[The Stute] May 3, 2024 (Issue 27, Volume CXXI)

Sikh Students host Colonel Kalsi and Mayor Bhalla

BEN KNOBLOCH, NEWS EDITOR

The Stevens Sikh Association (SSA) recently hosted U.S. Lieutenant Colonel Kamal Singh Kalsi, better known as Colonel Kalsi, for a viewing of his namesake documentary. The event attracted audience members from Rutgers, Fordham, and NJIT, and even drew Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla. To learn more about the event as well as the Stevens Sikh Association’s other activities, The Stute spoke with SSA President Ravinder Chopra and Vice President Rai Singh Bindra.

The scope of the event may hide the fact that the SSA is still a new organization on campus. Chopra says that the founding of the nascent club was inspired by the desire to create a supportive community for Sikh students on campus. She noted that Sikh students may “feel misunderstood due to their religious and cultural practices, so having a space where they can connect with others who share their experiences and values can be incredibly empowering.”

Sikhism, a religion that originated in the Punjab region of India, is the

SEE SIKH PAGE 2

ARTHUR SERRA, MANAGING EDITOR

week. This change occurred after the removal of the security desk that used to be in the first floor lobby of Howe.

Grad student project aims to disrupt duopoly in mobile market

space to be open at all times for those who live off campus, as well as a secure indoor space to use at night.

to only hold the door open to fellow Stevens people to ensure the safety of the space.

EWB to bring water solution to Peruvian community

Who’s running for NJ’s eighth district elections?

WHAT ARE MAYOR RAVI BHALLA’S CHANCES OF WINNING?

JEREMIAH CHINWENDU, STAFF WRITER

Ravi Bhalla, who has served as Mayor of Hoboken since 2018, has announced that he is running for Congress. Who else is running to represent New Jersey’s eighth congressional district, and what are Bhalla’s chances of winning?

Ravi Bhalla was born and raised in New Jersey and has been a resident of Hoboken for 22 years. He served eight years on the Hoboken city council before being elected mayor in November of 2017. Since then, he has made policies to improve the city of Hoboken by addressing problems revolving around climate and municipal taxes. For instance, in 2019, he signed the City’s Climate Action Plan, whose initiatives included introducing a composting dropoff, eliminating plastic bags and styrofoam, and introducing a fully recyclable source of electricity for Hoboken’s municipal buildings. The improvements he made to the city earned him the respect of the residents of Hoboken and led to his reelection in 2021. Bhalla hopes to take similar ideas to a larger scale as he expands his scope by campaigning for the representative of New Jersey’s

eighth congressional district in Congress.

Bhalla will challenge the current district representative, Robert Mendez Jr. The candidates, both Democrats, have secured endorsements from Congress leaders and activists alike.

As reported by Joey Fox, Mendez has the support of council members Ruben Ramos and Tiffanie Fisher. “Fisher is a former Hoboken Democratic chairwoman who has become Bhalla’s most committed critic on the city council.” Fisher specifically stated that her endorsement of the current representative was an easy decision to make because of his “accessibility and willingness to engage in open dialogue, always seeking ways to help residents of Hoboken.” She stated that Menendez embodied democratic values in his actions as a representative and the work he has done in Congress. This includes “serving constituents, and securing federal resources for our district,” as reported by Fox.

Bhalla has the support of Councilman Joe Quintero, who previously worked with him during his time as mayor and can attest to his effectiveness and care for the city. Quintero said, “In Congress,

SEE BHALLA PAGE 2

Campus PD Zoom Phone enhances safety and connectivity

In the world of operating systems, the software systems that manage how a computer’s resources are allocated and provide common services for computer programs, the market has long been dominated by just a couple of platforms. MeghaOS is an innovative technology company founded by Stevens students, including graduate student and CEO Abhishek Kuruba Nagabhushanam. The technology aims to disrupt the major duopolies by positioning itself at the forefront of operating system development. Their latest innovation, the Megha Phone, challenges the current mobile market by bringing together the functionality provided by a typical smartphone and a more powerful computing device. Windows and macOS, which are owned by Micro-

NEWS (2-3) Howe is 24/7, Megha Phones project, Zoom phone, Bhalla for Congress, EWB Peru trip, and the Sikh Student Association.

(6-7)

PHOTO COURTESY OF MEGHAOS ON YOUTUBE

soft and Apple, respectively, dominate the personal computer market with a combined market share of about 90%. For the mobile market, the major OS systems are Android and iOS, which are owned by Google and Apple respectively and command nearly 100% combined market share. Recently, MeghaOS has made its way in, trying to challenge these popularly used systems by creating a system that offers the features of both a personal computer and mobile device, all on the phone.

Founded on September 21st, 2019, MeghaOS’s goal is to help users transition from Windows and Mac environments to Linux environments. With the Megha Phone, the company uses software to implement both the Android Play Store and Linux software store into a single mobile device. Additionally, for those unfamil-

SEE MEGHA PAGE 3

This summer, in line with the mission of the organization, the Stevens Chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB) is traveling to Chua Chua, Peru, for their next project. EWB is a national organization with the mission of building a better world through engineering projects that enable communities to meet basic needs that were not previously being met. This organization allows college students to volunteer to reach out to these communities all over the world to bring these engineering solutions. To learn more about the project and how the group has been planning for it, The Stute talked with Ben Knobloch, Vice President of the Steven’s Chapter of EWB. This trip marks a major step in the club’s comeback following the COVID-19 pandemic. Regarding the goal

of the trip and the ones that will follow, Knobloch states the purpose is to “pursue our new water retention project in the community of Chua Chua, Peru.” Chua Chua, a remote community located in the Cusco region in the Andes mountains, is part of the Q’eros Nation. The Q’ero are the last living direct descendants of the Incas and were able to survive the Spanish conquest by receding into the mountains. Their language is Quechua, a widely spoken indigenous language, and their economy relies mostly on farming alpaca and selling fleece and jerky in local markets. They have been able to maintain their lifestyle and cultural heritage for centuries; unfortunately, due to climate change, they have experienced low water retention during the dry season, which has affected the alpaca pop-

SEE EWB PAGE 3

ISABELLA ZIV, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

On Tuesday, April 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., the Division of Information Technology migrated the Campus Police Department’s phone system to Zoom Phone. This project was announced on July 10 of last year, with the planning and procurement phase taking place in December 2023 and migration scheduled for April and May 2024. Recognizing the importance of seamless accessibility to the police department at any given time, a campus-wide email was dispatched Tuesday morning as a precautionary measure, providing an alternate number to reach police while the main line was down.

Before this transition, Stevens relied on an outdated on-site Cisco hardware system that was no longer supported by current standards. The adoption of Zoom Phone marks a significant leap forward, facilitating unlimited calls via the internet through a cloud-based solution.

While the Campus Police Department is the latest to make this transition, any faculty or staff member can opt for a Zoom-sup-

ported desk phone by submitting a request through the Stevens Support Portal. These desk phones, priced at approximately $169, are department-funded and require approval from the respective Vice President.

The advantages of Zoom Phone include greater mobility, expanded privacy, device options, decreased environmental impact, efficiency, and network flexibility. Leveraging a softphone service, calls can now be effortlessly placed over the internet using various devices on the Zoom Phone Mobile App, Desktop App, or desk sets. Stevens’s departments who make the transition will no longer have the constraints of traditional phone systems, and can use their designated Stevens phone numbers from any location without a VPN connection. Consequently, the reduction in physical desk phones not only streamlines operations but also aligns with the university’s sustainability objectives by curbing electronic waste.

