The student newspaper of Stevens Institute of Technology, and creator of Attila the Duck.
ION EDIT CIAL E P L S NUA E D AN SU THIR EEN IS LOW HAL
www.thestute.com Instagram @thestute facebook.com/stevensthestute VOLUME CXIX No. 8
HOBOKEN, NJ | OCTOBER 29, 2021
NEW STUTE EVERY FRIDAY • EST. 1904
INSIDE THIS ISSUE WHAT TO EXPECT
Quack or treat PAGE 2
EC HOSTS
FALL Fest PAGE 2
STUDENTS GET
Spooky on Campus PAGE 3
DECORATED
Dorm Doors PAGE 4
COVID-19
Holiday safety PAGE 5
POST-HALLOWEEN
Waste and trash
PHOTO BY CAROLINE MONTANA FOR THE STUTE
PAGE 5
THE HALLOWEEN ISSUE CREATIVE:
U. Towers Haunted PAGE 7
CREATIVE:
Missing Stute Racks PAGE 7
AND MORE!
BY NATALIE TODARO, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF BOO! Welcome to the third annual Halloween Issue of The Stute! What started in 2019 has now become a very fun Stute tradition in which we take off our journalistic hats for a moment and operate more so as a magazine: a more stylized front page design, photo spreads, spooky stories, and more can be found within the next few pages. We are still a newspaper, but for a few “special editions” each year we morph into something a little more creative. Some other special editions include what we call The Orientation Issue, pub-
lished during first-year orientation, The Stupe, published on April Fools’ Day, and The Grad Issue, published and distributed at commencement for the graduating class. As new faces join The Stute we have come up with other special editions, such as this very one you’re reading, as well as holiday season and Earth Day features I could see becoming special editions. We get to do this because while we are journalists, we are student journalists, who like to have fun every once in a while. This is an opportunity to be more creative than our traditional newspaper might call for and get students involved in new ways. There is always a
plethora of autumn and Halloween-themed events on campus, enough to make this special issue, and enough to make it more visual with images than text heavy as a regular newspaper might be. Within these pages you will find a few news articles reporting on Halloween events that have happened on campus, decorated dorm doors by first-years, some fun science articles, creative stories about the haunted University Center, the mystery of the missing Stute newspaper racks, blood-sucking lanternflies, a cupcake recipe, movie reviews, a spooky crossword, and more. Happy Halloween, and happy reading!
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News Masthead
VOLUME CXIX NO. 8 Executive Board Vampire-in-Chief Natalie Todaro Ghost Manager Jordyn Ramelli Spider Web Editor Sanjana Madhu Costume Editor Keenan Yates Candy Chair Gianna Callegari Spooks Manager Bemin Shaker Spookster Zane ThummBorst
Editorial Board Spider Editor Trevor Dameika Bat Editor Rayna Indelicato Cat Editor Roshni Revankar Potion Editor Gianna Callegari
Operations Board Ritual Photographer Caroline Montana Spooks Manager Assistant Vanessa Huerta Spookster Assistant Joana Fardad
Staff & Contributors Benjamin Knobloch Diem Trinh Emma Tong Grace Miguel Julia Dwight Julia Wierzbicki Katie Bloomer Lauren Garrett Matthew Brantl Melissa Kosar Olof Persson Rafael Lee Li Riya Shrestha Stephanie Searing Tasha Khosla
Contact Us
Entertainment Committee hosts and plans in-person events after difficult remote year BY DIEM TRINH, CONSPIRING REPORTER On October 20, the Entertainment Committee (EC) hosted Fall Fest, reigniting large-scale events on campus. While they struggled during the pandemic to host virtual events for students, upcoming events are in the works to boost in-person activity. During the pandemic, Zoom proved to be a challenging method of communication because of a lack of collaboration when organizing ideas. Despite these issues, EC was still able to plan virtual events for students, including interviews with celebrities and music groups. “The only components of those events were contracts for the performers which we worked on with student life, technical assistance with the webinar, advertising, and giveaways,” Garrett Horwath, Vice President of the EC, replied in an interview with The Stute, and continued, “it mostly took a lot of work and communication within our eboard and with the office of undergraduate student life for the performer contracts and talent agents.” Although they wanted to create more activities through online platforms, they found that students felt exhausted by Zoom meetings. So, in order to support the students’ interests without violating pandemic-specific rules, invited Broadway performers, comedians, mainstream artists, and musicians to perform for students and have Q&A sessions. “We also temporarily lowered our membership requirements, while virtual, to be accomodating of the difficult circumstances presented during the pandemic,” Horwath continued. When they returned to in-person learning this semester, EC had difficulty in membership numbers and preparing for events. “I think the reason we had a slow start to recruiting members to the planning committee was the flooding and storms at the beginning of the semester as well as a lot of last minute changes with the return to campus,” Horwath explained. Despite these hardships, EC has recently seen more new members that are helping to set up success-
QUACK OR TREAT 2021 BY KATIE BLOOMER, CONSPIRING REPORTER
Editor-in-Chief editor@thestute.com
Quack or Treat, an annual tradition at Stevens to celebrate Halloween, is happening on campus today, October 29 from 12-3 p.m. Open to all undergraduate students, participation involves visiting multiple locations on campus to receive candy and entering a costume contest. This event provides students with the opportunity to explore campus, interact with staff, and dress up. The tradition began in 2017 with the first Quack or Treat and has continued every year since. Last year, Quack or Treat was scaled down and offered to students studying on campus during the pandemic, and included a virtual costume contest. In years past, such as 2019, the event has been large-scale, engaging over 200 students. Quack or Treat is organized by the Student Government Association (SGA), specifically the planning committee that works to prepare and execute the event. Victoria Agaliotis, the SGA Vice President of Finance, planned the budget and distribution of candy, organized the check in stations,
Office Student Center Room #302
JOIN US! No experience necessary to join The Stute Meetings announced on Instagram @thestute or on Slack: stute.slack.com
TOP: OLOF PERSSON FOR THE STUTE MIDDLE AND BOTTOM: CAROLINE MONTANA FOR THE STUTE
WHAT TO EXPECT FOR
General Email eboard@thestute.com
Advertising business@thestute.com
ful events with large attendance numbers. As normality has returned on campus, EC’s e-board has been sketching out plans for future semesters. “We’ve already started on spring semester events and have even secured a Founders Day Ball location and are going through the offer/artist booking process for Techfest,” Horwath elaborated. While face masks are still in place for events, further precautions such as timeslot RSVPs, de-densifying the floor plan, requiring masks outside, etc., will be implemented if a large number of attendees is anticipated. For the rest of this year, EC’s e-board and committee have set aims and objectives. One goal they hope to implement is the knowledge transfer from upperclassmen to underclassmen so that the club can operate smoothly after students graduate. Another goal they have is to restructure the e-board for e-board elections that will occur next year. “We’re looking to redistribute the work more evenly across the committee, particularly for our on campus events,” Horwath said. “Right now Fall Festival, Tree Lighting, Founders Day Ball, Earth Day and Techfest all fall under the Festivities Chairs (we’ve had co-chairs the past 3 years) and VP of On Campus Events.” Students can contact the Entertainment Committee by emailing at entertainment@stevens.edu.
and prepared the costume contest. Students who wear a costume during Quack or Treat will automatically be entered into the costume contest. Although participants are encouraged to wear a costume and be entered into the contest, students are not required to wear a costume in order to receive candy at the designated locations. The students with the top five costumes will each win a prize. According to Agaliotis, prizes for the costume contest this year include “a Bluetooth speaker, two different squishmallows, a silicone duck light that turns on and off when you touch it, and a burrito blanket.” In previous years, faculty, staff, and administrators also get involved in activities and dress up for work. In order to participate, students must visit a check in station to take a bag and map. The map shows numerous campus buildings with candy – locations from previous years included administrative offices in Howe, fraternity and sorority houses, and various other buildings. Participants can go to the designated candy locations anytime within the duration of the event and are not required to visit every location.
