Someone destroyed the igloo :(
We write Stevens history HOBOKEN, NJ | FEBRUARY 6, 2025
VOLUME CXXIII No. 15
ENJOY THE SNOW FOLKS!
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
Stevens set to establish School of Computing BY TANYA AVADIA, OUTREACH CHAIR The Stevens Board of Trustees has approved the establishment of the Stevens School of Computing, which will serve as the basis of computing and AI education. As announced by President Nariman Farvardin and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Jianmin Qu in a campus-wide email, the target date to open the School of Computing is Fall 2026. The creation of this school comes as a response to the ever-changing nature of the technology landscape, which impacts a wide variety of industries. In conjunction with Stevens’ mission of
preparing students to live and work in a world of rapid technological enhancement, President Farvardin and Senior Vice President and Provost Qu share that the creation of this school is one step in the right direction. Computing is currently the university’s largest academic discipline, with over a quarter of enrolled students pursuing degrees within this field. Given the interest and the projected demand for these subjects on both an undergraduate and graduate level, the creation of a new school allows for the leadership, infrastructure, and resources necessary to deliver value in terms of education and resources.
The new School of Computing will also facilitate interdisciplinary opportunities and new program offerings. Students will have the ability to pursue “Computing + X” programs that combine their interest in the computing field with other disciplines in partnership with the other schools at Stevens. Additionally, there will be an expansion of program and degree offerings in areas such as computer science, AI, cybersecurity, and data science. This is beneficial to students and faculty alike. For students, it creates access to additional faculty,
SEE COMPUTING PAGE 2
Igor Pikovski awarded $1.3 million grant for graviton detection BY JOSEPHINE CHOONG, SECRETARY
ISABELLA VILLANUEVA FOR THE STUTE
The two pillars of modern physics, quantum theory and Einstein’s theory of general relativity, seem incompatible with each other. For those pillars to align, gravity would have to obey quantum physics and be mediated by particles known as gravitons. However, not a single graviton was ever detected, making the problem of quantum gravity remain theoretical. Yet
Igor Pikovski, physicist and assistant professor, demonstrated that graviton detection is possible and with it, introduced an entirely new perspective for quantum technology. To support his research and collaboration with Yale University, Pikovski has been awarded a highly competitive $1.3 million grant from the W. M. Keck Foundation, the first in Stevens’ history. The W. M. Keck Foundation was established in 1954 by William Myron Keck, founder of The Superior Oil
Company. Keck envisioned a foundation that “would provide far-reaching benefits for humanity.” Throughout the years, the organization supported pioneering discoveries in science, engineering, and medical research that laid the groundwork for new scientific discoveries and innovative technologies. President Nariman Farvardin stated that Pikovski’s recognition is a proud moment for Stevens.
SEE PIKOVSKI PAGE 2
LOCAL NEWS The theater production process often begins with Realities of Hoboken’s harsh “Code Blue” weather
Third SDS Tech Talk BY BRYAN MAHONEY, STAFF WRITER On January 28-, 2026 at 9 p.m. in the Edwin A. Stevens (EAS) Hall, the Stevens Dramatic Society (SDS) held their third official Tech Talk where they discussed the technical aspect of theater and how those who wanted to participate could get involved with different departments. To give a brief history, SDS was founded in 1910 by student theater lovers. SDS had distinguished itself early on for making pioneering advances in technical theater, including sound and lighting techniques that were used on Broadway. The sound system for the first 3D movie was also developed by SDS. The Stevens Dramatic Society is a vibrant student organization that offers two major productions each year, a play and a musical, along with various other social and performance events. The DeBaun Performing Arts Center (PAC) serves as the venue for their shows and events. Recent works include Into the Woods, The Addams Family, Little Women, Radium Girls, and The Prom. Their show last fall semester was And Then There Were None, and their upcoming show this spring semester will be Grease. NEWS (2-3)
Stevens set to establish School of Compuuting Learn more about the School of Computing that Stevens is introducting and how it will be AI based! FEATURE (4)
Snowed In! Discover ways that Stevens students have been enjoying the snow and their virtual days!
designing blueprints for the stage, which will serve as the master technical plan for the rest of the show. The design produced in a CAD software program, or by hand, will include multiple different pieces to create precise 2D and 3D plates that turn initial artistic ideas into physical properties, including the floor plans and different section views that will be utilized. These blueprints will help guide the building phase of the production, where the blueprints will be brought into reality. “Flats” (walls) and “platforms” (floors), used in conjunction with other props, will then be built and set up according to the blueprint plans to bring the scene to life. The construction requires modularity and safety, in order for the scenery to be structurally sound while also light enough for the stage crew to move around. Other important parts of the stage production include circuitry and light programming, where light “cues” are programmed to dictate the intensity, color, and position of lights in order to create the desired visual effect and transitions for each specific scene. Audio engineering is another important part of production, where
SEE SDS PAGE 2 SCIENCE (6)
NASA dark matter? Greenland? Breath and bacteria? 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 ISABELLA FAMA, CONTRIBUTOR It’s hard to enjoy these harsh, below-freezing temperatures that seem to never end recently. It’s inevitable at some point that everyone has to face it, but most of us have ways we can deal with it: turning the heat up and grabbing some extra blankets when we’re cold, or quickly grabbing medicine if we’re sick from the pharmacy. This, unfortunately, is not the reality for everyone. A “Code Blue” is a weather alert implemented when
temperatures reach freezing or below. This is put into place to protect those who are most vulnerable in these states. The homeless community and those at higher risk for health complications face the biggest risks in these conditions. New Jersey is facing a very evident housing crisis, and although initiatives are being implemented to address this, Hudson County’s homeless population increased by 24% in the last year, according to The Waterfront Project. Hoboken alone has almost 900
homeless individuals, but there is no single factor that contributes to this reality. The cost of housing is increasing too quickly for people to catch up. There is an extreme shortage of affordable housing, and construction times don’t line up with population growth or the growing need. New Jersey is one of the most expensive states to live in, along with it’s extreme homeless population, many residents aren’t able to live comfortably. The major racial disparities that exist in wealth make it harder for families, specif-
ically minorities, to afford stable housing. These factors, along with many more, have forced residents to feel insecure and vulnerable, which only becomes heightened in winter weather that can be life-threatening for some. Everyone is at risk for common frostbite, hypothermia, and even respiratory complications, but seniors are most at risk during a Code Blue. Especially those struggling with pre-existing chronic illness
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NATIONAL NEWS Alex Pretti killed by Border Patrol in Minnesota ICE protest BY ARACELY CANDELARIA, STAFF WRITER Alex Pretti was a 37-year-old ICU nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System, who was fatally shot by a Border Patrol officer on Saturday morning, January 24, 2026, because he was filming a CBP offi-
cer during an ICE protest. A federal officer shoved a bystander across the street as Pretti was attempting to help the person. The situation proceeded to escalate, and an officer shouted that Pretti had a gun—a licensed gun that he was legally allowed to possess in an open carry state. Video evidence showed that the weapon was removed from his waist be-
fore shots were fired. Pretti was then attacked by an agent who pepper-sprayed him seconds before being shot 10 times. He was pronounced dead at 9:32 a.m. The Trump administration responded to the killing of Alex Pretti with unsupported evidence that conflicted with the video footage. The administration justified federal law
enforcement agent actions, claiming Pretti assaulted officers at the scene and threatened to harm law enforcement. “What the videos depict is that this guy did not walk up to anybody from CBP in a threatening manner,” said former acting DHS undersecretary for intelligence John Cohen, a
SEE ICE PAGE 3