[The Stute] November 10, 2017 (Issue 10, Volume CXV)

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Friday, November 10, 2017

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Lucas Gallo and Rami Kammourh were announced as the winning ticket of the 2018 Student Government Association Presidential Election on Wednesday, Nov. 8. Lucas Gallo, elected as the SGA President, has extensive SGA experience including leading the charge for gender-neutral housing on campus and leading the Public Relations Committee of the SGA. Rami Kammourh, elected as the SGA Vice President of Operations, is the longest-standing standing senator in the SGA and currently serves as the head of the Consitution and Bylaws Committee and led the creation of a new SGA constitution. Kammourh attributes their ticket’s success to relationships that they have built during their time as senators within the Student Government Association. By their work on large initiatives,

SGA committee leads improvements for math recitations Staff Writer

The Academic and Curriculum Advancement Committee of the Student Government Association (SGA) is working to improve recitation classes in undergraduate mathematics courses. This is the first major action taken by the newly formed committee, which has only existed since January of this year. The SGA passed Proclamation S-17F-001 “Request for Recitation Improvements” in early October, which was intended to officially start a discussion with faculty to improve math and physics recitation experiences. Since then, the committee has worked with faculty from Department of Mathematical Sciences to help reform recitations. The committee aims to identify academic issues that all students face, narrow down the focus to a specific topic, and set particular goals towards a solution. The committee found many issues with math recitations, but in order to be the scope of the reforms was narrowed down to focus on Teaching Assistants (TAs), the lack of learning from workshops, and

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Gallo and Kammourh emerge victorious in Student Government election by MARK KRUPINSKI

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the lack of consistency across different sections. “We all agreed our Calculus experience was sub par,” said Committee Chair Marianna Fleming, summarizing opinions of the student on the committee who are working to improve math recitations. It is important to note that students not involved with the SGA are working alongside the committee. The committee is working with Alexei Miasnikov, the head of the department, and Jan Cannizzo, a professor from the math department, to make changes. After presenting the student concerns to Miasnikov, Fleming was told that many of the complaints were “new information” to the math department “because nobody had ever communicated the problem before.” When the committee decided to focus on math recitations, they first had to collect any data surrounding the class. According to the department, the number of students who either withdraw, fail, or receive a D in the classes MA122 and MA 123 has dropped over 30% in the past five years. However, the feedback that the department receives has remained the same.

According to Fleming, the math department wants “to open [a] line of communication between students and upper-level staff early [on], so they can intervene sooner.” Ideally, by the third week of classes, there would be a mechanism in place for students to provide feedback regarding recitation to the math department and their TAs. It is still being decided exactly what that mechanism will be, but implementing one would allow for the math department to resolve any problems as early as possible. The second part of the plan is the addition of undergraduate TA assistants because all of the current TAs are graduate students. This idea comes from other departments that have found undergraduate TAs to be effective. The purpose of the undergraduate TA would be to answer student questions and make sure that the graduate student TA is prepared for class. However, the method for selecting these undergraduate students is still under consideration. Fleming said that the ultimate goal for all parties involved is “to help bridge the gap so students enjoy calculus again!”

Kammourh believes that it proved that they are the best candidates for the job. “While there’s no doubt that the other tickets have contributed significantly during their time as Senators and stu-

dent leaders, we’ve both led initiatives which people could easily point to and attribute to our ticket. Namely, Lucas led the gender-neutral housing proclamation, and I wrote the new SGA constitution

which is currently tabled and on its way to being passed by the Senate,” said Rami Kammourh, SGA Vice President of Operations electee. Gallo and Kammourh are working closely with

Photo from Lucas and Rami Facebook Page

Bhalla wins mayoral election, Stevens’ own Vanessa Falco elected to city council by AUDREY DSOUZA Managing Editor

Ravinder Bhalla won the Hoboken mayoral election in the six-person race, becoming the first Sikh mayor in New Jersey on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Endorsed by current Mayor Dawn Zimmer, Bhalla has been involved with the City Council since 2009, and has been a member of the Hoboken community since around 1999. His campaign focused primarily on local issues, including improvements to infrastructure, protecting the city from another Superstorm Sandy, and fiscal responsibility. Bhalla emerged victorious, despite racist flyers that connected him to terrorism, something that also happened in Edison, NJ this election season. “These flyers, as reprehensible as they are, are not representative of the city of Hoboken. We’re a very diverse and welcoming community in Hoboken, and I’m honored to have the privilege of serving as the next mayor,” said Bhalla to MSNBC. In terms of Stevens visibility, Bhalla was the first mayoral candidate to visit Stevens College Democrats during their general body meeting (GBM) earlier this semester. He discussed hotbutton issues to Stevens

Photo from The New York Times

students, including water main breaks, construction on Washington Street and in Hoboken overall, and the to-be-built Gianforte Family Academic Center. There was also discussion regarding bringing Stevens students into engineering projects to mitigate flooding issues and more. Stevens’ own Vanessa Falco was also elected to City Council. Born and raised in Hoboken, Falco has been a member for the Hoboken community for a long time. Although she was under opposing mayoral candiate Mike DeFusco’s ticket she “looks forward to working with [Bhalla]” on the topics of “housing, employment opportunities, and minority representation” in Hoboken. Falco described her role within the STEP department as “providing support” as she is “usually the first point of contact for students”. On the topic of Stevens involvement in Hoboken,

Falco said Stevens students are “very involved” in the community, and “an integral part of many facets in Hoboken, volunteerism, education, innovation, programs & partnerships, and economic stimulation.” She hopes to see more “collaborative efforts related to some of the significant challenges Hoboken faces such as Technology Integration, Flooding, Infrastructure, and Green Initiatives” and considers them “paramount for the Mayor and City Council.” She does believe that “the growth at Stevens translates to growth in Hoboken” and that Mayor-elect Bhalla should continue to “develop and nurture” the relationship between Stevens and the Hoboken community. She says, “we live in a tech driven society and are at a huge advantage having Stevens here in Hoboken.”

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Opinion The Stute Editorial

Don’t forget to take care of yourself too This week, I was reminded of the importance of taking care of yourself. I know, personally, that it is really easy to get roped into too many responsibilities. Then, before you know it, you find yourself juggling school, work, and clubs, and wondering where you can fit in food and sleep. That is the kind of week I found myself in. It wasn’t as if I planned it — life just happened, and the only thing to do was to face it and get through it. So as I am writing my editorial and falling asleep while I write it, I want to remind you all of the importance of taking care of yourself. If you find yourself being drowned by a list of endless tasks and you are bare-

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Corrections & Clarifications + The article for ‘Dia de los Muertos’ was incorrect and was actually ‘Treat Yo Self’ from Issue XII. For corrections and clarifications regarding any of our issues, please email eboard@thestute.com !

fered to me and just suffer through. Believe me, it is not worth it. You know you need a break when you find yourself sending incomprehensible text messages, just because you are so tired. Life can get stressful, so if you need a moment to decompress — whether that’s taking a nap or watching a TV show—just do it. Your work won’t be your best if you are mentally and/or physically drained. If you find yourself on the verge of a breakdown, step back and do what you need to do for you. Things might look a little gloomy, but just remember it is better than it seems. You have a great opportunity to improve yourself and to study something you love. You have the op-

portunity to get involved in clubs and organizations that you are passionate about. It may not seem like it now, but you will look back on these stressful times one day and smile. These moments may seem like the worst right now, but they are not that bad, and will only get better. So don’t be afraid to ask for help and don’t forget that you should be a priority on your to-do list, too.

