[The Stute] April 26, 2024 (Issue 26, Volume CXXI)

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of Technology, and creator of Attila the Duck. www.thestute.com TikTok @thestute Instagram @thestute facebook.com/stevensthestute Go visit the innovation expo and support the seniors!

New organizations: what is the process?

JEREMIAH CHINWENDU, STAFF WRITER

School clubs and organizations allow people to form communities with each other built on a foundation of shared interest in unique activities or pursuits. The activities on display showcase the strength of school spirit and allow students to connect with people whom they would not know otherwise.

Techfest with Neon Trees rocks River Lot

SEAN ANDERSON, STAFF WRITER

Last Sunday, the River Lot was transformed into a music festival ground for the annual Techfest hosted by the Entertainment Committee (EC). Each year, musicians at and outside of Stevens come together to perform for the campus community, and this year, Techfest hosted rock band Neon Trees as the main performance. The event was entirely free to Stevens undergraduate and graduate students and offered a night of fun activities, music, and gift giveaways. For such an event to occur, a great deal of planning is involved. The Stute talked with Mollie Good, Techfest

director and student at Stevens, in order to understand what was involved in preparing for the event.

Back in the Fall 2023 semester, a survey was sent out to the entire student body, allowing students to vote for a number of performers from a list of individuals and groups. From this survey, Good discovered that Neon Trees was a popular choice among those who voted. The process began to see if they could come to the campus for the event. Good reported on the process of making this choice a reality and stated that “there was back and forth with the agent, agreeing on the final contract” until it could become possible. A major part of the process was balanc-

Stevens makes their ASME Trebuchet Competition debut

AVA WANG, OUTREACH CHAIR

This past Friday, April 19, Stevens Institute of Technology made its debut at the annual American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Trebuchet Competition. Trebuchet team members Daniel Ahn, Francisco Arroyo Cruzat, Konnor Getz, Noah Golan, Logan Hickey, Cooper Kinsley, Krishna Mansukhani, Ryan Musantry, Cole Spitzner, Adrien Susino, and Thomas Wohlbruck made the trip to Hackensack, NJ to compete with Fairleigh Dickinson University team on their home turf.

Planning for the competition, formation of this 11-person team, and construction began back in the Fall 2023 semester. The team’s hard work during biweekly Monday and Thursday meetings, with some additional hours and love thrown in during the final weeks, produced Stevens’ very first trebuchet. When asked about his thoughts on the competition, Getz aptly shared, “It’s a medieval war machine, what’s not to love?”

For those not in the know, a trebuchet is a form of catapult utilized in ancient and medieval warfare characterized by a rotating arm with

NEWS (2) Techfest with Neon Trees rocks

a sling attached to the end. Trebuchets were the top choice of artillery prior to the advent of gunpowder in the 9th century CE. There are multiple styles of trebuchets, but for the 2024 competition, the Stevens team opted for a whipper-inspired style characterized by the placement of the counterweight on top of the arm. When cocked, the arm of a whipper trebuchet is traditionally pointed in the direction the projectile will be launched in. Wohlbruck and Getz both mentioned that this type of design could be disconcerting to the onlooker. Getz shared, “It wasn’t something new, but it was something different. You would look at it and be like, ‘are you sure that’s right?’” Wohlbruck recalled thinking, “We gotta turn that around. We gotta do a 180.” Day of the competition, the Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) team had similar concerns. Getz recalled reaffirming the trebuchet was facing the correct direction.

When asked about the design, Getz informed that many of the calculations were based on design requirements outlined by the competition rules and regulations document, such as the

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ing the desire for a popular prominent performer with the limited budget of the EC.

In addition to this, important decisions were made regarding the venue late in the planning process. Usually, the event is held in Canavan Arena and on Schaefer Lawn. However, because of the success of the Men’s Volleyball Team and with Canavan being the location of the next stage of the NCAA DIII Men’s Volleyball Championships on the same day as Techfest, changes had to be made in order to adapt to the situation. To solve this issue, Good and the rest of the EC worked with University Events and the Production manager to relocate. River Lot became the choice

JEREMIAH CHINWENDU, STAFF WRITER

Heavy rainfall and other coastal events that lead to flooding of streets and neighborhoods are common in New Jersey, New York, and neighboring states due to their coastal geography and waterfront. This negatively affects the livelihoods of those who call these places home, as it damages homes, schools, parks, and sometimes entire communities. Recently, Stevens has acquired a grant to fund research meant to predict future floods and weather events and create innovations to mitigate their effects on Hoboken and neighboring cities in New Jersey. Information about this research

for Techfest’s next location, and after days of setting up for the venue in the prior week, Techfest was able to be kicked off.

To start the night, the Duck Market, or the area outside the main tent, was opened at 5 p.m. for people to stroll around. Activities around the market included a photo area, an on-theme bounce house shaped like a boombox, a raffle area with a variety of baskets, a bracelet-making station, and a few tables with merchandise. Lining the outside was also a food area with ice cream, pretzels, corn dogs, and popcorn for attendees of the event. At the entrance, stu-

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is provided by Muhammad Hajj, the director of Stevens’s Davidson Lab, which leads environmental and naval research. He spoke to Stevens news writers about the funding and how the research being done will impact communities of New Jersey and states close by.

Stevens received $900,000 in government funding to address the constant flooding of Hoboken. As reported by Stevens News, the funding allocation is “part of the Fiscal Year 2024 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill signed into law by U.S. President Joe Biden earlier [last] month”. Those who were influential in this effort include “U.S. Congressman Robert Menendez (NJ-08)

The process it takes for a new organization to go from an idea to a reality is a long process that is impacted by a variety of internal and external factors. Tanishka Kapoor, Vice President of Student Interests (VPSI) of the Student Government Association (SGA), speaks on the process of getting new organizations approved and what new organizations are going to be available to students as early as next semester.

There are four steps students need to take to create a new organization. As stated by Kapoor, the first step is the application. This application opens “for one week, also known as the Interest Period, at the beginning of every semester after a school wide email is sent out.” Kapoor hosts three informational sessions before this period opens to highlight the steps needed to proceed in the new organization process. When this period closes, the VPSI and a representative from the Office of

and Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ)”. These funds will go directly to Davidson Lab as they work to address the trends of flooding in the city and make the community safer. Muhammad Hajj spoke to Stevens News about how his lab intended to use the funding and what specific components had emphasized the importance. As reported, he stated that “The funding will be used to acquire equipment and sensors that will collect data aimed at benefiting New Jersey communities [...] by helping predict coastal storm impacts, validating the accuracy of models, assessing damage after storms and—importantly—developing best-practice

Visual Arts and Technology holds Senior Capstone Exhibition: Motus Mentis

LIZ SEPULVEDA, COMIC ARTIST

From April 11 to 14, Stevens’s Visual Arts and Technology (VAT) major held its 2024 Senior Capstone Exhibition at Mana Contemporary in Jersey City. The event, which was hosted with support from the Monira Foundation, gave graduating seniors a chance to showcase senior capstone pieces, the culmination of two semesters of research and work. This year’s presenting artists

were seniors Daphne AngKalkanis, James Barra, Sierra Doss, Ashwin Ghera, Steve Huashuayo, Isabelle Hunt, Geordan LaManna, Sydney Linford, Timothy Paczesniak, and Anya Speck-McMorris.

This year’s theme “Motus Mentis,” Latin for “movement of the mind,” was chosen by the senior students after investigating commonalities their projects had. The featured projects covered many topics, ranging from grief to mental health, in

both digital and physical media, including short films and animations, video games, virtual reality (VR) experiences, installations, and more.

Presenting senior artists are responsible not only for creating their projects but for all the elements of installation and publicity that go into creating an exhibition, including press releases, theme consideration, and setup.

“One thing students have to learn in the process of creating an exhibition is that

Student Life go over the applications and make a choice about which organizations to move on to the next step. If an organization is approved, “they proceed into the New Org Process, and if it is denied, then [those in charge] are given detailed feedback on their application as well as why they were denied,” said Kapoor. With a record-high number of new organizations being proposed, it is unlikely that everyone who wants to start a new organization will get to do so.

After application approval, organization leaders begin the Starting RSO Period. This is the step in which organization leaders are tasked with assigning members of their executive board and “[thinking] of purpose-relevant events, [drafting] a constitution, [establishing] a rough budget, and [quantifying] student body interest,” states Kapoor. These tasks culminate in a video presentation that leaders have to present to the Committee of Student Interests (CSI), where a majority vote will move them to the next step. In this step, called Training RSO, each organization receives $200 that can be spent on events each semester. During this step, organizations must finalize their E-Board and its members, hold a minimum of two interest meetings—which col-

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mitigation strategies for future hazards to New Jersey’s coastal regions, including significant regional population centers such as Hoboken, Jersey City and Bayonne.” With this money, Hajj and his team hope to collaborate to produce a very unique and effective “‘multi-platform, rapidly deployable, coastal extreme event- observing system.’” They work to collect data before, during, and after extreme coastal events in order to improve the accuracy of their weather-tracking technologies and bring about new methods people can use to keep themselves and loved ones safe during these disasters.

This past month marks the

PULSE

even though they’re working on their individual artwork, it is a collaborative effort,” VAT Capstone Advisor and Professor Allyson Packer commented on the process. “I think they did a good job at negotiating with each other and finding the right space and context for everybody’s work.”