ABOVE: STUDENT AFFAIRS STAFF DRESSED UP FOR QUACK OR TREAT IN 2019. BELOW: STUDENTS AT A PUMPKIN PAINTING EVENT ON CAMPUS DURING THE PANDEMIC. FALL 2020. PHOTOS COURTESY OF @STEVENSSTUDENTS ON INSTAGRAM.
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News STUDENTS GET FESTIVE & SPOOKY
PHOTOS BY CAROLINE MONTANA FOR THE STUTE
CHINESE STUDENT ASSOCIATION (CSA)
mid-autumn festival
On Tuesday, October 19, the Chinese Student Association (CSA) at Stevens hosted the Mid-Autumn Festival in the Babbio Atrium, celebrating traditions and stories involving the moon that are a part of Chinese culture. Food was ordered from a popular Chinese restaurant, Mintea, as well as traditional Mooncakes from a local bakery, Unibread. Every table additionally had supplies consisting of construction paper, scissors, and tape, with instructions on how to build your own lantern. LEFT: PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE LODGE | RIGHT: PHOTOS BY OLOF PERSSON FOR THE STUTE
STEVENS DINING THE LODGE FRATERNITY
pumpkin CARVING
pumpkin painting contest
PHOTOS BY RAFAEL LEE LI FOR THE STUTE
FILIPINO ASSOCIATION OF STEVENS TECH (FAST)
halo halo ween On Monday, October 25, the Filipino Association of Stevens Tech (FAST) hosted Halo Halo Ween in Bissinger, as a way to incorporate Filipino culture into Halloween. The event consisted of costumes, food, and music.
PHOTOS BY RAFAEL LEE LI FOR THE STUTE
LATIN AMERICAN ASSOCIATION (LAA)
sugar skull making
On October 27, the Latin American Association (LAA) held a workshop on sugar skull making. The event featured the use of skull molds and sugar to create sugar skulls for Día De Los Muertos, which is celebrated from November 1 to November 2.
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Features
Dorm doors dressed up First-year students get crafty for Halloween Photographer and reporter: Caroline Montana | Edited by Natalie Todaro
“Happy Halloween!”
“Happy Halloween! We hope you like our door!”
“Happy haunting!”
“I always decorate my room at home, so it’s like bringing a home away from home.”
“We bring a little bit of positivity into everyone’s day when they see our door.”
“Our RA had a hall decorating event, so this is from that.”
Editor’s Note: For safety reasons, resident names are being left anonymous as well as specific dorm buildings. All residents granted permission for The Stute to publish a picture of their door.
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Science How much waste does Halloween produce? BY DIEM TRINH, CONSPIRING REPORTER Halloween, one of the most popular holidays and trick-or-treating, is in just a few days. However, have you ever been curious about where candy wrappers and decorations will go? Wherever they settle in—whether it be water sources or places in the forest—what kind of impact does Halloween waste have on the ecosystem? Spookily enough, researchers found that Halloween actually negatively impacts the environment. Every year, the number of people participating in Halloween increases, which also means that the number of costumes, candies, and decorations will also increase. “The scariest thing about Halloween now is plastic,” said Chris Rose, a member of a charity called Fairyland Trust. According to the New York Times, more than 60% of fabric fibers are now synthetics, derived from fossil fuels. So, these fabric fibers will not decay if they end up in landfills, which is where about 85% of textile waste in the U.S. goes. And even if they settle in water sources or somewhere else, the same situation will inevitably arise. An investigation in 2016 by The Hubbub Foundation, a charity campaigning for the environment, discovered that polluting oil-based plastic accounts for 83% of the material used from 19 supermarkets and retailers—Aldi, Argos, Asos, Amazon, Boden, John Lewis, M&S, Next, and Tesco—and they are likely to end up in landfills. They also found that approximately 7 million costumes were thrown away, which
is the equivalent of 83 million bottles. Going homemade for your costume might be a better option, but if you plan to buy a costume, be sure to look for “PVC-free” or “phthalate-free” materials as these chemicals are toxic and can be hidden in the costumes. There’s also the issue of makeup consumption that skyrockets during Halloween. Cosmetics can include harmful ingredients; a 2009 report from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found that face paints for children contain a small amount of lead, ranging from 0.05 to 0.65 parts per million. Some paints might also include arsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel, or mercury, which can cause skin issues such as sensitization and contact dermatitis. Sierra Club, an environmental organization, created a list of eco-friendly cosmetics and fake skin and face paint recipes made with natural food coloring and fruit or vegetable-based dyes. Furthermore, consulting apps like Think Dirty, Healthy Living, and the Good Guide—or skipping the makeup process—can help one avoid these risks. Besides the non-recyclable costumes and toxic make-up, decorations also have a part in these negative effects. Scary, right? Similar to costumes, decorations that are bought from stores are usually made from cheap and non-recyclable materials, i.e. plastics. Plastic plates, utensils, and cups are popular for Halloween parties, but they won’t decay after disposal, and thus, result in environmental pollution. Moreover, decorative candles and tea lights can contain petro-
leum-based paraffin that release harmful chemicals when lit. Millions of pounds of pumpkins are also going to be dumped after a single night of fun. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. yields about 1.4 billion pounds of pumpkins every year, and as we know, they will eventually end up in trash bins after Halloween. Before a pumpkin is put onto a porch, it also takes a lot of resources and fertilizer to grow it. Additionally, pumpkins are a type of food, so disposing of them after Halloween contributes to food waste. In order to avoid wasting pumpkins, compost them, slice up the flesh for soup or muf-
fins, bake the seeds, or blend them into a facial exfoliant instead of throwing it away. The pumpkins on your porch are edible, so get creative with how you can use them after Halloween. Receiving free candy also seems tasty and harmless, right? Think again! Many Halloween treats, as well as other foods and products, are made with unsustainable palm oil. According to NationSwell, a company dedicated to helping the world’s most urgent challenges, palm oil is “cheap to ship and produce,” but emits greenhouse gases which can cause deforestation by the act of burning forests for palm oil plan-
tations. And all those individually wrapped pieces of candy can end up in water sources, adding up to a lot of pollution and contributing to the millions of tons of debris floating around in oceans. To avoid this, consider purchasing treats in bulk rather than in the “fun-size” category. Buying in bulk requires less packaging, and because of the large size, you will be spending less time and money trying to buy more candy if it runs out on Halloween night. Halloween is a fun and enjoyable day, but just because it is a single day does not mean that we should care less about the environment. Have a safe and spooky Halloween! PHOTO COURTESY OF GREENMATTERS.COM
CREEPING IT REAL: HOW TO STAY SAFE ON HALLOWEEN BY TASHA KHOSLA, CONSPIRING REPORTER It’s that time of year again! Spooky decorations litter the stores, preventing the Christmas lights from taking over the holiday aisle. As a self-proclaimed Halloween enthusiast, this is my favorite time of the year. So naturally, I’ve been trick-or-treating countless times, and I’ve seen it all. Dogs in costumes. Massive inflatable decorations. Haunted houses. But recently, Halloween has been different. Last year, I cautiously went trick-or-treating with my sisters
ACCORDING TO THE CDC WEBSITE, “EVEN THOSE WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED SHOULD WEAR A MASK IN PUBLIC INDOOR SETTINGS...” WHILE THE SPIRIT OF MISCHIEF RUNS HIGH, HALLOWEEN STILL IS NOT AN EXCUSE TO ENGAGE IN INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT.
