[The Stute] November 17, 2017 (Issue 11, Volume CXV)

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Volume CXV

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Issue 10

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Featured:

• Oxfam Hunger Banquet • • Castle Point Cravings • LANime • • ACS Game Night • Trivia Pub Night • • ESC Thanksgiving • Henna Night •

HISTORY

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Friday, November 11, 2017

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Dean Jean Zu, along with three other faculty members, held a town hall for undergraduate students of the Schaefer School of Engineering and Science (SES) on Wednesday, Nov. 15.

Dean Zu opened with a brief introduction about herself and her experiences with the students and faculty of Stevens in the short time that she has been here. She noted that these town halls are important to bring up issues within the school. She added that “we are here to help you” in order to help improve student experiences as well as the school itself. Zu noted that the faculty wants to hear concerns as well as suggestions that any students may have.

Due to time constraints, the event began with Professor Sheppard, former interim dean of the SES, asking students about their issues with math and physics recitations. Dean Zu jumped in saying that there will be individual meetings with department chairs to help

Women-centric clubs host Networking Night Staff Writer

It is rare to see a room filled with only women at any given moment here on the Stevens campus, yet last night proved to be one such exception.

The Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Stevens Women in Computer Science (SWiCS), and Stevens Lore-El Programs hosted “Networking Night” at the LoreEl Center for Women’s Leadership, an event with a simple, fundamental concept according to SWE Vice-President Namankita Rana: “This event was planned to be a major networking night where the e-boards, alumna, and general bod-

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School of Engineering and Sciences holds Undergraduate Town Hall with Dean Zu

by ALEX MURTAGH

by OLIVIA SCHREIBER

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ies of the major womencentric clubs would have an opportunity to mingle and interact with each other, opening doors for more opportunity down the road.”

Stevens Women in Business (SWIB) was originally included in the initial planning, but only SWE, SWiCS, and Lore-El Programs were involved from start to finish. Zoe Millard, SWiCS Vice President and one of the event coordinators along with Rana and Michelle MacLeod from Lore-El Programs, was responsible for identifying and sequestering recent Stevens alumna for the event. Using her connections within Alpha Phi Omega and Theta Phi Alpha, Milliard found three women that

were more than happy to contribute. She noted that it was difficult to find recent Computer Science alumna. “Of course it was easier to identify engineers,” said Millard, “but there are only a handful of women in Computer Science, which was definitely a challenge.”

The recent alumna included Katie Brown ’17, Rosa Mellilo ’15, and Jonell Watson ’14, all of whom are currently working, with Brown now pursuing a Master’s degree in Systems Engineering through the 4+1 Program. Attendees hailed from each of the three organizations in roughly equal numbers,

see NETWORK • Page 9

Olivia Schreiber

manage and improve recitations. Right now, her main focus is reforming math and physics recitations, but the faculty also noted that there were other course recitations that need to be improved.

The first question came from Olivia Schreiber, a senior Chemical Biology major, asking about the differences between engineering and science students’

although there is research among the students, it is not enough. Dean Zu added that there are ideas to reform the capstone but they are unsure how the changes will be implemented. One possibility is a senior thesis paper.

Schreiber then added that although there is a specific class for research, other opportunities are very limited.

Multiple Chemistry, Biology, and Chemical Biology

build relationships with faculty were brought up as possible solutions.

The next question came from a Chemistry major regarding undergraduates in graduate-level courses. The student felt that it is unfair that undergraduates are graded the same as graduate students who have more experience. The faculty explained that they have the same expectations for

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senior projects. As a science major, she felt that the science capstones were left behind. Science capstones usually relate to participating in faculty research. Professor Sheppard stated that

majors also feel that there is a lack of space for research.

Ideas such as collaboration with outside institutions, displaying research early on in student careers, and finding a way to help students

undergraduate students as graduate students, as they feel that a Stevens education should prepare you to take those courses. The fac-

see TOWN • Page 7

Magnitude 7.3 earthquake shakes Iran and Iraq border

by SARAH HOOGENBOOM Staff Writer

On Nov. 12, at about 9:48 p.m., a 7.3 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale shook the rural Iran and Iraq border. According to Iranian and Iraqi authorities, over 500 people have died and more than 7,600 were injured. The epicenter of the powerful earthquake was near Ezgeleh, Iran and shook many towns along the Zagros Mountains that divide Iran and Iraq. The tremors were felt as far as 900 miles away in Turkey and Pakistan.

In a frantic search for survivors in the rubble across the rural region, the Iranian government mobilized its army and militia forces, but many of the rescuers have been blocked from villages due to landslides and road damages.

Many small communities have been left to fend for themselves and search for loved ones without government rescue teams and proper equipment. Citizens have expressed frustration and desperation due to the lack of aid that they have received. “There has been no help yet, neither food nor water, no clothing, no tents, there is nothing… the whole city has been destroyed,” said a man in Sarpol-e Zahab, Iran. Located near the epicenter of the earthquake, Sarpole Zahab, Iran has seen the most widespread damage and makes up more than 200 of the counted deaths.

Seismologists have stated that Sunday’s earthquake is one of the largest quakes that has ever hit the western part of Iran. The major fault lines running through Iran are prone to quakes and the last large-scale earthquake was a magni-

tude 6.6 in 2003, which flattened the historic city of Bam, Iran and killed over 26,000 people. This was mostly due to the fact that the infrastructure of Bam, Iran is made from clay, making the buildings more vulnerable to collapse.

Many neighboring countries have offered assistance to Iraq and Iran, including the Turkish government despite the Iraqi and Kurdish conflicts since September. In addition, the Israeli Intelligence Minister Israel Katz sent condolences out to Iraq and Iran, although Iran does not recognize Israel. In comparison with the powerful September earthquake in Mexico City, the Iran-Iraq earthquake is now the strongest and deadliest earthquake of 2017. Photos and videos on social media show the horrific aftermath of the earthquake and the aftershocks that still shake the region.

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Opinion The Stute Editorial

Thank you and so much more The holidays are coming up or already upon us if you look at the store displays or listen to the music on the radio. However, you may feel about the Christmas takeover, I think we can all agree that Thanksgiving is here and it is a good time to reflect and thank those that mean so much to us.

Every year we say what we are thankful for at the Thanksgiving dinner table, but this year I challenge you to do more. Yes, I’m sure that your recipients are flattered to hear your

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Letter to the Editor Policies 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.

You are great and have done so much in the past semester, and in the past year.

Reflect on what you have done. Did you meet your personal goals? Are you proud of your accomplishments? Now throw whatever you just answered out the window, because none of it matters! Life takes us in unexpected twists and turns, it usually doesn’t follow our plans. So this Thanksgiving, whether you are pleased with your work or not, say “Thank you” to yourself and treat yourself, because

you deserve it. Whether it’s a shopping trip or a quiet hour of reading, say thank you to you.

So this Thanksgiving season, go above the typical, “Thank you.”

Maryia Spirydonava Editor-in-Chief

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kind words, but what are you doing to actually show them how much you appreciate them? So this year, take a step beyond the words—whether that’s helping Mom in the kitchen when you usually don’t or taking one of your siblings to a movie. Whatever it is, give them a nice small surprise this Thanksgiving, put some actions behind those words. Believe me, you will feel so good when you see your parent’s face light up in surprise and happiness.

Finally, thank yourself.