Motus Mentis’s opening ceremony was a success. This year’s capstone projects, as well as previous years, can be viewed at visualartandtech. net.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KOJO ASUMADU ADDO

Masthead

Volume CXXI No. 26

Executive Board

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF......................................ISABELLA ZIV ‘25

BUSINESS MANAGER............................TANYA AVADIA ‘26

MANAGING EDITOR..............................ARTHUR SERRA ‘27

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

OUTREACH CHAIR.........................................AVA WANG ‘25

DIGITAL MANAGER...................................ABBY JACOBS ‘27

SECRETARY..........................................NICOLE GIARDINO ‘25

HEAD COPY EDITOR.....................EVAN PAPAGEORGE ‘26

Editorial Board

NEWS EDITOR.........................................BEN KNOBLOCH ‘25

SCIENCE EDITOR..................................RIYANA PHADKE ‘27

OPINION EDITOR.............................KAYDEN CANNILLA ‘24

SPORTS EDITOR................................RUTHIE MULLISKY ‘26

FEATURES EDITOR................................TASHA KHOSLA ‘25

PULSE EDITOR........................................MIA PETROLINO ‘25

Operations Board

HEAD PHOTOGRAPHER RAFAEL LEE LI ‘25

ARCHIVES LIAISON.......................KEVIN CASTNER JR. ‘24

Operations Board

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

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

Staff & Contributors

Jeremiah Chinwendu

Sean Anderson

Hemanth Pillala

Christa Ruiz

Justin Lema

Tianna Spitz

Claire Hannan

Ethan Kleschinsky

Zoe Hack

Charles Beall

Itai Geller

Anna Dabrowski

Advait Dantuluri

Josie Strano

Stephen Pachucki

Jack Scherban

Kojo Asumadu Addo

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.........................EDITOR@THESTUTE.COM

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dents were given a wristband with three tickets on them that could be used for food, which allowed for the food lines to move with relative ease and prevented food from running out early. While there were few options, there was certainly plenty of food. Food left at the end of the night could be taken without giving a ticket.

The openers began their performances shortly after the start. Each of the openers was a winner of the Battle of the Bands, which was held a few weeks prior to Techfest. The Vibrotones hit it off at 5:30 p.m.

ORGS

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lectively must have 20 unique undergrad attendees—finalize their constitution, obtain a faculty advisor, and “draft a list of and budget for theoretical events,” states Kapoor. This is also “the official step where you can start acting and doing things that typical clubs you see on campus do.” This is the step where some clubs drop out of the process, as organization leaders have one year to complete steps two and three. These steps can be

with some swinging music. They are from Manasquan and Brielle, NJ, and describe themselves as a classic rock band in a modern style.

The Vibrotones were followed up by Midnight Drive, an alternative rock band from here in Hoboken that formed just this past year. To wrap up the openers, Future Nostalgia, another band from Hoboken, took the stage, playing a mix of their own songs and songs by other wellknown artists.

After the openers, Neon Trees began their performance with the crowd hyped up, and the security tightened. A minor technical issue occurred towards the beginning with Tyler Glenn, lead singer, joking about “having a tech issue at a tech school,” but it was sorted out quick-

done in one semester, but that is entirely based on the commitment of those involved with the creation of these organizations. Upon completion, E-Board members present in front of the SGA and, upon majority approval, move on to the fourth and final step. Organizations in this step include Stevens Women in Music and the Stevens Consulting Group.

ly. The show was a visual and aural spectacle, and Tyler Glenn worked the crowd through his lighthearted jokes and engagement. The attendees sang along with crowd favorites “Animals,” “Don’t You Want Me,” and “Everybody Talks.” Techfest was made possible through the efforts of many, including everyone on the EC, Danielle Maxson and Stephanie Hios from the Office of Undergraduate Student Life, Rick Davis and 368 Management team, Johnny Mauro from University Events, Stevens Catering, and club collaborators including WCPR, Audio Engineering Club, Stevens Underground Music Awareness Committee, Student Government Association, and Stevens mom Denise Alessandri.

Step Four takes the longest, as it is the step in which the organization is given one year and a budget of $1000 per semester to act as a full-status organization. As Kapoor states, this step “is essentially there to ensure that an organization can act independently and is sustainable.” After this period, organization officials are asked to present in front of the SGA again and gain their full status upon majority approval. Organizations currently in this step include the Pickleball Club, Finance Investment Banking Advisory (FIBA), and Stevens Institute of Technology Historical Society (SITHS). With so many organizations moving forward to become official, students can enjoy a wide variety of new events happening soon. Go out and support any of the organizations still in the process of becoming official, as your input is valuable to those involved.

Step 2 : Student Justice for Palestine, Architecture Club, Orthodox Club, Pre-Law Society, Undergrad Research Consortium, Vietnamese Student Association, Olami, Stevens Women in Music (S.W.I.M), Scholars of Finance, Striking and Technique Organization (SATO), Cafe Club, Trout Unlimited Costa 5 Rivers, Hindu YUVA, Collegiate Italian American Organization (CIAO)

Step 3 : Punjabi Sikh Association (PSA), Archery Club, Neon Nights, Amnesty, Stevens Consulting Group, ColorStack

Step 4 : Stevens Linux Users Group (SLUG), Stevens BluePrint, Stevens Powerlifting Team (Club Sport), Finance, Investment, and Advisory Society (FIBA), Stevens Piano Club, Culinary Club, Stevens Signs, Stevens Institute of Technology Historical Society, Pickleball Club

ASME

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6’ by 6’ by 30” size regulation, and 150 lb weight regulation. “We knew what shape we wanted it to be, the whipping trebuchet design, so we just kind of figured a longer throwing arm would be best and calculated the maximum height from the restriction,” said Getz, who further shared that the design prioritized maximizing the gravitational potential energy while maintaining a center of mass ‘sweet spot’ so that the cocked arm would launch in the correct direction.

In the final days leading up to the April 19 competition, the team met on DeBaun field “thrice,” Wohlbruck reported. During the initial test launches, a tour group happened to be passing by. The prospective students congregated on the DeBaun field bleachers to watch the excitement unfold while Getz humorously recalls, “and we’re struggling. As soon as we fire it, it goes straight backwards.” Wohlbruck explained the team’s greatest tribulation to be the release of the trebuchet’s volleyball projectile. At the time, the team had not yet realized that the release was bending backward with each launch. “Once we had it supported in two places to prevent bending, it actually shot and we were so pumped–and then I ran over to Fluids,” referring to his Fluid Mechanics class. The design and construction of the trebuchet represent a significant undertaking, especially

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second time Stevens has received a grant of this size for weather-based research. In 2023, President Biden and Congress provided a $960,000 grant to fund the enhancement of computing technologies to help with tracking and monitoring coastal events. As stated by Hajj, Stevens developed a four-day advanced flood prediction system that collaborates with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and government agencies in New York City. This tracking system

since the team members managed the workload alongside demanding academic responsibilities.

The trebuchet was delivered to the Fairleigh Dickinson Hackensack campus by Professor Yong Shi via U-Haul truck, while the team members split up between two cars.

Aside from the team members, the competition was also attended by the two universities’ ASME chapter presidents, including Stevens’s Thomas Fallon.

Before the competition, troubleshooting and warm-up hours were scheduled for the day. The FDU team was approximately double the size of Stevens’s and had been around the block once before, debuting in the 2023 competition. Wohlbruck recalls that the FDU team opted for a more traditional trebuchet style, but it was by no means simple. Their arm was traditional, but the counterweight design stood out, utilizing a cam interface, separating the counterweights and the body.

During troubleshooting hours, the Stevens team was battling release mechanism troubles when the FDU team asked what they could help out with, explaining that they had that exact same issue last year and have since grown wiser. “They were super helpful and incredibly nice,” shared Wohlbruck, with Getz seconding.

“They were extremely welcoming.”

By the end of the competition, Getz reported the Stevens trebuchet was “working like clockwork,” thanks to the help of the FDU team and their provided replacement parts.

The competition consisted of three rounds in each of the four

monitors individual streets in order to best inform residents of impending danger and help them plan evasive measures if need be. Data collected by these tracking systems is also used by the U.S. Coast Guard, “aiding in hundreds of life-saving search-and-rescue missions each year,” as reported by Stevens News. The new grant will lead to the development of a new tracking system dubbed the Stevens Extreme Event Coastal Preparedness and Response System (SEECPRS). This system builds upon the preexisting sensing and predicting systems to give a more in-depth view of flooding and other coastal damage.

Stevens will soon acquire various drones equipped with advanced imaging cameras and LiDAR systems,

different counterweight categories: 60 lbs, 90 lbs, 120 lbs, and a bonus round. The bonus round is governed by the 150 lb design regulation. The trebuchet, sans weights, was required to be below 150 lbs, but for every lb below 150, the team may add that many lbs of counterweight, up to 30 lbs. While Stevens’ trebuchet, clocking in at 145 lbs, did not qualify to launch in this bonus round competition, the spirit of the competition had changed. Wohlbruck said, “At the end, we did away with the winning in general–with the whole ‘more points than the other.’” The Stevens team was slightly up in points, but this would not have been possible without FDU’s help with the replacement of the broken release mechanism parts and knot-tying expertise.

When asked if they have plans to return next year, Getz replied, “Yeah, definitely,” and Wohlbruck echoed, “Mmhm, we have things we want to change.” Wohlbruck provided insight that the team plans to build a totally new trebuchet next year, but it is still up in the air if the successor will be an iterative design of the 2024 version or a new style entirely, “It’s really what the people choose.” Next year, the competition hopes to garner more competitors, such as Rutgers or New Jersey Institute of Technology. Those interested in joining the team can contact Thomas Wohlbruck, Professor Yong Shi, or the new ASME E-board. Keep your eye open for the Mechanical Engineering Department-wide interest form email next fall!

ultrasonic sensors, vehicle-mounted LiDAR systems, and additional ultrasonic sensors and “cameras and data-streaming gateways for deployment in selected vulnerable coastal areas across New Jersey,” according to Stevens News. Hajj also stated that Stevens hopes to work with local communities to determine the best way to monitor weather and collect data. The research and all components of it will help keep communities safe and save lives. Hajj credits Jon Miller, Laura Kerr, Marouane Temimi, Philip Orton, Raju Datla, Mahmoud Ayyad, and David Runnels for their influence in the development of these plans and securing the grants mentioned, as reported by Stevens News.