Maryia Spirydonava Editor-in-Chief

The one about Riverdale

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ly holding it together, put things into perspective. First of all, prioritize the things you need to get done. Is it more important to get that homework done, or to go that budget meeting? After all, what’s the worst thing that will happen if you don’t do everything you need to do? What if you rush through something that’s not as important and instead rest and prevent yourself from having a breakdown? Will the world end? Will your club fall apart? The answer, of course, is no. For me, it is hard to let go of complete control of something that I am doing. Even though I am overwhelmed with things I need to get done, I have a tendency to not take the help that is of-

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Friday, November 10, 2017 • Page 2

by MARY RUANE

Freshman Business and Technology Major

This week, I’m going to take a minute to talk about a show on the CW called “Riverdale.” I’m sure everyone and their parents have heard of the comic icon Archie Andrews and his little crew of friends. Well, last year someone decided it would be a good idea to take America’s most relatable comic character and throw him into the middle of a murder mystery. You see, senior me

had a lot of time and excitement over seeing my childhood crush, Cole Sprouse, playing the one and only Jughead Jones. Not only that, but the entire idea of bringing a comic book that wasn’t about superheroes to life had me praising the creators. Senior me was let down, to say the least. “Riverdale” is an angsty high school musical at best and has you wondering why a 30-year-old is so invested in a 15-year-old boy or why a girl sounds like she’s in love every time she talks about her twin brother. The actors are all in their twenties and play high school sophomores, except half the time you’re wondering if their characters are supposed to be older considering the mature situations they find themselves in. Overall, I thought “Riverdale” was a complete bust, yet they

were renewed for a second season and are looking into opening their third. Now, what does this have to do with my column and why do I care so much? The characters are supposed to be sophomores. Fifteenyear-olds are watching these 20-year-olds thinking, “I don’t look like that” or “I haven’t done that yet.” Television is meant for entertainment; it’s meant to show people an altered reality so that they will enjoy it, but it’s making younger kids grow up faster. A 15-yearold girl looks at Camila Mendes playing Veronica and thinks about how to make herself more like Camila, a 23-year-old. People constantly complain about the outfits young girls wear or the amounts of makeup they have caked on their faces, but they fail to realize that this is just the way they think

they’re supposed to act. When I was growing up, I had “One Tree Hill.” My idea of romance was finding some guy I’d end up tutoring and marrying him at the end of junior year. I can tell you right now, I did not get married junior year. I was more focused on graduating than I was on finding someone who I’d spend the rest of my life with—besides, I never met anyone who I thought was the Nathan Scott I deserved. I guess the point I’m trying to make is, stop blaming the kids. They’re just doing their best to figure themselves out and they’re going by the best examples they’ve been given. And never forget that Fall Out Boy guest-starred in like four different “One Tree Hill” episodes. Pete Wentz dating Peyton Sawyer will always be on my mind.

Senioritis

‘Twas the morning of registration

by OLIVIA SCHREIBER Senior Chemical Biology Major

November means two things: it’s time to register for spring classes and our wonderful consumer culture introduces a very premature holiday spirit. Why not combine the two? I hope you enjoyed my amateur poetry — what can I say? Stevens inspires me. I feel like this wouldn’t be the Senioritis column if I didn’t complain just a smidge about registration. It’s the worst. We all know it. You have to constantly reload your page,

‘Twas the morning of registration, and without a doubt, I was worried and frantic: “WILL THIS THING LOAD,” I did shout! I had my courses and call numbers written out with care, with no preparation, I was doomed to err; While the freshmen were nestled all snug in their beds, The seniors, athletes, scholars, SGA senators, and Honor Board members all banged their heads. And me, Olivia, in her pajamas, flustered and mad, refreshed her web browser, not once, not twice, seven times she had; But alas! There it was, the registration page did appear, The most beautiful sight, just like Tuesday half-priced Biergarten beer. Away to my keyboard, I typed like a flash, “Maybe you’ll get on at 7 am”...absolute balderdash. With a 30-year-old system, so decrepit and obsolete I knew registration would be anything but sweet. nine times out of ten you can’t register for one of the classes you need... the list goes on and on. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that some big changes are coming for students who will continue here once I leave. I had the pleasure of listening to Chief Information Officer Dr. David Dodd speak this past weekend about the big transition Stevens is about to make from the slipshod SIS system we all abhor to the more refined, user-

friendly WorkDay platform, which many of us use for Student Employment. I won’t bore you with all the details, but come Spring 2019, my poem will be as irrelevant and obsolete as our current registration system is now. Hiphip-hooray for progress! All registration dismay aside, I cannot believe I am officially registered for my last semester of courses. Where did the time go? Am I ready for this? As we inch closer

and closer towards the end of the year, I am beginning to feel that tug. I’m not quite sure what has a hold on me — maybe it’s my subconscious pining for time to slow as it realizes that the end is near. Whatever it may be, there is one thing I must note: I’m not one to engage in this force-fed holiday spirit, but a class-free Wednesday for my final semester here at Stevens is a Hanukkah gift come early. And for that... rejoice!

Friday, November 10, 2017 • Page 3

Technically Speaking

Razer and HTC Unveil a Pair of Smartphones with Huge Batteries

by DAVID HOROWITZ Freshman Cybersecurity Major

Over the past week, Razer and HTC have both shown off their newest smartphones, and surprisingly, both have very large batteries. Smartphone enthusiasts have wanted phones to include larger batteries for years, even if they must be a bit thicker. With the HTC U11+ and the Razer Phone, these companies have done just that. The HTC U11 that was released earlier this year did not sell very well, as with many HTC phones lately, but was a good device. It’s glass back had unique color options that change based on the angle at lighting. It had dual speakers, one on the front and one on the bottom, that featured HTC’s

“BoomSound” branding. It had a good camera, a front facing speaker, and a fairly normal sized battery for a flagship at 3000 mAh. Even with this size, it was considered to have very good battery life. The U11 was also the first phone with the ability to squeeze the phone to trigger actions, called Edge Sense. HTC continued many of these things with their new U11+. As with the U11, it does not feature a headphone jack, and features Edge Sense as well. It too has a unique color option, with a back that is slightly transparent. Gone are the front facing fingerprint scanners and the 16:9 aspect ratio, and an 18:9 small bezel screen with a rear fingerprint scanner takes its place. The speakers are 25% louder, but are in the same place. The other main difference between the two is battery size: the U11 features a large 3,930mAh battery. It also has a snapdragon 835 and 6 GB of ram. There is one glaring downside to this phone though. It isn’t available in the US. At all. HTC have decided to focus their efforts with this

device to other markets, where they think they may be able to do better. They still have large troubles as a company, with a recent report showing that their revenue dropped 25% year over year. This move is likely an attempt to stop the bleeding, as their US presence is so small anyway. US customers who really want one will be able to import one, but that is always an annoyance and hassle. It also costs about 900$, which, in my opinion, is overpriced. While the U11+ was simply a larger version of its sibling, the Razer Phone is a whole different animal. Razer is a gaming company best known for their computer peripherals such as keyboards, mice, and mousepads. Razer also makes high end laptops, including gaming models and an Ultrabook, that rival the MacBook Pro in the quality of it’s all aluminum construction. Early this year, Razer purchased Nextbit, who made a stock Android phone on Kickstarter a couple years ago called the Robin. The Nextbit Robin had a unique design, a reasonable price,

and an automatic cloud storage feature which Google eventually implemented into Android itself. With this purchase, it was assumed Razer would then venture into the smartphone market. With the Razer phone, they have done just that. The Razer Phone is being marketed as a phone “for gamers”. This could mean someone who likes to play games on their phone, or a gamer who just likes enthusiast hardware. Everything about this phone was engineered to enhance gaming. It has a much more industrial design than most smartphones do today, that I quite like due to its uniqueness. The screen is a 120hz display, which means it refreshes twice as fast to make everything ultra-smooth. It also dynamically changes the refresh rate, similar to G-SYNC and FreeSync in desktop monitors. It has larger bezels than you might be used to on a device made in 2017, but this is purposeful. It has 2 separately amped front facing speakers that early testers have called the best speakers ever put in a smartphone.

by NAMANKITA RANA

Junior Engineering Management Major

The string of sexual assault cases hitting the mainstream media for the last month or so has been nothing short of a wild, horrifying ride. Every day, it seems, new accusations come out — from the literal dozens of women harassed by Harvey Weinstein, to the then-underage young men accusing Kevin Spacey of assault, to, most recently, rape allegations leveled at former “Gossip Girl” actor Ed Westwick. Reading individual stories from the victims and hearing what these accused rapists have done, is, frankly, downright revolting. The imbalanced power dynamics of it all are what really get to me, far more than any details of the encounters themselves (though those are not exactly light reading, either). Sexual assault is awful as is, but the use of one’s power and fame to conceal it only further compounds it — and creates a vicious cycle, if Hollywood’s elite are anything to go by. Most people have known about or at least guessed at the darker underbelly of

era setup, with one wide angle and one zoom lens. Best of all, it packs a fairly reasonable price considering the price of most flagships this year, at 700$. Overall, I am very impressed by what Razer has shown off with their first smartphone, and I am very excited to see reviews to see how well the device is preforming in real world use. It’s close to my dream phone based on the spec sheet, even though I never play phone games. Most importantly, Razer has added something unique to the smartphone world with this device, and has given consumers another compelling option from a new company to the industry. Watch out for the launch of the Razer phone on November 17th.

