I am excited about TechFest food!
We write Stevens history HOBOKEN, NJ | APRIL 17, 2026
VOLUME CXXIII No. 23
The student newspaper of Stevens Institute of Technology, and creator of Attila the Duck. www.thestute.com TikTok @thestute Instagram @thestute facebook.com/stevensthestute NEW STUTE EVERY FRIDAY • EST. 1904
TechFest openers and performers announced
The future of nuclear energy with Dr. Friedman
BY JOSHUA BODENSTEIN, NEWS EDITOR
BY CLAIRE DEANS, LAYOUT EDITOR On Wednesday, April 8, Professor Emeritus Edward A. Friedman gave a lecture as a guest speaker for the American Nuclear Society (ANS) on the future of nuclear energy. In his presentation, he first introduced the history of nuclear energy and where it came from. He discussed where radioactivity first came from, denoting that Henri Becquerel was the first to recognize this energy form back in 1896. Marie and Pierre Curie would discover two more elements that emit radiation just two years later in 1898. He continued to mention more information regarding the subject, with one interesting note on how, when “H.G. Wells wrote, ‘The World Set Free,’ he anticipated the development of atomic energy in 1933 and of atomic weapons in 1956.” Following the history, Dr. Friedman broke down how a fission reaction works in the nuclear reactors we use today. He gave the history
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Between the views of the NYC skyline and the quiet corners of our own campus, we know Hoboken is beautiful. But as for green space, this spring, there are plenty of options within the surrounding area. Below is our guide to three nearby gardens to explore this season, all of which have their own highlights. Reeves-Reed Arboretum Location: 165 Hobart Ave., Summit, NJ This 13-acre historic estate is a treat tucked away in the suburbs. The Arboretum hosts a Daffodil Day Festival yearly, where the “Daffodil Bowl” showcases the various golden hues of over 50,000 blooming daffodils, a key highlight of the estate. Additional events occurring throughout the summer, such as Art in the Garden, are listed and updated in their Annual Events page. Beyond the sea of yellow, the property features a diverse mix of landscapes, as detailed in their guide. The grounds contain both formal NEWS (2-3)
Stevens Dramatic Society’s Grease Learn more about Stevens Dramatic Society’s revival of Grease and how the behind-the-scenes brought the play together! FEATURE (4)
Spring Buzz! Discover why the American Woodcock is trending and Olivia Rodrigo’s lock in Hoboken!
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PHOTO COURTESY OF NICOLE CHEUNG AND CHRISTIAN FODOR
The scenic world of Stevens Dramatic Society’s Grease BY VINCENT OLIVIERI, STAFF WRITER Stevens Dramatic Society (SDS) presented their Spring 2026 musical, Grease, with performances
Your guide to the best nearby gardens to visit this spring BY ALESSANDRA NIETO, CONTRIBUTOR
(SDS)’s rendition of Grease featured plenty of scenic depth to complement the story. This musical saw lead actors Christian Fodor, a 2/4
Stevens’ Entertainment Committee (EC) announced the full lineup for TechFest 2026, set for Saturday, April 18, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the River Lot. This year’s headliner is British singer-songwriter Rachel Chinouriri, who will be joined by three student openers — Jorts, ANGELIDIS, and Eve Godin Band— all of whom earned their spots at this year’s Battle of the Bands competition. TechFest is a Stevens-only music festival hosted each spring in the stretch before finals. The EC-hosted event offers a free outdoor concert at the River Lot, food trucks, inflatables, a photo booth, and giveaways for students. Chinouriri is a London-based artist who began writing songs at 17 and first gained attention with her 2018 single “So My Darling,” which later went viral on TikTok. Her 2024 debut album, What a Devastating Turn of Events, debuted at number 17 on the UK Albums Chart. She has since
gardens and close to a mile of woodland trails open to exploration. Exploring these grounds is free for the majority of the year, with a suggested donation of $10. A fee is only required during the festival, priced at $15 for the main event on April 12 and $10 for the surrounding days of April 1-15. Additional donations are appreciated and help fund the addition of more daffodils. The Arboretum hours are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the exception of the Daffodil Days event. During the festival itself, the garden is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but the main festival day has shortened hours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
held at DeBaun Auditorium from April 9 to 11. From opening night, the audience holistically reviews the ability of the performers to act, the skill of the band or orchestra, and even the use of light and sound effects. One
feature that is often overlooked when it lacks flashy movements or a giant turntable is the scenery of the show. Set in the towering halls of Rydell High School, Stevens Dramatic Society
LOCAL NEWS NJ Transit partners with Via for microtransportation solutions BY FIONA SHI, STAFF WRITER NJ TRANSIT launched a new pilot program in partnership with technology company Via, bringing free, on-demand shuttle services to parts of Bergen County and Monmouth County in an effort to solve the “firstmile/last-mile” problem for public transit users. The service is similar to Stevens Shuttle, also powered by Via, which is a free, on-demand ride service for Stevens students and employees.
