injuries or significant structural damage to infrastructure, ongoing inspections continue across the region to ensure safety.

Kayla Holmes

Julia Juan

Andrew Cheney

Sandra McDonald

Regina DeMaio

Gabrielle Eschinger

Magan Yim

Emma Freire

Valerie Calligy

Malina Andronescu

Kai Raiola

Isabelle Hunt

es and concerns over structural integrity left some homes temporarily evacuated.

Some questioned the effectiveness of New York City’s emergency response and criticized the delay in issuing alerts. However, officials note that the best was done given that there are many challenges to seismic preparedness in a region that is not traditionally associated with earthquakes.

PIT ORCHESTRA

Shreyas Agmihotri

Irene Westfall

Jack Piccirillo

Samuel Sherwood

Ben Kunze

Matt Oyales

Ella DiSanti

Joey Rupert CAST CREW

SDS E-Board

Carly Teitelbaum

Kai Raiola

Hannah Preszler

Sofia Lopez

Taylor Terry

Jayden Clark

COST

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Residents in the most affected areas recounted their experiences, with descriptions ranging from “it sounded like ten freight trains going at the same time” to “it sounded like something like a bomb had gone off.” In Newark, power outag-

Amidst the confusion, businesses have been quick to respond with humor, offering “I survived the New York City earthquake” merchandise. The X account for the Empire State Building posted: “I AM FINE.”

with the student body that they are increasing tuition outside of the new numbers on their website. However, the age-old argument is that inflation and rising costs require the school to raise tuition costs. However, over the past two years, inflation has held around 3%; However, the tuition increase of over 7% far outstrips it, raising the questions of where this money is going and when the student body can expect to see the fruits of this investment.

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ken down into four sections: Trauma, Illness, Arts, and Healing. Topics ranged from portrayals of mental health in artistic works to the importance of acknowledging hidden disabilities. Several of the presentations touched upon the ways that technology influences our response to health. The methods prompted both hopes (with Stevens Professor Elaine Fefferman inviting the room to participate in a performance that used a student-developed cell phone

GYM

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Schaefer Gym remember how crowded it used to feel and how little there was to offer in terms of exercise selection. With only twelve plates and four racks, including an extra rack for a rowing exercise, those plates would quickly be claimed, leaving some individuals with limited options or even a lackluster workout. In addition, the leg press, cable, and lat pulldown machines left much to be desired. The committee gathered by Los confirmed that what students wanted out of the gym was “more machines that target everything, not just the leg machines that were there,” “updated and clean machines,” and for the space to “feel bigger, less crowded, and more functional.” All of these concerns were taken

app to speak to users’ worries) and apprehension (with Stevens student Kerry Leccese presenting her research on an AI therapy app, one in particular which responded “Good Job!” when prompted with restrictive eating behaviors). One presentation students may find interesting was Stevens Professor Robert Harari’s research analyzing sound frequency levels of certain spaces to see how easy it is to hear voices, a practice that could improve places like hospitals and classrooms, where verbal communication is vital. In his study, he found that several classrooms here at Stevens (in Morton and Kidde) experience ambient noise

into account when choosing what equipment was purchased for the gym. Now, Schaefer Gym has a new, more spacious layout, with two of the racks being replaced with smith machines and a total rearrangement of the equipment and even the cubbies. New equipment includes a chest press, preacher curl, assisted pull-up and dip machine, new cable machines, a shoulder press, a new leg press, and many more. There is also now a safe space for students to deadlift, which was previously not allowed, and there are more plates of all weights than can be counted. All of these changes will drastically improve the experience of everyone who uses Schaefer Gym in the future.

The UCC Gym has also seen its own improvements, as previous equipment that students found confusing to use has been replaced. Otherwise, this gym is still the same for the most part, but

that perfectly masks the important frequencies of human speech (meaning it may not be your fault that you don’t hear everything a professor says during class).

The event, which was originally set to take place in UCC Techflex, instead took place in a classroom in Martha Bayard Stevens Hall. The small classroom setting, however, provided for interesting, intimate conversations, even debate, amongst the speakers who ranged in age and area expertise. Overall, the event was a success, and it remains to be seen what other great experiences HASS’s Campus Point Connection will bring to Stevens next.

there are now four new leg machines that can be used to target the lower body more effectively. The inclusion of new equipment makes both gyms much better and allows everyone to have a quality workout for any goal, no matter which gym they choose to go to.

Both gyms were renovated on April 2, as reported by Maurizi. Students who have any other concerns or ideas for things to add can direct their questions to his email. More and more people are going into Schaefer and UCC gyms as the new equipment provides better assistance for pressing and pulling movements and makes things more comfortable for anyone of any strength and skill level. The gyms are now more able to help you accomplish your fitness goals, and if you haven’t already joined your fellow Ducks in checking out the renovations, you are missing out.

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journeying far and long to meet their children who have prospered above the challenges presented.

Next, the LAA presented a story of the challenges surrounding the transition from high school to college for a Latin American student and how they find their community in college and embark on a journey to reconnect with their culture.

The Indian Undergraduate Association (IUA) told the time-traveling story of two people who ended up

in the past and saw how their families moved past painful hardships such as dealing with colonialism and moving abroad. The Black Student Union (BSU) used the story of the Wizard of Oz to explore different aspects of the African diaspora and connect it with dance, musical instruments, and culture. The Korean Student Association’s (KSA) story was about a cruel emperor who banned the Korean alphabet and how his estranged son, who took the throne afterward, vowed to do better. The most emotional act of the night was from the Chinese Student Association (CSA). They presented the cultural differ-

ences between Chinese mothers and their American-born children and how, even though there are cultural disconnects, the children ultimately come to understand where their mothers are coming from.

Following all the beautiful performances by the cultural organizations, the judges went to work.

In the meantime, the audience enjoyed several other performances by organizations such as Technique, who told a very vibrant story of dealing with heartbreak and picking oneself up through various dance styles. Next, there were performances by several organiza-

President Farvardin and IEEE celebrate Claude Shannon, pioneer of the Information Age

EVAN PAPAGEORGE, HEAD COPY EDITOR

Claude Shannon, the “Father of the Information Age,” is one of the most influential mathematicians and computer scientists of the past 100 years, a symbol of innovation and discovery who embodies the Stevens ethos. To honor Shannon and the legacy of his work, President Nariman Farvardin hosted an event in partnership with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) History Center to explore and celebrate the accomplishments of Shannon in a lecture titled “From Bits to Qubits: A celebration of Claude Shannon, Father of the Information Age.” To learn more, The Stute attended the lecture and spoke with President Farvardin.

Claude Shannon (1916-2001) showed signs of intellectual greatness from an early age. He graduated with two undergraduate degrees only at 20, then pursued his master’s degree, which he completed in only one year. His thesis, A Symbolic Analysis of Relay and Switching Circuits, was one of the first and most influential papers that used Boolean algebra (in simplified terms, using “yes” and “no” as a form of logic) to introduce ideas that serve as the basis for binary code and the foundation for all computers. The paper is noted by many as one of, if not the most crucial, thesis to come out of a master’s degree. Shannon then pursued a doctorate by studying the impact of information theory on genetics and biology, revolutionizing another field of science, and then never worked with biology again. Going into his professional career, Shannon continued his work, making innumerable contributions to early computer science, cryptology, and electrical engineering. He was one of the first engineers to work on what would become artificial intelligence.

President Farvardin’s lecture series began at 9:30 a.m. with a light breakfast before introductions by Vice President for University Relations and Chief of Staff Beth McGrath. The event’s first speaker was Dr. Mary Ann Hellrigel, the Institutional Historian and Archivist of the IEEE History Center, who explained what IEEE is and how Shannon contributed to it.

Next, President Farvardin gave

tions that encompass the Cultural Greek Council, which include Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc., Nu Alpha Phi Fraternity, Inc., Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority, Inc., and Lambda Tau Omega Sorority, Inc.

The last and most anticipated segment of the show was announcing the winners. The judges for this year’s Unity were Lilianna Delman, director of the Office of Student Culture and Belonging, Jordan Wang, a recent graduate who had previously been ESC President for two years, Natasha

the keynote address. Opening his lecture with an anecdote about how he sat next to Shannon as a young professor at a conference in 1985, President Farvardin examined Shannon’s work in information theory and how he was responsible for beginning that field. However, President Farvardin also explored the more human side of Shannon, like his passion for juggling, unicycle riding, and inventing, the last of which included making machines to indulge his engineering interests like a juggling machine, Rubik’s Cube solver, and an early version of what would become a chess-playing computer.

The last segment of the event was a panel discussion moderated by the director of the Center of Science Writing, Professor John Horgan. On the panel, Dr. Hellrigel and President Farvardin spoke with Professor Brendan Englot, the Institute for Artificial Intelligence director, and Professor Igor Pikovski, a Presidential Fellow with a background in quantum physics. The panel examined Shannon’s influence outside pure information theory but in other disciplines like physics and artificial intelligence.

Following the presentation and before a luncheon, The Stute spoke with President Farvardin to get a more personal view of the event. When asked why Shannon is important, Farvardin explained that Shannon is one of his foremost intellectual influences. To this end, when asked why it is essential to learn about Shannon, President Farvardin referred to the panel and his lecture, highlighting how, with so much influence of Shannon in many different fields, it is essential to learn the history and foundations of these disciplines to be successful in them.

Shannon was an exceptional mathematician and computer scientist who left an indelible mark on our world and its technology. President Farvardin’s lecture celebrated Shannon’s legacy and explored his contributions to various disciplines. To end the conversation, President Farvardin underscored the importance of research, a theme also discussed in the lecture. Research, he explained, allows for an unparalleled experience of learning and growth where young minds, some of whom might become the next Shannon, will develop.

Oramas, a Senior Financial Analyst for Stevens, and Professor Billy Middleton, who works as a teaching associate professor at Stevens. There were a total of seven awards, including the Best in Show award, which was given to the team with the most points, and the People’s Choice Award, which was determined through a live audience vote. The CSA was awarded the Most Active and Most Relevant to Theme awards. FAST won the Most Cultural award. The biggest winner, KSA, took home four out of the seven awards, winning Most Creative, Best Execution, People’s Choice, and Best in Show awards.

RAFAEL LEE LI FOR THE STUTE

Meet the student openers for Techfest 2024

BY MADISON HELLER, STAFF WRITER

With Techfest rapidly approaching, there is a large amount of excitement about the arrival of the annual music festival hosted by the Entertainment Committee (EC). As one of the most popular on-campus events, many Stevens students are waiting in eager anticipation. At the beginning of the year, the student body completed a survey to rank their top choices for the headliner. EC eventually selected the band Neon Trees, and the openers will be the top three winners of the recent Battle of the Bands competition. The openers for this year’s Techfest will be The Vibrotones, Midnight Drive, and Future Nostalgia.