The Killers

Sexual assault, and the silence of victims and thus negates the agency of victims — wrongly conflating victimhood with weakness — the label will automatically have detractors. No one likes to be a victim, let alone think of themselves that way. And considering the disdain and skepticism leveled at those brave enough to come forward with allegations, it’s no wonder most choose to shut up instead, often for years on end. It’s one thing to choose not come forward. But when women refuse to admit to ourselves when we’re systematically victimized, we just give fuel to those who claim — despite all evidence to the contrary — that women are doing just fine. That a little sexual harassment here and there is OK, it just comes as a part of the package deal that is life. Clearly, there are women — for a myriad of reasons, given the current climate — who don’t want to accept that women are victimized in any way. Maybe there are even a lucky few who have never experienced sexual harassment. But the existence of a few who have lived their lives under an umbrella of privilege does not mean that it’s not raining on the rest of us. Naming what is happening to women — that we are being harassed, held back, and yes, victimized — is not weakness. It takes strength to tell uncomfortable truths. It’s high time the world started listening.

It also has a 4000mAh battery to power the device for hours. It also features impressive raw specs, including a Snapdragon 835 and 8 GB of ram, and a fingerprint scanner on the side in the power button. While Razer may be marketing this phone for gamers, I don’t think that is all its good for. Many of these features are not just great for gaming, but for the average smartphone user. The 120hz display makes everyday scrolling and navigation around the device extremely smooth. The large speakers will be appreciated by those who often watch videos or listen to music on their phone. The large battery will be appreciated by every user out there. It also has a fairly decent dual cam-

Musically Inclined

Girl Talk .

sexual harassment in and around the entertainment industry for a while now. After all, with so many wildly attractive people, isn’t that part of the dangerous glamour of it all? And yet, a few I’ve talked to about the topic seem truly surprised, as if all of this is coming out of nowhere. But to me, it just feels timely. After all, this time last year, we elected a man who bragged about grabbing women by the pussy. The fact that we, as a collective, are finally getting serious about sexual assault a year later feels right, if not a little late. There’s a lot to be said about why these men do these god-awful things — a whole discussion on male chauvinism, gender politics, sex, and the power dynamics involved to talk about. But the other question, and the one I’m far more interested in, is this: Why, exactly, do victims wait so long to come out? One part of the answer is obvious, in my eyes: in the moment or moments after assault, those on the receiving end of this sort of abuse do not want to think of themselves as victims. It’s a coping mechanism of sorts — a way of dealing with the sheer trauma of what has been done, of shoving things under the rug, and rationalizing away whatever has happened — but it’s also a damaging mindset that needs to be reversed. Let me put it another way. Because we live in a culture that values independence and strength,

Photo from David Horowitz

by FRANCESCO LOMBARDO Freshman Music and Technology Major

Sam’s Town by The Killers falls into my top five favorite albums. Rarely do I like an entire album to the point that I listen to it a hundred times over. Its opening song Sam’s Town sets the tone of the album, a song about someone wanting

to leave their small town. “Nobody ever had a dream ‘round here but I don’t really mind that It’s starting to get to me” are the first lyrics you hear; you follow this character throughout the album and it’s very relatable. Then Enterlude leads into one of The Killers most famous songs: When You Were Young. The first three songs may be the greatest opening to any album, and the momentum keeps going. Incredible tracks like For Reasons Unknown, Read My Mind, Uncle Johnny, and Why do I Keep Counting are possibly some of the greatest alt rock songs ever written. What The Killers nailed with this al-

bum is its momentum, it constantly has something new to show as each song is quite different from the last. Not only that, it tells a story with consistently fantastic songs; you become attached to this character that they write about. This mix of storytelling, good songs, and musical variety make Sam’s Town one of my favorite rock albums.

Photo from Pitchfork

Campus Pulse

Friday, November 10, 2017 • Page 4

Roving Reporter Can I get your number?

“Don’t you have it already?”

“xxx-xxx-xxxx. Wait is that the question?”

“973-409-1693. Pass that to all the good looking girls.”

Abigail Hulse

Emma Seiwell

Alex Zaine

“My phone number? xxx-xxx-xxxx.”

“Sure, xxx-xxx-xxxx.”

“No.”

Max Copeland

Chris Rovates

Polling Pierce

Who won the Hoboken Mayoral Election? Anthony Romano 1 Mike DeFusco 2

Ravi Bhalla 33

I Don’t Know 64

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Strips

Friday, November 10, 2017 • Page 5

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the current President and Vice President of Operations, Tommy Daly and Cat Oesterle, to ensure that they perform as effectively as they can as President and Vice President. “If there’s anything we’ve learned from Tommy and Cat, it’s that it’s important to keep a good resolve. This past Cabinet has had to deal with issues and face criticism the SGA hasn’t seen in a while,” said Rami Kammourh, “Namely, we were under large amounts of scrutiny when the stipend bill was proposed and when the Gianforte issue came to light. We hope to be able to effectively lead the SGA when similar issues arise.” One of the first issues that Gallo and Kammourh wish to address when they take office is to work with the Entertainment Committee to ensure that there is a festival at least annually on campus. Both Gallo and Kammourh are dedicated to this problem: “It’s

a time-sensitive issue that we’ll be working on over winter break even before we take office,” said Rami Kammourh. Despite knowing the first issue that they want to tackle upon taking the position on the first day of the Spring Semester, both Gallo and Kammourh are undecided on which individuals they would like to serve on their cabinet. Though they are keeping in mind people who have shown interest in cabinet positions, but they are open to everyone. Lucas Gallo stated that they will be holding interviews for all of the cabinet positions. “We’re looking for people who can bring a fresh perspective to the Cabinet, will be passionate about their role, and most importantly, are dedicated to the improvement of the student experience at Stevens. If you’re interested in holding a position on our Cabinet, be sure to reach out to us!” said Lucas Gallo. Lucas Gallo and Rami Kammourh, and the rest of their cabinet will take office on the first day of classes of the Spring 2018 Semester.

26 dead in Texas’ deadliest mass shooting by DAVID ROGERS Staff Writer

A gunman opened fire on the congregation attending the Sunday service at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, TX on Nov. 5, 2017. Police say the suspect first fired at the church from the outside, before walking inside the church and continuing to fire. There were 23 people found dead inside the church, two were found dead outside, and one died on the way to the hospital. Local police have not yet officially released the suspect’s name, but several media outlets have reported Devin Patrick Kelley as the suspect based on briefings from unnamed law enforcement officers. After leaving the church, the suspect went on a 95 mph high-speed chase against an armed local civilian and later the police. The driver chasing him claims Kelley lost control of the vehicle and hit a hay barrel in nearby Guadalupe County. He was found with two gunshot wounds from the civilian and another to the head, which the medical examiner describes as consistent with being self-inflicted. Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt said there was no way for parishioners to escape with the shooter blocking the door and “pews on either side” limiting their mobility. As the FBI and other law enforcement agencies continue to investigate what happened, it is likely that the church’s service re-

cordings will prove invaluable. Other residents noted the difficulty of exiting with the church’s layout. The 26 dead in the shooting represent about 4.5% of Sutherland Springs’s population, a small, close-knit community of about 600 people, roughly 40 minutes away from San Antonio. Kelley was discharged from the Air Force on bad conduct for domestic violence, although this courtmartial was not reported to the National Instant Background Check System. Kelley also attempted to escape a mental hospital in Santa Teresa, NM at the time of the courtmartial, after El Paso Police detained him for being “a danger to himself and others.” Kelley also violated Air Force regulations by sneaking firearms onto Holloman Air Force Base. This failure of the background check system is likely why he was able to buy his guns, including the handgun and Ruger Armalite-pattern rifle found in his car. The First Baptist Church seems to have been specifically targeted, as Kelley sent threats to the congregation days ahead of time before driving nearly an hour from New Braunfels to shoot them. In the aftermath of the shooting, Google and YouTube algorithms promoted several spurious social media posts from Kelley indicating that he was aligned with infamous groups, including Antifa or ISIS. No investigations show links between Kelley and outside organizations so far.