Mind of a Freshman

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Friday, November 17, 2017 • Page 2

by MARY RUANE

Freshman Business and Technology Major

I am excited about Thanksgiving. The food, the company, and most importantly the unfathomable amounts of sleep are all so close I can practically taste it. I have never been a fan of turkey, so I’m glad my parents make a point of

having a bunch of sides on the menu. With all this first semester has brought, I can say that I am really glad to be getting a well-needed break.

This first semester of college has been unlike anything I could have imagined. I expected to get a new start at a new school in a completely different environment than the place I have called home for the past eighteen years and I did.

It just hasn’t been quite like anything I dreamed of college being. In the past three months, I have developed so many incredible friendships, learned so many useful things, and met so many great people that I

am not really sure what I’m going to do when the semester is over.

Stevens has been instrumental in helping me to grow as a person, in helping me learn who I am and who I want to be - as opposed to who I thought I should be. When I first started writing this column, I was a terrified freshman with so many different ideas circling the air and no real opinions of my own. I was somewhere between being a leader and someone who just pretends like they have it all together because everyone else around them wants to be led. Stevens really helped me develop

these skills and become more of a leader than I thought I could be.

I am excited about Thanksgiving; I want to see my family, eat good food, and sleep for hours. However, I recognize that Thanksgiving means there’s less than a month before the end of the semester and I am glad that these first few months have prepared me for it. I hope other freshmen feel the same way, that they have taken away the same things that I have since their start at Stevens. I am grateful to be part of such a wonderful community. That being said, happy Thanksgiving; I hope it treats you well.

Senioritis

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

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by OLIVIA SCHREIBER Senior Chemical Biology Major

I’m ashamed to admit this, but until last Friday night, I had never seen one of the Stevens Dramatic Society’s performances. I knew that this group was impressive—it was never a matter of me thinking that sitting in DeBaun Auditorium for an SDS show would be a waste of time. It was more of me making an excuse, going home the weekend of the show, or putting my alcohol dehydrogenase enzymes to the test (Look it up, you’ll un-

derstand what I mean).

I finally found myself in front of the stage with two newer friends last Friday night, absolutely enthralled, humored, and bamboozled by the cast of “Musical Comedy Murders of 1940.”

To start, the set design was absolutely beautiful—the placement of each book, the carefully selected furniture, and the secret-doorwayopening mechanism all contributed to the spectacle. Not to mention its location within DeBaun, which in itself imparts an old-time feeling and adds to the ambiance of it all!

I cannot even come close to articulating my respect and appreciation for the actors and actresses that shuffled across the stage, narrowly escaping death by the Stage Door Slasher.

To the real-life Stevens students who transformed themselves into Helsa, Elsa, Roger, Ber-

nice, Patrick, Sgt. Kelly, Ken, Marjorie, Nikki, and Eddie: hats off to you all for your hard work. You had me engaged the entire time, which for me is impressive given my uncanny ability to fall into a deep slumber when seated in a comfortable, semi-reclining position.

This week, I’m not going to moan and groan.

No—today, I am celebrating the efforts of the Stevens Dramatic Society beginning from its inception in 1910.

For over 100 years, the society has provided space for artistic expression and innovation at a university that now boasts the latter as one of its major tenets.

I recently learned that former Head of Theater, Harold Burris-Meyer, was an emerging leader in acoustical engineering and electronic sound reproduction during his time at Stevens in the ‘30s and ‘40s, serving

as yet another example of the enchanting synergy that results when art, engineering, and technology intertwine (Don’t believe me?

Check out the “Campus Traditions and Activities” exhibit on the first floor of the library).

The caliber of the performance this past weekend attests to the Stevens Dramatic Society’s “do-it-yourself” mentality which has been paramount since its beginnings in the early twentieth century.

To those who were like me and never thought twice about attending an SDS performance, I ask that you reconsider your plans the next time a show comes around.

Bring new friends, sneak in some snacks, and keep that cell phone on silent, for when you respect the arts in the present, you pay tribute to all those who have traipsed across DeBaun stage in the past.

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The Stute Music Review

Taylor Swift is too aware of her stardom on “reputation”

by CHRISTIAN BONAVITA Freshman Chemical Engineering Major

Any time Taylor Swift releases a new album, the world watches. Music listeners know that three or four songs from the album will probably be inescapable on the radio for the next year or two, while chart followers observe to see what records Swift could possibly break next. However, things did not quite feel normal a few months ago when “reputation” was announced. The world was introduced to this new Swift era through the

blaring “Look What You Made Me Do.” It was clear that Swift’s quirky, teenfriendly personality from “1989” and her previous albums would be gone, or at least would not be present on “reputation.” Other than “Gorgeous,” a funny pop song that sounds like an outtake from “1989,” most of “reputation” contains darker trap-pop that centers around Swift’s fame and persona, and her perspective on having relationships with the pressure of fame.

On “reputation,” Swift is more aware of her stardom than ever before.

This is evident both on the album and in her release strategy. For example, her record label negotiated a deal with Target to have her albums be the only ones populating the “Hits” endcap in the CD section of stores nationwide. This makes her popularity seem very forced, and the hype for her album seem invented. On the album, she mentions

the idea of having a bad reputation many times, like in “End Game” and “Delicate.” However, this idea seems to come out of nowhere. Additionally, the fact that these two songs come towards the beginning of the album makes the lengthy runtime of the album, nearly an hour, seem much more daunting. The prospect of 55 minutes of fabricated edginess seems more like a chore than a pleasure to listen to. Luckily, the rest of the album deals with different subject matter and has some bright spots. “…Ready For It” sounds like the direction the album should have taken; it is still dark, but contains playful, sarcastic lyrics reminiscent of earlier eras, and it is exciting and experimental with the genres it contains.

Likewise, “I Did Something Bad” is an effective foray into EDM-pop, with heavy synths and vocals reminiscent of a Flume song.

Why I won’t get tested for Prostate Cancer

by JOHN HORGAN CAL Professor

I recently had an awkward conversation with my doctor. I was getting a routine physical, and he recommended that I get a PSA test for prostate cancer. I told him the PSA test harms more men than it helps.

He acknowledged that PSA tests produce false positives, but he insisted that follow-up tests and biopsies will determine whether you really have a life-threatening cancer. He knew someone whose life had just been saved by the test.

When I still declined to get tested, he looked as though he felt sorry for me. He should feel sorry for the millions of men who have gotten unnecessary biopsies, surgery and radiation as a result of taking the PSA test.

PSA stands for prostatespecific antigen, an enzyme produced by the prostate gland, which is located below the male bladder. The test, which was developed in the 1980s, looks for elevated PSA levels, which can indicate cancerous cells in the prostate gland.

The problem is that inflammation and other problems unrelated to cancer can also elevate PSA levels. And when

Photo from Billboard

cause a social media uproar than an actual song that belongs to the album, because most of the rest of the album does not deal with the same subject matter.

“Reputation” seems disjointed, needlessly intense, and too focused on fame. Music listeners would have been happy with what Swift does

best: young-sounding melodies and some of the best pop songwriting in mainstream music. However, she delivered an attempt at a more mature, aware sound, which unfortunately comes across as tired and disconnected from the public. After all, Swift is now 27 years old, so perhaps a change was imminent.

SGA Roundup

Scientific Curmudgeon .

the PSA test correctly detects cancer, it is often so slow-growing that it would never have caused death or even impairment of health.