Powerlifting takes on the 2024 USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals

BY ABBY JACOBS, DIGITAL MANAGER

For the first time in Stevens’s history, Powerlifting sent students to the USA Powerlifting (USAPL) Collegiate Nationals. Senior Chloe Brenna and sophomore Abigail Izzo traveled to Atlanta, GA, to take on the 56 kg and 52 kg bodyweight classes, respectively, in the Female Raw category.

The pair qualified for the meet, which took place from Thursday, April 11, to Sunday, April 14, during the New Jersey Collegiate Championships last December. While Stevens took third overall, Brenna and Izzo took first in their weight classes.

Towards the beginning of the semester, the team faced a slew of logistical challenges, primarily, their gym being shut down. They were then able to transition to the varsity gym, where the next challenge they faced was the equipment in the gym, or lack thereof. While the Stevens gyms are generally wellequipped for weight training, Brenna noted the importance of having specific equipment. Minor changes between what you practice with and what you compete with make all the difference between getting the bar up or not. Learning to thrive with the resources available, the team was split into percentages based on their readiness for nationals or how close their lifts (a combination of squat, bench, and deadlift) were to nationals qualifying.

Brenna and Izzo traveled to Atlanta with their head coach, Ryan Erasmus, and the Assistant Director of Campus Recreation for Club Sports, Paige Moriarty, on the Wednesday before the meet began to settle in. After arriving in Georgia, the group headed to the Georgia

International Convention Center to begin the registration and check-in process.

A start time of 8 a.m. for Session 1 on Thursday, April 11, meant a 5 a.m. wake-up for Izzo, which began with weighing in at 6 a.m. before gearing up in her singlet at 7:30 a.m., as well as beginning her warmups. Izzo began her squats at 92.5 kg (or 204 lbs) before increasing to 97.5 kg (215 lbs) and finishing at 100 kg (around 220 lbs). Next came her bench, where she was towards the back of her flight, meaning her starting weight was higher than the others in her weight class. Izzo benched weights of 62.5 kg (138 lbs), 67.5 kg (149 lbs), and 70 kg (154 lbs) before deadlifting 112.5 kg (248 lbs), 117.5 kg (259 lbs), and 122.5 kg (270). Due to Powerlifting’s technicalities, Izzo went 8/9, the one lift missed in her final bench when the judges called her on downward motion, which means the bar did not go back up in one coherent movement. She lifted a total of 290 kg, or 639 lbs, and set multiple records in her home state of Rhode Island, including the Junior record for deadlift and the Junior and Open records for squats and total.

Brenna began in Session 2 at 1 p.m. the same day, having geared up at 10:30 a.m. and weighing in half an hour later. Her squat began at 100 kg (220.5), followed by 105 kg (231.5 lbs, meeting her current personal record), and finally hit 110 kg (242.5 lbs), though in hindsight, she feels that she should have lifted more weight. She was the first in her flight for the bench, which began at 40 kg (88.2 lbs), then 45 kg (99.2 lbs), and finally, 47.5 kg (104.7 lbs), followed by her deadlifts of 115 kg (253 lbs), 120 kg (264.6 lbs), and 125 kg (275 lbs). Brenna totaled 282.5 kg (622.8 lbs), finishing with 26/27

WOMEN’S AND MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

Penn Relays–Day Two Philadelphia, PA Time TBA

white lights, her one red coming once again from a technicality, having jumped a “squat” command Brenna and Izzo acknowledge Coach Erasmus as a huge support throughout their journey to nationals, who they say is “great at making lifters comfortable.” Brenna also notes that it was “absolutely huge for Paige to be there and see it” as the “equipment in the UCC is all brand new but it’s nothing close to what powerlifting is.”

Tomorrow, April 27, the team will be hosting their own mock

meet, targeted at newer lifters to give them a glimpse of what competition looks like but without the pressure. Next week, on May 4, part of the team will be attending a meet in Brooklyn, where more experienced lifters will be competing to qualify for 2025 Nationals.

The two say that “we’re really proud of this team but also it’s incredible to be women leading this charge,” and that “it doesn’t take being a powerlifter to join the team, it just takes being willing to try something new.”

Baseball goes 1-2 in series against FDU-Florham

BY CHRISTA RUIZ, SPORTS WRITER

On Friday, April 19, and Saturday, April 20, Stevens Baseball played FDU-Florham in a threegame series. The team won their home game on Friday with a score of 7-2 and lost their two away games on Saturday with scores of 5-9 and 3-9. These losses marked the end of a 12-game winning streak against Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU)-Florham.

The team set a strong pace in their home game on Friday, clinching a 7-2 victory against FDU-Florham. From the outset, the Ducks were in command, launching a powerful offensive in the first inning. Junior Eli Somers and graduate student Ben Tobio set the stage with back-to-back doubles, igniting the scoreboard early with a quick run. As the team batted through the order, they

amassed a significant 6-0 lead in the first inning alone, thanks to a single from graduate student Michael Reyes, a walk from senior Christian Kreiser, senior Frank Tonina getting on base due to being hit by a pitch, and a two-RBI double from first-year Chip Krese to bring some of the Ducks home. Tobio also brought in a final run on a fielder’s choice later on that inning.

On the mound, sophomore Erik Sibbach delivered an outstanding performance, pitching nearly seven innings, allowing just two runs on five hits and striking out seven batters. Senior Marc Rivera contributed significantly by earning his first career save, closing out the game strong over the last two innings, and allowing only one hit.

This victory marked Stevens’s 20th win of the season, improving their overall record to 20-10 and 11-5 in conference play, maintain-

ing their third place in the MAC Freedom standings. The win also extended their winning streak against FDU-Florham to 12 games.

The momentum shifted dramatically the following day in the doubleheader at FDU-Florham’s field. In the first game, despite an early run initiated by Tobio, who later scored on an opponent’s error, Stevens could not maintain their initial energy. FDU-Florham responded fiercely, taking a substantial lead in the first inning and eventually winning the game 9-5. Graduate student Leo Bristow struggled on the mound, surrendering five runs early, which set the tone for the rest of the game. Junior Joe Gonzalez provided some relief, but the early deficit proved too great to overcome.

In the second game, the situation didn’t improve for the Ducks. Despite an initial 2-0 lead, thanks to aggressive plays and hits by

Tobio and Somers, FDU-Florham quickly equalized and then surged ahead, ultimately taking the game 9-3. Sophomore William Sotiropoulos faced challenges, allowing seven runs in just under three innings. Although junior Sean Shea showed resilience as a reliever, the damage was done early.

With these losses, Stevens’s record dropped to 20-12 and 11-7 in conference play, and their long-standing winning streak against FDU-Florham came to an end. The Ducks now face the challenge of needing a sweep against Misericordia and Lebanon Valley to sweep Arcadia to host a postseason series. The team played against New Jersey City University on Tuesday, April 23, at home, and their next game is a 3 p.m. home game today against Misericordia, where they hope for a sweep.

STEVENS SCOREBOARD

APR 27

WOMEN’S AND MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

Penn Relays–Day Three Philadelphia, PA Time TBA

Monarch Open Wilkes Barre, PA Time TBA

MEN’S GOLF MAC Freedom Championship Round One New Tripoli, PA Time TBA

WOMEN’S AND MEN’S TENNIS King’s College (Pa.) Wilkes Barre, PA 12 p.m. /1 p.m.

SOFTBALL Misericordia University Weehawken, NJ 1 p.m./3 p.m.

WOMEN’S AND MEN’S LACROSSE Lebanon Valley College Annville, PA 1 p.m. Hoboken, NJ 1 p.m.

SUN, APR 28

MEN’S GOLF MAC Freedom Championship Round Two New Tripoli, PA Time TBA

TUE, APR 30

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Feature INNOVATION EXPO 2024

Senior Projects

This year’s Innovation Expo will feature 225 senior design projects, highlighting the year-long capstone efforts of the Class of 2024. Each project will be presented alongside a poster, with seniors standing by to discuss their work with visitors from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Stevens enjoys generous financial support from various sponsors and collaborates with partners to address real-world challenges. Many of these supporters, including companies and individuals, will attend the expo to witness the innovative projects of the talented students they’ve partnered with. Additionally, the Stevens community—comprising current students, faculty, staff, and parents—will join in to explore the array of senior projects on display.

The School of Business (SB)

The School of Business projects focused on consulting, entrepreneurship, and research are in Babbio.

At the business school, projects are classified into three primary areas: consulting, entrepreneurship, and research. In these projects, students leverage their classroom-acquired knowledge to devise practical solutions for real-world challenges. Many of these initiatives feature original ideas or collaborations with industry partners, enriching the student experience with valuable experiential learning opportunities. Teams often develop business models, craft marketing strategies, and conduct financial analyses as part of their project execution.

The School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS)

The School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) projects focused on music and technology, visual arts, social sciences, and literature are in the UCC Gallery.

The HASS projects encompass various departments, including music and technology, visual arts, social sciences, and literature, each with individual projects. Music and technology students often delve into topics of interest within their department, such as creating original music, researching music-related subjects, or engaging in exploratory studies. Regardless of the department, all students are required to write a paper documenting the details of their project, encompassing both the research and technical aspects.

The School of Systems and Enterprises (SSE)

The School of Systems and Enterprises (SSE) projects focused on industrial & systems engineering, engineering management, and software engineering are in UCC lower level and Canavan.