Friday, November 10, 2017 • Page 6

G&T hosts Emerging Leaders Retreat

Photo courtesy of Gear and Triangle

by MARK KRUPINSKI Staff Writer

On Saturday, Nov. 4, Gear and Triangle (G&T), Order of Omega, and the Student Government Association (SGA) hosted its Emerging Leaders Retreat at Fairview Lake YMCA in

Newton, NJ. The retreat allowed the 40 students that attended to develop their leadership styles and teamwork abilities. At the event, students were taught about different leadership styles. The event started with a hike along the Appalachian Trail followed by three core leadership

lectures and various team building events. One of the events had all of the attendees attempt to stand on a small, wooden platform. However, after working together, the team was able to find a creative solution to the problem. “The group obstacles activities were fun, espe-

cially when we came to the ‘aha moment’ of how to solve the obstacle and get the entire team to succeed,” said Elina Tuder, an attendee of the retreat. The retreat was a success and allowed many of the new leaders on campus to help refine their leadership skills.

Alpha Phi Omega hosts National Week of Service with focus on suicide prevention on campus by NASIR MONTALVO Staff Writer

Alpha Phi Omega (APO) hosted its National Service Week initiative this week from November 5 to November 12. This year’s theme was “Preventing Suicide on Campus.” Students were encouraged to participate in various events throughout the week and buy a care package, with the proceeds going to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). The themes for APO’s service weeks are decided by their national fraternity, but nonetheless, they felt it was important to raise awareness for this issue. “Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15-24 year old’s, so it’s important we focus on this at Stevens,” said Brendan Shepard, a brother of APO. Another important point Brendan mentioned was how “we don’t think about [suicide] until it happens,” so it is important that measures are put in place to help those struggling with wanting to commit suicide before

they do. Shepard was happy with the number of people who bought care packages since the donations were going to a good cause. The care packages are filled with items like stress balls, snacks, and more. He also hopes that Stevens will host more school-sponsored events regarding this issue, especially due to the number of suicides committed on campus in recent years. The planning for the week took a little over a month. One of the events was a masquerade cohosted with Torch Alliance, where proceeds were raised for the Trevor Project, an organization dedicated to preventing LGBTQ youth suicide. Torch and APO filled Babbio Atrium with carnival games, tons of food, and prizes. There was also an open mic night hosted in conjunction with the Poetry Club titled #ReasonsISpeak in order to get people talking about suicide and mental illness. #ReasonsISpeak is a nationwide movement to come out and speak about either personal or closely

Bernard Feeney

connected friends and family members’ struggles with suicide. Although the event is meant to raise voices, APO also had the option of photo activism if people were not comfortable speaking. Additionally, there was a bake sale going on during the event, with proceeds going to AFSP. Hosting events with oth-

Audrey Dsouza

er clubs on campus was one of the key pieces for APO’s service week. This allowed them to spread awareness more efficiently. Aside from these co-hosted club events, APO also welcomed special guest Dr. Swindall to campus to speak about self-care. The Mindfulness Workshop also included an exercise for those in attendance to become more relaxed, centered, and aware of their personal needs. The last events are a food fundraiser for AFSP on Saturday and a mental health screening/discussion on Sunday. At 5pm Sunday, APO is also encouraging students to come and write notes of appreciation for their members as well. They will be handing the notes out to members during their next chapter meeting.

Veterans of Stevens by OLIVIA SCHREIBER Staff Writer

Today as the Stevens community and the rest of the United States pays homage to our military veterans, there exists another opportunity to highlight the efforts of the Stevens Veteran’s Affairs Office. Reactivated in January 2009, this particular office—now hosted under the Division of Student Affairs— is maintained primarily through the efforts

of Dean of Student Development and Enrichment Programs Deborah Berkley and Dr. Donald Lombardi, Distinguished Industry Professor and the office’s Academic Director. As a retired Marine Corps officer himself, Lombardi recognizes Stevens as the ideal place for a military veteran for several reasons, the first being the Yellow Ribbon Program. Stevens was the first university in the metropolitan-New York Area to get a Yellow Rib-

bon School designation, which Lombardi attests to “a leadership [that was] very proactive in understanding the opportunity [Stevens] could provide to our nation’s veterans, as well as having a deep, action-oriented commitment to enriching our campus with elite veterans and military family dependents.” As a provision under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Yellow Ribbon Program is available for universities such as Stevens and provides the Depart-

Major Mark Roberson, Marine Corps Mark Roberson and his four older brothers were given the same ultimatum by their father, a retired Marine Corps Colonel: get into one of the military academies and any vehicle of desire would be his. “It was a pretty good incentive,” Roberson recalls, “but it didn’t work for any of the five boys.” Nonetheless, the opportunity to fly airplanes impelled Mark to join the Marine Corps. “I was walking down the commons one day and say a guy in uniform, who asked me ‘Hey, do you want to fly airplanes?’” It was as simple as that: Mark went on to Platoon Leader Class, two six-week increments of training between his freshman-sophomore and junior-senior summers. The same day Roberson graduated from the University of Scranton with his degree in the spring of 2002, he became a commissioned officer of the Marines Corp. At that time, the training had just begun. Roberson would go on to complete his basic training to become an infantry officer for six months, his aviation training in Pensacola, Florida for approximately five months, and then Primary School for an additional two years. Although he received marks that would allow him to choose jets as his aircraft-of-choice, Roberson opted for the more selective C-130, a four-engine transport aircraft. After a full three years of training, he and his wife Kerry would make

Major Mark Roberson Photo from Olivia Schreiber the transition to Okinawa, Japan for his first fleet squadron. After three years, Roberson, his wife, and first son—who was born in Japan—moved back to America, where Mark would join his next squadron, nicknamed the “Yankees.” “I got off of active duty in 2011, and I wasn’t exactly sure about what I wanted to do with my life,” said Roberson. After speaking with Dr. Donald Lombardi—a cousin and his godfather—he knew Stevens would be the place to continue his education. “He steered me into the healthcare industry where he said consulting and administration would be great to get into,” Roberson said. “I liked the flexibility of the program and the Yellow Ribbon program was fantastic in the sense that it would cover the difference between Stevens tuition and state tuition cost.” Roberson admitted that he wasn’t aware of Stevens’ military affiliation until he

spoke with Lombardi, but the more he learned about the school, the better of a decision it appeared to be. Roberson graduated with his Master’s Degree in Management in 2015, and he attests that his experiences within the Marines enhanced his learning environment: “I was interacting with students from all over the country, from all different backgrounds,” said Roberson. “Having the experience in the military and a stint in hospitality at the Thayer Hotel at West Point allowed me to bring my experiences online at Stevens.” Life presented him with a new, but familiar opportunity when the airlines started to hire again. “I stuck with what I knew, and in 2015 I got picked up with JetBlue.” Mark, still in the Reserves, now flies an Airbus 320 out of JFK as a First Officer with the airline and currently resides in New York with his wife and three children.

Friday, November 10, 2017 • Page 7

ment of Veterans Affairs to partially or fully fund tuitions that exceed the parameters set forth by the bill. Essentially, the program covers the cost difference in between attending Stevens and a public university, such as Rutgers. Lombardi also notes that Stevens as “an elite school that demands devotion and hard work […] is a natural match for highly motivated Veterans,” and three natural extensions of the most specialized military po-

sitions — engineering, business and technology — “offer distinct and distinctive pathways that align with our veterans’ past experiences and military acumen.” Over 150 veterans and military family dependents have walked through the gates of Stevens via GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program funding, a fact Lombardi is proud to share. “Like the military, Stevens is a community based on a common unity based on the pursuit of excel-

lence towards making the world a better place,” said Lombardi. “That charter resonates loudly with Our Veterans, and augurs a lifetime allegiance to their Alma Mater that augments their lifetime loyalty to their service branch and their nation.” For this Veteran’s Day issue, the Stute was able to speak with several alumni, all of whom were willing to share their experiences as both a member of the Armed Forces and the Stevens community.