Detection of these non-deadly cancers is called overdiagnosis.

In 2012, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a federally funded panel of experts, recommended against the PSA test, saying the cons outweighed the pros.

The decision was based primarily on data from two large studies, one done in the U.S., which found that screening did not reduce mortality, and the other in Europe, which showed a modest reduction.

Last spring the task force upgraded its assessment slightly, based on new data from the European study. The New York Times broke down the statistics behind the new assessment as follows: If 1,000 men ages 55 to 69 get tested regularly for 10 to 15 years, 240 men will receive a positive PSA result, which is usually followed by a biopsy. 100 will receive a positive biopsy result, 80 will receive surgery and/or radiation, and 60 will suffer side effects from this treatment, including incontinence and impotence. One to two deaths from prostate cancer will be prevented.

Just to be clear: you are 240-120 times more likely to misdiagnosed as a result of a positive PSA test and 8040 times more likely to get unnecessary surgery or radiation than you are to have your life saved. These data are

Another shift from previous albums is evident in Swift’s lyrics on “reputation.” Songs from the past like “Mean” and “You Belong With Me,” which tell stories while also being catchy, quirky, and relatable, are largely missing on the new album, which instead opts for generic pop lyrics that inspire quick imagery. For example, in two different songs, “Call It What You Want” and “So It Goes…,” Swift sings some variant of wanting to “wear [someone] like a necklace.” In both songs, the overall lyrics feel more disjointed than connected to one another. In fact, most of the album does not seem cohesive.

Especially since audiences were introduced to “reputation” through lead single “Look What You Made Me Do,” which is about Swift losing her public image, the song now seems more like a shocking publicity stunt engineered to reintroduce her to the public and

based on a draft document of the task force.

The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends against routine PSA screening, but many physicians, like my doctor, continue to promote them. To understand why, read the important new book An American Sickness by Elisabeth Rosenthal, which reveals how greed has corrupted health care.

Rosenthal, who got her M.D. before becoming a medical journalist, notes that the PSA test has created a “huge industry for testing and surgery.”

As an example, she points to urologist David Samadi, who runs a program for robotic prostate surgery at a New York City hospital and is a medical correspondent for FOX News. In 2014 Samadi created “The Samadi Challenge,” which urges women to pester “the men in their lives” to get PSA tests starting in their 40s.

Samadi “makes around $3 million a year,” Rosenthal reports.

How can physicians ethically promote tests that cause so much harm? Isn’t that a violation of the Hippocratic oath? And how can consumers allow themselves to be bullied and frightened into getting such flawed tests?

Now excuse me, I need to find a new doctor.

John Horgan directs the Center for Science Writings, which is part of the College of Arts & Letters. This column is adapted from one originally published on his ScientificAmerican.com blog, “Cross-check.”

Money Vs. Morals: The SGA needs to straighten its priorities

by MARK KRUPINSKI

Sophomore Computational Science Major

What is the role of the SGA? In my popular piece, “The SGA: Why You Should Care,” I stated, “the SGA, most notably its president, is supposed to look out for the best interests of the student body.” Let’s look at a case study: the naming of the Gateway Complex, or the Gianforte issue.

On Oct. 15, 2017, Senators James Sweeney and Dakota Van Deursen proposed, with support from Senators Matthew Cunningham and Julia Meyn, the initial version of Proclamation S-17F-002: The Naming of the Gianforte Family Academic Center Proclamation. After discussion at that night’s meeting, the proclamation was tabled, edited, and later passed at the next meeting on Oct. 22.

Through the passed proclamation, the SGA put forth that “an endeavor should be made ... ‘[to] uphold [Steven’s] values including those of academic freedom and nondiscrimination.’”

They suggest “creating safe spaces on Stevens’ campus” to support “underrepresented or marginalized” groups. But this proclamation — a proclamation so pivotal for marginalized groups, ensuring Stevens

maintains its inclusive status — provided no insight on how the SGA plans to support the Stevens students they claim to represent. Additionally, by using the word “endeavor” implies that only an effort will be made; there is no accountability that anything will actually be accomplished They issued an ambiguous proclamation that does not state in any way how the SGA will reaffirm their commitment to academic freedom and nondiscrimination. It’s weak — yet it’s probably the strongest response they will deliver.

But how did the SGA develop this response? Let’s start when the naming issue first came to light last semester.

During the March 19, 2017 meeting of the SGA, former SGA Senator and current Stevens alumnus Andy Waldron delivered a presentation on Greg Gianforte including his anti-LGBTQ+ comments to the SGA. At this meeting, the discussion centered around the precedent of requirements to name a building. Waldron brought up the initial idea of creating a proclamation against the naming of the building. However, most members of the SGA did not agree with his ideas, such as Senator Ryan Tom. “If we change the name and the donation is rescinded,” said Tom, “then it could strap the school and the students financially. We need to keep this in mind.”

It is not the SGA’s job to look out for the well-being of the university; it is the SGA’s job to look out for the well-being of the student body. Other senators continued to make similar,

non-supportive statements like Senator Tom. Later in the discussion, previous Speaker of the Senate Reeba James motioned to move the discussion offline, or not record the discussion in the minutes.

Moving the discussion offline was an abysmal decision. It demonstrated that the SGA, taking the discussion behind closed doors, preferred hiding their viewpoints and avoiding accountability. Ironically, this is the same issue that SGA senators brought up about the administration earlier that meeting.

A few days after the SGA meeting, Daly, in an email, shared his formal stance on the issue.

He said, the Student Government “stands firm that to reject or discriminate individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation is an abuse of their freedom and in direct violation with their basic human rights .... [I]t is our duty to represent the views and orientations of all students.

This means accepting and promoting both the values of our conservative and liberal populations so long as those values are in line with our ideas of inclusion and tolerance.”

The SGA acknowledged that discrimination is not allowed. However, he directly contrasts this viewpoint later in the paragraph by stating they must remain neutral. The SGA did not understand that remaining neutral means that they are allowing themselves to be complicit when dealing with

continued on thestute.com

Campus Pulse

Friday, November 17, 2017 • Page 4

Roving Reporter Which family member don’t you want to see on Thanksgiving?

“Oh wow, that’s a tough one. I’m gonna go with my twin brother”

“None of them. I’m looking forward to seeing all of them”

Zack Canderozzi

Anthony Quattrochi

“Oh god, uhh...y mother.”

“That’s difficult. I actually like all the people who sit around the table”

“If I’m being honest, I love all of my family.”

Meagan Irish

Sam Martino

“No Comment” Rachel Bailey

Polling Pierce

What’s your favorite type of pie?

Pecan 7

Other 13

Apple 41

Pumpkin 26

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Strips

Friday, November 17, 2017 • Page 5

News Continued Town

Continued from front page

ulty also added that there are plans for those science graduate courses to be replaced with undergraduate courses.

A 5 out of 5 Mechanical Engineering major then shifted the topic to hands-on experiences. Even though the Design Spine has been updated, engineering experiences outside of that class are very limited. While there are some students who get the chance to work in the machine and CNC shops, the spots are limited. Dean Zu then deferred to Sheppard’s initiative to consolidate the machine shop and make it a student space. The new area should be open by next summer.

