By: Arielle Champion

Restaurant: Pirones

Address: 1351 NJ-38 Ste B1, Hainesport, NJ 08036

Hours: Monday – Closed, Tues-Sat 10 AM – 9 PM, Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM

Price: $$

Website: https://cucinadipirone.com/

Phone: (609) 261-5200

Parking: Parking lot (free)

Reservation: Not needed

Rating: 5 stars

The air is colder, the sun sets earlier, and winter has finally come. It’s the season of warm blankets and comfort food. If you’re looking for food to warm you up, Pirones is a great place to dine and only a 30-minute drive from campus.

As I walked in I immediately noticed the setup of the restaurant. The dining area is a smaller intimate space decorated with art imported from Italy. The tables are covered in bright white cloth to top off the mood. As you’re seated the waiter greets you with a basket of freshly baked bread served while you look over the menu.

Their menu is very large and includes almost every Italian dish you could think of. Whatever you’re in the mood to have, they make it fresh from scratch daily. Father and son Mario and Mario run the restaurant with their family, eager to serve you delicious Italian cuisine. 

As I opened the menu I didn’t even know where to begin. Towards the top of the menu, their pizzas were listed. They have 10 different kinds of pizza including Vegetable Garden Pizza, Margherita Pizza, Lasagna Pizza, Rosemary Basil Pizza, Bacon Chicken Ranch, Pizza, Buffalo Chicken Pizza, Brooklyn Pizza, and Grandma pizza. Their most popular pizza is the Grandma, a Sicilian thin crust with mozzarella cheese, and plum tomato sauce, topped with garlic, olive oil, and basil. 

Their appetizers were exceptional, you could tell it wasn’t pulled out of a freezer and just thrown in a microwave like most restaurants. I ordered the mozzarella sticks and fries and couldn’t think of a single complaint. The mozzarella sticks were crispy on the outside and had melted cheese oozing from the insides. For an Italian restaurant, the fries were great as well. 

Their pasta dishes are a hug in a bowl, bursting with flavor. Their menu includes over 15 different pasta dishes, if you’re indecisive good luck! Their top pasta dishes are the Rigatoni, Baked Ziti, and the Fettucine Alfredo. The pasta entrees also come with a salad. I decided to go with the garden salad which had the largest croutons I had ever seen. It was delicious!

During my stay, we chose the Rigatoni Alla Vodka and the Fettucine Alfredo. Their Rigatoni is served with a creamy vodka tomato sauce and topped with plum tomatoes. The Fettuccine Alfredo was probably my favorite. The sauce was creamy and the chicken was perfectly cooked. They also shred fresh parmesan cheese on top, and as you mix your pasta the cheese melts in perfectly. 

If you’re not full after your meal, their dessert should be next on your mind. Their dessert list includes Cannoli, Cheesecake, Dark Side of the Moon, Tiramisu, Cinnamon Knots, and Pirone Delight. Their Tiramisu is a coffee-flavored dessert with lady fingers dipped in coffee, layered with a delicious mixture of eggs, sugar, cocoa, and Mascarpone cheese. If you’re looking to treat your sweet tooth, their dessert menu will successfully do the job. 

The next time you’re searching for an authentic Italian restaurant, Pirones is the place. This restaurant is on the same level, if not even better than a place like Maggianos or Brio. The quality of the food and the cozy intimate dining room makes you feel you’re in a little mom-and-pop restaurant right in Italy. 

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By: Arielle Champion

Restaurant: Bistro Du Jour

Location: 99 District Square SW, Washington, DC 20024

Hours: Sun – Thurs 8 AM – 9 PM, Fri – Sat 8 AM – 10 PM

Price: $$

Website: https://www.bistro-dujour.com/

Phone: (202) 984-7400

Parking: Street (meter)

Reservation: Not needed 

Rating: 4 stars

Taking a trip to the White House or just passing through Washington, DC? This French Bistro is a must. This restaurant truly makes you feel as if you’re sitting in a cafe right in France. 

As I entered I was greeted with a warm welcome and kind staff. The first thing I noticed was their green velvet booths, gorgeous floor tiling, and stunning wall art which all added to the feel of a cafe in France. They even played relaxing music, I could get the sense of a casual ambiance and vibe of the restaurant. 

The menu itself was detailed and aesthetically pleasing. During my stay, I ordered a range of items to get a true feel for the restaurant. The menu’s first and largest section is the “Patisseries”, the pastries. I ordered the Pain Au Chocolat which is their chocolate croissant. It was the perfect combination of flaky, light, and airy with chocolate oozing from the middle. As someone who normally gets their croissants from Starbucks, it was nice to enjoy a freshly baked croissant from a real french bakery.

