[The Stute] September 9 2016 (Issue 1, Volume CXIV)

The Stute Online Subscriptions You can get a PDF version sent to your email every Friday, free.

Never miss a bit of news. thestute.com/subscribe

STUTE THE

The Stute The official campus newspaper of Stevens Institute of Technology since 1904, and creator of the Stevens mascot, Atilla the Duck.

We write Stevens history.

Volume CXIV • Issue 1

Friday, September 9, 2016

TheStute.com

@TheStute

/TheStute

146th annual Convocation formally welcomes Class of 2020

Established 1904

A new America’s Cup

Gio Duran

by NICK BURNS Staff Editor

see page 7 for full coverage

Gary Morrison

SDS presents Too Much Light to kick-off the new year

by DAVID OSVIEW Membership Chair

This past Friday, I had the pleasure to see the Stevens Dramatic Society’s production of Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind: 30 Plays in 60 Seconds. “Too Much Light” is an eclectic show that casts aside the concepts of characters and setting in favor of a fastpaced gauntlet of plays, delivered by a skilled cast and aided by that often-overlooked contributor to all plays: the audience. At different times exciting, humorous, solemn, and thought-provoking, Too Much Light is a brilliant show that speaks of great things for the future of SDS. One of the central features of Too Much Light is audience interaction. In most plays, members of the audience are spectators: they are encouraged to remain quiet throughout the entire show and not interfere with what they observe. However, in “Too Much Light” the audience’s role undergoes a dramatic shift from onlook-

er to participant. As you enter the show, a member of the cast provides you with a “menu,” a list of plays with corresponding numbers from one to thirty. As the show begins, actress and head producer Julia Cahn announces the rules of the play. At the beginning of the show and at the end of each play (denoted by a cast member saying the keyword “curtain”), members of the audience are to shout the number of the play they want performed. Whatever number is heard first will be next. However, the audience doesn’t just get the chance to decide what is performed when. They also get to engage in the plays themselves.

In one play, members of the audience get to choose a cast member and ask arbitrary questions, while in another, a lucky (or, if you are shy, unlucky) patron gets summoned up to the stage to go on a blind date with an actor.

Of course, the play itself is quite important for any show, and this is no less true for one that seeks to provide 30 plays before many other shows would break for in-

termission. One might think that trying to perform so many plays in so little time is a venture doomed to fail. However, the SDS managed to accomplish this feat remarkably well. Each play feels unique, inspiring an array of emotions and including a variety of techniques that help differentiate it from the others. Some are lighthearted fun, such as the aptly-named “Tag” where the cast jumps down from the stage and plays tag with members of the audience. Others are satirical, such as “This Play Does Not Exist” where the cast denies the existence of the play and actress Ayse Akin is dragged out of the room for yelling that not only does it exist but that it was “the best play ever written.” Meanwhile, other plays are more personal and haunting; in “Flammable Pants”, actress Maryia Spirydonava asks the audience to raise their hands if they agree with statements that start out simple (“I consider myself an honest person”) but gradually grow darker as the lights dim (“I have considered suicide”).

The cast of Too Much Light was

presented with several problems in making this show a reality.

First of all, they only began rehearsing at the beginning of August, giving them only a month to practice all 30 plays. In addition, they had to take in consideration the inherent randomness of Too Much Light; actors had to be able to perform their plays in a random order and without knowing how the audience would respond to their many prompts. They had to keep the plays moving along, as they held themselves to a strict limit of 60 minutes. In fact, when I went to see the show on Friday the last play had to be cut short because time ran out. Yet on the whole, the acting was extremely powerful. Julia Cahn broke out into an impressive operatic voice during “Hair Director” while fellow actress Natalie Barillaro made an incredibly dramatic accusation against a sockless audience member during “A Pair of Socks,” even going so far as throwing her own socks at him. Everyone was

The beloved America’s Cup café, located across from Howe on Palmer lawn, was recently renovated with a nautical theme. With sailing flags hanging on the wall, diners feel that they are eating in a mess hall of a ship.

The nautical themed decor connects the cafe to the inspiration for its name — the America’s Cup sailing competition.

The America’s Cup sailing competition takes place between two sailing yachts, the defender and the challenger. The defender is the cup is the owner of “America’s Cup” — a trophy that is in

see A-CUP• Page 6

Health Center has new hires

by VERONICA MELIKOV Staff Writer

large role mental health plays in young adults’ lives as they experience the crests and troughs of the college experience.

Q: What makes the transition from high school to college difficult for many students?

A: The move from high school to college often coincides with a period of psychological (and sometimes physical) separation from parents and family. It’s a moment in life that frequently requires lots of rethinking and reconsideration. It can be a time of both growth and challenge as young people consider what aspects of their family life they want to hold onto, and which aspects they hope to let go of. Sometimes this separation goes smoothly, and

other times not. When the process is rocky, we can see a spectrum of signs that a young person is hurting – and these can range from homesickness, to engaging in dangerous or rebellious activity.

Linked to separation challenges is the fact that college students often have far more independence than high school students. Sometimes college students aren’t prepared for how much freedom they now have! Some folks do great with the new freedom – they use it to make a schedule that fits with their emerging priorities and values. Others feel the need to test the boundaries of their new freedom – sometimes engaging in behaviors (for example drinking, drug use, explorations of sexual-

ity) that can put them into situations they aren’t emotionally prepared to handle. Still others flounder with so much freedom – they wind up spending time lost in activities that don’t match up with their priorities.

Lastly, it’s important to realize that all of us get a little bit lazy at times when it comes to our coping mechanisms. We all have our “go-to-moves.” Maybe in high school you were a last-minute crammer for exams. Or maybe in the past you made friends by relying on being the “class clown.” And for the most part these strategies worked for you.

Sometimes, though, a person

There is a whirlwind of changes at the Student Health Center at the start of this semester. Leading this change is the addition of two new clinicians to the center’s staff.

Maggie Cunning, the Director of the Health Center, is excited by the changes at the office. “They’re both lovely and both good clinicians.

College health is a specialty.

They bring a fresh approach!

They’re very young and enjoying this population of students.” One of the clinicians is a physician; the other is a physician’s assistant. Their addition adds support to the nursedirected care on campus.

The new model fits the college environment perfectly.

The center adapts to individual needs and provides excellent communications without failing to offer strong, immediate medical care. On weekdays, a registered nurse is always on duty from 9 to 4. Wednesdays and Fridays, the clinicians come on duty to consult the concerns of students. On

see CAPS • Page 6

see HEALTH • Page 6

Front page continued

Cuisine Corner: Bubble Tea

Field Hockey beats FDU

Residence Life’s Red and Gray Dance Par-tay

Understanding Transhumanism

Women’s soccer streak

Exploring Adirondacks

Men’s soccer win

Indecision as a freshman

Roving Reporter Favorite part of being back Polling Pierce Rate Pierce 1-100 Creative Space Original student submissions

Convocation Featurette

Starring Julia Cahn

Weekend Schedule

OPINION 2-4

CAMPUS PULSE 4-5

NEWS 6-7

OPINION CONT’D 8-9

SPORTS 10

see LIGHT • Page 6

Keeping a sound mind

by OLIVIA SCHREIBER Staff Writer

With the arrival of the fall semester comes change in a variety of forms. It does not take much observation to see the recent improvements to campus, the newest additions to the student population, and even the slow, but sure transition into autumn.

Along with the physical changes comes the beginning of a new school year, academic responsibility, and difficult transitions for students of all ages. Dr. Eric Rose, Director of the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), was kind enough to share his professional expertise regarding the importance of understanding the

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Be weird, be yourself Shuttle problems

S

THE

TUTE We write Stevens history.

The student-run newspaper of Stevens Institute of Technology since 1904

114th Volume Executive Board Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Business Manager Membership Chair

Lisa Mengotto Maryia Spirydonava Tarik Kdiry David Ovsiew

Staff & Contributors Anthony Labonte Audrey Dsouza Bernard Feeney Brad Tylutki Chelsea Yagel Chris Cavallo David Rogers Evan Bedser Gary Morrison Gio Duran Greg McNeil Hope Brandes James Murphy John Horgan

Katie Brown Matthew Doto Mark Krupinski Melina Dallastella Mia Hildebrandt Monica Moser Nick Burns Olivia Schreiber Rachel Stern Teny Odaimi Veronica Melikov Victoria Piskarev Victoria Stabile

Opinion The Stute Editorial

Be yourself, not perfect It is so important to be authentic and to be proud of who you are. I don’t like to generalize often, but I feel like most Stevens students, faculty, and administrators all have a certain down-toearth goofiness and aren’t afraid to show it. I love that modest attitude towards how weird we all are because it’s that comfortableness that allows us to truly get along and be a community.