The Vibrotones are a modern rock band that takes heavy inspiration from the classic rock era of music. This inspiration is clear when you listen to their released tracks on Spotify, particularly Double D, which fuses a modern sound with what rock was at its inception. Jack Keelan, Jack Hamilton, and Matt Testa were all part of a band in high school. Later on, they met Jeremey Orienza this winter when they were in the market for a new drummer. As they put it, “Something clicked between a group of us within that band, and from there, the Vibrotones started to form…we’re each other’s best friends.” The origin of their name comes from Keelan’s suggestion of combining the words vibe, bro, and tone together, which worked for them; they all appreciated that it sounded like a “doo-wop band from the 50s.” Though everyone in the band performs vocals, Keelan and Hamilton are the lead vocalists, and Testa and Orienza take on background vocals. Instrumentally, Keelan is on guitar, Hamilton is on bass, Testa plays the keyboard, organ, and saxophone, and Orienza is the drummer. The Vibrotones write and produce all of their own music and now help other local bands record their music with the

is an alternative rock band that was formed this year by Sam Ferro, Jake Paccione, Pat Cortelli, and Drayton Barrand. Ferro and Paccione — roommates at the time of their first day on campus, met Cortelli and instantly became friends, bonding over their love of music. Ferro then met Barrand at an Audio Engineering Club (AEC) open mic and introduced him to Paccione and Cortelli, expanding their group from three to four. From the start of the year, Ferro and Paccione had wanted to form a band, and it came together in March of this year, just in time for Battle of the Bands. Ferro and Paccione both play guitar, Cortelli is the bassist, and Barrand is on drums, with Ferro, Cortelli, and Paccione switching off on vocals. As a newer band on the scene, they are absolutely ecstatic to open for Neon Trees and encourage anyone interested in their music to follow their Instagram @midnightdrive_nj.

is an indie folk band that came together this year, consisting of Liam Cunningham, Sia Quinn, Sophia Zahran, Conlan Hurley, and Sam Ferro (yes, the same one playing in Midnight Drive). The group met each other through a statistics class and then several music-related clubs and open mics on campus. The band began when another student asked Cunningham if he had a band and would like to play a show with her; Cunningham said he would love to without actually having a band. So Cunningham quickly messaged Quinn, Zahran, Hurley, and Ferro, asking if they would be interested in playing together. They all agreed, and the rest is history. The show they were initially supposed to do was canceled, and their first-ever performance was actually at the Battle of the Bands. Cunningham is the lead vocalist and also plays guitar, Quinn and Ferro are both guitarists, Zahran is on the bass, and Hurley is the drummer. What is particularly interesting about this group comes from their name, as Cunningham says: “Contrary to popular belief, the name ‘Future Nostalgia’ is not taken from the Dua Lipa album; The name comes from the idea that people are too focused on nostalgia from their past and take for granted the present. “Everyone has so much

At long last: Anchor returns to Wittpenn Walk

KEVIN CASTNER JR., ARCHIVES LIAISON

In October of 2023, a petition was started by Kevin Castner Jr. ‘24 and distributed throughout campus and online in an effort to bring the SS Stevens anchor back to campus. The SS Stevens was a so-called “floating dormitory” at Stevens from 1967 to 1975, converted from a former attack transport vessel known as the USS Dauphin. After its removal, the Class of ‘75 presented funds to have one of the ship’s anchors placed alongside Wittpenn Walk, overlooking its former mooring. Since that time, over 300 stu dents have signed a petition sup porting its installation, and it was decided in late December that the restoration of the anchor would

be added to the Palmer Fountain project. Unofficially, the anchor has been back on campus since January, occupying one of the parking spots by Palmer Circle overlooking the DeBaun Athletic Complex. The placement of the anchor was to coincide with the completion of the Palmer Fountain project, originally slated for March. However, between snow storms and torrential downpours, both projects saw delays due to suboptimal conditions for the pouring and curing of concrete foundations. Flags were staked off of Wittpenn Walk

Walk was partially closed, and the anchor was transported from its parking spot to its (hopefully) permanent site between the Howe Center and Harries Tower. Concrete was poured, and the anchor was placed with some additional supports to ensure that the concrete would cure properly before supporting the anchor’s full weight. The only notable interruption to construction was a brief earthquake that took place on April 5 and temporarily disrupted campus operations while the Stevens Emergency Management Team monitored for damage. While still fenced off at the time of writing, it’s anticipated that the anchor will be showready in time for the beginning of Admitted Student Weekend on

Alley, and many administrative offices. However, as the building ages, more problems arise due to out-of-date infrastructure and the lack of modern technology. To address these issues while maintaining the building as a hub for campus life, the Division

minder to experience the present and remember the things you take for granted will be your nostalgia in the future.” In short, “Enjoy the present

and

of

the castle, the

opted

demolish it. In its place, a 14-story tower was erected. Since then, it has contained a student union, office spaces, classrooms, dining halls, cafés, a bowling alley, and a new tunnel to the UCC. Given its rich history, the Howe Center also has some issues. Many harmful substances, including asbestos and lead, were still allowed to be used during its construction. Additionally, significant improvements in HVAC, fire safety, and audio/visual systems, such as projectors and intercom systems, did not exist at the time of initial construction.

floor, which was turned into classrooms.

According to recent email updates from the Division of Facilities and Campus Operations, the Office of Development and Alumni Engagement on the eighth floor is currently under renovation, and work is ongoing on the seventh floor.

The Stute spoke to some students to learn more about their thoughts on this construction.

One first-year Civil Engineering student knew little about the project but was glad to hear that the building was being fixed. Another student, a member of the student government, understands why the work is happening but questions if there might be a better way to address these issues. EVAN

One of the first significant construction projects for this round of renovations was remodeling the Taylor Boardroom on the 14th floor of the building. From there, the building received renovations on each floor, including the third

National News

Baltimore bridge collapses

BY JEREMIAH CHINWENDU, STAFF WRITER

On March 26, at approximately 1:30 a.m. ET, a large cargo ship crashed into Francis Scott Key Memorial Bridge in Baltimore, leaving six construction workers presumed dead and one person seriously injured. The bridge, which was first opened to the public in 1977, has been an integral part of the city of Baltimore and a monument to engineering innovation in its own right. Ben Schaefer, a professor of Civil Engineering at Johns Hopkins, spoke with NPR to discuss the crash and the physical damage caused.

Those who have seen footage of the crash will remember that the damage was done immediately, with the whole bridge span collapsing at once. According to Schaefer, the ship, “as big as the bridge itself, [lost] power and actually [struck] one of the two bridge support piers that support the structure, essentially [obliterating] it.”

The

Iran accuses Israel of missile strike on consulate

BY SEAN ANDERSON, STAFF WRITER

On April 1, the Iranian consulate annex building, located next to the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria, was bombed. At least sixteen people were reported dead from the attack, including Iranian military leaders and Syrian citizens. Specifically, as reported by Iran’s Foreign Ministry, three of those killed were senior commanders, including Mohammed Reza Zahedi, a top commander in Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), and senior commander Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi.

According to the New York Times, four unnamed Israeli of -

ficials acknowledged that Israel carried out the attack; however, they also claimed that the targeted building did not have diplomatic status and that it was an Outpost of the Revolutionary Guard, which would make it a military target. Officials from the embassy oppose this and claim that the building was a consular section and also included the ambassador’s residence.

Overall, this attack has led to an escalation in tension between the two conflicting nations. The possibility of retaliation by Iran has been presented as Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanaani, states that “Iran preserves the right to take reciprocal measures and will decide

Social media banned in Florida for young teens

BY ARTHUR SERRA, MANAGING EDITOR

Late last month, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB3 into law. This bill bans the creation of social media accounts for children under the age of 14 and requires parental approval for 14 and 15-year-olds. The objective of the bill is to ensure the safety of young children, particularly given the addictive nature of social media. An intended byproduct of this will be greater data security for young teenagers. This bill comes at a time where social media and the internet in general is coming under scrutiny by the government both at the state and national levels. In January, Congress held hearings where Members grilled senior-level officers of major social media companies like TikTok, Meta (Facebook and Instagram) and X (formerly Twitter). Moreover, a panel from Arkansas ruled that minors need parental consent to create any social media account. Where social media

will be in five or ten years is not certain.

Concerns over the bill tend to surround the first amendment. Various spokespeople of the companies that would be hit the hardest made clear their company’s displeasure with the new law. It’s important to note that DeSantis and the majority of the Florida legislature are Republicans, and many Democratic leaders argue that this will limit access to freedom of speech for youngsters, a right guaranteed to all Americans by the First Amendment. Arguments have been made that this is another move in the culture war that has brought DeSantis at odds with Disney, libraries, teachers unions and many teenagers.

At the end of the day, the question of this bill is how much freedom we’re willing to give up for increased security for our children. This question will be answered in the coming months as lawsuits and appeals take place. The law is set to come into effect at the beginning of 2025.

the type of response and punish ment against the aggressor.”

Analysts predict that the like ly result of this attack could be an increase in attacks by proxies of Iran, including Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and militant group backed by Iran. In a statement by Hez bollah in Iran’s State media, they stated that “without doubt, this crime will not go without pun ishment and revenge against the enemy.” It is also predicted that attacks will be launched against U.S. troops as well, as Iran holds the U.S. responsible due to its support of Israel. United States officials claim that they were not involved with the strike and had no prior knowledge of it.

amount of energy. And it’s not clear that any bridge protection system we currently use could’ve taken a direct strike right at the bridge pier.” A CNN report states that ac -

cording to a news release from the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), the Federal government has issued Maryland officials the requested $60 million to cover the first steps of response to the tragedy. FHA chief Shailen Bhatt stated that “the emergency funding would go toward removing debris, rerouting traffic, and ultimately rebuilding the bridge.” So far, there have been 2,400 feet of boom deployed in the water to treat the leakage of harmful chemicals that came from the ship, according to Maryland Governor Wes Moore. Efforts to search for the missing workers had been halted following the crash due to the debris making it too difficult for divers to go in.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott addressed these concerns and gave hope that those who remained missing would be found and reunited with their families. The army, as well as local and federal government officials, are providing their support in helping Baltimore recover from the physical and emotional damage caused by this tragedy.

bridge was a metal truss arch bridge stretching all the way across the Patapsco River. It had some protection against potential damage, but there were no significant systems in place right at

the bridge pier. When discussing bridge safety procedures, Schaefer declares that “The boat [was] as long as the bridge was long. The boat [was] as wide as the bridge was tall. So it’s a massive

PHOTO COURTESY OF CNN

RAFAEL

LEE LI FOR THE STUTE

“Club

Vincent Pennachio ‘25

Gianmarco Costa ‘26

loved for 10 plus

“I joined because it allowed me to continue a sport that I’ve

years, and gave me an opportunity to stay active and connect with new people.

COMPETITIVE CLUB SPORTS:

Baseball Bowling Crew Climbing

Ultimate Frisbee

Ice Hockey Women’s/Men’s Lacrosse

Sailing Ski and Snowboarding Women’s/Men’s Soccer Women’s/Men’s Volleyball Powerlifting

“The

Paige Moriarty

Assistant Director of Campus Recreation for Club Sports

“Club sport teams are constantly evolving at Stevens. We have over 14 competitive teams that allow students of any level to join, leading to new connections, experiences and growth. Being a club sport student-athlete at Stevens is a truly unique experience and incredible way to find your “home” when stepping on to the Stevens campus.”