The SSE projects are categorized into two main groups: Industrial & Systems Engineering (ISE)/Engineering Management (EM) and Software Engineering. These projects, involving teams of two to seven students, comprise 7 ISE/EM projects and 3 software projects. In the case of ISE and EM projects, the solution is typically framed as a value proposition, bolstered by various forms of proof of concept. This can include a breakdown of their user interface, a physical prototype, or an overall system design. On the other hand, software engineering projects often feature a website along with the accompanying code to support their project’s objectives.

The Schaefer School of Engineering and Schience (SES)

The Schaefer School of Engineering and Science (SES) focused on subject areas from the 9 different engineering departments as well as interdisciplinary projects between the Engineering and Systems schools are in Gateway North, UCC Techflex, and Canavan.

The engineering school, being the largest, has the most diversity among its projects, reflecting a wide range of disciplines and specialties. These projects are organized into nine distinct SES departments: biomedical engineering, chemical engineering and materials science, chemistry and chemical biology, civil/environmental/ocean engineering, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, mathematical sciences, mechanical engineering, and physics. In addition to these departmental projects, there are interdisciplinary projects and projects affiliated with the Launchpad Program. Students not only showcase their technical skills but also demonstrate practical solutions to real-world challenges, often collaborating closely with industry partners to bring their ideas to fruition. Many of these projects receive outside sponsorship, further enhancing their scope and potential impact.

Gallois Autonomous Robot Competition

The Gallois Autonomous Robot Competition is a pivotal experience for first-year engineering students. The competition allows students to hone their design, critical thinking, and adaptability skills. Working in teams of three, students are tasked with constructing autonomous robots that compete for cash prizes. The competition is generously supported by Dr. Bernard M. Gallois, former dean of the Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering & Science. During his tenure from 1996-2002, Dr. Gallois and his team introduced the eight-course design spine, a foundational element of SES students’ education. Thanks to Dr. Gallois and his family’s generosity, students have the chance to vie for prizes of $1,000 for first place, $500 for second, and $250 for third.

Competition Details Rules and Logistics

In the second design course of the spring semester, students collaborate in teams to design and build their motorized robots. The competition arena mimics the Stevens campus, featuring a rectangular layout with designated checkpoints and obstacles. Robots are tasked with navigating this path efficiently, reaching each waypoint while avoiding obstacles. The competition unfolds in two stages: a preliminary round where all teams participate, followed by a final round featuring the top 10 to 12 teams. During the final event, teams receive a new path and 15 minutes to adjust their robots and coding. Each team undergoes three trials, with opportunities to modify their code between runs. LIDAR technology tracks the robots’ positions, and scores reflect the robots’ path accuracy and obstacle avoidance skills.

The Gallois Autonomous Robot Competition will take place on Friday, April 26, from 12-2 p.m. at the Innovation Expo, located in the Schaefer Athletic Center lobby. Each competing team must have at least one member capable of programming and operating the robot present during the competition. Teams must rely solely on the provided GPS float for location information. All teams receive equal opportunity and time, with a maximum of three trials per team. If time constraints arise, the trial limit may be reduced to two. Before each attempt, teams have a 10-minute window to modify hardware or upload new programs. Continuous program modifications are allowed throughout the competition, but physical contact with the robot is restricted to the designated 10-minute intervals. Additional fully charged batteries will be available, but battery replacement time is deducted from the 10-minute repair/upload window. Robots must autonomously navigate five specific targets in sequence, encountering additional undisclosed obstacles along the way. Target locations and order will be disclosed at 12 pm on competition day. Robots must start facing the direction indicated by the arena’s arrow, and simple repair tools will be provided. Notably, while collisions with buildings are detected, wall collisions are not considered in the scoring.

Thomas H. Scholl Lecture by Visiting Entrepreneurs: Giuseppe Incitti

The Thomas H. Scholl Lecture by Visiting Entrepreneurs stands as a highlight of Innovation Expo day, showcasing the insights of distinguished entrepreneurs and executives who have excelled in business innovation and financial growth. This prestigious lecture series is made possible by the generous support of Stevens Board of Trustees member Thomas H. Scholl, a luminary in entrepreneurship, technology innovation, and investment. Mr. Scholl’s extensive experience spans over 50 startups, where he has taken on roles ranging from founder to CEO and board member. A versatile expert in both

hardware and software products, particularly those based on deep intellectual property, Mr. Scholl’s guidance has been instrumental for various companies where he serves on the boards. His contributions to Stevens are further evidenced by his role as a Trustee from 2011 to 2020 and as an Emeritus Trustee since December 2020. Mr. Scholl’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurial spirit at Stevens extends beyond the lecture series, as he established the Thomas H. Scholl Launchpad Awards in 2017 and was honored with the Friend of Stevens Award in 2015.

This year, the spotlight will be

on Giuseppe Incitti ’04

M.Eng. ’04, the CEO of Sitetracker, Inc., a leading enterprise software firm utilized by industry giants like AT&T, Vodafone, Google Fiber, Ericsson, and ChargePoint. Sitetracker has secured $165 million in venture capital from prominent investors, including New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and Salesforce Ventures, and has garnered numerous industry accolades.

Don’t miss this insightful lecture, scheduled from 9:45-10:45 a.m. on April 26 in Babbio Room 122, where Giuseppe Incitti will share his journey and insights at Innovation Expo.

School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Concert

On Friday, April 26, from 2-3 p.m., the Schaefer Lawn will come alive with the vibrant melodies and rhythms of the graduating seniors from the Music and Technology program at MSU. These talented students have spent countless hours honing their craft and for their senior thesis projects, many have produced impressive EPs, LPs, or albums. Now, they are excited to showcase their musical prowess on the Schaefer Lawn stage, offering attendees a unique opportunity to experience their creativity firsthand. Prior to their live performances, these students will also be presenting their projects in the UCC gallery from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This will be a fantastic chance to learn more about their innovative work and the creative processes behind their compositions. Don’t miss this chance to support our graduating seniors and immerse yourself in a celebration of music and technology!

PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVENS.EDU

Ansary Entrepreneurship Competition

Each year, students enrolled in IDE 402 Senior Innovation III: Venture Planning and Pitch class showcase their projects in the Ansary Entrepreneurship Competition. In this competition, senior design teams deliver elevator pitches to persuade judges—potential investors—to support their ventures. The first-place team receives $10,000, second place earns $5,000, and third place is awarded $2,500. Winners can choose to reinvest their prize money into their projects or keep the cash. Funding for these prizes is generously provided by the Cy and Jan Ansary Foundation, established in 1983 to support young entrepreneurs. The foundation has been a steadfast supporter of the competition at Stevens since 2016 and created an endowed fund in 2018.

Quarter-Final Round

In each IDE 402 class, students craft and deliver their initial elevator pitches live. An elevator pitch, true to its name, is concise enough to present during a brief elevator ride, offering limited time to engage a potential investor. These pitches rely solely on spoken word, without the use of visual aids. Based on these presentations, course instructors select the top teams to proceed to the next round.

Semi-Final Round

In the semi-final round, 45 teams are divided into three groups of 15 teams each. Each team is required to submit a video recording by Monday, April 8, using Zoom’s Presenter View, without backgrounds or visual aids, and adhering to a 3-minute time limit. Four judges are assigned to evaluate the pitch videos and executive summaries of each group’s teams. Judges have four days to submit questions to the teams, who then have two days to respond either verbally or in writing. The judges review these Q&A responses and finalize their scores. Teams are evaluated on presentation quality, value proposition, business plan/model, viability/fundability, and the powerfulness of their ask, with scores out of a total of 50 points. The top two teams from each group of 15 advance to the final round.

Finalists

Soft Exosuit for Patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy 2.0 (SESMA):

Canavan Arena Table 58

SES: Mechanical Engineering

Kevin Castner, Jr.

Sara Deuidicibus

Steven Sack

Jack Santoro

Knee-sy Does It

Canavan Arena Table 18

SES: Biomedical Engineering

Brandom Sems

Maggie Gibson

Grace Fukazawa

Jalen Bailey

OpenTogetherTube Load Balancer

UCC, Pre-function Space Table 2

SSE: Software Engineering

Victor Giraldo

Carson McManus

Michael Moreno

Christopher Roddy

Personal Guide Belt

Canavan Arena Table 45

SES: Electrical and Computer Engineering

Matthew Bairstow

Philip Mascaro

Aidan Rudd

Jeffrey Tharakan

Jett Tinik

TinnX

Canavan Arena Table 42

Interdisciplinary

Jasmine

Todd Giannattasio Mike Tatarascu Ariella Trotsenko Lorri Cornett Michael Burghoffer Renee Porter

Final Round

On Wednesday, April 17, the six teams advancing to the final round were announced. These teams had until Sunday, April 21, to refine their pitches, reshoot their videos, and submit them for the finals. While teams could choose to reuse their semi-final pitch videos, they also had the option to submit new ones, adhering to the same video guidelines. The final round kicked off on Monday, April 22, the week of Innovation Expo. Judges had until Wednesday, April 24, to pose questions via Slack and until Thursday, April 25, to submit their initial scores.

Conclusion

The competition culminates at the Innovation Expo on Friday, April 26, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Debaun Auditorium. During this event, teams deliver live pitches followed by a real-time five-minute Q&A session with the judges. Scores are promptly submitted, tallied, and the top three winners are announced at the conclusion of the event.