Although “Excellence in all we do” is one of the university’s core philosophies, I like how Stevens does not have an overwhelming amount of pressure to be perfect. At Convocation, a friend and I were giggling over quirks throughout the ceremony. The little things: the marshall placing the torch the wrong way, President Farvardin nudging awards recipients to stand on his other

Email Office Location General Body Meetings Advertising Inquiries Mailing Address

eboard@thestute.com Jacobus Hall, 2nd Floor Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m. business@thestute.com 1 Castle Point Terrace, The Stute, Hoboken, NJ 07030

The opinions in letters sent to The Stute with the request to be published are the sole opinions of their author(s) and do not reflect the views and opinions of any member or person involved in the making of The Stute. These opinions are not endorsed by The Stute and the content of all letters are left in their original, unedited form.

A disclaimer will accompany any letter that is published in The Stute stating this information.

Letters may not exceed 500 words in length and must be fully attributed with name and title (non-attributed letters will be considered on a case-by-case basis, but the author’s identity must be made known to a member of the Executive Board). They must be emailed to eboard@thestute.com. The Stute reserves the right to not publish any letter submitted for publication.

Disclaimer All opinions, stories and editorials reflect the views of their respective author(s). The Stute reserves the right to edit all letters and articles submitted for publication for clarity and factual accuracy, or not publish them.

No part of The Stute may be reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the written consent of the Editor-in-Chief. Cited references of The Stute are permitted.

Copyright © 2016 The Stute

Corrections & Clarifications

To report errors, please contact us at eboard@thestute.com • Dr. Melissa Zarin’s title was misprinted as Associate Director of Student Life. Her proper title is Assistant Director of Counseling and Psychological Services.

intense or strange, but I put myself out of my comfort zone to do my very best chicken impression – squawks, head shakes, and flapping wings. It was fun and I made people laugh, and I feel that really let people know that they could be themselves and be weird without being judged at Stevens.

I hope that all of the new students can find this type of comfort at Stevens, whether it’s reached within the first two weeks or two years.

Lisa Mengotto Editor-in-Chief

Being undecided

(201) 216-3404

Letters to the Editor Policies

side, the photographers calling back an awards recipients beginning to leave the stage. They were small but noticeable, and nobody really cared that much because Stevens is characterized by the friendly humanizing of our best community leaders.

This is something I developed an understanding of during orientation leader training. The “O-Team” goes through a week of ice breaker games, fun team bonding, and inclusive communication exercises. One of the biggest takeaways was learning to let myself be silly around groups of people. In a game called Farkle, people play Rock, Paper, Scissors to evolve through different stages: egg, chicken, hawk, dinosaur, and eventually prince/princess/prince-person.

Most of the gestures aren’t too

Mind of a Freshman

Contact Us Office Phone

Friday, September 9, 2016 • Page 2

by AUDREY DSOUZA Freshman Undecided Business Major

Sometimes I forget where I am... just kidding. I wake up every morning knowing where I am. Life is really different. I find myself having so much free time compared to last year. School would occupy seven hours of my day and work, rehearsals, and/or practices followed. Many people I knew were in the same position, working hard in order to get into college. But now that I’m here, I’m not sure what to do with all my time.

I joined a few clubs, only ones I was interested in, because everyone has warned me against

joining everything. But for those who don’t know what they like, students without direction or a “why”, joining everything is the only option.

Do not be mistaken, I’m not undecided because I don’t have a clue of what I want. I’m undecided because I could not pick between three majors I really want to study. I did not apply for this column because I liked writing, (I think that journaling and keeping track of goals and thoughts is critical for success) but because this column forces me to do that publicly; I really have to do my best. Even if it is not published, everyone should record their ambitions and feelings. By making promises to your future self and reflecting on your past self, you’ll be able to improve and understand your present self. That was a quote, but from me.

Speaking of quotes, I was recently discussing with a new friend about a quote that defined me in high school. It goes, “Aim

for the Moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” With this quote in mind, I fought drowsiness every night to do better, to do more. But then he told me something I never realized. “The stars are farther away than the Moon you know! It should be the other way around!”

This week, I learned once again that I should have taken Physics in high school. Maybe I would have then known that the Moon is closer than any star. Maybe. More importantly, I decided that I should not blindly follow other people’s quotes. I think it’s okay, to use other’s quotes to get yourself to a place where you can make your own. But after some time, if you don’t question and adjust those quotes, you’re stagnant.

Also, even if I thought I understood someone else’s words, what is the truth?

Everything is subjective; I learned that in CAL 105. I like to think that the original author knew that the Moon was closer; maybe they thought like I did —

that if one tries that hard and still misses their target, gravity will take care of them.

Writing this, I felt tempted to consider the average freshman. However, I know it is better to say how I genuinely feel.

A lot of people are not like that, though. Many people doubt their feelings, especially those that reply “I don’t know,” when asked the meaning of something in English classes. They don’t know because for so long, “I’m cool with whatever” has been the right answer. They say they are “undecided in their mind,” when asked why they picked their major, and there is nothing wrong with that. I hope everyone will soon know what they want, though, and that they will fill their days doing things they like. It is easier to achieve results if that “why” is understood, and someone can identify what they are working for. That way, we’ll all be able to improve those ROI rankings that brought us here.

Senioritis

I’m breaking up with the shuttle

by KATIE BROWN

Senior Chemical Engineering Major

Our romance began July 2014. I had just been given my keys to Curling Club 509, and considering I really never walked any further than Garden Street as a freshman, I sought a solution to check out my apartment. I boarded the one, the only, Stevens red line. After taking the gargantuan route around Hoboken, I finally got off

the shuttle (well, more like I awkwardly stood up in a moving vehicle because the driver was not slowing down for the stop and then decided to pull over). I hopped onto the pavement and deemed my first date with this Stevens convenience a success.

During the fall and spring semesters, the massive “Tour de Hoboken” splits into the red and gray lines with additional lines in between.

With so many options you would think the shuttle would be readily available to serve the students trekking from far parts of town. I wish. To put it short, throughout our first year together, the shuttle was playing hard to get. The stop of 12th

and Adams was similar to Tally Ho on a Friday night. Some people were trying to score big, pushing their way through the crowds of people to get their chance with the shuttle. Others were more tame, hanging out until a spot opened up to make their suave move onto the shuttle. Then there was me, who questioned each and every time if the stiff arming and sardinelike squishing experience was worth it. There were tons of things I did to get the shuttle to notice me. I took it at “off-peak” times.

I befriended the drivers. I even walked to an entirely different stop just to ensure I got my seat. Similar to driving over the pot holes of Hoboken, our relationship was bumpy

to say the least. Even with a new apartment and line to contend with daily, things definitely have not progressed.

The straw that broke the camel’s back occurred this past week. After walking out of Howe and pondering if I wanted to walk or not, the shuttle pulled up. If the vehicle could talk I’m sure it would’ve said something along the lines of “I miss you, let’s hang out” as it majestically opened the doors. I caved and hopped on. Things were pleasant until everyone and their mother decided to hop on as well. I felt trapped and my anxiety skyrocketed as more and more people crammed onto what is supposed to be 15 passenger vehicle. It was in

that 10-minute drive back to my apartment that I decided, once and for all, I’m breaking up with the shuttle.

In a failing relationship, it comes to a point that two individuals need to figure out if wants and needs are being met.

For me and the shuttle, that’s definitely the case.

I don’t necessarily need to rely on the shuttle but I need to know that it is available for me when I have stockpiled my Amazon packages in the mail room and I don’t want to struggle with four humongous boxes as I walk across town (guilty). I want to know that when I have those “caving” moments I don’t need to aggressively push my way onto the vehicle like it’s a

roller derby match. Ultimately at a school where I have to prioritize passing a class and shouldn’t be worrying about how to get to said class, I need the shuttle to be there for me. As it currently functions, the shuttle is not satisfying my wants and needs.