“It’s a great way to continue playing a sport you love or learning how to play a sport you’ve always wanted to!”

“Very

“It’s

Club sports at Stevens provide an opportunity for students to play in a competitive athletic environment while also at a lesser commitment than varsity athletics. Typically, being in a club sport does not require trying out for it. On the other hand, intramural sports are a way for students to get more involved on campus through athletics. No previous experience is needed, only enthusiasm! 17. 14. 5.

Jeremy Krugman ‘24

a more relaxed option to varsity sports if you’re afraid it might be too time consuming”

sports are a great way to get to know people with similar interests and it does not have an immense time commitment like other clubs or teams.”

social and relaxed group, open to all experience levels. Highly recommend.”

Sports

WOMEN’S AND MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

TCNJ Invitational & Multi Day Two Ewing, NJ 10 a.m.

Silfen Invitational New London, CT 1:45 p.m.

BASEBALL

DeSales University Center Valley, PA 3:30 p.m.

Men’s Golf takes on the Hershey Cup, finishing 13th overall

BY KAI WONG, SPORTS WRITER

This past weekend, on Sunday, April 7 and Monday, April 8, led by senior Gus Vickers, the Stevens Institute of Technology Golf team finished 13th at the Hershey Cup, held in Hershey, PA.

Vickers climbed eight spots on day two of the tournament after shooting a 6-over 77 in the first round. He finished the tournament shooting 3-over 74 and finishing in a tie for 17th out of 87 total participants competing in the tournament.

SAT, APR 13

First-years Austin Liao, Maxime Debets, and Sebastian Beaver had strong showings as well.

Liao finished 50th in the tournament and claimed the second best score on the team. He shot 10-over across his first nine holes on Sunday, but bounced back on the back nine in round one making four birdies to finish 2-under. The next day, Liao shot a 10-over 81 to finish 18-over across both

Junior Eduardo Terlaje made one of just nine eagles in the tournament. Despite the eagle, he shot an 87 in the first round but rallied back on the second day with a 78 to move up seven spots for a tie for 65th finish.

Track & Field at Muhlenberg Outdoor Invitational

BY ABBY JACOBS, DIGITAL MANAGER

Men’s and Women’s Track & Field competed at the Muhlenberg Outdoor Invitational in Allentown, PA, last Saturday, April 6.

Women’s Outdoor Track and Field made a notable mark on the meet when graduate student Laura Mathews and first-year Isabella Shanley took the top two spots in the 100-meter dash. Matthews placed first with a time of 12.41 seconds and Shanley followed close behind with a time of 13.05. Mathews’s classmate, Kristen William secured three of her own top-10 finishes in the 100-meter hurdles, the triple jump, and in the 100-meter dash.

Other memorable performances included senior Jacqueline Lulaj finishing the 400-meter hurdles in 1:13.03, placing third, and class-

mate Nina Burden’s 400-meter dash. Burden completed the race in 1:03.19, where she set a collegiate personal record (PR) and took seventh in the race.

Men’s Outdoor Track and Field saw noteworthy first place victories the same day. Sophomore Danny Jutras and graduate student Ronnie Melao clinched the win in the 800 and the steeplechase respectively. Jutras set a new PR at a time of 1:56.48 and Melao took the title of fastest in the conference, finishing in 9:42.84.

The Ducks took a second and third place finish in the pole vault when sophomore Kyle Miller and first-year Chris Persico both cleared 3.65 meters. Another two top-five victories came from firstyears Justin Gajewski and Joshua Lim in the triple jump when the two reached 12.56 and 12.18 meters respectively.

days. Debets finished in a tie for 57th, making three birdies on the weekend. He shot 83 and 80 to finish 21-over for the tournament. Beaver made just one birdie, shooting 84 on Sunday and an 81 on Monday to also finish in a tie for 65th with Terlaje.

As a team, the Ducks finished with a score of 636, finishing only five strokes behind 12th place finisher St. John Fisher University and 37 strokes off tournament champion Wittenberg University, finishing with a collective team score of 599. Wittenberg claimed first place with a team

score of 599, Following close behind as the runner-ups University of Rochester, finishing only three strokes off of Wittenberg. Franklin & Marshall College and Gettysburg College came in third and fourth, respectively, while New York University and McDaniel College both tied at fifth to round out the top five finishers. The Ducks are back in action this weekend as they compete in the Garden State Collegiate Classic in Washington, NJ, at the Hawke Point Golf Club. It will be a two-day tournament beginning on Saturday, April 13, and continuing into Sunday, April 14.

Tennis begins the MAC conference

BY ABBY JACOBS, DIGITAL MANAGER

On Saturday, April 6, both Men’s and Women’s Tennis traveled to Dallas, PA. where they took on Misericordia University’s respective teams for the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom Opener. Before this, both teams sat 4-5 in the 2023-2024 season, and 0-0 in the MAC.

Juniors Olof Persson and Sebastian Wroe started the team’s day off strong for the Men’s team when they took an 8-0 victory in doubles. First-year Samvdi Andhare and sophomore Max-William Kanz also took an 8-0 win, with another doubles victory secured by junior Vivek Harinarayan and senior Aashi Kulakarni. The team also swept in singles, with each player winning with a margin of at least five points in both of their two sets, resulting in

a complete sweep of the match, Stevens winning 9-0.

Senior Polina Odintseva and junior Isabella Dona each secured two wins for Women’s Tennis on Saturday, both winning in doubles and their singles matches. Odintseva and her doubles partner, first-year Lorena Piegas, took an 8-6 victory before playing three sets in her singles match, winning the second two. Dona and first-year Julianna Gomez took an 8-2 victory in doubles and then each won their singles matches, though Dona was also pushed into a third set, which she won. Having won all three of their doubles matches, and four of the six singles matches played, the team ended the day 7-2.

Tomorrow, Saturday, April 13, both teams will travel to Bayonne, NJ, where they will take on Lebanon Valley College, Men’s Tennis at 11 a.m. and Women’s Tennis at 2 p.m.

STEVENS SCOREBOARD

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

MAC Championships–Final Time and Location TBA

MEN’S GOLF

Garden State Collegiate Classic Round One Washington, NJ Time TBA

WOMEN’S AND MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

TCNJ Invitational & Multi Day Three Ewing, NJ 11 a.m.

WOMEN’S AND MEN’S TENNIS Lebanon Valley College Hoboken, NJ 2 p.m./11 a.m.

WOMEN’S AND MEN’S LACROSSE FDU-Florham Madison, NJ 1 p.m./11 a.m.

SOFTBALL DeSales University Center Valley, PA 1 p.m./3 p.m.

BASEBALL

DeSales University Hoboken, NJ 3:30p.m./6:15p.m.

SUN, APR 14

MEN’S GOLF Garden State Collegiate Classic Round Two Washington, NJ Time TBA

BASEBALL No. 4/4 Salisbury University Salisbury, MD 2:30 p.m.

TUE, APR 16

WOMEN’S AND MEN’S TENNIS FDU-Florham Hoboken, NJ 3 p.m.

BASEBALL College of Mount Saint Vincent Hoboken, NJ 7 p.m.

SOFTBALL

Drew University Weehawken, NJ 3 p.m./5 p.m.

PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVENSDUCKS.COM (SHOT BY MIKE MCLAUGHLIN)

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

ADMITTED STUDENT’S WEEKEND 2024

A guide to making the most of Admitted Students Weekend

BY NICOLE GIARDINO, SECRETARY

This upcoming weekend, on Saturday, April 13, and Sunday, April 14, Stevens’ annual Admitted Students Weekend will be taking place.

Beginning at 9:30 a.m. and ending at 4:00 p.m, this two-day event will take place right here on campus!

What is Admitted Student Weekend?

Admitted Student Weekend is a chance for newly admitted undergraduate students and their families to dive into the Stevens experience.

From chatting with faculty and current students, to checking out Stevens’ state-of-the-art lab facilities, it’s a sneak peek into undergraduate student life at Stevens. While providing admitted students the opportunity to discover campus life, this weekend also gives them the chance to connect with fellow future Ducks, and explore the amazing community waiting for them. What should I expect?

Welcoming Events:

Starting off each day, there will

be a breakfast in Canavan Arena from 9:30-11 a.m.

Depending on when you arrive, you will be able to see one of two welcoming addresses from Stevens’ President, Farvardin, either at 1010:45 a.m. or 12-12:45 p.m. Get inspired as he shares his vision for the Stevens community and the exciting opportunities that lie ahead for the next generation of Ducks.

Information Sessions:

Dive deep into the Stevens experience with informative sessions led by university leaders, faculty, and staff members. There are three 50 minute workshops that you can choose from, occurring throughout the day which include “An Innovative Look at Financial Aid”, “Leaving the Nest and Finding Your Flock, and “Learning Experiences

Beyond the Classroom”, all occurring between 11 a.m. and 2:50 p.m..

Tours and Room Showcases: Explore state-of-the-art lab facilities, and get a glimpse of student housing options, with the tour options. The lab and Facilities tours

will be leaving every 35 minutes starting at 1:05 p.m. from Babbio Patio West.

Are you curious about where you’ll be living during your time at Stevens? Residential students will be opening their doors to showcase their rooms, giving you a glimpse into the unique living spaces on campus. These showcases will take place during the Residential hall Tours, happening from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Academic, Administrative, and Activities Expos:

Occurring from 1:00 - 3:15 p.m., the Expos are amazing ways to start getting to know about the programs Stevens has to offer.

In the Academic Expo, students gain valuable insights into various academic programs, and learn more about your respective department with presentations from your future professors. Additionally, hear firsthand experiences from upperclassmen students who have navigated through similar academic paths.

The Administrative Expo will

help you to navigate the administrative side of campus life. From admissions to financial aid, and from health services to student life, this expo covers essential information and resources to ensure a smooth transition into college.

Through the Student Activities expo, you can meet with student leaders representing diverse clubs and organizations, and hear firsthand about their experiences, passions, and campus involvement.

By invitation only:

There will also be meetups for the students who fall into the respective categories: Pinnacle Scholars, TENTATIVE, Clark Scholars, iSTEM, STEP, and Pre-College students.

Taste of Hoboken:

To conclude your day, don’t miss the Taste of Hoboken Food Festival, where you can taste a diverse array of dishes from local restaurants and experience why Hoboken is known for its vibrant dining scene. How can I make the most of the weekend?

The following are transcripts of the

speeches

Plan Ahead: Review the schedule of events and prioritize the sessions and tours that interest you the most. Be sure to leave some time for exploration on your own!

Ask Questions: Don’t be nervous to ask questions! Whether you’re curious about academic programs, student life, or overall campus life, our faculty, staff, and student volunteers are here to provide you with answers and guidance.

Connect and Engage:

Take advantage of this opportunity to connect with fellow admitted students and their families. Exchange contact information, join group chats, and start getting to know each other!

Stay Open-Minded:

Keep an open mind as you explore campus and interact with different people and opportunities.