Corporal Ryan Bridge, Marine Corps

in Iraq, Bridge joined the Marine Corps Greco-Roman wrestling team in his final year in the service and through the network of his head coach, he came into contact with Mike Clayton, then head coach of the Stevens men’s wrestling team. “He told me about Stevens and what a great school it was,” said Bridge. “So I decided to give it a shot.” Clayton, a graduate of the US Naval Academy himself, put Bridge into contact with Veteran’s Affairs Academic Director Dr. Donald Lombardi, who Bridge recalls making “the transition [to Stevens] seamless.” Going into his first year at Stevens as a 24-year-old, Bridge was “revitalized” by his younger teammates and peers. He went on to become a two-time All-American wrestler, all while completing his undergraduate degree in Business and Technology and a Master’s Degree in Business

Intelligence and Analytics in just four and a half years via the Yellow Ribbon Program. With just two graduate courses left in the fall of 2013, Bridge was offered a full-time position with Jeffries, an American global investment bank and institutional securities firm headquartered in midtown New York City. Despite having to go to London for his new position with a month of school left, Bridge recalls how helpful Stevens was “to make sure it was all feasible.” Looking back on his non-traditional path to Hoboken, Bridge attests that his military experience gave him the maturity and structure for a successful career. “The military helps you figure out who you are, which gives you a better idea of what you’ll do later in life.” Bridge has been working at Jeffries ever since and continues to look fondly back upon his experiences at Stevens.

For Ryan Bridge, the path to Stevens was by no means traditional. Hailing from Galloway, NJ, Bridge graduated from Absegami High School in 2003 as a distinguished scholar and two-time wrestling state champion. His academic and athletic performance enabled him to continue his studies at Cornell University, but his time spent in upstate New York would be brief. “For some reasons, I knew that I wanted to take a different path,” said Bridge. After making this realization, Bridge said his goodbyes to Cornell and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2005. “I ended up doing two deployments, the first off the coast of Somalia as part of a Marine Expeditionary Unit and the second as a squad leader in Iraq.” After his second deployment

Corporal Ryan Bridge Photo from Olivia Schreiber Sergeant Yevgeniy “R.J.” Polunin, Marine Corps

Yevgeniy “R.J” Polunin’s journey to Stevens spanned many lands and many seas, beginning at the young age of 15 when he left Sibera to join his mother in Elmwood Park. After graduating from Mahwah High School, left from Sibera and traveled to northern New Jersey, where he would go on to graduate from Mahwah High School. The usual transition from high school to college was not the path Polunin choose—instead, he enlisted in the Marine Corps

as an infrantryman, where he would quickly rise in the ranking. Over the course of four years as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps, he would earn the rank of Sergeant, serve two tours in Iraq involving combat, put his Russian to good use by translating Russian communications, after which he would receive both recognition for combat valor and medals for good conduct and high achievement. Prior to arriving at Stevens, Polunin completed one year at William Paterson University, but he recognized the academic rigor was not up to par with his expectations. “A friend recommended that I take a look at Stevens,” said Polunin and he would later admit that making the switch was the right decision. During his academic career as a Chemical Biology major, RJ would go on to work closely with Dr. Donald Lombardi, who is known not only for his commitment to the Veteran’s Affairs Office, but also as the Director of the Healthcare Leadership and Management graduate certificate program. For Polunin, the GI Bill and Yellow

Ribbon Program allowed him to take advantage of Stevens without having to worry about the burden of cost. On campus, RJ was heavily involved: he served as a member of the Honor Board, was selected to Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-medical Honor Society, and was honored as the Undergraduate Student Employee of the Year in 2012. In addition to his pursuits outside the classroom, Polunin excelled in his academics, graduating with a 3.9 GPA as a member of the Dean’s List every semester. “I was also able to work in Dr. Huang’s tissue engineering lab,” recalls Polunin, who has since published three papers. His hard work combined with his interest in medicine made him a strong candidate for medical school. Polutin attests that his experiences as a platoon medic while in the Marine Corps gave him early exposure and piqued his interest, which he was able to foster while at Stevens. Now, Polunin is finishing his medical school education at Rowan University Medical Center, after which he will specialize in Emergency Room Medicine.

News Continued

Friday, November 10, 2017 • Page 8

KSA and C2GS team up for PC Bang night

Korean Student Association hosts Kimbap Night

by CHAZ ZWICKER

by CHAZ ZWICKER

On Thursday, Nov. 2, the Korean Student Association, KSA, and the Console and Computer Gaming Society, C2GS partnered to host the first “PC Bang Night”. The event took the traditional Thursday Night LAN and added Korean influences by taking its name from the Korean “PC Bang”, a multiplayer gaming center in Korea, and adding ramen to the event. This event helped served as a replacement to KSA’s past event, Ramen Night. Several types of instant ramen were available, from black ramen to spicy chicken. Additionally, the LAN was in full effect, with Smash 4 and Melee tournaments, along with other games such as Rockband. C2GS will be hosting LANime, an Epic LAN, this Saturday in Babbio 122, in partnership with the Anime club. There will be Japanese snacks, and rice balls from Koro Koro. KSA will be hosting its next and last GBM on Monday, Nov. 13, at 9PM in Babbio 210.

On Wednesday, Nov. 8, the Korean Student Association, KSA, hosted “Kimbap Night” in Hayden Lounge. Kimbap is a Korean dish, containing ingredients such as beef, ham, imitation crab meat, egg strips, carrots, or spinach. All of the ingredients are surrounded by a layer of cooked rice, and then by a layer of dried seaweed. Kimbap is similar to the Japanese dish of sushi rolls. This event, however, was not about giving out kimbap – it was about making it! Beginning with a layer of dried seaweed and a coating of sesame oil, the rice was flattened on top, and then the ingredients attendees chose were laid horizontally across the rice. Using a roller, the ingredients were compressed into a roll and sliced into bite-sized pieces. KSA will be hosting its next and last GBM of the semester on Monday, Nov. 13, at 9PM in Babbio 210.

Photos by Cole Yarbrough

Photos by Cole Yarbrough

Staff Writer

Staff Writer

Theta Xi hosts first Trivia Night by DANIEL KANG Staff Writer

Theta Xi held a Trivia Night for the first time this year on Thursday, Nov. 2. The event was hosted by the fraternity at their house located at 805 Castle Point Terrace. Students formed teams with friends and competed against each other for gift cards to the restaurant and bar Mikie Squared. There was a $5 entry fee per person, and all proceeds were donated to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. There were many teams that came to flex their trivia knowledge and take home some great prizes, but there were many others there just to give back to the community hit hard by the hurricane. There were five categories for trivia: Geography, Sports, General Knowledge, History, and Potpourri (Random). Ten questions for each category were asked, and the top three teams were announced at the end of each category. The difficulty of the questions ranged from the location of the 2014 Winter Olympics (Sochi) to the year Elvis Presley passed away (1977). The questions were sourced from an online database of Trivia questions by category. There were seven teams and a total of 29 players. The top three teams with the most points (each correct question was one point) were awarded prizes. The first place team was awarded a $45 gift card to Mikie Squared Bar and Grill, second place a $35 gift card, and third place a $25 gift card. The champions were Dylan Walsh, Brianna Maetta, Sam Dellis, Matt Martocci, and Richard Schemerhorn. The donations were passed on to the Hurricane Harvey survivors through the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, which provides all types of relief to the survivors of the hurricane and those in need after the natural disaster. Joe Gargana, Main Event Coordinator for the Theta Xi fraternity, explained that “this event came about due to the need for a Theta Xi signature event. Theta Xi usually has a signature event every semester. Last fall we had TX Factor, which was a talent show.” He decided to switch to trivia because it added a sense of challenge. He also expressed his gratitude to everyone who came, and would like to “encourage everyone around campus to participate in events like this because it helps the community in more ways than [they] can see.”

Daniel Kang

Torch Alliance raises money for the Trevor Project by MARK DISPIGNA Staff Writer

The Torch Alliance held its fifth annual masquerade fundraiser in Babbio Atrium on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The event collected funds through student and faculty donations for the Trevor Project, a 24-hour suicide hotline for LGBTQ+ youth. The masquerade “has gone through many iterations, never seeing exactly the same situation unfold twice,” said Dakota Van Deursen, President of the Torch Alliance. This year, the evening was complete with handmade carnival games, a student-picked playlist, food donations from local businesses, and over $1000 in giveaway prizes. The Trevor Project Planning Committee, a subcommittee of the Torch Alliance, began meeting in late September and spent weeks coordinating the event. Members of the committee partnered with Alpha Phi Omega, the co-ed service fraternity, to create five new games for attendees to enjoy throughout the night, from 9 to 11 p.m. The Torch Alliance e-board encouraged all members of the Stevens student body to attend and raise awareness of teen suicide in the LGBTQ+ community. “There is no better way to learn than educational fun,” Van Deursen said, “Torch aims to do that in every aspect that it can.”