I do have to admit, the Stevens shuttle has come a long way. With the additional shuttles en route during popular times and even a full blown research project to optimize the service, I applaud the school for trying to fix the problems myself and many others have. For the time being, however, I’ll give the shuttle a good wave as it drives past me on the way to campus. My Fitbit will thank me later.

Friday, September 9, 2016 • Page 3

Technically Speaking

Tools for the college trade

by TARIK KDIRY

Sophomore Software Engineering Major

As we enter yet another year here at Stevens, or for some, their first year altogether, some of us may be faced with the all too familiar

struggle of organization.

As we move our lives to the internet, our work and school lives follow.

The physical notebooks we know too well are being replaced by online note-taking software and libraries are being swapped out for easily accessible pdf versions of books.

Before I begin I would like to address, particularly to new students, the storage01 drive accessible to all Stevens students. Within this drive is all of the software used for classes here at Ste-

vens such as Solidworks for modeling and word processors. I know for a fact this drive is helpful for engineering classes such as Graphics and Design. To access this drive, go to myStevens and click on IT Service Desk.

On the right, there will be a link explaining how to access the drive.

In the past, for basic word processing, OpenOffice would be the go to for anyone without storage01, or even cash.

However, due to OpenOffice’s declining support, a former extension of

Open Office called LibreOffice is rapidly gaining popularity. The amusing part of LibreOffice is the amount of former OpenOffice developers that have created LibreOffice.

Or you can use Word because it is offered to you in storage01. That works too.

My personal favorite calendar setup would be Google Calendar/mac Calendar. Because these two calendar programs can be synced, I regularly use it for everything from class schedules to appointments, and even

assignments. If I decide to log on to Google and add an event, I can be sure to expect a reminder on my iPhone through Calendar, regardless of cross-platform suspicion.

With the amount of people using both platforms, it is very important to see some cross-platform utility.

For the note-takers, i.e. everyone that cares about their grade, my go-to would be the notebook. Literally a paper notebook with the rings and the lines and the neat little folders. Some habits

just don’t die I suppose.

But if I had to go completely virtual I would easily use Evernote. Besides the fact that is has a really cool looking logo, Evernote offers many features. My most used features would be reminders and notebooks.

I don’t really know why Evernote appeals to me other than aesthetic but that’s all I really need for note-taking.

In the end, I would experiment with everything you have and see what fits. Happy fall semester!

Not With Those Shoes

Menswear 101: The Syllabus Week of Fashion

by HOPE BRANDES Junior Visual Arts & Technology Major

Ahh, syllabus week: the purgatory between summer ending and classes beginning where we cling to the last of our freedom before the new year. It’s the one week of school where even the teachers slack off. Amidst the haze of hot weather and sleepy eyes, though, we forget that the most important education is revising what we already know, or at least should know.

So I bring you the syllabus week of fashion: from the basics of building a wardrobe to building an outfit and finally, accessorizing.

Before you can complete an outfit, you need the right wardrobe to

go with it. Chances are it’s time for a wardrobe upgrade. If your closet is filled with graphic tees and torn jeans from high school, it might be time to invest in a few pieces that will grow with you from student to professional. That’s not to say you have to get rid of your old wardrobe (though I’m sure some pieces have seen better days), but moving forward, it might be time to consider how you want your clothes to represent you.

I always say that the first steps to a better wardrobe are to wear things that fit and are clean…but that doesn’t help when we’re looking to buy new pieces.

So what should be in the wardrobe of a young, inspiring engineer or scientist? Depending on the job your looking for, you might end up with a required uniform or certain dress code for safety. So let’s talk about a comfortable, casual style that can go from the street up to a very casual business setting.

Suiting and formal wear is another monster.

First off, invest in your basics. This is great for those of you that don’t love shopping because it means selecting fewer pieces of a higher quality. This way you don’t have to go out and rebuy everything when things start to fade and fall apart or trends change.

Think of basics as your wardrobe starter pack!

A solid white or gray t-shirt, a white button down, dark blue, untorn jeans, tan chinos or khakis, a solid colored sweater, a navy blazer or sports jacket and a nice pair of boots or shoes. If you’re wondering why the basic wardrobe sounds so boring, it’s because you can’t mix and match colors without the proper basics to pair them with.

The wardrobe staples I listed are staples because they can be worn with anything and needed to balance out more colorful pieces.

Plain t-shirts are the epitome of casual style.

They can be worn under open jackets or button down shirts, layered under sweater or just

styled by themselves for hot days. Button downs are the next step up from a t-shirt, and you should familiarize yourself with the term “oxford”. In a nutshell, an oxford shirt is named for the way the fabric is woven, but all you need to know is that it can go from casual to dressy with a mere change of pants. Classically, they come in white and light blue, but after you have a few basics you might try a few colors and patterns. They also come in short sleeves!

Pants are self-explanatory. Just buy the right size and fit. The jacket is the last piece that ties an outfit together. A sports coat is a looser fitting more casual blazer. Both can be used to dress up an outfit either for street or business wear. Denim, leather or suede jackets are another more casual alternative to a blazer.

Finally, your shoes should be just as nice as everything else you’re wearing. If you opt for sneakers, they shouldn’t be the same pair you wear to the gym. Shockingly, there are footwear

theidleman.com

options for men other than sneakers.

Desert boots and Chukka boots (think Clarks) are a popular boot-sneaker hybrid that matches the dressy-casual feel. You could also choose loafers, brogues, or boat

shoes.

Now that you have the essential wardrobe, you can start trying bolder styles to mix in with your basics. But it’s syllabus week, so we only need to worry about first chapter for now.

remembers

9/11

Friday, September 9, 2016 • Page 4

Campus Pulse

Roving Reporter What is your favorite part about being at Stevens?

“It’s been great.”

“It’s really windy right now.”

“It’s great because I can actually walk to stuff.”

CJ Internicola

Jacob Sifodaskalakis

Mark Krupinski

“It feels like a nice new experience.

I already feel at home here.”

“I just did double-term co-op, so it feels great to be around people again.

Jamie Shamilian

Alex Paciulli

“It’s great to be back, but it’s overwhelming having everything happen all at once.”

Sydney Slavik

Polling Pierce

Are you an RSO?

Rate Pierce (1-100) Based on 100 responses

Want to advertise in The Stute?

It’s free.

Number of votes

Email eboard@thestute.com

Rating 1-100, by tens

Teny Odaimi

Crossword puzzle: Clubs at Stevens!

Campus Clubs Y D R A W W A Y T E I C O S C I T A M A R D R U H

E T H N I C S T U D E N T C O U N C I L K P W H S

K I M I B A Y U H H P K S E P W M T E E Z F W O B

X Q M M P S V N O L U P Y F R S V R M N B N N Q P

T Q U E F X B G N X G M Y G I Z O K T G O B G H O

J P B W F T V I O P A B K U P T G O K I L R X O K

P U W Y C P S I R K T H K K Y N C I N N M R S X P

T Y Z C L P Y G B T H X H F Q E M U G E E Y M N A

F N V X G O R N O G R O A P U M T R R E I C B C C

Y T E I C O S L A C I M E H C N A C I R E M A T P

F U L M S Z K J R A S U Z Y E R Y G Z S E B T T X

AMERICANCHEMICALSOCIETY ANIME ARCHERY CHESS COMMUTERSTUDENTUNION DRAMATICSOCIETY ENGINEERSWITHOUTBORDERS ETHNICSTUDENTCOUNCIL GAMEDEVELOPMENT GOLF TORCH

V E C F P Y U V D T E O G D K E R M J W W J R Y S

T B L L C O W A E C Q C U P K V E Z Q I N O D G Q

J O F H T T L V J E G T A Z Y O H J B T C J V I R

G M E E L E E E I M S K D L B G C I W H T D K C C

C S M N S N C M V R I E E E H T R C E O V Y C X E

S K W Q S C S H E E L O Z D P N A D G U Y X E K G

H Z E T R V Z T N Y D R L D X E O J J T B R F Z E

J C H N A N U R H I C E A F Y D R K M B K L G T T

M O R L B M Z R W O Q T M I R U S C U O O M U E D

N B F O M D Y Q X E E U R A U T U O E R U T Q Z S

C N B O T U W N A X X T E Y G S P B M D S B K S D

HONORBOARD IEEE KNITTING SITTV STEVENSTHON STUDENTGOVERNMENT SWE TECHNIQUE THESTUTE WCPR

M L C V T T I S Q V W E A K S K L Q Y E W A C Q C

X K N I T T I N G S Z W U S Q N X O H R L D B K J

B M K M W F P J U N L S D I H A J T G S L I H S H

Creative Space

Friday, September 9, 2016 • Page 5

L-VE Is

Riddles

Question: If you randomly choose one of the following answers to this question, what is your chance of getting it right?