Stevens has been utilizing Zoom’s services for many years now as its campus-wide web-conferencing system, seamlessly

SEE ZOOM PAGE 3

ISABELLA ZIV FOR THE STUTE

SEAN ANDERSON, STAFF WRITER

PHOTO COURTESY OF EWB-SIT

SEAN ANDERSON, STAFF WRITER

Masthead

Volume CXXI No. 27

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

Sean Anderson

Jeremiah Chinwendu

Sara Wolf

Tanishka Kapoor

Riyana Phadke

Nicole Cheung

Ethan Kleschinsky

Madison Heller

Claire Hannan

Hima Thummala

Doug Sousa

Rachel Abraham Advait Dantuluri

Josie Strano

Jack Scherban

Danielle Tuiran

Emily Martinez

GENERAL.........................................EBOARD@THESTUTE.COM

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

ADVERTISING.............................BUSINESS@THESTUTE.COM

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NOTICE A MISTAKE?

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SIKH

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fifth-largest religion in the world. Sikhs are considered a distinct ethnic group in the United States.

SSA joins a host of other religious and identity organizations on campus, which have become some of the largest and most popular student groups. As a new effort, though, Chopra says that building up the SSA has been an ongoing but rewarding process, indicating the administrative hurdles and the need to find supporters among both the student body and faculty members. “We’ve been actively recruiting members, organizing events, and establishing partnerships with other student organizations to raise awareness about Sikh culture and issues,” she said. On the Association’s agenda to achieve further expansion are regular meetings, event planning sessions, and continuous outreach efforts. “We’re optimistic about the future and excited to continue growing and serving the Sikh community on campus.”

The documentary viewing, which preceded Sikh Heritage Month of April, is part of a series of efforts that SSA hopes will spark discussions relating to Sikh culture, history, and social issues.

“One of our [alumni], Jagnoor Gandhok, has family connections with Colonel Kalsi which allowed us to initiate this viewing of the documentary,” and invite him to campus, said Chopra. Gandhok also played a large part in the SSA’s founding.

After graduating from Stevens with a degree in biomedical engineering, Colonel Kalsi distinguished himself by fighting to become the first turbaned and bearded officer to serve in the U.S. Army. His story was recounted in last year’s documentary Colonel Kalsi: Beyond The Call, which showcased his struggle to serve his country while remaining consistent with his Sikh values and practices. The documentary viewing in the UCC Gallery was followed by a question and answer session with Colonel Kalsi himself.

Chopra recounted Kalsi’s story, saying that while he was allowed to retain his religious attire during training, the Army later pulled back when it was time for his deployment to Afghanistan. He was ordered to cut his hair and shave his beard under “esprit de corps,” which refers to the cohesion of the military unit. This was a justification also used to keep other religious and racial minorities and women out of the military, she says.

Ultimately, Kalsi successful-

ly petitioned the Army to allow him to maintain his appearance and religious obligations. “Colonel Kalsi’s journey, progress, and constant battle to acclaim religious accommodations is inspiring for the youth to open doors, but also revolutionize the United States inclusivity system.”

Viewers also had the privilege to speak with the other distinguished attendee, Mayor Bhalla, who is the first Sikh mayor in New Jersey. However, this event is only the start for SSA, which plans more documentary viewings in addition to cultural celebrations, educational workshops, interfaith dialogues, and community service projects. Chopra says that SSA wants to highlight not just the religious aspect of Sikhism but also “the Punjabi cultural impact on our rich backgrounds.” She invited other student organizations to reach out to SSA for collaborative events that can help raise awareness of Sikh culture and values.

For the latest updates, reach out to SSA officers directly or check @stevens_ssa on Instagram or DuckLink for upcoming events.

“The Sikh community at Stevens is small,” said Chopra, but “we are definitely recognized on campus.

BHALLA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

we can count on Ravi to stand up for women’s reproductive rights, work to protect and strengthen our democracy, and to speak out against the rising tide of hatred and racism that is plaguing our nation,” as reported by Fox. Bhalla is the son of Sikh Indian immigrants. Racism and injustice are things he personally experienced during his time as mayor and serve as some of the main issues he wishes to tackle should he be awarded a seat in the district.

The primary election for district representatives will happen in June of this year. Since the eighth district is heavily Democratic, the winner of this primary election is projected to win the following election in November, reports Nikita Biryukov.

Both candidates have their own plans to accomplish similar goals when helping the city of Hoboken. However, both have also seen their share of controversy surrounding their pasts and endorsements. Sen. Robert Menendez Sr. had come under fire last year for federal cor-

ruption charges, which luckily has not stood in the way of his son getting endorsements from Congress for his run. Bhalla had received endorsements from David Ocampo Grajales, who has repeatedly stood for the defunding of police. Members of Congress have seen this idea as being not only dangerous to the community but also insulting to those who work hard to protect it. Moreover, Menendez called out Bhalla in December 2023, stating that the only reason Bhalla is starting a campaign against him now after endorsing Menendez’s run in

[...] We are an inclusive community and would love to share our experiences, religion, rich culture, and food.”

the city council, he sees no political future for himself in Hoboken,” as reported by Biryukov. In addition, Bhalla called out both Menendez and his father, stating that they enforced policies that served only themselves and not the people they were appointed to serve. It is not clear at this moment who the victor of this race will be, as both members care deeply for this city and fight hard to promote their own agendas for improving it. New Jersey members living in District 8 are encouraged to vote in this election and make their voices

PHOTO COURTESY OF RAI SINGH

EWB CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ulation and, thus, their way of life. In order to help them while making sure that they can maintain their cultural heritage, this is where EWB gets involved.

Knobloch noted that this first trip to Chua Chua is part of the Assessment Phase for the chapter’s project. While there, the chapter will be carrying out survey work and taking measurements. Additionally, they will be getting to know the members of the community better and allowing them to understand the plans of action better since the people living in Chua Chua will be the ones using the water retention system. This will be

MEGHA

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iar with Linux, MeghaOS allows users to run Windows software alongside MeghaOS.

the first of three trips correlating to each phase of the project. For this project, the travel team was selected based on those that were most active and best fit based on the specific goals of the trip. This project’s travel team consists of Cole Spitzner, President of Stevens EWB, Ben Knobloch, Vice President of EWB, Meghan Slate, Secretary of EWB, Vince Menichelli, Project Development Lead, and Will Franznick, Fundraising Lead. The team will also be joined by engineering advisors for the project.

To be fully prepared for a trip like this, much work went into planning. Knobloch discussed how the project group “frequently communicates with our professional engineer advisors and community stakeholders to learn more about the culture of the community, the

With these capabilities, a user could connect their phone to a monitor and complete tasks usually only possible with a personal computer by using Desktop mode, another feature offered by the phone. Some additional features of the phone include robust privacy and security features. MeghaOS implements built-in encryption and secure boot processes with the phone, and the company affirms that it does not collect user data. Megha also promises a smoother

nature of the water retention problem, the climate and conditions of the Andes in August, and other variables.” Additionally, due to the remote location of the community and no access to some basic amenities like latrines, the project group will be away from what is familiar and will need to be ready to adapt to these conditions. The travel group leaves on August 11 to make the trip and will be there for about a week.