Admitted Student Weekend is just the beginning of your Stevens journey, and there’s so much more for you to discover along the way.

given

Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14

BY NICK SMITH ‘25, PRESIDENT OF SGA

Welcome to the vibrant community that I call home, Stevens Institute of Technology. I am Nick Smith. It is with immense pleasure and a profound sense of responsibility that I welcome you today as the President of the Stevens Student Government Association, to extend a heartfelt welcome to every one of you.

When I sat in your seat three years ago deciding where to embark on my next educational journey, my curiosity prompted me to question what students’ favorite part of college was. Regardless of the institution, nearly every student I talked to said “the people.” This always confused me because the people and the community are what you may know the least about when making your decision on which college to attend. As a leader of our community, I’ve seen a lot. Today, I’d like to tell you the story of my experience and detail what yours may entail here at Stevens. Hopefully, this will paint a picture of what your time may look like here.

BY RIYANNA PHADKE ‘27, FIRST- YEAR STUDENT

Hello everyone, and congratulations on your acceptance into Stevens. As I sat in your chair just a year ago, I understand the mix of emotions you’re probably experiencing. You might be thrilled at the thought of exploring new horizons or nervous about leaving behind the familiar comforts of home. Perhaps you’re eagerly anticipating the final special moments ahead but feeling the weight of choosing the right college or starting the next phase of your education. Whatever you’re feeling today, tomorrow, or even on decision day, remember that being here at Stevens and learning about our vibrant community is a significant step forward.

To be frank, I’m not here to recite the brochure to you. You can find all that information on the website or from our enthusiastic tour guides and distinguished faculty and staff members. They’ll tell you about what Stevens is—an institution renowned for providing a stellar education that blends humanity with technology. What

Anecdotally, the students I talked to were right, college is shaped by the people. The many members of our community shape your time here in three specific ways: pride for our community, connection to your peers, and the impact that you’ll make.

I’ll start out with pride. The pride within our community is the universal common ground necessary to building long lasting friendships. The second you arrive on our campus you know you’re at Stevens. From our immersive and welcoming orientation or your first midnight breakfast where our very own President Farvardin, professors and staff cook breakfast for students during finals. Stevens gives you a reason to be proud and bond over the experiences you create here. During your time here and in your life beyond your college years, you are always a Stevens duck.

Second, connection to your peers. After you’ve embraced the warm and empowering culture at Stevens, you’ll find meaningful connections early on in your Stevens journey. Sometimes even on your first day. On my first day at

I want to share with you are the opportunities that exist as part of your Stevens experience. The true value of any opportunity lies in what you make of it, regardless of its beautiful location or success rates.

I arrived at Stevens after navigating four tumultuous years in high school. Amidst the chaos of Covid-19, I struggled to form meaningful connections with my peers and found little fulfillment in the high school’s activities offered at my school. While I take responsibility for some of that, I now realize that much of my struggle stemmed from an environment that didn’t quite fit me. I knew I didn’t want to attend a college that would make me feel small; I sought an institution that would challenge me academically while offering extracurriculars that would ultimately define my career and life after college.

When I accepted my admission to Stevens, I set a personal goal: I would mold Stevens into the institution I envisioned for myself.

Before my first semester, I participated in The Stute Weekend, a three-day experience with

Stevens, I met Ava, who I proudly say is one of my closest friends. Over our time at Stevens Ava and I have tried to make sense of the world around us and our background. The connections you make will be filled with love and care. These connections are not limited to friendships with your fellow students. There are faculty members, staff, and even the leaders of our university who have had a profound influence on my life thus far and I would certainly call them my friends.

Having a friend like Ava and making many other connections here made me realize I needed to find the courage within myself to be the person others needed me to be to lead change. Coming to Stevens you can expect that the friends you make will help you make sense of your experience, and help you grow into the person you want to become. That’s what friends at Stevens are for, they help you see the potential in yourself that you do not yet see.

This leads me to my last point, impact. Given that we are a university with innovation at its core, it is only appropriate I quote one of

the student newspaper that allowed me to learn more about the extracurriculars at Stevens and what it was like to be a student here. I admit, I was skeptical at first, because how could a STEM school produce a fun and exciting paper that students want to read?

Weren’t they all supposed to be engineers, coders, and scientists?

I quickly learned that while Stevens is predominantly a STEM-focused school, students from all majors find niches outside of their designated major, and flourish in them. I found that the only commonality between all of the students on campus was that each person had a passion that made them unique–computer science with music, pre-medicine with powerlifting, mechanical engineering with pre-law. Suddenly, Stevens was transformed from a stereotypical STEM school to a community where no conversation was boring and everyday had the potential to be interesting. Keep in mind, I learned all of this before classes even started. When the semester started, I did not find it difficult to navigate my way for one reason: I met peo-

the greatest innovators of all time, Steve Jobs. Steve is often quoted saying “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?”

Our time on this campus is limited. As a potential member of our community, it is not a choice but an obligation to make a positive impact that is not limited to the walls of our campus rather a change that will ripple out into the greater world beyond us.

Within these four years you will discover the ways in which you’re going to change this world for the better. I aspire to lead an organization with a mission to improve our world. Stevens helped me to realize that. And here, I was able to test this as President of our Student Government. Stevens gives you all the opportunities to test your ability to make an impact, whatever that may be. It may sound intense, but I promise you, it’s fun and playful as we challenge ourselves for what comes next.

As you navigate the bounds of our campus, remember that your education extends far beyond the classroom. Let us not forget the responsibility that comes with

ple. Meeting people, even if it’s just one person, can change the trajectory of your success in college. I joined Alpha Phi Omega, a service fraternity here at Stevens that focuses on the principles of leadership, fellowship, and service. Something I have always been passionate about is community service, and to be with almost 70 people who care just as much as I do is refreshing. As a bonus, I get to experience the real breadth of the student body here at Stevens whenever I attend an event.

I have met so many people from every class year and major, and I have become part of a community that makes me feel comfortable to express my ideas and to be a little bit goofy. Once again, my perception of Stevens had been challenged; I was now at a college with people who prioritized giving back to the greater community.

As I mentioned, I set out to make the best of my college experience. Not only did I want to grow myself, but I wanted to help facilitate change at Stevens too. So, I joined the Student Government Association, or the SGA. Honestly, this was an oddball for

on

the privilege of education. It is the pride in our community that leads to a deep connection with your peers. Your connection with peers helps you to gain an understanding of yourself. The learning you will do in and out of the classroom will lead to a collision of new ideas, from which true innovation is born. Innovation enables us to tackle the most pressing challenges facing our world today. So it all comes down to the people – they are the heart of your connections, your learning, and the catalyst for what you will do with your life after college.

As future leaders and change makers, it is incumbent upon us to use our knowledge and skills for the betterment of humanity. At Stevens we are an institution inspired by humanity and empowered by technology to change the world.

Your journey within our community starts now. I have confidence in every one of you and wish you the best of luck navigating the new and profound power you have to make this decision.

Congratulations and welcome to the place I call home.

me. As someone who had never been interested in student council let alone anything regarding school politics, joining the SGA was something entirely new to me. I decided to do it anyway because I knew that I could not grow as a person if I stuck to activities that I was familiar with. College is about new experiences and about creating your story so that when the time comes, you have something that demonstrates the person you are. The SGA is teaching me how to be more assertive, what it means to delegate, and what a group of motivated people can do at a school that is open to new ideas and prioritizes innovation.

My first year at Stevens was all about creating opportunities for myself. I put my trust into Stevens, and I was not disappointed. The community at Stevens will support you, guide you, and comfort you through everything, but the desire to grow and change must come from you. Thank you all for coming out today! I hope to see you in the Fall. Good luck and Welcome to the Flock!

The world’s first genetically-edited pig transplant into a human

BY RIYANA PHADKE, SCIENCE EDITOR

On March 21, 2024, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) announced the world’s first successful transplant of a pig kidney into a 62-year-old man with endstage kidney disease. The surgery took four hours on March 16, and it marks a major milestone in the goal to find organs that are more readily available to patients. MGH is a renowned leader in transplantation services and is recognized for providing advanced care and leading the academic community.

The pig kidney was provided by eGenesis, located in Cambridge, MA. The pig donor, where the kidney came from, was genetically edited using CRISPR-Cas 9 technology to remove any harmful pig genes and add human genes that would improve the compatibility of the organ in a human. The revisions involved eliminating three genes responsible for generating sugars on the surface of pig cells, which are targeted by the human immune system due to their association with foreign invaders. In their place, seven human genes were inserted to produce proteins that aid in preventing organ rejection. Sciences also inactivated any porcine (pig) endogenous retrovirus in the pig donor to prevent any risk of infection in human patients. By the end of the process, the pig kidney had undergone a record 69 genomic edits.

While this transplant was com-

pleted in a matter of hours, the research to make this surgery available has taken over five years to come to this point. MGH and eGenesis have conducted extensive research, and many of their finds published in Nature in 2023. Their research has led to this extraordinary development in xenotransplantation, the transplantation of organs or tissues from one species to another, and proves to be a potential solution to solve a worldwide problem. In fact, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) states that more than 100,000 people in the U.S. await an organ transplant, and 17 people die each day waiting for an organ. A kidney is the most common organ needed for transplant, and endstage kidney disease rates are estimated to increase 29-68% in the U.S. by 2030.

“The success of this transplant is the culmination of efforts by thousands of scientists and physicians over several decades. We are privileged to have played a significant role in this milestone. Our hope is that this transplant approach will offer a lifeline to millions of patients worldwide who are suffering from kidney failure,” says Tatsuo Kawai, MD, PhD, Director of the Legorreta Center for Clinical Transplant Tolerance.

Mr. Richard Slayman, the recipient of the genetically engineered kidney transplant, is recovering well at MGH. He has lived with Type 2 diabetes and hypertension for an extended period and underwent a

kidney transplant from a deceased human donor in December 2018, following seven years of dialysis. About five years post-transplant, signs of kidney failure emerged, leading Slayman to resume dialysis in May 2023. Since then, he has faced recurring complications with his dialysis vascular access, necessitating hospital visits every two weeks for clot removal and surgical adjustments. These issues have significantly impacted his quality of life, representing a common challenge among dialysis patients.

Slayman said in a statement, “My nephrologist, Dr. Winfred Williams, MD and the Transplant Center team suggested a pig kidney transplant, carefully explaining the pros and cons of this procedure. I saw it not only as a way to help me, but a way to provide hope for the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive. I want to thank everyone at MGH who has cared for me, especially Dr. Williams, Dr. Kawai, the surgeon who performed my first kidney transplant and now this one, and Dr. Riella, who has orchestrated the logistics behind this new transplant. They have supported me during every step of the journey, and I have faith they will continue to do so.”

This transplantation was completed under the guidance of Leonardo V. Riella, MD, Ph.D., Medical Director for Kidney Transplantation; Nahel Elias, MD, the Interim Chief of Transplant Surgery and Surgical Director for Kidney Transplantation; and Dr. Kawai.

Case of the missing ship solved

BY KATELYN CHIURRI, SCIENCE WRITER

In 1904, the steamship SS Nemesis was transporting coal to Melbourne, Australia when it was overtaken by a storm. Over the next few weeks, the bodies of the 32 seamen washed up on shore but their ship was never seen again. That is, until September 2023 when a shipwreck discovered in 2022 off the coast of Sydney, Australia was identified as the SS Nemesis.

