Say goodbye to 80-degree summer weather and... Hello Fall!
We write Stevens history HOBOKEN, NJ | SEPTEMBER 20, 2024
VOLUME CXXI No. 3
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
SGA elections are live!
Study abroad fair sees big turnout BY JOSEPHINE CHOONG, CONTRIBUTOR On September 11, the Office of International Programs offered the annual Study Abroad Fair in the Babbio Atrium. With 11 providers and hundreds of programs to explore, the fair provides a chance to learn more about the countries involved and the exciting opportunities available. The Study Abroad Fair helps students to learn and compare the different programs offered. There is a large variety of opportunities, from internships, winter and summer terms, community service, exchange programs, global semesters, research, and spring break courses. While many providers returned, a new addition was representation from Stevens’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders, which had a table to promote its service project in Peru. This August, some of its members traveled to their partner community in the Andes for the assessment phase of the project. When the fair began in 2014, there were around 50 attendees. That number has since expanded to over 200, leading to more students sharing their experiences. During the fair, Global Ambassadors, study abroad stu-
SEE ABROAD PAGE 2
BY SEAN ANDERSON, STAFF WRITER
launched this campaign with “a dedicated landing page, a unique logo and support from the President during National Suicide Prevention Week,” says Dr. Rose. The campaign will be promoted through social media, print materials, and branded giveaways. CAPS also hopes to integrate the Stigma Free Stevens Campaign into upcoming major mental health events. Strive-to-Thrive, taking place on October 10 on Palmer Lawn, is an annual community wellness resource fair where students can play games, collect giveaways, and learn about available mental health resources.
Throughout this week, hopeful Student Government Association (SGA) senate candidates have been moving around campus campaigning for your vote. Each candidate has been sharing who they are, what experiences they have, and how they want to contribute to improving the campus experience through the SGA. If you are unfamiliar with the SGA, it is important to note that the SGA oversees or is actively involved in most student activity across campus. Leading the SGA are the President, the Vice President of Operations, and the rest of the cabinet who are selected by those in the first two positions. The SGA is made up of several committees, including campus wellness, budget, oversight, academic affairs, government and community, rules, and diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and accessibility. The senators from the different schools are divided into these different committees with each senator placed into two of them. However, senators are allowed to contribute to any of the other committees as well if they are interested in issues or improvements in any of them.
SEE STIGMA PAGE 2
SEE ELECT PAGE 2
PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVENS.EDU
CAPS launches Stigma Free Stevens campaign BY JEREMIAH CHINWENDU, STAFF WRITER “I need help” is one of the hardest things for people to say when they are dealing with their life’s struggles. One of the main reasons for this is the stigma surrounding mental health struggles that exist within our society. To do its part in helping the Stevens community, CAPS is launching the Stigma Free Stevens campaign, which aims to educate people about mental health issues and encourage them to seek professional help if they are struggling. For centuries, issues with mental health have been viewed as a source of
shame or evidence of failure in one’s life. This stigma makes people who suffer mentally afraid of speaking out when they need help, meaning they let their negative thoughts fester in their minds and create even greater problems in their lives that are much harder to deal with. Thankfully, the past few decades have seen a change in the societal norm when it comes to seeking mental help. Issues with mental health are now being taken as seriously as medical concerns, but despite this change, the stigma of mental health struggles continues to be a negative influence on those who need help. Stevens’ Counseling
and Psychological Services (CAPS) have made note of the effect that stigma has on the mental health of students. The Spring 2024 Healthy Minds Study revealed that “83% of Stevens students reported being secretive about their mental health”, says Dr. Eric Rose, Director of Wellness and Director of CAPS. He also notes the effects stigma has on self-esteem, as the study shows, “11% [of students] feeling “inadequate” and 24% having mixed feelings about treatment’s impact on their self-image”. There are many components to the new campaign, which garners support from students, faculty, and community leaders. CAPS
NATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES Harris and Trump spar in 2024’s second blockbuster debate BY SEAN ANDERSON, STAFF WRITER On September 10, former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris came face-to-face for the first time in a highly anticipated debate. Following Joe Biden’s perceived poor performance in the prior debate, the current President of the United States decided to cancel his campaign for re-election. Kamala Harris was quickly chosen by the Democratic Party to be the replacement candidate, and the two candidates agreed on the debate day. The presidential debate took place at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Prior to the debate, the candidates agreed upon format rules in line with those of the previous Trump-Biden debate. The planned time for the debate was 90 minutes, with two commercial breaks. There was no audience, no opening statements, and no communication between the candidates and their
campaign staff during the breaks. Additionally, the candidates were not allowed to ask each other questions; only David Muir and Linsey Davis, the moderators, were given this permission. Each candidate was allowed two minutes to respond to a question, two minutes to rebuttal, and one minute to clarify or follow-up. This kept a streamlined and fair debate where the candidates were on equal ground and had equal opportunity to speak. The night began amicably as the two candidates shook each other’s hand before taking their place at their podium. The moderators began by addressing one of the biggest topics of interest for voters: the economy. This topic kicked off the main key points that each candidate was trying to land on each other. For Harris, she began by stating her plan of an “opportunity economy” while also implying that she believes Trump’s plan would benefit the rich. Harris elaborated further on her plan, stating
SEE DEBATE PAGE 3
NEWS (2-3)
SCIENCE (6)
FEATURE (4)
PULSE (10)
Stigma Free Stevens CAPS launches a new campaign to educate students about mental health issues and encourage them to seek help if needed. Suicide Prevention Month Learn about mental health and STEM, post-pandemic symptoms and what resources are available to you.