A) 50% B) 25% C) 0% D) 25% Question: There are two ropes that both take exactly 1 hour to burn from end to end. You are unable to cut the rope. How can you burn the two ropes in a total of 45 minutes?

Question: Thomas has missed an excessive number of days of school, so he must meet with Principal Davis. Mr. Davis asks him “Why on Earth have you missed so many days?”

Thomas replies “There just isn’t enough time for school. I need 8 hours of sleep a day, which adds up to about 122 days a year. Weekends off is 104 days a year. Summer vacation is about 60 days. If I spend about an hour on each meal, that’s 3 hours a day or 45 days a year. I need at least 2 hours of exercise and relaxation time each day to stay physically and mentally fit, adding another 30 days.

Add all of that up and you get about 361 days. That only leaves 4 days for school.”

The principal knows Thomas is full of it, but can’t figure out why. Where is Thomas going wrong?

“L-VE is” L-VE is feeling.

Connecting deep Feeling of hands, Feeling of lips Feeling of chest.

I have no hands.

No lips no chest.

Physical touch.

No nerves, no feeling, I can’t feel it, Nor will I ever, I cannot thus, L-VE is no feeling.

L-VE is the moment Moment when I saw Your bright red face.

“I am sorry” Lies. You don’t know.

No forgiveness.

Never will do.

I don’t make love.

L-VE is not the moment L-VE is my heart.

Beating happy, But ‘cause of you, It has went through Heart surgery.

It beats onwards, Nothing beats on, There is nothing, I have no heart.

No love.

L-VE is not my heart There is no L-VE.

by MARK KRUPINSKI

Masked Faces Look at yourself, What do you see?

What’s the point of having a face, If you nobody ever sees it?

We wake up in the morning, Wash our face, Brush our teeth, And we never forget our masks before we step out that door.

I walk by a car and see a person that I do not know.

But then I stop and realize Is that reflection really me?

I walk through a sea of masks, Not faces.

But who can judge?

We all wear them, We change masks like a snake changes skin.

What’s the point of a face?

Friends ask “Are you ok,” “Yeah I’m fine” But all I want to do is SCREAM. But the subject is dropped, Moved on to something else, Like maybe, perhaps tomorrows quiz.

What’s the point of a face?

Home, I smile and give polite responses, “That will suit you nicely. Don’t you think?”

Noo! “Of course, I totally agree.”

That’s what they really want to hear, Not what you want, Or what you feel.

Just push those emotions down deep, And cover it with another mask, After all everything’s just fine And everybody’s happy.

Then they go and brag to their friends about their perfect child, And say how proud they are of their little baby, who grew up so fast.

But into what that baby grew up is irrelevant, Just useless info, I mean to them that child is what they want to see, So who gives a damn?

What’s the point of a face?

What is the point of a face?

All I do is put more and more masks to cover it up, As long as everybody’s happy, Who cares about what’s behind what you see?

When were we ever asked to look behind these masks, To share our thoughts, To show our true face?

It’s time to tear those masks off, It’s time they learn about you, About what make you happy!

So I peal these masks off, But I look And I see a blank canvas, Waiting to be painted for somebody new.

Anthony Labonte

by GARY MORRISON

by MARYIA SPIRYDONAVA

Faculty Interviews A-Cup

Continued from front page

impossible to drink from.

The challenger attempts to win the cup; however, after winning the cup, the challenger will realize that the cup cannot be used as a typical cup.

John Cox Stevens created the precursor to the ‘America’s Cup’ sailing competition. John Cox Stevens challenged any other ship to a race around the Island of Wight in England. Stevens’s ship, America, won the first editions of the competition.

Health

Continued from front page

Thursdays, the Center offers extended hours from 9 to 7 to accommodate any scheduling conflicts.

Cunning states that these hours are to “accommodate anyone – especially students who are on job assignments or graduate students – who tend to have extended schedules. We see all enrolled Stevens students, whether they’re full time, part-time, graduate, undergraduate, domestic, international -- anyone who is enrolled can use the Student Health Center.” Visits are not submitted to insurance. This way, the Center is accessible to any student in need.

Similar to an at-home care setting, the Health Center runs as an acute practice. Injuries and initial visits are covered; however, for chronic care, the Health Center runs a referral program to the trusted medical community in Hoboken and other nearby areas.

This ensures the health and safety of the students. “We understand our students are busy!

If one of our clinicians feels someone has to be evaluated, and the work up might take some time, we prefer to have

CAPS

Continued from front page

gets to college and those old “go-to” way of coping don’t seem to be working any longer. The challenge then becomes giving up the old way of doing things in favor of something more mature that is going to better meet your needs in this new stage of life.

Q: If one could compare the numbers, is depression in young adults attending higher educational institutions more prevalent now as compared to before?

A: There are actually some researches who are doing exactly what you are describing – they are looking at large data sets of college students (in particular those who visit their college counseling center) to see what the trends have been over the course of years.

The Center for Collegiate Mental Health (CCMH) reports that over the past five

Eventually, the competition grew to races between yacht clubs - not individual sailors. These yacht clubs work together to design, build, and sail a ship that each club believes can win the coveted America’s Cup. The America’s Cup café provides an alternative to the Pierce dining hall.

America’s Cup offers a wide variety of items on its menu including Starbucks coffee, “grab-andgo” sandwiches, and fresh bakery goods. The renovations were completed over the summer, and the café opened in time for the first day of classes.

Friday, September 9, 2016 • Page 6

Light

Continued from front page

quite stellar, including the two new faces in the cast, Maryia Spirydonava and Matt Colozzo.

The set design, while simple, was also quite clever. Since there are so many different plays being shown, there were no permanent props except for a projected clock and two clotheslines. The clock, kept off the stage and to the side, counted down how much time was left for the show, producing a loud alarm when time ran

out. The clotheslines were spread across the center of the stage, but rather than hold up wet laundry, the lines held sheets of paper.

Each paper had a stylized number on it, from a plain white 1 on a red circle to a picture of 30 in marquee lights, and whenever a play was selected its number would be torn off the line.

These props not only served basic functions but also complimented the show: they provided something intriguing that broke from the plain black stage yet did not take too much attention away from the show itself.

Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind is an incred-

ibly unique show whose interactive and purposefully disjointed nature brings something delightful to anyone who enjoys the theater.

Unfortunately, Too Much Light is no longer being performed, but if it is any indication of the acting and innovation of SDS then this

is promising to be a good year. If anyone is interested in contributing to SDS, they are encouraged to send emails to sds@stevens.edu and to go to auditions for their next show, “Rumors,” on September 15th from 7 - 11pm at DeBaun Auditorium or E229.

Bernard Feeney

Residence Life debuts Red and Gray Par-tay on first night back

them referred down to specialists, or primary care physicians,” shared Cunning. “And we have a very comprehensive referral list! The most important thing is to get them back to class and on their feet as fast as possible.”

“I’ve been here for 16 years,” shared Cunning,“ It’s challenging.

It’s a challenging field of medicine because when students are diagnosed here, they’re sent back to dormitories or leased residences. They’re not being sent back to the loving arms of their parents or guardians, where someone can keep an eye on them. It demands a very conservative approach of the clinicians.”

For Maggie Cunning, mother of four, this was the first year no one has left for college. “My last number, number four, graduated in May. So, after lots of years, I empathize with college students, because I have two sons and two daughters. I just want you to know, I know what’s going on!” Daniel Cunning, Fire Safety Coordinator at Stevens, is Maggie Cunning’s husband. Together, the dynamic duo makes a favorable impact at the Stevens Campus.