The New South Wales Ministry of Environment and Heritage (NSW) confirmed that the ship was found. Subsea Professional Marine, a marine surveying company, first found the shipwreck when looking for lost cargo boxes but it was not named until 2022 when CSIRO, an Australian government agency for scientific research investigated. They used underwater imagery echosounders to identify the

unique structure of the ship. Based on the images, the scientists were able to piece together the story of what happened that night. Off the coast of Wollongong, about 50 miles from Sydney, a large wave crashed over the ship and caused it to sink too quickly for the crew to deploy the lifeboats.

This mystery has plagued the families of the lost crew for the past 120 years. Finding out what happened to the ship was very important to the Australian government. The 32-man crew was made up of people from many areas, but about half of the crew were from the United Kingdom. Captain Alex Lusher, chief mate T.A. Renaut, and second mate W.D. Stein were 3 of the crew members on the ship. For scientists, discovering this wreckage site was the “holy grail” and the full story of the SS Nemesis will soon be told.

SilverStrides: A Stevens innovation by Erin Kreis

BY RIYANA PHADKE, SCIENCE EDITOR

Stevens prides itself on being an institution that encourages entrepreneurship alongside education, exciting many prospective and current students with the opportunity to pursue their passion project as a business in the future. The Stute reported on one such project, SilverStrides, back in October 2022. Today, SilverStrides has grown into a great community for older adults to meet people and remain physically active.

SilverStrides is a walking app targeted towards older adults with the goal to engage them with physical activity and community at a slower pace. Through accessible technology, SilverStrides connects older adults to walking partners, events, and groups, combating inactivity and loneliness while fostering a sense of camaraderie and fun. Erin Kreis is the founder and CEO of SilverStrides, and is a 5/5 mechanical engineer with a concentration in biomedical engineering. She was recently accepted into the Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. program at Stevens. Kreis’ inspiration for SilverStrides is deeply rooted in her personal experiences, particularly her close relationship with her grandparents. Witnessing her grandmother’s, endearingly referred to as ‘Meamom’, dedication to walking for health and vitality, even at the age of 94, sparked Kreis’ determination to harness technology for the betterment of older adults. Recognizing the impact of walking on physical and mental well-being, Kreis created a platform that would make walking communities accessible and enjoyable for older adults across the country. Building SilverStrides pre-

sented its fair share of challenges. Perhaps the most significant hurdle was teaching herself software development—an endeavor she initially found daunting. However, she continued to push through this challenge because she felt it was necessary to create age-inclusive technology. When speaking with the Stute, she noted, “I taught myself to code through YouTube tutorials. The main thing for me was to remain patient. The first few months, my progress felt excruciatingly slow. But it was worth it, and now I can confidently call myself a developer!”

Looking ahead, Kreis envisions SilverStrides expanding its reach nationwide, establishing walking groups in communities across the country. Additionally, she aims to foster partnerships between these communities and universities like Stevens, facilitating research collaborations that advance the public’s understanding of healthy aging. By connecting researchers with older adults through SilverStrides, Kreis hopes to drive innovation and promote holistic approaches to healthy living.

For students interested in getting involved with SilverStrides or exploring research opportunities, Kreis extends a warm invitation. They can reach out to her via email at ekreis@stevens.edu or connect through SilverStrides’ social media platforms. The instagram is @ silverstridesapp and Facebook is @SilverStrides.

“Students are also welcome at our SilverStrides walks! Many intergenerational relationships have formed through SilverStrides. As an out-of-state student, I look forward to the family-like environment and mentorship I have experienced at SilverStrides walks”, Kreis writes.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NATURE.COM

PHOTO COURTESY OF SILVERSTRIDES.COM

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GUARDIAN (SHOT BY BRAD DUNCAN)

OP-ED

“We condemn Stevens’ LGBTQ+ take back of Gianforte Family Hall”: an expanded boycott from Stevens alumni to withhold any future donations

105 alumni express their discontent with Stevens’ manipulative take back of Gianforte Family Hall, and pledge to expand boycotting GFH by never gifting to Stevens in their lifetime.

BY ORGANIZERS OF #RENAMEGFH; NASIR

ANTHONY MONTALVO; VIVIAN

TOUCH; JULIEANN MURPHY

Dear fellow community members of Stevens Institute of Technology,

As recent graduates of Stevens, we are filled with great anguish as Stevens Institute of Technology’s administration, Stevens’ Student Government Association (SGA), and the SGA’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Accessibility (DEIBA) committee attempt to end the 2021-instituted boycott ofGianforte Family Hall (GFH).

For the past seven years, students, staff, professors, alumni, and even Hoboken community members have mobilized against Gianforte Family Hall––to, both, stand against accepting money from a politician actively harming the people of Montana, and, more broadly, as another symptom of Stevens administration’s willingness to do whatever it takes to ascertain capital, even if it means placing moneyover their very community.

The purpose of this letter and expanded boycott is to inform you of the seven-year movement againstGianforte Family Hall, spell out how Stevens’ administration has been manipulating current students toreverse a legacy of student activism, and how you, as current community members, can create a future without Gianforte’s legacy staining our campus.

Take Stock – The six-year long movement against Stevens aligning itself with Greg Gianforte Stevens opened Gianforte Family Hall in 2019: named after Gregory Richard Gianforte, the current governor of Montana. Greg Gianforte is infamously known for body slamming a reporter during an interview on his candidacy for Congress, and for the wide-array of damaging legislation he’s passed in Montana–including an anti-trans sports ban, ending same day voter registration, a bill allowing strangulation of wolves after doing so himself, and enacting several laws restricting abortion.

Movement against Stevens administration naming a building after Greg Gianforte began in 2017 (when it was first announced) through the campaign #IWillNotSITBy–headed by Andy Waldron, Joe Risi, andKyle Gonzalez. Their petition, which garnered 693 signatures, requested a public explanation behind the naming of what-was-then-known-as Gianforte Family Academic Center; and a condemnation of Gianforte and his affiliated, discriminatory groups. In 2019, the movement was re-formulated as a push to rename Gianforte Family Hall, after GregGianforte revoked his $10 million conditional gift to Stevens that they name a building after him and hisfamily. This push was headed by the Diversity and Inclusion Committee (DNI) of the SGA, founded by Nasir Anthony Montalvo during their time at Stevens from 2017 to 2021. DNI was founded as a part of the SGA to address several pain points marginalized community members were experiencing at Stevens, specifically in response to students of color being targeted by current Vice President of Student Affairs, Sara Klein, to feature in video marketing materials for the University. The students involved with DNI were advocating for autonomy and agency as they navigated through a cam-

pus that did not (and does not) have sufficient support systems for them and other marginalized groups.

DNI protested GFH on its opening night in 2019, and started a petition that raised over 1,700 signatures (more than double of the original petition).

Most notably, DNI instituted a boycott of the building in 2021–where 55 student organizations pledged to boycott Gianforte Family Hall, explicitly stating to not use GFH for any activities as long as the building continues to be named after Greg Gianforte.

Take In – The “LGBTQ take back” is a manipulation scheme by Stevens Student Affairs to end the Gianforte boycott

For three years, this boycott has been extremely effective. Most student organizations continue to not use GFH for student activities, and most students from Stevens’ LGBTQ and cultural student groups continue to advocate for not using GFH. However, three years passing also means many of the initial students involved with the movement have graduated. This means that new classes of students, like ones in charge of the DEIBA Committee (formerly DNI), for example, have no firsthand context around the boycott––thus being further prone to disinformation by administration.

As a result, Stevens Institute of Technology’s administration has convinced the leaders of SGA andDEIBA that the boycott “inhibit[s] the free expression of our identities as students,” and are using them as a proxy for an “[LGBTQ] take back” of the building.

Not only is this a misnomer (how can our community reclaim something that was never ours?), it is an empty gesture that Stevens’s Board of Trustees is using to get their money’s worth for the building. The take back consists of putting up rainbow paraphernalia and having pride events in GFH; what material improvement does this make for the “free expression” of queer and trans Stevens community?

In the Student Government Association’s email to campus on April 5, 2024 (through Stevens’ campus-wide emailing system that requires administrative drafting and approval, we want to expressly note), they make bogus or untruthful claims of efforts they have “accomplished” as part of this take back. One of these promises is “the development of an office focused around facilitating student belonging,” which was already created years prior to this take back known as Diversity Education (a former division of Student Affairs).

Now rebranded as the Office of Student Culture and Belonging, this office is doing the very opposite offostering belonging by endorsing use of Gianforte Family Hall.

Again, for three years, this boycott has been extremely effective. Why else would Stevens administration, SGA and DEIBA need to implement an entire campaign to embrace Gianforte Family Hall as part of campus?

Now that the original organizers of this boycott have graduated and moved on, Stevens has waited tostrategically launch this campaign to influence students into “reclaiming” a building named after someone who is actively deleting all Black, queer, trans, femme existence.

Take Action – Refuse to let Stevens Administration decide your future

We recognize, and amplify the fact, that current students have

the autonomy to approach GianforteFamily Hall in the ways they see fit. From the very first actions by students in 2017 to denounce Gianforte’s donation, this movement has morphed, changed and expanded with every new class of students.

Our Stevens campus has a long, demonstrated history of students, faculty and staff organizing for the issues they’re passionate about. Take for example in 2017, when students stood up to Residential Education against the announcement to mandate meal plans, and made them rescind their action. Or in 2021, when the Muslim Student Association and Stevens Christian Fellowship successfully founded a Quiet Space after years of being shut down. Or even way back in 1957, when 57 faculty participated in an 18-day union strike (the longest strike of the union at the time) for better pay and working conditions. Across the petitions, social media posts, and related media to Gianforte Family Hall, our community has let their voice ring true. Whether it be when @ followstevens posted a Progress Pride flag on Instagram in 2021, and 58 comments tore them apart with statements like “stevens put my deadname on my diploma & refused on multiple occasions to correct it;” or when former Professor Lee Vinsel lambasted NarimanFavaradin’s handling of the Gianforte announcement in 2017, saying “ the Gianforte controversy has brought to light that the Stevens campus has a pervasive culture of fear—especially a fear of reprisal and retaliation.”

Our community organizing power is demonstrated, strong, and spans across generations.

It is disingenuous, now, for advocacy organizations like DEIBA and SGA to turn their backs on you, the very community who has shown time and time again we have the power to decide our future.

An empty gesture of reclamation has always been the plan of Stevens’ administration. Will you sit by and allow Stevens administration to disinform you, the Stevens body, once again? And, dually, let DEIBA and SGA erase the very legacy of student activism they’re meant to uphold?

We are imploring you, as students, faculty, staff and alumni, to not sit by as Liliana Delman, Sara Klein, and Stevens Institute of Technology’s Presidential Cabinet cosign Gianforte’s, racism, transphobia, creationism, violence and voter suppression–and use students to do it.

Do we believe at this time that Gianforte Family Hall will be renamed? Probably not, at least not without the full-scale disruption of campus operations.