MicroLink, powered by NJ TRANSIT, began operating on April 6, 2026, and is a two-year pilot program funded by a $7 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The service is designed to connect residents to and from NJ TRANSIT bus stops and a few specific connections, such as the Englewood Health Center. Customers can book a ride using the MicroLink mobile app or by calling 973-233-4047. The system functions similarly to popular rideshare apps; users enter their pickup and
drop-off locations, and the algorithm determines the most efficient route to shuttle them to a connecting bus stop. In Bergen County, the service will be available in Bergenfield, Englewood, Teaneck, and Tenafly, and in Monmouth County, Freehold and Manalapan. Shuttle services run on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and consist of a fleet of electric and gas-powered vans that seat up to six passengers, including one wheelchair-accessible spot per vehicle. Transit officials view the pi-
lot as a strategic investment to expand access to the existing network without the high cost of extending traditional bus routes into suburban neighborhoods. “By offering flexible, on-demand service, we are helping customers more easily connect to our bus network while also expanding access to the broader transit system for a more seamless trip,” said NJ TRANSIT President and CEO Kris Kolluri. The pilot program is cur-
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NATIONAL NEWS Van Vleck House & Gar- U.S.-Israeli War on Iran dens Location: 21 Van Vleck St., Montclair, NJ Formerly a private estate, the grounds offer a peaceful atmosphere whose liveliness blooms with the spring flowers, which are tracked through weekly photographs. While the historic house isn’t open for public tours, the gardens them-
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SCIENCE (6)
Strong bones? Humans underwater? Allergies? Read about what’s going on in the world of science. PULSE (10)
Read answers from the Stevens community to our weekly Roving Reporter, plus solve our weekly puzzle and sudoku.
BY NIHIRA PATHAK, STAFF WRITER On February 28, 2026, the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran, resulting in the death of the Supreme Leader and other top Iranian officials. In the six weeks since, the countries have been engaging in a back-and-forth of attacks. Current Situation (as of April 13):
This past weekend, the U.S. and Iran met in Pakistan to engage in peace talks following the ceasefire declared on April 8th. The meeting was the highest-level peace talks the countries have conducted since the Iranian Revolution of 1979, but they were ultimately unsuccessful. During the negotiations, the U.S. asked for a 20-year freeze on Iran’s uranium enrichment, to
which Iran countered with 5 years, which the U.S. rejected. Along with a freeze on uranium enrichment, Iran was also asked to dismantle enrichment facilities and remove its domestic stockpile of enriched uranium. Following the failed negotiations, President Trump announced the institution of a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz starting at 10 a.m. EST on Monday, April 13.
During the conflict, though the Strait of Hormuz was not entirely shut down, Iran imposed egregiously high fees on tankers passing through, reportedly up to $2 million. President Trump has asked the U.S. Navy to “seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran.” Iran’s Revolutionary
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