Next to speak was a senior Cybersecurity major who is a TA in the Computer Science Department. They feel that classes within the Computer Science Department appear to be getting easier. This causes students not to feel prepared for more advanced classes. The student also noticed that grading has become more lenient and the curriculum has shrunk because professors feel their job security is based on student evaluations. In response to this, Dean Zu explained that the demand on the department is increasing due to a high number of students now choosing to major in Computer Science. As a result, class quality is decreasing as class sizes increase. To combat this, the Computer Science department is trying to hire more professors, but private industry demand is taking high-valued professors away. However, this is not just a Stevens problem, but a problem throughout the entire industry.

Next, there was a question about the Engineering Design IV curriculum. By the third semester, all engineers have declared their major,

but Design IV is focused towards Computer Engineering. The faculty explanation was that it is important for all Stevens graduates to have a broad-based knowledge of engineering, not just of their specific discipline.

Some good news for the engineering students is that administration has taken steps to modernize lab facilities. Funds are being saved up to buy new lab equipment, so professors can now put in grant requests to buy new and improved equipment for their students to use. There are over 500 students in the Design labs throughout the semester, so it is difficult to upgrade all of the labs at once. Dean Zu felt that this issue has been overlooked in the past so it is important to her that this is completed.

One of the final topics was the lack of foreign languages. Dean Zu stated that it is important to learn other languages. They would also like to make languages recognized as a humanities course for the student to get credit. Dean Zu, who is from China, immediately sent out an email from her phone to the Dean of the College of Arts and Letters asking why there is no Chinese language course at Stevens.

At the end, Dean Zu asked students what they thought about the meeting. With mostly positive feedback, the main complaint was the early time of the meeting. Knowing this, Dean Zu will move future town halls to the afternoon. Although there are over 2,000 undergraduate students in the SES, only 10 students actually made it out to the early morning event. The small group felt that a meeting with too many students wouldn’t have been as productive, but more perspectives might have uncovered some other issues.

Dean Zu plans to host another town hall next semester.

Friday, November 10, 2017 • Page 6

ΔΦΕ hosts Castle Point Cravings

by RACHEL STERN Staff Writer

Delta Phi Epsilon held its annual fall philanthropy event, “Castle Point Cravings” on Tuesday, Nov. 14. The purpose of the event was to raise money for Delta Phi Ep-

silon’s two philanthropies, The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. Students were able to buy tickets at the door or ahead of time, and they were able to try foods donated in sample sizes from Hoboken businesses, including Insom-

nia Cookies, Shaka Bowl, Giovanni’s, Pita Pit, Karma Kafe, Baking Mama, The Little Grocery, and 16 Handles. Guests of the event were also able to try food cooked by Theta Xi’s chef, as well as treats from a bake-off between Delta Phi Epsilon’s membership classes. Emily

Ferguson, who communicated and worked with the businesses to acquire food for the event, commented, “We had a great showing of support, with many students showing up for the event. Thank you so much to the student body for supporting our philanthropies!”

Wen Wei Zheng

C2GS and Anime Club come together to host LANime

by AUDREY DSOUZA Managing Editor

The Computer and Console Gaming Society (C2GS) and Anime Club came together to host “LANime” in BC 122 on Saturday, Nov. 11. LANime is a co-hosted event that takes place once each semester. At the event, students could participate in the “LAN” by bringing their games or gaming systems to set up and play with friends, or they could watch an-

ime, which was playing on the two projectors all night. Games students attending played ranged from “League of Legends” to “Super Smash Brothers Brawl” to “Twitch Plays Pokemon.” There were also people playing card and board games in BC 104. Anime series that were projected included “Pokemon Sun and Moon,” “Initial D,” “Boku no Hero Academia,” and “Inferno Cop.” Another large focus of the event was the food.

C2GS hosts LANs every

Thursday, but there are only Epic LANs, which last all night and have food, once a month. For LANime, they brought in an assortment of Japanese snacks, including Pocky, Hi-Chew, Shrimp Chips, and a variety of drinks.

The popular snacks were depleted within the first 10 minutes of the 10hour event. Around 11 p.m., Onigiri, also known as rice balls, from KoroKoro were brought in for the attendees. There were six fillings for students to choose from, and because

a lot were ordered, most people went back for second and third helpings.

A tutorial video on how to open rice ball packaging played while students sampled the Japanese staple. Around 2 a.m., Cluck-U and coffee were served, and even later on, energy drinks.

Over 120 students stopped by for LANime.

C2GS has been hosting Epic LANs for over 10 years and hosts regular LANs every Thursday night in BC122 starting at 9 p.m.

Brad Tylutki

News Continued

Friday, November 10, 2017 • Page 7

International Education Month at Stevens New MyStevens login improvements coming ences. International Educacome to be. In case you

by BRAD TYLUTKI Staff Writer

This past Monday marked the start of International Education Week (IEW), a nationally celebrated time period that was created with the intention of preparing Americans for a global envi-

tion Week (IEW) started on Nov. 13 and ended on Nov. 17, but unlike most universities and companies, Stevens has taken IEW a step further and extended it to last throughout the entire month of November. There are many events and weekly workshops that students are

Photo courtesy of Helene Beck

ronment whilst also attracting people from all over the world to further their education and exchange experi-

able to attend, all of which can be found on the International Programming section of the Stevens website.

One of the many events planned for IEW was the “International Cabaret Night,” which took place on Saturday, Nov. 4 and was hosted

by Helene Beck and Sophie Hales. This event was designed to showcase some of the incredible talents held

by Stevens’s international community, including students and professors. Some of these talents include Chinese and Indian dance, Chinese beatboxing, and many varieties of singing, including some Chinese songs. In addition to the entertainment and fun, there was also a large selection of food including kebabs, samosas, and dumplings.

In regards to the success of the event, over 150 students and professors were in attendance. However, this event would not have been possible without support from the many volunteers and artists who helped make this amazing night

missed this night of great music and festivities, be sure to come to International Dance Celebration, which will be held in the spring.

In addition to hosting events and activities Stevens international community also host a number of workshops and classes to help international students develop better skills in English and writing. The English Language Communication courses are designed to help students develop skills in reading, speech clarity, formal and informal interaction, writing skills in academic formats such as reports, presentations, and emails, and listening skills for social and academic situations. These classes provide a pressure free area for graduate students to practice English and develop better language skills at a pace that they find comfortable.

Ethnic Student Council celebrates Thanksgiving

by NICK BURNS Staff Writer

The Ethnic Student Council (ESC) hosted their yearly Thanksgiving event on Wednesday, Nov. 15. ESC is an organization made up

of nine cultural clubs which are all Registered Student Organizations (RSOs). All of the organizations within ESC were given a budget months ago and were told to bring a dish they thought best represented their respective country’s

culture. Each club also sent some volunteers to help set up, serve, and clean up, so members could meet and work together to further the ESC’s goal of bringing the ethnic RSOs together. Club historian, Chelsea Aure, who was taking

swipes at the entrance said, “ESC Thanksgiving is a way for us to come together, all the ethnic RSOs, and appreciate each other’s culture.” The event also included open mic performances and some raffle prizes.

by CHARLES ZWICKER Staff Writer

The Stevens Enterprise Information Systems department announced that a new Stevens User Login page will be launching “in the coming weeks.” The project, according to Michael Parente, Director of Enterprise Information Systems, is broken into three phases. Parente said in an email, Enterprise Information Systems will “upgrade the Stevens single sign-on system, add two-factor authentication, and install a new identity and access management system.”