But the purpose of this boycott and our organizing is not solely about renaming Gianforte Family Hall. GFH is another symptom of Stevens administration’s refusal to value student voices and place people over capital.

YOU have the power to change this campus for the better. A longline of community members before you have planted seeds, and this movement (and others) will only continue to grow shall you lean into your autonomy.

Do not let Stevens’ administration erase this grave mistake of theirs from history.

Do not let President Nariman Favardin continue to get away with below-bare-minimum support of our marginalized community. Stevens doesn’t get to decide when a boycott against them ends–we do.

Signed Boycott Pledge from Stevens Institute of Technology Community Members

We, the below-listed members of Stevens Institute of Technology, condemn Stevens Institute of Technology (SIT), SIT’s Student Government Association (SGA), and the SGA’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Accessibility (DEIBA) Committee and their “LGBTQ+ take-back” as a masquerade for ending the student organization boycott of Gianforte Family Hall (GFH).

In our condemnation, we expand the student organizational boycott from 2021 by pledging as individuals:

● to not give or donate to Stevens Institute of Technology during our lifetime;

● to not enter or utilize Gianforte Family Hall/Gateway Academic North building;

● to stand in opposition to the Student Government Association and its DEIBA Committee’s “LGBTQ take back” until SIT’s administration addresses Gianforte’s values, explicitly states their incongruence with our campus values, and, ultimately, renames the building.

Signed as of April 7th, 2024:

Shafaq Tanweer, Class

Nasir Anthony Montalvo, Class of 2021

Vivian Touch, Class of 2023

Julieann Murphy, Class of 2023

Riley Rosa, Class of 2021

Kelly McGowan, Class of 2019

Kirsten Meidlinger, Class of 2021

William Aromando, Class of 2022

Justin Rodriguez, Class of 2020

Celina Peralta, Class of 2023

DuJaun Kirk, Class of 2020

Zharee Richards, Class of 2024

Antonio Cardona, Class of 2023

Joshua Bardsley, Class of 2020

Anastasia Wingate-Piccolomini, Class of 2020

Abby Meola, Class of 2020

Jenna Hassan, Class of 2023

Whitney Dyer, Class of 2022

Whitney Brown, Class of 2020

Cam Nguyen, Class of 2019

Patrick Lyons, Class of 2021

Leah Bullard, Class of 2022

Trevor Batchelder, Class of 2017

Hunter Green, Class of 2019

Laina Emmons, Class of 2021

Rebecca Sass, Class of 2019

Jastyn Robinson, Class of 2022

Zachary Raina, Class of 2022

Maxwell Schwartz, Class of 2021

Sara Varga, Class of 2020

Amir Mustafa, Class of 2022

Nicole Sarrantonio, Class of 2020

Jagmeet Singh Ashta, Class of 2023

Juniper Sweeney, Class of 2019

Nicholas Ordonez, Class of 2019

Amanda DiMeo, Class of 2020

Joseph Risi, Class of 2015

Akshay Sampath, Class of 2019

Matthew Marsh, Class of 2022

Rohan Rao, Former Student

Tatiana Rosales, Class of 2018

Jake Saracinello, Class of 2023

Erika Bulger, Class of 2021

Izy Engel, Class of 2021

Eli Trakhtenberg, Class of 2021

Darlene Martinez, Class of 2023

Dana Roe, Class of 2019

Dillon Houghton, Class of 2019

Moira Brennan, Class of 2019

Kristine Pedersen, Class of 2020

Theodore Cheevers, Class of 2021

Cristian Collado, Class of 2019

Soindos Abdah, Class of 2018

Sylvia

Chrissy Drobish, Class of 2021

Kevin Poli, Class of 2019

Natalie Filip, Class of 2023

Jack Chen, Class of 2023

Gabriella Borodyansky, Class of 2019

Izzi Hope, Class of 2023

Danielle Gannon, Class of 2021

Rachael Kondrat, Class of 2022

Kyle Gonzalez, Class of 2015

Chloe Brenna, Class of 2024

Courtney Evans, Class of 2019

Micah Elias, Class of 2022

John Mullen, Class of 2021

Emily Kim, Class of 2021

The original organizations who pledged to boycott Gianforte Family Hall in 2021:

Active Minds, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Alpha Phi Omega - Theta Alpha Chapter, Alpha Phi Sorority, Audio Engineering Club, Black Student Union, Chi Phi Mu Chapter, Chinese Student Association, Colleges Against Cancer, College Democrats of Stevens, Commuter

Alpha Phi’s pledge to boycott Gianforte Family Hall in 2021 on Instagram.

Over 50 organizations took this pledge and posted to Instagram naming their decision. These pledges can be viewed through #RenameGFH hashtag on Instagram.

Opinion

MIND OF A FRESHMAN Not on schedule

You know that scheduling your classes for the next semester is going great when you spend four hours redrafting because none of your humanities courses fit in. My Computer Science major requirement class-

es were much easier to pick than the science and humanities electives. Above all, I am not struggling to keep up with my electives because they should be an easy grade, right? Surely, nothing can go wrong.

As I have a normal registration date for my class, I remembered to check my schedule right before. I would not want a repeat to happen just like it did at the beginning of my freshman year. It is quite literally a scavenger hunt, but instead of Easter eggs, you must uncover the classes.

The one thing holding my schedule together may be a

SENIORITIS Passing the torch

My term on the Stute E-Board has officially ended, and while I’m still involved as an editor, I get to watch the new leadership start to carve their paths. There are three rising sophomores, two rising juniors, and three rising seniors. This is a pretty fantastic position to be in as an organization: we have established people in important roles to guide young and

passionate members who can grow in leadership.

Ava has taken over my role as Outreach Chair, and it’s good to pass the job over to both a personal friend and someone who I know cares about the success of the or-

I have loved dedicating my time to The Stute because of our presence on campus, both in contributing to and reporting the university’s culture. Seeing people carrying around physical copies, or leaving them on desks with pages open, sharing the Rovings, or talking to me about the Stupe is so rewarding. There is not much that allows you a physical representation of your work like The Stute. I have enjoyed continuing to practice my writing, as not many of my classes require

surprise to you. It is not the two-hour lunch periods or the completely free afternoons I have. It is somehow the surviving sleep schedule I have had since my high school years. Waking up at 6 a.m. every weekday has been sort of a normal routine, and I find it offsetting if I wake up later than 9 a.m. This does save me when it comes to early morning classes because if I know college life, it is that all of the midday classes are going to be full. The ones that have not must be the ones to watch out for.

For this semester, it has been the Tuesdays that have been unfairly long, and yet

it from me. At liberal arts schools, it’s not uncommon for students to be writing over 2000 words a week. A columnist, news, or science writer is typically asked to write between 500-1500 words a week. As engineers and scientists, this may feel like a large commitment, but you don’t have to jump in fast. I cannot stress enough that writing large volumes gets easier the more you practice, and it gets harder the more you neglect it.

Recently, I noticed the degradation of my soft skills after giving my pitch in IDE402, the business venture aspect of senior design. In elementary and middle school, I loved to perform and was involved in many theater productions, memorizing lines and choreography, and getting up in front of my fami-

it seems like Tuesdays will continue that legacy. And the days that I look forward to? Those are Wednesdays because something about reaching the half point of the week makes the rest go by very quickly.

The moments right before the opening of the scheduling window are much more nerve-wracking than booking tickets for Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour. The key is to have fast, reliable internet and have the page already loaded on your computer. But above all, the fate of your schedule comes down to how fast you can click the button. Not even the Hunger Games

ly, friends, and community. Since high school, I’ve taken a backstage role and explored my love of engineering, design, and carpentry. Now, I notice how eight years away from public speaking has impacted both my comfort and proficiency in the skill. All I had to do was memorize less than one minute of a prepared speech and deliver it to my class of less than 25 peers. I’ve been in front of much larger crowds but for some reason this small group had me shaking like a leaf. Blood pounding in my ears, I was choking on my words and holding my own hands to keep steady. My professor was recording each of our presentations; all my slipups would be memorialized.

Looking back at the video, I don’t look as nervous as I felt. My speech wasn’t pol-

BY JOSIE STRANO

had this tight of a space for making it out alive.

But back to the humanities courses, which, by the way, took me around four hours to decide on one that worked with my schedule. This may be a Computer Science only thing, but some classes offer humanities credit while others do not. For this reason, I have been jumping from taking Spanish Literature to Human Anthropology. Easy classes such as Intro to Cinema were on my first schedule, as a matter of fact, but I looked back to see only three seats remaining. Now, I would gladly like to take that chance on any other activity.

ished, but it did the job. We didn’t advance to the semi-finals, and I didn’t expect to, meaning I’m done with this course. Aside from a lack of practice, I’m not sure why I was so nervous in front of an audience that small. It’s strange too, because when I got up again later in the class to do a Q&A, I was far more composed. In the first speech, I had points I needed to hit, a time limit, and I was telling a personal story, compared to the Q&A where I needed to come up with a good enough answer on the spot.

I also feel more confident in the design presentations than in these business pitches. One of the most valuable things I’ve learned in those is to give all the information I’ve learned rather than try to convince the panel that the

Imagine I only have three attempts for the claw machine that is highly unlikely to give me any rewards. Consider me glad to use up those chances. However, ask me to schedule a class with three remaining seats, now that can either end up with me being the luckiest person to get in, or not. Regardless, by the time this article is published, I will have confirmed my new Fall 2024 schedule. Again, this will have either been something I did not need to worry about or something that I must spend another four hours breaking all-time laws to make room for classes.

design is flawless. If there’s something you’re worried you’ll get a question on, it’s better to give an explanation for the result or a few potential solutions instead of hoping everyone ignores it. In design presentations, you’re talking to professors with decades more experience than you, they’re pretty good at spotting bullshit. Even if they choose to ignore it, you’re doing yourself a disfavor by faking infallibility instead of being realistic.

Think about the professors or products that you trust: it’s much more compelling to present a good product with challenges thought out and explained rather than a false ideal version. You’d rather know what you’re getting into rather than find out about the hidden challenges later.

Opinion

BOOK OF THE WEEK

Beggars in Spain: Sci-fi gene editing from future’s past

BY TIANNA SPITZ ‘27

Human genetics remains a largely unexplored frontier in which our dabbling becomes an ethical debate of playing God. Before CRISPR gene editing technology was mainstream, the 1993 sci-fi novel Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress is set between 2008 to the 2030s and offers social and ethical commentary on present-day genetic engineering. The novel expands from the original novella published in 1991, which introduces a genetically engineered society of a designer baby boom that doesn’t sleep. Kress’ world of the Sleepless Series depicts Earth divided by the genetically modified “Sleepless” and the normal minority of “Sleepers” as her world-building and commentary was featured in Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine and awarded the Hugo and Nebula Award.

Genetic modification, or gene mods, in Kress’ world, mimics the familiar buzz of designer babies and embryonic editing. Genemods began as a confidential and highly elite procedure as wealthy couples and political elites began to look for mods beyond hair and eye color, muscle tone, and IQ. The sleepless mod came in waves as appeal and curiosity grew

LIFESTYLE HACKS

for a modification that would allow humans to live without sleep. In fact, they physically can’t sleep and live 24-hour days. As the Sleepers dream, unforeseen repercussions of a simple mod arise and create mental and physical elitism as Sleepless cultivate higher physical and mental capacities with all hours of development as well as super-human regenerative properties that place their life expectancy well past Sleepers.