Fundraising also became an integral part of the planning, including activities around campus and online. Stevens EWB was able to raise funds through means such as a bake sale, a partnership with Honeygrow, and campaigns on FlipGive and through EWB-USA. Due to the generosity of the community, this first trip has been fully

performance and faster response time due to having a clean and lightweight operating system that is free of bloatware, or unwanted software that would slow down the device.

funded. If you are interested in getting involved with EWB, keep an eye out for events held by the chapter. Knobloch notes, “We also aim to raise awareness for our project and give back to the Hoboken community,” as seen in their recent activities, including the 14th St. Beach Cleanup event for Stevens Week of Service. Additionally, EWB holds GBMs and events on Thursday nights at 9:15 p.m., Project Development meetings on Saturdays at 11 a.m., and Fundraising Meetings on Tuesdays at 4 p.m. All are welcome. As Knobloch states, “don’t worry if you’re not an engineer— we’re looking for management skills, promotional skills, you name it! The only prerequisite is a desire to use your abilities to make a positive difference for others.”

A notable unique future feature of the device is the offline AI assistant currently in development by MeghaOS. This assistant, referred to as AskMegha, allows the user to ask any question regardless if they are connected to the internet.

ZOOM

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integrating it into Canvas and Outlook. The integration of Zoom Phone pairs well with the suite of communication tools already in use, creating a more cohesive ecosystem for enhanced connectivity and collaboration. The transition of the Police Department to this platform marks a pivotal step toward a more interconnected and efficient campus community. Students should not expect to see any further disruptions, as the transition maintains continuity of service with the same police numbers and 24/7/365 accessibility.

Many AI assistants, including Apple’s Siri, Microsoft’s Cortana, and Amazon’s Alexa, typically operate online to allow access to data in real-time; however, an offline AI assistant can allow the user faster processing and storage on the device with the added incentive of privacy and security by keeping the data local. This feature may or may not be in the first generation release of the Megha Phone.

To find out more about the operating system or to try it for yourself, you can visit the MeghaOS website at meghaos.co.in and download the Trial Edition. Additionally, Megha phones are available through pre-order at Indiegogo.

VOLLEYBALL SEMIFINALS

In a nail-biting showdown at the NCAA Tournament semifinal on Friday, April 26, the No. 2 Stevens Institute of Technology men’s volleyball team faced a heart-wrenching defeat against No. 4 Cal Lutheran, losing 3-2 in the final set by a slim margin. Despite a valiant effort led by Junior Koby Sherman’s impressive performance, including a team-high 21 kills, Stevens couldn’t maintain their early lead, ultimately falling short in the decisive moments. The loss marks the end of a remarkable 30-game winning streak and a fourth-place finish for the defending national champions.

Watch Party

Students watched a live stream of the game in the UCC Students Commons with pizza and snacks provided by the Student Government Association (SGA). Many members of the community came to show their support, including members of the Women’s Volleyball team and club volleyball.

In Iowa

Parents as well as VP of Student Affairs Sara Klein flew out to catch the game live on Friday in Dubuque, Iowa, filling the stands with pride and cheers. Their unwavering support boosted morale and brought spirit with lots of Stevens gear and enthusiasm.

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

ISABELLA ZIV FOR THE STUTE

PHOTO COURTESY OF SARA KLEIN

Women’s Tennis to take on MAC Freedom Championship Final

BY ABBY JACOBS, DIGITAL MANAGER

Women’s Tennis is now set to take on the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom Championship Final tomorrow, May 4, at Braddock Park, in North Bergen, NJ. The team secured their place in this match following a 6-0 record throughout the conference, and having defeated Arcadia University last Tuesday, April 30. Their regular season in the conference ended with an 8-0 win over King’s College on Saturday, April 27. This match began with singles, played by sophomores Stephanie Untermeyer, Anya Sharma, and Aliona Heitz, as well as first-years Julianna Gomez, Julia Chiovitti, and Lorena Piegas. Each player took their victory in two sets, with point differentials never reaching below three, though Sharma was the only one to achieve a 6-0, 6-0 win. Piegas, Sharma, Heitz,

and Chiovitti all won two matches during the day, and they went on to win their doubles matches as well. This match would also be Piegas’s seventh straight win in doubles.

The Ducks fought Arcadia Uni versity in the MAC semifinals on April 30 in Bayonne, NJ. They had previously played Arcadia in the regular season, where they had clinched an 8-1 victory, with their one loss coming from a loss in a singles match. This time, the Ducks rolled Arcadia 5-0, with Untermeyer and first-year Alix Dry securing two wins during the day. The two paired up in doubles, where they went 8-1, followed by 8-3 and 8-1 wins by doubles pair Piegas and senior Polina Odintse va and doubles pair Gomez and ju nior Isabella Dona. In singles, Dry and Untermeyer took the same 6-1, 6-0 victory, and while the rest of the matches were unfinished, each of the other Ducks had won

their first set and were up in their second.

Now on a nine-win streak, the team is set to take on either Lebanon Valley College or Misericor-

dia University tomorrow, Satur day, May 4, in the MAC Freedom Championship Final. Should they secure the win, this will be their third straight MAC Freedom title.

Women’s and Men’s Track & Field triumph at Penn Relays and Monarch Open

BY RUTHIE MULLISKY, SPORTS EDITOR

This past weekend, the Women’s and Men’s Track & Field teams competed in the Penn Relays on Friday, April 26, at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA, and, on the following day, the Monarch Open at King’s College in Wilkes Barre, PA. These two meets marked the teams’ last meets before the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Outdoor Championships, and both teams proved to be very successful in each meet.

At the Penn Relays, which is the largest and oldest track meet in the United States, the Ducks found success, even when competing against athletes from other conferences. The women’s team sent four athletes to this meet:

first-year Isabella Shanley, sophomore Isabel Vogel, senior Allie Cancianci, and graduate student Laura Mathews. They competed in the Centennial/MAC 4x400-meter relay, finishing in a time of 4:00.96 and placing second. Mathews competed in the 100-meter hurdles, being only one of two non-Division I athletes in the race, and finished in a season-best time of 13.92 seconds, placing sixth in her heat and 17th overall. This placing put her ahead of athletes from Rutgers, Syracuse, Pitt, South Florida, and Columbia just to name a few, as well as putting her as the top seed in the 100-meter hurdle race in the MAC championship meet. The men’s team was also very successful at the Penn Relays. Like the women’s team, they sent a team to compete in the 4x4-me -

ter relay, including sophomores Brandon Kiefer, Mick Barbi, Connor Robinson, and graduate student Kajetan Leitner. They finished in a season-best time of 3:29.69, placing fourth.

The Monarch Open similarly brought along record-breaking performances from both teams.

First-year Maya Lapinski cleared 1.57 meters in the high jump to set a new season best and also allowed her to finish second. Additionally, she finished second in the long jump after jumping 4.99 meters, an impressive feat, noting that this was her first-ever collegiate attempt in the long jump.

