Enjoy the long weekend! See you all in red and grey next week for Duck Days! Wednesday, Feb. 21 is a Monday schedule btw
We write Stevens history
VOLUME CXXI No. 17
HOBOKEN, NJ | FEBRUARY 16, 2024
MADISON HELLER, CONTRIBUTOR
TANYA AVADIA, BUSINESS MANAGER
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NEW STUTE EVERY FRIDAY • EST. 1904
DuckLink’s new leaderboard causes confusion and competition
Groundhog Phil says early spring The resident groundhog of Gobbler’s Knob, Punxsutawney Phil, has predicted an early spring this year. As per the custom, the prediction of whether we will have an early spring or a longer winter is dependent on whether Phil sees his own shadow. At this year’s annual Groundhog Day celebration in Punxsutawney, PA, Phil failed to see his shadow, meaning that there is going to be an early spring. After Phil’s performance, the Vice President of Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, Dan McGinley, read aloud a scroll that stated, “Glad tidings on this Groundhog Day and early spring is on the way.” The custom of using a groundhog to make predictions regarding the early coming of spring traces back to Europe. In many places, the emergence of many hibernating animals from their sleep during February was considered a sign. Additionally, the holiday is also related back to the practices of certain faiths, as February is the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It was the belief of Christians during the Middle Ages that even animals that sleep through-
The student newspaper of Stevens Institute of Technology, and creator of Attila the Duck. www.thestute.com TikTok @thestute Instagram @thestute facebook.com/stevensthestute
PHOTO COURTESY OF OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
Study abroad this Summer!
Susi Rachouh encourages participation in international programs BY EMMA SPOONAUER, STAFF WRITER Last week, the Office of International Programs held a fair at Babbio Center to provide information about the upcoming programs available for students as well as about the process of applying to these programs. The Stute got the chance to speak with Susi Rachouh, the Director of International Programs, to learn more about the exciting programs that are being offered, how to get involved,
and the value of studying abroad. In her role as Director of International Programs, Rachouh is in charge of several different areas. These include studying abroad for undergraduate students (unfortunately, Stevens does not offer abroad credit for graduate students), outreach for international undergraduate programs, contracts and legal agreements for undergraduate students, and exchange programs. Currently, Stevens has seven different exchange programs, such as Global E3,
NATIONAL NEWS
which is for engineering and computer science majors. When asked which programs she was most excited about, Rachouh noted that Italy has become a very popular destination. She explained that the current cities Stevens has available are Milan, Florence, Sorento, Rome, and Syracuse (which is in Sicily). Rachouh then shared that a new program that is becoming a popular destination for American vacations is Portugal. Other
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When compared to the previous iteration of the platform, many of the new DuckLink’s differences have elicited positive reactions from students, who are happy to see the new functionality and user experience improvements. Some of the new features, however, are raising eyebrows more than fostering positive interactions. Upperclassmen may find the updated DuckLink site unfamiliar in many respects. A once bland webpage with basic search functions for campus organizations has turned into a sophisticated campus-wide platform. By clicking the organization’s tab on the site, users find an alphabetical listing of all groups, and by being a member of these organizations, one gets access to their schedule of meetings and events. Also, on this page, there is a button labeled “leaderboard” that is available for all students. This page is, as it suggests, a ranking of each organization. Every club on this page has a given number of points, which places them higher or lower in the rankings. Perhaps even less expected, every Stevens student and faculty member on DuckLink is also ranked on a leaderboard.
Many have wondered what these points mean for the clubs. The ranking of the clubs is not based on subjective quality checks but rather on a semi-opaque point system. As of February 15, the top organization is Stevens Serves, closely followed by the fraternity Alpha Phi Omega. With about 1125 and 992 points, respectively, as of February 15, they leave the other organizations in the dust. Nearby, the individual leaderboard is topped by Leadership & Service Coordinator Tara Roach, who is trailed by other staff and faculty. Students have been left wondering: How are these points earned, and why do we even need a leaderboard in the first place? The use of the leaderboard is most likely to promote the most active clubs and organizations. Activity money for clubs correlates with both size and average attendance. Safe to say, these are the two aspects that receive points. The leaderboard system allows students to observe which clubs are the most popular on campus rather than relying on word of mouth as students have previously. Because of this, it promotes the groups that are large and have frequent turnout the
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Admissions changes to transform new applicant experience
Exploring the wacky Honda and General Motors plan to world of EVAN PAPAGEORGE, test-optional policy—a measure initially instated during power your commute with… water? OPINION EDITOR the pandemic—until the fall uncommon In response to the evolv- semester of 2027, providing BY DOUGLAS SOUSA, powered vehicles — most as oxygen, to generate elecnotably, electric vehicles. tricity. This is done through ing landscape influenced by applicants with additional holidays OPINION COLUMNIST Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid an electrochemical process the COVID-19 pandemic and flexibility in showcasing their
Whether it’s traditional gasoline, diesel, compressed natural gas, or electricity, cars need something to power their movement. Usually, this is done with an internal combustion engine that converts the chemical energy stored in its fuel source into rotary motion via a controlled combustion cycle. Recently, though, there has been a growing number of alternatively
are some of the big players in today’s EV market, each with gradually increasing shares in the American automotive market. However, there is another emerging technology that may be a key player in the future of powering our daily commutes — hydrogen fuel cells. A hydrogen fuel cell utilizes our planet’s simplest element, hydrogen, as well
based around a polymer electric membrane (PEM). The PEM consists of a positive cathode and a negative anode separated by an electrolyte membrane — much like a traditional battery. Hydrogen molecules break down into protons and electrons in the anode, and oxygen molecules accept these on the cathode side.