and my neighbor. We masked up, wore gloves, and quarantined our candy hauls for 48 hours. My neighborhood was still decorated, but most of the candy was individually bagged and left outside. The houses stayed dark, and the streets remained bare. 2020 definitely had a lot of firsts. This year, it is more important than ever to stay safe during Halloween. The post-vaccine world has allowed for more freedom and a faster return to normalcy. Inevitably, this has led to larger social gatherings. Still, COVID-19 has not gone away and we need to remember how to stay safe this Halloween. 1. Be Mindful of Covid Restrictions As always, be conscious of your actions and how they can influence others. According to the CDC website, “Even those who are fully vaccinated should wear a mask in public indoor settings in communities with substantial to high transmission.” College parties tend to get crowded, and in the midst of the pandemic, it is incredibly important to practice healthy habits. In fact, according to Dr. Linsey Marr, a leading expert on viral transmission, it is best to wear a mask when we do not know the vaccination status of others or the ventilation situation. Dr. Marr insists that, “we need to wear the best masks possible in high-risk situations.” As noted by Dr. Marr, the “best masks” are well-fitting and are “reducing 70 percent of the most penetrating particles and trapping 90 percent or more of the larger particles.” Dr. Marr cites N95 masks as an example. As the CDC notes, it never hurts to take extra precautions during this time. If you’re planning on having a party or attending one, check in with your friends and make sure everyone is on the same page. Most parties are indoors due to the weather so make sure there is enough space to safely host everyone. 2. Follow the Law While the spirit of mischief runs high, Halloween still is not an excuse to engage in inappropriate conduct. Being at college means being in the presence of college parties, which often include alcohol. Moreover, Halloween falls on a weekend this year, a time where
people are free to unwind. On average, 9.3% of men and 6.6% of women have blacked out due to alcohol-involved Halloween celebrations. Furthermore, alcohol consumption on Halloween weekend is comparable to consumption at well-known alcohol-filled events, such as college sport game days. Although Halloween is just one day, it is still evident that irresponsible behavior poses a danger to others. Alcohol consumption, coupled with the operation of motor vehicles, can lead to disaster. According to Edgar Snyder & Associates, a personal injury law firm, “23% of pedestrian fatalities on Halloween night included a drunk driver.” Additionally, “44% of national fatal crashes during Halloween weekend involved a driver or motorcyclist with a BAC of 0.08 or higher.” Even if you are not planning on driving this Halloween, be wary of how much alco-
hol you are consuming. When going out, do not drink alcohol right before leaving so that you can be aware of your surroundings. You can not control the actions of others but you can drink responsibly and be vigilant when getting from one destination to another. 3. Party Pointers When it comes to costumes, be strategic and avoid costumes that restrict your movement. Keep factors, such as commute distance and weather, in mind before you make your choice. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), from October to November 2018, there were an estimated “4,500 Halloween-related injuries that were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments.” And, 25% of those are attributed to “falls while putting up or taking down decorations, tripping on costumes or walking while trick-or-treating.”
Overall, stay away from clothing that can get caught easily or hinder your motion. As for attending parties, stick with a group and pay attention to your surroundings. Halloween parties can be hectic; the costumes alone can make it difficult to identify others. Use a buddy system and never leave your drink or your personal belongings unattended. From 2011 to 2021, Travelers Insurance noted a 22% increase in “crime-related insurance claims.” Party hosts should keep track of guests and consider making parties invite-only to prevent the presence of unwanted visitors. Halloween 2021 is another milestone for society’s return to pre-pandemic normality. The bottom line: take care of each other, be vigilant, trust your instincts, and have fun. Enjoy the decorations, the costumes, and most importantly, the Halloween spirit. PHOTO COURTESY OF JORDYN RAMELLI
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creative corner cooking with caroline: witch hat chocolate cupcakes
hoboken decorations
BY CAROLINE MONTANA, RITUAL PHOTOGRAPHER These spooky and delicious Witch Hat Chocolate Cupcakes are one of my favorite recipes I have ever made. The cupcakes are light, fluffy, and perfectly balanced by a hint of added espresso. The buttercream frosting on top is sweet and so soft. The homemade chocolate cupcake and the buttercream frosting recipes came from Live Well Bake Often. The decoration was inspired by Tastes Better from Scratch.
To make the chocolate cupcakes, mix and bake the following ingredients at 350°F for 17-20 minutes: 1 cup flour 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 3/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/3 cup oil 1/2 cup buttermilk 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup of boiling water 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder (this is optional, but it makes the chocolate flavor stand out)
CAROLINE MONTANA FOR THE STUTE
To make the buttercream frosting, beat together the following ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter 3 cups powdered sugar 3 tablespoons heavy cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract A tiny pinch of salt To make the decoration, dye most of the frosting green and the rest orange. Pipe the green frosting onto the cupcake and top the icing with half of an oreo. Then, pipe a small circle of orange above the oreo and place a Hershey’s kiss in the center. Voilà, a witch’s hat! I accidentally baked too many cupcakes, so I spent the rest of my baking day walking around Hoboken and handing them out to a dozen of my friends. All of the reviews were wonderful. People said it made their day to be handed one of these cupcakes! I definitely recommend this recipe to others. To give a tip to readers, this recipe can be recreated using boxed cake mix and store-bought icing. Happy baking! PHOTOS BY CAROLINE MONTANA
ART BY DIEM TRINH
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creative corner The case of the missing Stute racks BY TREVOR DAMEIKA, SPIDER EDITOR
‘Twas the night before the first day, when all throughout Stevens Not an exam was stirring, not for any reasons; The dorms were full with freshmen with hopes, With thoughts that Farvardin would soon show them the ropes; The buildings were cleansed of any chance of COVID, While teachers were preparing to be devoted; And The Stute in their office, with printing ready, Had just prepared their first issue for publication already, When over campus there arose such a clatter, The Stute sprang from their office to see what was the matter. Away to the window they flew with honor, Leaving the Student Center and running through Palmer. The moon shining down on New York City Gave the new semester a sense of no pity, What did The Stute see coming around a slant, But a minivan, and eight members of the physical plant, With a trunk, so full and so packed, The Stute knew they were being attacked. Quicker than Santa, the plant were thieving their racks, And the plant grabbed, and packed, and took each one without lax; From, Babbio! From, MPK! From, EAS! No purpose! The Stute could only guess, As the plant members were moving the racks into their car, The van was full of racks, a metallic bazaar.