On top of Lapinski’s personal record-breaking performances, senior Fionna Feerick ran the 5,000-meter race in a season-best time of 21:47.86, and sophomore Gianna Adamo won the steeple -

chase in a time of 14:04.8 to set a new personal record. To continue this success, sophomore Alexis Merola won the pole vault after posting a height of 3.25 meters. On the men’s team, more personal records were shattered. Barbi ran the 400-meter hurdles in 1:00.14, marking a new personal record and placing him in first.

First-year Ryan Paradine set a new collegiate best after running the 1500-meter in 4:11.49. Among other top performances were sophomore Caleb Stephen winning the 800-meter in 2:02.54 and first-year Chris Persico winning the pole vault after clearing 3.72 meters. Both teams will be competing in the MAC Outdoor Championships, to be held in Chester, PA, from May 2 to May 4.

STEVENS SCOREBOARD

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

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

IT’S FINALLY FINALS!

Caffeine and final exams: is it worth it?

BY TANYA AVADIA, BUSINESS EDITOR

As the dread of finals season looms over students, many will have to spend late nights studying, completing assignments, and generally catching up on course material. A preface to the oncoming final exams period is the natural increase in sightings of students consuming coffee, energy drinks, and other caffeinated beverages. While caffeine is a great tool to assist with staying up late and working long hours, the consumption of caffeine in stressful circumstances can do more harm than good.

Many studies have been done on the impact of caffeine consumption, and the commonality is that it should not be consumed when stressed. Caffeine consumption is directly linked to changes in blood vessel function. Dr. John Higgins, chief of cardiology at Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital, a sports cardiologist, and a professor at McGovern Medical School at UT Health in Houston, took a closer look at how blood vessels in the human body reacted under the influence of caffeine. He studied 44 non-smoking medical students who were in their 20s. As a part of the study, the participants’ blood vessel function was

monitored before they consumed any energy drinks and once again after they consumed one 24 oz can of energy drink. The findings showcased that the dilation of blood vessels was weakened afterward. The drink reduced the amount the blood vessel dilates by half. “During exercise or under stress, your arteries have to open up because they need to get blood to the muscles, heart and brain. If there is impairment during exercise or mental stress, it could lead to adverse effects,” stated Dr. Higgins. For this reason, while caffeine can be a great tool used to combat droopy eyes and serve as a motivation to study, it is not meant to be used in situations where blood flow is especially required to the brain.

Another concern regarding the consumption of caffeinated energy drinks is the ingredients. The market for energy drinks has grown significantly over the last few years and is only projected to continue doing so. Currently, new drinks are being put out on the market, adding some health benefits such as vitamins and marketing the products to provide better memory enhancement or concentration. However, the issue this poses is that the ingredients used often exceed the recommended nutritional values. According to

Dr. Higgins, these additional ingredients make caffeinated energy drinks more addicting, and according to the research company Statista, one in four people between the ages of 18 to 69 years old consume an energy drink on a daily basis. This is of concern as the possibility of relying on caffeinated energy drinks in times of stress could possibly lead to lon-

ger-term frequent use, which possesses adverse health issues.

While it is important to note the harmful consequences of relying on caffeine, there is still a reason why students use it: staying awake to study. However, if students really need something to sustain themselves during the finals season, Dr. Higgins suggests different alternatives. A quick run, stretching, and power napping can also provide a boost of energy and be more effective than any source of caffeine. Lastly, Dr. Higgins also states, “If you are really that tired and coffee isn’t keeping you awake, you should probably go to sleep. You aren’t going to remember anything for the test anyway.”

Level Up: why video game music helps you study

How should you use your extra meal swipes?

BY SARA WOLF, CONTRIBUTOR

With the school year coming to a close, many of the first year students are wondering the same thing: “What should I do with the rest of my meal swipes?” As we all know now, the first year meal plan consists of more swipes than most students know what to do with. Very few students are able to use up all of their swipes on their own, and unless they’re Pierce Dining Hall’s #1 fan (you know who you are), a large fraction of these swipes will be wasted. If you’re struggling to use up your entire plan, do not fear! There’s a few options to spend those final swipes:

1. Feed the Flock! Feed the Flock is a new initiative that allows students to donate up to 10% of their unused meal swipes to combat food insecurity on campus. Any student in need of a meal swipe can request a swipe from the community bank to be added to their account.

2. Bulk Ordering

At the end of every semester, Dining Services will open “Bulk Order” forms for students to order items such as cases of water, ramen, poptarts, or whole pizzas for a few meal swipes! This is a great way to carry your meal plan over through the summer – or to stock up on little treats during finals season.

3. Feed Me. The BEST way (in my completely unbiased opinion) to make a new bestie and use up those final swipes is to “buy” an upperclassmen a meal! I promise you, they are just as hungry as the freshman but do not have the meal plans to justify going to Pierce outside of Sushi Friday. Do yourself (and us) a favor and offer to grab a Yella’s shake for the junior or senior in your life who is too tired to grocery shop.

For more information about Feed the Flock or Bulk Ordering, visit the Stevens Dining Website! For more information about feeding upperclassmen, you can find me on the 2nd floor of the UCC.

BY LIZ SEPULVEDA, COMIC ARTIST

I’ve always been a soundtrack skeptic; I’d much rather listen to songs on the radio or from my favorite artist than from a movie or video game. But with finals in swing, listening to the catchiest tunes may not be the best idea — scientifically. According to a 2012 study of over 100 people, background music with lyrics tends to distract people from studying. With this in mind, it may be your best bet to go into finals with something wordless queued up, like a soundtrack from your favorite video game.

Video game music doesn’t just help you not lose focus — it can actually help you focus better. According to a study conducted on open-floor plan offices in Finland, participants were found to be better at proofreading when listening to wordless background sounds or music, like video game music.

Composer Josie Brechner, who makes music for video games, attributes this to the nature of game

music being repetitive but varying songs that are supposed to blend into the background while the player accomplishes a task.

Of course, video game music varies from game to task to task, just like studying. For creative tasks like essay writing or brainstorming, I recommend chiller, ambient music that will blend into the background, like the Minecraft soundtrack. But if you’re trying to bang out an essay in one night (or an article, say) or about to embark on a heavy cram session, turning to something more upbeat like the Mario Kart-level themes is a popular method. If you’re not a big gamer or into traditional video game music, video game soundtracks still have a lot to offer you. My best recommendation would be the Cookie Clicker theme, which is a super relaxing Lofi-style beat that doesn’t sound like it’s from a video game at all.

So, this study season, the choice is yours. Just know that video game soundtracks have got you covered for any Game Overs.

BY TANISHKA KAPOOR, STAFF WRITER

The birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and Stevens students are starting to touch grass. That can only mean one thing: summer is coming. While many people are excited for summer, this long three-month vacation can also be incredibly important in terms of career development. So, what do you do if you don’t have a summer internship? As someone who goes insane without something to keep them occupied, I used to struggle with this, but fret not, as I have created a list of things you can do if you do not have a summer internship.

1. Focus on personal development

One of the most overlooked and, in my opinion, the most important qualities in any working candidate is their self-awareness and personality. No company expects an intern or first-year employee to have the same depth of

knowledge as a seasoned professional. Instead, they would look at your willingness to grow and learn. Reflect on what you would like to accomplish in your college career and what skills or value it would take in order for you to get there. Then, act on it. Summer gives plenty of time for personal growth, so utilize that time to build a strong basis of values. Your values are similar to a cheat sheet for life. It gives you a proper guideline for any decision you may make. For instance, if you would like to see growth and variety in life but are currently stuck in a comfort zone, then you may want to work on doing activities that force you to go out and explore opportunities. Realizing that starts with reflection and self-awareness. These practices also help a lot with behavioral questions. Those TED Talks don’t have millions of views for no reason.