To go along with my pastry I ordered hot chocolate, which was the only downside during my visit. France is known for their rich decadent hot chocolate, and being at a French Bistro I had high expectations. Their hot chocolate didn’t have the rich cocoa flavor I anticipated and was also very watered down.

I let the waitress know and they were very accommodating. “I’m so sorry about the hot chocolate, let me take it back and have them remake it for you,” said the waitress. The second time around it was less watery but had too much milk. I accepted that their hot chocolate was just going to be chocolate milk. The waitress was very kind and accommodating. 

Despite the hot chocolate mishap, their brunch was nothing less than perfect. We ordered the Gaufres Belges, Americaine, and the Pain Perdu. The Gaufres are their Belgian Waffle with honey-syrup apples and this rich chantilly cream. The Americaine platter comes with eggs cooked any style, a croissant, bacon, and crispy fingerlings which are similar to breakfast potatoes. Saving the best for last, the Pain Perdu was probably the most delicious french toast I’ve ever ordered. It’s brioche french toast, blueberry compote, and of course, their delicious chantilly cream. This is what one would call a “Breakfast of Champions”.

But this isn’t just a restaurant, they also have a built-in bakery towards the back. As we were heading out, dessert was our toughest choice. My boyfriend and I decided on the chocolate cake which honestly made up for the hot chocolate. The chocolate cake was moist and fudgy, every single bite was perfect. We realized we should’ve gotten our own slices instead of sharing one.

Overall, if you’re in the Washington D.C. area and looking to grab a quick bite, Bistro Du Jour is a great option. From the stunning interior and the great food, the restaurant is a great choice when searching for places to grab a bite in Washington D.C. They have quality food, kind staff, and a comforting ambiance. 

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By Katie Travlos

Finals are a hard time for most students in college. These last exams of the semester are the final stretch of what seems to be an extremely stressful and strenuous time. Here are four tips and tricks to help finals go as smoothly and stress-free as possible. 

• Don’t cram for the exam! 

It is extremely important to study for multiple days leading up to the exam. Cramming for exams has been scientifically proven to not make students as successful as they would be by studying for days prior. It is not possible to study all of the material taught across a semester one day before the exam. Studying for multiple days allows for knowledge to be collected and more fully understood making the brain ready for application-based questions on the final. 

• Sleep is just as important as studying!

Sleeping after studying allows knowledge and memories to move from short-term memory to long-term memory through REM sleep. REM sleep, also known as rapid eye movement sleep, occurs around ninety minutes after falling asleep. This stage of sleep stimulates the areas of the brain associated with learning and memory. If students do not sleep after studying and pull all-nighters, the knowledge ‘learned’ will not move into long-stage memory and will likely not be readily available during the exam. Thus, sleep is extremely important for learning and studying for finals! 

• Eat healthily and drink enough water. 

It is very important to eat healthily and drink an adequate amount of water when studying for finals. Remember, your brain is an organ and needs to be fueled with nutrition in order to function. Eating saturated fatty foods or not eating at all will not prepare your brain for the work it has to accomplish for success in final exams. 

• Take care of yourself and your mental health.

Decreasing stress and anxiety is important when trying to accomplish goals. Implementing self-care activities and acknowledging the importance of mental health will help lead students toward academic success. Remember to give yourself brain breaks when studying and to reward yourself for small as well as big goals accomplished. 

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By: Arielle Champion

Title: Midnight Sun

Author: Stepehnie Meyer

Publisher: Little, Brown, and Company

Publication Date: August 4th, 2020

Price: Hardcover $31.99, Paperback $12

Adult fantasy fiction novel Midnight Sun is the perfect addition to one of the best series in entertainment. Written by author of the #1 best-selling Twilight Saga, Stephenie Meyer has yet again composed a work of art into words. If you were a fan of the series back when the first book was released in 2005, you are in for a treat. Meyer has a way of taking her readers into another world when it comes to her novels, especially here in Midnight Sun.

American novelist and film producer, Stephenie Meyer, received her BA in English Literature from Brigham Young University in Utah, in 1997. Twilight was the first novel she wrote which has sold over 100 million copies following 3 other books adding to the series. New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn. Now there can be a 5th book added to the series, Midnight Sun.

Twilight is the love story between a 17-year-old human girl named Bella Swan and a 104-year-old vampire who’s stuck at the age of 17 named Edward Cullen. They meet in high school and embark on a journey filled with danger, thrill, and most of all love. The obstacles Edward and Bella face only add more fuel to the fire burning between them, drawing them closer to one another. 

