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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 19
Friday, March 10, 2017
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Alpha Phi joins Stevens’ Greek Life community
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Established 1904
Habitat for Humanity assists the community
Photo Courtesy of Habitat for Humanity
by ADITYA PENDYALA Staff Writer
Photo Courtesy of Stevens Alpha Phi
by VICTORIA PISKAREV Business Manager
Alpha Phi is joining Stevens campus this semester as the campus’s fifth sorority. Alpha Phi has been in talks to join since 2014, along with Sigma Delta Tau, in a stacking procedure. Sigma Delta Tau was given two years to become an established chapter - the usual time it takes to turn from an interest group to a colony to a chapter. Once Sigma Delta Tau was fully integrated into the Panhellenic council and the Greek community, Alpha Phi began advertising and figuring
out a recruitment plan. “[We saw] increasing number of women joining sororities and going to Stevens,” says Thea Zunick, Associate Director of Student Life, explaining the reason why two sororities came on campus in such a short time, “We wanted women who would have never thought to join before to create a legacy of a new group on campus.” Associate Director Zunick is also aware of how large sororities have become. In a medium-sized school like Stevens, she states the average chapter size should be around 55 to 60 collegians each, but Stevens
average is currently 98 collegians per chapter. She hopes that with Alpha Phi on campus, it will help alleviate some of the pressures of having a large sisterhood. Now that Alpha Phi officially arrived on campus, they have welcomed 40 women to become the founding members of Alpha Phi. Alpha Phi Headquarter ELCs, educational leadership consultants, are helping run the new member education program for the founding wome, and helping them make a mark on campus. They have already been
see ALPHA PHI • Page 6
Rhinocerous poached in zoo outside of Paris was used to cut off one of his horns. As for the second horn, Duguet said, “his second horn was only partially cut, which suggests that the criminals were disturbed or that their equipment proved defective.” As horrific as this event was, the event was not unforeseen. Experts have been warning wildlife conservationists of the possibility of potential attacks, for several years, after private collections and exhibitions were robbed.“I wish I was surprised, but these animals are so brutally targeted,” said Cece Sieffert, Deputy Director at the International Rhino Foundation, which supports rhino conservation in Africa and Asia. “Wildlife crime is run by organized crime syndicates with very complex networks of middlemen moving rhino horns from Africa and India to networks in Southeast Asia. With the poaching crisis at such an alarming rate, it was sadly only a matter of time before these animals in zoos and other protected areas were targeted.” Southern White Rhinos, like Vince, were on the brink of extinction in the late 19th Centu-
ry, and they are not the only not endangered rhinos. However, with protection efforts and the high price on rhino horns, this might change soon. Rhino horn sale is banned by international convention, yet it still persists. A kilogram of rhino horn could be sold for nearly $54,000 in 2015, according to the zoo. “It’s really a no-brainer for these criminal groups,” he said. “It’s a low-risk, high-profit enterprise for them, and they can make as much money robbing a bank as they can killing a rhino with far, far less security.” Crawford Allan, Senior Director of TRAFFIC North America stated. The zoo reported that the perpetrators forced open the outer gate, right outside the rhinoceros building, at night. They then proceeded to pry open a second metal door and break open an inner door, which granted them assess to the animal lodges. “This odious act was perpetrated despite the presence of five members of the zoo staff living on site and surveillance
Front page continued
Wet Dream
Roving Reporter What are you doing over Spring break? Polling Pierce Did you get preferred housing?
OPINION 2-3
CAMPUS PULSE 4
NEWS 6-8
by MARYIA SPIRYDONAVA Managing Editor
The illegal trafficking and hunting of preserved wildlife is one of the world’s largest criminal activities; which affects numerous endangered species. The rhinoceros is one of those animals; desired for its horn used in southeast Asia. The demand for rhino horns is so high that experts believe any rhino, anywhere in the world, is at risk. Poachers have hunted rhinos in the wild and in protected reserves all around the world, threatening four of five rhino species. Now rhinos are unsafe in the protection of a zoo. After breaking into the Thoiry Zoo, outside of Paris, poachers slaughtered fouryear-old rhino, Vince, and sawed off one of his horns. “It is extremely shocking what just happened,” Zoo Director Thierry Duguet told France’s 20 Minutes newspaper. “An act of such violence, never before seen in Europe.” It was reported that Vince was shot three times in the head. It appeared as if a chainsaw
see RHINO • Page 6
In 1976, Habitat for Humanity International was founded to be a non-governmental and nonprofit organization, located in over 70 countries. Its mission is to create a world where everyone has a place to live. The organization provides housing, lodging, and transportation funds for the underprivileged across the world. On March 8, Stevens students attempted to bring this vision to life by setting up a stall on campus to help a North Carolina couple support their granddaughter by providing donations for her basic necessities and daily well-being. By selling brownies for charity on Walker Lawn, the students in-
tend to collect enough money to ensure that the family receives basic shelter and nutrients. Habitat for Humanity’s mission of ensuring that the basic right of all humankind, a shelter and four walls, is carried forward today by the minds and visions of many of our students, with the charitable intention of providing a better quality of life to millions of the homeless around the world.
Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity
Kappa Sigma presents: “Stronger than Cancer”
Photo courtesy of Kappa Sigma
by VICTORIA PISKAREV Business Manager
Kappa Sigma hosted their first annual Stronger than Cancer event on Tuesday, March 7 in Schaefer Gym. This fundraiser event was in honor of Aedan Wall, the biological brother of Liam Wall, a Brother of Kappa Sigma at Stevens. He was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a very rare form of cancer that can develop from connective tissues in the body, such as muscles, fat, bones, the linings of joints, or blood vessels. Wall
fiercely battled for eight months before it claimed his life on January 3, 2017. In honor of his spirit, The Aedan Wall Medical Support Fund, Stevens Institute of Technology Wrestling Team, and the Kappa Sigma fraternity devised a way to support Aedan’s family in this difficult time by creating a fun athletic competition with a heartfelt message. This event was a way to show one’s strength and raise money, all of which went to the Memo-
see STRONGER • Page 6
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Don’t jump in the Hudson Motivation An ode to Spring break Feminists vs. Feminists
CIA Hacking St. Patrick’s Day MECA Bowling BreakFAST
Midtown Philly Steaks Philosophy
Softball wins Women’s fencing championship
Stayin’ Alive
Dello Russo runs
OPINION CON’T 9
SPORTS 10