2. Work local As any business student will tell you, LinkedIn is like your

toxic best friend that you weirdly cannot let go of. It will motivate you while also simultaneously making you feel insecure. It is hard to get into firms that receive thousands of applications every year, but it may be easier to secure an internship at a startup company. Be mindful that they may not pay you money, but the amount of experience you receive will allow you to understand your field and industry really well. Opportunities like these can be found on job platforms such as LinkedIn. You can also take a job at your local Starbucks or Target, which will give you a way to earn some side income.

3. Work on small projects and endeavors

What is something productive that brings you joy in life? Dive into them. The biggest skill I have observed that sets people apart is their ability to be curious. The topics that you are naturally curious about will be the path you will gravitate toward. Take the time

over the summer to acknowledge what those are and explore projects through them. For example, I enjoy writing and finance. So, I started my own newsletter that allowed me to understand the finance world a little better while also sharing my learnings with others.

4. Read Reading is not just something that you did in high school because your teacher forced you to. It should be more than that. The smartest people in the world are those who take the time and put in the effort to read beyond what is taught in class. There is an incredible amount of information out there that anyone can learn from and utilize in their own growth. Take your car and romanticize your life by heading to your local library. If you can spend your money to buy Starbucks or shop on SHEIN, then you can spend your money on a library card. As a Stevens student, you can get a Hoboken Public Library card

for free! That one card can bring you loads of knowledge. Invest in that and make some time to learn about the upcoming recruitment cycle so that you will be prepared for the next time an internship opportunity comes around.

A summer without an internship provides for the creative liberty of doing whatever you want. This is also the time to practice two key skills: execution and focus. Without these two skills, the ideas mentioned above will not result in any fruitful projects that may be added to your portfolio or resume. Also, take the time to be easy on yourself. Finding internships is not easy, but it is easy to fall into toxic comparisons. It takes time to realize that everything works out in the end. You may not have an internship this summer, but with enough work and genuine curiosity for your field, you may land an amazing internship next year. Don’t give up, and don’t forget to enjoy life a little. There is more to life than being a corporate baddie.

The science of studying for finals

BY RIYANA PHADKE, SCIENCE EDITOR

With finals around the corner and as the end of the semester approaches, students brace themselves for one of the most challenging and stressful times of the academic year: finals week. Mastering the science of studying, or even a little reminder, can go a long way for many students hoping to ace their exams. From the newest research, here are the best strategies that can help students study for their finals.

The process of learning involves encoding, storing, and retrieving information. When students study, the goal is to strengthen these processes to enhance the ability to recall information during exams.

One of the most effective study techniques supported by research is spaced repetition. This method involves reviewing material over increasing intervals of time. Instead of cramming all the information at once, spaced repetition distributes study sessions over time, allowing for better retention. Studies have shown that spaced repetition improves long-term retention compared to massed practice, where material is studied all at once. Tools like flashcards and spaced repetition software leverage this technique by presenting information at strategically spaced intervals, reinforcing memory and enhancing recall.

Active recall is another effective strategy that involves actively retrieving information from memory rather than simply rereading or passively reviewing the material. When students engage with the material by quizzing themselves or summarizing key concepts without referring to notes, students strengthen their memories. Research indicates that active recall promotes deeper learning and better retention of material compared to passive

review methods. Incorporating activities such as self-testing, practice exams, or teaching the material to someone else can significantly enhance learning outcomes.

In a typical classroom setting, it’s often the case that only a portion of students actively participate by asking or answering questions. On the other hand, active learning environments aim to involve all students in the process of thinking about and engaging with course material. Through various activities, these classes offer opportunities for every student to interact with the content and practice essential skills such as learning, applying, synthesizing, or summarizing information, fostering a more inclusive and engaging learning experience.

One technique that’s not as common is Interleaved practice, which involves mixing up different topics or types of problems during study sessions rather than focusing on one topic at a time. This approach challenges the brain to make connections between different concepts and reinforces learning through varied practice. Stud-

ies have shown that interleaved practice leads to better long-term retention and transfer of knowledge compared to blocked practice, where topics are studied in isolation. By switching between topics or problem types, students can improve their ability to apply knowledge flexibly and effectively during exams.

Even with all these study methods, a student is only as effective as their brain is. It is critical to not overlook the role of sleep and rest during finals. Research has consistently demonstrated the importance of adequate sleep for learning and memory consolidation. During sleep, the brain processes and consolidates newly acquired information, enhancing retention and problem-solving abilities. Prioritizing sleep and incorporating regular breaks during study sessions are essential for maintaining cognitive function and preventing burnout.

Studying for finals can be hard and annoying, but using science-backed techniques, students can work smarter and not harder. Good luck, and happy studying Ducks!

Watching sports can be good for you

BY JEREMIAH CHINWENDU, CONTRIBUTOR

Watching live sports is a valuable pass time for people all over the world. Aside from providing unique entertainment, it allows people to connect with like-minded individuals and build relationships on a foundation of similar interests. It is very apparent that watching sports has a positive impact on our societies and families, but not much is known about the effect it can have on our individual mental well-being. Two separate studies, conducted at universities in Japan and England, hope to ascertain the relationship between the act of watching sports and overall mental health. The methods of these studies include surveys and neural activity examination.

A study conducted at Angila University of Cambridge, England, and published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health in March of 2023 analyzed the emotions of people who frequented live sporting events. As reported by Eric Blakemore of The Washington Post, the study looked at data from a survey given to “7,209 16- to 85-year-old people living in England. The survey asked participants questions about their lives and well-being, and included questions about whether they attended sporting events.” The results, as relayed in Science Daily, “found that attending live sporting events results in higher scores of two major measurements of subjective well being -- life satisfaction and a sense of ‘life being worthwhile’ -- as well as lower levels of loneliness.” Those who attended live sporting events had a more positive outlook on life and were more likely to conclude that their lives were worth living compared to those who did not attend sporting events. The evidence from this study is anecdotal and does not help to specify whether it is the act of watching live sporting events or the social aspect of the activity that helps people feel less lonely. A team in Japan did similar

things to define this.

A study conducted by collaborators of Waseda University and Nanyang Technological University was published in Sports Management Review in March of 2024. This included three separate studies that were meant to assess “both subjective and objective measures of well-being,” as stated by Professor Shintaro Sato from the Faculty of Sports Science at Waseda. As reported in Science Daily, the first of the three studies included the analysis of “large-scale publicly available data on the influence of watching sports on 20,000 Japanese residents.” This study confirmed what previous studies, including the one conducted in Cambridge, found, showing a positive correlation between watching sports and overall happiness and content. The second study involved “an online survey aimed at investigating whether the connection between sports viewing and well-being varied depending on the type of sport observed.” 208 participants were shown various events of popular sports and events of lesser-known sports to see if the popularity of a sport altered its impact on mental well-being. This study found that the more popular a sport was, the stronger its impact on mental health was.