The first thing one can notice is the new narrator. If you’re familiar with the Twilight novels and even the movies, we know main character Bella Swan is the storyteller. The beauty behind Midnight Sun is that it’s told by Edward Cullen himself. It’s the same events and situations that took place in the original novel, however, Edward is the one telling it from his perspective. 

For those who know the series, this book will simply be the same story told from a different point of view. If you’re new to the Twilight world, reading Midnight Sun will leave you eager to read the other novels, and just like that, you’re hooked.

Examining the main characters, you have two people from completely different worlds who develop this deep love for one another. Touching on the first chapter of the novel begins at the high school where they’re all sitting in the cafeteria. Edward’s been going to the school for a while, however, Bella is the new student and it’s her first day. Edward has the power to read people’s minds, when he tries to read Bella’s he cannot and he’s caught off guard. This is where that initial interest begins. Someone so disgusted with boring humans is now heavily intrigued with one. From this very moment is where their journey begins and it is such a unique love story that’ll have you turning page after page.

The main theme in Midnight Sun is dangerous and powerful love. The danger that lurks within the love growing between Edward and Bella is one of the key factors in the novel. Meyer does a superb job of always drawing attention to this theme of dark love in each chapter. Referring to chapter 5, before realizing the love he has for Bella, he has a feeling that it’s coming. He thinks, “it would be exactly like falling: effortless. Not letting myself love her was the opposite of falling—it was pulling myself up a cliff face, hand over hand, the task as grueling as if I had no more than mortal strength” (Meyer, 88). There are many reasons why they shouldn’t be together which only makes them want one another even more. 

Whether you’re a returning fan or a new one, Midnight Sun is the perfect book to cuddle up and read. Halloween might be over, but this novel will restore the spooky, eerie feeling you might be missing. Totaling 658 pages, this novel is filled with the perfect combination of thriller and romance. Once you finish you’ll see why Meyer has done it again, writing a novel so perfectly that just sweeps you in.

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By: Tia Johnson

On a warm September morning, the city of Philly can only be described as alive. The sounds of cars honking and driving by as pedestrians walk down the street are almost melodious. The smells of food carts and restaurants swell in the air, and a line begins to form at the side of an inconspicuous building.

Chatter can be heard, shuffling feet move against the concrete and a sign is visible as bodies gravitate toward it. On the sign are the words ‘College Fest’  and a door can be found inches away leading into the Museum of Illusions.

 When you walk through the door you are greeted by several workers, and right away you can see the illusions. The entire museum is photographable, with some exhibits even having equipment to hold your device for photos. There was a room with mirrors that felt like infinity, and a kaleidoscope that made for funky photos.

There was an illusion that made tall people short and short people huge and an illusion that made it look like you could run up walls. There were optical illusions that could blow your mind and a section of illusion games where you had to figure out the puzzles and how to solve them. There was even a room that made it feel like you were spinning off the ground.

Museums like this are a staple at Philadelphia’s College Fest. The city’s event is held by CampusPhilly for college students in the city of Philadelphia and the surrounding area. This event is normally held during the two-day weekend of the first week back to school,  this year being September 10th and 11th. It allows students to explore the city of Philadelphia, and learn about its history while also seeing a plethora of sites and museums.

Due to the pandemic, College Fest has had to limit itself and not be able to show as many festivities as it normally would and had conceded to simply just having museums and some food, but with the pandemic coming to somewhat of a lul and restrictions lifting just enough, College Fest has come back even bigger with multiple museums in its ranks, as well as a small festival with live music and stalls.

Activities this year included places like The Museum of Illusions and the Natural Science museum, live entertainment, food as well as a tour of the Eastern State Penitentiary on September 11th. 

At the heart of the college fest, a sultry voice can be heard, and a crowd of people can be seen gathered at different stalls, some selling food, some giving groceries to new students, and some giving away gift cards and other essentials necessary for a new student.

Next to the hubbub is the  Natural Science museum where the casts of dinosaur bones live. There are many attractions within the museum itself: Bones, diagrams of unique animals, a live anthropologist cleaning new bones, and a live exhibit where you meet many cute critters. Due to covid, you can’t touch the animals, but you still get to meet, see and learn about them from the zoologist on hand. As the day comes to a close, cars pass by the same inconspicuous building, only this time the one is going down the block. 