The first phase, as far as most users are concerned, is a cosmetic upgrade. The new login page will also be optimized for mobile, so Stevens students will be able to access their Stevens resources more easily. It will also be more secure and reliable.

The second phase is the implementation of two-factor authentication for systems that contain sensitive data such as “Workday, Slate, Kuali, and Concur.”

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a security measure

Four killed in Northen California shooting

by DAVID ROGERS Staff Writer

Cole Yarbrough

American Chemical Society holds Game Night in Hayden Lounge

by DANIEL KANG Staff Writer

The American Chemical Society (ACS) held Game Night in Hayden Lounge on Tuesday, Nov. 14 from 7-9 p.m. There were many prizes, including a periodic table pillowcase, beaker mugs, test tube shot cups, and T-shirts. Pizza, baked goods, soft beverages, and water were served. The first game was Jeopardy! There were five categories: Elements of the Periodic Table, Redox Reactions, Organic Chemistry, Acids & Bases, and Miscellaneous. The questions ranged in difficulty from the element named after the Greek goddess of wisdom (palladium) to balancing complex chemical equations. Students were al-

lowed to form teams of up to four or five people and were told to create team names.

A total of six teams competed in the Jeopardy! round.

Unfortunately, there were no Daily Doubles or witty comments by the moderator in the role of Alex Trebek as there are on the actual show, but there was Final Jeopardy where each team put down its wager. Ultimately it was down to two teams: Permanganate with 2200 points and Scarface

with 1800 points. At the end of Final Jeopardy, the team that took home first with the most points was Permanganate with 3700 points. The five members of the team were given their pick of prizes on the table.

The second game was Word Scramble. The goal was to create as many words as possible from the elements in one minute. Amazingly, someone managed to create 24 words, a record for the night. The third game

was Bingo. Instead of numbers, the squares were elements. Everyone was given one Bingo sheet and it continued until all of the prizes were gone. Overall, it was an entertaining and educational event that delighted everyone involved.

The ACS’s next event is Winter Event on Dec. 5 from 7-9 p.m. in EAS 329. ACS has meetings once a month, and the next meeting is Dec. 6 in EAS 329 at 1 p.m.

Daniel Kang

that requires both a piece of information that only a Stevens student would know — such as a password or a PIN — and something that they have — such as a phone — to access their account. Notably, Stevens has chosen to use Duo as a 2FA provider, rather than other platforms. If students currently use more than one service — other 2FA services such as Google or Facebook — they can’t use their existing app and need to install the Duo app. This is a net gain for account security of Stevens students.

The third and final phase is the creation of an “Account Self-Service Portal,” which enables Stevens students to set up security questions, add additional means of communication for security notifications, and reset user account passwords, even in the case that they forget their password. Stevens students will no longer have to physically go to IT to reset their forgotten Stevens password.

The rollout will start with the Stevens login page in mid-November, with the other improvements coming at a later date.

Just before 8 a.m. on Nov. 14, Kevin Janson Neal, 44, began a 45-minute rampage in rural Northern California’s Rancho Tehama, a city of about 1,200 people. Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston told reporters the rampage began with two of Neal’s neighbors, who were the first reported dead, and his wife, who was found hidden beneath the couple’s floorboards, shot several times. Neal then drove away, randomly firing a rifle from the vehicle, including some shots at a mother and son en route to school.

Both were wounded and Neal drove too far away by the time the mother, a concealed carry permit holder, could draw her pistol. Afterwards, Neal crashed a local school’s gates with his truck and fired on the roughly 100 school students from outside. Two children were wounded, but none killed. Neal, unable to actually enter the school, left looking for other targets. The massacre stopped when police rammed his car and killed Neal in a fierce gunfight. Neal killed five people and wounded nine others. The police are still investigating seven crime scenes from the event.

John Root, a neighbor and survivor, initially

thought the gunshots were from target practice and yelled from his porch, “Hey! Don’t make me come down there and take that gun away! It’s 7:30 in the morning!”

Soon, it was apparent that the gunfire was not from target practice, and he informed the police.

However, by the time the police arrived, the shooting had stopped and Neal had left in a stolen pickup truck. Neal later crashed the pickup truck and carjacked a sedan, continuing his terror.

Sheridan Orr, the shooter’s sister, said Neal had a troubling history with mental illness, paranoia, and frequent outbursts of unwarranted anger—one time getting mad at her for the sound of the washing machine.

In March, a court issued a restraining order against Neal and ordered Neal to turn in his firearms.

Neal turned in one gun, claiming he had no more.

His body was found with one rifle and two handguns, and police found another rifle in his home.

Johnston said none of Neal’s guns were legally owned—the rifles were unregistered and “manufactured illegally by him in his home,” while the pistols were registered to another person. As he often shot on his property, some complained to the police, but to no avail.

Neal’s violent tendencies continued, and he went on a rampage with charges pending against him for stabbing a neighbor.

News Continued

Friday, November 17, 2017 • Page 8

Chinese Student Association holds Hotpot Night

by AUDREY DSOUZA Managing Editor

The Chinese Student Association (CSA) hosted ‘Hotpot Night’ on Tuesday, Nov. 14, in Babbio Atrium at 9 p.m. “Hotpot is a very traditional way of having dinner for Chinese people,” explained CSA Treasurer Sophia Hua, “the food takes a while to prepare, so people had to stay around, make new friends, catch up with others—the point of hotpot.” Around Babbio Atrium were different stations for students to pick up different parts of the traditional meal. Students could get noodles, vegetables, beef, pork, fish cakes, or dumplings, which would

all be served either within a pot of broth or on the side. There was also a limited supply of bubble tea from Vivi’s. Bubble tea, before becoming popular in America, originated as a tea-based drink in Taiwan. In the center of the atrium were circular tables for all attendees to sit at and enjoy their meal with friends, simulating the hot pot experience.

The crowd was described as “similar” to previous events, with over 150 students in attendance. “10 out of 10, would host again!” said Vivian Lin, a member of the CSA e-board. CSA hosts bi-weekly general body meetings (GBMs) on Thursdays.

Photos by Sally Ju | The Link

Stevens Irish Association presents Irish Pub Trivia Night

by DANIEL KANG Staff Writer

The Stevens Irish Association, SIA, held Irish Pub Trivia Night on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 9:15 p.m. in Kidde 360. Pizza, root beer, water, and skittles were served. Before the event began, there was a lively introduction where attendees said their names and told stories about their pets. A lot of laughter ensued. The trivia portion Daniel Kang began around 9:45 p.m.

There were four categories: Irish Cities, Past SIA GBMs, E-Board Members, and Folklore. The entire room was divided into two teams. Some of the questions asked were about the capital of Ireland (Dublin), the meaning of fáilte in Gaelic (“welcome”), the location of the island where the most recent “Star Wars” episode was filmed (Skulley Michael), and the Irish version of a mermaid (murdhuacha). During the rounds, there were a lot of arguments and rowdy

Indian Undergraduate Association hosts Henna Night

by NASIR MONTALVO Staff Writer

On Thursday, Nov. 9, the Indian Undergraduate Association (IUA) held Henna Night in Babbio Atrium. Henna Night is an event where people can come get henna done

by professional artists and eat traditional Indian food. Among the cuisine were chicken lollipops and an orange, candied syrup. Many students took the chance to decorate themselves in an array of designs that the artists had available. While henna can be used for

celebrations like these, henna also serves a different purpose. “The smell repels mosquitoes”, said Ashna Manhas, president of IUA. She also explained how henna is significant among weddings, where Indian brides are usually adorned in “mehndi” (the Hindi word for henna).