University Center Haunted! BY BEN KNOBLOCH CONSPIRING REPORTER Stevens has been in an uproar since the stunning realization that the as-of-yet unopened University Center towers are dreadfully, hair-raisingly, nail-bitingly, seat-twistingly, head-achingly, stomach-churningly, spine-chillingly haunted. Beginning on October 1 and escalating steadily for the rest of the month, a wide host of strange and frightening paranormal phenomena have plagued the new buildings and the surrounding area. Balls of fire, menacing glowing eyes, and nebulous apparitions have materialized in windows before vanishing just as quickly, while mysterious preternatural noises without a distinguishable source have grown in frequency and volume. Dozens of students claimed to have been accosted by ghouls and goblins of unprecedented ghastliness while wandering the grounds around the towers at night. At regular intervals on most days, one can hear the blood-curdling screeches of tormented souls emanating from the upper floors, disturbances which are frequently punctuated by the unnerving singing of unseen children and the ethereal rattling of bones. “I’ve given up on sleeping,”
said one freshman who lives on the northern side of Davis. The events have been placing heavy stress on the project’s construction crew. Workers entering the building reported becoming trapped for days in sinuous, architecturally grotesque passages which typically lead to either dead-ends or alternate dimensions. Doors make loud, unsettling creaks no matter how recently they were cleaned and oiled, and the towers’ elevators tend to suddenly plunge or rocket up dozens of stories without warning, often to floors that don’t exist. Windows are appearing bloodstained and broken each morning faster than workers are able to repair them, and the thick cobwebs forming knee-deep in every room and corridor are becoming major fire-safety hazards. “No electricity will function in the building anymore,” revealed an exasperated worker to a Stute reporter, before pausing to allow an abrupt chorus of maniacal laughter, which seemed to come from all directions, to subside. “We have to go in with nothing but flickering candles and the peripheral light from the Stevens sign, which is still on despite receiving no known source of power.” Portions of the walkway leading between the Howe building
and the new towers were being repaved to reduce instances of the living dead tearing through the asphalt and seizing passing students by the ankles. In the meantime, most pedestrians have been observed taking a wide loop around central campus to get between the dining hall and the academic buildings, with many citing fewer zombies as the primary motivator. When asked if the spiritual activity would affect his decision to live in one of the towers, one student said, “It’s nothing I haven’t already seen in Humphreys.” Stevens administrators have been scrambling to find an explanation for the repulsively spooky occurrences and vowed to launch a thorough investigation. Despite the chaos of the last few weeks, a statement from the Division of Facilities and Campus Operations maintained that “uncooperative, malevolent spooks” will not delay the opening of the complex before the next semester, while warning students and staff not to approach any person or thing that appears “even remotely undead and/or metaphysical.” At press time, a University statement denied any connection between the haunting and the complex’s construction on the site of an ancient Indian burial ground.
On the brisk fall night, The Stute lurked with awe, Meeting this obstacle for publication, this could be tragic flaw; As the plant convened, they returned back to Griffith With their van full of racks, the Stute’s hopes became myth. Then, The Stute returned back to their office, The Editor-in-Chief feeling extremely nauseous. The Stute sat down all in dismay, a knock came at the door, Trevor came to the office with love and candour. He was dressed all in sweats, from his head to his foot, And his mood was prepared for any danger afoot; A bundle of anxiety he had carried on his back, He heard the portraying of the kidnapped racks, and felt like a smack. He comforted the Editor and took his trusty cart, He took all the printed papers and improvised with heart, Three hours later, as Trevor wiped the sweat off his brow, Stared down on the Griffith building with a stare as cold as snow; The mysterious physical plant taking and bringing things to campus, They do it all in a flash, sometimes like common bandits; However, they are only following orders, Where the racks have gone, they may have gone outside our borders. The Stute will always be wondering why they were taken, But thanks to Trevor, The Stute will always be unshaken. Although now normal, The Stute will always remember the racks, The racks that were once cherished, and now you know all the facts.
Bloodied bonds BY TASHA KHOSLA, CONSPIRING REPORTER Our footsteps echoed against the asphalt, cutting through the windy night. Halloween was always meant to be lively. Now, the campus was eerily quiet. The wind, once a source of familiarity, sent a peculiar chill through our hands, and straight into our hearts. Things weren’t always like this. Before, the dining hall was always crowded. Plans for dinner were always made in advance, our group chats coordinating a time. As the hour would pass, more of us would trickle in until the entire table was full, a hallmark of our affectionately-dubbed “family dinners.” Now, it was only me and our friend, all because of the lanternflies. We’d always been taught to crush them before they could harm the trees. But, these lanternflies were different. They weren’t a danger to the trees. They were a danger to us. Appropriately named, the blood-sucking lanternflies just appeared one day on campus and never left. As the weeks went on, more
and more of our classmates fell victim to these new lanternflies. These pests only came out at night but by dawn, the victims’ bodies were nowhere to be found. Those who managed to make it out alive suffered from extreme blood loss and couldn’t shake the fear from their dull eyes. Many students switched to virtual learning while the rest of us remained on campus, gripped by our terror. As we walked away from Howe my friend finally cut through the silence: “Let’s get as far from Howe Cemetery as we can, this is where those creatures lurk at this time.” “It’s Howe Center, not Howe Cemetery.” “Tell that to the lanternfly victims.” “What victims? We’re the only ones here!” I was tired of my nights being overridden by fear. Tired of the growing casualty counts. And more importantly, I was tired of this profuse grief that hung in the air. Immediately, I regretted speaking out. Like clockwork, the paralyzing sound of wings flapping got closer and closer, overwhelming
our ears with their ominous tune. Glancing up, the dark blue hues of the nighttime sky were overrun by a spotted red and gray mass. My heart stuttered in my chest as we froze. Suddenly, I felt a pain in my shoulder as another body slammed into me, propelling me into the pavement. The taste of metal filled my mouth as I turned my head, staring up in disbelief at my friend. “It had to be done” was the only response I received in return. As she fled, I noticed a familiar red peeking out from under her collar, advancing towards her neck. With bleary eyes, I looked back down at my arm, completely covered in lanternflies. I looked back up, unable, or perhaps unwilling, to vocalize my observations. The pain was immeasurable. I could feel hundreds of legs piercing through my skin, draining every ounce of blood in my body. The whir of their wings slowly lulled into unconsciousness as they feasted on my flesh. Shifting my head one last time, I collapsed back into the pavement, letting nature take its course.