With a series of renovations scheduled for the

future, the Health Center may move to a new location in a future semester. “Back when I started in 2000, the counseling center was right here,” stated Cunnings. “Since then, it’s grown. We’re hoping to become more of a wellness center, and to partner-- well, we’ve

already partnered with the counseling center, but we would love to be physically together!”

“We try to do our best here,” concluded Cunning. “We want them to walk in, we want them to talk to us. We want to get to know our students!”

Stevens Res Life hosted the Red and Gray Par-tay in celebration of the start of the fall semester. This event, hosted on the first Monday of the semester, was the first event new freshmen could attend at Stevens.

Known to most of the upperclassman as fiesta, Res life decided to change its name. However, the name wasn’t the only change at the event, the overall appearance differed from previous fall semester kick off events. Area director of lower campus Stevens Couras commented, “We minimalized a little. We added blacklights as opposed to crazy strobes so the lighting wasn’t as intense as it was in the past. The music was different, it was a little bit more dance-oriented.” This event focused on black-light as opposed to glow sticks at previous events. However, that doesn’t mean there weren’t any glow sticks. Resident Assistants handed out bags at the entrance filled with glow sticks as well as snacks and other assorted goods. These small changes

years there has been slow but consistent growth in student’s who visit counseling centers and report depression, anxiety and social anxiety. So at least over the course of the past five years, the answer is yes.

Q: What services does CAPS offer for students?

A: Whenever I have the privilege of speaking with groups of students here at Stevens about the services offered at CAPS, the thing I hope sticks with them most is that CAPS is staffed by highly trained professionals who care about the struggles they are going through. At CAPS, we hope to reach students before a small problem becomes a big one. That’s why we engage in regular prevention and outreach on campus.

We give workshops about things like stress reduction, or ways to improve social skills. Sometimes students recognize that it would help to meet privately with a counselor. In these situations, we provide shortterm, 1:1 counseling. Coun-

seling can help you find a new way of looking at a problem, a new means of coping with stress, or simply be a way to gain support and stability through a difficult time. We also offer group psychotherapy, and brief psychiatric consultations. Sometimes students come to us in search of long-term treatment, or with special or more intensive treatment needs and in those circumstances we can help be a bridge to connect students with an off-campus provider. One last thing we can help with is when you are worried about a friend and want to consult with one of us about et help for them.

Q: For students struggling academically, socially, emotionally, or a combination of all three, would your professional advice be?

A: I think if there is one piece of advice I would want your readers to have it’s that isolation and selfcriticism make the pain of life harder to bear. There is

a traditional Buddhist saying which states that in life, pain is inevitable – but suffering is not. We all struggle from time to time, and emotional pain is both natural and inevitable. Suffering happens when we think that we shouldn’t be feeling any pain, sadness or distress; or that we are somehow “bad” for feeling that way. My advice: if you are struggling, talk to someone about it. Talk to a friend, or a teacher, or one of the professionals at CAPS. 95% of the time, you’ll feel better for getting it off your chest, and you might even come to see that your problems are not so different from what other people experience.

The outreach and prevention efforts that Dr. Rose speaks to are not limited to just the staff. Dr. Melissa Zarin, Assistant Director of CAPS, is also Coordinator of the Peer Educator Program, a student-centric group whose goal is to educate the community on mental health issues. Dr.

Zarin started the program 3 years ago and has since attracted a small, but highly-dedicated group of students who run workshops for various student groups on campus and advertise the services of CAPS. “The goal is for these students to be independent,” said Dr. Zarin, who attests that her Peer Educators are invested in their own growth and training within the program. “As much as people invite me to present, I want my own [Peer Educators] to go out and host presentations.” The Peer Educators meet and train once a week, where they not only develop basic counseling skills, but learn to discuss topics such as sex positivity, stress management, drugs and alcohol, and the warning signs of depression and suicide.

Dr. Zarin encourages those who are interested in becoming a Peer Educator to contact her as she is looking to add two to three students to the program this year.

by TARIK KDIRY Business Manager

Photo by Veronica Melikov Maggie Cunning, in her office located at the Health Center in Jacobus

Photo by Gary Morrison One of the new doctors welcomed onto our Health Center staff.

have resulted in an increase in attendance from last year’s kick-off event At the event, Compass One’s Stephanie Szucs and Carmine DePasquale chose to offer finger foods such as watermelon and ice cream.

Steven Couras, as well as those that attended, would like to thank Stephanie and Carmine for their exceptional work.

As for music, RAs chose to have Owen Egbert, a Music and Technology student here at Stevens, known by his stage name, Ozone, DJ the event. Res Life decided to feature more Pop music as opposed to EDM music as in the past.

The event was a success.

Over 700 students attended with the majority freshman.

The preparations for the event took the most of the summer and, as evidenced by the attendees, the preparations paid off.

Matthew Doto

Even the CAPS program has undergone changes over the summer. Disability services, once under the same umbrella as the counseling and psychology services, is now its own office, also located on the 7th floor of Howe.

Dr. Rose and Dr. Zarin are also pleased to announce that CAPS will now be offering daily urgent-care walk-in hours (weekdays from 2-4pm) with the hope to decrease the wait time for students who need to be seen by staff. “We hope these changes mean that students are going to find us even more available than we were before,” said Dr. Rose.

The Counseling and Psychological Service Center is located on the 7th floor of the Howe Building. For those interested in the Peer Educator Program, contact Dr. Melissa Zarin at mzarin@stevens.edu. For those interested in hosting a Mental Health workshop, contact Joyce Pegler at jpegler@stevens.edu.

Convocation 2016

Friday, September 9, 2016 • Page 7

President Farvardin and other distinguished community members welcome freshmen and highlight Stevens’ brightest

by TENY ODAIMI Staff Writer

The 146th Convocation, conducted on Wednesday, September 7, welcomed the Stevens Class of 2020, and recognized the achievements of faculty and upperclassmen.

Dressed in black robes, Stevens administrators and faculty entered Canavan Arena lead by marshall Michael Steinmann.

President Nariman Farvardin began the assembly by acknowledging Mayor Dawn Zimmer and Trustee Annemarie Rizzo.

He followed up with his welcoming speech “celebrating the launch of the new academic year.”

President Farvardin commended the students and faculty for their passion and intellect. He noted that the Class of 2020 is the “most impressive” class yet, as he has “never seen an academic profile this strong” with “unusually strong statistics.”

Furthermore, the school of business grew by 41%, the College of Arts and Letters increased enrollment by 57%, and the percentage of women rose by 30% in one year.

President Farvardin encouraged involvement with internships and coops, sports and activity clubs, and study abroad programs. These opportunities help students have a well-rounded and successful experience at Stevens and allow students

to “invent the future through [themselves]”.

He closed his speech with advice, “Stevens provides a rigorous education, where students are encouraged to push their limits to create an environment to bring out the best of their potential.

Stevens also offers help to navigate through the system, succeed, graduate and be ready for the future.”

Dawn Zimmer, mayor of Hoboken, followed Farvardin by thanking students who participated in volunteer work for Hoboken during Orientation.

“Hoboken is your new home,” stated Zimmer.

She encouraged all of the students to attend meetings for energy resiliency projects and Rebuild

by Design. Both of these projects focus on protecting the city from flooding and other natural disasters. She told the students to explore and discover all of the restaurants, cultural, athletic activities in Hoboken. Zimmer concluded by congratulating all of the students and formally welcoming them to Hoboken.

Following the mayor’s introduction, the President commenced the Conferral of Honorary Degree to Henry Du with an honorary degree in masters of engineering.

Dr. Christophe Pierre, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, emphasized the role of technology and inno-

vation at Stevens. Pierre gave his best wishes, stating that “as a newcomer, it was impressive to see the whole Stevens community come together.”

He then presented the faculty awards.

Joseph DiPompeo, President of the Stevens Alumni Association, presented the Class of 2020 banner, and Student Government President, Matthew Hunt, gave his fellow students a challenge: “Fill every day, every week, and every year with memories you will never forget.”

Following his speech, Janelle Welkie, Chair of Honor Board, spoke of Stevens’ commitment to integrity. She explained that we are faced with challenges and choices, but “it is the choices we make in the face of these challenges that make the difference.” The goal of the Stevens Honor System is to maintain a community of trust and “students are just as accountable for preserving integrity as the administration.”