The event usually takes about 2-3 weeks in advance to plan, but it was accomplished smoothly through the help of Ashna and her e-board. As IUA continues to host these special events, they hope that more people will come to immerse themselves in Indian culture.

discussions, but the atmosphere was relaxed. Those who attended the event had the chance to demonstrate their exceptional knowledge of Irish culture and the club itself. At the end of the night, Team 1 prevailed, but it was fun for everyone who participated. This was a brand new event for SIA, and the idea was thought of by Ellen Drennan, who is on the minor board. The event was organized by Events Coordinator Danielle Gannon and Cultural Chair Ai-

leen Quinn.

Stevens Irish Association holds biweekly GBMs on Tuesdays at 9:15 p.m. in Kidde 360 and will be holding a Movie Night in EAS 222 on Friday at 5 p.m.

SIA President Dylan McDermott remarks that “SIA strives to create a close-knit community around Irish culture on campus. At general body meetings, they learn Gaelic phrases, Irish culture, and Irish games.

Our events focus on holidays celebrated in Ireland and always include food.”

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Continued from front page

and despite the lack of a CS alumna, Millard was confident that all information would be applicable in some way, given that it is common to “deviate from one’s major over the span a career.”

After guests arrived, the alumna and attendees engaged in a “speed networking” activity, during which Rana and Millard asked a series of questions to which the guests all responded. Questions touched upon mentorship, “dream jobs,” and the motivation to engage

in the networking night.

“I felt as though my experiences at Stevens would be very applicable for [these women],” said Brown, overheard while speaking to a smaller group of women. Watson and Melillo, who come from a Mechanical Engineering background, were seen distributing business cards and encouraging the attendees to contact them with any questions they might have in the future.

The event closed with a Compass One catered dinner and the announcement of the night’s raffle winner. For Millard and Rana, the event was a

Friday, November 17, 2017 • Page 9

success. “We’d never seen this type of event before with all of the women groups in the same room for the purpose of networking,” said Rana. “We thought this would allow for a different comfort level.”

Millard was impressed by the interactions between the alumna and undergraduate students.

“Seeing how hard it was to tear people away from their conversations was really a measurable sign of our success,” said Millard. “All of our alumna told me they had so much fun and would love to come back to any future networking dinners.”

Olivia Schreiber

Amnesty International hosts Oxfam Hunger Banquet: an interactive demonstration of hunger worldwide

by MATTHEW CUNNINGHAM Staff Writer

On Thursday, Amnesty International hosted the Oxfam Hunger Banquet, a dinner and educational event marked by sadness, reflection, and a desire to help people who are most in need.

The banquet was a metaphor for global poverty and hunger. An Oxfam International representative opened the banquet, calling for attendees to combat the world hunger famine which affects

“nearly 800 million people [in the world]” and asking for people to sign petitions to “put pressure on Congress not to cut the foreign aid budget.”

To further educate people on the class system that permeates the world, attendees were segmented into three different tiers — lower class, middle class, and upper class — based on their donation size.

Lower and middle-class attendees were served a meal from Qdoba; upper-class attendees received a three-course

meal from Brick Pizzeria, along with dessert from Dunkin’ Donuts and Insomnia Cookies. All the meals were donated by Hoboken businesses.

Attendees were assigned people in their respective income classes.

First-year student Eric DeVico, originally a middle-class attendee, was assigned “Lucia.” Lucia was a middle-class woman from Houston, Texas, who “lost [her] home due to extreme flooding from Hurricane Harvey this past fall.” DeVico, acting as Lucia, was

moved from the middleclass table to the lowerclass table because of Lucia’s loss in Hurricane Harvey.

“I was humbled by being moved to the lowerclass section,” said DeVico. Lower-class attendees ate in their laps rather than at a table like the middle-class attendees, a metaphor for the hardship that lower-class people have to face. DeVico finished his lower-class meal of rice and beans in under one minute. “In real life, I’m not lowerclass,” so having to eat

a lower-class meal “puts things into perspective.”

Some of the upperclass attendees who were served a three-course meal, instead of being humbled by the event, felt unsettled. Fourthyear student Kiera Sheridan, who was upperclass, said, “It made me uncomfortable eating, looking up, and seeing [the lower-class eating only rice and beans].”

Charles Martocello, another upper-class attendee, also appeared shocked. “Here in America,” said Martocello,

“you could be the lowest of the low [yet still be considered upper-class].”

Amnesty International hopes that through this event, they can help the “approximately 815 million people who suffer from chronic hunger worldwide,” they said in an email. Attendees were encouraged to donate either money or food perishables to attend the event.

Amnesty International donated all the proceeds to Oxfam International and Hoboken Homeless Shelter.

Photos Courtesy of Aileen Quinn

Opinion Continued

Friday, November 17, 2017 • Page 10

Cuisine Corner

The food columnist’s new groove

by MARKO DJAPIC

Junior Chemical Biology Major

Whenever I pick a place to review, I always make the decision with you, my dedicated readers, in mind. Is it cheap enough?

What’s the occasion? Is it in a location where Stevens’s students will easily find it? This time around, though, I decided I’d be completely self-indulgent and pick a place right in my neighborhood: El Rinkoncito Peruano, right on the corner of Central and Graham in Jersey City.

El Rinkoncito, aptly named, as you’ll find it on a corner, is a small,

family-run Peruvian restaurant right in the heart of the Jersey City Heights.

At first glance, it doesn’t look like much, and aside from the comparatively loud sign in front, you would assume it was just another average restaurant along Central Avenue. Even stepping in, it’s likely to leave you underwhelmed with its cramped, scarce interior that’s devoid of much color besides a row of Peruvian pictures along the wall.

That being said, looks can be terribly deceiving.

I was fortunate enough to be joined graciously in my foray into Peruvian cuisine by a local expert, one of my good friends and colleagues in the Chem Bio department, who recommended I try the Ceviche de Pescado and pray it didn’t have tomato in it. I happily obliged, while they ordered the Anticuchos with Papa a la Huancaina, or cow heart kabobs with yellow potato, and a pitcher of Chicha Morada, or purple

corn juice. Our waitress brought out the Chicha almost immediately, and it’s definitely a must-have if you’ve never tried it before. The closest thing I can compare it to is a cinnamon plum juice, but that wouldn’t do it justice: its sweet, cinnamony, clovey flavor is reminiscent of the deepest winter, yet it is more refreshing than a cool lemonade in summer. Our waitress also brought out some roasted corn kernels with ahi verde, green chili sauce, while we waited, which was incredibly refreshing, spicy, and slightly sweet all at the same time.