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Friday, October 29
creative corner Halloween 2021 by Off Center
ACROSS DOWN 1. ___ Quixote 1. Unhook LAST WEEK’S CROSSWORD ANSWERS: 4. Double curve (hyph.) 2. Saltbrush DOWN 3. What plants use to attra 10. ACROSS Places where you can withdraw RATA 14. 1) Before, in a poem (Alternate clue: Byzantium 1) ROARAT4. Snow cones (2 wds.) 5) ROBOT abbr.) 2) ANNULI5. 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, ... eg. ab 15. 10) Hell'sBFFS opposite 3) TENETS6. Moving company U-__ 16. 14) StickONEL in one's ___ 4) ALIST 7. Nike competitor AMANA 17. 15) Tic-___-toe 8. Eye, informally 5) RACEBIB COLA 18. 16) The New York Public Library, for instance 9. Being 6) OMAR 17) ANNI 20. Penultimate part of Shakespeare plays (2 wds.) 10. ___ tear (knee injury) 7) BACH 11. Train rails CACTI 22. 18) ___ lazuli 8) ONTOE 12. Broad blades used to c 19) CRAT 23. Marxist revolutionary Guevara RUESTERHOLZ 9) TAILWAG 24. 20) French luxury fashion brand 13. Most sugary EMU 26. 23) Paperless admittance slip 10) BCC 19. Unit of pressure abbr. ALTTAB 28. 24) Genetic 21. "Cyberchase" characte 11) FOREHEAD 31. 25) FancyEWE spread Matt 12) FLAMINGO 32. 26) "ShutHIN up!" 25. Singer Dua 13) SATUNDER TISenclosures 33. 27) Animal 27. Tax professional abbr 21) TAMA MII 34. 28) FYI alternative 29. ___ foil hat 22) ZETA 30. 1970's video game com ATTEND 37. 30) Rummy card game 29) IBIS 33. It might tell you that y BABBIOGARAGE 40. 32) N.Y.C. time zone 31) TROT 34. Means of recovery 35) SHIA 41. Wear away 38) INK 32) BAHT 35. Decisively beats 43. Lion noises 39) ODOR 45. Fruit company known for pineapples33) INT 36. ___ Amadeus Mozart EIGHTHSTREET 46. 40) It's super easy (2 wds.) 34) OKRA 38. Roman equivalent of H 51. 45) MarkMANTRA of "The Incredible Hulk" 39. "Here it is!" (hyph.) 35) SEMIRARE 53. 46) MakeAYS bubbly 42. Dictionary item abbr. 36) HIATUSES WAC this clue is written in abbr. 54. 47) The language 44. Nimble IGNATIUS ITA McQueen's friend (played37) 55. 50) Lightning by Larry the 46. Uproar 41) TRAC 47. Like a pepper a guest 51)Guy) AGA Cable 42) HAGATNA EOCENE 58. 53) Windbreaker material Evans on First We Feast's 43) EYEEXAM RUT 59. 55) Things to watch during Halloween or a clue to 48. Musical syllables from 44) ESOP 49. Made amends 18-,56) 28-, CASTLEPOINT and 40- Across ASIA 62. 59) Picnic pest 50. Gossipers 47) WEIRDO 61) THEAX 63. Place to the right of the hundreds 48) ANNUAL 52. "Weekend Update" co 64. 62) "GiveTRUE 'em the ol' ___" (2 wds.) 56. Like four, six, or twelv 49) CETERA REUP 65. 63) Pasture 52) ASHES57. "Norma Rae" director NELLA 66. 64) USAF and USMC rank 60. Q-U string 54) COTAN61. Female sheep ADAR 67. 65) Tenant 57) TELS ESSE e.g. 68. 66) Commercials,
67) ASSAM 68) NOLA
Across 1. ___ Quixote 4. Double curve (hyph.) 10. Places where you can withdraw 14. Before, in a poem (Alternate clue: Byzantium abbr.) 15. Hell’s opposite 16. Stick in one’s ___ 17. Tic-___-toe 18. The New York Public Library, for instance 20. Penultimate part of Shakespeare plays (2 wds.) 22. ___ lazuli 23. Marxist revolutionary Guevara 24. French luxury fashion brand 26. Paperless admittance slip 28. Genetic 31. Fancy spread 32. “Shut up!” 33. Animal enclosures 34. FYI alternative 37. Rummy card game 40. N.Y.C. time zone
41. Wear away 43. Lion noises 45. Fruit company known for pineapples 46. It’s super easy (2 wds.) 51. Mark of “The Incredible Hulk” 53. Make bubbly 54. The language this clue is written in abbr. 55. Lightning McQueen’s friend (played by Larry the Cable Guy) 58. Windbreaker material 59. Things to watch during Halloween or a clue to 18-, 28-, and 40- Across 62. Picnic pest 63. Place to the right of the hundreds 64. “Give ‘em the ol’ ___” (2 wds.) 65. Pasture 66. USAF and USMC rank 67. Tenant 68. Commercials, e.g.
Down 1. Unhook 2. Saltbrush 3. What plants use to attract pollinators 4. Snow cones (2 wds.) 5. 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, ... eg. abbr. 6. Moving company U-___ 7. Nike competitor 8. Eye, informally 9. Being 10. ___ tear (knee injury) 11. Train rails 12. Broad blades used to clear vines 13. Most sugary 19. Unit of pressure abbr. 21. “Cyberchase” character in trio with Jackie, and Matt 25. Singer Dua 27. Tax professional abbr. 29. ___ foil hat 30. 1970’s video game company 33. It might tell you that your tire pressure is low
58) LALA 60) APE
34. Means of recovery 35. Decisively beats 36. ___ Amadeus Mozart 38. Roman equivalent of Helios 39. “Here it is!” (hyph.) 42. Dictionary item abbr. 44. Nimble 46. Uproar 47. Like a pepper a guest eats while talking to Sean Evans on First We Feast’s spicy talk show 48. Musical syllables from “Deck the Halls” 49. Made amends 50. Gossipers 52. “Weekend Update” co-anchor Poehler 56. Like four, six, or twelve 57. “Norma Rae” director Martin 60. Q-U string 61. Female sheep
the stute’s favorite halloween movies JORDYN RAMELLI
NATALIE TODARO
TASHA KHOSLA
DIEM TRINH
The Nightmare Before Christmas
KiKi’s Delivery Service
Scary Godmother: Halloween Spooktacular
Midsommar
TREVOR DAMEIKA
SANJANA MADHU
RAFAEL LEE LI
JULIA DWIGHT
It’s the great Pumpkin Charlie Brown
The Sixth Sense
The Shining
The rocky horror picture show
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Friday, October 29
Opinion MIND OF A FRESHMAN
OFF THE PRESS
The harbinger of winter
Candy Cops
BY LAUREN GARRETT ‘25 The air has turned brisk. Red and yellow leaves fall; a frosting on the streets. Days are getting shorter, and the nights are growing longer. Autumn is upon us. Students walk through campus donning layers of coats, looking forward to the holiday season and the crisp chill that comes with it. Fall festivals, jack-olanterns lining staircase entryways all through Hoboken, the signs of Halloween are everywhere. All through our lives, we have spent the holidays with our families, and this Halloween season is the first that many will have spent away from home. At this point, when I walk
outside of my dorm building, I smell the start of basketball season. I remember the days when as I would walk out into my car to go to school, I could smell the start of my sacred sports season on the wind. There’s no feeling quite like it, the adrenaline races as you hear the squeaking shoes of players dancing around the court, defense maneuvers mixed with skillfully crafted ball handling, creating an atmosphere of simultaneous bliss and excitement. I miss the crowd’s roar after basket after basket was made. I miss the long drive home after a game, listening to music on the radio, or my parents giving me pointers on how I could improve for the next game. It reminds me of home. I find myself going on long walks through Hoboken, drawn to each little corner store coffee shop, where holiday flavors are finally available. In a world where everyone is moving so fast, sitting down in a coffee shop allows me to admire the ambiance of calm. Coffee shops feel warm, cozy even, much like home. And as the holidays approach,
I feel the energy changing, the hustle and bustle of towns and cities exploding overnight. Yet, it’s almost as if my mind won’t let me fully enjoy the anticipation of it all. There is just a feeling you get at this point in the year. It doesn’t necessarily have to do with the sun’s slanting rays, but more of the knowledge that the year is coming to a close. Aside from the holiday season, there is almost a frantic feeling setting in. With midterms having just wrapped up, there should be a feeling of relaxation. Yet, as I think of the holiday season upon us, finals season also approaches, and just thinking about it sends my pulse racing. There seems to be so much to do before I can sit down and truly enjoy the holidays. But, it is important to remember to stop and smell the roses, as many say. To enjoy what is right in front of us. Take a look around at the jacko-lanterns, and the haunted houses, and allow yourself the break from school work in order to enjoy yourself with friends this All Hallows Eve weekend.