Photos by The Link

CONTACT 521 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

Hours of Operation: Monday: 11AM – 9PM Tuesday: 11AM – 9PM Wednesday: 11AM – 9PM Thursday: 11AM – 10PM Friday: 11AM – 10PM Saturday: 11AM - 10PM Sunday: 11AM - 10PM

Duckbills Accepted! 10% off Cash or Credit for Stevens Students!

Opinion Continued

Friday, November 10, 2017 • Page 10

Cuisine Corner

Fast food face off!

by TRACY WONG

Sophomore Business and Technology Major

Lately, more and more people have turned to me for food words of wisdom. It makes me thrilled to know that my friends trust me with the important decision such as, where to go for lunch? Flattering as it is, it also makes me anxious when I don’t have an answer. A couple weeks ago, I was asked, “Where can I get some decently priced burgers?” Right off the bat, Bareburger was off the list. I pondered on the question for a few minutes. Places like Bareburger, Arthurs,

or even Birch have some A+ steaks, but I would probably have to sell a kidney to afford that regularly. On the other hand, McDonald’s. So, I went on a quest to find a place in Hoboken with decent to amazing quality, but for college students on a budget. Amazingly enough, I passed by a store I had never noticed before called Grubbs. What caught my eye? The giant poster plastered on the store front with a giant burger and some prices listed, which I had to take a double take on. I was convinced it had to be fate. A quarter pounder burger for $2.95- you saw that right, THREE bucks! Peering inside past the sign, there was a lot of empty space. There were no chairs or tables to sit on, so it was quite telling that Grubbs was a fast food restaurant. I decided to order a burger ($3) and a cheeseburger

CONTACT & INFO McDonald’s 234 Washington St. Hoboken

Mon. – Sun. Open 24 Hours (201) 798-2027 Food: Service: Location:

Photo courtesy of Tracy Wong

Photo courtesy of Tracy Wong

($4) as well as try out cleanse, and not seeing their grilled cheese ($6)! their burgers for so long, my first impression was Of course, I had to REAL- just sadness. Just look at LY test out if Grubbs was the pictures, so sad. With a step up from McDon- only finely chopped onald’s, so I decided to take ions and a couple pickles my order and head there. spotted inside the burger, I ordered a hamburger I began to remind myself ($1) and a cheeseburger that I had paid less than a ($1.39). Looking at the dollar fifty for it. I started numbers, McDonald’s is with the Grubb’s cheeseobviously cheaper, but burger. Surprisingly not hey, $3 is pretty damn too salty, chewy, and realreasonable for a burger in tasting meat. Kind of tastes Hoboken. The thing that like something my mom did seem ridiculous once would fry up! And McDonyou noticed, was that ald’s, fattier, full of flavor, Grubbs’ cheeseburger was everything you’d expect. a whole dollar more than Next were the plain hamits hamburger. Am I pay- burgers. After taking a bite ing a dollar for a slice of of Grubbs’, something felt cheese?! missing. It was strange, And now, for the quali- how it felt like the absence ty taste test. Grabbing the of a single slice of cheese closest thing to me, I tried changed the entire burger. the cheeseburgers first. At The patty felt drier, the first glance, the Grubbs overall taste went from cheeseburger looked a lot “not too salty” to bland; more appealing than Mc- but nonetheless, it was a Donald’s’. Grubbs’ cheese- dollar cheaper. The Mcburger was reasonably Donald’s hamburger was thick, with a mix of bright insignificantly different colors (lettuce, onions, to- than its cheesier countermatoes, and cheese). And part. its vegetables ACTUALLY But wait, who can forlooked like vegetables! Af- get the grilled cheese? I ter being on a McDonald’s kind of wish I did. Precut,

I imagined the two slices to pull apart, revealing a webby masterpiece of stringy cheese. But all pulling the slices apart revealed was some American cheese (not even fully melted, might I add) and two or three layers of tomatoes stacked inside. I’ll give it one thing, the bread was pretty good. But what seemed to me like three layers of Kraft Singles poorly melted together? I can’t believe I paid almost the same amount for the two burgers as this one grilled cheese. What’s the final verdict? It’s actually hard to put the winner on any of the burgers, even weighing in the price. It depends on what you’re feeling. I would prefer Grubbs’ burgers on a normal day when I need a quick bite to eat or crave a burger. But if I really hate myself and in need of some terrible fast food, I can always rely on Mickey D’s to serve me a yummy heart attack between two buns. At both restaurants, I would order the hamburger over the cheeseburger.

Price: $

CONTACT & INFO Grubbs Takeway 418 Washington St. Hoboken

Sun. – Thurs. 7 a.m. – 12 a.m. Fri. - Sat. 7 p.m. - 3 a.m. (201) 420-0300 Food: Service: Location: Price: $

Pro Tip! #BYOC Bring your own cheese!

Stars of Stevens.

NJSO college night

by MIA HILDEBRANDT

Junior Mechanical Engineering Major

Being a college student has its perks— one of them being $10 tickets for front-row seats for a New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO) Concert. A busload of eager concertgoers arrived at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark this past Saturday evening. It was a chilly night, and the sky was black save for the glowing full moon. It was eerie, but at the same time gorgeous—just like

the program they were about to hear. The program commenced with Beethoven’s “Overture to Coriolan,” followed by Bartok’s “Piano Concerto No. 3,” and concluded with Beethoven’s infamous “Symphony No. 5 in C Minor.” The first Beethoven piece set the tone for the evening of music: the overture, in C minor, which begins with intense chords that lead into a suspenseful crescendo. The piece conveys the story of a tortured hero that in the end, ends up being destroyed. Although the piece sounds depressing at times, it is powerful. The piece would have fit well into the soundtrack of a thriller movie—I kid you not, the chords almost made me jump out of my chair. It was a great opening number. Bartok’s “Piano Concerto No. 3” was lighter and more carefree compared to the first piece.

It reminded me of a butterfly, wings flapping and free in nature. As it turns out, Bartok drew inspiration for this piece from his long walks in North Carolina where he jotted down bird melodies. Additionally, the piece showcased the talented Conrad Tao on piano. At only 23, he had incredible stage presence and musical technique, as well as a killer sense of style. He sported a pair of metallic silver shoes which stood out from the traditional concert black attire, the norm for orchestra concerts. Ending the program was Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 5,” which began with the famous four-note opening. Unlike the “Overture to Coriolan,” this piece ends victoriously with a crescendo going from the third movement into the final fourth movement. The finale closes with powerful, resound-

ing chords that make for a satisfying end to a multi-faceted program. This was my second time attending College Night at the NJSO, and I had so much fun. Concerts like these usually do not draw much of a young crowd, so it was nice to see people my age geeking out over classical music along-

Photo courtesy of NJSO

side me. If you get the chance, check out the NJSO! They are incredible and

upcoming events can be found on their website: https://www.njsymphony.org/events/all

Photo courtesy of nj.com

Friday, November 10, 2017 • Page 11

Campus Liberal

The high cost of being poor

by MATTHEW CUNNINGHAM Freshman Computer Science Major

Budgets and legislation are a reflection of our values, and the latest tax bill introduced to Congress last week shows that Republicans value big businesses and the top 1% of Americans more than the everyday families they represent. With this tax bill, they advertise tax breaks for middle-class Americans and support for local business, but don’t be fooled — they’re throwing peanuts at you. The Trump team hopes to save money for Americans by slashing the corporate tax rate from 35% to 20%. They say that lowering the tax rate would “[prevent] American jobs, headquarters, and research from moving overseas,” so that more Americans could be hired and middle-class families would reap the benefits of a tax cut. But nearly all credible economists agree that — as explained by Dr. Paul Krugman, winner of Nobel Economics Prize — corporate tax cuts “confer huge benefits on the wealthy, do little if anything for the middle class, and greatly increase the [national] deficit.” The Trump team is pushing for “trickle-down economics” but refuses to say that phrase because the Trump team knows that middle-class Americans won’t actually be gaining anything from this tax plan.