Commercial space launch? Bats disappearing? Dye in Doritos does what? 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 puzzles and sudoku.
Father of Georgia school shooter faces charges BY ALLIE HALVERSON, CONTRIBUTOR On Wednesday, September 4, 14-year-old student Colt Grey opened fire with a black AR-15 rifle at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. Officials reported four fatalities, two students and two teachers, making the tragedy the deadliest school shooting in Georgia’s history. In addition, nine other students were injured and taken to the hospital following Colt Grey’s surrender to school resource officers. Grey, who was arrested and indicted for four counts of felony murder, had a traumatic childhood, which was documented by law enforcement last year following an FBI investigation into online threats associated with the suspect’s email about “Shooting up a middle school.” During the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department’s investigation into these threats, Colin Grey, the suspect’s father, told investigators he was no longer with his wife, the family had been evicted, and he owned several guns. He also told investigators that he was teach-
ing his son about “firearms and safety.” Unbeknownst to FBI investigators, Grey purchased his son an AR15 rifle as a gift; his lawyer has declined to say whether there were gun locks in the house. Colin Grey was charged with two counts of second-degree murder, four counts of involuntary manslaughter, and eight counts of cruelty to children3 and could face up to 180 years in prison if convicted. The severity of these charges will test the limits of parental responsibility in the U.S. legal system, as they are dependent on the implications of Grey providing access to the weapon used by the 14-year shooter and what he knew about his son’s mental state. These charges being brought against Grey are only the second time the parents of a mass shooter have been charged in connection to their child’s attack. In February and March, the mother and father of teen shooter Ethan Crumbly were each convicted of two counts of manslaughter in separate
SEE GREY PAGE 3
China accelerates Mars mission in blow to US ambitions BY JEREMIAH CHINWENDU, STAFF WRITER China’s plans for exploration of Mars have moved up by two years, meaning it hopes to launch its Tianwen 3 Mars sample return mission by 2028. This sudden acceleration in their plans has sparked tension with the US, leading to speculation that a “new space race” is underway. Exploration of Mars will give vital information about both the planet and our solar system, and the first country to achieve this will be the world leader in space exploration. Despite billions of dollars being spent and having collaborators around the world, the US is behind in its own plans to return samples from Mars and the window of opportunity to make this journey is incredibly small and precise. Nevertheless, both countries, as well as others, continue to spearhead their efforts for Mars travel. At the second International Deep Space Exploration Conference that took place earlier this month, Liu Jizhong, the chief designer of the Tianwen 3 mission,
laid out the components of the plan and what China hopes to collect. The mission will consist of two rocket launches from Earth, writes Sharmila Kuthunru of Space.com. “One will carry a lander and a two-stage ascent vehicle, and the other an orbiter and Earth-return craft.” The mission objective is to use the lander’s drill to collect and return roughly 600 grams or 21 ounces of Martian soil. These surface samples will give a clue about the planet’s climate evolution as possible signs of life. China plans to advance the exploration efforts even further by developing a “foldable, autonomous helicopter similar to NASA’s Ingenuity, as well as a sixlegged robot to collect samples away from the landing site,” reports Space.com. Astrophysicist Quentin Parker of Hong Kong University reports that “China is also offering 25kg (55 pounds) of space for international payloads to piggyback on the Tianwen-3 orbiter,” writes Ling Xin of South China Morning Post. This payload will include more soil samples
SEE MARS PAGE 3