The most significant results from these studies came from the

third study in which neuroimaging techniques were used to assess changes the brain goes through when watching sports. As reported in Science Daily, “the brain activity of fourteen able-bodied Japanese participants was analyzed while they watched sports clips. The results of this investigation illuminated that sports viewing triggered activation in the brain’s reward circuits, indicative of feelings of happiness or pleasure.” In addition, those who reported watching sports regularly “exhibited greater gray matter volume in regions associated with reward circuits, suggesting that regular sports viewing may gradually induce changes in brain structures.” This is the only quantitative piece of evidence that watching sports has benefits that go beyond our social lives.

Rodielon Putol, a staff writer for Earth, stated that information regarding the effects that watching sports has on the brain is an important tool that can be used by researchers, sports managers, and health policymakers. “For public health officials, promoting sports viewing could be integrated into programs aiming to boost community health and cohesion,” helping to develop public health strategies. In the future, his data could lead to changes like lower fares at sporting events for specific individuals.

The use of melatonin

BY TANYA AVADIA, BUSINESS MANAGER

Growing up, if you were unable to sleep, there were several approaches you could adopt. You could count sheep, enjoy a glass of milk, or even journal. While these methods are still useful, an increasing number of people, specifically children and young adults, are relying on melatonin to fall asleep. While the occasional use of melatonin isn’t bad, routine use and the inability to naturally fall asleep can indicate a deeper problem. However, new studies bring into question the use of melatonin on younger people altogether. Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by humans that allows them to fall asleep. It plays an important function in maintaining the human circadian rhythm. People who fail to easily fall asleep can resort to utilizing melatonin supplements for some time, but it is not a viable long-term solution. One of the reasons for this is that melatonin is still a hormone. “Whenever you’re talking about giving kids hormones, you want to be especially careful, especially in kids who are prepubescent, so not yet adolescents,” stated Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News. For children specifically, the use of melatonin early on could pose a serious problem as it has the potential to trigger puberty early in prepubescent children. Another reason why melatonin use should be treated with caution is because melatonin is not as heavily regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means that the melatonin supplements that are readily available at all pharmacies do not undergo the same rigorous testing procedures as

other medications. For this reason, it is hard to understand the long-term effects of melatonin as the lack of testing leads to a lack of data on the matter.

Christine Won, the medical director of the Yale Centers for Sleep Medicine, and Craig Canapari, director of the Yale Pediatric Sleep Center, are currently studying the increasing reliance on melatonin among the younger population. One possible reason why this is happening is that college students may have misconceptions and misunderstandings as to the appropriate dosage of melatonin, the purpose of melatonin, and other ways to enhance sleep. According to Won, the correct dosage for melatonin is actually less than one milligram, while it is mostly sold anywhere at three to ten milligrams per tablet. Secondly, Won went on to say, “Melatonin is very useful for treating jet lag and other circadian rhythm disorders, but it is not meant to be used as a sleeping aid for people who can’t fall or stay asleep, i.e., insomnia.” Continuing with this, she also shares how overreliance on melatonin can actually worsen your ability to sleep and your quality of sleep. For all of these reasons, it is recommended that individuals who struggle to fall asleep and remain asleep try other methods before turning to melatonin. Other potential methods include maintaining a set routine and aiming to sleep around the same time every day and for the same amount of time. Additionally, making healthy food and fitness decisions can also help balance hormones, which enables naturally falling asleep. All of these practices serve to build healthy habits regardless, but if issues in falling asleep persist, it is best to consult a doctor

PHOTO COURTESY OF CITL.ILLINOIS.EDU

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WASHINGTON POST

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BREEZE

PHOTO COURTESY OF NICOLE CHEUNG

BOOK

Educated: a semi-love-letter to the public education system

BY MADISON HELLER ‘27

STEVENS’ CHEFS RECIPE CARDS

Food for thought: remember to eat during finals

This is not some old historical story — the woman who wrote it is currently 37 years old. What she writes about, what she lived through, happened in the 90s and early 2000s. Westover was born and raised in Idaho to an extreme survivalist Mormon family who, due to their beliefs, did not allow her to attend public school. Instead, she was “homeschooled,” which is the most generous descriptor possible for her experience. In practice, her mother quickly lost interest in teaching Westover much of anything, and she was left to do manual labor with her brothers to help support the family. How often as kids did we hate getting up each morning to go to school? How often did that little girl wake up wishing for a bright yellow school bus to come pick her up?

Our education system is something we take for granted nearly every day. We get to go to school and learn how to read and write and how to do addition and subtraction. But school is how we learn about the world, what our history is, and how we got here. Education serves as our means to try and give everyone the same level of knowledge about the world, to even the playing field, as much as we possibly can. School is where we learn how to

We often take for granted the ubiquitous things that we assume everyone has. Access to clean drinking water, access to food, and access to a warm place to sleep are things we are aware of that not everyone has access to. It’s why there are so many charities and social programs to try and narrow that gap between those who have it and those who do not. However, one thing that is chronically overlooked is how in our country, every single child has a right to free and accessible public education. How amazing is it that we live in a world where everyone gets the right to learn to read and write, to learn history and math and science? We are so used to this right that the quality of public education is constantly under scrutiny, yet rarely do we hear from people who had the entire system bypass them completely. The memoir Educated by Tara Westover tells the story of such a woman and how she worked against all odds for the right to be educated.

OFF THE PRESS

make friends, treat each other with kindness and respect, how to stand up and advocate for ourselves. We learn grit, we learn about our nation’s tragedies along with its accolades, we learn how to fail, we learn about the atom, we learn determination, we learn how to read Shakespeare.

The education system is not perfect. But reading Educated made me realize that without it, our world becomes unimaginably small. Public education paved the way for countless brilliant minds to not be left behind in the dust of their pasts but gave them the ability to brighten countless futures. We can always be better, but it is just as important to be grateful for what we have experienced. The school was both a miserable whirlpool of grueling lessons and cruel firsts and the best thing to ever happen to me. I think that statement stands true for most of us.

BY KAYDEN CANNILLA ‘24

In the thick of finals, your regular eating routine might go out the window. You might spend all day studying and neglect meals until you’re starving. Keeping ready-to-eat meals in your room to fuel your study sessions will make you more productive and make

Fruit Smoothie

cup orange juice Prep blender cup with fruit and powder the night before your exam Add juice in the morning and blend until smooth Add honey to taste for additional sweetness

you feel better. Your academics should never come at the expense of your physical or mental well-being; it’s essential to meal prep or carve out time for meals in your study time. You can also use cooking as a timer to help with your studying. For example, if you’ve been stuck on a practice exam, start boiling water and work on a question until the water is at a rolling boil. Add salt and pasta and return to the exam until the pasta is cooked. I use this method to split up my work and force myself to take a break to eat.