She wished everyone an honorable academic year, and concluded by leading the pledge.

Marybeth Murphy stood at the podium and presented the student awards to various individuals and on-campus organizations. Concluding this commemorative event, the President’s Ensemble led all students, faculty, and guests in the singing of the Alma Mater.

Photos by Gary Morrison and Gio Duran

Opinion Continued

Friday, September 9, 2016 • Page 8

Cusine Corner

Bubble tea battle

by GREGORY MCNEIL

3/5 Mechanical Engineering & Systems Engineering Masters

The Hoboken area is dominated by Americanized Japanese and Asian influence. Whether it’s comparing the best sushi, the best Thai food or the top Pokémon Go team, the Asian-American influence in Hoboken is undeniable. Today I suited up with comrades, Lucas Gallo, Mike Delaney, and Jonny Alarcon to review some bubble tea. We took our talents and stomachs to three bubble tea establishments on Washington Street, Kung Fu Tea, Vivi’s Bubble Tea, and Hoboken newcomer, Jun’s Macaron & Gelato.

For those unfamiliar with bubble tea, it is essentially green or black tea mixed with either fruit or milk. Additionally, chewy tapioca flavored balls, colloquially referred to as bubbles are added to give the drink a variety of textures. The rules of engagement were simple; I would review all three restaurants on my typical criteria of service, quality, and atmosphere.

Since I would learn that all teas were approximately the same price,

I removed the budget criteria from my rating.

Then, I would compare the three together to determine an overall winner. I would of course, take into heavy consideration the feedback of the fine gentlemen sampling tea with me.

Our first stop was Kung Fu Tea. Hearing about its variety of teas and colorful atmosphere, my crew was excited to try some bubble tea. Kung Fu Tea, located just a short walk from campus, immediately caught my eye with its colorful advertisements and quaint outdoor sitting area. Upon entering, the first thing I noticed was variety. Their menu seemed to go on forever, which was exactly what should be expected from an establishment specializing in one specific type of item. Something else noteworthy was the lack of food served by Kung Fu Tea. While I was not expecting a large variety, an assortment of snacks would have been a nice compliment to the tea.

We started off by ordering two large teas – one fruit and one milk. The teas were priced at $5.50 each which I instinctively felt was on the high side but, thanks to the comparison, came to realize was an appropriate price for Hoboken bubble tea. The employees began making the tea in an expert-like fashion, quintessential of a specialty store. Kung Fu was equipped with some of the most interesting food

preparation tech I have ever seen. They had an auto shaker and labeler, both of which presented a great show while we were waiting for our tea.

After a short minute, the teas were ready and so were we.

Taking our first sips, the reactions were mostly positive. The Taro Milk tea was a big hit with Mike Delaney, who experienced bubble tea for the first time. Sweetened with condensed milk and syrup made from the southeast Asian native “Taro Plant”, the bubble tea had the sweetness of ice cream with the viscosity of a tea. The bubbles were the cherry on the cake, tasty and very appropriately textured.

On the other side of the punch-milk spectrum, I personally enjoyed the Strawberry Lemonade tea. Specifically, I enjoyed the small pieces of fruit that were placed in conjunction with the bubbles. The third texture was a pleasant addition to an already good tea.

After we indulged on what was, overall, a tough bar to beat, we headed over to Hoboken newcomer, Jun’s Macron & Gelato. I passed Jun’s every day on my walk to work and frequently peered in to see some of the best-looking gelato in Hoboken. I had seen them advertise for bubble tea and was interested in how a gelato establishment would fare with bubble tea. Upon

walking in, I was not met with the same cheery atmosphere I had known at Kung Fu Tea. There was an abundance of white walls, which I initially attributed to the store being incomplete, but there were no signs of construction or any willingness to change. With that being said about the appearance, the variety of gelato made me instantly forget about the barren walls and stare, lovingly into the delicious looking swirls. If I ever review gelato, I will be sure to come here! The prices for the tea were comparable to Kung Fu Tea, with a medium being four dollars and a large being five. All and all, I was excited for round two of bubble tea!

We ordered the passion fruit bubble tea and the mixed berry tea. To my surprise, the man working the register walked over to the gelato and placed three massive scoops of passion fruit and mixed berry into two separate blenders.

After blending with ice and adding green tea and bubbles, we had a finished product. The verdict; good but not bubble tea! The texture was that of a smoothie, that is to say, it was very thick.

One of the major purposes of the bubbles, in my mind, is to contrast from the tea in terms of texture and hardness. To put it simply, tea is liquid and bubbles are solid. I was disappointed to have less

of that contrast in Jun’s bubble tea. Additionally, I found the bubbles very firm and often stuck together, what I perceived as a lower quality bubble. The smoothie itself was quite good, but all and all I would stick with gelato when heading to Jun’s.

Finally, we arrived at our final stop, the famous Vivi’s. Kung Fu had set a high standard, but being the most popular among students on campus, Vivi’s was sure to impress.

Upon entering, the same white wall problem that had plagued Jun’s hand returned. I did however, enjoy the nice seating area they had outside.

Upon entering, I noticed something different from the other two establishments – they had food!

Fairly priced, I considered ordering some but figured I should only be basing my review on bubble tea. I went to order and was very disappointed to find out that Vivi’s did not take credit cards on purchases less than ten dollars. When your typical item is less than ten dollars, you must take credit cards, plain and simple. The bad taste in my mouth, however, was quickly washed away by some delicious mango bubble tea. Jonny Alarcon especially enjoyed the tea, likening it to some pleasant aromas he smelled before. Lucas Gallo was a bit harder to please with his order of coffee bubble tea. In my opinion, there

are things that should not mix, and bubbles and coffee are one of them. The bitterness of the coffee and the neutrality of the bubbles left a sour taste in my mouth. Overall, Vivi’s had one big hit with the mango tea and a big miss with the coffee tea.

Overall, Hoboken is a great place for bubble tea! Taking into consideration everything that I wrote and the advising my colleagues gave me, I have to decide that Kung Fu Tea has the best bubble tea in Hoboken! At the end of the day, I am reviewing bubble tea, not anything else a restaurant serves.

Kung Fu Tea Quality Service Atmosphere Jun’s Macaron & Gelato Quality Service Atmosphere Vivi’s Quality Service Atmosphere

CONTACT & INFO

Kung Fu Tea 536 Washington Street

Mon. – Thurs. 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Sunday 12 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Fri. & Sat. 11 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.

201-222-9091

CONTACT & INFO

Vivi’s Bubble Tea 117 Washington Street

Mon. – Thurs. 12 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Sunday 12 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Fri. & Sat. 12 p.m. – 11 p.m.

201-626-3889

CONTACT & INFO

Jun’s Macaron & Gelato 410 Washington Street

No hours listed online.

No phone number listed online.

Scientific Curmudgeon

Turned off by Trump and Clinton? Vote Transhumanist!

by JOHN HORGAN CAL Professor

Did you know there is a Transhumanist Party, which has a candidate in the U.S. Presidential race?

Transhumanism espouses the transformation of humanity through genetic engineering, brain implants and other technologies.

It’s similar with the idea of Singularity, the idea

that super-intelligence — in the form of a machine or human-machine cyborg — is imminent.

In 2014, Zoltan Istvan founded The Transhumanist Party and announced his intention to run for President. Istvan is a journalist, real estate mogul, and author of a science-fiction novel, The Transhumanist Wager. His goals, he said on Huffington Post, are: Attempt to do everything possible to make it so this country’s amazing scientists and technologists have resources to overcome human death and aging within 15-20 years — a goal an increasing number of leading scientists think is reachable.

Create a cultural mindset in America that embracing and producing radical technology and science is in the best interest of our nation and species.

Istvan has also called for a “bill of rights” for “conscious robots and cyborgs.” I hadn’t heard of him until last month, when Glenn Zorpette, executive editor of the technology magazine IEEE Spectrum, emailed me. In 2008, Zorpette asked me to critique the Singularity for Spectrum, and he moderated a debate between me and Singularity guru Ray Kurzweil. I have called the Singularity “an apocalyptic cult, with science substituted for God.” Zorpette asked if I would

talk to Istvan live on Facebook, and I said sure. I met Istvan at the Manhattan office of Spectrum. In spite of his exotic views and name (he’s of Hungarian descent), Istvan looks like a clean-cut, all-American jock — and, in fact, he used to be into extreme sports, like “volcano surfing.”

