I miss my eggs in the morning... also happy birthday Ava!
We write Stevens history HOBOKEN, NJ | FEBRUARY 7, 2025
VOLUME CXXI No. 16
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
Hoboken PATH Station closes for February for major renovations
Why are eggs so expensive? bird flu outbreak raises prices BY SERENA PANUCCI, CONTRIBUTOR
BY ANTHONY CURCIOPETRACCORO, CONTRIBUTOR The Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) serviced nearly 20,000 daily commuters over the month of December. People notice when an essential service such as the PATH delays service even for a brief duration. The 25-day closure of the PATH will present challenges for commuters in the New York metropolitan region, but recent updates present a glimmer of hope for those scrambling to find alternative routes. Beginning Thursday, January 30, at midnight, the PATH train suspended all traffic as it began undergoing restorations to enhance track efficiency. The $54 million renovations, which include improving the track interlocking system, general track maintenance, and facility upgrades, are projected to be completed by February 25, 2025. Many are sharing this inconvenience, so PATH is suggesting alternative methods of transportation to and from New York City.
SEE PATH PAGE 2
The MakerSpace kicked off its third semester of women’s workshops on January 27, featuring a hands-on DIY fidget spinner event in the second-floor ABS Engineering Center. From 6 to 8 p.m., the MakerSpace collaborated with the Machine Shop, a sister space that houses machinery and overlooks the MakerSpace, to host the women-centered program using in-house materials and 3D-modeled designs. The fidget spinner event, as well as the other women’s workshops run by MakerSpace student employees, provide step-by-step guidance on drawing, designing, and machining products from scratch. The fidget spinner event was the first women’s workshop of the year, building from introductory MakerSpace skills while incorporating new skills from the machine shop. This was only the latest women-oriented event of the series, NEWS (2-3)
Stevens hosts undergrad physics conference Learn about the conference hosted by APS and CU*IP and how aspiring physicists learned from special panelists. FEATURE (4)
Spring 2025 BBM Find out how the money from the student activity fund was allocated to the campus orgs.
SEE PHYSIC PAGE 2
SEE EGGS PAGE 2
PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVENS.EDU
Stevens hosts Undergraduate Conference for Women and Gender Minorities in Physics BY JOSEPHINE CHOONG, SPORTS EDITOR From January 24 to 26, Stevens had the honor of hosting the American Physical Society (APS) Conference for Undergraduate Women and Gender Minorities in Physics (CU*iP). It supplied an opportunity for students to be surrounded by aspiring physicists and to learn from a variety of unique panelists. The purpose of the conference was to allow students to find mentors and network with peers, as well as provide them with an opportunity to explore career
A spotlight on the women’s workshops at the MakerSpace BY TIANNA SPITZ, FEATURES EDITOR
try. Michel Inman, a PhD candidate who led the swag subcommittee, commented on how she met with undergrad students every week to design buttons and other items. After a preliminary approval, the merchandise was sent off to marketing for brand approval. CU*iP kicked off with afternoon tours and welcoming remarks. Each day of the event featured activities such as workshops and panel discussions covering topics from the quantum industry to physics pride. For example, a series of panels dubbed Plenary Talk
The cost of eggs has increased significantly over the past few months, jumping from around $3.50 in late November 2024 to $5.29 in January for a dozen eggs, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics. Consumers nationwide are feeling the strain as their supermarket bills rise. The sharp increase has caused concerns about food affordability, especially for people who rely on eggs as a primary source of protein. Along with the impact this has had on customers, businesses like bakeries and restaurants are also struggling with the higher prices, forcing some to raise the prices of their menus or even potentially cut back on egg-based products. The cause of this is the outbreak of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, which began in the United States in 2022 but experienced its largest outbreak in October of 2024, affecting over 100 million egg-laying birds. The first case of avian influenza dates back to around 1878 in northern Italy. It was described as a “contagious
which has been an ongoing initiative since 2022. The MakerSpace Women’s Workshops program was awarded the 2024 “Program of the Year for Educational Impact” and represents a joint collaboration with the Director of the MakerCenter, Paul McClelland, and Class of 2026 members and machine shop employees Nataly Jimenez and Alicia Kearney, and are aimed to orient the MakerSpace as an inclusive space. Featuring monthly events blending introductory and focused sessions, women’s workshops prioritize familiarity with the goal of welcoming women/non-binary students to explore the creative space. MakerSpace employee and Society of Women Engineers (SWE) E-Board member Jeylan Jubran, a 2/4 Industrial and Systems Engineer, staffs the front desk to help with student projects when she’s not troubleshooting the machines. Jubran gained
SEE MAKER PAGE 3 SCIENCE (6)
Planetary allignment? SpaceX Explosion? No more WHO? 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.