SES: Electrical and Computer Engineering

SES: Mechanical Engineering

SSE: Software Engineering

Nicholas DiMeglio

Rohit Jayas

Shady Kamel

Pulse PairIt

Canavan Arena Table 13

SES: Biomedical Engineering

Nina Burden

Alicia Cardoso

Stephanie Deren

Arianna Gehan

Julia Zatyko

Emcee: Aaron Price Davis Auksmuksts Khurram Nasir Gore

Vivek Rajgarhia Judith Sheft

Katherine Skinner

Juan Herrera Ozvaldo Lopez

Peters

Software engineers beware: Devin, the AI is coming for your jobs

BY TANYA AVADIA, BUSINESS MANAGER

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been taking the world by storm, and the latest addition to the AI landscape is the creation of Devin. Devin is an AI software engineer developed by the AI-centered company Cognition. Cognition shares how Devin possesses extraordinary capabilities when it comes to resolving complex engineering problems and finding effective and optimal solutions. The AI is able to process large amounts of information, facilitate quick decision-making, connect back to the relevant context and task, and learn from its own mistakes. While this is impressive, Cognition shares how Devin is a multipurpose tool, stating, “Devin is a tireless, skilled teammate, equally ready to build alongside you or independently complete tasks for you to review.”

Before diving deeper into Devin’s abilities, let’s first look at the creator of the first AI software engineer: Cognition. Cognition is an AI-focused firm headquartered in both New York City and San Francisco. The company is working towards creating intelligent

and user-friendly AI applications. The firm specializes in building “AI teammates” whose abilities go beyond the current industry standards of technology and AI. This company has a lot of support as it was able to raise $21 million in Series A funding with some notable investors being Founders Fund, Patrick Collison, John Collison, Elad Gil, and more. Cognition’s development of Devin is a monumental moment within the intersection of AI and software engineering offering a display as to the possibility of AI-related changes to the field.

Diving deeper into Devin, Devin is an autonomous model that has the ability to plan, comprehend, and execute specific software engineering-focused projects with a single prompt. In terms of the skills Devin possesses, it can very easily adapt to and learn new technologies. Other skills include creating end-to-end applications, finding and correcting bugs, optimizing AI models, and contributing to mature production repositories. When it comes to usability, the platform is similar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT model with some additional features such as a command line, code editor, and a separate web browser. This

AI software engineer also facilitates real-time collaboration with users, accepts feedback, and learns from its own errors. Currently, Devin has a 13.86% resolution rate compared to other models, such as Claude 2’s 4.8% and ChatGPT-4’s 1.74%.

With Devin being a massive milestone within the AI industry, there is a lot of discussion as to the implications of such technology. AI, in general, has caused a lot of concern in terms of how it will automate and affect a variety of jobs. In the case of Devin, the software engineering and development industry may face a lot of job insecurity, but people have differing views on the subject matter. While Devin and other AI are developing innate abilities, they cannot fully replace human intelligence and interactive capabilities. At least for the time being, most of these technologies are in the development phase and still need to be tested and improved. In the meantime, however, people can still enjoy the benefits of being an AI software engineer and be a part of the beta testing process. People interested in using Devin can apply through Congition’s website to gain access to the platform.

The DIANA technique: why can’t it be replicated?

BY JEREMIAH CHINWENDU, CONTRIBUTOR

The brain is a fascinating organ that regulates movement and most of the hormone-based systems in the body. Much is still unknown about the way the brain functions and how it responds to changes in the environment. Researchers make use of many non-invasive techniques and biomedical innovations to monitor the brain’s role in our movement, emotional patterns, and thoughts. While effective, these techniques are limited in their accuracy when determining brain activity; they give an idea of brain activity rather than discerning the regions active or neurons firing during action. A team of researchers has developed a technique of brain imaging dubbed direct imaging of neural activity (DIANA). This technique seeks to solve the problem of traditional brain imaging, but trouble with reproducing its results calls into question the prospect of its use in medicine and the credibility of those who developed it. The imaging technique that DIANA hopes to improve is functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which makes use of the blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) effect. This technique examines the flow of blood that occurs during brain activity. Since different areas of information, blood in the brain tends to flow more toward the parts that are the most active at a given moment in time. fM-

RIs monitor this change in flow by taking cross-sectional images of the brain at a size determined by the specialists and compiling them to make a full image or video. According to the American Association of Advanced Science, fMRIs are “limited by [their] ability to pinpoint the time and location of specific neuronal activation.” Information in the brain is sent by the millisecond, meaning that blood flow in the brain lags behind the action potential of neurons. The DIANA technique hopes to solve this problem by directly stimulating and imaging the neurons as they fire in order to see brain activity on a smaller scale. The team responsible for creating the DIANA technique ran their initial trials on anesthetic mice. As reported by McKenzie Prillaman, a writer in the journal Nature, the technique works by “applying minor electric shocks every 200 milliseconds to an anesthetized animal. Between shocks, an MRI scanner collects data from one tiny piece of the brain every 5 milliseconds. After the next shock, another spot is scanned.” The software then stitches the data from the spots together to visualize changes over a 200-millisecond period. It is similar to filming a video pixel by pixel. Prillaman also reports that those responsible claim that this technique could be an improvement over traditional fMRIs because it “could measure the faster-paced signals produced when several neurons change their voltage.” Shifting the focus from blood flow to the change in neuron voltage can allow for a more accu-

rate reading of neural activity that can be used in research moving forward.

The DIANA technique promises to show the accuracy of invasive brain imaging in a non-invasive way. The problem with this technique is that no one outside of the original team has been able to replicate the results of their trials. The team was led by Jang-Yeon Park, an MRI physicist at Sungkyunkwan University in Suwon-si, South Korea. Other researchers have made attempts to replicate the results of DIANA, seeing little to no indication of the signals expected. One team in South Korea altered the original protocol slightly by changing the number of slices taken but found that the more slices they took, the weaker their signals got. This goes against the function of traditional fMRIs, as more slices usually lead to a stronger signal and more information. Another team at Massachusetts Institute of Technology had promising results but realized that they got the same signals when the “electrical-stimulation tool was disconnected, and even when dead rats were being scanned,” reports Prillaman. Neuroscientists continue to cast doubts on this technique, and some have concluded that the signals acquired in the original experiment were not all due to neural activity. Despite this, Park remains hopeful that DIANA will be widely used someday and even goes on to run more trials in both mice and humans. The future of this technique remains uncertain at this time.

Peter Higgs: a particle physics legend

BY HEMANTH PILLALA, CONTRIBUTOR

Peter Higgs, the Nobel Prize-winning British theoretical physicist celebrated for his pioneering prediction of the Higgs boson, has passed away at the age of 94. Higgs died peacefully at his home in Edinburgh, leaving behind a profound legacy that continues to shape the scientific community.

In 1964, Peter Higgs introduced a revolutionary idea in physics. He proposed that there is a special kind of particle, which we now call the Higgs boson, that spreads throughout the universe in a way we cannot see. This invisible presence, known as a field, gives mass to other basic particles that make up everything in the universe. Think of it like a magical field that can give weight to things that would otherwise be weightless. This concept quickly became crucial to our understanding of the universe’s most basic laws—what scientists call the standard model of particle physics. This model helps explain what the universe is made of and how it holds together.

Higgs’s theories about this particle and its field were not just ideas; they were tested and confirmed by experiments. The most important tests were done at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Switzerland in 2012. Here, scientists were able to create conditions that briefly allowed them to observe the Higgs boson, proving Higgs was right. This was a huge achievement in physics and led to Peter Higgs and François Englert, another physicist who contributed to the idea, sharing the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2013.

Higgs spent much of his academic life at the University of Edinburgh, where his contributions were honored in 2012 with the establishment of the Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics. Reflecting on his impact, Professor Peter Mathieson, the university’s principal, described Higgs as “a truly gifted scientist whose vision and imagination have enriched our knowledge of the

world.”

Fabiola Gianotti, director-general at CERN, praised Higgs for his exceptional personal humility and professional brilliance. “Peter was a very special person, known for his rare modesty and his ability to simplify complex physics concepts for a broader audience,” she remarked.

Higgs’s insights have not only deepened our understanding of the universe but have also inspired generations of physicists. His work helped complete the standard model of physics, demonstrating that a universal, invisible field is crucial for the formation of mass. This field, interacting with fundamental particles, provides them with the mass essential for the structure and diversity of the universe.

In addition to his monumental achievements, Higgs was known for his shyness and reluctance towards the spotlight. On the day the Nobel Prize was announced, he famously chose to spend the day quietly, avoiding any public celebration. His legacy, however, is anything but quiet. It resonates powerfully through every aspect of particle physics and cosmology.

Higgs died on April 8, 2024. His passing is deeply felt across the scientific world. Homages have poured in from colleagues and former students who remember him not only as a brilliant physicist but also as a gentle mentor and friend. His theories, which have significantly shaped our understanding of particle physics, ensure that his influence will endure for generations to come.

As many communities mourn his loss, the scientific community continues to celebrate Higgs’s theories, which have fundamentally altered our understanding of the universe. His death marks the end of an era in physics but also reaffirms the lasting impact of his work. Peter Higgs’s insights into the very fabric of reality will continue to inspire curiosity and drive scientific discovery far into the future.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MEDIUM.COM

PHOTO COURTESY OF CERN

MIND OF A FRESHMAN

Becoming a kid again

If you had the chance, would you jump into a time machine back to your childhood? If you are like me, you will surely, and not for any reason related to escaping obligations. However, it must be very nice to not

SENIORITIS

worry about careers and payment management as a kid. With less than two weeks left of college, I will reflect on the biggest choices I have made. Should I have returned that fidget spinner in grade six? Now, that was not my biggest dilemma as a kid, but I have found it surprising how trends tend to resurface with every new generation.

I work part-time as an after-school teacher throughout the week, and I have learned a lot about the kids I supervise. For one, some trends remain strong like Pokémon and Beyblade. I remember playing with

Beyblades when I was ten years old, but it is so cool to see kids still bring toys like that. It is an age check for me, despite being told that I was very young by one of the kids at afterschool.

One of the fun aspects of being an after-school teacher is helping with homework. I, for one, would prefer to go back to the time when math was only numbers, and getting to look at students’ math homework on decimals just gives me a break. I even bet that they do not have to worry about scheduling their classes for next year.