During our conversation, I complained that transhumanist scenarios are based on wishful thinking, not on what science has actually accomplished. Gene therapy has not been approved in the U.S., and brain implants, with the exception of cochlear implants, don’t really work.

I pointed out that scientists are struggling to

convince the public to believe in climate change, evolution and the efficacy of vaccines. When transhumanists make absurd claims about science’s potential, they damage science’s credibility.

Istvan handled my complaints graciously. He was disarmingly amiable and reasonable. He knows that he has no chance of winning the election, even though he claims to have as many as 1 million supporters. His real goal is to get people excited about science and its potential for improving our lives.

I told Istvan that if the election came down to a run-off between Trump and him, I’d vote for him.

Of course, I would vote

for IBM’s artificial-intelligence program Watson before I’d vote for Trump.

However, I like some of Istvan’s positions, especially this one in which I wish Hillary Clinton would adopt: “Create a scientific and educational industrial complex in America instead of a military industrial complex. Spend money on wars against cancer, heart disease, and diabetes—not on wars in far-off countries.”

John Horgan directs the Center for Science Writings, which is part of the College of Arts & Letters.

This column is adapted from one published on his Scientific American blog, “Crosscheck.”

Friday, September 9, 2016 • Page 9

Across the Hudson

Above the Hudson

by DAVID ROGERS

Sophomore Mechanical Engineering Major

Every now and then on the subway, you’ll see an ad put out by the NYS Department of Economic Development with pictures from New York State outside of the metropolitan area (you know, about 51 of NY’s 62 counties) that say “Visit New York.” This summer, after I finished my job at Stevens, I did just that; I went way upstate to the Adirondacks, the northernmost region of New York.

I will tell you all about the Adirondacks soon enough, but getting there was half the fun, especially for someone like me who enjoys driving so much. (Yes, I enjoy driving even in NYC traffic; I don’t understand why either). The first

leg of my trip (after getting through the Bronx’s notorious traffic jams) was pretty simple; I just took the Thruway to my first stop, Troy, the town near Albany where my grandparents grew up.

The main attraction (for me) was Snowman, the ice cream shack that had been operating since my grandparents’ days. The ice cream is still fantastic and I 100% recommend it to anyone who goes up that way. It is open seasonally.

The next leg of my trip was driving from Troy to Fort Edward Amtrak to pick up my father. I had plenty of time to travel since I left early and dad’s train was delayed, so I changed the settings on Waze, my beloved GPS app, to avoid freeways. I was reluctant to do so because I, like most other city rats, associate surface streets with lowspeed limits, red light cameras, pedestrians on cloud 9, and other annoyances that can make any driver, even me, a bit nervous and flushed with adrenaline. However, once you escape the metropolis, the surface streets are quite nice.

Waze took me up Route 4, which proved to be a very nice drive through a lot of small towns. Most of Route 4 was pretty close to the Hudson, so it was pretty scenic as well.

Every now and then, I’d stop at a park along the Hudson or get some coffee at a Stewart’s Shop (which is like an upstateonly blend of a 711 and an ice cream shop). Passing through all of these small towns, I couldn’t help but wonder what it must be like to grow up or live your whole life in one of them. Despite my initial hesitation, I’d recommend driving through the towns as opposed to simply barreling down the interstates.

Finally, we’ve reached the Adirondacks. I’ll start by talking about the easternmost bit - right along the border with Vermont.

Lake Champlain defines the border, and it’s absolutely beautiful. This is coming from someone who lives only a couple miles away from Long Island Sound and drives over 2 mile long bridges above the Great South Bay to go the beach, so that’s no light compliment to the lake. There are some

David Rogers

ferries across the lake since there’s only one bridge crossing it. When my dad and I were waiting for the ferry to Burlington, we noticed a few people playing around on the beach next to the ferry. I realized that for the locals, Lake Champlain is pretty much what the Atlantic Ocean is to me.

For those with a bit of a fancy for history sites or the military, Fort Ticonderoga is right on the lake. The bridge across Lake Champlain is Route 2, which travels through the Champlain Islands.

It was supposed to be a

beautiful drive, but when we got to that part of the trip it started raining like a monsoon. Despite this, it was still kind of a nice drive, as good as driving in a monsoon can get.

One of the highlights of the trip was going to the High Peaks, where the Hudson River begins. Google Maps shows the Hudson beginning at Henderson Lake, right near the Upper Works trail-head. Lake Tear in the Clouds is at a higher elevation, so it’s considered the first source of the Hudson. My father wasn’t going to do the overnight

hike to get there, so we simply did a few hours worth of hiking around Henderson. Driving back after our hike, we noticed what looked like a bunch of shacks on the side of the road. It was actually an abandoned metal-making town at the top of the Hudson, which it used to transport the metal.

After the Adirondacks, we continued our trip through Canada and New England. I’ll write a couple more columns about non-metropolitan New York while the weather is still good.

about joining a performing arts group on campus. Each of these organizations has different time commitments, so find one that works best for you.

In the future, Julia hopes to participate and support more Stevens productions. Julia will soon be working on the Stevens fall main-stage

production of “Rumors,” which will be performed in November.

In order to get more involvement in the arts, people need to get out of their comfort zone. “Try something new,” Julia suggests. “Audition for an SDS show—there is so much to learn. I’d love to see the arts grow on campus.”

Stars of Stevens

by MIA HILDEBRANDT

Sophomore Mechanical Engineering Major

In addition to performing center-stage at DeBaun Auditorium and singing in the Stevens Choir, Julia Cahn is a second-year Engineering Management major from Rockland County, NY. She is on the e-board for the Stevens Dramatic Society (SDS), is in the President’s Ensemble, and is a sister of the Theta Phi Alpha sorority.

Her hobbies encompass everything theater-related.

Julia’s love of the per-

forming arts grew from her humble beginnings as a lighting board operator in high school. “That’s why I do it,” she says, “I do it because I love it.”

From there, she got involved with student-run plays and then began performing Shakespeare and other plays. She emphasizes that one of the most rewarding aspects of theater is showing an audience at the end of the rehearsal process what she has been working on.

Keen problem-solving skills are integral to a successful production.

Thinking on her feet helps her make it work.

This familiar dogma carries over into academics, whether it is a seemingly impossible design project or code that will not compile.

Julia relates her major, Engineering Management, to producing a show. She explains, “[It’s like] you’re producing an

Starring Julia Cahn engineering project. You have to have everyone come together in order to make a final product.” A strong leader, Julia, puts her ideas into action. She just finished producing “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind,” which was performed in Bissinger this past weekend. Julia adds, “If you have an idea for something you can make it happen.” At the end of her second semester, Julia had the idea for “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind.” Now, the play has become a reality. Julia took an idea and turned it into reality, just like an entrepreneur!

The production consisted of 30 plays in 60 minutes and was a combination of audience interaction and casual theater. Audience participation allowed for a more immersive theater experience. Through this experience, she learned about self-directing and

had her first experience both producing and acting in a play. Julia explains that “Too Much Light” sought to get audience members to discover a “new sense of self,” while also being a theatrical production seeking to bring people together.

Analogous to how a soccer team has different positions, theater has different roles depending on where your passions lie. If you like to sew, you can consider getting involved with costume design. If you like to build things, perhaps set design is more up your alley. Real technical abilities are needed, and when everyone’s skill set is focused towards a specific goal, amazing things can happen. Julia emphasizes, “there is no definition as to who a theater person is. We all have different skills that come together for a performance.”

“Just do it,” Julia says

Are you maybe free Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. ?

Do you like pizza? ;)

Join The Stute!

Meetings are Tuesdays at 9 p.m. in Jacobus 212A Can’t make the meeting? Email eboard@thestute.com

Photo courtesy of Julia Cahn

Varsity Sports

Friday, September 9, 2016 • Page 10

Field Hockey tops FDU in shootout thriller SSI – Freshman Ireland Tawney delivered the knockout blow in a field hockey shootout between Stevens Institute of Technology and Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Wednesday, clinching a 3-2 win for the Ducks in non-conference action.