Once the main dishes arrived, I was delighted to find the Ceviche had no tomato in it, and it smelled wonderfully of lime, fresh fish, and onion. Its worth knowing that Ceviche is really more of a cured fish than a cooked dish, so if fresh fish is an issue, you’ve been warned. Biting into my first piece, I was blown away. How could

CONTACT & INFO El Rinkoncito 501 Central Ave. Jersey City

Marko Djapic

I have been sleeping on this place for so long? The fish was incredibly savory and tasty in its own right, but it was enhanced even more so by the marinade of lime, chili, salt, and pepper that washed the dish. The lime and chili predominated, and despite how simple the flavors involved were, I honestly hadn’t had something quite this good in a while. The accompanying sweet potato and massively starchy corn provided a great counterpoint to the sharp flavors, while the onions were refreshing and crunchy. To end it all, I slurped up the remaining marinade col-

Campus Liberal

loquially known as the “leche de tigre,” and, boy is that name deserved! I was out of commission for at least five minutes afterwards, but it definitely is a part of the dish.

If you don’t finish it, did you really have Ceviche?

Finally, my friend’s dish was also incredibly tasty, and I was impressed in its simplicity yet again. I highly recommend both.

Overall, El Rinkoncito brings to mind one of my favorite lines from my mother: “Cooking doesn’t need to be complicated.”

It brings to the table one of the rarest gifts in modern restaurants: the gift of making excellent food

Sun. - Thurs.

10AM - 9PM Fri. - Sat. 10AM - 10PM (201) 963-4800 Food: Service: Location: Price: $

with simple flavors. If you’re looking to get cultured, or just go to a fantastic restaurant, take a short hike and bring an open mind to El Rinkoncito.

Campus Conservative

I was featured on Fox News Lessons from my first ZOA Gala

by MATTHEW CUNNINGHAM Freshman Computer Science Major

Well, almost.

Last week, on the anniversary of Donald Trump’s election, I joined thousands of “cucks and snowflakes, safe spacers and libtards” at Washington Square Park for the funniest, most cathartic event of 2017. We all screamed helplessly at the sky to commemorate a year with Trump as president.

Attendees arrived whenever they pleased. On arrival, they let out a great, big yell, representing their frustrations with our current government and expressing their frustrations with the detestable actions of the Trump administration.

Some even yelled more than once; I was one of those people.

Most of the screamers, like myself, laughed at our silliness in between each howl. We knew that what we were doing was foolish.

Yet for some reason — after I finally stopped screaming and laughing at myself — reporters bombarded me with questions, demeaning statements, and insults. Fox News, Breitbart, and other Trump-friendly organizations shoved their cameras in my face and said a few things to rile me up, eager to plaster me on their network as being a ‘stupid liberal screaming into the

sky.’

One reporter, whom I recognized from Fox News, shoved a microphone into my face, and dozens of other reporters followed his lead by offering their microphones to me, too. The Fox News reporter, louder than the other reporters, asked me why I attended “this stupid event.”

I looked around, distraught for a moment, and said to him, “I mainly came here to have fun. I rarely have the chance to attend public, political events where I can laugh, have a good time, yet still agree with the event’s message.”

“You agree with this ridiculous screaming match?”

He gestured toward two people who were screaming at each other in anger.

I said, “It’s ridiculous to organize an event to scream at the sky.” Duh. “Especially for political reasons.

I want you to know that I know that.

But I don’t want to invalidate people who feel hopeless because of the Trump presidency. Regardless of what you think this event portrays, I believe that our democracy is strongest when people can peacefully speak their minds for causes in which they believe — that if we want to change our government, we must elect people whom we believe will progress our country in a better direction. Just yesterday, the people of Hoboken elected Democrat Ravi Bhalla as their new mayor, continuing the progressive efforts of the previous mayor; the people of New Jersey elected Democrat Phil Murphy as their governor, replacing Republican Chris Christie; the people of Virginia elected Democrat Danica Roem as a state legislator, making Ms. Roem the first openly transgender person

in America to take office.

The American people have been unsatisfied with the current political establishment, so they elected people whom they believe better represent their values.

Yet even with all of this, people still feel helpless.

They feel so helpless that they think the only thing they can do on a Wednesday night is scream at the sky. Even with all of the small bits of good happening, the people here tonight still believe that the President doesn’t care about them. And, to be honest, I can’t disagree with them.

For a privileged person like myself who is also a student, a young person, a gay man — I’m impacted by the actions of President Trump.

For when our President supports legislation like the new tax code, making it harder for students to pay student loans; legislation like ‘a national Muslim registry,’ hindering MuslimAmericans’ ability to freely practice their religion in their country; and stripping Title IX protections for transgender students, isolating more students in our school system — it’s hard for me to believe that President Trump serves and cares about everyday people like me.

You’re right that this event is ridiculous, and that’s part of the point.

People should be able to speak up loudly, criticizing the government whenever they’re unsatisfied, and they should be able to do it in whatever way they see fit. Tonight, we’re speaking up — and we’re being extra loud.”

My interview never aired.

Instead, Fox News aired a woman wearing a ‘pussy hat,’ a few people spitting

continued on thestute.com

by ALEX MURTAGH Sophomore Civil Engineering Major

As a member of the Stevens College Republicans, I have had many opportunities throughout the year to attend different events around the NYC area. I, along with nine other members, was lucky enough to be selected to go to this year’s Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) Awards Gala. For me, this was the first major public event that I had ever been to, so it was a little intimidating at first knowing that some very prominent people would be in attendance. I honestly had no clue what was going to happen other than eating a really fancy dinner and having the chance to network with a bunch of students and members of this community.

The night began with a really nice cocktail hour filled with lots of food, music, and dancing. While I did not participate in the dancing (something that no one would ever want to see), I had the chance to get to know the members of College Republicans much better. Before going on this trip, they were all just other faces in the crowd dur-

ing meetings, but now I know a little bit about each of them and feel a stronger sense of community. While I never really had the chance to talk with any people who were directly affiliated with the organization, I was still able to get the impression that these were people who just wanted to get out and have a good time. I expected to hear many political conversations going on around the room, but they were actually few and far between. People were introducing themselves and swapping stories, not political opinions.

During dinner, we heard from some very important people within the Zionist community. Just by listening to them, I realized that these people are considered radicals by many on the opposite side of the aisle. But the main point that I kept hearing throughout the evening was that the Jewish people felt that this area of the world was their homeland granted to them by God. Many speakers quoted the Bible as well as many wellknown historical facts about the Jewish people who lived in Israel thousands of years ago.

I never had the feeling that these people wanted to remove Palestinians from the area, but they wanted to coexist without any hostility.

At the same time, this opened my eyes to what Zionists would consider a radical on the opposite side of the spectrum. Boiling down the facts, it seemed that to them it was radical to believe that the Jews had absolutely no right

to live on that land. I found this a little ironic because of the facts they presented.

I also find it very important to take what all these people said with a grain of salt. While I 100% support the right of Israel to exist in its current state, I can also understand the other side of the argument as well. Palestinians may not have moved into the area until recently, but they were still on that land for generations without being kicked off. This is really where the whole “two-state solution” comes into play. Both sides have legitimate claims to the land, but no argument completely trumps the other.

By the end of the night, the two most well-known gentlemen got up to speak: former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon and Senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas. Bannon gave a very impassioned speech, showing his support for President Trump as well as the Zionist movement. While he did not touch upon any current events, other than the plan to move the U.S. embassy into Jerusalem, it was still very interesting to listen to him. An organization like this giving him an award makes the radical left’s call of him a Nazi even more ironic now. (By the way, for anyone who didn’t know, the Nazis were/are a socialist organization. Oh, and Richard Spencer, the white supremacist, is a socialist for reference.)

continued on thestute.com

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Sports

Friday, November, 17, 2017 • Page 12

Julia Panko, Gabby Saade Earn First-Team All-District Academic for Women’s Soccer

Stevens Sports Information

SSI - Sophomores Julia Panko and Gabby Saade were named to the 2017 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic AllDistrict® Women’s Soccer First-Team in recognition for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.