I always have a particular problem eating before exams because I’m usually too stressed to eat a full meal. If you have to sit for

Breakfast Sandwich

3-5 strips of bacon 1-2 eggs bread or bagel Avocado Air fry bacon at 350℉ for 7 minutes Put a pad of butter in the pan and set to high heat Place bagel face down in pan while it s heating up remove when toasted In the same pan fry eggs for 2 minutes then assemble sandwich

A list of everything you should not do before finals

BY OFF CENTER

-Satire-

Here, at Off The Press, we always strive to bring quality entertainment through our satire articles with a combination of lighthearted yet random humor and silly storytelling. But in this issue, we face something different–a very serious topic. Is it the economy? No, it’s way more serious than that. Is it the crime rate? No, it’s even more serious than that. Is it global warming? You’re getting warmer (no pun intended), but it’s still not that. No, the serious topic we want to deal

with is studying for the finals. Each semester, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds and (gosh, how many hundreds are there?) hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of students are sent to take finals in order to try to achieve a passing grade for their class. Of course, students are wondering what to do in order to prepare for their finals. But in this issue, we decided to tackle this issue from a different perspective–what should students not do in order to prepare for the finals? So, without further ado, we present to you a list of

everything you should not do before the finals. You must never hatch a diabolical scheme to conquer the world using an army of mutated bunnies and mutated piglets that are easily swayed by pineapple and pickled pepper pizza in order to prepare for the finals. You must never eat half of all the curly french fries, half of all the flour-battered onion rings, and half of all the mac and cheese bites made out of swiftly grated cheddar cheese in the world to prepare for the finals. You must never ski off the Grand Canyon using your hands instead of your

feet while you use your feet in order to eat a very large bowl of spicy vegetarian ramen in order to prepare for the finals. You must never steal every traffic light in Ontario and tie them together with dental floss to create a very fragile tightrope that you use to cross over the border between Canada and the United States of America while singing “The Young Daring Man on the Flying Trapeze” backward in A Minor and in French in order to prepare for the finals. You must ride in a submarine that goes underground instead of in the water in order to hunt for pink

BY DOUG SOUSA ‘24

little more time on my hands than I have in the past since I’m a senior and graduation is right around the corner.

Let me be the first to say, it’s actually really great to finally be bored. I don’t have a million assignments and projects and exams to worry about at all times, so I have the ability to do other things, like write an article every other week about cars. Ask Claire Hannan, pretty much every day I’ll bother her until she hangs out with

me. With all this newfound time, I’ve been able to watch some more movies and TV. I watched a few classics like Pulp Fiction and Goodfellas. I started rewatching my favorite show, Psych and continued watching Clarkson’s Farm, which I started earlier this year. I strongly recommend all of these if you’ve got free time. And, most importantly, I’ve been watching some more car movies. Now that Senior Design is done and the Expo is wrapped up, I might as well rank the movies I watched while putting off whatever little work I did have to do!

I’m gonna focus on the car movies because, let’s be so real right now, that’s what this column is about. Shoutout to Isy for finally letting me write this after I bugged her about it for weeks. Let’s do a top five.

Coming in fifth is one of the movies I think EVERYONE needs to watch in

middle school. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is my pick for fifth on the list. It’s super funny, an easy watch, and has a ton of one-liners that I still quote, and it’s a safe pick for any audience.

Next is the first Cars movie from Pixar. It was one of the DVDs we had in my mom’s minivan growing up, so my siblings and I have watched Cars probably a thousand times by now, and it still never gets old. Tons of nostalgia and it’s actually a really heartwarming movie in its own little way.

Third place goes to Baby Driver with Ansel Elgort. It’s a different take on a typical heist movie, focusing more on the getaway driver than I’ve personally ever seen before. There are a ton of INCREDIBLE driving sequences that blow my mind shot after shot. The pure driving talent of the stunt driver pushed this movie up a place or two, plus the sto -

ryline itself is really great, too.

Second place is the most recent movie on this list, Gran Turismo. Following the story of Jann Mardenborough as he rises from a stellar sim racer to a professional (real-life) driver sponsored by Nissan, Gran Turismo has an amazing plot that had me locked in for the entire film. The fact that Mardenborough was the stunt driver for his own biopic is just the cherry on top that almost made this my first pick.

However, I’ve gotta give first place to one of the first movies to bring car culture to my screen. It’s part of an iconic series, but this is far and away my favorite of the bunch. 2 Fast 2 Furious tops my list. It’s got iconic lines (Paul Walker saying, “I said forget about it, cuh” cracks me up every single time), great driving scenes, and a fun plot that really shows off 90s car culture with

three hours doing math, you’ll likely perform better if you don’t have hunger pains. I’m careful to pick meals that are gentle on the stomach: something high in protein to keep me full throughout the exam but low in sugar and complex carbohydrates. I’m usually satisfied with fruit, simple grains, and Greek yogurt without worrying about it sitting in my stomach like a brick.

In the next two weeks, prioritize self-care alongside your studies. Your hard work studying all semester won’t pay off if you’re too hungry to think straight. You’ve got what it takes to succeed. Keep pushing forward, and good luck on your exams!

Late Night Ramen

Instant Ramen (remove seasoning) Frozen spinach 1 egg Red pepper flakes, gochujang, and/or chili oil Soy and/or teriyaki Cook ramen according to package Add frozen spinach to lower temp to simmer Stir in egg allow to cook and add seasonings to taste

T-shirts buried in the core of the Earth while making a rap song about the cold agony of waiting for the first final to be taken and teaching sheep to tap dance with their ears in order to prepare for the finals. You must never go on a road trip in Vermont to visit a haunted house where you and your friends will entertain all the ghosts, demons, witches, and goblins that live there by singing “Goodbye, My Coney Island Baby” as a barbershop quartet while burping everything you are singing in order to prepare for the finals. And finally, but most importantly (wrong choice of words, since this is more important than more important than more important than more important than more important than more important than more important than more important than most importantly), you must never ever never ever never ever never ever never ever never ever never ever never ever never ever never ever never ever never ever never ever never ever (pant, pant, pant, sorry, I am just stopping to catch my breath before I keep going on) never ever never ever never ever do this: Read this article many times in order to prepare for the finals.

just enough exaggeration to make a great film. Overall, I love this movie, and I could watch it every day. It’s not as ridiculous as the newer Fast and Furious movies, so I can absolutely recommend it without any reservations for your next movie night.

Anyway, this was my last article in this column, so thank you for reading, and I hope you learned something! I really enjoyed writing for the Stute as a creative outlet outside of my engineering curriculum, so if you’re on the fence, then go for it! Also, if you have a crappy car you are trying to get rid of, please let me know, and I will genuinely consider buying it from you. Thank you!

EXPLORING: A STUDENT’S GUIDE TO NEW YORK CITY

Advice from an explorer

BY EVAN PAPAGEORGE ‘26

As the semester and this column come to an end and the weather becomes increasingly warm, I want to conclude this semester of thrilling exploration with some tips and advice for this summer and future semesters of adventure as a Stevens student — so sit back, relax, enjoy the sun, and embark on this exciting journey of exploration

with me!

1: Be Prepared

Being prepared is paramount when embarking on a journey into the city (or any other area). When I was a first-year student and did not realize this important fact, I ended up in the middle of Times Square watching a free concert when it started to pour. I was completely soaked, my shoes were waterlogged, and my phone, wallet, and dorm key were swimming because I forgot to check the weather and bring a raincoat. All the same, I ended up going to Central Park (which is a decent way away from the PATH station I debarked from) and was wearing not-great shoes, leaving me in pain for days after.

Or, on another occasion, I went to Governors Island without sunscreen and was a bright shade of pink for the week after. All this to say, be prepared: check the weather, and bring extra food, water, money, and portable chargers for your phone — if you don’t, you’ll almost definitely wish you had them.