It is not only the home -

work but also the playtime at afterschool that I can be part of. There is a variety of games to engage in, from playing redlight-greenlight to blob tag. There are also games that I do not remember existing when I was a kid. There are new variances of tag, a lava monster game, and a night-at-themuseum. If the physical games were not popular, then our afterschool kids had the option to draw in the art corner. I have done origami when the days were less busy, with my favorite creation being the classic paper ninja stars. I had many fun mo -

My favorite Techfest was on zoom

The music scene on campus is what originally inspired me to write for The Stute, and this past weekend being Techfest gave me a lot to think about. The openers were fantastic. The tented stage felt large and the lighting effects were fun and added ambiance. There

OP-ED

was good turnout, and while long lines can’t be fully avoided, it never felt overcrowded. I got a Minecraft frog painted on my face but did not go in the bouncy castle, a decision I regret. It would have significantly improved the Neon

I believe I voted for Neon Trees for Techfest, but my impression of them severely decreased after watching their performance. When I was in eighth grade, I listened to “Everybody Talks” constantly; it was the soundtrack to my life. I also loved “Animal,” but that’s where mine and I would guess 90% of Techfest attendees’ knowledge of Neon Trees stopped. The first song played, and then they immediately lost power, and there was at least

a 1-minute delay for the next song. The second song played, and I thought to myself, “Are they a Christian Rock band?” In fact, all of the band’s members were raised Mormon. The Rolling Stone reports, “while the band has no overt religious affiliation, it credits the Church of Latter-day Saints’ strict ordinances against drinking and drugs – which the members have adopted as band rules – with helping its rise.” I didn’t know or understand any of the words of the songs until “Animal.” Between songs, Tyler Glenn (lead vocals) flipped off the crowd, called us Weehawken, and made fun of us for only knowing the words to the most popular songs. He said, “You guys

are good at math: I was born in 1983, how old does that make me?” Your professors have earned several degrees in the time that it took this guy to headline River Lot. The whole time, he was peacocking in the most egregious manner possible. Maybe you think I’m being too harsh on the guy, but I don’t think I’ve ever watched a performer so obsessed with his image. A couple of days before Techfest, I was at Drag Bingo hosted by Robin Fierce. Robin made some similar comments about feeling old when no one in the room was over 23. The difference is that Robin is 28 and an entertaining performer/host, regardless of the crowd. The majority of the people in that tent were

ments in afterschool, and I half-expected a longer time for the students to accept me being the new counselor. However, I got to express myself as a friend, and quickly got to be the person they would go to for games. I was given the role of being the tagger, horsey, and lava monster among all other things. Of course, I would only offer to help in the students’ playtime if they got my name correct. I do go by one of many names at afterschool, and I find it funny how many different nicknames they can come up with for me. One day, I

would be Mr. Dustin, and then the next, I would be called Mr. Ketchup. Yes, I like ketchup, but I would not be the teacher to store large buckets of ketchup in my fridge.

So, if you were to create a time machine and offer me a pass directly back to my childhood, it would have me thinking for a long time. Yes, I would like to experience my childhood again and do another rerun of Super Mario 64, but I think that my standing this year allows me to both cherish the adulting moments and the fun inner child moments that I still have.

half Glenn’s age and he still looked at the crowd like he could pull. There was an uncomfortable amount of sexual energy directed out into the crowd, like when he prefaced “Sleeping with a Friend” by saying, “Do I have any friends here?” There were also odd and frequent rants between songs, like when he mentioned he didn’t go to college but still had good hair and gets laid. Techfest is the largest and best event of the semester by many standards, but reviewing my four here, they are certainly not my favorite concerts I’ve been to. My freshman year it was on Zoom; sophomore year, I had coronavirus, and last year, it was in Canavan. Honestly, Rico Nasty on Zoom might have been my favorite

Techfest performance. I think the student openers consistently outperform the headliners. They have a better understanding of the audience’s tastes, and they’ve had Battle of the Bands to prepare for a show like this. The headliners get voted because a lot of people know at least one song from them, but those are never the bands anyone really wants to see. It’s not worth it to splurge on a name that everyone knows if the majority of the show people are just waiting to hear the one song they know. It would be interesting to see if smaller artists across genres with more dedicated fanbases could be booked, and attendees could have an option or variety of performances to see.

Fine, we don’t have to end the boycott but we need to do something

BY CLAIRE HANNAN ‘24

The first time I went to a Diversity and Inclusion (DNI) meeting was 2021, my Sophomore year of college. I was new to campus culture and interested in getting involved. I found pretty quickly that the space was anything but inclusive. Nearly everyone there was a senior and it felt like there was an unspoken rule that you had to know someone to even show up. All the committee members didn’t talk and left as soon as the meeting was over, and the a-board members only seemed interested in talking to each other. The event was open to the public on DuckLink but there seemed to be an unspoken “invite only” rule.

Back then, DNI wasn’t a committee, it was a strange, exclusive society. I left the meeting feeling discouraged and I didn’t approach DNI at Stevens for a long time after that. A year later, all of those seniors graduated and the DNI committee functionally didn’t exist. No meetings were being held, only a handful of people were aware that it existed, and no progress was being made on any initiatives. DNI at Stevens has a bit of a difficult history. When I first joined the SGA at the end of my Junior year, I was warned not to get too involved with Diversity and Inclusion. People brought up stories about toxic membership and general public controversy. It seems like when it comes to identity, nothing

the committee did was ever good. It was the only committee of the SGA that could both do too much and not enough at the same time. It’s hard being held to that standard and I think that’s a part of the reason it fell apart. Still, I think it’s important for a student government to have a committee that handles issues around identity and accessibility. So, when I noticed the state of DNI last year, I decided to start speaking up in Senate meetings to revive the committee. Eventually, it worked. It wasn’t all me, there are a lot of other people who can take credit for bringing back the committee and who have put in a lot more effort than I did. I’m grateful that so many people agreed that this committee

was worth building back up.

The committee is now called the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Accessibility Committee (DEIBA) and looks entirely different than it did two years ago. As it stands, I am the longest serving active member of DEIBA. That isn’t saying much considering we spent a whole year only talking about potential meeting times without ever actually meeting. The committee was dead for so long, it was like we were starting it from scratch. If any former members wanted things to be done a certain way, they didn’t leave any instructions behind.

One issue that DEIBA took on this year was the state of the Gateway North boycott. I personally didn’t

COMIC CORNER

BY JOSIE STRANO

hear about the boycott until my sophomore year, since no upperclassmen were on campus my freshman year. Even then, in 2021, a lot of the passion and drive for change was gone from the movement. Unless you were a student leader or a part of certain affected communities, there was very little chance that you had heard about the boycott, let alone greg gianforte. Most students were oblivious or apathetic to the cause. My Junior year, I began writing for The Stute and found myself covering greg gianforte’s politics. Through those articles, I was exposed to Gateway North’s history. Around that time me and some queer friends came up with the idea to change or potentially end the boycott.

We noticed how many people didn’t understand what was happening and didn’t care to learn. There were no yearly traditions to remind the student body about the history and not enough people read The Stute or stopped to read infographics to effectively spread the word. I thought it would be great to have a physical reminder that people couldn’t help but stop, look at, and ask questions about. What better place than Gateway North itself?

When DEIBA was looking for initiatives this year, I brought up the idea of changing the boycott. It wasn’t the administration or Lilianna Delman who came up with the idea. It was me.

Continued on thestute.com

Opinion

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Rene Magritte: redefining the surrealist movement

BY ITAI GELLER ‘26

Staring at the painting of the man in the bowler hat, I can’t help but notice his attempt to masquerade as a granny smith apple. Horribly perplexed, I continue to scan through the catalog of the Dutch surrealist painter, consistently dumbfounded by the uncanny presence of bourgeoisie bowler-hatted men in trench coats, endlessly stretching ocean landscapes filled with peculiarities and everything in between. Honestly, these paintings could make for the best escape room sequence ever or a cool CD-

LIFESTYLE HACKS

ROM game from the 90s. In a fashion that is unlike any other surrealist artist, René Magritte redefined the surrealist movement in a way that I believe surpasses the greatness of Dali or Ernst. While many surrealist paintings remain cohesive, they are more unsettling than reflective. Magritte’s art brought a certain level of recognizability and relatability to the forefront of the genre. While Magritte’s paintings still contain their fair share of unrealistic scenarios and bizarre imagery, the objects and subjects resemble those witnessed in everyday life. Magritte actively bent a perception of reality that was universally understood within the human experience. Rather than feeling like a dreamscape, Magritte strays away from conventional surrealism, depicting natural landscapes and imagery containing scenes of unex-

plained nature. However, these scenes help visualize raw emotion through silent dialogue; they are eccentric yet so unexplainably human. Take, for example, my favorite piece by Magritte, “Homesickness,” which depicts a lion and an angel on a bridge facing away from one another. Painted by Magritte in France in 1940, this painting likely represents Magritte’s feeling of homesickness after being forced to flee his country as a result of Nazi occupation during the second world war. The painting feels completely uninterrupted, as Magritte gives his subjects a powerful yet sullen presence. The lion in particular, seems to communicate the feeling of “homesickness” as he is far away from the savanna, confined to an urban jail. The lion’s disagreement with the angel seems to communicate a conflict in Magritte’s mind. Either

Picking your battles

BY ZOE HACK ‘24

This piece is mostly coming from the (almost retired) student leader in me. Especially if you are balancing multiple leadership roles, this has to be the most important lesson. Last semester, I was the President of my sorority and Vice President of Gear and Triangle while being in smaller roles on two other executive

OFF THE PRESS

boards, serving as a Peer Leader, and being involved in numerous other organizations and activities. While I prefer having a packed schedule with different commitments, it is still always so important to be able to mentally take a break from everything. Too often I found myself catering to the needs of others instead of taking a step back and understanding how I needed to be supporting myself at the time. Eventually, I believe I have gotten really good at this type of balance. While there have been battles I’ve off-the-bat decided not to pick, there have also been ones that I decided to give up because they were either never worth my time or weren’t

worth my time anymore.