Instead, this tax plan only hurts middle-class Americans. Republicans are sneaking in cuts on tax deductions and credits, for reasons that I can only assume are symbolic. The tax deductions and credits that are being removed impact each of us on a very personal level. For example, if you’re a student with a federal loan, right now, the IRS offers you a tax deduction of up to $2,500 each year if you make less annual income than a certain threshold. This deduction assists young and middle-aged people who are making a small salary and who still have a large amount of student debt to pay off. But the tax bill, if it passes, removes this tax deduction for students as early as 2018. If you are a student, you will be losing a protection that alleviates your long-term debt. Money that would be going toward your student loans will now have to go toward federal taxes. We shouldn’t be punishing students for pursuing higher education. If you’ve been affected by natural disaster or robbery — i.e. your house burned down or someone stole your TV — the IRS allows you to deduct your losses on your tax form, alleviating the cost of replacing a home or valued items. But the new tax bill ends this protection. If this tax bill passes, unless FEMA or other organizations provide you with one-time relief, you should expect to bear the cost of everything you lose. For families who are struggling to make ends meet as it is — if they ever have to face a loss they never expected — a loss of protection would be devastating. I refuse to believe that families should be punished for the crimes of others or for the unpredictable nature of weather and disasters.

If you’ve ever considered adopting, you’d know that the process of adoption is one of the largest financial expenditures you can make for your family. While, of course, the joy of raising a child transcends the cost, you can’t ignore the $40,000 figure looming over you. In our current tax code, if you adopt a child and make less than $243,540 per year, the IRS provides you a one-time $13,750 adoption credit to offset some of the adoption fees. Keep in mind that the adoption credit is not a deduction. It mainly helps families who are middle and lower-class. The IRS provides these tax credits for behaviors they deem beneficial to society, such as giving money to charity or installing solar panels on top of your home. Tax credits encourage positive behavior. Since 1996, they have determined that adoption is beneficial to society and worthy of a tax credit But the Republican tax deal strikes the adoption credit, dumping all costs of adoption on the family. Obviously, adoptive parents aren’t deserving of a special subsidy — but I’d hate for a family to decide that they can’t adopt because the cost of it becomes too high for them to handle. I’m pained for the child who will lose a home just because a potential family will no longer be able to afford them. And yet, tax credits for adoption and tax deductions for student loans and natural disasters are only three examples of a larger tax bill that affects each one of us. This bill strips us of tax protections for personal moving costs, medical expenses, alimony payments — among many other

continued on thestute.com

Campus Conservative

Tax relief is on the way

by ALEX MURTAGH Sophomore Civil Engineering Major

The middle class and the United States as a whole are (hopefully) going to finally receive the tax relief that they need. After years of nothing being done by politicians to revise our tax code, by simplifying it, closing the loopholes, and reducing taxes, the GOP has finally put out a decent plan to revive the nation. Although I am thrilled to see certain fixes made, there are others that really bother me. For example, let’s start with the 15% cut in taxes on corporations. The U.S. corporate tax rate is currently the highest in the industrialized world, thus taking away any advantage the U.S. would have in attracting new businesses from foreign countries. In fact, there are numerous companies that have either considered or entirely moved their operations into different countries simply because it costs too much to operate a business here. We lose out on thousands of jobs all the time just because of the tax rate. Now, what would these companies do with the extra 15% savings? Liberals would like you to think that the greedy capitalist swine will just keep the money locked away in their Scrooge McDuck money bins where they swim in gold all day long. If this

sounds insane, that’s because it is. In order to make money, you have to spend money. These companies are likely to put that money into research and development, as well as wage increases for all employees and wages for entirely new employees. A move like this helps to keep humans competitive over robots in certain jobs because it is still cheaper to pay a human than to maintain a high-cost machine. Overall, this plan shows signs of creating a more robust and innovative economy than ever before. The other major point here is the reduction in a number of income brackets as well as the tax rates on them. The top earners making over $418,000, will be taxed roughly the same, at 35%. So to the Liberals who think just because you earn more, you should pay more, you can rest your heads knowing the feared Bernie Sanders “1%” will still pay high tax rates. (By the way, if you don’t know much about this, I recommend watching the tax debate between Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz.) Personally, I think this is wrong because any money that you earned is yours and should remain that way, but the government thinks otherwise. It doesn’t matter if you make one thousand per year or one million per year, you deserve to keep all of your money. Now for the remaining three brackets, most of them will notice a very small change in their taxes, but it will be enough to save them a nice chunk of their paycheck. There’s also the issue of tax credits and deductions. Right now, anyone with children will see a nice increase in their credit, as well as anyone not being able to claim a depen-

dent. But there is also the issue of health care, state taxes, mortgage deductions, adoption, and student loan interest deductions. This is a slam to the middle class, which needs these deductions to get by. But at the same time, this will force Congress to take action on health care and state legislatures with high taxes to lower their taxes in order to remain a business and residential friendly state. There is also an interesting provision in the bill that would tax private universities such as Stevens. According to Business Insider, “Private universities with assets of more than $100,000 per student will pay a 1.4% excise tax on their net investment income.” This will force schools like Stevens to cautiously analyze how much they are charging students, how many students they have, and how much money is available per student. This could cause some universities to go into spending frenzies to get below that $100,000 per student mark, which in turn could help to stimulate the economy and help the university. Or the bill could cause the university to lose a lot of money, creating a dangerous impact on the resources of that university to do better for its students. There is so much to unpack in this bill that it would take me at least two columns to analyze, but overall, as of now, it’s not bad, but it could be a lot better if Republicans stuck to simple conservative principles. It is critical to recognize that this is the first form of the bill, and it will clearly undergo significant changes. Be sure to keep up with the news and any new developments to learn more about the final product.

Scientific Curmudgeon .

Do we need brain implants to keep up with robots?

by JOHN HORGAN CAL Professor

Pundits have been fretting lately about robots leaving humans behind, taking our jobs and possibly a lot more, as in The Matrix and Terminator films. The eminent neuroscientist Christof Koch has proposed a radical solution. To keep up with machines, we should boost our cognitive powers with brain implants. Koch, who directs the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle, which has

an annual budget of more than $100 million, floats this idea in a recent Wall Street Journal essay, “To Keep Up With AI, We’ll Need High-Tech Brains.” The subhead: “Technologies that enhance the human brain will be essential to avoid a dystopian future fueled by the rise of artificial intelligence.” Koch doesn’t think noninvasive methods, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, will be sufficient. “Ultimately, to boost our brain power, we need to directly listen to and control individual neurons: the atom of perception, action, memory and consciousness. And for that, we need to directly access brain tissue, requiring (for now) at least some surgery to penetrate the skull.” Koch notes that brain implants are already helping paralyzed people control computers and robots, and they are being in-

vestigated as treatments for depression and other mental disorders. Future implants could help us download huge amounts of information instantly, he claims, so we can learn “novel skills and facts without even trying.” Like Neo “learning” how to fly a helicopter in The Matrix! “Another exciting prospect,” Koch says, is “melding two or more brains into a single conscious mind by direct neuron-toneuron links.” Like The Borg in Star Trek! Koch urges a “crash program to design safe, inexpensive, reliable and long-lasting devices and procedures for manipulating brain processes inside their protective shell,” i.e., the skull Koch neglects obvious questions raised by his sci-fi vision. It’s scary enough that bad guys can hack into our smart phones and laptops. What if they could hack into our brains? Implants

would give Big Brother the ultimate form of mindreading and mind-control. Also, we are nowhere close to being able to enhance the brain in the manner that Koch envisions. Reliably integrating neural tissue and digital technologies would require cracking the neural code, the brain’s software, which transforms processes in the brain into perceptions, memories, emotions, decisions. Neuroscientists have, if anything, too many candidates for a neural code. There are population codes, rate codes, temporal codes, chaotic codes and others. Koch has thrown his weight behind integrated information theory, which says that consciousness arises not only in brains but also in much simpler information-processing systems-like a single proton, which contains three information-exchanging quarks. That means conscious-

ness pervades all matter, as decreed by the mystical doctrine panpsychism. Koch’s backing of integrated information theory seems like a sign of desperation. So does his call for research aimed at turning us into super-intelligent cyborgs. Koch is perhaps seeking a grand justification for the Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative, a multi-billion-dollar federal program that supports research at the Allen Institute and elsewhere. Koch is genuinely worried about humanity’s future. That was clear when I interviewed him last year in Seattle for a book I’m writing on the mind-body problem. He expressed concern over inequality, political instability, nuclear terrorism and war. He feared that science, far from solving our problems, might exacerbate them.