2: Bring a map (or a GPS if you’re technologically competent)

When exploring, the idea is that you are going somewhere new. Whether this be a planned excursion to a new museum or a new neighborhood, the nature of exploring will probably lead you to be lost. That is why having a map or GPS on your phone is helpful. My phone died

ADVICE FOR BROKE COLLEGE STUDENTS

once when I was supposedly one block from the subway station that would take me back to Hoboken. I made one turn, and I had no clue where I was. Looking back later, I went right instead of left and ended at the East River, not the Hudson. I circled a block five times before realizing the shop I was looking for was right next to me because I figured, “The GPS says I’m there, I’ll turn it off,” which would have been fine, except I didn’t know the name of the store or the address. While it may seem obvious where you are going, it is always better to keep a map or the GPS out until you are where you want to be — or keep walking until you hit a river and go from there!

Managing internship stress amongst finals

BY HIMA THUMMALA ‘26

Internships are difficult to get, especially in this day and age. And with finals creeping up on us, it can be frustrating when you see everyone around you getting one along with a salary while you’re trying to study for finals. But it is import-

ant to not let it distract you from studying as there are still alternate ways to make sure that you also get the same advantages, but without the actual internship itself.

One of the biggest ways to advance academically and save money is to take classes over the summer. Now you may be thinking, “how is this saving money”, I have to spend money to take classes. And no, the reason is not that “knowledge = wealth” or any of these sayings, but rather, it is more of a practical approach. If classes are taken over the summer that are able to be used as or transferred to be used as credit for your course -

work, it would get you out of having to take classes. While it is important to remember that it is important to follow all the rules to do this and make sure that the credit works out, it will help it in the long run because you have the chance to graduate early. By graduating early, there is a chance of having to pay less tuition because you go to college for a shorter number of semesters. So even though you have to spend some money on the summer courses, it would be an investment into your academics timewise, which could save you money in the long run. This is also dependent on how much your summer classes cost

The joy of girl friendships

BY CLAIRE HANNAN

Now that the semester is ending and I’m about to graduate, this is going to be

my last Girl(ish) Talk column ever. I think I want to spend this last column talking about the joys of female friendships. Growing up I found myself in a lot of all-girl environments like the Girl Scouts, my high school, and the summer camp that I went to and worked at. Even in elementary and middle school, all of my closest friendships were with girls. It wasn’t until I came to Stevens that I really had any close male friends. It’s hard to describe the difference between being friends with a guy and

a girl because, most of the time, there’s no difference at all. Each person is different, of course, but there are subtle things I’ve learned over the past four years about the beauty of female friendships. Being a girl at a majority-male school, you have to learn new communication styles. It was uncomfortable at first, especially when I realized that I had more male friends than female friends, but I got used to it over time. Being around my female friends, though, I don’t have to change my commu-

exactly and how much you pay for tuition, but if the tuition is significantly larger than summer classes, it could be an option to consider.

Now, moving onto the idea of getting a job over the summer. When people talk about what job they have over the summer, especially college students, they tend to be talking about internships. But this does not always have to be the case. It is important to know that a job can be working at a coffee shop or working as a cashier. At the end of the day it really matters what your priorities are. Is it money, experience, or both? And it is possible to find the right

3: Stay Alert

As sad as it is to say it, New York can be a dangerous place. Even in some busier or safer areas, it is always important to know what is going on in your surroundings, keep an eye out for people around you, and understand where you are going. If there is yelling, sirens, or other concerning noise, keep clear or stay in a secure area. When wandering, make sure you have a good feel for where your valuables (like your phone, wallet, keys) are. It takes only a second for a pickpocket to grab your phone and then disappear into the millions of people in the city. Luckily, being prepared and bringing a map can help with this. You can avoid areas if there is

potential for a dangerous situation using your fancy map (or GPS). Additionally, dressing appropriately (like with internal or front-facing pockets) can aid in keeping a hold of your belongings. Exploring New York (or anywhere, really) can be fantastic. The opportunity to explore the city was a selling point for me when I came to Stevens. Learning, meeting new people, and seeing new places will always be fun for me and hopefully others. Whether going out to eat with friends or going for a lovely spring walk along the Hudson River Walkway, exploring is a joy. Thanks for exploring with me this semester, and as finals pass by, remember to keep exploring!

job for you based on these qualities. If it’s money, you can find a job that you enjoy for the summer while making some cash in your local town. But it’s experience, try to look for a job that has transferable skills that can be applied to the industry you are working towards professionally. For example, if you are a finance major, try to get a cashier-focused job that will allow you to work with money and other financial skills that can be added to not only your resume, but also to your skill set as a person. But if you are looking for money and skills, it may take some time and research. Start off by searching for jobs in

the industry that you want to work in, and then try to find what pays around your desired salary. This will make it easier than looking for a job that pays how much you want, as there is a large possibility of having too many selections to sort through. Summer classes and finding a job that will pay you while helping you grow are options, but they are not the only ones. Maybe you can do paid research if it’s a possibility, or even work somewhere unpaid if it’s an option for you! It is crucial to remember that even if you don’t get a job over the summer, you still get very much well-deserved relaxation time after finals.

nication styles as much. We were mostly raised with the same media, expectations, and shared experiences, so it’s just easier to relate and be understood. Problem-solving with other girls also makes more sense to me. Girls are more likely to provide sympathy rather than solutions when faced with others’ issues. I don’t always want someone to tell me how to fix my issues. I usually already know what to do, but I just need help convincing myself that it’s right. I’ve found it easier to talk

through solutions with other girls without them trying to insert their own viewpoints as much.

It’s also nice to have people who can relate more to the uniquely “girl” experiences in my life. Outside of dating, my female friends understand things like how terrible birth control is and the weird shapes that spandex makes on your hips. It’s easier to cut right to the chase about the ugly parts of living with other girls, even if they haven’t experienced those things themselves. Some

guys are outright grossed out by those topics, or if they are on board, you have to explain it enough for them to understand.

I appreciate all of my female friends and I’m grateful for all the amazing people I met at this school. No matter what kinds of friendships you prefer, it’s important to find the people that make you feel comfortable and valued. For me, it’s necessary to have some female friends and I know I’m always going to need those people in my life.

GRADUATING OPINION COLUMNISTS

Claire Hannan: Girl(ish) Talk/ Dear Claire and Ethan Kayden Cannilla: Senioritis/ Stevens’ Chef Recipe Cards

Zoe Hack: Lifestyle HACKS

Doug Sousa: Doug’s Car Corner (Carticles)

Ethan Kleschinsky: Senioritis/ Dear Claire and Ethan

‘24

GIRL (ISH) TALK

ROVING REPORTER

By Rafael Lee Li and Mia Petrolino

“What’s your comfort movie?”

Sudoku

Difficulty: Easy

This week’s answers are hidden in the

Jenna Giesecke ‘26 “The Princess Bride.”

Sebastian Huyke ‘25 “Monsters University. I might get roasted but I really don’t care.”

Steven Aponte ‘25 “Bullet train.”

Nicole Petrocelli ‘25 “Pitch Perfect 1 through 3 in a row.”

Leon selyomin ‘27 “Megamind.”

Maya Okrasinska ‘24 “I don’t believe in comfort movies.”

Victoria Dalton ‘25 “Despicable Me.”

William Guzman ‘24 “Curious George.”

Crossword by Jack Scherban