The protagonist and case study, Leisha Camden, was born in 2008 as the 21st baby to have the sleepless gene mod, spearheading the sleepless movement as the daughter of a high-profile financier that sponsors Yaigaiism, a budding moral and social theory that values objectivity to assign dignity based on the product of an individual’s efforts. Leisha is framed as a political experiment as we follow her life witnessing the social rift between Sleepless and Sleepers progress into prejudice and violence as the Sleepless dominate in industry and society. As Leisha serves as a case study for the sleepless experience, she grapples with the socioeconomic philosophy and bioethics of elite gene mods and the relationship the Sleepless have to normal society. Sleepless activism culminates into the talks of a Sleepless utopia known as Sanctuary and challenges Leisha’s struggle to bridge the two societies.

As the Sleepless withdraw from society, Sleepers recognize the indirect punishment of the global economy without their progress or competition. The fictional philosophy of Yagaiism

serves as a moral thread of objectivism in a society where all “men’’ are not created equally in light of gene editing and playing God. The title references the motif of equality and social obligation by quoting dialogue between Leisha and a Sleepless activist asking, “‘What do productive and responsible members of society owe the “beggars in Spain,” the unproductive masses who have nothing to offer except need?’” Here, the idea of “beggars in Spain” generally encompasses the ethics of elitism that pioneers excellence at the expense of equality.

FOR MATH’S SAKE

What does a math Ph.D. student actually do?

Beggars in Spain is the definition of sci-fi ahead of its time especially when our current events are overlapping the narrative predictions. Personally, Kress’ writing style and integration of social and political theory surrounding innovation was the gateway to the unique and uncanny quality of the sci-fi genre as a possibility space for experimentation and reflection. What aspirations, inventions, and fears were budding for the time period, and do they represent whispers of the past or the future?

BY CHARLES BEALL B.S. ‘23 & PHD STUDENT

sentence like, “I take gradu ate-level courses to gain a general background in the subject and then conduct original research in mathematics in order to defend a thesis,” leads to many follow-up questions. This article will serve as a more indepth response to share my experience of being a Ph.D. student in mathematics.

In the U.S., Ph.D. programs typically aim to satisfy the requirements of both a Master’s degree (taking a certain number of graduate courses in a specific field) and a Doctorate of Philosophy (preparing and defending a thesis that comprises research done by the student in a specific field). The graduate coursework helps build a breadth of knowledge for the Ph.D. student to have sufficient background in order to make meaningful contributions to their respective research community.

I’m just finishing up my first year of Ph.D. studies, which focuses more on taking courses. In the upcoming fall semester, I’ll be taking my “qualifying exams,” which test whether I’ve truly

Coping with Spring semester burnout

the spring, or maybe people are trying to take advantage of the nicer weather for some outdoor programming. Either way, it can feel stressful with a large number of commitments (or even just the large amount of events offered and the decision-making that comes from them).

BY ZOE HACK ‘24

For whatever reason, and I know that at least people who I am close with agree, the spring semester is always so much more packed than the fall. I honestly don’t know why this is. Maybe everyone is under the impression that now that we all have the fall semester under our belts, we can pile on some more for

The first thing that I do to try to prevent myself from getting too overwhelmed during the spring is to list out my priorities for the semester (or, well, for the rest of the semester). As someone who is already very busy with different commitments on campus, identifying priorities itself can feel a little burdensome. What makes the most sense for me is breaking up my semester priorities into

DEAR CLAIRE AND ETHAN...

three different categories: academic, organization and clubs, and other activities/ spending time with people.

(An additional tip here: I use Google Calendar, so I make each of these three categories different colors, which helps me organize while also being able to visually see the breakdown of how my time is spent).

The top thing that has helped me this semester academically is trying to incorporate given syllabus dates in my Google Calendar well ahead of time. In the past, I have been hesitant to put important syllabus dates (exam dates, big project due dates, etc.) because I know that they have a tendency to change as the semester

progresses. (Spoiler alert that it took me three years to grapple with: yes, things will change; you can literally just update your calendar, and the world will not end). Adding this easy step to my semester has helped me better visualize what my weeks look like and made it easier to visually see when I should allocate time for extra studying.

Similar to academic priorities, keeping track of other commitments, including clubs and organizations I’m involved in or campus jobs that I work with using Google Calendar, is super easy. Luckily for me, a lot of my organizations already use Google Calendar, so I don’t even need to coordinate the

obtained the mathematical knowledge from the graduate courses I’ve taken. Most Ph.D. programs have some form of qualifying exam, which varies greatly in how they are administered –mine will be a series of written exams, while other departments hold oral exams or a combination of the two.

If I pass the qualifying exams, I am considered “qualified” to pursue a Ph.D. thesis. At this point, I will work with my Ph.D. advisor to form a doctoral committee of other faculty members or industry representatives who will guide me in my thesis work and provide suggestions or feedback as I conduct research.

The research in question is probably the most difficult to explain since it can very quickly involve a lot of jargon or abstract concepts. I work in an area of applied mathematics that seeks to design computer algorithms that can efficiently find approximate solutions to problems involving partial differential equations (I’ll break that down more in a bit!). There are many mathematical journals dedicated to this kind of research, so once I have publishable results, I can submit them to those journals and use those results to make up part of my thesis.

What exactly are the “approximate solutions” to these problems, though? I’ll give a few examples. Let’s say we are trying to figure out how the concentration of a dye changes over time as we drop it into a flowing river. From experiments, scientists have figured out that this problem is well-modeled by a partial differential equation called the advection-dif-

events for my calendar. Having everything in one place can make it really easy to see what your week will look like before going into it, and can also be a nice way to look forward to seeing friends at different events!

With the nice weather and the fact that it is the end of the academic year, there are a lot more opportunities in the spring for ways to spend time both on and off campus. My main suggestion is to take advantage of on-campus events, mostly Techfest. It is really such a unique event, and the only time you’ll have the opportunity to experience it is during your time at Stevens. Additionally, make sure you get to spend some time outside!

fusion equation. If we have a computer algorithm that can solve this equation given the properties of the river and the initial concentration of the dye, then we have an approximate answer for how that concentration evolves over time.

If you’ve taken a differential equations class, you may remember finding solutions to several equations just by writing out a series of steps. These solutions exactly solve the problem without any approximations – so why do we need computers at all?

Well, the problems of interest to applied mathematicians—complex mathematical models involving several parameters and tricky equations—rarely have exact solutions that can be found “analytically” (with just pencil and paper). My thesis will likely involve finding a set of tricky equations that show up a lot in applied settings and looking for computational methods to still obtain approximate solutions.

As I reach the end of my word count, I realize that there’s still a lot I didn’t mention, specifically about my day-to-day schedule, which can be hard to describe other than “doing research” or “working on coursework.” Also, many Ph.D. students are teaching assistants, which introduces more responsibilities. But I hope this gives a clearer overview of my general life as a Ph.D. student. In the future, I hope to provide some more specifics as I get further into my research projects and other endeavors (publishing, attending conferences, thesis work, applying for internships and postdoctoral positions, etc.). Stay tuned!

Whether that be opting to do schoolwork on a bench outside instead of at the library or taking a little walk by the pier after class, spending time outside can be a great way to take advantage of what the spring semester has to offer.

While we only have a few weeks left, there is still so much time to finish off the semester strong by both maintaining prior commitments and also taking advantage of all of the opportunities that are still offered. By creating or continuing to use a calendar, you can easily see where your time is already being spent and where you can still spare some to make the most out of this hectic spring semester.

Q: Should I get a master’s, or should I get a job after graduation?

BY CLAIRE HANNAN ‘24

Knowing what to do after graduation is a common problem for many college students, especially here at Stevens, where many students have the option to pursue an accelerated master’s degree. For most of college, I thought I would go straight into a master’s

program, but I ended up deciding to start my career before thinking about more school. It’s a complicated decision to make, and it’s hard to know what’s going to be right for you. On one hand, master’s degrees have a lot of benefits and can expand job opportunities and salaries down the road. Participating in the accelerated master’s program (AMP) can save time and money, and it might be harder to go back to school if you decide to wait. At the same time, you need to consider if you can afford another year of school. It may be financially easier to work full-time and save up for grad school. It might even be possible to

work full-time while getting a master’s, which opens up the possibility of your com pany partially or fully cover ing the cost of your educa tion.

No matter what you think you want, you’ll never be able to predict the oppor tunities and challenges that might come up in your final months of college. I know people who planned to get a job but ended up finding research opportunities that made them want to continue school and people who wanted a master’s who got offered their dream job full time. So, no matter what, prepare for your plans to change and to go with the flow.

BY ETHAN KLESCHINSKY ‘24

I wouldn’t trust myself to make this decision for you, but I would recommend running far and fast. When graduation comes, the best thing you can do is hit the ground running and not look back. It can be

tempting to stick around and stay with the consistent life you have built for yourself here at college. But it is not meant to last forever, so when you have the opportunity, it is best to get as far removed from it as possible so you can finally start living like a real person. The last thing I wanted for myself was to be too tied to Stevens that I wouldn’t be able to leave when my time came. When it was finally time to consider pursuing AMP or something else that would keep me here a little longer, I was tempted. Ultimately, I put my foot down and decided it was time

to move on and become a real adult with a real job and whatnot. Stevens makes staying incredibly enticing, by only needing one more year for another degree, you can continue to do all the things you’ve loved to do over the years and get another degree out of it as well. But even with this opportunity, it is best to remember that everything is a scam, and you need to run away for your own sanity. At the end of the day, do what you need to do or even want to do, but do not fall victim to the traps that will keep you stuck on campus indefinitely.

Opinion

EXPLORING: A STUDENT’S GUIDE TO NEW YORK CITY PATH to Grand Central

BY EVAN PAPAGEORGE ‘26

Although I am attending Stevens, I am actually from Connecticut (where I often have to defend against the armies of the New Jersians

here in Hoboken). However, one of the only ways for me to get back home is to take the PATH over to Manhattan and take the Metro-North New Haven Line from Grand Central. In the many times I have walked from 34th to 42nd St., I have learned of a treasure cove of excellent restaurants, parks, and excursions in such a short walk. Explore the wonders of the center of Midtown with me.

Outside the PATH station on 34th St. is a lovely outdoor space called Herald Square — named after the

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Fernando Botero:

now-closed newspaper, the New York Herald, as the headquarters of the once powerful media magnate. Within Herald Square is a small park with benches and some statues of historical figures, like that of Horace Greenly, publisher of the New York Tribune, which joined the New York Herald. Additionally, Herald Square houses Macy’s flagship location, the largest in the United States.

Moving uptown from Herald Square towards Grand Central, I typically walk along the base of the

Empire State Building, the Harry Potter: The Exhibition New York City, or the countless shops and restaurants that adorn Avenue of the Americas, more commonly known as 6th Ave. The entire neighborhood embodies the grandeur that New York City has come to be known for.

