Happy first week of classes!
We write Stevens history HOBOKEN, NJ |SEPTEMBER 6, 2024
VOLUME CXXII No. 1
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
requirement for the WELCOME CLASS OF 2028! New Pinnacle Scholars Program BY VICTORIA OKONKWO, CONTRIBUTOR
RAFAEL LEE LI FOR THE STUTE
Big changes arrive for Stevens Dining BY ARTHUR SERRA, MANAGING EDITOR Exciting changes are coming to Stevens Dining this semester! The recent announcements detailed a revamp of the UCC marketplace, updated dining hours, and the creation of new sustainability programs. Multiple surveys of the student body last school year found that students would like healthier options. These same surveys also found
that Happy Appy—the UCC marketplace’s Asian-style restaurant—was not as popular as the other venues. Thus, this year, Happy Appy has been replaced with a new restaurant: Pom & Honey, described by Stevens as a Mediterranean-healthy bowl station. Beyond being a healthy alternative, Pom & Honey also comes with several halal options, another food option that was previously missing from the UCC. Another change coming
Summer 2024 campus renovations
RAFAEL LEE LI FOR THE STUTE
BY JEREMIAH CHINWENDU, STAFF WRITER Those who have walked by the entrance to Walker Gymnasium in the past year have made note of the construction scaffolding that seemingly never goes away. Recent years have seen a number of renovations made to existing buildings as well as several new buildings popping up on campus. Stevens has been working diligently to improve the campus to support the growing com-
munity of students coming here to experience new opportunities and advance their careers. These improvements are being made all around the campus. Palmer Hall began its second phase of renovations to the first floor back in late May. These renovations were completed on August 16. Upgrades have been made to the lounges, laundry stations, and restrooms to accommodate the influx of freshmen
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NEWS (2-4)
SCIENCE (7)
FEATURE (5)
PULSE (10)
Stevens and Hoboken changes during Summer Learn about what happened in the area during the summer while you were away. Fall Budget Meeting Results Find out how much each club received from the SGA at the end of the meeting last semester.
iPads versus pen and paper? New periodic table element? The limit of Olympic speed? Read about what’s going on in the world of science. Read answers from the Stevens community to our weekly Roving Reporter, plus solve our weekly puzzle and sudoku.
to the UCC is an improvement to Piccolo Italia, the UCC’s Italian option. Both the sauce and the pizza dough have gone through several adjustments over the summer in order to improve the consistency of the pizza. Beyond that, the menu will now also include flatbreads and a monthly rotation of pizza, sandwich, and flatbread specials, as well as biweekly pasta specials. September’s pizza, sandwich, and flatbread specials will be Buffalo
Chicken Pizza, Hot Italian Beef & Provolone Sandwich, and Fresh Mozzarella, Plum Tomatoes, and Fresh Basil with Balsamic Drizzle Flatbread, respectively. All of these changes were tested multiple times over the course of the summer break on office workers and students on campus. According to Madison Goslin, Senior Marketing Specialist of Stevens Dining and the
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What makes a scholar stand out in today’s competitive admissions process? The Lawrence T. Babbio ‘66 Pinnacle Scholars Program for high-achieving undergraduate students has transitioned to a new selection process, which raises questions about what it truly means to be a scholar. Previously, candidates were chosen at the discretion of an admissions committee without needing to apply. Now, the program requires applicants to submit an essay. This change raises the question: Is the new process designed to capture students who may have been overlooked before? The essay prompt for the 2024-2025 cycle of applicants was, “How will you contribute to the Pinnacle Scholars program, and how does it align with your future goals?” and will remain the same for the next. This prompt seems to look for a better understanding of students’ aspirations and how they align with the program’s goals and values. In reply to The Stute’s inquiry about the reasoning behind the new requirement for the Pinnacle Scholars program, April Chang, the Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, stated, “We are looking for applicants who demonstrate a strong
passion for innovation, leadership potential, and a commitment to making a meaningful impact within their field. The essay provides a platform for students to express these qualities more fully.” Chang emphasized that “It also allows students to express their interest in participating in research and/or study abroad, which are key program benefits.” Ian Cordasco, a scholar whose testimonial can be found on the official Stevens website, completed summer research on predictive modeling software for forest management. This software helped loggers use probabilities to optimize forest management practices. While the program seeks students who demonstrate leadership, innovation, and dedication to impactful work, it also considers other important criteria. Chang stated, “We continue to seek well-rounded students with outstanding academic achievements and a desire to excel.” Applicants are expected to maintain exceptional grades and engage in significant extracurricular activities, reflecting a holistic approach to the selection process beyond the essay. That allows admissions to admit students with varied backgrounds and perspectives who will contribute to the program in different ways.
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A look into the First Year HASS Professor Bredin Experience course embarks on the research BY TANYA AVADIA, spring semesters; Most incoming students will take it BUSINESS MANAGER in the fall. This course is de- of actress Blanche Walsh With the start of the new semester and the welcome of the newest ducks to the flock, the university is excited to announce the launch of the First Year Experience (FYE) course. Starting Fall 2024, it is a required course for all incoming first year students that aims to smoothly transition the students into college by introducing them to key Stevens resources, support systems, and knowledge areas. Stevens has said that its goal with FYE is to ensure students are well equipped with knowledge that will benefit them throughout their college journey. The Stute has had the opportunity to speak with Chris Shemanski, the Director of the First Year Experience, to learn more about the thought process and work that went into the course’s creation. FYE is a small chunk of the university’s new Core Success Curriculum, which the university intends will provide all new students with the necessary information and resources to succeed at Stevens. The FYE specifically is going to be implemented through a mandatory one-semester course taken in the fall or
signed to be interactive and support both the academic and social transitions to college. When asked why the FYE was created, Shemanski shared that “the initiative is rooted in national best practices that a strong start is crucial to a student’s long-term success.” He also noted how the transition from high school to college is challenging and that the FYE’s goal is to ease those difficulties by providing a sense of community and an academic support system. Shemanski explained that the First Year Experience will consist of several components: First-Year Reading Program: This program fosters a discussion on the book What Can A Body Do? by Sara Hendren. The main themes of this book will be discussed throughout the course of the semester and through additional events. Peer Leaders: While every first year is assigned a Peer Leader during Orientation, each course section for the FYE is also assigned a Peer Leader to assist with the transition to college. Student Success Coaches:
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BY EVAN PAPAGEORGE, HEAD COPY EDITOR In a recent interview, Professor John Bredin of the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) shared insights into his research of the often-forgotten actress of the early age of film: Blanche Walsh. With the upcoming publication of his book on Walsh, Bredin offers his connections to Walsh, who she is, and why he is advocating for a better understanding of her. Blanche Walsh, born in 1873 in New York City
to a prominent politician, joined the theater world at a young age with her stage debut at 15 years old, and quickly reached fame as she participated in shows around the world in her early 20s. By the turn of the century, Walsh began acting in the newly popular medium of film. By the 1910s, she played one of her most influential roles in the film adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s Resurrection. However, Walsh sadly passed away in 1915 when she was only 42 years old. Walsh is the focus of
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NATIONAL NEWS The Olympics How did we do, and what was new?
Meeting “Tampon Tim” Walz Who is Tim Walz and what’s with the name? READ MORE ON PAGE 3