pathways by providing information about graduate school and professions for physics. The event also gave them the chance to share their experiences, advice, and ideas. APS specifically encouraged women, gender minorities, Black/African American, Latino, Indigenous, community college, and first-generation college students to attend. This year marks the first time CU*iP was held at Stevens. The conference was also hosted by 15 other universities and was attended by about 100 students from nearby universities and colleges. Dr. Ting Lu, who spearheaded the organi-
zation of CU*iP, described how it started with a proposal to APS with Stevens as a host site. The planning process started over a year ago and was a cross-office collaboration between the Physics Department, the President’s Office, and the Office of the Provost. The process began with an atlarge committee that later split into subcommittees. Some planning components included arranging hotel accommodations, figuring out shuttle services, designing conference items of merchandise, and inviting speakers and panelists with a wide array of expertise in both academia and indus-
Stevens Panhellenic Council hosts DEI panel
NATIONAL NEWS TikTok ban sparks freedom of speech concerns BY JEREMIAH CHINWENDU, MANAGING EDITOR
PHOTO COURTESY OF MEGAN BIRNS
BY GABRIELA ANGELKOSKA, CONTRIBUTOR
On December 3, the Stevens Panhellenic Council (SPC) held its first speaker event, inviting the Stevens community to hear diverse voices share their Greek life experiences and thoughts. In the past, each sorority has hosted its own diversity and inclusion event or workshop organized by its respective Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion (VPDEI). However, this was the first event where all sororities—Alpha Phi, Delta Phi Epsilon, Phi Sigma Sigma, Sigma Delta Tau, and Theta Phi Alpha— came together.
This Panhellenic event, the first of its kind, featured speakers from each sorority involved. The event was planned by SPC’s VPDEI, Henita Sharon Lawrence. When asked what inspired her to create an event like this, she shared that growing up, she often sought powerful role models she could see herself in. After joining Greek life, she found herself surrounded by talented, bright individuals from all walks of life. She wanted this event to provide the Stevens community, especially its women, with the opportunity to see that Greek life has a space for everyone.
SEE DEI PAGE 3
TikTok’s fate in the U.S. remains uncertain after a recent executive order signed by President Trump extended the timeline for its potential ban by 75 days, allowing time for a 50 percent ownership deal with the U.S. This move follows the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision upholding the constitutionality of a congressional ban on the app, citing national security concerns with the app’s data practices and its parent company, ByteDance’s, ties to the Chinese government. While the app’s 170 million American users may breathe a temporary sigh of relief, the extension makes it clear that the fight over TikTok is far from over. In November 2017, ByteDance acquired Musical. ly and merged it with TikTok, equipping the app with an algorithm that encourages binge-watching and maximal engagement. The algorithm, which personal-
izes content based on user behavior, has helped the app gain global traction and become a dominating force in pop culture, impacting everything from music charts to marketing strategies. Artists have used the app to release their songs and propel their popularity, encouraging record companies to tailor song releases to the app’s trends. Businesses, both big and small, leverage the app’s advertising algorithm to push their products to the public, finding partnerships with influencers and creating content of their own. The app has had the most significant impact on digital content creation, giving careers to countless new content creators and introducing the public to new genres of entertainment. As the app has maintained its impact on pop culture for as long as it has, its influence has spread to politics, activism, and mainstream media. Acting as a news outlet, source of income, and en-
SEE BAN PAGE 3