Once onto 42nd St., the next step would be to take a right and walk towards Grand Central — however, I often stop and enjoy one of my favorite spots in the city: Bryant Park. Bryant Park’s history goes back to

1847 (it was called Reservoir Square after a nearby reservoir). Featuring Bryant Park Grill, the Winter Village, delicious bakery pop-up shops, and the immaculate Schwarzman Building branch of the New York Public Library, Bryant Park is a must-see destination no matter the time of year (though in the summer, there are free Broadway performances, the winter has ice skating!)

As I reached the end of my journey to Grand Central, I saw two of the most famous Manhattan build-

ings: the Chrysler Building and Grand Central Terminal. Both architectural wonders make what is already a fantastic walk that much better.

Although it is not a destination in itself, the walk from Grand Central to the PATH train is a delight, and given one side of it is the PATH train, it is also straightforward for Stevens students to get to. For anyone going to the Long Island Railroad, Metro-North, or just enjoying the city, take a quick walk and see the wonders.

Exploring volume’s sensations and the authority of dimension

Over spring break, I took a trip with my family to Arizona, where we happened to visit Phoenix’s Desert Botanical Garden, which currently houses an exhibit highlighting the works of Fernando Botero. The late Colombian artist and sculptor was best known for his uncanny depictions of human and animal subjects, which he typically painted with exaggerated proportions. His voluptuous characters possessed incredible volume, in addition to a lack of saturation, which enhanced their rotund nature. While Botero’s artworks were typically created with the intent of providing amusement, Botero ex-

OFF THE PRESS

perimented with serious themes such as aristocratic corruption, humanitarian violation, and domestic terrorism in an attempt to start meaningful conversations through his work. Despite Botero’s respectable dedication to social ethics, he was primarily criticized for his cartoonishly round depictions of the characters in his paintings. Early in his career, Botero was ostracized by the art world for his rejection of traditional artistic values. Although Botero eventually gained recognition for his artwork, many still questioned his contributions to the contemporary artistic movement, and rightfully so. Although I find Botero’s artworks to be incredibly entertaining and playful, I believe that his lack of adherence to certain traditional artistic principles hinders his portrayal of his subjects.

One of the most influential expressionist illustrators of the 20th century was Egon Schiele, an Austrian modernist who is best rec -

ognized for his dedication to raw expression and clever exaggeration of the human figure. Schiele severely contorted his subjects and over-expressed their characteristics, which provided a more fluid portrayal of the human figures depicted in his works. While Schiele did not stay entirely true to the anatomical proportions of his subjects, this dynamic approach allowed for a better understanding of the emotion and movement of the characters in his illustrations. Take, for example, Schiele’s piece “Self Portrait with Arm Twisting Above Head.” Schiele aggressively displays the curvature of his body as he contorts himself into the pose, which adds dimension to the illustration. Additionally, Schiele’s use of geometry and shadow provides layers to the pose and sense of movement. Unfortunately, where Schiele succeeds, Botero falls flat.

emotionless, and muted.

traying the audience and the immeasurable height of the amphitheater walls. Regardless of my contemporary approach to analyzing artwork, I cannot discount how much this detracts from a viewer’s understanding of Botero’s scenes.

BY ITAI GELLER ‘26 -Satire-

While some of his paintings feature more expressive scenes, many of his characters feel inelastic,

Stevens To eventually turn into a

summer camp for children

BY OFF CENTER

Due to the growing economy, Stevens is planning on thinking of new ways to raise money to ensure that students are meeting all of their needs. So we are proud to announce that Stevens decided to expand their ventures and become a summer camp for children during the summer time, when the students are busy getting summer courses at other colleges, or getting summer jobs or internships. We believe that this is an awesome way for Stevens not only to get extra money to support their classes, but for children to understand the culture here at Stevens and potentially apply to Stevens when the time comes for them to start applying for colleges.

So, how does a Stevens summer camp sound like? It doesn’t sound like anything, because summer camps don’t make a sound. But in all seriousness, the summer camps start by temporarily renaming all of the dorms to the names of famous cartoon ducks. Castle Point Hall will become the Donald Cabin, Davis Hall will become the Daisy Cabin, Humprheys Hall will become the Daffy Cabin, Jonas Hall will become the Huey Cabin, Palmer Hall will become the Duey Cabin, River Terrace will be-

come the Louie Cabin, and the UCC will become the Scrooge McDuck Cabin. The other buildings on campus, like Babbio Center, Burchard, McLean Hall, Edward A. Stevens, Howe Center, Kidde Hall, Pierce, the Schafer Gym, and the Library will all remain the same, with some of their rooms being the place where activities for kids will be held. While the Howe Center will remain the same, the Pierce Dining Hall will be renamed to the Pierce Mess Hall to keep in with the whole camping theme. The menu and the recipes for the various dishes will remain the same at Pierce, due many students comparing the Pierce Dining Hall food to bland, boring camp food.

What activities will be at the new Stevens Summer Camp? That’s a good question (it’s good because it is always kind and is always responsible). Stevens believes that the various activities at the Stevens Summer Camp should reflect activities that are typical for a Stevens student. Various activities will include constructing bridges out of marshmallows and toothpicks similar to the civil engineer majors, creating novel computer programs from Scratch to mimic creating computer games similar to the computer scientist majors, creating vinegar and baking soda volcanos to mimic the chemistry ma-

jors, doing math equations to mimic the math majors, learning how to budget and how the economy works to mimic the quantitative financial majors, learning how to compose their own symphonies and play various musical instruments to mimic the music majors, learning how to make their own animations to mimic the visual arts majors, and many more fun activities that are sure to be a blast, if not one million, one thousand, one hundred, and one blasts.

Although this can be attributed to their inflated nature, this does not balance well with the flatness of the landscape and the subjects. A good example of this imbalance could be observed in his Matador series. Although I appreciated many pieces from this collection, such as “The Matador,” which depicts a matador in an eccentric blue outfit with delicately painted gold trims, I found some of the paintings to be absurdly disproportionate. In his painting “Derechazo.’’ a matador is fighting a bull in an amphitheater. While the matador is featured in a dynamic pose, the bull he is fighting has far less definition and takes on very circular proportions. Additionally, the amphitheater looks as though it’s very far away from the subjects. While this successfully pulls the viewer’s attention to the battle between the matador and the bull, it is still difficult to get over the odd dynamic between the millions of tiny dots por -

While I believe that Botero’s use of volume in portraying his subjects seriously inhibits the fluidity of his pieces, I respect Botero for his unhindered dedication to his style, his exploration of his identity as a Colombian, and his dedication to social ethics. While Boterismo may not be the most respected style in terms of its uncanny forms, Botero did not let criticism change his perspective on society and his approach to creation. Botero accurately portrayed the social landscape of his home country through both satirical and serious portrayals of its values, events, and traditions. Additionally, Botero did not abuse his success. While his fame brought material gain, Botero continued to contribute to the

THAT’S A RED FLAG! Finals season red flags

Of course, no camp is complete without a campfire! At the end of each day, the children and all their counselors gather around the campfire to cook nice, delicious smores with creamy chocolate and crunchy graham crackers. In addition to the smores, the counselors start to play all kinds of nice music on their guitars, including old favorites like “Oh, My Darling Clementine” and “Cotton-Eyed Joe”, as well as a country version of the Stevens alma mater, where kids can dance with each other to the music. Afterwards, the Dean gets to entertain the kids by telling them funny life stories that are sure to get the kids to giggle like they never giggled before.

So, let’s all support Stevens as they create this summer camp!

BY ANNA DABROWSKI ‘26

ing to sacrifice any will to live. The Registrar has no mercy — a three-hour test slot could strike at any inconvenient time so good luck if you have any mandatory life events coming up. Additionally, many professors decide that, no, a test is not enough — you MUST have a group project in addition to every final for every class. So, without further ado, here are the Stevens’s Finals Period red flags.

Why on earth anyone thinks it’s acceptable to schedule a final on the weekend is beyond me. It’s bad enough to have to wake up on a Saturday at 10 a.m. and lock in for three hours, but sometimes you don’t even have finals on the weekdays! One year, I had two finals, both on the weekend at the very end of the finals season, so for two weeks, I was trapped in

Hoboken doing absolutely nothing. Additionally, some professors should seriously consider not using their assigned final testing block — if we are trapped, so are they! The most clutch professors are the ones who let you take the final in class before finals period, especially because that frees up more studying time during finals period. The absolute un-clutch professors are the HASS professors who use their assigned finals block for a 40-minute test that could have occurred during class.

Group projects already suck in general, but during finals season, all of the stereotypical problems are to the 100th power. Everyone is stressed out and unresponsive. Without a doubt, one special trooper gets stuck with all of the work on top of studying for exams, while the rest use the excuse of being super busy, even though everyone and their mother are also busy. Professors should pick one or the other, a test or an exam, to demonstrate understanding of the course. Assigning both is just overkill and enhances the suffering of students.

Finally, we as students and our study habits are a major red flag. We attempt to cram a semester’s worth of skipping classes and pushing off memorization into two weeks. Staying up

arts, establishing multiple galleries and even donating many of his collected pieces to museums internationally. What I respect most about Botero is his undeniable devotion to challenging convention. Even though his paintings may have lacked qualities that proved successful in traditional artistic movements, his unwavering dedication to his personal style made his work both recognizable and influential.

until ungodly hours locked in a study room is just the norm, and then we take final exams on negative six hours of sleep. Does it make more sense to study throughout the semester? 100%, but that would be too simple. Of course, we would rather study for five classes while writing three essays and completing two large projects.

Also, to the 30% of every class taking a final that all of a sudden needs to use the bathroom twenty minutes into a test, I’m on to you. Cheating in the bathroom is in violation of the #stevenshonorcode and you should be very disappointed in yourself!!! Okay, all jokes aside, we are all into it together, so cheating lowkey screws up the curve for everyone else — don’t do it. Plus you make the professors 600% more angry when there is obviously cheating, and then they take it out on the whole entire class.

With all of that said, remember to take care of yourself during this finals season. Take study breaks, get some sleep, and drink water. Self care is a #greenflag, and you will need the proper fuel to get through this. We are all in this together ducks, here’s to the final push!

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTIES.COM

ROVING REPORTER

By Rafael Lee Li and Mia Petrolino

“What’s something that happens ‘only at Stevens’?”

Crossword by Jack Scherban

Sudoku

Difficulty: Easy

Hidden Links Only Connect

Gianna Cerbone ‘26 “I like seeing people carrying around the robot boxes.”

Stephen Crocco ‘24 “Ya know when you see the civil engineers with those measuring sticks?”

Jack Nolan ‘26 “I saw a homeless guy in my classroom one time.”

Andrea Toledo ‘26 “The duck dance.”

Richard Ens Jr. ‘26 “Long elevator lines.”

Tamnhu Nguyen ‘24 The Gorilla mascot walking around.”

Michael Stevens ‘25 “Stevens attending at Stevens.”

Aleksandra Krzynowek ‘25 “Being the only girl in a class of all guys.”

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