Advances in artificial intelligence, for example, could displace human transportation workers. “Vast numbers of trucks and cabs will be automated because it’s safer, cheaper and quicker,” Koch told me. “Well, what are we going to do with these 3.5 million [drivers]? Are we going to turn them into Java programmers? I doubt it. If we don’t look after them, they may get angry, and we will have more social discord.” The future scares me too. We’re got serious problems on our hands, and we have a lot of work to do to solve them. Brain implants are not the answer. 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, “Crosscheck.”

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Sports

Friday, November, 10, 2017 • Page 12

Alvarex, O’Hearn, Vill are All-Empire 8 Selections for Fiweld Hockey

Stevens Sports Information

SSI - Senior Victoria Alvarez of the Stevens Institute of Technology field hockey team was named First-Team All-Empire 8 , classmate Cassidy O’Hearn earned a second-team selection and junior Janet Vill was given an honorable mention nod by the conference on Thursday. Alvarez led the team in goals and points, and was second in the conference in both categories with 18 and 38, respectively. She added two assists and netted four game-winners

this year to lead the team in that category as well. She finished 20th in the nation in scoring and 29th in points per game. This marks the third year she was a First- Team AllEmpire 8 selection. She was an all-conference performer in each of her four seasons on Castle Point. O’Hearn led the conference with 0.53 assists per game, and was 22nd nationally in that column with nine helpers this season. A very balanced player, she finished with nine

goals, nine assists, 27 points, two game-winners and a defensive save for good measure. Vill was also a presence on both sides of the ball, with two defensive saves as well as two goals and four assists for a total of eight points from the back line. Junior Regan Littell was the Duck representative Empire 8 Sportswoman of the Year. The Ducks ended their season with six victories and seven one-goal losses.

Women’s Volleyball’s Greco, King & Stewart named AVCA All-N.Y. Region

Women’s Soccer Claims All-Empire 8 Honorees

SSI - The No. 16 Stevens Institute of Technology women’s soccer team placed 10 Ducks among the All-Empire 8 teams announced on Thursday, highlighted by sophomore Julia Panko’s selection as the league’s Offensive Player of the Year. Panko led a battalion that includes fellow firstteamer Sammy Mount, second-team selections Gabby Saade, Katie Goncalves and Lindsey Mahnken, honorable mention honorees Delaney West, Olivia Butera, Megan Lynes and Erica O’Kelly and Sportswoman of the Year Madi Chollett. As a team, the Ducks led the Empire 8 in goalsagainst average, save percentage, shots, shots on goal, shutouts, and winning percentage. Stevens has allowed just eight goals in 18 games. Panko led the league this year in the scoring triple crown of goals, assists and points. She currently has 10 goals and eight assists for a total of 28 points. She ranks 75th in the nation in assists. Midfielder Sammy Mount joined Panko in the first-team as a midfielder. She started all 18 games and scored two goals with an assist on the year and was a big part of the dominant Duck de-

fense. Gabby Saade, who led the team with three game-winning goals and is second on the squad in all scoring categories (8 goals, 5 assists, 21 points), joined stalwart defender Katie Goncalves and goalkeeper Lindsey Mahnken on the secondteam. All three players started all 18 games for the Ducks this season. Mahnken ranks sixth nationally in save percentage (.909) and has been part of 12 shutouts. She was recently named Most Outstanding Player of the Empire 8 Tournament. Butera earned a spot on the all-conference team with four assists from the back line this year. West, Lynes and O’Kelly also garnered the honorable mention accolades as big keys to the stingy Stevens defensive line that strangled opponents all year. Junior back Madi Chollett was named Stevens’ Sportswoman of the Year, an award given to one representative from each conference institution who best represents the ideals of competing with honor and integrity. The Ducks will being NCAA play on Saturday by facing Brandeis University on a neutral field in Williamstown, Massachusetts at 1:30 p.m.

Men’s Soccer places four on Empire 8 All-Tournament Team Stevens Sports Information

SSI - Stevens Institute of Technology women’s volleyball sophomores Julie Greco, Casey King and Shelby Stewart were each named to the 2017 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III All-New York Region Team Thursday. It’s the second career All-Region accolade for Stewart, while Greco and King are being recognized for the first time. The trio is now eligible for AVCA All-American status, which will be announced Tuesday, November 14. “I’m very happy for our three all-region selections this season,” head coach Annie McShea said. “They all have worked extremely hard for this honor it shows on the court and in their stats. Well-deserved [recognition] for all three

players.” Greco completed her regular season by averaging 9.65 assists per set, which included a 9.12 assists per set average over 58 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 18 times, including a career-best 53 against Montclair State. King, the Empire 8’s coPlayer of the Year, led the team with 3.42 kills per set and 4.17 points per set. The Wallington, New Jersey native collected 11 double-doubles and added 57 aces, 46 blocks and 295 digs to go along with her 369 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. King was the E8’s co-Rookie of the Year as a freshman. Stewart returns to the All-New York region team after again ranking among the nation’s leaders in blocks. After receiving AVCA Honorable Mention All-American status as a freshman after setting the program’s single-season block record, Stewart added 123 total blocks to her career total, averaging 1.15 blocks per set. Showing a morerounded game as a sophomore, Stewart led the E8 by hitting an impressive .427 against conference opponents and totaled 35 aces to finish second on the team.

SSI - After winning its 10th Empire 8 Championship, the Stevens Institute of Technology men’s soccer team placed four players on the E8’s All-Tournament Team, the conference announced Monday. Seniors Patrick Boylan and Tommy Dorsay along with junior Nicholas Cousillas and Andrew Masur were among 11 players recognized by the Empire 8 for their outstanding play during the twoday tournament held at the DeBaun Athletic Complex in Hoboken. Cousillas was previously named the championship’s Most Valuable Player and was also recognized by the Empire 8 as its Defensive Player of the Week in a separate release. “My congratulations to Pat, Tommy, Andrew and Nick for being se-

lected to the all-tournament team,” head coach Dale Jordan said. “They are our captains and personified the character of this team” Boylan and Dorsay anchored a defensive unit that did not allow a goal to either St. John Fisher College or The Sage Colleges over 180 minutes of action. The two teams combined for 64 goals over 33 matches entering the championship. Cousillas was named MVP after holding Sage’s River Seybolt without a shot on goal in the championship match. Seybolt entered play as one of the nation’s leading scorers with 16 goals. Masur’s well-placed free kick was headed in by freshman Cristiano Hocken for the first goal of the match in Stevens’ 2-0 semifinal win over St. John Fisher.

Duck Country Scoreboard Date 11/3 11/3 11/3 11/3-11/4 11/3-11/4 11/4 11/4 11/4 11/4 11/5

ON DECK IN SPORTS

Friday MEN’S BASEBALL

VS Suffolk University 8 p.m. Williamstown, MA

MEN’S FENCING

Columbia Duals 5 p.m. New York, NY

WOMEN’S FENCING

Columbia Duals 5 p.m. New York, NY

Saturday MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY NCAA Atlantic Regional TBA Houghton, NY

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY NCAA Atlantic Regional TBA Houghton, NY

EQUESTRIAN

William Paterson Show 9 a.m. Pompton Plains, NJ

MEN’S SOCCER

VS Middlebury College 1:30 p.m. Cortland, NY

WOMEN’S SOCCER

VS Brandeis University 1:30 p.m. Williamstwon, MA

Sunday MEN’S FENCING

Vassar Invitational 9 a.m. Poughkeepsie, NY

WOMEN’S FENCING

Vassar Invitational 9 a.m. Poughkeepsie, NY

Stevens

Opponent/Event

Score

Result

Soccer M Soccer W Wrestling Swimming M Swimming W Soccer M Soccer W Volleyball W Wrestling Equestrian

VS St. John Fisher College VS Nazareth College Ithaca Invitational Day 1 NYU Fall Invitational NYU Fall Invitational VS The Sage Colleges @ Hartwick College VS Alfred University Ithaca Invitational Day 2 SUNY New Paltz Show

2-0 0-0 59.5 332-529 295-573 1-0 0-0

W T 5th L L W T W

NCAA Second Round 1 p.m. Williamstown, MA

1st 6th

STEVENSDUCKS.COM

3-0 142 N/A

Stevens Sports Information

WOMEN’S SOCCER

FOR MORE INFORMATION, HEAD TO: STEVENSREC.COM