Panko owns a 4.0 GPA in chemical engineering and was recently named the Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year. She led

the Empire 8 in the scoring triple crown of goals, assists and points with 10, 8, and 28, respectively.

She was a First-Team AllErmpire 8 selection.

Saade boasts a 3.89 GPA as a biomedical engineering major. She led the Ducks with three game-winning goals this season and was second on the squad with nine goals, five assists and 23 points. She also scored the only postseason goal

for the Ducks this year.

She earned second-team honors from the Empire 8.

This is only the second time that two women’s soccer players have been named to the first-team.

Elina Ziarnik and Lesa Glick were so named in 2001.

As First-team Academic All-District® honorees, they will advance to the CoSIDA Academic AllAmerica

Fencing Takes on Cross-River Rival NYU Gala Style SSI - The Stevens Institute of Technology fencing teams took on New York University in a gala Monday matchup with the rival Violets. The women earned a gritty 15-12 victory while the men dropped their decision For the women, all three Stevens weapons groups won 5-4 as the evenlymatched sides went down to the wire. At foil, Abby Kaye and Allison UrbanSpillane both went 2-1. At sabre, Karen Kong and Michelle Drobish did the same and Julie McEldoon also led that squad with a 2-1 mark on the night.

Stevens Sports Information

“The event tonight was run like the old-time fencing matches, where coaches and refs wore tuxes and black tie attire,” said head coach Linda Vollkommer-Lynch.

“There were a lot of dignitaries present and there was a demonstration by an Olympic fencer. It was fun.”

Stevens Sports Information

The men’s team had a little more trouble, falling 21-6. Leonard Behrens was the top performer, going 2-1 in Epee. Also in Epee, Noah Scott was 1-0 and Kirk Visser won a bout.

Senior captain Michael Ruotolo earned a foil win and the lone victory in sabre belonged to freshman Eric Sang.

“The guys fought hard, but this team has many of the top-rated fencers in the country,” said head coach Jim Carpenter. “Hats off to a very tough NYU team.”

Both teams will be back in action this weekend at the Columbia University.

Women’s Basketball opens 2017-18 campaign at NYU SSI - The Stevens Institute of Technology women’s basketball team will travel across the Hudson River to take on New York University Wednesday evening to open the 2017-18 season. It will be the third straight season that Stevens begins its season with a contest against the Violets.

Stevens finished the 2016-17 season with a 1610 record, winning the Empire 8 Conference’s regular season championship for the second consecutive season, before falling to Ithaca College in heartbreaking fashion in the conference championship. This season, women’s basketball will play its first four games away from Canavan Arena.

Stevens’ first home contest will be on November 27, when the Ducks welcome in-state rival, Montclair State University to campus.

Empire 8 Conference De-

fensive Player of the Year and D3Hoops.com All-East Region Second Team forward Megan Brown and senior center Anna Toke return to patrol the paint for sixth-year head coach Megan Haughey. The pair combined for 20.3 points, 18.6 rebounds, 3.3 steals and 2.2 blocks per game.

At guard, sophomore Alison Criswell returns after a strong rookie campaign in which Stevens went 13-3 after the Arlington, Virginia native was inserted the starting lineup. Juniors Elena Sanchez and Megan Anderson also return to the fold after combining to shoot nearly 40 percent from behind the arc.

The program also welcomes seven newcomers to the program and welcomes back senior guard Sydney Darby, who missed the majority of the 2016-17 season with an injury.

Women’s Volleyball’s trio tabbed AVCA Honorable Mention AllAmericans

SSI - Stevens Institute of Technology women’s volleyball sophomores Julie Greco, Casey King and Shelby Stewart were each named 2017 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Honorable Mention All-Americans Tuesday.

It’s the second career honor for Stewart, while Greco and King reach the national stage for the first time in their careers.

Greco completed her regular season by averaging 9.76 assists per set, which included a 9.32 assists per set average over 57 sets against regionallyranked opponents. The Thornwood, New York native increased her output to 10.14 assists in Empire 8 Conference play, leading to a Second Team honor for the sophomore setter. Greco handed out 30 or more assists 19 times, including a career-best 53 against Montclair State.

King, the Empire 8’s coPlayer of the Year, led the team with 3.37 kills per set and 4.11 points per set. The Wallington, New Jersey native collected 11 doubledoubles and added 58 aces, 51 blocks and 309 digs to go along with her 387 kills.

King was at her best against nationally-ranked opponents, averaging 3.75 kills per set and 2.75 digs per set to pace the team.

Stewart again ranked among the nation’s leaders in blocks, ranking 12th in blocks per set (1.14) and 10th in total blocks (130), just one season after setting the Stevens record for total blocks (139). Stewart displayed more of a complete game as a sophomore, averaging 2.03 kills per set and tabbing the first 44 aces of her collegiate career. Stewart led the E8 by hitting an impressive .427 against conference opponents and hit .310 on the season.

Duck Country Scoreboard Date 11/12 11/12 11/12 11/12 11/12 11/12 11/12 11/12 11/12 11/12 11/12 11/12 11/12 11/12 11/12 11/12 11/13 11/13 11/15 11/15

Stevens

Opponent/Event

Score

Result

Men's Soccer Women's Fencing Women's Fencing Men's Fencing Women's Fencing Men's Fencing Women's Fencing Men's Fencing Men's Fencing Men's Fencing Women's Fencing Men's Fencing

@ SUNY Cortland VS Northwestern University VS University of the Incarnate World VS University of the Incarnate World VS Wagner College VS Vassar College VS Drew University VS Drew University VS Haverford College VS Hunter College

2-1 6-21 17-10 18-9 22-5 8-19 20-7

W L W W W W W W

Men's Fencing Women's Fencing Men's Fencing Women's Fencing Men's Fencing Women's Fencing Men's Basketball Women's Basketball

VS Hunter College VS ARMY VS Yeshiva University VS Sacred Heart University VS Sacred Heart University VS Wellesley College @ New York University @ New York University @ New Jersey City University @ New York University

18-9 11-16 18-9 25-2 22-5 20-7 18-9 12-15 16-11 6-21 15-12 73-77 65-68

L W W W W W L W L W L L

Stevens Sports Information

ON DECK IN SPORTS

Friday MEN’S FENCING

Hunter College 9 a.m.

New York, NY

MEN’S FENCING

Columbia University 5 p.m.

New York, NY

WOMEN’S FENCING

Columbia Duals 5 p.m.

New York, NY

MEN’S BASEBALL

VS Suffolk University 8 p.m.

Williamstown, MA

Saturday EQUESTRIAN

Stevens Show 9 a.m.

Long Valley, NJ

MEN’S SWIMMING

USMMA Memorial Invitation 11 a.m.

Kings Point, NY

WOMEN’S SWIMMING

USMMA Memorial Invitation 11 a.m.

Kings Point, NY

MEN’S SOCCER

@ Messiah College 11 a.m.

Grantham, PA

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Elizabethtown College 1 p.m.

Lancaster, PA

WRESTLING

Ferrum College 7:30 p.m.

Roanoke, VA

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