SENIORITIS
The nightmare before adulthood
BY GRACE MIGUEL ‘22 He did the mash! The Monster Mash, he did the mash. It was a graveyard smash! Ghosts on trees, spiderwebs and orange lights landscaping front porches of the neighborhood—it’s that time of the year, Halloween time. While it’s a warmer-than-usual October (thanks climate change), all I want is pumpkin spiced everything, flannels, and good hiking weather. It’s officially spooky season and this year spooky doesn’t just mean ghouls and skeletons. Last year, we did not get to fully celebrate Halloween. No bar crawls or Halloweekend, and a sad sight of masked trick-or-treaters that truly embodied a dystopia. Even though life has not returned back to “normal,” if there even is such a thing as normal anymore, I’m excited to put on my best Cowgirl garb and
go to a Halloween costume party and trick or treat—you’re never too old. Many of us are stressing over midterms, deadlines for projects, and job interviews but hopefully a bit of socializing and candy will lighten the mood. To me, the scariest thing this season is job hunting and interviewing. What’s more horrifying than a coding interview without a compiler and a software engineer from one of your top companies? Maybe, The Conjuring, but after your second or third time watching the mom attack her kid you have to laugh (sorry, not sorry if I spoiled it). No matter how many interviews I have, it’s just as scary as the first one, but maybe it’ll become less nerve-wracking with time. As I grew up, I always thought the age group above me had it figured out. As a high-schooler, I thought my college aged sister and her friends had their whole lives planned out. That was not the case – my sister did her undergrad in illustration/animation and is now going for a PhD in Audiology. Neither of us would have guessed when she was a freshman that she’d be an up and coming artist while pursuing the highest academic degree one can receive. With that said, I could not be more proud of her. As a college aged student, I thought my college-graduate friends were smooth sailing
now that they’re in the workplace. I recently found out that I was wrong again. Many of them are still navigating corporate or startup waters, where their professional interests lie, and what the heck their job is. If someone were to ask me what I want to be when I grow up at this very moment, my response will remain “I don’t know.” Sure, I know I want to be in the technical space, probably with a data analytics and software engineering flavor, but that is a very wide ranging answer. As a senior I feel the pressure of society weighing me down, trying to squeeze my future out of me. However, I am realizing that I don’t need to have an exact answer to the question, “What do you want to be?” While the future is unknown, the only way it will become less terrifying is if I put myself out there and try different things. If that means watching videos and doing pet projects in data science, so be it. If that also means making pumpkin muffins on the weekends to destress, that’s even better. The only way to know what you want, is to explore the things you haven’t tried or dig deeper on the things you enjoy. For all you seniors out there, stay calm and get your Halloween candy fix. We’re almost at the end of this rainbow road of a college career, and we can’t let ourselves drive off into the abyss.
603 Washington Street, Hoboken NJ 07030
Looking for delivery person and employees
BY OFF CENTER In light of the recent rumors regarding potential threats to students’ candy including people sneaking pretzels, pencils, pens, and other illegal candy cop-outs into trick-or-treat bags, Stevens has announced a mandatory candy inspection policy for all students. Ostensibly to protect the quality of the items handed out and consumed by students, we uncovered much more nefarious intentions behind the policy. Stevens will be collecting a candy fee from every student who submits their candy for inspection. Seeing as the penalty for collecting candy without submitting it for candy inspection is complete candy confiscation, this policy applies to every candy-coveting comrade. However, to cover the costs of this blatant candy-grab, Stevens will be taking a percentage of all the candy they inspect. Any Payday and 100 Grand Bars will go straight into President Farvardin’s pocket, with the remaining candies being divided up among high level administrators and professors. It’s rumored the astronomy department is partial to Milky Ways, which is good for us at Off The Press, as we prefer Laffy Taffies and Snickers. Despite their comedy-connected names, it should be noted that our journalism is 100% serious, 100% of the time.a As they always do, Compass One found a way to inject themselves into the situation. We were purchasing candy to pass out from our offices during the trick-or-treat when a representative from the catering overlords came to inform us we would need to fill out a food waiver to pass out and collect candy. We were informed that random checkpoints would be set up on campus to verify that anyone carrying candy had the appropriate documentation. Compass One reserves the right to reject any candy that can be purchased at Shoprite or Walgreens, and has a blanket ban on anything
from CVS. In order to comply with health and safety rules, because the trickor-treat is a large, campus-wide event, a designated eating area will be set up and no one will be allowed to eat outside of it. Off The Press caught surveyors going around with chalk to mark potential areas on the ground, and it looks like the eating area is going to be in the McLean parking lot. In addition to approving candy, Stevens will be confiscating all candy from any student wearing a costume they deem insufficiently scary. This created a problem for one of our editors who was following the squirrel costume dress code when he was taken out of class by the scruff of his costume’s neck and told to get his act together because his costume was way too cute. He returned in a much more menacing demon squirrel costume that featured glowing red eyes, long, retractable claws, and oversized fangs. The sewing club will be holding several all-night meetings against campus policy to ensure students are able to get their costumes modified in time. Any student not wearing a costume will have their candy confiscated and will also be given a “Boring” mark on their official transcript. Stevens will also use the trickor-treat to launch their new candy division “Innovation Candy.” All students will be required to have a percentage of their total candy mass be made of innovation candy. In this way, Stevens ensures that the more candy you want to get, the more you must pay the school. Anyone with too low a percentage of innovation candy will have their haul confiscated and labeled as “not innovative” on their official transcript. As an independent journalistic enterprise and not at all a propaganda machine for the school, we here at Off The Press would like to express our excitement for the trickor-treat as well as our support for the policies Stevens is putting behind it.
GIRL TALK
My favorite Halloween costumes
BY JORDYN RAMELLI ‘23 Halloween: my most favorite holiday and time of year. The candy, the decorations, the pumpkin flavored and scented goodies, the cool weather — you simply can’t beat it. The thing I look forward to the most is by far the costumes. Creativity comes to life for one special day a year (or maybe weekend, depending on what you’re doing), and it makes for something fun and exciting. For this piece, I thought I’d sit back and relax and share some of my favorite halloween costumes I’ve encountered over the years. 1. Daphne or Velma, Scooby-Doo: I’m not sure if this is biased since my roommate and I are absolutely going to rock this costume this year, but I absolutely love a good Daphne or Velma costume. They’re a dynamic duo that makes for a very cute best friend costume. 2. A Rockford Peach, A League of Their Own: One of my favorite movies, A League of Their Own. It’s a classic movie, an inspiring story, and has some really adorable outfits. Besides the fact that they are extremely unconventional for baseball, they do make a tasteful fit. 3. Jack Skellington or Sally, The Nightmare Before Christmas: “And I just can’t
wait until next Halloween ‘cause I’ve got some new ideas that will really make them scream. And by God, I’m really gonna give it all my might!” - Jack Skellington. A scary but amazing couple costume, the creepy but beautiful Jack and Sally. 4. Any Form of an Animal: Boring? No, just easy and inexpensive! Animal costumes don’t deserve the heat they get. It’s fun, flirty, and affordable. As a very wise woman once said, “I’m a mouse, duh.” 5. Mermaid: Ariel, Aquamarine, the girls of H2O: Just Add Water — There are so many mermaids to choose from! All of these characters are beautiful and would make for a great costume. And if not, a mermaid from your imagination would rock too. So, these are some of my favorite go-to Halloween costumes. It might seem a little bit lackluster or basic, but to me they’re pretty awesome. Since this is still the Girl Talk column, I want to touch upon the harsh criticism women face during Halloween costume season (specifically teenage girls and young adults). In all honesty, it seems like we just can’t catch a break. Every costume on this list will most likely be criticized or labeled as boring. And if they’re worn in any type of revealing style, judgment will be passed and snotty looks will be given. Why? I don’t really know. But my advice as a young woman is to not take Halloween too seriously — wear what empowers you to be the best version of yourself and what makes you feel beautiful. Choose whatever costume your heart desires, hang out with your friends, have a great time, and most importantly, eat a lot of candy. Happy Halloween! Stay safe.