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By: Gia Lukaitis 

Two hours and thirty-nine minutes are all it took for the country to be swept away with Austin Butler’s outstanding performance in the 2022 movie Elvis. From Elvis Presley’s early days in Memphis to his last days in Las Vegas, Butler perfected the role and became a true embodiment of the nation’s beloved “King of Rock.” The biopic directed by Baz Luhrman captures not only Presley’s rise to fame but the darker sides of his career caused by a manipulative relationship with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Elvis received a twelve-minute long standing ovation at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival which placed the movie as recognized amongst the longest in history. 

Elvis Presley was a rock icon who was known for breaking the rules of what society deemed acceptable and his fame is one that will hold a legacy forever. In the movie, Austin Butler perfects the role down to the minor changes in his voice through time. He models everything from Elvis’ erratic dance movements, his dreamy personality, and his undeniable ambition to be the best artist of his time. 

Austin Butler, who spent three years studying Elvis Presley, nailed his performances when recreating Elvis’ unique dance movements and sound. Butler can be heard singing with his own voice for Elvis’ younger performances and blended with the original versions for his older performances. The movie encapsulates Elvis’ sweeping of the nation with the early performance of the song, “That’s All Right.” And Butler, who is in a pink tux with a black lace shirt and eye makeup, sweeps the audience exactly the same. 

The movie exemplifies the passion that Elvis put into his personal relationships and career. But, as Elvis’ world falls apart at the hands of his manager’s abuse, Butler recreates multiple heartbreaking scenes that depict drug use, relationship troubles, and a decline in mental health. 

Elvis’ passion is shown by Butler during his televised performance of the song “If I Can Dream.” Following the death of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy, the movie describes this performance as a “protest” song, longing for the country to come together in peace. Austin Butler’s movements are nearly identical to Elvis’ performance only further proving his well-earned praise for the role. 

Austin Butler shines in his execution of the song “Suspicious Minds” in which he exhibits the true rock icon that Elvis Presley was and continues to be. The performance is placed in the movie in Elvis’ later days in Las Vegas, dressed in all white with his famous cape. The performance ties the movie together and will leave anyone watching it in awe. Not only does Butler prove his own dedication to the role, but he carries out the love that Elvis Presley had for music and his own dedication to his career. 

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By: Katie Travlos and Rebecca LaFalce

Mahsa Amini died in police custody in Tehran, Iran after being arrested by the ‘morality police’. Amini was arrested for breaking hijab rules by not correctly wearing her hijab in public. The morality police have been said to enforce rules of conservative Islamic modes of dress and behavior. These rules are obligatory modes of dress that include women covering their hair and their entire body except for the hands and face while in the presence of people of the opposite sex other than close family members.

It was said that Amini was wearing her hijab “in an improper way” which led to her arrest. Amini was reportedly arrested in her brother’s car while visiting the country’s capital. Amini, who was only twenty-two years old, supposedly died from suffering multiple blows to the head. However, police reject this claim and say she passed away from a heart attack. Now, women all over Iran are burning their hijabs and protesting this cruel injustice. 

Why is this important? This is a humanitarian issue that is violently crossing the line of human rights. Many other protestors have been killed by the police through violence. It has been said that protesters have been shoved to the ground, have been beaten with police batons, had shots fired at them, and have tear gas sprayed. Amini and this movement have gathered national attention and shed light on Iran’s violent treatment of women. 

During this cruel and brutal time, conveniently there is also an “internet blackout”. The Minister of Communications claims this is due to security reasons and discussions related to the recent events. The last time this occurred in Iran was during the mass protests in 2019 due to fuel price increases. The reason for this blackout is likely due to the worldwide support provided by people from the internet to Iranian women. During a troubling time like this, women need all the support they can get. 

The question being asked by people all around the world is; how can I help? Here are a few ways that you can help the women of Iran. The NCRI Women’s Committee is the voice of Iranian women and fights. They fight to achieve gender equality in the country. Donations help support the community’s effort to fight for equal rights.  Use your voice on social media. Though this seems like such a small thing, it makes such a large impact. Especially with the suppressed internet in Iran, we need to be the voices for these women. 

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By Gia Lukaitis

The war on Ukraine and the loss of innocent civilians has the world wondering, “how can I help?” As college students, it is not always possible to do what we wish we could to help, but there are some ways that are easily accessible. Here is a list of 5 things college students can do to help Ukraine.

1. Donate to the RUC Rotary Club. The rotary club on campus is collecting sleeping bags, common medicines, non-perishable food items, baby supplies, personal care items, and clothing. Donation boxes can be found in the campus center. 

2. Donate to UNICEF. UNICEF is taking any donation, big or small to help support Ukrainian children since schools and hospitals have been under attack. 