An example here is previously wasting my energy on someone who only made me frustrated. Last semester, I finally decided that they were actually worth a negative amount of my time and I actually couldn’t care less about them, so I just didn’t give them any energy. This is a person who constantly tries to take credit for things that I do, does not pull their weight a single bit in group projects (but, of course, tries to make it look like they did everything), and here’s the real zinger: refuses to pronounce my name correctly. I spent so many semesters pretending to tolerate this person when it actually just made my blood boil to

Unconventional ways to have fun

BY OFF CENTER

-Satire-

Many people are not content with their lives because they want to have new ways to have fun. As the idea of fun becomes normal in American society, it becomes repetitive and boring to the point that what was originally seen as fun just becomes normal, dull, and boring. Did you know that watching paint dry was once a popular pastime long ago, or just sitting still and doing nothing provided joy to many people who participated in it back in the Stone Age? Unfortunately, the idea of having fun by playing video games, going to parties, or just being with friends tends to now become very, very boring, and people want more exciting ways to have fun. One of the most new ways to have fun is by riding a bike. But not just by riding a bike the normal, boring, dull, and any other adjective to describe discontent by repetitiveness and blandness way by sitting on top of your double-tired vehicle while accompanied by the handle and pedals. No, here is a totally different way to ride your bike. Instead

of riding your bike by sitting on a bike, instead, you ride on an elephant, on top of a steamboat, on top of a rocket, on top of a mountain, on top of the Sahara Desert, on top of the Earth, on top of the entire universe on top of your bike. Doesn’t that sound amazing?

Another way to have fun is by cooking. And here’s a new recipe that everyone should cook to make cooking more enjoyable. Cook a breadcrumb inside a blueberry inside a grape inside an olive inside a strawberry inside an orange inside a radish inside an apple inside a burger inside a burrito inside a soup inside a pizza inside a pie inside a turkey inside the biggest, most delicious thing you can ever think of! And after that is the end result!

A dish that cannot be described as so yummy, for it is too limiting, but can only be described as so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so

find a way home or remain silently in despair. Magritte’s paintings were also diverse in style. Similar to other surrealist artists, he practiced in multiple mediums, experimented with different styles, and strayed away from originality. This is demonstrated in pieces such as “The Anger of the Gods,” which uses an illustrative style rather than a painterly one to depict a jockey on a horse, racing on top of an automobile. Considering this piece was produced in the 1960s, Magritte seems to symbolically reject the economic resurgence experienced by Belgium post-World War II by contrasting a modern innovation with a traditional means of transportation. In particular, Magritte yet again seems to take aim at the middle class, incorporating his signature “bowler-hatted man” riding in an automobile. During this time, the

middle and rural classes gained increased social authority, hinting at Magritte’s distaste for urban culture, individual wealth, and rapid industrialization. Unlike “The Anger of the Gods,” Magritte’s painting “Unexpected Answer” seems to be more interpretive than symbolic. The painting lacks subjects, consisting of a yellow door with an odd shape cut into it, creating a negative space through which to enter. A dark room lies on the other side. While there is no definitive answer to where it leads, I particularly enjoy Magritte’s use of descriptive titles to provide viewers with context for his paintings. The title “Unexpected Answer” seems rather anecdotal for a piece in which a door has seemingly been used incorrectly. It’s as though Magritte is challenging our conception of how recognizable objects are utilized.

Magritte’s approach to surrealist art revolutionized the movement, making surrealism more approachable by tapping into relatable emotions, feelings, and objects. This unconventional method shares similarities with contemporary art, which subtly embraces universally understood ideals while delving into abstractions, staying true to the essence of the genre.

be around them. And then last semester, I kinda just decided to give up. There was nothing I could do to change this person, and we are on totally separate planes of emotional intelligence. I was just really wasting so much energy for no reason. And guess what, it has been such a weight lifted off my shoulders. Obviously, I am still civil, but I just really don’t care what they think about me or say about me because, ultimately, it does not have any effect on me. Once you start to get the hang of understanding what is worth your time and energy, you can just start saving it before getting invested in anything not worth your time. One example of a battle I ex-

plicitly chose not to pick (and a pretty small one) is the use of slack threads. In addition to being in a sorority, I am also a sweetheart of a fraternity, so I am in Slack workspaces for both organizations. In the fraternity Slack, there is a huge stigma around just continuously replying to others’ messages in the channel instead of using threads. And if you do make the mistake of responding to a message without using threads, you will be immediately bombarded with everyone reacting to your message using the “spool of thread” emoji. Comparatively, my sorority’s Slack is a mess—barely anyone uses threads, and sometimes, you have to scroll so far to

THAT’S A RED FLAG! End-of-year red flags

find where the conversation even started. While, yes, a more organized Slack with everyone putting messages in threads is a lot easier to maintain, it was a battle I chose not to even think about. I knew that it was nearly impossible to ask sixty people to change the way that they have been messaging and for them to always get it right after the idea was proposed the first time. The disorganization bothered me, but ultimately I had no desire to spend my time on something so small; it’s a battle I chose not to pick. At the end of the day, spend your energy in a way that you are proud of and that is going to align most with your goals.

yummy that you’ll never want to eat anything else ever again!

The final way to have fun is the most complex thing ever. It is so complex that… that… (dang it, I can’t think of a good joke; that is how complex it is). This is so fun that it is dangerous. Only the most trained professionals who are willing to give up everything to try out this method of fun can do it. Did you know how many people were shocked when they learned about this method of having fun? I would have to say exactly nine hundred ninety-nine zillion, nine hundred ninety-nine trillion, nine hundred ninety-nine billion, nine hundred ninety-nine million, nine hundred ninety-nine thousand, and nine hundred and ninety-nine. People were so shocked when they learned about this method of fun that their bodies were used as electrical outlets to charge devices such as phones and laptops. So are you ready to ready to listen to how to have fun? Here it is…………………………..

Sike! There’s no complex way to have fun! You should have fun however you want!

BY ANNA DABROWSKI

‘26

this been an experience. To be honest, most of my ideas for this column came on Sunday afternoons, hours before my drafts were due, but what can I say? It’s hard to write articles loosely on the same topic each week. This column has taught me to think outside of the box and really look around myself when coming up with biweekly topics. But now, as we approach the end of the year, I want to discuss the impending end of the year and all of the red flags associated with it. Incessantly checking LinkedIn to see who got what internships is lowkey, and it’s a red flag for yourself. At the end of the day, it really doesn’t matter that much, your plans are set for the summer. Wheth-

er you got your dream internship or nothing at all, it’s going to be okay. The job market is rough right now, and landing an internship in some fields is more luck than anything. Give yourself some grace and stop doom-scrolling on LinkedIn, I guarantee your life is not going to be determined by the summer of 2024.

When it comes to finals, being too hard on yourself is a red flag. We are all out here trying to survive, and employers are not going to overanalyze your GPA. If you get a B or a C in a few classes, it’s not the end of the world. Stevens is a very rigorous college, and employers know that. It really isn’t worth your mental health to continuously ruminate on why you didn’t get an A in a class or if you could have performed better on a final.

It’s time to go outside, like really go touch some grass. It is a red flag to stay inside on sunny, warm days because you are depriving yourself of lovely dopamine that will make you happy. We have a lovely green campus here at Stevens, so it only makes sense to use it. Grab a picnic blanket and some homework and sprawl out on the lawn. Make studying fun by bathing in the sunshine. Heck, even bring a sweet treat with you, like a baked good or a coffee as some studying motivation. If you are going to have your nose in a book, it might as well be outside. When finals are actually over and whatever plans you have commenced, it’s a red flag to get too caught up in whatever job you may have. Even if you have a super cool internship for the summer, it’s important to remember that you only get so many summers in college. So, hang out with friends after work or go on adventures; if you get time off, you should take it. You are only young once, and especially if you are staying in the area, summer in the city has so much to offer. From free performances in Central Park to the multitudes of festivals, do not let yourself miss out on life for a corporate job. With all that said, the main trend is to be kind to yourself. Sometimes, we can be our own red flags and bring ourselves down, so remember to lift yourself up. It has been a pleasure writing this column for the past year, and thank you for reading it. Happy almost summertime!

Opinion

EXPLORING: A STUDENT’S GUIDE TO NEW YORK CITY Central Park: a historical gem of New York City

As the weather becomes increasingly warm, one of my favorite things to do in New York City is explore the many parks spread across the urban sprawl, like the High Line in the last edition of this

column. Today, I will take you along one of my favorite routes of a park in the city: an evening tour of Central Park. Before diving into what to do in Central Park, it is essential to understand the history of how the park came to be. In 1811, the city implemented the grid design we know today, but in 1853 the city was still drowning in overpopulation, pollution, and dense city blocks. Following a competition seeking design proposals, the city went with the idea of famed architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, who included easily accessed walking paths and sprawling

DEAR CLAIRE AND ETHAN...

hills with different levels of passages to keep carriages (or later cars), bikes, and pedestrians. The construction began in 1858 and opened incrementally over the next 15 years to great success. Central Park saw numerous developments, like sporting fields, park infrastructure updates, and landscaping upkeep as time passed.

It is crucial to recognize that before the construction of Central Park, the area was Seneca Village, a community of African-Americans and immigrants, all land-owning in an escape from the discrimination of the rest of the city. Through the contro-

Q: Any advice to survive finals?