The win evened Stevens’ record at 1-1, while FDU fell to 2-1.

Senior goalie Emily Stukenborg stopped all three of FDU’s shootout chances to play a key role in the Stevens win, while sophomore Regan Littell, junior Cassidy O’Hearn and Tawney each found the back of the cage for the Ducks.

O’Hearn also added a goal in regulation, in addition to one from Littell.

Stukenborg made 17 saves

in goal including several down the stretch in regulation and overtime to limit the Devils to just two scores.

Each team tallied 22 shots on goal, while Stevens recorded 21 corners to FDU’s 16.

Both teams traded shots over the first 10 minutes, before FDU broke through with one in the 14th minute to grab the early lead.

The Devils threatened for more in the closing minutes of the half, but lockdown goal tending from Stukenborg denied three shots over the final minute the preserve the onegoal deficit.

Stevens returned the pressure with seven shots over the first eight minutes of the second, but none were able to find the

back of the cage allowing FDU to add to lead in the 46th minute.

Littell answered back with her first score of the season off a feed from O’Hearn, before O’Hearn added one of her own two minutes later to tie the game at two. Junior Katti Thomasian found O’Hearn with a pass into the circle where the veteran beat the goalie on the right side of the cage for the goal.

Stevens’ defense went to work from there as Stukenborg’s save in minute 60 preserved the tie before a defensive save from freshman Michaela Thompson in the closing minutes did the same.

Stukenborg made four more saves in the first overtime, followed by three more in the second

ON DECK IN SPORTS

Friday WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL Stevens Sports Information

to send the game into the deciding shootout.

The Ducks will continue their homestand

this weekend with games against Houghton College and The College at Brockport.

Women’s Volleyball gearing up for New Paltz Invitational SSI – After picking up a win on Wednesday night, the Stevens Institute of Technology women’s volleyball team heads north for the New Paltz Hawks Invitational.

MATCH DETAILS On Friday, the Ducks will play Fredonia at 2 p.m. before battling regional power Clarkson University at 8 p.m. Saturday sees the unit have matches against Mount Saint Mary College at 1 p.m. and The Sage Colleges at 5 p.m.

FUTURE CONFERENCE MATE Beginning in 2017-18, Sage will join the Empire 8 Conference, so the Ducks will seeing the Gators at least once per season.

CLARKSON HISTORY

The Ducks and Clarkson squared off in the NCAA Regional final two years ago in Hoboken, with Golden Knights winning in four sets. Stevens trails the all-time series 3-5, including a five HEY. THAT ROAD LOOKS FAMILIAR The Ducks will travel to New Paltz three times in the next five days. The distance according to googlemaps.com between Stevens and the Hawk Center is 79.6 miles, so the team will log nearly 500 miles back and forth.

WEDNESDAY RECAP The Ducks swept past Hunter College in straight sets Wednesday night, taking down the Hawks 2512, 25-8, 25-20.

No. 14 Women’s Soccer wins third straight SSI – The No. 14 Stevens Institute of Technology women’s soccer team picked up its third straight win with a 7-0 blanking of Mount St. Mary College Tuesday.

Stevens used a strong first half to construct a 3-0 lead heading into halftime.

At the 11:11 mark, junior Sammy Mount fed senior Raba Nassif, who quickly threatened the ball through to sophomore Zisi Komar.

Komar hammered the pass directly into the back of the net for her third marker of the season. The Ducks (30-0) kept the pressure up, drilling the post and crossbar multiple times during the opening 45 minutes.

Two minutes after the Komar tally, freshman Julia Panko netted her second of the year. Panko moved into the box and fired a strike that rippled the mesh and doubled the Ducks lead.

With just over 15 minutes left in the period, Empire 8 Conference Offensive Player of the Week Gabby Mathelier tallied her fourth marker of the season to push the lead to three.

The Ducks doubled the lead in the second stanza, scoring three times before 20 minutes had eclipsed off the scoreboard. Nassif

was on the receiving end of a Panko pass and scored on a partial breakaway.

Just three minutes later, freshman Gabriella Saade notched her first career goal, corralling a Panko pass and beating the keeper.

30 seconds later, Nassif knocked home a pass from junior Gabby Pagkalinawan for her second multiple goal game of the season. With a shade over seven minutes left in the contest, Mathelier recorded her second of the game after hitting a shot that glanced off the keeper’s hands.

Stevens peppered the Knights (0-3-0) with 27 shots in the game, limiting their opponents to four in each stanza. Sophomore Olivia Butera fired five shots, including four on goal.

Sophomore Madi Chollett stopped two shots for her first win of the season.

Mary Riley made 11 saves in the setback for the Mount, who received four shots from Bridget McKeever.

The Ducks will be back in action for two games this weekend, welcoming Vassar College and New York University to town for the 13th installment of the Engineering Cup.

SPOKANE SENSATION Junior Brianna Evans slugged .429 with 12 kills while also serving up two aces.

DEBUTING Freshman Kristen Edmiston made her collegiate debut in the win, registering her first two collegiate kills.

A TREE GROWS Junior Emily Singleton proved to be a force on the right side, notching a pair of digs and pounding home three kills on four attempts.

WHAT’S STEW-ING? Freshman Shelby Stewart had a hand in both of the Ducks blocks on the evening, recording two block assists. Stewart also had a kill and an assist in the victory.

VS CLARKSON COLLEGE 8 pm New Paltz Invitational New Paltz, NY

Saturday WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL VS MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE 1 pm New Paltz Invitational New Paltz, NY Stevens Sports Information

SKI’IN ALONG Sophomore Emily Piekarski once again led Stevens with four aces, and the sophomore is currently third in the E8 with 10 aces

on the year.

CAN’T MAKE IT? Recaps of all matches will be posted on stevensducks.com at the conclusion of each day.

Second half surge pushes Men’s Soccer to win column SSI – The Stevens Institute of Technology men’s soccer team scored three unanswered goals in the second half Wednesday in a 3-1 win over The College of New Jersey.

The win evened Stevens’ record at 1-1-0, and avenged a loss from last fall. TCNJ fell to 1-2-0 with the loss.

Junior Tommy Dorsay led the Ducks offensively with a pair of goals, while senior Patrick Masur chipped-in with the third.

Senior Jay Mikula and sophomore Daniel Aversano each tallied assists, and sophomore keeper Aaron Henry made five saves in net.

Team-wise, each side registered 13 shots in the match, but Stevens held the edge in tries on goal, 7-6.

Stevens exerted some early offensive pressure with a trio of shots in the first 20 minutes, be-

VS FREDONIA 2 pm New Paltz Invitational New Paltz, NY

fore tallying three more in the final 15 that failed to reach the back of the net.

TCNJ answered with some pressure of its own off a pair of headers in the final 11 minutes, but each went wide to preserve the 0-0 deadlock heading into the half.

The Lions did finally break through two minutes into the second to grab the lead, but Stevens provided the answer less than three minutes later off Dorsay’s first goal of the season to tie things at one. Dorsay took a nice feed between two defenders from Aversano just above the box, before firing into the top-right corner for the goal.

Masur continued the momentum in the 61st with a header off a cross from Mikula, followed 16 minutes later with Dorsay’s second goal of the game. Dorsay took control of a cross-field clear from

VS THE SAGE COLLEGES 5 pm New Paltz Invitational New Paltz, NY

FIELD HOCKEY VS HOUGHTON COLLEGE 10 am

WOMEN’S TENNIS VS ALFRED UNIVERSITY 12 pm

CROSS COUNTRY Stevens Sports Information

Henry, beating the defense before the goalie for the goal.

The Lions came close to inching closer in the 85th with a penalty kick off the foot of Nick Costelloe, but Henry made the diving stop to preserve the lead and send Stevens home with the win.

The Ducks will face their first road test of the season Saturday when they travel to No. 14 Montclair St. University at 7 p.m.

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S AT RON STONITSCH INVITATIONAL 10 am

DO YOU LIKE SPORTS? DO YOU LIKE WRITING? THE STUTE LIKES YOU! JOIN US TUESDAYS AT 9 PM

WANT TO WRITE SPORTS? JOIN THE STUTE!!

FOR MORE INFORMATION, HEAD TO: STEVENSDUCKS.COM STEVENSREC.COM