3. Start a drive for clothing, hygiene products, and basic necessities. The United Ukrainian Relief Committee in Philadelphia is accepting clothing and other basic necessities in Philadelphia, right outside of Camden. It can be as simple as starting a drive with your friends or just bringing any items you may have lying around your house. 

4. Donate to the Ukrainian Red Cross along with Rutgers Camden’s SGA. 

5. Join Facebook groups in your community (or start one) to collect donations and items that can be sent to any of the previously mentioned organizations. 

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By Keith Green

On Monday, April 11, Rutgers-Camden hosted its inaugural Chancellor’s Lecture on Global Racial Reckoning and Civility with Professor Sheryll D. Cashin, Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Law, Civil Rights, and Social Justice at Georgetown Law. Cashin used her latest book, White Space, Black Hood: Opportunity Hoarding and Segregation in the Age of Inequity, as a point of departure for considering these weighty issues, and her illuminating presentation was well received by the wall-to-wall audience in Camden’s multi-purpose room.

Although Cashin’s analysis was focused on economically impoverished Black and Brown communities in cities such as Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Chicago, her insights are also useful for thinking about the abject position of Rutgers-Camden within the larger Rutgers University system. 

The core of Cashin’s argument is that three techniques are responsible for the concentration of poverty in modern U.S. cities: opportunity hoarding, boundary maintenance, and surveillance.

Opportunity hoarding means overinvestment in some spaces and disinvestment in others—that is, spending millions of dollars in certain neighborhoods, downtowns, and school districts while bypassing others, thereby creating conditions of affluence and poverty that appear self-evident and inevitable when they are, in fact, controllable. Boundary maintenance means preserving the conditions created by hoarding, ensuring that the distinctions between communities are preserved and the privileged retain their elite status.

To the students, staff, and faculty of Rutgers-Camden, these first two modes of disenfranchisement sound eerily familiar. Indeed, the phrases “opportunity hoarding” and “boundary maintenance” could well serve as captions for any side-by-side comparison of the resources available to students, staff, and faculty at Rutgers-New Brunswick and other parts of the Rutgers system. Whether we consider investments in dorms, classrooms, course variety, student services, staff or faculty pay, it’s clear that Camden and Newark don’t hold a candle next to the high intensity, football stadium lights of New Brunswick.

If Rutgers wants to “reckon” with this inequity, it would do well to take a page from Cashin’s book. She writes that the most effective way to combat inequity is to “invest resources and transfer assets.” (207) Those are fighting words. Rutgers likes to claim it’s revolutionary, but it can only pay lip service to the kind of redistribution of resources for which White Space, Black Hood is calling. How revolutionary would it be for Rutgers to house students in Camden according to the standards of dorms in New Brunswick? How revolutionary would it be for Rutgers to compensate staff and faculty in Camden the way it compensates staff and faculty in other parts of the Rutgers system?

Cashin’s inspiring lecture was the first of many to come on the theme of Global Racial Reckoning and Civility. The lecture series is timely and welcome. However, Rutgers needs to honor Cashin’s work and analysis by seriously investing in the Camden campus and giving it the resources it needs.

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By: Gia Lukaitis

With summer just around the corner, there is finally time to relax and really sink into a good book. Picking the right book can be a hard process To help out with that process here are 5 books that I 100% recommend and would read again.

The Last Thing He Told Me: By Laura Dave  

This book takes a complete turn from what the title makes it seem to be. The book had me on my toes having no idea what would come next. It is a beautiful story between a stepmother and daughter. It is not too hard of a read which makes it a good book for people just getting into reading.

They Both Die At The End: By Adam Silvera 

An absolute tear-jerker if you need a good cry. This book talks about a couple’s last day together, as the title can already tell you how this story ends. It really makes you value the people that you have in your life, and makes you realize that nothing lasts forever. They have such a deep connection for their final day together that makes it hard to finish the book knowing how it will end up.

Between Shades of Gray: By Ruta Sepetyas 

I read this book about 5 years ago and still to this day think about it consistently. The story is based on the holocaust and speaks about the troubles of a young girl being separated from her family. She risks her life to try and get in contact with her father, creating a suspenseful story. This book is beautifully written and a painful reminder of what people have been through.

An Abundance of Katherines: By John Green 

It is hard to find a bad book from John Green. This book is about a boy whose exes are all named Katherine, and they always seem to break up with him. He and his best friend take a road trip after high school which leads to a very enjoyable high-energy book. 

The Song of Achilles: By Madeline Miller 

Set in the Greek heroic age, this book definitely gave me Game of Thrones, type of vibes. Torn between love and Patroclus is forced to follow into war, without knowing that what will follow him will put at risk everything he honors. He is forced to surrender his friend to the hands of Fate.

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