BY CLAIRE HANNAN ‘24

The end of the semester can definitely be a stressful time. Most of us are already neck-deep in final projects and studying for final exams. I know you’ve probably already heard all the standard advice to create study

schedules and avoid cramming. One thing I haven’t heard people say very often, but I still think is important, is that finals shouldn’t be any more difficult than the rest of the semester. I think the reason that people get stressed about finals and pull all-nighters is because we feel like it’s the right thing to do. Media over-dramatizes the importance of final exams, and we’ve been told over and over again that the end of the semester should be stressful. If you really think about it, though, most people don’t have more than four final exams in a twoweek period and maybe two or three final projects. Yes,

BOOK OF THE WEEK

the tests are more extensive than normal and have more weight on your grade, but eight hours a day of studying should be more than enough to prepare; that’s the same as a full-time job. I think that getting so stressed out about those final deadlines makes us less efficient and less con fident in our skills. Spiraling about how little time you have and how much you have to do might make some peo ple work harder, but most people crumble under this pressure. I think you should remember that you’ve been working hard for months. Just keep up what you’ve already been doing and take care of yourself.

versial process of eminent domain, where the government can essentially pay to kick you off your land, the city took over the land that was Seneca Village. Many say when eminent domain is used, the landowners are often not given fair compensation, especially people of color with limited rights at the time.

The history of Central Park is often at the forefront of my mind as I wander around. The park includes many diverse areas for its purpose. During the warm, sunny months, I have enjoyed a picnic with friends at Sheep Meadow or playing

lawn golf on the Great Lawn. Enjoying the park in a completely different light is just as easy. Last fall, I visited Central Park to explore its music history. I’ve walked through Strawberry Fields and the Dakota memorials to John Lennon or the location of the famous Simon and Garfunkel concert of 1982. At other times, I enjoy the park’s architecture, admiring the original arch bridges and paths. Beyond what is in the park, Central Park is—central—spanning from 60th St. to 110th St. and 5th to 8th Avenue. I will often not go to Central Park. Still, it is

the only way to get from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the American Museum of Natural History or from one of my favorite Italian restaurants on 60th and Madison to the Lincoln Center to enjoy a symphony—one of my alltime favorite weekend evening excursions. Central Park is one of the highlights of New York City. It suits everyone from history and music nerds (like me) to ultra-marathoners who enjoy the 58 miles of paths and everyone in between. As the spring turns to summer, get out and enjoy this gem of the city, and if you don’t see me at Stevens, check Central Park!

BY ETHAN KLESCHINSKY

Oh boy, it’s that time of the year again! With finals drawing nearer, students begin to flock to the library, spend less time outside than they already did, and disappear off the grid. Finals are always a

wonderful time for the social rejects of campus to embrace who they truly are and shut-in. However, for most, finals are not something to look forward to and can be incredibly stressful. When you think about it, everything you worked on all semester comes down to one set of tests to determine your GPA that will ultimately affect your opportunities to be employed at places you want to, but haha, no pressure, right!? But for real, if you need to get through finals, it is best to hunker down and prioritize knowing what you need to know to pass your classes. You will always have

friends who will want to go out, either due to them not having finals or not caring about their grades, but it is for the best to prioritize education. I mean, you are here for your degree, right? The best way to get through finals is to try your hardest, but most importantly, pray on the downfall of your peers. If the rest of the class fails, the professor will have to curve the grades so you will end with a decent grade that you totally didn’t deserve. It typically all works out in the end, so don’t get too overwhelmed by it!

A Tale of Two Cities : Dichotomies in violence and justice

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

The line is infamous in English literature as Charles Dickens’ 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, to frame the motif of duality throughout the seven monthly installments of the novel to-be. My first reading of A Tale of Two Cities was involuntary and laden with reading checks and times essays during my junior year AP Language class. While I’m not the biggest fan of

male white-washed literature curriculums, Dickens centers the novel around the duality of good versus evil, order versus chaos, within the settings of the late 18th century London and revolting Paris (woah, the two cities) but drives the theme of how these contrasts are deceptive. And so, I only came to appreciate the opening lines during the quite recent second read in the backdrop of academic free will and churning news headlines of contradiction. The following lines of the opening paragraph set the tone of tension — a push and pull that has to give and brings me back to themes of protest as “it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, to was the epoch of belief, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

Let them eat cake. It builds up to La Révolution and the reign of the guillotine as Dickens depicts the pre-French Revolution tension through rising heat, violence, and social injustice. Dickens’ descriptive language portrays a growing class conflict, impending massacre, and the aftermath of the revolution as the plot climax aligns with the height of the French revolt. Between London and Paris, the main characters Charles Darnay, an ex-french aristocrat looking to renounce his family title, and Sydney Carton, a brooding English lawyer, fall for fair Lucie Manette, a Frenchwoman dedicated to caring for her father after his 18-yearlong imprisonment in Bastille. A love triangle churns amidst a hateful revolution of the people as the protagonists become collateral in the agenda of the French

revolutionaries, and further dichotomies appear through character foiling and plot events that pair moments of revenge with the resolution of redemption and hope. Charles and Sydney are two men who are inverse images of each other. Despite the uncanny physical resemblance, Charles is a kind gentleman who gets the girl, and Sydney remains a self-loathing alcoholic who changes at an ultimatum of sacrifice.

While the plot is split into three sections — exposition, the chaos of the revolution, and the aftermath — the love triangle is complicated by a symmetry of foiling characters that change hands. The Defarges are introduced as a middle-aged French revolutionary couple leading the revolt. Therese Defarge is a malevolent force that perpetually knits a

FOR MATH’S SAKE Is mathematics a universal language?

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

mathematics I’ve been mull ing over and share some thoughts that will hopefully lay the groundwork for more in-depth articles in the coming school year. (I should also note that you, the read-

er, are more than welcome to suggest mathematical topics you’d like me to cover! Feel free to reach out if this is the case.)

Something that’s been subtly ingrained into my psyche over the years of studying mathematics and other math-heavy fields is that it provides us humans with a universal language. One of the common features of the earliest civilizations was some sort of number system, which they used for exchanging goods, tallying up foods or raw materials, and keeping track of time. These practical tasks came along with the actual mathematics that some of the highest-level civilizations were doing and continued into the modern era. As math has become

standardized around the world, today, we may have no idea what a piece of text or a speech recording in some language we don’t know is saying. But people who speak different languages could both write down an equation and, if they are familiar enough with mathematics, know exactly what each other means. This is the hard part about making a claim like “math is a universal language,” however. We have to be familiar with mathematics at the level of the equation or expression to actually understand what it’s saying. Very few people can do this for Einstein’s field equations or the Standard Model Lagrangian, which are supposed to describe fundamental as-

pects of reality. However, with COVID’s disruption to in-person learning, students at all levels showcased dips in the understanding of much more basic mathematics, and underrepresented groups continue to struggle in mathematics despite efforts to improve.

What I plan to look into more in the coming year are the specific ways in which mathematics education is flawed. I think a big part of the problem involves the history of mathematics. Like all forms of history, it is written by the most powerful at the grave expense of the rest, but we can’t come to terms with math’s history if it’s never really covered in mathematics courses. For anything that’s “universal”—music and visual art

red scarf to fuel the revolt until the sinister string of red instills a motif of vengeance against the French aristocracy. Madame Defarge represents a direct foil to Lucie’s loving nature and supports a struggle of good versus evil, villain, and damsel, until the opposing roles dissipate during the resolution. Duality dominates the character exposition as Dickens paints a lineup of characters with their inverse selves, consistent with the opening lines of contradiction as the motivations and themes of the novel flip between each paired main character.

Obviously, my second reading was the bigger picture, without the dread of a reading check, and I have a newfound awe for character symmetry and an intense plot arc that captures passions of rebellion with underlying sadness for op -

posing realities. While the love triangle represents the plot catalyst, the prevailing theme, to me, was a sacrifice as a labor of love and/or a quelling of pain that emphasizes the complexity of protest. Duality exists in every narrative, but Dickens’ direct comparison of opposing truths resonates with student activism and the symmetry of hope and despair.

come to mind—it still helps to know at least a little about the pioneers and visionaries who discovered such things in order to connect with it in a more holistic sense. The most abstract math may be beautiful to some, but it’s lost on the public, especially if they’re given the impression that it’s evidence of some divine law when it doesn’t help them pay the bills.

Despite the negatives, I remain optimistic that math can become a more universal language. Mathematics remains the best tool we have for understanding the fundamentals and expanding the frontiers of the natural sciences. Its practicality in those everyday tasks may seem less and less relevant with the growing power of

AI, along with the wealth of other technologies from the calculator on your phone to the budget tracker on your banking app, but the logic and reasoning skills built from a good basis in math remain innately helpful and innately human. I’ll end with best wishes to all of you as you approach finals – many of you will likely have at least one final involving some math, and this can bring up feelings ranging from excitement (probably just me) to utter dread. Whatever you may be feeling is valid (unless you’re excited like me, in which case you’re probably crazy). But Stevens is a place of great thinkers, and this is the best trait one can have in order to excel in mathematics.

‘24

PHOTO COURTESY OF AMAZON

ROVING REPORTER

By Rafael Lee Li and Mia Petrolino

“If you were a kitchen utensil, what would you be?”

Crossword

Gaby Almario ‘27 “A melon scooper.”

Noah Brown ‘27 “A strainer.”

David Collini ‘28

“A spork, I like to have utility.”

Adeen Qureshi ‘27 “A can opener.”

Terrence Meekins ‘24 “A grinder because I’m always on the grind.”

Bryan Barzola ‘27 “A butter knife.”

Nicole Assante ‘26

“I feel like I’d be a KitchenAid mixer.”

Wiktoria Jurgowska ‘24

“Rubber spatula. Hehe.”