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Spring break in Florida: a tale of two cities
With Spring break arriving next month, students are likely anxiously counting down the days until it arrives. As students swarm to the beaches, amusement parks, and video game systems, towns may experience a nearly doubling in the size of their population. With those millions of young visitors, and despite college students being known as being the epitome of orderly conduct, cities experience dras-
tic increases in crimes and disorderly conduct. In 2022, the mayor of Miami Beach, Florida, imposed a ban on the sale of alcohol after 6 p.m. due to the number of rowdy college students and violent crimes committed. Miami Beach police arrested 322 people and took possession of 70 guns. Detractors of these measures may argue that tourism is necessary for Miami Beach to survive due to the increase in visitors, driving up sales and boosting the local economy. However, a
NEWS (2-4)
SCIENCE (8)
BY PRANEETH VANGURU, CONTRIBUTOR
Study abroad this Summer! Learn about what Stevens has to offer and read what Susi Rachouh has to say about the program after the study abroad fair. FEATURE (6-7)
Duck Days is next week! See what’s happening for Stevens school spirit and Founder’s Day.
Shark conservation? Private moonlander? AI in the Math Olympics? Read about what’s going on in the world of science. PULSE (12)
Read answers from the Stevens community to our weekly Roving Reporter, plus solve our weekly puzzle and sudoku.
deeper analysis of the demographics visiting reveals that this assumption is not necessarily true. College students haven’t had the time to build up the capital and wealth that older generations have. This means that when on Spring break vacation, they are more likely to stay at unregulated dodgy hotels that provide no revenue for the government. Furthermore, college students are less likely to go to bars and order fine wines and champagnes, instead preferring to buy
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broader societal shifts, the Office of Admissions (OA) has undergone significant transformations in its approach to the new student admission process over the past year. These adaptations are emblematic of the OA’s commitment to remaining responsive to contemporary challenges and ensuring inclusivity in its policies. The Stute conversed with the Director of Undergraduate Admissions, Carlos Cano, at the OA to delve deeper into these changes. The revised student admission process, implemented in the Fall of 2023, was unveiled through an article by Stevens, signaling the Division of Enrollment Management’s proactive stance toward enhancing accessibility for undergraduate applicants. A central theme underpinning these reforms is improved access, as underscored by introducing an early action program. This initiative empowers students to demonstrate their interest in joining the Hoboken community without the constraints of a binding decision. Moreover, the OA extended the
ADITI SHILAWAT, STAFF WRITER
academic prowess. In alignment with contemporary societal dynamics, OA also revamped the personal essay prompts on applications, tailoring them to reflect current issues and aligning them more closely with the ethos of Stevens. This adjustment affords applicants a more comprehensive platform to articulate their motivations and aspirations. Additionally, by joining the Coalition for College program akin to Common App, Stevens has expanded its reach, particularly in regions where its presence may be less pronounced, fostering a more diverse applicant pool. These changes have been in effect for applicants seeking enrollment in the Fall of 2024, offering them an array of options such as test-optional submissions and utilizing the Coalition for College platform. Although it’s still early to ascertain definitive outcomes, Cano notes some promising trends emerging from the ongoing admissions cycle. Notably, there has
The federal government recognizes 12 official holidays, including favorites like Christmas and Thanksgiving, but does anyone celebrate some less-known holidays? Yes! In fact, many people celebrate some incredibly odd holidays that have been established by various organizations over the years, and they run the gamut from the heartwarming to the macabre. One of these holidays is called Do A Grouch A Favor Day, which is on February 16, where people go around and celebrate the most grumpy person in their lives, and try to make them happier. Feel like acknowledging your favorite baked item? Consider National Banana Bread Day on February 23, which is a day dedicated to enjoying Banana Bread and learning about it. June 4 is National Hug Your Cat Day for all the cat lovers and owners, and then there’s Let It Go
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