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Friday, October 29
Opinion SPOILER ALERT: DOUBLE TROUBLE
Why I don’t like Halloween specials
BY EMMA TONG ‘25 It’s apparently a spooky season everyone. I say that ironically because I didn’t even know it was Halloween until I started seeing the Halloween specials airing on TV. To be honest, I am not a big fan of Halloween. I like the fall season but not enough leaves have been falling yet for it to be called fall. Also, I can’t handle all the sugar like I used to be able to, so Halloween hasn’t really been it for me. But my gripe with Halloween specials is another issue entirely falling under two primary problems. Christmas specials or even Thanksgiving specials are themed and set around their respective holidays. They both embody the spirit of the holiday like the spirit of giving or the value of traditions. But many Halloween specials don’t fit this mold and instead opt purely for being “Halloween f lavored” or being scary. It seems like Halloween is just too commercial and used as a plot device or a
cash grab for the holiday. Many series make an episode for Halloween just to make it a stereotypical episode of the show or a filler episode. This can be seen in the “A Scooby-Doo Halloween” (What’s New, Scooby-Doo? Season 2 Episode 6) which was a good classic Scooby-Doo episode, but if you remove the fact that it happens during Halloween then it would be a normal Scooby-Doo episode. Which is fine, but it doesn’t make it a Halloween episode. The other option of having specials be scary isn’t bad in theory, as scary stories, movies, etc., have been a staple of the Halloween holiday. This isn’t bad but for a scary horror series, there isn’t much you can do to distinguish it as a Halloween special from the other scary episodes. Another bad execution of this move is also seen in shows which aren’t usually scary but try to add that aspect for the Halloween episode. This can be seen in the second Big City Greens Halloween special (61st episode) which not only repeats an old lesson in the show but also tries to make it scary with an evil alien pumpkin. Not only is it lazy and unoriginal but more importantly it feels out of place with the whole series being a comedy gag show that focuses on the value of being honest and sticking up for yourself.
Now you may be asking, what should a Halloween special be? What should it be centered around? A good example would be the DuckTales Halloween special. DuckTales’ main strength and appeal lie in its characters who use that to their advantage in this episode. The night starts off with each of the characters doing Halloween related activities that suit their personalities. This is seen in Launchpad, a character known to be gullible, he was told by a candy wrapper that he was cursed so that on every Halloween monsters will come after him. Or the kids, of the adventurous outgoing type, go trick or treating with a plan to go into the haunted house in promise of a huge amount of candy. This culminates into a fun time with classic Halloween monsters with a twist (you have to watch the episode to find out what happens). In essence, a Halloween special should still feel like an episode from that series, while still encompassing the Halloween experience and the lore of Halloween. This is what Halloween really means: it means having fun with candy or scary movies or even with your friends. So while I don’t like Halloween, I do like people coming together, and sometimes better Halloween specials.
Why Hereditary is the best horror film of the 21st Century
BY JULIA WIERZBICKI ‘23 Alright, I know the title is high praise, but hear me out. Hereditary, directed by Ari Aster, debuted in theaters in 2018. Since then, people are still talking about it and dissecting it. As someone who considers myself an avid horror movie watcher, I typically don’t scare easily. But this movie had me curled up in my seat and covered my eyes like a little kid. And honestly, even after watching it at least five times since then, it still manages to scare me every time. But enough about my fear. Let’s get into why it’s the best movie that’s been released in the past twenty years. The 2010s was a pretty bleak time for horror as a genre. Scary movies tended to rely on gore and jump scares to scare their audience. That’s fine for a sleepover or a fun watch with a significant other, but there weren’t many deep horror films that you could really dive into or dissect. There were a few interesting ones that stood out, such as the Babadook, but they didn’t really hit like a truly terrifying film does. Enter Hereditary. The film itself has a pretty basic concept. A woman’s grandmother dies and the family is sent into a complete spiral because of it. However, underlying the entire movie is this extremely dark subplot of cultism and how the grandmother was a part of something much bigger than
THE COLLEGE GOURMET
Scary good food: Tricks for a tasty Halloween
BY JULIA DWIGHT ‘22 Dr. Lecter ate liver with fava beans and a nice Chianti. Frank Thorn ate Soylent Green. Jaws ate the boat. Horror movies are positively epicurean! We can all be sensitive about what we put in our bodies; that’s why they make steak well-done to blue rare. It’s also why oftentimes the scariest movie moments concern what characters choose (or don’t choose) to eat. When food turns paranormal, you might think twice about ordering dessert. Consider Beetlejuice, a cult favorite movie that has recently expanded its fanbase due to the wildly successful musical adaptation. Perhaps the most famous scene is the haunted dinner party, where Catherine O’Hara sings Harry Belafonte while the shrimp cocktail appetizer attacks her guests.
The food is central to the scare: the characters were left wondering “Were we really going to eat THAT?” So, for your Halloween party this year, fix up some terrifyingly delicious snacks! Up the creep factor while still building up energy to show off your costume around Hoboken. I always like to start with the elementary school party favorites. Try dipping strawberries in white chocolate and adding icing faces to make candy “ghosts.” Super easy and super cute! If you’re up for a challenge, you can never go wrong with pumpkin. Try pumpkin bisque to start, fill up on pumpkin ravioli, or finish the night with pumpkin pie. Top it off with sage for savory dishes and cinnamon for sweet. For the twenty-one-plus horror fanatics out there, if you’re looking for some Halloween-themed drinks, try Chilling Cocktails by Jason Ward. My boyfriend got it for his birthday this year and it’s filled with thrilling cocktails based on scary movies. It has everything classic-inspired drinks like Dracula’s Kiss all the way to a recipe based on the 2019 film Midsommar. For fun pairings, check out the back of the book for easy themed
snacks. I’m excited to try these recipes out for a horror movie night soon. If you’re looking to reign in the spooky season, try out a Dwight family favorite that was also pictured in Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands: ambrosia salad! I love watching this movie around Halloween, but the town barbecue scene makes me nostalgic for summer. This recipe comes courtesy of Taste of Home magazine, a great resource for dishes from real home cooks around the country. It’s definitely an old-fashioned classic, but don’t knock it before you try it.
Ambrosia — serves 4 Ingredients • 1 can mandarin oranges (15 ounces), drained • 1 can pineapple tidbits (8 ounces), drained • 1 cup mini marshmallows • 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut • 1 cup sour cream • Optional: pecans, maraschino cherries (to taste) Directions 1. Combine oranges, pineapple, marshmallows, coconut, and optional ingredients 2. Add sour cream and mix 3. Cover and refrigerate for several hours before serving
she appeared. As opposed to relying on cheap jump scares, the film uses disturbing scenes and tension to set the viewer on edge. For example, there’s a scene of the mother standing in her study. She turns around and turns off the light. As soon as the light is turned off, the grandmother can be seen standing in the corner. The mother jumps and turns the light on — and when she does, she’s gone. There was no jumpscare, no loud music. But just the image itself was enough to frighten. Additionally, the film does something completely unexpected for any movie: it kills off one of the main characters halfway through. The daughter, Charlie, is accidentally beheaded by a lamppost as she’s going into anaphylactic shock. The script is extremely tight, mentioning nut allergies earlier in the film and even showing the cult symbol on the same lamppost scenes before Charlie meets her fate there. Not only is it a shock to the audience, but upon further viewing, it becomes apparent that it was actually
the cult that set up the “accident.” It’s like watching two completely different movies: the first time watch makes it seem like a tragic accident to further the plot, the second watch makes it clear that it was part of the cult’s plan all along. The last thing I want to praise Hereditary for is its climax. It has one of the most shocking and well-shot climaxes in a horror movie that I’ve ever seen. There is quite a bit of gore in it but the tension in the film leading up to it is what really sets it apart. It’s so refreshing when a plot has a perfect build and then everything comes together (or in this case, falls apart) at the end of the story. Although Hereditary and cult-style films in general are not everyone’s cup of tea, there’s no doubt that the film has made its mark on the horror community. It was unique, refreshing, and jarring all at once. So if you’re looking for a film that may not only keep you up at night but also scar you for life, I highly recommend the horror-classic Hereditary.
JOIN THE STUTE! TUESDAY GBMS @ 9:15 PM IN THE STUDENT CENTER ROOM #203 Open to everyone! NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY
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Friday, October 29
Opinion BOOK OF THE WEEK
PASSION FOR FASHION
How to make your Halloween costume sustainable
BY MELISSA KOSAR ‘22 Spooky season is upon us! I love dressing up for Halloween just as much as the next gal. Halloween is an exciting chance for fashion conscious individuals to work their personal style into highly creative outlets. One thing about Halloween that poses a problem is fast fashion and lack of sustainability associated with costumes. In a world where fast fashion is becoming increasingly unpopular, Halloween is the perfect opportunity to practice your sustainability efforts. While some of us shop for Halloween costumes online weeks in advance, others wait until the last minute to try and piece together what they can. Either avenue you choose, there are ways you can be sustainable in the process. If you choose to shop online for an entire costume
with all necessary pieces included it’s likely that none of these pieces will be incorporated into your wardrobe. If this is the case, perhaps consider purchasing a costume that you would enjoy wearing for future Halloween festivities or some other costume party. Some items needed for a costume might not practically fit into your wardrobe but if it is something you see yourself using for years to come, then I think you can justify the purchase! My boyfriend, for example, purchased a long hair wig for a costume this year; clearly not something he will be incorporating into his daily wardrobe, yet he has already thought of plenty of ideas for future costumes to get use out of the wig. You could even lend your costume to friends in the coming years or donate it all together! In aiming to be sustainable it is important to choose a costume that won’t end up in the trash by November 1. Be strategic when browsing the aisles at Spirit Halloween. This year I am dressing up as Olivia Rodrigo being that I am such a huge fan and a costume of her is simple to piece together with things I already have. Try being something that is easy
ALTHOUGH CUTE, THESE LEATHER LEGGINGS DID NOT LAST PAST THIS NIGHT. THE CROP TOP MADE IT A LITTLE LONGER, BUT NOT MUCH.
enough you can just turn to your already existent wardrobe to piece it together in a stylish way. If you do need to browse for some pieces to accessorize or build the look, again be conscious about what you are looking for and maybe find items that can have a place in your wardrobe once spooky season commences. For my Olivia Rodrigo costume, I am wearing plaid pants I have had for a while, a pink fuzzy tank I was gifted last Christmas which coincidentally happens to match Olivia’s tank in her Sour album cover. And finally, it would not be an Olivia Rodrigo costume without obnoxiously chunky black boots… and it just so happens I splurged on a good pair from Urban Outfitters for the fall season! I will do my makeup a little grungy and get away with a great costume without any spending needed! Tip: look at your clothes and try to find pieces that are bold and stand out, think about what sorts of costumes you could make from these statement pieces. You would be surprised what you can come up with if you just get creative! If you are looking to buy pieces from a fast fashion place for a Halloween cos-
tume, think about what the item is that you need, and maybe buying a better-quality option will help you in the long run. For instance, a few years ago some friends and I went to Forever 21 the day of a Halloween party looking for a last-minute costume. We ended up buying items to be biker girls; we got matching black leather leggings and a racer logo crop top. The costume was cute, and I was excited about adding a pair of leather leggings to my wardrobe, or so I thought. The leggings did not make it far into the night before they were ripped in some places. They were in no condition to ever be worn in style again. I wish I had chosen to spend a little more for a good quality pair of leggings that would last me for many Halloweens to come. After all, some pieces you can use as part of a costume can actually be great additions to your wardrobe. Another costume I had that year was Barbie, for that the only thing I purchased was a hot pink bodysuit and I still wear it to this day. Not every Halloween costume needs to consist of cheap, poor quality clothes. Use it as an excuse for some quality shopping!
OUR LEGGINGS FOR THESE WERE LUCKILY PAIRS WE ALREADY OWNED, THE BODYSUITS WERE A CONSCIOUS PURCHASE THAT I STILL GET USE OUT OF TODAY!
The book you read when preparing for spooky season
BY STEPHANIE SEARING ‘24 To give you a scare for this spooky weekend, here lies Pet Sematary by Stephen King. Dr. Louis Creed takes a new job in Ludlow, Maine, and moves with his family. Although Ludlow is a beautiful small town, there is an air of evil about it. The tractor-trailers drive too fast on the road in front of their house. A result of this is the Pet Sematary, as indicated by the sign outside the cemetery. Louis receives warnings in real life and his nightmares not to venture outside the border of the cemetery, as a dark power lies there. Louis will soon discover the forbidden and perhaps face an ominous fate. And you
know, “sometimes dead is better…” I’m not usually one for horror books, so this pushed me out of my comfort zone, which I liked. King’s writing was very descriptive which I think is necessary for horror books because of the lack of visuals. When reading, his writing style caused me to be very reflective because, in addition to the plotline, King ties in deep discussions about growing up, family, and death. I usually read before bed, but it’s not my recommendation to do that with this book! I closed the book on multiple occasions. This is definitely a good, spooky read for leading up to Halloween (or anytime if you love horror). All I say is read at your own risk...enjoy.
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Friday, October 29
campus pulse
Natalie Todaro ‘22
“My biggest fear is not getting The Stute out each week ;)”
Twinkle Gupta ‘25
“I don’t like ocean animals swimming around me.”
Pooja Rajadurai ’23
“Vastness, deep space, or the deep ocean.”
ROVING REPORTER Janine Jbeili ‘25
What is your biggest fear?
“Not giving everything my all.”
“Probably just failure in general.”
Carly Walker ‘24
Matthew McCaughan ‘25
“I’ll go with snakes.”
“Probably not living up to my own expectations.”
Heli Shah ‘23
Connor Mills ‘22
“I have no idea. Last-minute decision, you know what I mean.”
Noemi Gavazzi ‘25
“I don’t know. I don’t even have a week. Yeah, I’m not sure yet.”
Nicole Veraja ‘22
“I guess not having fun…not actually truly enjoying life.”
Christine Huang ‘23
“I’m gonna be that doll from Squid Game.”
ROVING REPORTER Stephanie Long ‘23
What are you dressing up as for Halloween?
Gigi Luna ‘23
Alisha Patel ‘25
“Rachel Green from Friends.”
“I am being a fairy and an alien.”
“Nothing.”
Sudoku
Lauren Sheehan ‘23
“Oh, the Halloween costume from WandaVision if I find the head thing.”
Arianna Gehan ‘24 “Hopefully a cow.”